About this episodeDanny DeVito shares candid anecdotes from his career, highlighting the extreme dedication and humor of the 'It…AI summary
Danny DeVito shares candid anecdotes from his career, highlighting the extreme dedication and humor of the 'It's Always Sunny' cast, the chaotic drug culture of 1970s Hollywood, and his close friendships with legends like Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas. The conversation reveals how professional relationships are built on trust, shared experiences, and mutual respect, often forged in high-pressure or absurd situations.
Key takeaways 5
The cast of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' operates like a family, with a production style that is fast-paced ('block shoot') and relies on deep personal trust, allowing for extreme stunts like DeVito crawling out of a couch naked or enduring elaborate April Fool's pranks involving simulated assault.
DeVito's experience with acid in the 1970s involved consuming three grams (a triple/quadruple fatty joint) while driving, leading to a police stop where he remained calm enough to enjoy the concert he was attending, illustrating a different era of drug culture compared to today.
Working with Jack Nicholson on 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' was defined by his generosity and down-to-earth nature, despite his intense fandom for the Portland Trail Blazers, which led to humorous on-set incidents like spilling a Coke during a tip-off.
Andy Kaufman's presence on the 'Taxi' set was psychologically transformative; he would often do nothing in a room to create an enigmatic atmosphere, and his 'Tony Clifton' character was so committed that he physically threw DeVito off the Paramount lot.
DeVito produced Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' by offering him final cut despite test screenings where 20 people walked out, trusting Tarantino's vision completely because DeVito held final cut in his own contract.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I came out like a halibet, a greased halibet. I just squeezed that my ass out of that couch and turned around and my line is hot, hot, hot.”
▶ 3:08DeVito describing the physical discomfort and humor of filming the scene where Frank emerges naked from a leather couch on 'It's Always Sunny'.
“I ate it. And I I'd never eaten that much cannabis in my... I ate that whole thing. So, obviously you was geeked. I was geeked. I'm talking about you had to leave me around by the nose.”
▶ 25:04DeVito recounting his acid experience where he consumed three grams of cannabis before a police stop, yet still managed to enjoy a Mothers of Invention concert.
“When Andy walked into the room, he wouldn't do anything. We're all doing something, right? He would do nothing. And there was no way not to be attracted to what was going on with this man because you wanted to see what.”
▶ 1:01:57DeVito explaining Andy Kaufman's unique performance art style and psychological impact on those around him.
“I have final cut. I will give you final cut. You can It's not going to be on paper, but you can look at me. And I'm telling you, my word.”
▶ 44:05DeVito explaining how he secured Quentin Tarantino's trust for 'Pulp Fiction' by offering him creative control based on his own contractual power.
“Tony was an [__] Tony was like, you know, so Tony would wind up like I came to work one morning, my trailer smelled like I don't know what. And he had stuck hunks of salami and proolone in all different weird places.”
▶ 1:04:47DeVito describing the pranks Andy Kaufman played on him while in character as Tony Clifton during the filming of 'Toys'.
Chapters & Sections (34)▼
0:00Behind the Scenes of It's Always Sunnychapter3
1:33Filming the Naked Couch Scene
3:31April Fools Script Prank
5:29April Fools Prank on Set
8:43Taxi filming anecdotes and 80s Hollywood memorieschapter1
11:56Taxi live audience filming and Friday parties
13:16Hollywood parties and Arnold Schwarzenegger prankschapter1
15:38Early career and Arnold Schwarzenegger pranks
19:021970s Drug Culture and Acid Experiencechapter2
20:061980s Drug Paraphernalia and Cocaine Use
21:20Acid Experience at Mothers of Invention Concert
23:50Cannabis Overdose and Police Stopchapter1
25:26Frank Zappa Concert Anecdote
28:09Early Hollywood Struggles and Batman Rolechapter2
30:24Car Search and Batman Role Prep
31:54Collaborating with Tim Burton on Batman
33:26Penguin Origin Story and Monkey Bite Incidentchapter1
36:08Monkey Bites Batman During Stunt
38:54Securing Final Cut for Pulp Fictionchapter1
40:51Negotiating Final Cut for Tarantino
44:20Test Screenings and Jack Nicholsonchapter1
45:38Sesame Street Editing and Jack Nicholson
49:36Anecdotes About Jack Nicholson's Personality and Basketballchapter1
51:51Jack Nicholson's Basketball Obsession and Personality
54:52Motorcycle mishap and film promotionchapter1
57:21Motorcycle mishap and film promotion
59:36Andy Kaufman's Performance Art and Tony Cliftonchapter2
1:01:40Andy Kaufman's Enigmatic Presence and On-Set Chaos
1:03:34Tony Clifton Pranks on Set
1:05:41Italy trip mishap and admired actorschapter2
1:07:35Early exit from awards ceremony
1:09:16Vatican tour mishap and admired actors
1:10:38Music, Childhood Crushes, and Celebrity Friendschapter1
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