When THR got a bunch of dramatic actors together last month for an Emmy roundtable, the trade noted that "humor dominated the hourlong discussion." That's a stark contrast to the comedy roundtable THR just put up, where TV funnymen like Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, and Ed Helms worry and excoriate themselves and get all "Tears of a Clown"-y. None self-flagellate harder, though, than Ted Danson.
Here's just a sampling of the Bored to Death star's vulnerabilities:
The idea of standing up and being funny to an audience right now is too much for my nervous system. I swear to God, give me really funny writing and I'll get up at 6 and I'll do that. But the idea of standing up and having to do a joke for an audience -- even without an audience, if I know it's a joke and it's constructed like a joke, my heart starts to pound.
I can bury myself in a character in a funny situation and have a ball. But after so many years of having to be funny when it's written "this is funny," it scares the crap out of me.
It's a young man's game. "Funny" is being delighted and surprised at what's coming next. I knew what was coming next for me after 16-, 17 years and I can't imagine that other people didn't. I found myself not finding myself amusing and finding other people way funnier.
Does anyone else, when you get a script, and you know it's not funny, does it make you mad? Like, you are now going to have to confront something not funny, get over it and find the funny. That's why I'm not doing half-hour (sitcoms) anymore. I'd pick up a script -- and the first bad joke, I'm like, "God damn it!"
I always think of myself as basically a 50/50 actor. There's an equal chance that I'm going to suck.
I need a seven-year space where I can genuinely look at it again. First time, I see my nose, my hair, my age, my something -- pure physical -- and I'm depressed. Second time, I go, "Hmm, I guess I'm not that bad." Third time, I notice there are other actors in the scene! (Laughs.)
See, you guys are young. After a take, I will turn to the director and go, "That was great, wasn't it!" and they say yes because they have to. And I believe them. (Laughs.)
No wonder Danson did that dramatic Damages arc -- after years spent toiling in the salt mines of Becker, the man's clearly got a tortured psyche that needs exorcising. Can someone please give him a hug, and maybe also a YouTube link to some adorable baby animal befriending another adorable baby animal?