Ben Stiller Didn’t Know If Anyone Would Watch “Severance” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

This leads me uh nicely to severance. because I'm lucky enough to be friendly. friends with and encounter people all. the time, especially in the comedy world. and acting world. And so I kind of semi. know Adam Scott and uh my wife and I. watch Severance when it comes out and I. shortly after that I see Adam Scott and. I said that was the best thing that's. been on television in in in memory. That. was fantastic. And he was like oh you. know thanks a lot man. And I was like, "No, no, no." And I like I think I put.

my hand on his chest. Like, "No, no, no. Jesus, you don't understand. Like, I. know there's a show business thing.". Well, I went to He's Have you felt his. chest? He's got stuff. I have not. Well, you haven't lived then. No, but my You. know the way there's a show business. thing of, "Hey, man. I saw your thing. It was really good." And it's it's uh. You'll say it about me at some point, but God, that's so sad. But it'll come. out naturally or we'll edit it in and. I'll touch your chest. But I it was very important to me to to.

let him know no no no no I'm not doing. that thing I'm doing this other thing. where uh and he was you know. appreciative I think and then just. wanted to get. away but um the quality of the. storytelling the intricacy of it the. respect the respect it has for the. audience it's so smart and there's so. many layers to it that there's what I. mean I've I've gone into deep dives. where people discuss, you know, just. various levels of it and it all holds up.

because when you put that much thought. into something, um it's really beautiful when people. appreciate it and see it. Yeah. And. start to go like, "Oh, wait a minute. What do you think's going on?" And the. whole concept of severance is fantastic. Yeah, it's a great a great idea. Um, yeah, that's great to hear in that the. trust you can have for the audience, which you you have to sort of like take. a sort of runner on and kind of, you. know, just go, "Okay, I'm going to. believe that they're going to get this.".

But, you know, you never go bad when you. don't underestimate the audience. You. know what I mean? Cuz cuz people are. smart and and and especially now, people. watch television so closely and they. appreciate it so much and they look. forward to it. And I I so that's that's. a great thing to know that people will. pick up these little things, but we made. the show in a in a bubble during co uh. with no, you know, no you you know, you. make the whole series and then you put. it out. So there's no you don't know.

You've basically built this giant. contraption and you put it out there and. you don't know is it going to work. What. if people watch the first episode and. say I don't care, right? It's not like. like the opposite of doing like a late. night show or something where Right. you're get getting feedback every day, every second. Right. Right. And so it. was one of the a great experience making. it. Um and then near the end I was like, "Oh, I hope wow. I hope people I hope. people get it. I hope they like it. This. is we've been working on this thing for. a couple years. Like this could be.

either good or it could just be like uh. you know, maybe nobody's going to even. see it." And well, the reaction was in. it was great. Insane. It was great. It's. as great as anything I've been a part. of. And you know, and you know, being in. the business so long, like you never. know how people are going to react to. stuff. And when it's great, it's so. great. And when it's not great, it. sucks. But you're like, and but it's not. that different the experience of. whatever you make, you know, something. that gets well received or not. It's. you're still putting your all into it. Well, I've always said it takes a lot of.

talented people working really hard to. make something shitty. and everyone sits around and hate. watches it. or very talented people and it just. didn't come out quite the way they. wanted it to or it came out at the wrong. time or whatever whatever it is whatever. it was and then those same people can. work on something and it can be. absolutely amazing and and you're all in. on it the whole time so you can't go. back and it's just sort of like okay so.

this is it. There are these moments I. talked to you earlier about there always. these moments in your work where I I. remember them. There's so many moments. in the first season of Severance. First. of all, the look of it and there are. moments as where I think you as a. director, the use of corridors and. ceilings like there are there are it's. it's I when I watch this show, I feel. like I'm down underground and I'm in. that place and it's a very. specific the lighting, the look of it,

the the vibe. You've got these great. wide like flat shots sometimes and it it. does feel a little bit like a Kubrick or. something. It's just like all the. references are absolutely incredible and. Bear's re-watching like you can rewatch. it over and over and over again. It's. really hypnotic. But there's a moment. with the actor he plays uh Lance is it. Treml Tilman? Yeah. There's a moment, I'm not giving anything away, where he. goes into a dance in this first season.

and it's my favorite moment in. television of that year because it's not. part of his character, but then he goes. into this kind of dance and the way you. shoot it and I think I've watched it. like 20 times. I don't know this. gentleman. He he I please tell him I'm. his biggest fan. But that was my. favorite moment. It was so it came at me. in such a weird way from the side, you. know what I mean? It came through on my. peripheral vision and it was so.

fantastic and the way it was scored, the. music and the tension building while. he's doing this kind of was supposed to. be a joyous thing. It was it's sort of. David Lynch. It's it's everything. It's. like 15 different Yeah, it was a. confluence of events that came together. I didn't even know he was going to dance. like that. It's dancing. I mean, dancing. is fantastic. think Tom Cruz dancing. like I didn't know if Tom Cruz was going. to dance like that. Did this guy have in. his contract though? No, but it you know. that was also yeah one of those things.

where it was just like I was I felt the. same way watching it. I was like oh this. is so cool and I love watching this. I. could watch it over and over again. And. I think as a director you kind of not to. it's not like you want to like say oh my. work is great. It's like you as you're. almost like an audience. you have to act. as an audience and you're the sort of. like you have to make the choices based. on being an audience that you're. projecting would be watching something. Yeah. Yeah. So, I was I loved it too. I. was like I love watching I was like oh. this is really fun. I could watch this. all day. At the heart of this show is. this concept and again this isn't giving.

anything away because anyone who's. listening to this and you you need to. watch this show but you you also if you. haven't seen the first season watch that. and the the concept is people working at. this company and to go into this company. they're they descend and they're. disassociated from their previous life. So their work life and the person who's. up above ground, they're the same. person, but yeah, there's just a chip. that's inserted into their head and it. gets triggered when they go in the. elevator down to work that they don't. remember who they are on upstairs and.

they just know their reality at work. And then when they leave, the chip gets. triggered again and they don't remember. what happened to work. And you see. there's a subtle thing you do with the. lens when you're going when Adam Scott's. going down the the elevator and you. know, I don't know what it is. I I don't. technically understand it, but something. happens where you can see the the focal. point kind of change just a little bit. enough to know that they've gone through. a transformation. So there everyone's. severed from what's happening to them in. the top of the world. Uh and there are.

so many analogies to that which is why. would these people choose to do that? And one of the things, and I might be. fishing here, but it very much felt to. me like, oh, this is there's so many. things it's analogous to, but one of. them is. um like alcohol or drugs. People that. something happened in their life, they. want to disassociate from it. And anyone. who's had issues with drugs or alcohol. knows that there's a reason you're doing. that. You want to be somebody else.

because being who you are and feeling. that's too painful. It's just really I. mean there's like 35 different scholars. could talk about all the different. things that are brought up in one way or. another in in severance and and it's all. Dan Ericson the the creator the writer. you know it was the first script that he. had produced it was a spec script he had. sent around and Jackie Con at our. company read our read it and thought it. was good and I read it that's a spec. script that was a spec script yeah it's.

a good good to know right for aspiring. writers and and he had this amazing idea. and this amazing facility in terms of. how you know the tone of what of his. writing but I agree with you there's. that analogy um you know just the idea. for me also of these people are like. coming into work and doing their thing. and having their banter and kind of you. know it's very like kind of you know. like an office comedy kind of vibe but. they don't know who they are they don't. know why they're there and they don't. know what they're doing to me that's. like the life analogy yeah like you know.

that's why we're all. you know, and we get settled in and we. figure out how to get through and do it, but like we don't ultimately know what. it's all about. So, I thought that was. what was always re the work they're. doing is so I mean, it's it's really. funny what they're the work they're. doing on their computer screens is. hilariously. I mean, it is analogous to. how a lot of people feel about their. jobs. Yeah. You know, I'm here moving. these numbers around kind of widgets and. widgets. I don't and and it doesn't make.

sense when I watch it. It doesn't make. sense. But when someone does it, they're. like, "Good for you. You did it." And I. think many people, many Americans. watching it would say, "That's what it. feels like at work." You know, my. daughter was roleplaying going to work. the other day. I said, "What do you do. for work?" And she goes, "I push. buttons." Yes. Yeah. She's going to go f. that kid. Well, Dan worked at a door. factory when he came out to LA and that. was where he got the idea because he was. just going crazy every day working at.

this door factory and he wanted to. forget about it. It is a great message. for people that um you know there are a. lot of people that say, "Oh, it's all. who you know." It's like, "No, if you. have a really good story to tell and a. great idea and you write it, the cream. does the truth does out. The cream does. rise to the top. If you put something. out there that's of real quality, it's. going to bounce around and someone like. you is going to find it. Yeah. I mean, it's hard. It's hard to get the access. for people, you know, to get that that. script in someone's hands. But, um, I. feel like in this business, everybody's.

always looking for that next thing, you. know, always looking for talent, looking. for something that they're going to read. and is going to excite them and um, feel, you know, feel new and different. And that's just always going to be Also, this cast you have. I mean, I mentioned. Adam Scott and uh uh Britt Lauer is. amazing and in incredible in it, but. also you've got John Tuturo, you've got. Christopher Walkin. I mean, you've. you've got uh and there there's.

something really fascinating about this. show, which is that people naturally. when they work together want. to create community. And there's. something happening here at Lumen where. they kind of really don't want people. talking. They don't want people getting. too close to each other, right? And um. that's another mystery. And I know I. think the reward of a show like this is. that you get really smart fans online. and there are so many of them that are.

all arguing about what does this mean? And Eduardo, when I came in, Eduardo was. No, but but no, Eduardo, you said, "Don't Don't. this up. This is severance, man. Don't this up." I'm like, "Well, Ben Stiller has been around a long time, and we could shoot the about a lot. of things, and I do intend to spend half. the time talking about severance.". You're like, "You don't it up." By. the way, Eduardo, I totally get it. I.

know Conan a lot. He's seen me up a. lot of stuff, but I read that. I read an. interview with Patricia Arette, who's. amazing in the show, and she has this. quote about you as a. director. It was just about your. tenacity, your how hard you work, um how. important it is to you that you get it. that you get it right. It was just it. was really lovely. Yeah. Oh, that's. nice. Well, she's amazing. I mean, yeah. You know, I think we're all going. through life and trying I I feel like a. kinship seriously, Conan, because I know. how hard you work and how much it means.

to you, but you're also trying to figure. out the work life balance, which is part. of the show, too. And that's that's. important, too. And I hope over the. years, over the I don't know, last. whatever, yeah, 20, 30 years that like. I've figured out that a little bit more. because, you know, um you have to. there's a point where you work work it. and work and work it, but then you also. have to like also then be able to step. back and go, okay, I can only control so. much. Yes. Yeah. Um I haven't gotten to. that point yet, but I've heard tell you.

can only control so much. I've learned. the hard way, you Well, but um I will. say on a personal note uh like when you. walk in the door, you seem happy. Yeah. And I know that you're someone who. uh you know, one of the maybe the. subtitle of this podcast could be. sometimes I want it to be be careful who. you envy. Like I want to talk to people. and let everyone know everyone's got. Everyone has got things that. they're dealing with. And predominantly. I get to talk to people like yourself.

who are very talented. uh and have done. this amazing work and you're trying to. figure out most of the things that. everyone else is trying to figure out. And uh so when you walked in after all. these years to see that you look great, you seem happy. This is incredible work. you're doing. And I love that you're. able to say to yourself, "Yeah, I can go. back and be in something again." I think. you're going to go back and maybe do a. cameo in I'm doing Happy Gilmore. I've. got this little movie and I did with. David Gordon Green called Nutcrackers.

It's on Hulu and that I we did like. super low budget and it was really fun. Yeah. I mean, but like you can dip into. that when you want, but you can enjoy. this and also enjoy your life. Yes. Well, that's that's the big part of it. Enjoying your life. I mean, and that's. that's and you and I are talking about. it as if we don't know what that is. I. know. Exactly. We've heard tell of this. life thing. Exactly. My agent tells me. my children are thriving. You guys are severed. Yeah, we are.

severed. We don't know what's happening. I don't I think I'm told I have kids. I. have to go up in the elevator and. you know it's you know I have my your. kids are are older too. I mean my my. daughter's 22, my son's 19. And they. will tell you they'll give you feedback. Oh yeah on how you're doing, you know, and I appreciate it. And we've actually. like working on the documentary. I I. interviewed both my kids and and. Christine and you know we talked about. stuff that's worked in our lives and. stuff that hasn't worked in our lives. and um and my they were my kids were.

very honest with me you know about times. when my work was I put my work in front. of the family. Yeah. And I'm very. grateful that I'm at a place now where I. still like have these relationships with. them that we can work on and talk about. that stuff and you know and adjust cuz. uh cuz it's true, you know, it's cliche. but it's true. But like at the end of. the day, that's what it's all really. about. My joy comes from working and. being creative. Being creative, but.

sharing that with my family and like if. you like going home and not having. anybody to share that with. I've had. that because Christine and I were. separated for a few years. That's right. And you know that there's you it can if. it's if that's the right thing for. people sometimes that's the right thing. But you know for me having being. together with her and our family being. together I I'm so much more appreciative. of it. So I feel really grateful. Well I. am delighted for you. I'm really. delighted. I figured it all out. I have. no. problems. And uh why are you.

crying? You're crying as you say it and. it's tears of blood. just. weird. I just figured it all out. Um, Ben, just a a joy to see you again and. um I'm so uh I'm so delighted for you. I. really am. I'm genuinely and I have a. very just nice funny little memory of I. lived on predominately on the Upper West. Side for years. All those years I was. doing late night and for some reason I.

would always run into your mom on the. upper west side and she was so lovely to. me and such a and such a real person on. the upper west side, you know, such an. upper west side and a fan of yours. She. loved Oh, she was absolutely, you know, we Catholics have to stick up for each. other. By the way, I just have to say. also there's there is one scene at the. end of the last episode of season 2 of. Severance that I'm really looking. forward to you seeing. Oh, I'll because. I feel like you of all people I will. text you. Yeah. No, will appreciate this. little scene. Okay. And it might even.

seem to others who watch it maybe weird. or indulgent, but I feel like it's like. made for you. If it's weird and. indulgent, if it if it's weird and. indulgent, I'm going to love it. That's. That's what you are. Weird. Okay. Uh I. think I spelled it out enough. Yeah. All. right. Hey, Ben, thank you so much and. congrats on severance. Great to see you. Thanks, man.