John Michael Higgins, From ‘Best in Show’ to ‘Saved by the Bell’

The Last Laugh

The Daily Beast

Comedy Interviews, Comedy, Interviews, Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Tv, Movies, Film

4.6 • 661 Ratings

🗓️ 1 December 2020

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As the new Mr. Belding stand-in on Peacock’s ‘Saved by the Bell’ reboot, John Michael Higgins is “basically a dunk tank clown,” in his words. The comic role of “old white man” is one the veteran character actor has come to accept later in his career. But he’s still probably best known for playing the younger, more flamboyant half of the gay couple with a Shih Tzu in the 2000 comedy classic ‘Best in Show’—a part he says he would never get today. In this episode, John opens up about his risky big break playing David Letterman in ‘The Late Shift,’ the unique challenge of improvising through Christopher Guest movies, what he learned from the late great Fred Willard and a lot more.

Twitter: @Real_JMHiggins and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's guest has appeared in nearly 150 movies and TV shows over the course of his career.
0:07.0	But for me, it's his completely improvised performances like this one from Best in Show that make him a comedy master.
0:15.6	The doorman was approximately Mediterranean time.
0:18.8	Oh, thank you.
0:22.6	Hi, may I help you. Vanderho.
0:23.6	V-A-N?
0:24.6	D-E-R-H-O-O-F.
0:27.6	Okay, non-smoking.
0:29.6	Two nights, we have you down for Queen.
0:30.6	What are you suggesting?
0:32.6	My dear man.
0:35.6	Do you want to put this on a credit card?
0:37.8	Oh, yes.
0:38.3	Talk to Daddy.
0:40.2	Seen enough dogs today, have you?
0:42.2	Dogs, yes.
0:43.2	Big show.
0:44.3	There's a lot of them here in the hotel.
0:45.4	A lot of pretty dogs.
0:46.3	A lot of them here in the lobby.
0:53.2	This is the last laugh. I'm Matt Wilstein from The Daily Beast, and this week I am joined by one of the most prolific and accomplished comedy character actors around John Michael Higgins. John is probably best known for his roles in Christopher guest movies like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind and
1:12.6	for Your Consideration.
	...

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