TURNER ENTERTAINMENT
Moderator: Tim Meadows
November 3, 2010 2:40 pm CT
Operator: Good day and welcome to the Turner
Entertainment Tim Meadows, Glory Daze conference call. Today’s call is
being recorded.
At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Kristina
Stafford. Please go ahead.
Kristina Stafford: Good afternoon. Thank you for
joining the Tim Meadows Glory Daze conference call. Glory Daze premiers
Tuesday, November 16 at 10: 00, 9: 00 central on
TBS.
The conference call is now open for questions. Please press star 1 to
ask a question. Thank you.
Operator: Okay and again, ladies and gentlemen, if
you’d like to ask a question, you may do so by pressing star 1 on your
telephone key pad.
Our first question comes from Anthony Jones from All Headline News.
Tim Meadows: ((inaudible)) typing. Hello?
Anthony Jones: Hi. Thank you for talking with us
today.
Tim Meadows: Sure no problem. Thank you.
Anthony Jones: Well, you know, one of the last times
we saw you on a school campus was in Mean Girls where you were hilarious
as the principal there. And people still call me and Anfrony because one
of your lines in that and...
Tim Meadows: They call you what?
Anthony Jones: Anfrony because of your line in the
movie about your nephew.
Tim Meadows: Yes.
Anthony Jones: And now in Glory Daze, you play the
professor and, you know, are you playing more the straight man in this
or do you get some really funny lines in this as well?
Tim Meadows: I get some really funny lines in this as
well and he’s different from the principal character in Mean Girls. And
I think that character was more - I sort of remember that character as
being done, sort of done with the whole job and sort of not really
feeling it anymore and just wanting the year to end.
And this character is, he’s different in that he’s going through a
divorce and he’s much more liberal, much more angrier and you kind of
feel like he’s sort of lost in the first couple episodes.
I don’t know how much you guys have seen but like in the second episode
we find out that he’s not living at home anymore and he becomes - he
actually needs to get advice from the kids at the school. So it’s a
little bit different from the Mean Girls character.
Anthony Jones: Yeah. What I’ve seen of the show so far
like it looks hilarious but I was also surprised to find that it’s not a
30 minute sitcom, it’s actually a one hour comedy and, you know, there’s
not too many on television right now.
And it’s also got a little more heart than you would think a show about,
you know, four college freshmen would be. So how did you find that Glory
Daze was different than some of the comedies that are on TV right now?
Tim Meadows: Well I don’t, you know, the main thing
that I would say that is different is the time, you know, it’s an
hour-long comedy. And I really don’t know what other hour long comedies
are on television right now off the top of my head.
But - and also the other thing I liked about it is it felt cinematic. It
felt like we were doing a short college film every week but that there
was a different dramatic or comedic aspect to the story.
So it’s been interesting as we, you know, like we’re shooting episode 8
and 9 right now. So it’s great and what has been great is finding out
what my character’s going to do in the next episodes and finding out,
you know, all these different aspects of his divorce. This week I get to
meet my ex-wife for the first time. I see her for the last time but I
get to meet her for the first time in this show so it’ll be interesting.
Anthony Jones: All right. All right. Well good luck
with that and I’m look forward to seeing it. Thank you so much.
Tim Meadows: Thanks for having me on the phone.
Operator: Our next question comes from Jamie Steinberg
with Starry Constellation Magazine.
Jamie Steinberg: Hi. It’s a pleasure to speak with
you.
Tim Meadows: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to speak with
you too. Star Constellation sounds spooky almost.
Jamie Steinberg: It’s about the stars one of which you
are.
Tim Meadows: Oh thank you. I thought it was maybe
about a witch or warlock also which I am.
Jamie Steinberg: You’re worried because Halloween is
over, don’t worry.
Tim Meadows: Okay I’m safe. What’s happening?
Jamie Steinberg: There’s got to be some really
memorable moments you had from filming this show centering around four
men so there’s got to be a bunch of testosterone building up in all of
you. What have you enjoyed most about working on the show?
Tim Meadows: Well what I’ve worked - enjoyed the most
is the, you know, actually working with new people. And these guys are
really nice and they - like the first big job for some of them and so
it’s fun to see them enjoying the work and stuff.
I mean I think we all can agree that we feel very lucky doing this show
because we all actually enjoy doing the scripts and we feel like we’re
being part of a good, you know, production. So that’s been fun.
So yeah it’s been - working in general is just fun. I mean my job is not
like the, you know, those guys that were in the coal mine in Chile, you
know, it’s not that hard. So anytime I go to work I’m pretty happy, you
know?
Jamie Steinberg: Are there any fun almost
inappropriate stories maybe you could share with us of your working on
the show?
Tim Meadows: Not inappropriate. I would never be
telling an inappropriate story. But I think, you know, well, you know,
it’s a little - I don’t know. Well there’s been one, couple episodes
where the - people have had to be shirtless or in their underwear and
that can be a little bit uncomfortable when you’re the oldest guy in the
cast. So I’ve been in my boxer shorts a couple times. But there’s no
testosterone thing of us challenging each other to a fight or anything.
Jamie Steinberg: No wrestling matches?
Tim Meadows: No. And I think partly - I think
everybody would agree that (Hartley) is probably the guy, the strongest
and most athletic of all of us so...
Jamie Steinberg: Why do you think people will want to
tune in the watch Glory Daze?
Tim Meadows: Well it’s funny and it’s - we sort of
capture a, you know, a near bygone era. I think people who have gone to
colleges, you know, I think if you’ve gone to a college you’ve
experienced some of this, these emotional relationships and trying to
fit in and, you know, trying - and growing up, you know, and becoming an
adult.
You know, so there’s a lot of things I think people will, should, would
make people watch it in addition just to that it’s funny and there’s a
lot of great cameos and other actors appearing on the show. So I think
it’ll - I think that’s why they should watch it.
Jamie Steinberg: Great. Thank you so much.
Tim Meadows: Thank you. Nice to meet you.
Operator: Our next question comes from Sylvia Franklin
from Thegrio.com.
Sylvia Franklin: Hello.
Tim Meadows: Hello.
Sylvia Franklin: How are you?
Tim Meadows: I’m excellent how are you?
Sylvia Franklin: Very well thank you. I just wanted to
know how much has your background shaped your professional choices. Did
you ever want to do anything else besides comedy?
Tim Meadows: My background meaning...
Sylvia Franklin: How you grew up and...
Tim Meadows: Oh.
Sylvia Franklin: ...just how you formulated, you know,
your personality so to speak.
Tim Meadows: Yeah. So give me that question one more
time and I can answer it I think.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay. How much has your background
shaped your professional choices?
Tim Meadows: It has shaped every professional choice
that I’ve every made. You know, I didn’t grow up wealthy; I grew up sort
of poor. So, you know, I know when, you know, I know what it’s like to
have to make hard choices and have to make sacrifices in order to like
get something what you want. Or, you know, I understand the idea behind
delayed gratification, you know, from an early age.
I think, you know, also growing up in the family with a lot of kids I’m
just, you know, it’s naturally made me want to stand out more. So it
probably, you know, shaped my personality that, you know, instead of
being athletic or, you know, smart I was funny.
And, you know, so I think that shaped or affected me getting into comedy
and wanting to, you know, do this job. You know, I think my background
has affected the choices and the roles that I’ve taken because, you
know, I’m from Detroit and, you know, we have a very strong work ethic
from, you know, it’s just naturally something that’s instilled in you.
And so I try to work all the time and I don’t make - I don’t sweat a lot
over thinking about a job, you know, if I’m going do something or not,
you know. You know, I always think if it’s going to be fun or not and
will the check clear or not.
Sylvia Franklin: Oh yes.
Tim Meadows: So.
Sylvia Franklin: Did you ever want to do anything else
besides comedy?
Tim Meadows: Well I wanted to be a doctor for a long
time but it was still because of comedy that I wanted to be a doctor.
Because I used to watch MASH as a kid and I wanted to be like Alan Alda.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay.
Tim Meadows: And so for a long time my mother
encouraged me, you know, to want to be a doctor and I did, I wanted to
be a doctor. And then after I failed science about four times I realized
I wasn’t going to be a doctor and, you know, I thought maybe I would go
into advertising. When I was in - during high school, college I started
thinking maybe I could go into advertising or journalism or something
like that.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay.
Tim Meadows: And I thought maybe, you know, I’d - for
awhile, you know, I thought I’d be a musician because I had played
saxophone and wood wind instruments pretty much all my life. And then
one day my father gave me a album by Charlie Parker and then I realized
I’d never be half that good so I wasn’t going to be doing that much
longer.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay.
Tim Meadows: So those are the only other things I
think I’ve ever wanted to really be.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay and one more. You received an
Emmy nomination for writing while, sorry, for writing during your SNL
days are you interested in creating and writing your own sort of TV
vehicle now like sort of what Tina Fey is doing?
Tim Meadows: Not what Tina Fey is doing because she’s
not successful at all.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay.
Tim Meadows: No. Yes I would love to do something like
that. And, you know, what sort of happens I don’t know from my sort of
side of the story is that in the beginning of the year around pilot
season I will formulate ideas that I’d like, you know, will want to go
out and pitch to do a show.
And then either I will get a job or I’ll be offered a job and then it
sort of takes the steam out of me going out and pitching the show that I
want to do. So that has been what has happened to me over the past I
don’t know like five or six years.
But yes I’d love to be able to do that. I’d love to be able to, you
know, direct a movie and, you know, I enjoy writing and everything. And
now I’m basically now the writing that I do is just basically for my
standup and the show that I do when I’m out on the road.
Sylvia Franklin: Okay. Thank you very much.
Tim Meadows: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from Daniel Malen
with Thetvaddict.com.
Daniel Malen: Hey Tim thank you for taking the time.
Tim Meadows: Excellent. No problem. Thank you.
Daniel Malen: I kind of have a quick question about
kind of the genesis of the show. It seems that it will fit really
perfectly with Conan coming in November. Kind of like the, you know,
like the college male demo. Was that something that - do you think the
show was green lit like specially to do that or was this in development
long before?
Tim Meadows: Well I - well if my memory serves correct
we shot the show before Conan went to TBS. I think he was still doing
the Tonight Show actually when we shot it. So - and I think it was green
lit around the same time but I can’t answer if that was the intention or
- but my business savvy would say yes that probably had a big -
something to do with it. That, you know, Conan would bring in college
demographic or that age and the show would be suited for that audience.
Yeah.
Daniel Malen: And I’m just curious has there been any
talk of him possibly guesting on the show?
Tim Meadows: Not that I know of. We did have Andy
Richter. He did an episode on the show where he plays a priest, an
advisor to one of the students. And it’s a really, really funny scene.
So - and we have a lot of other guest appearances by other comedic
actors I think people will be, are going to be very happy about.
Daniel Malen: And have you been asked to be on Conan’s
show yet?
Tim Meadows: I have been. I was actually, they asked
me to come and do one of the test shows but I couldn’t do it because I
was working. But I know that I am on the board somewhere in December I
believe.
Daniel Malen: I look forward to seeing it. Thank you
so much.
Tim Meadows: Yes definitely.
Operator: Our next question comes from Earl Dittman
from Wireless Magazines & Digital Journal.
Earl Dittman: Tim how you doing?
Tim Meadows: I’m good. How are you?
Earl Dittman: I’m doing great. First of all you - this
is kind of a two-part question. Do you ever think or being the older
gentleman of the set do you sometimes feel like the mentor to some of
these younger guys? Do you feel like helping out sometimes and do they
come to you with questions or...
Tim Meadows: No.
Earl Dittman: ...do they look at you that way?
Tim Meadows: You know, just recently we did a press
thing where they were, we were all sitting around being asked questions
and they began to talk about that yeah they do watch me working on the
show and that they, you know, that they are learning stuff.
And - but, you know, and I just felt really embarrassed by it and I was
flattered also I should say that, you know, and, you know, and I mean
you realize that yeah that they were kids when I was on Saturday Night
Live and, you know, and they are just now becoming adults, you know. But
as an advisor, excuse me, no I don’t advise them on anything unless, you
know, it’s - or nothing really.
Earl Dittman: Unless they ask.
Tim Meadows: Yeah unless they ask. I mean I don’t
advise anybody on anything unless they ask.
Earl Dittman: Yeah.
Tim Meadows: So - but I think that the, yeah so that’s
a question you’d probably have to ask them, you know, but they’re - I
don’t know they’re good people. I like them.
Earl Dittman: Well, you know, looking at it from I
guess looking at them where they’re at in their career does it sometimes
you look at them thinking, “Wow I remember where I was at it’s going to
be quite a roller coaster ride for them.” I mean are you sometimes
envious of where they’re at? And if you knew then what you knew now,
then, would you change much?
Tim Meadows: Yeah. Well I if I knew what I knew now
yes I would change a lot.
Earl Dittman: A lot. Anything in particular? I mean
anything that stands out that...
Tim Meadows: Well some things I can’t talk about.
Earl Dittman: Well of course, of course.
Tim Meadows: But, you know, and some choices I
wouldn’t make because the results are better that I made the bad choice.
Earl Dittman: Yeah.
Tim Meadow: You know what I’m saying?
Earl Dittman: Yeah.
Tim Meadows: But - and...
Earl Dittman: Is there one big movie role that you
passed on that afterwards you went, “Oh my God that was one of the
biggest films of the year.”
Tim Meadows: You know, no - well there was an
opportunity because I knew John Favreau from Chicago and there was a
chance that I could have done Swingers, his first movie.
Earl Dittman: Oh.
Tim Meadows: And I couldn’t do it because of the SNL
schedule.
Earl Dittman: Yeah.
Tim Meadows: So - but I didn’t pass on it I just
couldn’t do it and I regretted that I didn’t do it after I saw the
movie. Even though the part was small I still regret that I didn’t get
to work with him for the first movie.
Earl Dittman: Yeah. Well thank you so much for your
time and...
Tim Meadows: Yes.
Earl Dittman: ...best of luck and we’re going to be
rooting for the show.
Tim Meadows: Thank you very much.
Earl Dittman: Thanks a lot.
Operator: And at this time I’m showing no additional
questions in queue so I would like to turn the conference back over to
Kristina Stafford.
Kristina Stafford: Thank you for joining today’s call.
As a reminder Glory Daze premiers Tuesday, November 16 at 10:
00, 9: 00 central on TBS.
A transcript of this call will be available within 24 hours. Please
check with your respective TBS publicist. Thank you, Tim and thank you
all for participating.
Operator: That concludes today’s conference call.
Thank you for your participation.
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