>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME PAUL GIAMATTI!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> FANTASTIC!
>> Stephen: PLEASE.
>> OH, MAN!
WOW!
FANTASTIC!
>> Stephen: YES, FANTASTIC.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> Stephen: I ALWAYS ENJOY MY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
>> LIKEWISE.
>> Stephen: THE LAST TIME UPPER ON THE SHOW, WE TALKED
ABOUT SCIENCE FICTION AND OUR LOVE OF SCIENCE FICTION.
YOU LOVE JACK VANCE, I LOVE LARRY LEVIN, AND WE GOT IN A
LITTLE TROUBLE WHEN WE WERE OUT AT SOMETHING CALLED "THE
TELEVISION CRITICS OF AMERICA" IN JANUARY.
I>> IS THAT WHAT THAT WAS.
>> Stephen: WASN'T THAT THE T.C.A.?
>> I GUESS IT WAS.
>> Stephen: IT'S WHEN YOU TALK TO THE PRESS, THE TV PRESS,
ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE WORKING ON NEXT.
AND YOU WERE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT "BILLIONS."
>> I WAS, INDEED.
>> Stephen: AND WE GOT LOST-- >> WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER IN THE
CORRIDOR, AND YOU GAVE ME SOME CRAP ABOUT NOT WEARING A TIE.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: NOT TONIGHT.
>> I KNOW!
BUT WE STARTED TALKING, AND, YEAH, WE HAD TO BE SEPARATED BY
OUR PUBLICIST.
>> Stephen: BECAUSE WE HAD JOBS TO DO.
>> YES, WE DID.
>> Stephen: AND THEN YOU DID THE NICEST THING.
THERE WAS A PARTY THAT NIGHT, SHOWTIME THREW A PARTY, AND I
WAS AND YOU WENT AND GOT ME THE BOOK I SAID I CAN'T FIND
ANYTHING G.M. BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER IN PRINT, THAT AFTERNOON.
>> I DID.
>> Stephen: WHERE DO YOU FIND TIME TO DO THAT?
>> I HAD A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS.
I HAD THEM BUILD IT IN FOR ME SO I CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> Stephen: DO YOU BUILD THAT INTO YOUR DAY ALL THE TIME?
YOU READ SCIENCE FICTION CONSTANTLY.
>> I DO BUILD IT INTO MY TIME.
WHEN I AM IN L.A., I BUILD IN TIME TO GO ON A BOOKSTORE AND
OUT BURGER, AND THAT'S BASICALLY IT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: A USED BOOK STORE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT PAIN USED BOOKSTORE.
>> Stephen: A USED BOOKSTORE.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO ANY NEW, FANCY STUFF.
>> Stephen: YOU WANT THE BOOKS THAT SMELL A LITTLE BIT LIGHT
DEATH.
>> MOLDY-- YEAH, I WANT TO HAVE MOLD IN THEM, DEFINITELY, FOR
SURE.
>> Stephen: WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY HAVE TO PUT ME DOWN,
I JUST WANT THEM, BEFORE THEY INJECT ME WITH WHATEVER IT IS, I
WANT THEM TO PUT A 1950s SCIENCE FICTION BOOK OVER MY
FACE TO BREATHE IN.
>> AND SNIFF IT IN, RIGHT BEFORE THE DEATH RATTLE-- AND THAT'S
IT.
>> Stephen: KEEP IT LIGHT!
( LAUGHTER ) KEEP IT LIGHT.
KEEP IT LIGHT!
YOU SAID THIS TO ME-- DO YOU STAND BY THIS STATEMENT?
I'M GOING TO QUOTE YOU.
YOU SEE IF YOU STAND BY IT.
YOU SAID, "PEOPLE THINK I, LIKE-- I-- IT'S GREAT TO BE AN
ACTOR."
YOU SAID, "THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, I ENJOY ACTING, BUT
I REALLY DO IT BECAUSE I'VE GOT ENOUGH DOWN TIME TO READ SCIENCE
FICTION."
>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, TRUE, YEAH.
I SEE IT AS SUBSIDIZES MY USED BOOK CAREER, MY BOOK BUYING.
I'M LUCK THEY I'VE DONE WELL AT ACTING SO I CAN DO THAT.
>> Stephen: RIGHT.
YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE TRAILER TO BE READING.
>> ALL THAT TIME IN THE TRAILER.
>> Stephen: YOU GOT ME TWO BOOKS THAT NIGHT?
YOU GOT ME "ROBOTS HAVE NO TAILS" BY HENRY KUTNER.
AND "THE PHOENIX."
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE SITTING ON TV TALKING ABOUT ABRAMSON.
>> Stephen: I GOT YOU "MUTANT."
A CLASSIC, YOU CAN'T GET THIS ANYMORE.
HIS WIFE, C.L. MOORE, ALSO WROTE "VINTAGE SEASON" WHICH I SENT
YOU AN ISSUE OF ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION FOR YOUR
BIRTHDAY FROM THE MONTH OF YOUR BIRTH.
>> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
>> Stephen: AND I ALSO HAVE-- THAT'S GOLDEN AGE.
AND HERE'S SILVER AGE.
THIS IS "BOLO" BY KEITH LAUMER.
>> I NEVER READ THESE.
>> Stephen: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS PUT INTO TANKS
-- >> THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE,
ACTUALLY.
>> Stephen: COME ON!
YES.
>> THE HELL WITH THEM!
I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU --
>> Stephen: MAY I REMIND YOU, WHEN WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
THERE WERE PEOPLE AROUND, TOO, BUT ALL WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THIS
STUFF.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LIKE THIS NOW.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHY WE'RE LIKE THIS NOW.
>> WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO BE HERE IN THIS THIS SAME SITUATION.
>> Stephen: PLEASE ENJOY THOSE.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO READ THESE, ALWAYS WANTED TO READ
THESE.
>> Stephen: THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE
TAKE PHOTOS OF YOU ON THE SUBWAY.
AND YOU WERE MAN-SPREADING.
>> ALLEGEDLY MAN-SPREADING.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.
HERE'S ANOTHER RECENT PHOTO OF YOU, RECENT PHOTO OF YOU ON THE
SUBWAY JUST LOOKING ABSOLUTELY-- THIS IS-- THIS IS JUST YOU AT
YOUR HAPPIEST.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> NOW-- ALL RIGHT.
YEAH.
IN MY DEFENSE -- >> Stephen: NO ONE'S ATTACKING
YOU.
>> OH, YEAH?
IN MY DEFENSE.
>> Stephen: YES.
>> I'M LOOKING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I SAW THE GUY TAKING MY
PICTURE.
>> Stephen: OH!
>> THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING LIKE THAT.
>> Stephen: THIS IS NOT CANDID.
>> NO!
I SAW THE GUY.
>> AND THOUGHT REALLY, THE GUY TAKING MY PICTURE.
SO THAT'S WHY I LOOKED SO DEPRESSED, FOR NO OTHER REASON.
I LOVE TAKING THE SUBWAY!
>> Stephen: I DO, TOO.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
( LAUGHTER ) MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SUBJECT,
EVIDENTLY.
NOW, OKAY, YOU PLAY CHUCK RHOADES.
>> I DO.
>> Stephen: U.S. ATTORNEY, CHUCK RHOADES, IN "BILLIONS."
NOW, IN THIS SEASON, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE'S SOME DOUBT AS
TO WHETHER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR POSITION BECAUSE
THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
>> CORRECT.
>> Stephen: OKAY, DID YOU TALK WITH ANY OF THE GUYS WHO WERE
LET GO BY DONALD TRUMP WHEN HE CAME INTO OFFICE?
BECAUSE HE CUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUYS OFF AT THE KNEES.
>> CUT THEM ALL OFF, AND THERE ARE STILL NO GUYS IN THERE NOW.
MOST OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE STILL EMPTY, I THINK.
I DIDN'T TALK TO THEM, NO, AFTERWARDS.
>> Stephen: YOU DIDN'T?
>> NO, I TALKED TO THOSE GUYS BEFORE.
I DIDN'T TALK TO THEM SUBSEQUENTLY.
>> I TALKED TO HIM WHEN HE STILL HAD HIS JOB.
I HAVE NOT TALKED TO HIM-- BRIEFLY I'VE TALKED TO HIM, BUT
NOT IN ANY GREAT LENGTH.
>> Stephen: WELL DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
WHEN YOU PLAY THE PART?
YOU'RE HAVING TO USE BOTH LEGAL TERMS.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND FAIRLY ESOTERIC WALL STREET TERMS,
WHICH I THINK THEY MAKE UP TO CONFUSE US ON PURPOSE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: LIKE CREDIT FAULT SWAPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> YES, I THINK THAT STUFF IS DONE AND IT SOUNDS SO ARCANE TO
CIEPS CONFUSED.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU HAD TO LEARN ABOUT WALL STREET TO DO
THE SHOW?
>> I HAVE.
I FIND THAT STUFF KIND OF TRICKY.
THE LAW STUFF, EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH IT ENOUGH THEY CAN
DO THAT STUFF.
AND I LEARN THE STUFF I HAVE TO LEARN.
I DON'T LEARN ANYTHING BEYOND THAT POINT.
I'M LIKE, "THAT'S GOOD.
I'M DONE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT."
AND BEYOND, THAT I DON'T.
AND I UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHEN THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW, BUT A
LOT OF THE OTHER STUFF I CAN'T.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY'RE BREAKING
THE LAW.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT.
I THINK IT'S PURPOSEFULLY OPAQUE.
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: TO, YOU KNOW, SCHMUCS, "LIKE US, SO THE TITANS
OF INDUSTRY CAN TRADE THEIR MONEY BACK AND FORTH.
>> WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
>> Stephen: DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WAX FOR PAUL?
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE UPSET THERE IS NO MADAM
TUSO'S WAX FIGURE OF PAUL GIAMATTI.
THIS GETS PUT AROUND A LOT: THIS BLEW UP LAST YEAR.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> WE'RE STILL OUT THERE
FIGHTING IT.
WE'RE STILL OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR IT.
>> Stephen: YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT LAST YEAR WE BOUGHT A
WAX STATUE OF ZACHARY TAYLOR.
WE BOUGHT IT FROM A CLOSING WAX FIGURINE SHOP DOWN IN
GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
>> FANTASTIC!
>> Stephen: WE BOUGHT THIS AND WE HAVE CONVERTED IT IN YOUR
HONOR.
PAUL, COME WITH ME.
>> OH, MY GOSH!
>> Stephen: BRING IT OUT BOYS!
>> WOW!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WE ARE GATHERED HERE
TO RIGHT A WRONG THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ONE OF AMERICA'S FINEST
ACTORS.
>> THEY A HELL OF A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
>> Stephen: "THE LATE SHOW" IS PROUD TO UNVEIL THIS-- THE
OFFICIAL WAX STATUE OF MR. PAUL EDWARD VALENTINE GIAMATTI.
WITH "CINDERELLA MAN," HE CAPTURED OUR HEARTS.
WITH "SIDEWAYS" HE TOUCHED OUR SOULS.
AND WITH "SAN ANDREAS," I ASSUME HE BOUGHT A SUMMER HOME.
( LAUGHTER ) THERE IS, PERHAPS, NO MAN MORE
DESERVING OF EN-WAX-IFICATION THAN MR. GIAMATTI.
A MAN KNOWN AS AN "ACTOR'S ACTOR," A "DEVOTED CRAFTSMAN,"
AND, OF COURSE, AS "THE GUY WHO WAS GOOD IN THAT THING YOU
REALLY LIKED.
FOR THESE REASONS, HENCEFORTH, HE SHALL BE PROUDLY DISPLAYED
WITHIN THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER-- OR AT
LEAST A HALLOWED CORNER IN THE LOBBY, IF IT ISN'T A FIRE SAFETY
VIOLATION.
AND PROBABLY JUST FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS."
PAUL, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE OPEN
THE EXHIBITION.
>> I FEEL THE GREATNESS OF THIS MOMENT.
>> Stephen: GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
PAUL GIAMATTI, EVERYONE!
"BILLIONS" RETURNS SUNDAY MARCH 25th ON SHOWTIME.
CONGRATULATIONS!