>> Stephen: OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T WAIT.
I CANNOT WAIT.
WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY!
I'M GLAD YOU WERE HERE TO SEE THAT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST HAS STARRED IN SOME OF
YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES, INCLUDING "BOOGIE NIGHTS," "CHICAGO," AND
"STEP BROTHERS."
HE NOW PLAYS THE MAN WHO CREATED THE N.B.A.'S SHOWTIME LAKERS IN
THE NEW HBO SERIES "WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS
DYNASTY."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," JOHN C. REILLY!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> FUNNY!
YOU'RE FUNNY, MAN.
>> Stephen: GOOD STUFF.
HEY, THANKS FOR BEING BACK.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SINCE 2018.
>> BEFORE THE GREAT PLAGUE.
>> Stephen: SOMETHING I SAID?
SOMETHING I DID?
DID I UPSET YOU?
>> I WAS WATCHING YOU AT HOME, AT YOUR DESK AT HOME FOR A WHILE
THERE, AND NOW WE'RE ALL LUCKY TO BE HERE TOGETHER.
>> Stephen: ISN'T THIS LOVELY?
PLOFL PEOPLE.
( APPLAUSE ) LISTEN, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE
GOT EVIDENTLY AN OSCAR SEASON THIS YEAR, AND YOU'VE GOT A REAL
SHOT THIS YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ.
>> I HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR THE OSCARS.
I AM IN AN OSCAR-NOMINTED PICTURE THIS YEAR.
"LICORICE PIZZA."
>> Stephen: YOU DID NOT NECESSARILY REMEMBER YOU HAVING
A BIG PART IN THAT.
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE BLINKED DURING MY SCENE.
IT WAS LITERALLY THAT FAST.
I PLAY HERMAN MUNSTER IN "LICORICE PIZZA."
AND THIS IS THE EVIDENCE.
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO.
>> THERE I AM.
>> Stephen: HOW LONG ARE YOU ON SCREEN?
>> THE CAMERA PASSES BY ME QUICKLY.
BUT I THINK CAMEOS SHOULD BE HONORED BY THE ACADEMY.
>> Stephen: SURE.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CAMEO.
>> CAMEO, BUT ALSO MAKEUP.
>> Stephen: DID YOU-- HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET INTO THIS
SITUATION HERE?
>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE "LICORICE PIZZA" WAS
SHOT DURING THE LOCKDOWN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS PAUL ANDERSON DID WAS SAY WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THE ACTORS HAVE THEIR COSTUMES AT HOME, THEY'LL DO
THEIR OWN HAIR AND MAKEUP AND COME IN.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO MESS WITH THE OUTER CIRCLES OF
CONTAMINATION.
JOHN, I WANT YOU TO PLAY HERMAN MUNSTER."
I SAID, "OKAY, COOL."
", WE'RE ALL DOING OUR OWN MAKEUP."
"THAT'S A LOT.
I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL."
"IT'S FINE.
IF IT LOOKS CHEESY, IT'S FINE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HOMEMADE, ANYWAY."
I WAS IN A BLIND PANIC FOR A BLINK AND YOU NIS PART.
I HAVE A FRACKEN STEIN THING AND CUT IT OUT AND PUT IT ON MY HEAD
AND THE GREEN MAKEPUP AND I COULDN'T GET THE BACK OF NIGH
NECK IN THESE OTHER PLACES.
AND PAUL'S KIDS HELPED ME.
PAUL'S LITTLE CHILDREN-- YES-- THERE THEY ARE.
IDA, JACK, AND LUCY, ALL HELPING ME WITH MY MAKEUP, GETTING THE
SPOTS I COULDN'T GET IN THE BACK AND EVERYTHING.
ANYWAY, IT WAS ADORABLE.
>> Stephen: THAT IS ADORABLE.
THAT'S NICE.
( APPLAUSE ) IT'S A GOOD LOOK.
>> I HOPE THE ACADEMY HONORS THAT.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE NOW STARRING IN THE HBO SERIES
"WINNING TIME," AND YOU PLAY JERRY BUSS WHO BOUGHT THE LAKERS
AND KIND OF CHANGED THE N.B.A.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW WHAT AN IMPACT THAT WAS, EXPLAIN
TO THEM WHAT GER DE.
>> HE NOT ONLY CHANGEDLY THE N.B.A.
HE CHANGED THE WHOLE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS NOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE,
JERRY BROUGHT CHEERLEADERS TO PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL GAMES.
>> Stephen: LAKERS GIRLS.
>> YEAH, DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE THAT.
I MEAN, BASICALLY, BEFORE JERRY GOT INVOLVED IN THE GAME IT WAS
LIKE EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS AN ATHLETIC EVENT, LIKE IT WAS
ABOUT REBOUNDS AND STRAPS OR SOMETHING, AND HE WAS LIKE, "NO,
IT'S ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT!
AND WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE WE WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY AND WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE MUSIC, AND WE'RE GOG HAVE DANCERS."
YOU KNOW, EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS BEING IN DEBT TO THE
GREAT WESTERN BANK, HE'S LIKE, I'LL NAME THE STADIUM AFTER YOU.
HOW ABOUT THAT?" HE WAS THE FIRST GUY TO DO THAT.
>> Stephen: HE CHANGED THAT.
>> YEAH, AND ALL THESE THINGS NAMED AFTER COMPANIES, HE WAS
THE FIRST ONE TO DO IT.
ANYWAY, HE CREATED KIND OF STADIUM ENTERTAINMENT IN 1979.
WHICH, AT THE TIME, BASKETBALL WAS BEING BEAT IN THE TELEVISION
RATINGS BY GOLF AND BOWLING.
( LAUGHTER ) HARD TO IMAGINE NOW, RIGHT?
>> Stephen: WOW.
HERE YOU ARE AS JERRY BUSS.
THERE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE.
WITH THE ACTOR PLAYING MAGIC JOHNSON RIGHT THERE.
>> QUINCY ISAIAH.
>> Stephen: QUINCY ISAIAH.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING-- CAN WE PUT THAT BACK UP THERE
ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE, JIM.
HERE ARE YOU RIGHT THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TOM CRUISE DOES HIS OWN STUNTS.
DO YOU DO YOUR OWN COMB-OVER?
>> OH, WELL, I HAD SOME VERY TALENTED PEOPLE HELPING ME WITH
MY COMB-OVER.
BUT JERRY DID HIS OWN COMB-OVER.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
>> HE HAD, APPARENTLY, A CASE OF AQUANET AT HOME AT ALL TIMES.
AND YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE SHOW.
I THINK LATER IN THE EPISODES, YOU SEE HE DO IT.
I SHOW HOW HE DID IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SHOT THE PILOT, MY HAIR WAS NOT THAT
LONG, AND I DIDN'T HAVE A MUSTACHE.
SO WE JUST MADE THIS LITTLE PIECE, AND I PUT A FAKE IN STASH
ON.
THEN CORONA HIT AND WE HAD THIS LONG BREAK, AND BY THE TIME WE
GOT BACK SOT SEASON, MY HAIR WAS PANDEMIC HAIR: "HELLO, HONE,
WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST?" AND I GREW A MUR STASH, AND I
WENT IN FOR THE FITTING.
AND THEY WERE LIKE, HERE'S THE WIG."
AND I WAS LIKE, "GUYS, I MIGHT BE CRAZY HERE, BUT I THINK I GOT
THIS.
GIVE ME THAT BRUSH!" AND I BRUSQUED IT UP AND BRUSHED
IT OVER AND PULLED IT ACROSS AND I WAS LIKE, I DON'T NEED A WIG!
I HAVE AN ACTUAL COMB-OVER.
GLCHMENT HOW DID IT FEEL?
>> IT FELT GREAT.
YOU CAN SEE I'M LOSE SOMETHING REAL ESTATE UP FRONT.
I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO HIDE THAT-- OR AS MUCH AS I CAN.
I LIKE HATS.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT I REALIZED, LIKE, OH,
THERE'S A REASON PEOPLE DO THIS.
LIKE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE FRONT, IT'S ALL GOOD!
( LAUGHTER ) I MEAN-- AND IF THEY DON'T MUSS
YOUR HAIR UP.
>> Stephen: SURE.
>> THEY'LL NEVER KNOW.
>> Stephen: THIS CAMERA, THIS CAMERA'S GOT THE ANGLE.
WE HAVE A CLIP.
DO YOU WANT TO SET UP WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLIP?
>> YEAH.
SO EVERYONE IS CONSTANTLY UNDERESTIMATING JERRY AT THE
BEGINNING, AND HE'S SORT OF SAYING, LISTEN, I'LL GIVE YOU
WHAT YOU NEED BUT LEAVE THE REST TO ME," AND I MAKE A PRETTY
CHOICE COMMENT HERE AT THE END OF OUR LITTLE DISCUSSION WHICH
YOU'LL SEE.
>> Stephen: OKAY, JIM.
>> YOU'RE A BUSINESSMAN.
YOU ALL WANT PEE FROM A TREE BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE PRIZE, YOUR
SPHINCTER PUCKERS.
LAIS THERE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET?
>> WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE NEW ONE.
>> WELL, DON'T BOTHER.
JERRY, I TOLD YOU WHEN WE DRAFTED JOHNSON, ALL THE OTHER
BASKETBALL WAS UP TO YOU.
AND I WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU NEED.
NOW TAKE THE WEEK AND COME BACK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
IN THE MEANTIME-- >> MARIA.
>> YOU LEAVE THE PRICE TAG AND MY BEAUTIFUL SPHINCTER, UP TO
ME.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> Stephen: BEAUTIFUL.
REALLY-- REALLY ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE.
>> THAT GESTURE IS WHAT REALLY CITIZEN.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
STICK AROUND, AND WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL ASK JOHN IF HE EVER
PLAYED BALL, WHAT ARE HIS BONA FIDES.