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  • -We're back with Paul Giamatti.

  • "Billions" is on Showtime Sunday nights.

  • One of the things I'm most jealous of your part

  • on "Billions" is how often you get to eat

  • at incredible restaurants.

  • Has that been a fun part for you?

  • -It has been a -- It is a huge part of the show,

  • and it definitely was a fun part of it for me,

  • and it sort of increased as the show went along.

  • It's a little bit less so now,

  • but it became a real part of the show.

  • And I went to all of these places

  • I had heard of and never been to

  • and then went to all of these places

  • I had never heard of, and they were really amazing.

  • And, you know, Brian Koppelman,

  • one of the creators of the show, is a big foodie,

  • so we were constantly going to amazing places.

  • -I imagine it looks wonderful to be able to eat all of that food,

  • but as an actor,

  • are you actually eating all of that food?

  • -Well, I am, because I think that people

  • should actually eat and look like they're eating.

  • And it bothers me, 'cause, you know, actors

  • will sort of play with the food and do a lot of kind of, like,

  • you know, kind of fake eating, because, you know,

  • you're going to have to repeat it

  • and actually eat all the stuff that you're eating, so I --

  • But I tend to just say the hell with it,

  • and I actually do it.

  • So I'll end up having to eat like seven chicken sandwiches

  • or two or three plates of poutine.

  • And we go to these -- But the real problem is more

  • that it's like 6:00 in the morning

  • and I'm eating...poutine.

  • And that's what becomes really strange.

  • I'll be eating the finest mutton chop in New York City

  • at 7:30 in the morning, and it's gross.

  • And it gets cold, and it sits there, and they try --

  • It's just weird. It's weird.

  • -I do appreciate you eating the real food,

  • because I can tell you that I notice --

  • I was just talking to a friend of mine about a show

  • that we both like, where the main character,

  • every eating scene, is pushing food around

  • and then maybe a solitary pea on the fork.

  • That does take us out of it.

  • -Well, it does. It takes you out of it.

  • And it really became a part of --

  • It became a big part of this character, too,

  • this kind of appetite, that he was just kind of --

  • Sort of anxiety eating and stuff like that, too.

  • So, you know.

  • -It is -- We should -- Now I do feel like, address --

  • I really do hope that all of these great New York restaurants

  • that you've eaten with on the show,

  • I do hope they return and find life after this.

  • Because, you know, I think

  • one of the great things about this show is it --

  • it really shows how New York

  • has the best restaurants in the world.

  • So hopefully they'll return in all of their glory.

  • -Absolutely true. Yep.

  • -You -- The last time you were on,

  • we talked about how your son was not impressed

  • that you were on "Billions."

  • -My son is unimpressed with me in general.

  • -Just in general. -Just in general.

  • Now, I mean, yeah, no, he was not particularly impressed

  • with me being on "Billions," no.

  • My son is -- He's a wonderful -- He's a fantastic kid.

  • But he's very genuinely cool, and you don't --

  • You got to earn it from him. He's -- I swear --

  • He's like Steve McQueen or something, my kid.

  • -Wow. -He's just --

  • You know, he doesn't give it away for free.

  • He's a wonderful, wonderful kid. But he's -- he's Steve McQueen.

  • -And, you know, I've actually talked to Koppelman about this.

  • You know, the show is liked

  • by as cool of people as you could want.

  • I mean, athletes love "Billions."

  • You would think that maybe through them.

  • But that speaks to how cool he is,

  • that he doesn't even care that cool people like it.

  • -Steve McQueen. I'm not kidding.

  • The kid -- The kid is next-level cool.

  • It's like -- He really is.

  • -You -- You have mentioned that he's a fan of "Rick and Morty."

  • -Yes, he is.

  • -And then you got to be a voice on "Rick and Morty."

  • How did he react when you gave him this news?

  • -And I had -- I didn't tell him that I had done it,

  • 'cause I thought this will be a nice surprise.

  • And then it aired.

  • I actually haven't seen it yet, but he saw it.

  • And I got a kind of

  • very kind of low-key, terse kind of...

  • "Nice job on 'Rick and Morty.'"

  • -[ Laughs ] -And I was like --

  • And I reacted like Steve McQueen had just pulled me aside.

  • I was really like, "Wow! Wow! Really?!

  • Did you think -- That's so cool! Really! Wow!"

  • You know, I got really thrilled that Steve McQueen stopped me

  • in the kitchen and been like..."Good job."

  • Like that. You know --

  • -You blew it. You can't be that thirsty with their praise.

  • You should have Steve McQueen'd him back.

  • -I can't! I mean, how can you -- I can't do that.

  • I'm not that cool. I'm not that cool.

  • He's stone-cold cool, the kid. He's great.

  • -So you have not seen

  • what your character was animated to look like?

  • -No. I saw sort of an early thing,

  • but I don't even really remember it.

  • -Well, we have a photo we want to show real quick.

  • This is you as the Story Lord. -Uh-huh.

  • -I think we sent a text of it to you, 'cause there's both

  • shirt on and shirt off,

  • and I think they did pretty well by you.

  • -[ Laughs ] Oh, yeah, no. Actually that's interesting.

  • -Yeah!

  • -You know, I'm actually -- Wow. The chest is, like, crazy.

  • -Yeah. -Wow.

  • -I mean, it really makes you wish there had been

  • more shirtless scenes in "John Adams" because --

  • -[ Laughs ] There really should have been.

  • Were there any in "John Adams"? -I think there were none.

  • -"I think there were none."

  • Maybe Jefferson got a little bit.

  • -Well, I know there's, like, the --

  • You know, there's, like, the after-dark "John Adams."

  • -[ Laughs ] That's right. That's right.

  • The Skinemax "John Adams." The "Silk Stalkings."

  • That's actually -- That's funny.

  • I like the touch of gray at the temples with that guy.

  • -Yeah, no, it's -- It's a very distinguished man.

  • -Yes, I can be -- You can be anything.

  • You can be anything. -You can be anything.

  • With the power of animation. Hey. Thank you so much.

  • Always such a delight to talk to you, Paul.

  • Stay healthy through all of this,

  • and we hope to see you in person next time.

  • -Thank you, sir. Likewise. See you around. Thank you.

  • -Paul Giamatti, everyone. We'll be right back.

-We're back with Paul Giamatti.

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