Interview: Nads Talks To Mitch Hurwitz and Will Forte

Hey Gasmii, In support of the new Fox animated series Sit Down, Shut Up, I had the chance to get on the phone with Mitch Hurwitz (who also created Arrested Development) and Will Forte last week. They were Hi-larious! The show is awesome and of course has a stellar cast of: Will Arnett as Ennis Hofftard; Jason Bateman as Larry Littlejunk; Will Forte as Stuart Proszakian; Tom Kenny as Happy and Interpreter; Nick Kroll as Andrew LeGustambos; Cheri Oteri as Helen Klench; Kenan Thompson as Sue Sezno; Henry Winkler as Willard Deutschebog; Kristin Chenoweth as Miracle Grohe.

Check out Sit Down, Shut Up on Sundays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on Fox.



Here’s the quickie interview:

Q: Mitch, how did you develop the personalities for the characters…was there a lot of back and forth or was it set?

Mitch: It was a lot of back and forth. It’s like once we found out that we had a chance of getting Will Forte, who happens to be on this call. We just started writing to what we’ve seen him do and what we think he can do. And then as he starts ad-libbing and putting his own stuff, we kind of end up copying that. You know, a lot of what Will does that’s really hilarious, he doesn’t realize he’s doing. He’s just a very very foolish man. Is that fair to say Will? I mean, does that hurt your feelings?



Will: I would say, if you start at a point of dip-(sh#ttiness), you’re starting at the right place



Mitch: I think, you know, Will is so hilarious. I think one of the things that’s so different about this show is that we have all these really hilarious people. Like Arnett comes in and we – we’re just mixing a show last night where the Arnett character who plays a very macho character, for some reason started like talking like a teenage girl in the doctor’s office…

(click to read more after the jump)

Q: When writing, were you inspired from old school memories?

Mitch: You know, I repressed so much of them. Maybe they’re coming – bubbling up because of that. You know, when I was in school, we didn’t have all the – the wonderful things kids have today. We didn’t have crack cocaine. We couldn’t bring firearms to school. We had – we – we were allowed to learn evolution.

So, it really was the dark ages in many ways. But I would say the only part of if that is at all I think autobiographical is that there were – there were student types that we’re portraying the teacher types.

I mean, that’s kind of one of the statements of the show is that these students are just as immature as the kids. In fact the point of view I think is kind of not the typical, you know, these kids – they’re slackers and morons and that kind of thing.

I mean the kids are just innocent victims that – that want to learn. Their open-eyed innocence, and the teachers are, you know, the jocks and druggies and the outcasts and the Goth ones. And, you know, those are the ones – teachers are the ones that are like incredibly self-conscious and, you know.

Q: Will, how different is working on an animated series vs. SNL

Will: Saturday Night Live is so grueling. That’s a crazy schedule. We have writers, but all the cast writes also. So, you’re just – you are just so tired – exhausted by the end of the week. And it’s very – it’s – it’s so awesome because you pour so much into it.

What’s so wonderful about Sit Down, Shut Up is that I don’t have to do any of that stuff. All I do is the fun part. I just get to come in an have fun, you know. You know, there’s this amazing team of writers who put together these kick-ass scripts and – and I just come in and get to laugh and – and read this stuff. So it’s – it’s – it’s pretty awesome.

Q: Mitch, so much leaked early on the Arrested Development movie…do you know what the plot is going to be, etc…

Mitch: No, not yet. All that information got out so early. And it’s one of the reasons I was like trying to keep it quiet. I have some elements of the story. But just as we were ready to kind of get going with it, it took so long to get everybody on-board. I’m really eager to get everything going.

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I want to thank Mitch and Will for taking the time to chat!!

Sit Down, Shut Up airs Sundays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on Fox.