Seth Rogen and Jason Segel Talk 27 Years of Friendship in New Interview

It’s fascinating to see how actors and comedians Jason Segel and Seth Rogen have evolved over the years, from their early days on “Freaks and Geeks” to their current roles as creators and multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry. Both have come a long way since their days of rolling giant joints and watching “The Matrix” together.

In a recent conversation, Segel and Rogen reminisced about their early days and how they bonded over their shared love of acting and storytelling. Segel reflected on their naivete and youthful enthusiasm for creating unconventional projects, like a Dracula puppet musical or a movie about trying to get booze. Rogen, on the other hand, admitted to letting pragmatism invade his thinking, sometimes at the expense of creative spontaneity.

Both actors discussed the evolution of their creative processes and where they draw inspiration from. Segel revealed that he doesn’t write very often because he finds it to be a challenging and fraught process. Instead, he waits for an idea to nag at him until he can’t ignore it. Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg take a more Darwinistic approach to their ideas, letting the ones that stick around guide their creative direction.

As they navigate the complexities of aging in the entertainment industry, Segel and Rogen continue to challenge themselves and push the boundaries of their creativity. Rogen’s advice to Segel about writing for their age bracket resonated with both of them, reminding them to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with maturity and experience.

Overall, Segel and Rogen’s journey from stoner buddies on “Freaks and Geeks” to respected creators and actors is a testament to their talent, hard work, and enduring friendship. Their ability to balance humor with depth and authenticity in their work sets them apart as two of the funniest and most versatile talents in the industry today. We were talking about how our tastes and sensibilities have changed over the years. It was a scary thing for both of us to acknowledge that we didn’t want to make content about dumb teenagers anymore. We were also afraid of being stuck in that mindset of being afraid of girls, as Seth Rogen pointed out.

It has been a decade since Evan and I wrote, directed, and produced something that I was also in. We went through a transition period from our 30s to our 40s, working on other projects but not on our own stuff. Evan and I have similar tastes, with a few differences, but we’ve never had a major conflict over what we want to work on. Our new project, “The Studio,” has a mix of “Birdman” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” energy, which was exactly what we were going for.

We wanted the show to be fast-paced and focused on humor. We didn’t want to waste time on shots or scenes that didn’t add to the comedy. Improvisation played a big role in our project, as it added depth and realism to the scenes. It was interesting to see how our comedy improv skills translated well into dramatic scenes.

As for directing, having different directors for each episode was a new experience for Seth Rogen, who struggled with the constant change. On the other hand, Jason Segel explained the challenges of block shooting and having a cohesive vision for the show. Both agreed that the editing process is crucial in shaping the final product.

Our new show, “Shrinking,” delves into themes of grief and humor, aiming to strike a balance between the two. We wanted to honor the real struggles people go through while still making it entertaining. It was a delicate balance of turning the dials on how bad we could make the therapist character, finding the right mix of seriousness and comedy.

In the end, creating a show that resonates with audiences and stays true to our changing tastes and sensibilities was a challenging but rewarding experience for both Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. The conversation between Jason Segel and Seth Rogen revealed some interesting insights into the making of their show. Segel expressed his willingness to push boundaries with his character, allowing for some questionable behavior to be portrayed. Rogen agreed, emphasizing the importance of eliciting sympathy from the audience.

The duo also discussed how they landed Harrison Ford for a role in the show. Segel humorously recounted how they initially sent an offer to Ford as a placeholder, only to be pleasantly surprised when Ford accepted. Rogen joked about Ford’s message, adding that even if Ford had declined, the message would have been a great consolation.

Rogen shared his experience with casting cameos in the show, revealing that many of the celebrities were people he had not previously known. He explained that the goal was to feature actors who had not appeared alongside him before, leading to some unexpected and exciting collaborations.

The conversation took a lighthearted turn when Segel recounted a memorable encounter with Martin Scorsese at the Golden Globes. The two shared a humorous moment at the urinals, with Segel fondly recalling the mismatched heights of the facilities.

As the discussion shifted to directing and acting in the show, Rogen admitted to feeling nervous about creatively steering the project. He expressed a fear of disappointing his idols who appeared on the show, emphasizing the personal connection he felt to his character.

Despite the challenges of directing and acting simultaneously, Rogen found the experience fulfilling. He enjoyed the complexity of juggling multiple roles and found satisfaction in achieving the perfect shot or scene.

Overall, the conversation between Segel and Rogen provided a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of their show. From casting decisions to creative anxieties, the duo shared humorous anecdotes and heartfelt reflections on the process of bringing their vision to life.