As a Jewish child rising up within the Bronx, Ben Schwartz relied on humor to make new buddies. That talent got here in helpful when his household relocated to Westchester, and much more so when he launched into a comedy profession that finally led him to his breakout position because the lovable blowhard Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on Parks and Recreation. Schwartz’s origins made him a pure match reverse Billy Crystal, one other Jewish child from the Bronx who might make individuals chortle, within the 2019 comedy Standing Up, Falling Down. They turned good buddies, staying in contact as Schwartz went on to voice the lead character in Sonic the Hedgehog and its upcoming sequel, and confirmed up in all the pieces from the Netflix comedy House Drive to the Apple TV+ whodunit The Afterparty. Earlier this month, they reunited over Zoom for an informal chat about meals, sleep, and different necessities. 

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BILLY CRYSTAL: Why are you in New Orleans?

BEN SCHWARTZ: I’m filming a film known as Renfield. It’s a Dracula-based film. 

CRYSTAL: You’re employed on a regular basis. Do you say sure to all the pieces?

SCHWARTZ: I’m attempting to be good at saying sure to the issues that make me glad. 

CRYSTAL: Why do you select a mission?

SCHWARTZ: I select it via phrases, actors, or director. I did a movie with you, and I assumed the phrases had been good, and the actor field was checked, as a result of I all the time wished to work with you, and thought I might turn out to be a greater actor by being close to you.

CRYSTAL: Did you?

SCHWARTZ: Oh my god, yeah. We had nice enjoyable and unimaginable chemistry.

CRYSTAL: Have been you humorous as a child?

SCHWARTZ: I used to be. I feel I’m a mix of my mother and pa. My mother is extra bodily comedic and zany, and my dad is extra witty, and I form of do each. In order a child I preferred making individuals chortle, and after I moved from the Bronx to Westchester, the way in which that I made buddies was by making individuals chortle. I used to be the category clown in highschool.

CRYSTAL: Are you sleeper?

SCHWARTZ: Horrible sleeper! 

CRYSTAL: What retains you up?

SCHWARTZ: You realize what it’s? The second I take a look at my cellphone, I’m up. If I see a textual content or an e mail, my mind begins and I can’t return to sleep. I get too inquisitive about who’s emailing, and texting, and why. Or if I am going on Twitter, it’s over. 

CRYSTAL: It appears like an habit to the cellphone.

SCHWARTZ: I feel that’s completely appropriate. There’s a mode that I exploit known as sleep mode. You place it on sleep mode and that approach your cellphone doesn’t present any texts or emails and it all the time stays dim. That’s modified all the pieces. 

CRYSTAL: Do you dream lots? 

SCHWARTZ: I feel I dream lots. I don’t retain these goals fairly often.

CRYSTAL: Isn’t it irritating?

SCHWARTZ: I hate it.

CRYSTAL: Particularly if you’re about to depart residence to work. I’m about to depart now for nearly a 12 months. 

SCHWARTZ: Speak about what you’re doing. I do know that is purported to be about me, however I’m so excited that you simply’re doing this factor on Broadway [Mr. Saturday Night].

CRYSTAL: It’s scary. Leaving my household brings anxiousness, after which there’s the work. You’re considering of recent strains, new songs—that’s what retains me up. Nevertheless it additionally fuels the goals. And so there’s goals that make you are feeling such as you’re in the course of some nice VR factor, after which I get up like, “Oh! I used to be residing in a terrarium!” And then you definately go to write down it down and it’s gone. You may’t keep in mind them. Does that occur to you?

SCHWARTZ: On a regular basis. However when I’ve an vital factor arising, if there’s an enormous filming day, I’ve normally not slept a ton the evening earlier than, as a result of I’m both excited or nervous. 

CRYSTAL: What pisses you off? I’ve seen you get somewhat annoyed. However do you’ve gotten a mood?

SCHWARTZ: I get annoyed at numerous issues, and I get irritated, and oftentimes I’ll spiral about little issues that no person else would care about.

CRYSTAL: What will get you annoyed?

SCHWARTZ: I hate feeling helpless. That may be on a macro scale, like throughout Covid, or it could possibly be my mother who simply damage her leg, and he or she’s in New York. And the truth that I can’t be there for her, actually made me upset and unhappy. 

CRYSTAL: So what will get you indignant?

SCHWARTZ: When somebody hurts or disrespects my buddies. 

CRYSTAL: What does your father do?

SCHWARTZ: My father began off as a social employee, then he labored because the director of the YMHA, which is an enormous job in Riverdale. After which he moved from that, and likewise did a complete bunch of stuff, after which labored in actual property. My mother was a Bronx college trainer.

CRYSTAL: What did she educate?

SCHWARTZ: Music. I used to be one in all her college students, and I wasn’t allowed to be any of the massive roles in musicals when my mother was a trainer as a result of they thought-about it nepotism. 

CRYSTAL: You sing in your new present The Afterlife.

SCHWARTZ: You’re speaking about The Afterparty? 

CRYSTAL: I’m a Jew. I’m all the time speaking in regards to the afterlife.

SCHWARTZ: By the way in which, what a seamless transition, Invoice. 

CRYSTAL: Fairly good, proper? I did my homework. 

SCHWARTZ: My episode is a real film musical. I’ve unique numbers, I’ve choreography, and it’s the primary time I’ve ever had something like that earlier than. It was unimaginable. a girl named Kat Burns gave me choreography, and to be taught it’s so tough when your mind doesn’t fairly understand it but. After which it feels so fulfilling if you pull it off. 

CRYSTAL: If this film doesn’t go nicely, are we considering Dancing with the Stars? 

SCHWARTZ: It’s a restricted sequence, Billy. 

CRYSTAL: [Laughs] I’m speaking in regards to the Dracula film. What’s the strangest factor it’s a must to do on this movie? 

SCHWARTZ: There are stunts that I’ve by no means actually accomplished earlier than in a film. 

CRYSTAL: Do you put on a harness? 

SCHWARTZ: Let me provide the unique. I put on a harness. 

CRYSTAL: Do you’re employed in entrance of a inexperienced display?

SCHWARTZ: I can’t let you know this stuff, Billy. You’re gonna get me fired. That is Common. 

CRYSTAL: Do you throw punches?

SCHWARTZ: I do. 

CRYSTAL: Is there swordplay?

SCHWARTZ: I can’t let you know, Billy. Let’s speak about Working Scared [Crystal’s 1986 action comedy], should you wanna speak about stunts. 

CRYSTAL: That was an enormous half, it was proper after SNL. I needed to work with the good Gregory Hines. God, I miss him. Greg and I educated on the Beverly Hills Gun Membership.

SCHWARTZ: Oh, wow. Only a be aware to the reader: In case you ever wish to have an actual attractive evening, take a look at what Billy Crystal appeared like in that film. You had been jacked!

CRYSTAL: I used to be. I had a fantastic coach named Dan Isaacson, who had simply educated Travolta for Staying Alive. However as you understand, one too many pastrami sandwiches. I’ve like a two-and-a-half pack now. We’ve eaten in some fascinating locations collectively. And also you turned me onto Goldbelly.

SCHWARTZ:  Oh my god, sure. 

CRYSTAL: What’s your favourite factor to order from Goldbelly? 

SCHWARTZ: These are nice questions. There’s a spot known as The Clam Shack, which is in Maine. It’s Maine lobster sandwiches. Once I get one thing for individuals’s birthdays, I’ll get Russ & Daughters as a result of I wish to deliver some Jewish New York to individuals.

CRYSTAL: For these of you studying, Russ & Daughters is the most effective smoked fish palace of all time. One of the best salmon, the most effective bagels, the most effective lox, it’s phenomenal.

SCHWARTZ: Then for desserts, there’s a cannoli cake that I get for individuals.

CRYSTAL: I’ll identify any individual and also you inform me what you’ll ship them. Madonna.

 SCHWARTZ: I’d get her huge ice cream cones and a few Jeni’s ice cream to associate with that bra she wore within the ‘90s. 

CRYSTAL: Your nice good friend and an outstanding actor, Sam Rockwell. What do you ship Sam?

SCHWARTZ: I might simply give him an enormous piece of an enormous piece of beef from a brisket place in Austin, Texas. There’s a spot known as Black’s that’s actually good. That man works out lots and desires his meat. 

CRYSTAL: Benedict Cumberbatch.

SCHWARTZ:He famously loves fried oysters. 

CRYSTAL: Woman Gaga.

SCHWARTZ: I might get her a chunk of meat from Italy. 

CRYSTAL: James Corden. 

SCHWARTZ: James was sort sufficient to do one thing for me, and I despatched him ribs and the Clam Shack lobster for his complete household. Is there a meals that soothes you? 

CRYSTAL: Pizza will. It’s gotta be actually good. Do you’ve gotten a pregame meal? 

SCHWARTZ: Once I improvise, I attempt to not eat earlier than, so I don’t really feel too heavy. Once I was touring with Thomas [Middleditch, for their improv show Middleditch and Schwartz], we’d get there somewhat bit early to do a sound verify, then we’d simply hang around, or be on our telephones, after which we’d go on stage as a result of we wished it to be contemporary and linked. What was your pregame for 700 Sundays?

CRYSTAL: I’d get to the theater at six, and I had a fitness center, as a result of it’s a one-person present, so I had much more house. We constructed a fitness center beneath the stage, and I used to be capable of put a treadmill in, and a metal stretch cage, some bands, and a few lightweights. I’d are available and do like 45 minutes of simply strolling and stretching, and dealing some bands so my physique felt nice. Then I might eat at 4:30 within the afternoon. I had a beautiful chef who ready me lean meals, numerous protein. After which at intermission, if I felt I wanted one thing, my go-to was all the time peanut butter and jelly on white bread.

SCHWARTZ: Oh!

CRYSTAL: From highschool on, that’s been my go-to little hit of power. 

SCHWARTZ: What kind of peanut butter, what kind of jelly? 

CRYSTAL: It wasn’t crunchy, and simply the plain outdated grape jelly.

SCHWARTZ: For The Afterparty, there’d be very late nights, and I’d all the time get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on complete wheat, reduce in half, and it was heaven for me, as a result of it jogs my memory of my childhood. As I’ve gotten older, I discover myself connecting and wanting issues from after I was a child. Do you discover that it continues on as you become older?

CRYSTAL: Yeah, I get cravings. I don’t eat junk meals, however the different day I had a yearning for a McDonald’s cheeseburger. We had been visiting my mother-in-law, and he or she lives a few blocks from McDonald’s. I had the fries, they’re nonetheless nice. I felt like I used to be again at NYU! 

SCHWARTZ: And it tastes precisely the identical. I take into account quick meals sweet now. 

CRYSTAL: Yeah, and my physique reacted like “Why did you do that? I assumed we had been accomplished with this.” Nevertheless it’s that throwback to one thing acquainted that makes you are feeling somewhat extra linked to your self. 

SCHWARTZ: Identical with TV reveals and flicks. I can watch Again to the Future anytime and it makes me really feel nice as a result of it was my favourite film rising up.

CRYSTAL: You’re on their own on a desert island and you bought 5 motion pictures. What would they be?

SCHWARTZ: Again to the Future, Dumb and Dumber, Shawshank Redemption. I’d most likely put a Disney film on there, so perhaps Aladdin? Which, by the way in which, stars your shut good friend, who anytime you inform me a narrative of, brings my coronary heart aflutter.

CRYSTAL: He’s wonderful in that movie. 

SCHWARTZ: You realize what I feel an ideal film is? When Harry Met Sally. Would you take into account your self the straight man in that movie? 

CRYSTAL:  I consider that as a reactive man. I’m extra of the straight man in Analyze This. 

SCHWARTZ: Sure, that’s proper.

CRYSTAL: I just like the subtlety of doing that form of work. And in Analyze This, I performed a man who listened for a residing. And Bob [De Niro] was so wonderful. Speak about getting again to improvising. It doesn’t matter what I might ask him within the script, he would give me a distinct line studying every time. So it was like taking part in tennis with a man placing a distinct spin on the ball every time. And then you definately needed to react in a different way as a result of he’s providing you with one thing. 

SCHWARTZ: This can be a query I get typically that may be enjoyable to have somebody of your stature to reply. Is there any individual that you simply acted with that you simply had been insanely nervous to work with? You’ve accomplished a lot stuff you could keep assured and respect the particular person you’re with and be excited. However is there somebody that you simply’re like, “Holy shit, I’m appearing with Robert De Niro?” 

CRYSTAL: It was him at that time. 

SCHWARTZ: Needs to be.

CRYSTAL: Penny Marshall, relaxation her soul, had directed him in Awakenings. So I known as her, and I stated, “I don’t know him very nicely. What’s he like on a set? Any clues?” And he or she stated, “Make enjoyable of him.” And I’m considering, “This could possibly be a setup for catastrophe.” However I did it on the primary day of taking pictures and he laughed like loopy. And from then on, we had a tough time protecting a straight face. 

SCHWARTZ: That’s the most effective. 

CRYSTAL: You may have a couple of seconds of awe, but it surely additionally stated, “Look the place you’re, you’re working with him. And he desires to work with you, so that you’re collectively.”

SCHWARTZ: I’ve had moments like that. Once I met you, after I met [Don] Cheadle. It’s, “I do know this particular person from watching them my complete life. They’re in entrance of me now.” I’ve to have my second to be like, “Holy shit!”. After which we discuss like people and it’s, “Alright, he’s only a regular particular person.” After which we’re off to the races.