Key Takeaways
- David Duchovny was the mystery guest, surprising Sean Hayes.
- Duchovny transitioned from Yale academia to a multifaceted entertainment career.
- He is an accomplished actor, musician, and author of several novels.
- Duchovny balances diverse creative pursuits, prioritizing his current projects.
- He initially hesitated about 'The X-Files' but found the experience educational.
Deep Dive
- One host recently injured his finger playing with his dog just before the podcast recording.
- Guest David Duchovny expressed a desire to bring his dog, Ricky, but noted compatibility issues.
- Hosts debated the social norm of bringing dogs to others' homes, with one host strongly disapproving of the practice and potential mayhem.
- Duchovny's music is described as high-quality rock and roll, influenced by the late 60s, 70s, and 90s indie rock.
- He taught himself guitar only a few years before his first album and cannot read or write music.
- Duchovny does not play guitar live, focusing on singing and stage presence, comparing his performance style to Liam Gallagher.
- Duchovny's novel, 'Bucky F***ing Dent,' is fiction based on a historical baseball moment; he is a New York Yankees fan.
- His grandfather wrote for The Forward, a Yiddish newspaper.
- Duchovny's father, who worked a nine-to-five job, published his first novel at age 73, two years before his death.
- Duchovny initially pursued a PhD in English literature at Yale but found playwriting appealing for its collaborative nature.
- His first acting experience was in a Yale drama production, leading him to realize the challenging nature of acting and the appeal of audience attention.
- He later studied the Strasberg Method in New York to inform his playwriting by understanding the actor's perspective on dialogue and performance.
- Duchovny's first unpaid acting role was adapting Charles Bukowski's 'The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, California' for a class play, using a blow-up doll.
- His first professional paid gig was a Michelob beer commercial, where nervousness impacted his performance.
- An edgy, two-night performance involving ankle weights and a pail of water resulted in audience laughter and surprise.
- Duchovny supported himself in Los Angeles through commercials and catering, living in a small apartment without a kitchen.
- His role in the independent film 'New Year's Day' helped him secure an agent in Los Angeles.
- He initially felt reluctant towards television acting despite being a fan of science fiction.
- The television pilot process often involves actors signing multi-year contracts before knowing if a show will be picked up.
- 'The X-Files' aired in 1993 on the early Fox network, becoming a significant hit without requiring massive viewership numbers.
- An anecdote details a 'terrible' re-audition in 1999 for a role after a pilot had already been picked up for a series.
- Duchovny manages his multiple creative endeavors by prioritizing the current project, with novel writing requiring intense, dedicated periods of several months.
- He states he cannot write novels while acting or directing.
- He acknowledges a responsibility to 'The X-Files' cultural impact and legacy, despite initial desires to distance himself from the role.
- Duchovny states he is 'so bad with hobbies,' mentioning watching TV shows like 'Black Rabbit' and 'Love Island' in his free time.
- He is a fan of the New York Knicks, having grown up in New York.
- He wrote and directed the baseball-themed 'X-Files' episode 'The Unnatural,' which featured actor M. Emmet Walsh.