Judd Apatow opens up on Ted Danson’s podcast about Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and the weight of stardom, while plugging his forthcoming Comedy Nerd book
On this week’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast with Ted Danson, Judd Apatow joined the host for a wide-ranging chat about life and the comedy world, double‑checking in on publicity for his upcoming book, Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures. The conversation meandered from the legends who inspired him—Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, and his mentor Garry Shandling—to his own projects, including the 20-year-old comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin and the cult favorite Freaks and Geeks.
Apatow was asked whether Anchorman marked his first collaboration with Paul Rudd. He corrected Danson, noting that Rudd had already shown up in the mix earlier, and that he was then transitioning from more serious roles to comedy. He recalled Rudd arriving to the Anchorman audition fully dressed in ’70s garb with a mustache, fully committed to becoming a comedy star. Apatow jokingly urged, “I just want you to gain weight. Let’s do Chunky Paul.”
The chat then turned to how that look translated on screen. While Anchorman didn’t end up pairing Rudd with a heavier frame, the discussion revealed a separate moment when, during shooting for The 40-Year-Old Virgin, executives reportedly pushed back, asking if Rudd could do anything about his weight. Apatow quipped that you can’t change someone’s weight in the middle of a movie and compared the actor’s commitment to a De Niro‑style intensity. An editor’s note clarifies that the studio pushback anecdote referred to The 40-Year-Old Virgin, not Anchorman, with a representative for Apatow confirming the correction.
Beyond these anecdotes, the conversation touched on a broad swath of comedy—from South Park to Roseanne—and even the challenge of writing jokes for the Grammys. The podcast highlights the enduring camaraderie among comedians and the path from indie drama to big‑screen hits. Rudd, who would later share the screen with Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann, in This Is 40, remains a key figure in this backstage story.
Ahead of the book release, the chat offers fans a deeper peek into Apatow’s reverence for the comics who came before him and the collaborative spirit that shapes Hollywood’s comedy landscape. The photos show Paul Rudd at a 2025 event in Austin, underscoring the ongoing weave of these collaborations.
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Summary: The podcast conversation offers a candid look at how early career choices, star transformations, and studio notes shape beloved comedies, while reinforcing the enduring friendships and influences that propel entertainment figures like Apatow and Rudd. It also previews Apatow’s upcoming book, inviting fans to a broader exploration of humor across decades. A hopeful throughline is clear: collaboration and dedication can turn bold, committed visions into enduring movie moments.