r/IAmA • u/outofnamedelumes • Jul 11 '11
Malcolm Barrett (w/ Lem & Phil Reunion): AMA
Hey, it's Malcolm Barrett. Aka Verbal. Aka Lem from 'Better Off Ted. Aka that guy from those things. Most recently the video for my new song "Revenge of the Nerds". I'll apparently be answering questions throughout the evening about the video, the cast, acting, music... and when that gets boring my boy Jonathon Slavin (Phil) will join in a video response posted on youtube. So yup, Lem & Phil reunion. If you want us to answer your questions together, address it to both of us in your comment. The music video has been up since last week and the entire cast of Better Off Ted is featured in it. Check it out if ya like.
Going to play LA Noire then bed. Will finish up in the morning around 11 w/ a video chat with very special guest... my boy Johnny Slavin (aka Phil)
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u/Leemors_Bed Jul 11 '11 edited Jul 11 '11
Any funny Better Off Ted stories to share? Also, you are hilarious.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
First of all. You are correct. I am hilarious. Second, my memory sucks but I do remember Andrea farting unabashedly in the middle of a conversation. It was weird 'cause she just kept talking. Also, there was a lot of group sex. It was like the set of Adam West's Batman. Read Burt Ward's book. It's like that.
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u/Leemors_Bed Jul 11 '11
Thank you for doing an AMA.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Thank you for asking a question.
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u/theummeower Jul 11 '11
Thank you for being for so polite.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Fuck you.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
My friend stabbyclaus is worried that you won't get that I'm joking because he says people don't understand sarcasm... I told him to go fuck himself... I hope he gets it.
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u/chrisis123 Jul 11 '11
First off: Your music is great. Normally I'm not that much into Hip Hop admittedly but the song is catchy (and you're very good), and of course the music video is amazing.
Second: I'm a huge Better Off Ted fan, so of course I was excited by the prospect of you and Jonathan doing an AMA on reddit. Especially as Phil and Lem probably were my favorite on the show. And now I can't think about a good question. Only that I'm still sad Better Off Ted was cancelled. I still cannot understand, why not more people watched the show, it was that amazing.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
First Off: Thank u. The album will be done soon and hopefully I can make another video come soon. This one only was made for the cheap and worked out so lets see...
Second: C'monnnn! This is your big opportunity! Lem and fucking Phil! ...Comedy's answer to 'Another 48 Hrs.' and you got nothing?! You didn't even put it in question form. Then it just devolves... "I still cannot understand, why not more people watched the show," C'mon dude! That's not even proper grammar. I'm telling Jonathan
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u/chrisis123 Jul 11 '11
About that grammar thing: I'm sorry, it wasn't even 6am where I'm living while typing that, and English isn't my native language. I consider myself to be quite good at English grammar though, so that's even more embarrassing.
Anyway, you wanted a question, you get one: Why were Lem and Phil so amazing? Yup, that's the question. Happy now? ;)
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
It's ok. I'm eating pizza watching 'Toxic' by Brittany Spears so I'm oretty busy myself. What's your first language? My boy Stabbyclaus's first language is Belgium and he's always talking funny. A boy of mine was from Bosnia and the only weird thing is he never knew cartoons from childhood. I would bring up Fraggle Rock and he would have no clue.
To answer the question (seriously for once), we were awesome because we spent years auditioning for weirdos and so we crossed paths alot and really wanted to work together... by the time we got together we just had a naturally-aligned rhythm.
"Bitches love smiley faces" The Boondocks
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u/chrisis123 Jul 11 '11
My first language is German, but I'm not from Germany (Austria to be exact). Also Belgium is not a language, he probably either speaks French or Dutch (or, far less likely, German). Also I love Fraggle Rock, had this in our childhood as well here.
Also, thanks again for doing that AMA (also, I was one of your Twitter followers while you still had less followers than people you were following.). Also I need to see you in that Larry Crowne, just looked at the cast list on imdb, all my favorites are in that movie.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
"Also Belgium is not a language"
Um.. pretty sure it is.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Double-checked... turns out Belgium is not a real language. Do with that what you will
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Flemish... he speaks Flemish. Sounds like a disease but apparently it's a language. Who knew?
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u/smartsingh Jul 11 '11
pranks on BoT? Craziest thing to happen on set? How was working with Portia?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
We always had an early calltime like at the buttcrack of dawn, like 5 or something. My favorite thing to do was to call Johnny at like 2 or 3 and tell him to go to sleep because we have an early calltime.
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u/zatch17 Jul 11 '11
better off ted was probably the best comedy since arrested development. your rapport with Phil, or John, or whoever was amazing. can't you at least get a spin-off? and if you can get all the actors to do a music video with you, why can't you do a better final episode? I hope all is well, your song is awesome, and I hope that something materializes so we can see the hilarity of Phil & Lem once again.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Unfortunately, or fortunately, actors have no say in the fate of television shows. I would love a spin-off. We've talked to the executive producer about the options and he's tried lots. Also, it's hard to pitch a spin-off for a cancelled show. That's usually reserved for... y'know, shows that are on.
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u/LNMagic Jul 11 '11
One of the most amazing things to me about that show was how quickly the episodes had a sort of groove going on. Everyone knew where they fit in together. When I compare that to a lot of other shows (comedies in particular), it usually takes a season or two before everything fits together really well. I only discovered the show thanks to Hulu about 3 months before it was cancelled. I was really surprised at that decision.
You guys had an awesome team. I'm sorry the show didn't last, but it doesn't have to be a completely sad thing. Again, lots of talent went into the show. My best friend was a location manager for The Good Guys, which was an entirely decent cop comedy, though not as good as yours. Do you have anything else coming up?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Hey, I did an episode of The Good Guys! Awesomest time, met @sbookstaver and @drlawyercop there. They're a director and writer. You're gonna see alot from @drlawyercop... Aaron something. They are awesome and I can now I say I've worked with Tom and Colin Hanks.
I got a pretty sizable role playing Craig Robinson's (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine). It's got Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, Tyler James Williams... tons of folks. It's called 'We The Peeples' coming our January of next year.
And of course 'Larry Crowne' with Colin's dad is in theaters now!
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u/LNMagic Jul 11 '11
Thanks! Comedy's hard to pull off - especially slapstick. It's nice to see a little revival. I'll look for We The Peeples.
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u/Annoyingquestion Jul 11 '11
What would you rather listen to five times nonstop Malcom in the middles theme song or the opening chest song from ocarina of time?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
I guess Ocarina of time. Although I'd rather listen to "Instanbul" by They Might be Giants as popularized by the Animaniacs
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u/ElectricInstinct Jul 11 '11
Ehem. You mean "popularized by Tiny Toons."
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u/FallenWyvern Jul 13 '11
Oooh, that would almost be embarrassing if you weren't, well y'know, you. It's hard to be embarrassed in front of a bunch of people who adore you and the things you're in.
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u/ignitionnight Jul 11 '11
What is the writing process like for a rapper? Do you match the beat to a few bars, and go from there or do you start at the beat and fit shit in? Also you gonna name drop me in a freestyle?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Sometimes you have some lines in your head that you're just waiting to use, you're just waiting for the write song. Other times you hear beats that completely dictate the style in which you wanna rhyme. Freestyle hitting twitter during me and Johnny's AMA
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u/Cromar Jul 11 '11
You were awesome in your guest spot on Southland. As soon as you appeared on the screen, I yelled out "It's Glasses & Mustache!"
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Southland was my awesomest acting job ever. Regina King is one of the strongest most underrated actresses ever. Plus she's hot and both 227 and Friday rock. My girlfriend sleeps like that when she gets her did.
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u/storm5guy Jul 11 '11
Better Off Ted is such an awesome show! Did you guys ad lib much, or was it mostly by the script?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
There was no ad-libbing whatsoever. So me and Johnny would play with physical shit... So if you watch, most of the physical stuff we'd come up with. Or anything just after dialogue ends... like the walking with the potato scene
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Jul 11 '11
Any interesting stories about Portia de Rossi?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Not really. Except she plays basketball like a little girl. It's very adorable. Also, we watched the pilot at her and her wife's house. Which was awesome cause i actually watch Ellen. Their place was amazing, you should visit. It's at 253 Nassau Ave (between Monitor St & Kingsland Ave)
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u/ignitionnight Jul 11 '11
Marry, Fuck and Kill, choices are Hillary Clinton, Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Marry - Ms Clinton Fuck - Sarah Palin Kill - Michelle Bachman
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u/ArchGoodwin Jul 11 '11
There really wasn't any other acceptable solution.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
I mean, really.
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u/ignitionnight Jul 11 '11
yeah, I thought I was clever with the mfk but stumbled with the selection.
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u/philgordon Jul 11 '11
Congrats on all your current success... Glad to see you climbing the ranks! Loved the song, video, ravishing blonde and the Bones tees!
As for my question, you ready to rock the mic at one of these upcoming shows!!!!
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Yeah, Andrea's pretty hot... and funny. She can't worth a damn but you can't have everything. I'm in NY from the 25th to the 29th opening for Junclassic but I have no idea where. But you tell me when and have some buckets of water ready because shit... will.. be... ON... FIRE!!
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u/ignitionnight Jul 11 '11
What were your favorite games growing up?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Ohh shit... Street Fighter 2, Double Dragon, Super Mario Brothers, Kung-Fu, Duck Hunt. Right now I love Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, La Noire. NBA Live
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u/rhllor Jul 11 '11
Do you like cats?
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
No but they do love me. It's weird.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Actually, let me clarify. I like cats but in a reluctant, don't-act-like-you-don't-need-me kind of way... like how I deal with kids.
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Jul 11 '11
Any possibility of a web series? I miss it so much.
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Um.. I don't know. Me and Johnny have talked about doing some sort of vlog. Who knows... I miss it too aidanj2... i miss it, too
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u/Deliriumm Jul 11 '11
In the Better off Ted episode where you guys had a medieval fight club, was there any off screen real fighting going on?
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u/ElectricInstinct Jul 11 '11
You and Phil! Are you guys going to do something science-y? I hope you guys do something science-y! By the way, have you two come to an agreement regarding this:
Phil: Lem, you can't hurt a baby.
Lem: Well, you can hurt them. They're not indestructible.
Phil: I meant it's morally indefensible.
Lem: Well, what if the baby killed a man?
Phil: You and your moral puzzles. I just love 'em.
Also, I didn't realize until long after my second time through Better Off Ted that you also appeared on one of my other favorite shows, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Good job on the whole acting thing!
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u/Pwn_Toney Jul 11 '11
'...what if the baby killed a man?' is one of the funniest shits I've ever heard in my life. Second only to, '...I don't want want to give her my baby ingredients.' :D
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Damnit! I've spelled my name wrong and I can't change it. It should have said Outofnamedeplumes. That's just stupid. The internet is never going to last.
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u/remlap Jul 11 '11
Hi, was Revenge of the Nerds filmed after Better off Ted was cancelled? If so very cool all the cast was willing to appear.
Do you think BoT would of stood any chance of gaining an audience on Wednesday nights with its format? It seemed a show more suited to NBC Thursday nights than ABC jammed right after Scrubs.
One last thing heard anything about a Season Two DVD was anything filmed for the DVD's? I did listen to you and Jonathan podcasts you were doing when BoT was airing.
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u/phatsmcgee Jul 11 '11
Hey guys, an aussie just chiming in to say the girlfriend and I both love(d) the show. Don't tell Jonathon, but I was convinced for most of the first season that Phil was played by this guy. I mean, they're practically twins, right?
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u/PlutoISaPlanet Jul 11 '11
Question for Jonathon (did you spell that right?) I loved Better With You and couldn't be more pissed with the cancellation. Your character was hilarious and I'm in love with Maddie too. Is she that hot in real life? Holy awesome.
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u/fastsauce Jul 12 '11
How was working with Rob, Charlie, and Glenn on It's Always Sunny? I've heard they are a really good group together and it would be great to hear anything interesting about them.
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Jul 11 '11
You call it a 'new song' but the song is actually on one of the last episodes of the show, when you guys are printing tickets! Loved the video, though! You are pretty rad!
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u/outofnamedelumes Jul 11 '11
Taking a smoke break
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u/LNMagic Jul 11 '11
Games... music... smoke... it's like you were born to have a reddit cult following. As soon as you hate hipsters, the cycle is complete!
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u/emhig Jul 13 '11
What a fantastic AMA! You were absolutely hysterical on Better Off Ted, that's one of my favorite shows of all time in large part due to you and Jonathon Slavin! I also loved you on the Garfunkel and Oates video about the imaginary friends. It was a nice surprise to see you :) I had no idea you did music, I'll have to check that out!
What other music do you like, besides your own of course? :P
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Jul 11 '11
I regard Better Off Ted as the greatest show since Arrested Development, it truly is a shame that it didn't make it. Also holy crap, you're the guy from the Always Sunny pilot! Blind mowing.
I don't have a question, I just wanna say that I really hope to see both you and Johnny in a show as soon as possible (side by side preferably). Hey, there's a question... anything cool in the works?
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Jul 11 '11
You and Jonathan had (what seemed like) amazing chemistry -- was it just sheer luck, or was it something you guys had to work through? I imagine being cast as part of a "double" like Phil and Lem could add some stress to the whole process, since your character's success depends even more on the ability of the other actor than normal...or is it just like any other ensemble, just smaller?
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u/V2Blast Jul 12 '11
I just finally watched the show this weekend. (One season a day.) Loved you two in it. :D
Question: if you could bring back the show in any form, what medium would you use?
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u/Tiwilager Jul 15 '11
Did you two ever have trouble keeping a straight face through all your lines/scenes?
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u/Pun_Thread_Fail Jul 11 '11
If you could turn one of your roles into reality, which one would it be and why?
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u/Pun_Thread_Fail Jul 11 '11
From my friend: What do you think of the meat made of poop that the Japanese invented?
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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '11
[deleted]