Since his breakout role in the sitcom Newsradio Stephen Root has gone from Hey its that guy! to Youre that guy I love! Root has been building a huge resume over the past few years with roles in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Jersey Girl. Hes also a big cartoon voice in the films Ice Age, Finding Nemo and the TV show King of the Hill,.
I got a chance to talk with Root about his first lead cartoon in the CGI rendered Sci Fi series Tripping the Rift. Root voices Chode McBlob the sexist, verbally abusive, selfish captain of a group of misfit space smugglers who sail the universe on their starship, Jupiter 42. Anchor Bay Entertainment just released the first of Tripping the Rift on.
Check out the official site for the DVD of Tripping the Rift
Daniel Robert Epstein: First I want to say its a pleasure to talk to you. Ive been a fan of yours ever since Paul Hogan held a knife to your penis [in Crocodile Dundee 2].
Stephen Root: [laughs] That was actually fun to do. He was great. Hes a fun guy. That was a big break for me back then. Id only been in a couple of movies at that point.
DRE: It was a very funny scene.
SR: Thanks. I think I may be credited as man in bathroom or something like that.
DRE: Youre credited as DEA Agent Toilet.
SR: Toilet right, thats what it was.
DRE: I know that once you do one cartoon more voice roles come in, was Tripping the Rift something you had to audition for?
SR: No, the guys who originally did it, Chuck Austen and Chris Moeller, came to me and said they had an idea and were thinking of me for the voice of the captain. So we did a five minute demo of it and they shopped that around for a year and a half before they sold it. Then it just went on from there.
DRE: Your character is certainly your most bizarre looking and that counts for a lot with some of the people youve played.
SR: Yeah, its fun for me though playing a complete reprobate. Its always fun to play villains and assholes. Its a blast.
DRE: You work on a lot of cartoons, is Tripping the Rift any different?
SR: No its pretty much the same process. I actually record it at the same place where they do postproduction on King of the Hill. So Im actually seeing King of the Hill stuff all around while Im doing Tripping the Rift, its funny.
DRE: Did you ever get to work with Maurice LaMarche in person like that?
SR: Oh sure. We do it mostly separately now because Maurice does like 800 cartoons a day. Originally Six was voiced by Gina Gershon and now Carmen Electra is doing it. She had done a few episodes of King of the Hill so I know her from that. Weve recorded separately this year so far.
DRE: Tripping the Rift is gaining a pretty big following, have you been to any science fiction conventions or anything like that?
SR: No, but that would be fun to do. Ive been working on a big project for the last three months but Im actually thinking of doing some sci-fi conventions because its actually got a following now which is great. The DVDs are coming out and Im excited. I love the animation on the show; its real pretty and really well done.
DRE: Do you do any writing on Rift?
SR: No, I just talk to the producers. Sometimes theres some script stuff that needs to be skewed and they take suggestions very well. Ill maybe try to rewrite a few things but theyre very giving and artistic with the presentation of it.
DRE: Are you a fan of cartoons in general?
SR: Oh sure. I was a big comic book fan from 13 on. I always loved animation.
DRE: The new Office Space DVD just came out. .
SR: Yeah and we got everybody except for Jennifer [Aniston] to do commentary on it. It should be a good deal.
DRE: Is that your most famous role now?
SR: It is now. I think I was most recognized for Newsradio before Office Space came out.
DRE: Did you ever work in an office?
SR: Yeah I did temp work in New York when I was doing theatre to help support myself so that. I worked in cubicles and did all that stuff back in the late 70s early 80s.
DRE: Had you seen Mike Judges Milton cartoons before you read for the role?
SR: I had not seen them when he asked me to do the read at FOX. He was going to read Milton and then he changed his mind at the last minute and said Nah you read it and I said thanks for the prep.
DRE: You and Mike Judge obviously connect because youve worked together on three projects.
SR: Yep, Id do anything for Mikey Judge. I think hes a great guy. Hes really smart and kind of a shy guy. Hes a great musician who knows exactly what he wants in terms of being a director and in terms of the vision of his project.
DRE: Why has his new film Idiocracy been delayed so long?
SR: I dont know why but hopefully its because they want to give it a little more money for advertising. I play a judge in the future.
DRE: Do you get to improv with Mike or is he tight with the script?
SR: Hes pretty tight with the script. We did improv a little bit on Office Space because Milton rambled a little bit. Mike let me mumble some stuff but usually hes pretty tight with the script.
DRE: In the past few years King of the Hill has turned into one of the best shows on TV.
SR: Thank you, I think thats because the writing is so good. It really makes you care about the people. All the humor comes from character situations instead of a joke book.
DRE: Is it true this season is the last one?
SR: Yeah it is unless some miracle happens. Weve finished recording what would be the tenth season and FOX hasnt ordered anymore. They have an option to order a couple more but it seems unlikely at this point.
DRE: In this last season Hank Hill has become much less tolerant.
SR: Thats true and Peggy has become a little more of a dick.
DRE: I love the show, but I want to punch Peggy Hill in the nose.
SR: I know, its so funny. When some people find out I do King of the Hill they ask me who does Peggy because they want to hit her in the face. Shes being written more and more so totally self-centered.
DRE: Hank used to be the perfect father even though he obviously made mistakes. Now it seems like hes making the wrong mistakes.
SR: I think his worldview has changed. Its been changed for him by the people around him so he cant be quite to his little shell anymore. I think he knows more about the world than I think hes allowed to tell anybody. It happens when you grow up and grow older.
DRE: When the show ends is Bill going to end up happy?
SR: Bill will never ever be happy but he will always try to be happy. Bill is the typical sad sap and he will remain so. But he does have a heart of gold.
DRE: The day I booked this interview with you I was just flipping channels and Monkey Shines was on and you are in it.
SR: Unfortunately for George [Romero] the studio made a change at the end of that. The real ending of that has the monkeys licking my bleeding wounds and we were going to appear in a sequel but that never happened.
DRE: How often do you come across a movie on TV that you were in?
SR: Its happening more because Im in more of them but you dont think about it so much really. Youre working so much in the present but its fun to come across the small screen every once in a while.
DRE: Newsradio was such an amazing mix of comedic actors.
SR: Its one of those few things in a lifetime things because none of us really were stars. Phil [Hartman] was, but most of us were just good character actors. It was one of those things where everything was going for the good of the show, the writers had the same sense of humor, the actors had the same sense of humor, we would write for each other on the floor. Even the interns could throw in a funny line because it was that free of an atmosphere. That just doesnt happen on 99.9 percent of sitcoms because theyre so structured. Also what was unusual was that everybody could deliver. Everybody was fast.
DRE: When youre on a series even if youre just part of an ensemble and it goes into syndication it generates a lot of money. Thats happened to you on at least two series, does that free you up to do more of what you want?
SR: Thats exactly whats happened. I dont have to take jobs for money anymore which is nice. I get to actually think about what I want to do and thats why Ive been doing drama for the last year and a half. Its been hard to get people to break out of the mold saying Well he just does comedy. Ive been able to pick projects that I want to do as opposed to having to do my job.
DRE: You were in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Ladykillers. Just to get to work with the Coen Brothers once is amazing but twice must have been unbelievable.
SR: It was thrilling. It was not a huge part but I dont care. Just working for the boys is an honor I think and Id run over hot coals to work with them any time.
DRE: When did you feel like that you really made it in this business?
SR: I will never feel like that. Pretty much every actor I know is thinking that theyll never have a job after the one that they have. Theres never a total comfort point. There is in some sense because youre a known commodity but youve got to keep working at it to stay where you are.
DRE: What are some of the dramas youre working on?
SR: I just finished three months on a six hour miniseries about the history of the World Trade Center bombing from the 1993 to 2001. Its the story of terrorists, Richard Clark, John ONeil, and the White House. So its really a huge show. Theyre in Morocco now shooting the terrorist stuff.
DRE: Whats your part in it?
SR: Im playing Richard Clark which is a big deal. Harvey Keitel is playing John ONeil, the FBI guy who died in the World Trade Center.
DRE: Whos the director on it?
SR: Hes a guy that I didnt know before named David Cunningham. Hes done a lot of documentaries and hes done a brilliant job on it. We shot now over a million feet of film on this which is more than any other because were shooting four cameras at all times with coverage of everything. Its been amazing.
DRE: Whats your favorite Bill Dauterive storyline from King of the Hill?
SR: Theres one where me and Dale got trapped in a hole in the ground with a backhoe. I thought that was a great one for Bill. I also like the one where he is going to commit suicide at Christmas. The Bill at Christmas stuff is probably my favorite because its all so sad.
DRE: Any news on a Dodgeball sequel?
SR: I havent heard anything on that front yet but if it comes about Ill take a look at it and see if itll be fun.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
I got a chance to talk with Root about his first lead cartoon in the CGI rendered Sci Fi series Tripping the Rift. Root voices Chode McBlob the sexist, verbally abusive, selfish captain of a group of misfit space smugglers who sail the universe on their starship, Jupiter 42. Anchor Bay Entertainment just released the first of Tripping the Rift on.
Check out the official site for the DVD of Tripping the Rift
Daniel Robert Epstein: First I want to say its a pleasure to talk to you. Ive been a fan of yours ever since Paul Hogan held a knife to your penis [in Crocodile Dundee 2].
Stephen Root: [laughs] That was actually fun to do. He was great. Hes a fun guy. That was a big break for me back then. Id only been in a couple of movies at that point.
DRE: It was a very funny scene.
SR: Thanks. I think I may be credited as man in bathroom or something like that.
DRE: Youre credited as DEA Agent Toilet.
SR: Toilet right, thats what it was.
DRE: I know that once you do one cartoon more voice roles come in, was Tripping the Rift something you had to audition for?
SR: No, the guys who originally did it, Chuck Austen and Chris Moeller, came to me and said they had an idea and were thinking of me for the voice of the captain. So we did a five minute demo of it and they shopped that around for a year and a half before they sold it. Then it just went on from there.
DRE: Your character is certainly your most bizarre looking and that counts for a lot with some of the people youve played.
SR: Yeah, its fun for me though playing a complete reprobate. Its always fun to play villains and assholes. Its a blast.
DRE: You work on a lot of cartoons, is Tripping the Rift any different?
SR: No its pretty much the same process. I actually record it at the same place where they do postproduction on King of the Hill. So Im actually seeing King of the Hill stuff all around while Im doing Tripping the Rift, its funny.
DRE: Did you ever get to work with Maurice LaMarche in person like that?
SR: Oh sure. We do it mostly separately now because Maurice does like 800 cartoons a day. Originally Six was voiced by Gina Gershon and now Carmen Electra is doing it. She had done a few episodes of King of the Hill so I know her from that. Weve recorded separately this year so far.
DRE: Tripping the Rift is gaining a pretty big following, have you been to any science fiction conventions or anything like that?
SR: No, but that would be fun to do. Ive been working on a big project for the last three months but Im actually thinking of doing some sci-fi conventions because its actually got a following now which is great. The DVDs are coming out and Im excited. I love the animation on the show; its real pretty and really well done.
DRE: Do you do any writing on Rift?
SR: No, I just talk to the producers. Sometimes theres some script stuff that needs to be skewed and they take suggestions very well. Ill maybe try to rewrite a few things but theyre very giving and artistic with the presentation of it.
DRE: Are you a fan of cartoons in general?
SR: Oh sure. I was a big comic book fan from 13 on. I always loved animation.
DRE: The new Office Space DVD just came out. .
SR: Yeah and we got everybody except for Jennifer [Aniston] to do commentary on it. It should be a good deal.
DRE: Is that your most famous role now?
SR: It is now. I think I was most recognized for Newsradio before Office Space came out.
DRE: Did you ever work in an office?
SR: Yeah I did temp work in New York when I was doing theatre to help support myself so that. I worked in cubicles and did all that stuff back in the late 70s early 80s.
DRE: Had you seen Mike Judges Milton cartoons before you read for the role?
SR: I had not seen them when he asked me to do the read at FOX. He was going to read Milton and then he changed his mind at the last minute and said Nah you read it and I said thanks for the prep.
DRE: You and Mike Judge obviously connect because youve worked together on three projects.
SR: Yep, Id do anything for Mikey Judge. I think hes a great guy. Hes really smart and kind of a shy guy. Hes a great musician who knows exactly what he wants in terms of being a director and in terms of the vision of his project.
DRE: Why has his new film Idiocracy been delayed so long?
SR: I dont know why but hopefully its because they want to give it a little more money for advertising. I play a judge in the future.
DRE: Do you get to improv with Mike or is he tight with the script?
SR: Hes pretty tight with the script. We did improv a little bit on Office Space because Milton rambled a little bit. Mike let me mumble some stuff but usually hes pretty tight with the script.
DRE: In the past few years King of the Hill has turned into one of the best shows on TV.
SR: Thank you, I think thats because the writing is so good. It really makes you care about the people. All the humor comes from character situations instead of a joke book.
DRE: Is it true this season is the last one?
SR: Yeah it is unless some miracle happens. Weve finished recording what would be the tenth season and FOX hasnt ordered anymore. They have an option to order a couple more but it seems unlikely at this point.
DRE: In this last season Hank Hill has become much less tolerant.
SR: Thats true and Peggy has become a little more of a dick.
DRE: I love the show, but I want to punch Peggy Hill in the nose.
SR: I know, its so funny. When some people find out I do King of the Hill they ask me who does Peggy because they want to hit her in the face. Shes being written more and more so totally self-centered.
DRE: Hank used to be the perfect father even though he obviously made mistakes. Now it seems like hes making the wrong mistakes.
SR: I think his worldview has changed. Its been changed for him by the people around him so he cant be quite to his little shell anymore. I think he knows more about the world than I think hes allowed to tell anybody. It happens when you grow up and grow older.
DRE: When the show ends is Bill going to end up happy?
SR: Bill will never ever be happy but he will always try to be happy. Bill is the typical sad sap and he will remain so. But he does have a heart of gold.
DRE: The day I booked this interview with you I was just flipping channels and Monkey Shines was on and you are in it.
SR: Unfortunately for George [Romero] the studio made a change at the end of that. The real ending of that has the monkeys licking my bleeding wounds and we were going to appear in a sequel but that never happened.
DRE: How often do you come across a movie on TV that you were in?
SR: Its happening more because Im in more of them but you dont think about it so much really. Youre working so much in the present but its fun to come across the small screen every once in a while.
DRE: Newsradio was such an amazing mix of comedic actors.
SR: Its one of those few things in a lifetime things because none of us really were stars. Phil [Hartman] was, but most of us were just good character actors. It was one of those things where everything was going for the good of the show, the writers had the same sense of humor, the actors had the same sense of humor, we would write for each other on the floor. Even the interns could throw in a funny line because it was that free of an atmosphere. That just doesnt happen on 99.9 percent of sitcoms because theyre so structured. Also what was unusual was that everybody could deliver. Everybody was fast.
DRE: When youre on a series even if youre just part of an ensemble and it goes into syndication it generates a lot of money. Thats happened to you on at least two series, does that free you up to do more of what you want?
SR: Thats exactly whats happened. I dont have to take jobs for money anymore which is nice. I get to actually think about what I want to do and thats why Ive been doing drama for the last year and a half. Its been hard to get people to break out of the mold saying Well he just does comedy. Ive been able to pick projects that I want to do as opposed to having to do my job.
DRE: You were in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Ladykillers. Just to get to work with the Coen Brothers once is amazing but twice must have been unbelievable.
SR: It was thrilling. It was not a huge part but I dont care. Just working for the boys is an honor I think and Id run over hot coals to work with them any time.
DRE: When did you feel like that you really made it in this business?
SR: I will never feel like that. Pretty much every actor I know is thinking that theyll never have a job after the one that they have. Theres never a total comfort point. There is in some sense because youre a known commodity but youve got to keep working at it to stay where you are.
DRE: What are some of the dramas youre working on?
SR: I just finished three months on a six hour miniseries about the history of the World Trade Center bombing from the 1993 to 2001. Its the story of terrorists, Richard Clark, John ONeil, and the White House. So its really a huge show. Theyre in Morocco now shooting the terrorist stuff.
DRE: Whats your part in it?
SR: Im playing Richard Clark which is a big deal. Harvey Keitel is playing John ONeil, the FBI guy who died in the World Trade Center.
DRE: Whos the director on it?
SR: Hes a guy that I didnt know before named David Cunningham. Hes done a lot of documentaries and hes done a brilliant job on it. We shot now over a million feet of film on this which is more than any other because were shooting four cameras at all times with coverage of everything. Its been amazing.
DRE: Whats your favorite Bill Dauterive storyline from King of the Hill?
SR: Theres one where me and Dale got trapped in a hole in the ground with a backhoe. I thought that was a great one for Bill. I also like the one where he is going to commit suicide at Christmas. The Bill at Christmas stuff is probably my favorite because its all so sad.
DRE: Any news on a Dodgeball sequel?
SR: I havent heard anything on that front yet but if it comes about Ill take a look at it and see if itll be fun.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
runelateralus:
Mr. James rocks!!!
theseeman:
there were squirels and they were married.