“A lot of times I will keep tilting forward because I enjoy the feeling, I enjoy the adrenaline rush. But it’s beyond the moment that deserved the bon ami. I will keep wanting to–like an addict–keep that good feeling going. Then I keep going in that search for feeling good, and I’ll get into unreal, inauthentic places. That happens in life and it also happens in my acting. Luckily, when I was 40, I finally matured and was willing to tell the truth and look at myself.” – Ted Danson, episode 171 on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
A self-described “contract player”, Ted Danson has been a staple on television for the past 40 years. Cheers. Becker. Bored to Death. Damages. Curb Your Enthusiasm. In that time he’s been, at least for me, a stabilizing force. A welcomed, recurring presence. On the heels of The Good Place‘s final season, Danson takes this unusual moment of ours to slow down and reflect. We discuss how his love of basketball translated into his love of acting; his memories of making Body Heat; the enduring influence of James Burrows; his evolving relationship with Sam Malone and Cheers; and the long, winding journey to stop “pretending to be Ted and tell the truth.”
Show-notes:
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- If you would like to watch Cheers or The Good Place, you can find them on Netflix and Hulu!
- You can follow Ted on Instagram and Twitter
- Please consider supporting Oceana, which is focused on preserving our Oceans:
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world.
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Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi. Music by: Dylan Peck and Jinsang.
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