英语 英语 日语 日语 韩语 韩语 法语 法语 德语 德语 西班牙语 西班牙语 意大利语 意大利语 阿拉伯语 阿拉伯语 葡萄牙语 葡萄牙语 越南语 越南语 俄语 俄语 芬兰语 芬兰语 泰语 泰语 泰语 丹麦语 泰语 对外汉语

美国国家公共电台 NPR Taran Killam Says 'There Was Never Any Common Ground' When Trump Hosted 'SNL'

时间:2017-10-23 01:49来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
特别声明:本栏目内容均从网络收集或者网友提供,供仅参考试用,我们无法保证内容完整和正确。如果资料损害了您的权益,请与站长联系,我们将及时删除并致以歉意。
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEVANS' "FLICKER")

SAM SANDERS, HOST:

Hey, y'all. From NPR, I'm Sam Sanders. It's been a minute. This Tuesday, just like every Tuesday, we're bringing you a really great conversation. Today, "SNL" alum, actor and now director Taran Killam. Taran talked with me about his new comedy, called, "Killing1 Gunther." He directed the movie. He stars in the movie along with - drumroll - Arnold Schwarzenegger. We also talked about Taran's time at "SNL," and he told me how he left the show about a year before he thought he would. Alert, parents, it's one of those "SNL" stories. It features some talk about exotic dancers. All right. We also talk about Taran's role in "Hamilton." He played King George in that Broadway musical for a run earlier this year. And there's one section of the conversation that you are not going to want to miss. Taran told me all about that time in November 2015 when Donald Trump2 hosted "SNL." Taran was there. He has some stories.

All right. Let's get to it. Me talking to Taran Killam. He was in LA. I was in D.C. His new movie is called, "Killing Gunther." It's out this weekend. Enjoy.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEVANS' "FLICKER")

SANDERS: I'm trying to figure out my perfect tongue twister to do before I go in the booth. There are so many options.

TARAN KILLAM: Yeah. I'm a big what-ti to-do to-di to-day (ph).

SANDERS: I can't do that. What to - what to-do to-di to-day (ph).

KILLAM: What-ti to-do to-di to-day at a minute or two to two.

SANDERS: You're good at this.

KILLAM: Nothing distinctly hard to say, yet harder still to do. For they'll be ti-tat-to (ph) at 20 to two with a rat-ta, ta ta-ta, ta, ta-ta ta two (ph). And the dragon will come when he hears the drum.

SANDERS: What?

KILLAM: At a minute or two to two today, at a minute or two.

SANDERS: Oh, my God. I'm so basic. My pre-studio mantra is just, like, over and over and over, what would Beyonce do? What would Beyonce do? What would Beyonce do? What would Beyonce do?

KILLAM: There's such power in that, though.

SANDERS: There's such power. Well, let's just get to it. My biggest bone to pick with you...

KILLAM: Oh, great.

SANDERS: It's actually praise. You brought back into my life, for the last few days, the wonderful, amazing MTV hip-hop improv comedy classic "Wild'n Out." Wild and out. However you say it. I freakin' love that show.

KILLAM: Yeah. The adjective is wilding.

SANDERS: Yes. I didn't realize that you were in it.

KILLAM: I was. I was sort of third-tier white guy on that show for three seasons.

SANDERS: Yeah. I mean, any white guy on that show was automatically first-tier 'cause there were only so many white guys.

KILLAM: That's true. That's true. No, we shone brightly.

SANDERS: (Laughter). What was the thing they would do before they would rap? They'd all be like, listen, listen.

KILLAM: Listen. That's Affion. A - each - if people were smart, which I was not, they would have their own tag. And Affion Crockett's was, listen. And Mikey's was, ay, yo, Nick.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: Ay, yo, Nick. 'Cause he always went after - after the boss.

SANDERS: Did you have a tag?

KILLAM: I had none. I had none.

SANDERS: It's OK. You still made it.

KILLAM: All the good ones were taken. My first two would've been, listen, or, ay, yo, Nick so...

SANDERS: So my producer, Brent, just told me in my ear that's my last "Wild'n Out" question. So we're moving on.

KILLAM: (Laughter). But we haven't gotten into shirts.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: Or - or - or swag. There's a lot of swag.

SANDERS: Exactly. Exactly. Now let's talk about this movie you did. It is something to behold3. It is a - how would you describe it? Like, you describe it.

KILLAM: It's a mockumentary about hit men. So it's in the style of sort of a Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy4 film about a group of up and coming, bumbling hit men trying to assert themselves in the industry by taking out the man monopolizing5 the world of contract killing, Gunther.

SANDERS: Who was played by - drumroll...

KILLAM: Arnold Hubert Schwarzenegger.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: I'm trying to put out that his middle name's Hubert, which it is absolutely is not, but it makes me laugh.

SANDERS: Well, now it is. If you say it three times and tweet it, it's real.

KILLAM: Arnold P. Hubert Schwarzenegger.

SANDERS: The 7th.

KILLAM: (Laughter). There's so many of us.

SANDERS: (Laughter). So what gave you the idea to make a movie like this? I've never in my life seen this movie.

KILLAM: Thank you. Yeah. That's truly the reason I set out to try to make it a reality because I just wanted to - if - if I was going to create something, write, perform in and then ultimately direct, I wanted it to be something entirely6 original and entirely representing all things that I love.

SANDERS: Which are assassins.

KILLAM: A - I love assassins, and I love silly, stupid comedy.

SANDERS: Yeah. Yeah. And it was great to see all these actors do roles that were quite different for them, for someone of them.

KILLAM: Yeah. Cool. Yeah, I think that's what drew people to it. I mean, Arnold's performance in it is probably what I'm most proud of, not only just in that, like, the get of it...

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: ...But he - you know, it's been a while since he's done a comedy, and I also found being, you know, a lifelong fan of his that a lot of the comedy comes out of, you know, the silliness of him being a fish out of water. It's sort of like big guy in a position he's not supposed to be in.

SANDERS: And it was almost self-parody.

KILLAM: Yeah. And this - this was very much more he's the architect of the humor for most of it.

SANDERS: Yeah. No, it was good. It was good.

KILLAM: Thanks, man.

SANDERS: You - OK, so you're directing for the first time. You're the star of this movie. This sounds like it was very, very hard.

KILLAM: It was. Yeah. I think it probably was the hardest thing I've ever done. It was - it was the most educational experience by far. Particularly the directing portion of it I was very good at...

SANDERS: Hell yeah.

KILLAM: ...Specifically in - you know, people and ego7 management is seemingly a big part of the job and...

SANDERS: Who had the biggest ego?

KILLAM: Who had the - probably me.

(LAUGHTER)

KILLAM: Probably me.

SANDERS: OK, OK.

KILLAM: Or, you know, my first AD, Dan Katzman I think (laughter) would be OK if I threw him under the bus too. No - but, you know, I was really well taken care of and and went into this experience hat in hand and sort of, you know, the orientation8 I would give each new hire, each new department head or crew member was it's my first time, and I don't know as much as you. I know what I would like this movie to be, but I - but I look to you to collaborate9 with me to tell me when I'm wrong, and I promise that I will listen to that and take - always take it into consideration and only push back if I feel strongly about something.

SANDERS: That sounds very humbling10.

KILLAM: Yeah, yeah, certainly because there - I mean, literally11 in every creative conversation we had I ultimately put my foot in my mouth somehow of not knowing some simple logistical thing that, you know, had I gone to film school I would have known or the requirements, budgetary or logistically, of space, of unions, you know what I mean?

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: Of schedule. But it was so fulfilling because I - because to get to be at the center and a part of something - be it movie, TV, anything in the entertainment industry - for the entire process, from conception to release...

SANDERS: That's a lot.

KILLAM: ...Is a lot but is rare, too, you know? Not many people get that opportunity, so I'm incredibly grateful.

SANDERS: Two more questions about the movie. You made it with a lot of people you know, including your wife, Cobie Smulders, and Bobby Moynihan from "SNL." How hard was it to direct your friends, and how hard was it to direct yourself?

KILLAM: It was very easy to direct myself not because I love everything I do but because I don't love almost everything I do.

SANDERS: Oh, OK.

KILLAM: So I was able to give myself a pass, and in writing this, I had already kind of acted it out in my head so many times through writing and then getting funding and then...

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: ...Preparation.

SANDERS: So you had acted all those crying scenes over and over again.

KILLAM: Very easily.

SANDERS: You cry very well, Taran.

KILLAM: Thank you so much.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: Tears of a clown.

SANDERS: (Laughter) Yeah.

KILLAM: Yeah. So I knew the options I wanted to give myself. I knew, you know, I had it locked and loaded, so...

SANDERS: OK.

KILLAM: And I knew if I scrutinized12 any of it I can scrutinize13 me better than anyone. I promise you. So at a certain point, you just have to live with it, you know what I mean? Get what you think you want to get and then live with it. Directing friends is trickier14, right, because there's nothing more important to me than my friendships and my relationships with these people. And you never - and getting them to do it in the first place is such a favor. So I'm already - I already love them and now I'm indebted to them. So it does - it does get tricky15 communicating the desire for options and not because what they were giving me wasn't good but because, you know, the more choices they can give me the better chance this has of really kind of nailing what we want it to be. But I'm certain that I rushed through certain setups, you know what I mean?

SANDERS: How so?

KILLAM: Like when Cobie's there, I'm just like, my wife is so good.

(LAUGHTER)

KILLAM: I'm so proud. That's exact - oh, my gosh, it's so beautiful.

SANDERS: Look at her.

KILLAM: Yeah. And you know what was tricky about this is the mockumentary format16, which is a format that I love but isn't - I've now learned - as commercially popular, you know what I mean? It's not...

SANDERS: Well, 'cause they don't get it. They don't get it.

KILLAM: They don't get it. They don't understand my art.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: No, but it's just - it's niche17, right, and it's - and it's ironic18 and it's a comment on a format, but it's something I love. And in shooting it that way, we weren't doing coverage19, right? We weren't doing cross coverage. We weren't doing - we would do different sizes.

SANDERS: You're getting a little technical here. Explain those terms for folks that aren't, you know.

KILLAM: Sure. So coverage is like if you're doing a scene with two people at a table, you shoot a wide, which is sort of from the side and you see both people at the table and establish their positions in the scene and in the space. Then you'll turn it around, turn the camera around, and shoot one angle at one of the actors and maybe to a medium size where you can see them from the waist up and then do a close-up, which is just from the neck up. And then you turn around and do coverage of the other actor...

SANDERS: Got you.

KILLAM: ...And shoot the scene all over again.

SANDERS: Just on them.

KILLAM: Exactly. And with this movie, for a lot of the action sequences, it was single vantage point because the camera itself is a character.

SANDERS: Exactly.

KILLAM: So we were, you know...

SANDERS: That's harder.

KILLAM: There were confines. It - there was just creative confines, which I always prefer and find challenging and sometimes you discover amazing things and other times you go like, oh, that's why they do coverage.

SANDERS: (Laughter) Well, I liked it.

KILLAM: Thanks, man. Me too.

SANDERS: So let's go back to the start. You just directed this movie. You were just in "Hamilton." You did "SNL." You did "Wild 'N Out."

KILLAM: (Laughter).

SANDERS: You have had such a wide-ranging career pretty early on in your career. Did you expect it to be so multifaceted?

KILLAM: I don't know. My expectations starting out were certainly very wide-eyed, and askew20 and fantastical, you know?

SANDERS: How so? I mean, like, what was your dream as a kid?

KILLAM: My dream - you know, once I was determined21 to have a career in the entertainment industry - which is pretty young - was to, you know, book that - get that first big break, be it TV or movie, then be a Jedi or a superhero, then move to the United Kingdom, and live there and become a citizen.

SANDERS: Oh.

KILLAM: ...And eventually get to be, you know, a eighth- or ninth-generation James Bond.

SANDERS: Wow.

KILLAM: That was the goal.

SANDERS: I love the - you were so ambitious.

KILLAM: It fell apart (laughter).

SANDERS: So how do you work your way into this space you're in now? Like, as a kid, you want to do it. Did you start studying acting22, like, in high school or in college?

KILLAM: Yeah, even younger.

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: I come from kind of a showbiz-adjacent family.

SANDERS: Nice.

KILLAM: My mother's aunt married Robert Stack, who was the host of "Unsolved Mysteries," and was Eliot Ness in "The Untouchables" series before that and...

SANDERS: Wow.

KILLAM: So there was a little awareness23. My dad was an aspiring24 actor when he was younger, and then aspiring musician and then full-time25 contractor26.

(LAUGHTER)

KILLAM: ...Once he had kids and needed to pay the rent.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: And so when I was 5, my mother got me headshots - you know, the pictures that actors need - and took me to an agency. And I was just precocious27 enough to kind of be able to walk into a room of strange adults and go like, let me sell your stuff.

SANDERS: (Laughter) Not creepy at all.

KILLAM: Oh, I'll sell this for you, sir. I want to act.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: But I didn't - you know, that was before I really could conceive of what it meant.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: And then my family moved to Big Bear, Calif.

SANDERS: I was reading that. I - you know, I've been to Big Bear. I was there for a wedding, probably a few years back.

KILLAM: Oh, cool. Oh, nice.

SANDERS: And it's so pretty and nice out there, you forget that people actually live there.

KILLAM: Correct. It's a resort town. So I would get that a lot - of like, do people stay here? People visit here, and we get that. No, but it was. It was beautiful and idealistic for, you know, the part of childhood that I was there, which was nine years between 6 and sort of 16 - you know, 6 1/2 - 16 was when we moved.

SANDERS: Was there a vibrant28, young actor community there?

KILLAM: Not as much as you would guess for Big Bear, Calif.

SANDERS: Yeah, yeah.

KILLAM: Although I will say, once we moved there, you know, I wouldn't audition29 as frequently. It would be, like, once every month or every other month, we'd drive down for two days. But then when I was around 11 or 12, a movie shot up there over the summer.

SANDERS: Really? Which movie?

KILLAM: Yeah, it's a movie called "A Pig's Tale." And it's a camp movie, and it was, like, a straight-to-VHS movie. But it was so exciting.

SANDERS: Were you in it?

KILLAM: I was an extra in it, as were many of the local kids. And so that sort of - you know, that lit a fire a little bit. But by that time, I was also starting to do school plays, school musicals, and that got me into it. And then when I was 15, 16, I auditioned30 for the arts high school here in Los Angeles and got in, and that's when things got...

SANDERS: Which is quite the accomplishment31.

KILLAM: ...Stopped being polite, and started...

SANDERS: Start...

SAM SANDERS AND TARAN KILLAM: ...Getting real.

SANDERS: But, I mean, like, that's a big deal to go to that high school, no?

KILLAM: It is pretty competitive, I've learned. Yeah, you don't really, necessarily conceive of the competition of it, I think, you know, as a teenager or - because you're just like, ugh, I'm auditioning32 for this thing, and now I get to go to school where other kids act and there are cute dancer girls.

SANDERS: What is it like "Fame," the movie?

KILLAM: Yeah, less dancing on lunch tables.

SANDERS: Don't dash my dreams.

KILLAM: Sorry (laughter). No, I - don't get me wrong, there was a fair amount.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: Yeah, it - you know, yes, in that it's, you know, public high school where kids are working hard and studying theater, and dance, and music and visual arts - and some very disciplined, and focused and knowing, you know, that this is the time to study, and others doing it a bit more on a lark33 or for the social element of it. I appreciate it much more now that I've come away and experienced the world a bit more.

SANDERS: And you kind of steered34 yourself towards musical theater, no?

KILLAM: That's correct.

SANDERS: What's your favorite musical?

KILLAM: Ever?

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: "Les Mis."

SANDERS: Good call.

KILLAM: "Les Miserables."

SANDERS: Good call.

KILLAM: Thank you. What's yours?

SANDERS: I'ma be simple/basic and say, "The Lion King."

KILLAM: I don't hate that answer at all.

SANDERS: It's - every song in that musical is so accessible.

KILLAM: Yes.

SANDERS: If you're 3 or 75, the music hits you right away, and you get it.

KILLAM: And from a design point of view...

SANDERS: Oh, my God, yes, yes.

KILLAM: ...So eccentric and so outside the box, and yet so comforting and accessible. Yeah, I hear you.

SANDERS: Speaking of music is - we're going to sidebar really quickly to talk about how you just did "Hamilton."

KILLAM: Yeah, that's a good musical too.

SANDERS: I've heard of it.

KILLAM: (Laughter).

SANDERS: Who'd you play?

KILLAM: I played the only role I could, which is King George III, and it was a dream come true. I tell people I felt like a contest winner.

SANDERS: Wow. How'd you get it?

KILLAM: As soon as I moved to New York for "Saturday Night Live," I was, you know, in the capital of, certainly, North American theater, if not global theater.

SANDERS: Oh, yeah, it's better than West End. Let's be honest.

KILLAM: You know what I mean? Eat it, Brits. Eat it, "Cursed Child." Your good stuff comes to us.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: You right, you right. But to answer your question, I said to any and all who would listen, I'd love to get involved in theater in any way I can. And one of those ways was 24 Hour Plays, and I became friends with Tommy Kail, who is the director of "Hamilton." And he and I were sort of fast friends and just stayed in touch. And then Lin we kind of knew because Lin...

SANDERS: I love that you're first name with Lin (laughter).

KILLAM: Yeah, man. L to the I to the N. Because he...

SANDERS: Lin - and we should say, for those who were under a rock the last half century...

KILLAM: Sure, who don't - yeah...

SANDERS: Lin-Manuel Miranda.

KILLAM: Correct.

SANDERS: Yeah, go ahead, it's all right.

KILLAM: The genius - the certifiable genius.

SANDERS: Literally.

KILLAM: He was hired kind of by Neil Patrick Harris to write music for "How I Met Your Mother," the show that my wife was on.

SANDERS: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

KILLAM: So we knew Lin a little bit, and it was - you know, what a small world. And then Tommy was very kind to invite me to, like, workshops, and labs and rehearsals35 for this really cool hip-hop-historical show about the guy on the $10 bill.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: I was like, uh-huh.

SANDERS: Interesting idea.

KILLAM: Sure, great. Hey, I love you guys. I'll support anything you do.

SANDERS: When you went to those, like, practices did you know it was going to be a thing?

KILLAM: I knew it was good. I - you could tell the caliber37 of talent. Just Lin, and Tommy, and Alex Lacamoire and everybody involved was at the height of their ability, including the cast. And so what was hard, coming into rehearsal36 space, is, you know, just hearing, (singing) history has its eyes on you.

And they were, like, practicing the harmony, and you're like, I don't know what this means for the story, but it seems very moving and emotional.

(LAUGHTER)

SANDERS: Yeah, I'll go with it. You got the pipes, buddy38.

KILLAM: You're very kind.

SANDERS: You got the range.

KILLAM: Yeah, so Tommy - when I didn't go back to "SNL," he's like, hey, listen, this may work out in our favor. We're - we need someone to step in for the king. Is that something you'd consider? And by he - the time he said, we need someone to step, I said, yes, please.

SANDERS: Yeah. How big of a switch was it to go from "SNL" mode to "Hamilton"?

KILLAM: Fairly big. There're parallels.

SANDERS: What parallels?

KILLAM: You know, live performance.

SANDERS: Ok, yeah.

KILLAM: Live performance, live music, that environment. But the sort of prestige and respect that I have for anyone in the world of theater really, really had me in a vulnerable position. I was worried that I was unworthy or would be seen as, you know, a fraud or - even - although, I don't - I know for a fact because it doesn't get them anything - it - you know, seen as stunt39 casting, though it wasn't. It was just Tommy's and Lin's belief that I could do it well.

But all that meant was, I just needed to put in the work, and go back and train with a vocal40 coach, Liz Caplan, who was amazing and wonderful, and, you know, show that I was there to take it seriously and honor it because you immediately feel the responsibility to the audience because these are people who have spent a lot of money, most...

SANDERS: Major coins.

KILLAM: ...Most out of their comfort zone, have waited for a long time, have waited, on average, seven or eight months, something like that.

SANDERS: And they've also heard it's the best show of all time.

KILLAM: Correct - lot of pressure, lot of hype.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: And then they've been listening to the cast album at home, or in their cars or on their, you know, iPhones, so there's a very specific expectation of quality.

SANDERS: You got to hit your marks. You got to hit those notes.

KILLAM: You got to hit them notes. You got to hit the lyrics41 (laughter).

SANDERS: Yeah, yeah.

KILLAM: You got to say the right words. So I was probably more nervous than I've ever been for anything to do Hamilton. And it took me two weeks to get over those nerves, and then it took me another four to kind of really be comfortable and kind of start to explore, you know, freedom within a sort of very set, very - because of the character - rigid42 character.

SANDERS: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

KILLAM: And then it was just the best, the best.

SANDERS: Yeah. So you mentioned having a vocal coach. I'm kind of obsessed43 with vocal coaching and vocal coaches.

KILLAM: Oh, cool, yeah.

SANDERS: There's an amazing profile in Jezebel of Drake's vocal coach, crazy enough.

KILLAM: Oh, cool.

SANDERS: It's a hard job and intense work, and I always imagine the first time you have your class with a vocal coach, they just make you cry. Like, how intense was that?

KILLAM: Yeah, no. Liz was only love, and warmth and I think an expert in taking people who are feeling uncomfortable or who are unsure and giving them the confidence to get better.

SANDERS: I'm only asking you these because I'm personally curious. It probably won't even make the cut. But, like, what is the, like...

KILLAM: Does Drake's vocal coach yell at him?

SANDERS: No, she's a sweet little Southern belle44. She's such a sweetheart. And she said in the thing - she was like, people don't know it, but Drake works. And I even hate to admit that because I don't like him that much.

KILLAM: (Laughter).

SANDERS: But she's like, the dude works. He eats well. He drinks his fluids. He goes to bed so that his voice can, like, do what it needs to do. And that surprised me about him.

KILLAM: Drake, he's fascinating to me. He is - he was one of the most enjoyable hosts in my time at "SNL."

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: And he hosted twice. Truly. Truly.

SANDERS: Really? Why?

KILLAM: Yes. Because he is...

SANDERS: It's 'cause your wife is Canadian and he's Canadian.

KILLAM: Exact - so I have to.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: He - he is absolutely the theater nerd, actor kid that you first saw on "Degrassi..."

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: ...And yet authentically45, in this culture and as an artist, you know, a master of hip-hop. So he - and it - it was fascinating 'cause he was kind and - and well-mannered and polite to everybody. He was in on the joke. He - you know what I mean? Like, he was - he was bringing something to it.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: And - and just full of charisma46 and fully47 relatable. And then, (laughter), the second time he hosted, he wanted to host the after-party.

SANDERS: Wait. There's an after-party?

KILLAM: There's always an after-party.

SANDERS: Yeah, there is. Yes.

KILLAM: And there's an after-party, and there's an after-after-party.

SANDERS: Hey. OK.

KILLAM: So he wanted to host the after-after-party...

SANDERS: Whoa. Where?

KILLAM: ...Which...

SANDERS: (Laughter) You can't say.

KILLAM: Get ready.

SANDERS: Wait.

KILLAM: Get ready.

SANDERS: Say it.

KILLAM: Dave and Buster's.

SANDERS: Actually low-key. I'm - I'm down for that, man.

KILLAM: It's the best. Have you done "Star Wars" pod? The pod game where you - it's amazing, if you haven't.

SANDERS: Yeah? OK. I've got to do it. But Dave and Buster's - two thumbs up.

KILLAM: So Dave and Buster's. But then this is what's great is that, apparently48, he frequents or could be a co-owner of a strip club out of Toronto...

SANDERS: Stop.

KILLAM: ...And flew down much, or most, or all of the staff.

SANDERS: Stop. Staff. By staff you mean the strippers.

KILLAM: Well, yeah. I guess that's part of it, too.

SANDERS: (Laughter). Staff. That's a nice way to put it.

KILLAM: I was thinking more the deejay, but...

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: ...All the - all the ladies there who work under, you know, the - the Drake corporation.

SANDERS: (Laughter) LLC.

KILLAM: And it's - it was so funny to look around this Dave and Buster's open at 3:00 in the morning and see 40 nerdy comedian49 writer-performers wandering around, easily 50 to 60 strippers who are - who are, you know, dancing and grinding and - and - and Drake's playing music.

SANDERS: What do you dance on at the Dave and Buster's? There's no poles. What do you dance on?

KILLAM: There was good space by the four-way Pac-Man machine.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: They pushed out the pinball machines to give room for the strippers.

SANDERS: Oh, man.

KILLAM: And - and we literally saw two strippers get in a fight. And one pulled the other's weave out of her hair.

SANDERS: That's the first move, dude. That's how you assert dominance. You pull the weave out.

KILLAM: And we just wanted to play the "Jurassic Park" game.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: We just wanted tickets at the "Big Bass50" fish wheel.

SANDERS: (Laughter). Did Drake apologize? He's like, ay, yo, I'm sorry about this.

KILLAM: I mean - I - no. He was - he was in - in a different mode at that point.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: But always - always thoughtful, always lovely, like a - like a great host. But this was like, oh, this is when - this is when Drake, you know, goes to work.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: This is - this is Drake Batman-Drake.

SANDERS: (Laughter).

KILLAM: We had Drake Bruce-Wayne-Drake, and this is Drake-Batman.

SANDERS: All right. Time for a quick break. Stick around, listeners. You don't want to miss some incredible stories about the week that Donald Trump hosted "SNL." That's coming up. Also, Taran tells me all about how and why he left the show a year before his contract was up. BRB.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEVANS' "FLICKER")

SANDERS: So that Drake story. It seems like being on "SNL" you'd have a lot of stories like this - amazing, is-this-real-life moments.

KILLAM: Yeah.

SANDERS: But was that just, like, another Saturday?

KILLAM: Yeah. Yeah, that one was special. That one was special 'cause, like, he went above and beyond, and he didn't have to, you know, rent that place out for us.

SANDERS: But he did.

KILLAM: You know, you very quickly get used to being comfortable around celebrity51...

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: ...Being comfortable around incredible fame. Because the...

SANDERS: Yeah, which can be hard.

KILLAM: It is. It takes an adjustment. And - and I think that the show does a good job of setting an example for that.

SANDERS: How so?

KILLAM: Well, in that - in that you - you can kind of witness the writers and the cast who come before you and certainly the way that Lorne and the producers engage with the host. They sort of lay - lay it out for you that, you know, these people are out of their element and they're guests in our house.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: And treat them as such. And that makes it very simple, right? It's - it always comes back to just - just being humans.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: We're all just people. But - but then, you know, you're dealing52 with different sensitivities, different insecurities. Like, that's probably the most frustrating53 or difficult to deal with is when you can tell a host is really insecure or nervous or worried and then lashes54 out in sort of a negative way. Like, oh, this is stupid. This is not funny or - you know - yeah.

SANDERS: Yeah. I bet that experience probably prepared you to direct.

KILLAM: Very much so, yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely, especially because, you know, we had a very tight schedule on "Gunther." It was - we ended up with 21 days, I think.

SANDERS: Really? That's a lot for 21 days.

KILLAM: It was a lot to do in 21 days.

SANDERS: Y'all were in several locations, no?

KILLAM: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We soaked all of B.C. Canada. We wrung55 the juice out of all of B.C. Canada that we could. But on "SNL," you're writing something on Tuesday, you're rewriting it on Thursday and you're shooting it on Friday to air on Saturday.

SANDERS: Wow.

KILLAM: So 21 days felt like a luxury.

SANDERS: Yeah. Spoiler alert - everyone thinks it's all live. A lot of it's pre-taped for "SNL."

KILLAM: That's true.

SANDERS: And that's fine. That's fine.

(CROSSTALK)

SANDERS: Were you there when Trump hosted?

KILLAM: I certainly was.

SANDERS: I'm going to give you seven minutes to talk about that.

KILLAM: (Laughter) Yeah. It was it was rough.

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: It was not enjoyable at the time...

SANDERS: Really.

KILLAM: ...And something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful56 I think as time goes on.

SANDERS: You say it's shameful. Why?

KILLAM: Yeah because I don't necessarily put so much weight into how, you know, Trump hosting "SNL" helping57 him become president. But there's definitely something where it normalizes him and it makes him - makes it OK for him to be part of the conversation. And I don't think - I don't think that the intention of having him on was ever politically based. I sincerely believe that. But I don't think it was considered the implications that it had then and could have moving forward. And I think - I think looking back, it's something that there's no part of me that appreciates or, you know, even learns from or - you know, there's nothing good I can take from that week because he's not - he's not an enjoyable person to be around. There...

SANDERS: He wasn't during that week.

KILLAM: No. He's - you know what I mean? He's just - he's from a different - he's from a different class. He's from a different way of life. He's - you know, he's just...

SANDERS: But it's not just money what I hear you saying because there are other rich folks that were on "SNL." What was it about...

KILLAM: No, 100 percent.

SANDERS: What was it was about him?

KILLAM: Completely out of touch I think if I had to presume because it's not like - there weren't many in-depth conversations just because there's no - there was never any common ground, right?

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: There was never - there was never any, you know what I mean? You couldn't be like how was your day and him be like (imitating Donald Trump) it was fine, you know, went for a walk.

It was always like (imitating Donald Trump) my book is number one. It's very exciting. Everybody's talking about this rally.

You know?

SANDERS: V good impresh (ph).

KILLAM: You're very kind.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: So it's just - I just am so angry (laughter). I'm just so angry at...

SANDERS: Did any of the - so strangely enough...

KILLAM: ...At him now - at him, you know what I mean? At just every move, every response, every tweet, every stance.

SANDERS: Strangely enough, I was covering the election for NPR the week that he hosted, and they sent me out there to cover all the protesters.

KILLAM: Yes.

SANDERS: I camped out outside of "30 Rock" for a good two days and talked to folks that were basically there either to wait for extra tickets or say how much they hate this man.

KILLAM: Yes.

SANDERS: And what I kept thinking the whole time was that there were people of color and Latinos and low-income people who were just like you don't understand how much pain this man has caused. And I don't - I can't speak to their experience, but I heard them, and it felt like some folks at "30 Rock" just did not listen to that.

KILLAM: I agree. I fully agree. We could hear the protests during our table read.

SANDERS: Are you serious?

KILLAM: As we're reading, you know, 40 mediocre58 sketches59 trying to make, you know, this funny, we just hear, you know, (imitating protest noise, unintelligible).

You know.

SANDERS: Wow.

KILLAM: No, it's tough. And, look, say he hosts, say it plays out that I think - I'll speak just for myself...

SANDERS: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

KILLAM: ...Thought it would, which is (laughter) he doesn't even get past the first primary, you know what I mean? Like, he's going to be laughed off. Everybody's going to realize that this isn't a real thing and it doesn't have the same weight or gravity, right? It definitely - I'm embarrassed upon reflection just because of how everyone was right. Every person outside of that building protesting was absolutely right.

SANDERS: Did anyone in the cast and the crew and the staff go to Lorne and say, dude, shut it down?

KILLAM: I don't know. I don't know.

SANDERS: Did you?

KILLAM: I did not, no. I did not.

SANDERS: Why not?

KILLAM: I didn't have that kind of relationship, right? I didn't have...

SANDERS: It seems like no one has that type of relation with Lorne.

KILLAM: Yeah. I think he's got - he's got his inner circle and he manages that fairly tightly.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: I had - I had gone to him about other things - significantly less important things - and rarely felt heard or considered.

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: Yeah. Yeah. That's not the dynamic that's necessarily encouraged.

SANDERS: OK. OK.

KILLAM: Yeah. So, you know, I guess the sort of lame60 excuse is, you know, we're - it was our job. And we're hired to put on a show with whoever the show determines, you know, is our host that week. But it was not a good time.

SANDERS: Did you have any one-on-one personal interaction with Trump during that week?

KILLAM: Yeah. But it's, like, all just like...

SANDERS: I'm sure it's a blur61 now.

KILLAM: I remember specifics. I remember him being like, you know, he wants to - he's constantly manipulating. He's managing. So, you know, the table read...

SANDERS: Really?

KILLAM: And then every rehearsal is like if the line is written, hi, I'm Donald Trump and welcome to the show, it'd be like, you know, (imitating accent) hi, I'm Donald Trump. Welcome - you know, I think I - I think I should say it, hey, guys. I'm Donald. This is the show. Welcome to it. You know what I mean? It's just more natural. You know, it's like, all right.

SANDERS: So like...

KILLAM: What a lateral62 move.

SANDERS: But what was he doing with that?

KILLAM: Taking ownership. It's now his idea, right?

SANDERS: Oh.

KILLAM: And now he gets the credit. Now he's like, (imitating accent) I made it so much better. And it was, you know, like stepping to the side or stepping backwards63. Like, the most heartbreaking moment at the time - we're at the host dinner, and he brings Melania. And he brings - Ivanka and Jared were all at the host dinner. And he says (imitating accent), you know, Lorne, if I don't win this thing, I'm going to be fine. We just bought this beautiful piece of property in Scotland. If I have to be president, I'm never going to see that thing.

SANDERS: Wow.

KILLAM: And that that was his priority at that moment - you know what I mean? - that that was even a consideration, you know, made me sad.

SANDERS: I don't want to stay on this forever, but, like, how does it feel to know that "SNL" did that...

KILLAM: Yeah.

SANDERS: ...And now is, like, the face of the resistance? And you got Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon winning Emmys...

KILLAM: Yeah, it's...

SANDERS: ...For their work that is pretty anti-Trump.

KILLAM: Well, listen; I mean, Kate is a genius.

SANDERS: Of course, love her.

KILLAM: And Kate is one of the best people I know in the world...

SANDERS: Call and tell her from my show.

KILLAM: OK, deal. I'll do it right now. Alec I have only good things to say about, only good interactions, and I - has been talented for a long time. There's certainly - it certainly feels like there's some hypocrisy64 here - there, you know?

SANDERS: Really, with "SNL"?

KILLAM: A little bit. And I guess you could say, like, oh, they're righting wrongs. And I don't even think it's righting wrongs. I think the show tries to - and in particular, Lorne's outlook is play to both sides, play to the masses, play to whatever the popular opinion is a little bit there, you know, whatever the mass consensus65 is. But boy, boy, they could definitely, like, mine some comedy out of owning up to it, huh?

SANDERS: Well, since we're speaking candidly66 about "Saturday Night Live," how much can you talk about your exit?

KILLAM: As much as you want. You know, it was not - it was not hostile. And it wasn't super negative. It was just kind of messy, really.

SANDERS: Whose idea was it for you to go?

KILLAM: Well, the way it worked is there's a - there's, like, a pickup68 date, right? There's, like, a mid-July pickup date for the contract extension.

SANDERS: So every year you have to just, like...

KILLAM: Happens every year.

SANDERS: Oh, that sounds awful.

KILLAM: And this was the first year that they called and said, hey, we need more time. We're trying to figure out what the cast is going to be.

SANDERS: Whereas in previous years they call and say, you're good to go.

KILLAM: Hey, it's done. Yeah. Don't even think about it. And I only had one year left on my contract. And...

SANDERS: How many years was the contract?

KILLAM: Seven.

SANDERS: So they give you a seven, but they can take it away any year they want?

KILLAM: Correct. Correct. Yeah.

SANDERS: That sounds like an awful contract for somebody to have (laughter).

KILLAM: That's showbiz. That's - I mean, any TV pilot, anything you do, that's the norm. But - so the position I was in is literally as I'm having this conversation, I'm directing my first film. I have two children and a wife who I moved out to New York for this job.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: We're looking to get back home. I was raised in Southern California. And, you know, there's schools to consider. There's just the...

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: ...Significant move. There's many factors in my life to consider. And I just said via my representation, no, I need to know now. I need to know now because...

SANDERS: Good for you.

KILLAM: ...It's my seventh year. And look; I - you know, you're not reaching out to say, hey, we want to talk about a renegotiation for anything. You know, and it's just like we need more time to decide. And I'm like, if you don't know...

SANDERS: And you've given them six years at that point.

KILLAM: I've given them six pretty good years. Yeah. So I said, I need to know now or I'm OK to end it.

SANDERS: OK.

KILLAM: And the way that it all went down is my rep said, well, let's go back to them and let's get them to OK the post-production on "Gunther," which was something we would have to have cleared by the show.

SANDERS: This was time off for the show.

KILLAM: Exactly. And by the way, if I had to go back, would have been an impossibility. I don't know how I would have...

SANDERS: Done post.

KILLAM: ...Done post on the show. Yeah. And then had been offered a Showtime pilot with people that I was excited to work with...

SANDERS: Oh, nice.

KILLAM: And they said, you know, the pilot would not have interfered69 because it would have shot on an off week and then if it'd gotten picked wouldn't have done anything till after my time on "SNL."

SANDERS: Got you. Got you.

KILLAM: So they - you know, part of the business of it was let's go back and say if they're OK with this, we'll give them the two weeks. And I said, OK, fine. And then cut to three weeks later. And they call and they say, yeah, they've decided70 not to pick up your contract. And I said, OK, all right.

SANDERS: Were you OK with that?

KILLAM: I was. I was. I was OK - certainly OK to be done, certainly OK to have my life back to be done with that 'cause it's a crazy schedule.

SANDERS: Well, 'cause it's a slog, right? Like (unintelligible)...

KILLAM: It's consuming.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: It's consuming. And it's long hours. And it's erratic71 hours. And more than any of that, it's so emotionally draining and challenging from day one. And I don't know that it ever really gets any easier. I think the stress it causes you and the way you handle that as soon as you get there is kind of what's going to stay with you during your run. But I was and do miss the people.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: I do miss my friends, you know, who are still my friends and will be for forever. But I missed and was certainly sad to not, you know, shake the hands of all of our crew members and say thank you and, you know, say keep in touch. And I do with people whose information I shared. But you put that much time into any place and you'd like a proper goodbye. And that was the thing that made me the most sad.

SANDERS: Well, and there's such this either public or not goodbye. Like, either they all...

KILLAM: Yes.

SANDERS: ...Lift you up on their shoulders...

KILLAM: Right. Right.

SANDERS: ...At the end of the episode or they just don't.

KILLAM: Yeah. Yeah.

SANDERS: That's weird72.

KILLAM: Yeah.

SANDERS: Did you want that?

KILLAM: Of course, certainly. And I will say, like, for better or for worse got to kind of vicariously feel it through the two people that I was maybe the most close with. When Bobby and Vanessa got their proper send off, it genuinely made me happy.

SANDERS: It's like this fraternity. Like, you're always kind of a member, you know?

KILLAM: Yeah. It's comedy college, yeah, and you're always an alumni. And, you know, people who I absolutely love and admire and respect, you know, were sent off even less ceremoniously. And people who I was very close to on the show while I was there were, you know, let go or not held onto or not given the appropriate chance that I think they deserved. And that's just part of the show. It's just - it's organized chaos73, and there's going to be casualties.

SANDERS: It's also a machine. Like, you know, when you - I look at an institution like NPR, you end up in these places where people become family. But at the end of the day, the institution is still a business. And that...

KILLAM: Yes.

SANDERS: ...Can be so painful.

KILLAM: Without a doubt. Without a doubt. And it's tricky because in entertainment, you know, particularly for "SNL," it's all about vulnerability and expression...

SANDERS: Yeah. Yeah.

KILLAM: ...And art and heart and thoughts and, you know, feelings. So yeah, but that's what we've signed up for, you know?

SANDERS: Yeah. I took this real dark. We're going to lighten it up a little bit.

(LAUGHTER)

KILLAM: Back to "Wild 'N Out."

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: You've earned three more "Wild 'N Out" questions.

SANDERS: Listen. Listen. Listen.

KILLAM: Hey, yo, Nick. Hey, yo, Nick. Ding ding ding. All right, that was live. I'm going to give that to the red team.

SANDERS: (Laughter). I want you to give me an impersonation 'cause you're really good at those. Who is your favorite person to impersonate?

KILLAM: I really like doing Brad Pitt.

SANDERS: Do it.

KILLAM: (Imitating accent) You know, Sam, very happy to be on your show - very happy. Long time, first time, thank you for having me. Dah (ph).

SANDERS: Dah. That's a really good dah.

KILLAM: (Laughter) It's his "Twelve Monkeys" It's - in "Twelve Monkeys" he does a lot of blah.

SANDERS: Oh, my God, I - you know, I would keep you forever. I try to keep these to an hour. So you got this movie. You got - what's next for you besides that? The world is your oyster74.

KILLAM: Back in LA and happy to be, you know, near the Pacific.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: Right now I'm shooting a movie with Kevin Hart in Atlanta called "Night School."

SANDERS: I've been seeing buzz about this.

KILLAM: Yeah.

SANDERS: It sounds quite promising75, sir.

KILLAM: I think it's going to be pretty fun to be, you know, completely biased76 (laughter).

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: But, no, it's such a great cast. It's Kevin. It's Mary Lynn Rajskub. It's Rob Riggle, Al Madrigal77, Yvonne Orji...

SANDERS: Molly from "Insecure"?

KILLAM: Yes...

SANDERS: Stop.

KILLAM: ...Who's hilarious78.

SANDERS: You know I love that show.

KILLAM: The nicest lady and hilarious.

SANDERS: Yeah.

KILLAM: But it's fun. And it's going to be a good one. So I'm doing that till November and starting to write on the next thing that I'll direct.

SANDERS: I tell you what - this has been so fun. Like, I really...

KILLAM: I agree.

SANDERS: I really appreciate when someone who is obviously so gifted and talented is open to kind of just be so candid67 about their craft and their work and their life because you don't have to.

KILLAM: Oh, thanks, Sam.

SANDERS: You could just say, I'm-a be a good guy at X, Y, Z. But you talk about it, too, and I appreciate that.

KILLAM: Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for asking good questions.

SANDERS: All right, man, take care.

KILLAM: You, too. Bye.

SANDERS: Bye.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEVANS' "FLICKER")

SANDERS: Taran Killam. I mean what I said there. He was so gracious, so much fun. Also, thanks for the Nick Cannon79 "Wild 'N Out" shout-out. Thank you, Taran. His new movie is called "Killing Gunther." It's out this weekend. As always, we'll be back in your feed on Friday. Make sure that you share the best thing that happened to you all week. And send me the recording80 of your voice doing just that to [email protected]. And a reminder81 - depending on where you live, you can hear our podcast on the radio now, too. Make it a part of your weekend routine. Go to npr.org/stations to find out if the show is on near you. That's a wrap. I'm Sam Sanders. Thanks for listening. Talk soon.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEVANS' "FLICKER")


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
2 trump LU1zK     
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭
参考例句:
  • He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
  • The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。
3 behold jQKy9     
v.看,注视,看到
参考例句:
  • The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
  • The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
4 levy Z9fzR     
n.征收税或其他款项,征收额
参考例句:
  • They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
  • A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。
5 monopolizing 374d6352588d46e649fc27b1cdaebb20     
v.垄断( monopolize的现在分词 );独占;专卖;专营
参考例句:
  • United States antitrust legislation prohibits corporations from dominating or monopolizing an industry. 美国反托拉斯法禁止公司控制或垄断一项工业。 来自辞典例句
  • Only nobody else must be kind to him: I'm jealous of monopolizing his affection. 可就是用不着别人对他慈爱:我一心要独占他的感情。 来自辞典例句
6 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
7 ego 7jtzw     
n.自我,自己,自尊
参考例句:
  • He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
  • She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。
8 orientation IJ4xo     
n.方向,目标;熟悉,适应,情况介绍
参考例句:
  • Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
  • The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。
9 collaborate SWgyC     
vi.协作,合作;协调
参考例句:
  • The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作,工作做起来就更快了。
  • I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。
10 humbling 643ebf3f558f4dfa49252dce8143a9c8     
adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 );轻松打败(尤指强大的对手);低声下气
参考例句:
  • A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
  • It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网
11 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
12 scrutinized e48e75426c20d6f08263b761b7a473a8     
v.仔细检查,详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
13 scrutinize gDwz6     
n.详细检查,细读
参考例句:
  • Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
  • She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前,端详他们的面容。
14 trickier 8f11f8d26b8de2fe0f7a88a0d6c7708f     
adj.狡猾的( tricky的比较级 );(形势、工作等)复杂的;机警的;微妙的
参考例句:
  • This is the general rule, but some cases are trickier than others. 以上是一般规则,但某些案例会比别的案例更为棘手。 来自互联网
  • The lower the numbers go, the trickier the problems get. 武器的数量越低,问题就越复杂。 来自互联网
15 tricky 9fCzyd     
adj.狡猾的,奸诈的;(工作等)棘手的,微妙的
参考例句:
  • I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手,你能帮我吗?
  • He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题,只做了个笼统的表述。
16 format giJxb     
n.设计,版式;[计算机]格式,DOS命令:格式化(磁盘),用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据;v.使格式化,设计,安排
参考例句:
  • Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
  • The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。
17 niche XGjxH     
n.壁龛;合适的职务(环境、位置等)
参考例句:
  • Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
  • The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。
18 ironic 1atzm     
adj.讽刺的,有讽刺意味的,出乎意料的
参考例句:
  • That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
  • People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”,但他们是在挖苦我。
19 coverage nvwz7v     
n.报导,保险范围,保险额,范围,覆盖
参考例句:
  • There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
  • This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。
20 askew rvczG     
adv.斜地;adj.歪斜的
参考例句:
  • His glasses had been knocked askew by the blow.他的眼镜一下子被打歪了。
  • Her hat was slightly askew.她的帽子戴得有点斜。
21 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
22 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
23 awareness 4yWzdW     
n.意识,觉悟,懂事,明智
参考例句:
  • There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
  • Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
24 aspiring 3y2zps     
adj.有志气的;有抱负的;高耸的v.渴望;追求
参考例句:
  • Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
  • He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句
25 full-time SsBz42     
adj.满工作日的或工作周的,全时间的
参考例句:
  • A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
  • I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作,我不知道她是如何对付的。
26 contractor GnZyO     
n.订约人,承包人,收缩肌
参考例句:
  • The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
  • The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样,有几分要看地势而定。
27 precocious QBay6     
adj.早熟的;较早显出的
参考例句:
  • They become precocious experts in tragedy.他们成了一批思想早熟、善写悲剧的能手。
  • Margaret was always a precocious child.玛格丽特一直是个早熟的孩子。
28 vibrant CL5zc     
adj.震颤的,响亮的,充满活力的,精力充沛的,(色彩)鲜明的
参考例句:
  • He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
  • She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。
29 audition 8uazw     
n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等)
参考例句:
  • I'm going to the audition but I don't expect I'll get a part.我去试音,可并不指望会给我个角色演出。
  • At first,they said he was too young,but later they called him for an audition.起初,他们说他太小,但后来他们叫他去试听。
30 auditioned 7a3b64b138cda8b1c7e21f61395dc3b1     
vi.试听(audition的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • None of the actresses we have auditioned is suitable. 我们试听的这些女演员都不合适。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • What is that, from some script you auditioned for in the '40s? 什么玩意儿是你40年代试的那些剧本吗? 来自电影对白
31 accomplishment 2Jkyo     
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能
参考例句:
  • The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
  • Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标,钱是至关重要的。
32 auditioning ba6c8c8153080b3707893ba512a10a44     
vi.试听(audition的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
  • Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色? 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 lark r9Fza     
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏
参考例句:
  • He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
  • She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。
34 steered dee52ce2903883456c9b7a7f258660e5     
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导
参考例句:
  • He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
  • The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
35 rehearsals 58abf70ed0ce2d3ac723eb2d13c1c6b5     
n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 );排练;复述;重复
参考例句:
  • The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
  • She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 rehearsal AVaxu     
n.排练,排演;练习
参考例句:
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
  • You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。
37 caliber JsFzO     
n.能力;水准
参考例句:
  • They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
  • We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。
38 buddy 3xGz0E     
n.(美口)密友,伙伴
参考例句:
  • Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气,老兄。有什么麻烦吗?
  • Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了,你这家伙!
39 stunt otxwC     
n.惊人表演,绝技,特技;vt.阻碍...发育,妨碍...生长
参考例句:
  • Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
  • Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。
40 vocal vhOwA     
adj.直言不讳的;嗓音的;n.[pl.]声乐节目
参考例句:
  • The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
  • Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。
41 lyrics ko5zoz     
n.歌词
参考例句:
  • music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
  • The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。
42 rigid jDPyf     
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的
参考例句:
  • She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
  • The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严,几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
43 obsessed 66a4be1417f7cf074208a6d81c8f3384     
adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的
参考例句:
  • He's obsessed by computers. 他迷上了电脑。
  • The fear of death obsessed him throughout his old life. 他晚年一直受着死亡恐惧的困扰。
44 belle MQly5     
n.靓女
参考例句:
  • She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
  • She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。
45 authentically MOyyR     
ad.sincerely真诚地
参考例句:
  • Gina: And we should give him something 2 authentically Taiwanese. 吉娜:而且我们应该送他有纯正台湾味的东西。
  • A loser is one who fails to correspond authentically. 失败者则指那些未能做到诚实可靠的人。
46 charisma uX3ze     
n.(大众爱戴的)领袖气质,魅力
参考例句:
  • He has enormous charisma. He is a giant of a man.他有超凡的个人魅力,是个伟人。
  • I don't have the charisma to pull a crowd this size.我没有那么大的魅力,能吸引这么多人。
47 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
48 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
49 comedian jWfyW     
n.喜剧演员;滑稽演员
参考例句:
  • The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
  • The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。
50 bass APUyY     
n.男低音(歌手);低音乐器;低音大提琴
参考例句:
  • He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
  • The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。
51 celebrity xcRyQ     
n.名人,名流;著名,名声,名望
参考例句:
  • Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
  • He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。
52 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
53 frustrating is9z54     
adj.产生挫折的,使人沮丧的,令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧
参考例句:
  • It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间,真令人懊恼。
  • It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》
54 lashes e2e13f8d3a7c0021226bb2f94d6a15ec     
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 );鞭子;突然猛烈的一击;急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 );煽动;紧系;怒斥
参考例句:
  • Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时,母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面,以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
55 wrung b11606a7aab3e4f9eebce4222a9397b1     
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水)
参考例句:
  • He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
  • He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
56 shameful DzzwR     
adj.可耻的,不道德的
参考例句:
  • It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己,真不害臊。
  • We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。
57 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
58 mediocre 57gza     
adj.平常的,普通的
参考例句:
  • The student tried hard,but his work is mediocre. 该生学习刻苦,但学业平庸。
  • Only lazybones and mediocre persons could hanker after the days of messing together.只有懒汉庸才才会留恋那大锅饭的年代。
59 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
60 lame r9gzj     
adj.跛的,(辩解、论据等)无说服力的
参考例句:
  • The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
  • I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。
61 blur JtgzC     
n.模糊不清的事物;vt.使模糊,使看不清楚
参考例句:
  • The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
  • If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了,图像就会变得模糊不清。
62 lateral 83ey7     
adj.侧面的,旁边的
参考例句:
  • An airfoil that controls lateral motion.能够控制横向飞行的机翼。
  • Mr.Dawson walked into the court from a lateral door.道森先生从一个侧面的门走进法庭。
63 backwards BP9ya     
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地
参考例句:
  • He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
  • All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。
64 hypocrisy g4qyt     
n.伪善,虚伪
参考例句:
  • He railed against hypocrisy and greed.他痛斥伪善和贪婪的行为。
  • He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story.他指责了报纸在报道该新闻时的虚伪。
65 consensus epMzA     
n.(意见等的)一致,一致同意,共识
参考例句:
  • Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗?
  • What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么?
66 candidly YxwzQ1     
adv.坦率地,直率而诚恳地
参考例句:
  • He has stopped taking heroin now,but admits candidly that he will always be a drug addict.他眼下已经不再吸食海洛因了,不过他坦言自己永远都是个瘾君子。
  • Candidly,David,I think you're being unreasonable.大卫,说实话我认为你不讲道理。
67 candid SsRzS     
adj.公正的,正直的;坦率的
参考例句:
  • I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
  • He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。
68 pickup ANkxA     
n.拾起,获得
参考例句:
  • I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。
69 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
70 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
71 erratic ainzj     
adj.古怪的,反复无常的,不稳定的
参考例句:
  • The old man had always been cranky and erratic.那老头儿性情古怪,反复无常。
  • The erratic fluctuation of market prices is in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。
72 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
73 chaos 7bZyz     
n.混乱,无秩序
参考例句:
  • After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后,城市一片混乱。
  • The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。
74 oyster w44z6     
n.牡蛎;沉默寡言的人
参考例句:
  • I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎,它味道真美。
  • I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时,我发现我相当喜欢吃。
75 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
76 biased vyGzSn     
a.有偏见的
参考例句:
  • a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
  • The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。
77 madrigal JAax2     
n.牧歌;(流行于16和17世纪无乐器伴奏的)合唱歌曲
参考例句:
  • You look like a melodious madrigal,beautiful snowy mountain,beautiful prairie.你象一只悠扬的牧歌,美了雪山,美了草原。
  • The madrigal that writes to you still sings.写给你的情歌还在唱。
78 hilarious xdhz3     
adj.充满笑声的,欢闹的;[反]depressed
参考例句:
  • The party got quite hilarious after they brought more wine.在他们又拿来更多的酒之后,派对变得更加热闹起来。
  • We stop laughing because the show was so hilarious.我们笑个不停,因为那个节目太搞笑了。
79 cannon 3T8yc     
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮
参考例句:
  • The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
  • The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
80 recording UktzJj     
n.录音,记录
参考例句:
  • How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间?
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
81 reminder WkzzTb     
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示
参考例句:
  • I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
  • It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知,她才付应该交的房租。
本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎点击提交分享给大家。
------分隔线----------------------------
TAG标签:   NPR  美国国家电台  英语听力
顶一下
(0)
0%
踩一下
(0)
0%
最新评论 查看所有评论
发表评论 查看所有评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:
听力搜索
推荐频道
论坛新贴