March 19, 2002

Michael Rosenbaum talks "Sorority Boys"

Jules: You're a college boy and a college girl...

Michael: Double duty huh?

Jules: Uh-huh

Michael: Yeah. Yeah...I uh...this is my second time in drag--Sorority Boys.

Steve: What was the first time? Can you talk about it?

Michael: Well, the first time was 5th grade. My mother dressed me as Pat Benatar... (Jules/Steve laugh)

Steve: For?

Michael: ..and I sang "Shadows of the Night"...just for the lark of it.

Steve: Oh really?

Michael: It was a talent show.

Steve: Talent show?

Michael: Yeah...it wasn't very good though. I bombed.

Steve: How do you know?

Michael: Well the kids kind of looked at me like, 'What is he doing?" I was in Newburghh, Indiana...I mean, ya know...? {shrugs with a "What do you expect" expression on his face} Anyway, this is the third time I'm in drag.

Jules: And is it getting easier for you?

Michael: It's....three months in high heels...

Steve: Wait--you said second time. Now it's third time?

Michael: Well, second time was "Sweet November." I played a transvestite. You know how it goes Steve... {laughs} ...come on!

Steve: Who can keep track?

Michael: Yeah and this time it's uh...I actually don't wanna be in drag this time around. I'm in a fraternity, get kicked out, we're starving, we're living in our car, so the only thing to do is join a sorority.

Steve: OK

Michael: And we get in the ugliest sorority house...the three of us. And I have a big butt...they put this prosthetic ass on me...

Jules: Let's look at a clip...

Michael: You wanna see a clip

Jules/Steve: Yeah, yeah

{They showed the "Let's at least join Tri-Pi where there's something to look at" clip}

Michael: He looks like Kathy Griffin on steroids

Steve: He does! Well, she was on the show yesterday...

Jules: That was Harland Williams...who is one of the funniest men alive, and he looks like Kathy, and I can say that now that she's not here. She was mean to me yesterday...

Steve: She was gonna take you down.

Jules: She would take me down.

Michael: Try waking up at 6 in the morning, and that guy walks in and he's... it's like 6AM and he's got that big red wig on...he's drinking a soda... he's slurping his coke... {Michael launches into a dead on impersonation of Harland complete with body language} "Hey buddy! You ready for the day or what man? We're gonna have a ball!" Guy's outta his mind. He kept me going for three months.

Steve: How long did makeup take? Three months?

Michael: Uh...well, I had a guy's wig and a girl's wig, 'cause I'm bald. I didn't want to be Lex Luthor for this movie.

Jules: Now how often do you shave for Smallville?

Michael: Oh every morning. They take the Mach-3 and they just... {pantomime's shaving his head} ...take it to the head.

Steve: Is that how they do it?

Michael: Yeah...I get a lot of bumps on my head...it's scary

Jules: And you prettied up pretty good for this. Did you have any hair removal stories or accidents for Sorority Girls? {remember that she said that...it's important later}

Steve: Jules is looking for tips...

Michael: No...but they trimmed us up pretty good. We had to wax the legs, and the arms, and..they wanted other regions, but I didn't...I didn't wanna do that.

Jules: People don't know...

Michael: I'm not into the Brazilian, Jules...

Jules: People don't know, do they? How tough it is to look good?

Michael: It's tough to look good. I have a brand new respect for women..you have to..you'll see what we go through in this movie. It's insane.

Steve: Did you expect Smallville to be as big...

Michael: No

Steve: ...a hit as it has become?

Michael: No way. I had no idea. After I saw the pilot I said, "This is a great show." It's quality all the way around--the writing, and the actors are great, and it's, uh...I had no idea. And the next thing you know, we're on the cover of TV Guide...and I'm like calling my mom every other day and I'm all, 'I'm on MAD Magazine Mom! Check it out!"

Jules: Well, you said you're from a small town. What do they all think about this?

Michael: Everybody's blown away--they can't believe it. Like I'm a star in this town of 50. But it's uh...no, it's a bigger town than that...but it's...I can't believe it. Every time someone says, "Hey, you're a celebrity!" I'm like, "No..I'm not." It scares me. I don't know if I wanna be that...do I?

Steve: Yes. Sure

Michael: Yeah? Steve, you're a celebrity.

Steve: No..no

Jules: Steve is a celebrity. Michael, thank you so much for coming by. Smallville's on tonight...

Michael: Yeah

Steve: And Sorority...Girls

Jules: Boys! {completely forgetting that she called it Sorority Girls too}

Michael/Jules: Sorority Boys...

Michael: Premiere's tonight...go check it out

Steve: Girls just comes out naturally...Thanks so much for stopping by.

Michael: Thanks for having me {laughs and shakes their hands}