Busey, Spade, Grammer on Playing Themselves – The Hollywood Reporter
John Castro If Entourage delivers as many big laughs as it does cameos, it should be in good shape: The movie version of the HBO series, opening June 12, is stuffed with at least 50 familiar faces. The Hollywood Reporter issued a short questionnaire to four of them to learn a bit more about the payoffs and pitfalls of playing oneself in its popular send-up of the Hollywood scene. Here then are responses from Emily Ratajkowski, Gary Busey (who replied via an all-caps email, faithfully reproduced here), David Spade and Kelsey Grammer, all of whom play some version of themselves in Entourage.
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1. Emily Ratajkowski
How did your cameo come to be?
This is one of two films I have coming out with Warner Bros. this summer — the second one being We Are Your Friends, which hits theaters in August. I feel fortunate to be a part of the Warner Bros. family right now, especially in the high-profile summer film market.
What are the pluses or minuses of playing yourself in a movie?
It’s funny because although we share the same name, I’m actually playing a character in this film. It was a conscious decision, but also something that just evolved as we were shooting. In real life, I’m not looking to date a big movie star or go to giant Hollywood parties, so it was a fun part to delve into for the few days I was shooting. And a nice mix-up between my dramatic roles in Gone Girl and We Are Your Friends.
Something funny or surprising that happened on the set?
When Kevin [Connolly] broke his foot! We all felt so bad, but he made it through the week on a cast so we could finish the movie.
Who’s in your entourage?
My friends and family. My parents are artists, which likely helped set me on this career path. And I’ve had the same friends since childhood.
2. Gary Busey
How did your cameos come to be?
[Director] LARRY CHARLES AND I WERE ON TOPANGA BEACH AND I ASKED HIM “WHERE’S THE SCRIPT?” LARRY SAID, “YOU’RE THE SCRIPT… DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.” SO I DID… WHAT YOU SEE IN MY IMPROV AND SPONTANEITY IS AT THE CENTER OF THE CORE OF MY HEART. THEN THEY OFFERED ME THE CAMEO IN THE MOVIE AND SINCE I WASN’T DOING ANYTHING ELSE, I SAID, “YEAH.”
What are the pluses or minuses of playing yourself in a movie?
THERE ARE NO PLUSES OR MINUSES TO PLAYING MYSELF — I’M JUST ME. IT’S AS EASY AS A HEN LAYING AN EGG … JUST KEEP THE LIGHT ON.
Who do you most identify with: Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle? (Or Ari)
I RELATE TO ALL FOUR OF THE GUYS … I WAS A PART OF EACH OF THEM AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN MY LIFE, GROWING UP.
Something funny or surprising that happened on the set?
I KEPT EVERYONE DANCING ON EGG SHELLS BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO NEXT — NOT EVEN ME!
Who’s in your entourage?
ALL OF MANKIND.
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3. David Spade
How did your cameos comes to be?
I met [Entourage writer-director] Doug Ellin out at dinner and he talked about me doing something on the show. So he put me on the last season. Then I saw him again and he said, “Let’s have you do a thing in the movie.” A lot of people did something — it makes the movie fun to watch when you keep spotting someone new.
What are the pluses or minuses of playing yourself in a movie?
Well, the minuses are that I’m always perceived as a skirt-chaser, so that’s usually what I’d play. But luckily this was just a quick thing about me being mad my movie is up against big summer movies and I want Ari to move it.
Who do you most identify with: Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle? (Or Ari)
I think I was a Turtle and Drama when I got out here ’cause I hung with famous comics that I opened for and I was auditioning for small parts. I never got to the fame of Vinnie — but I am like him on days when I bring my goofball friends out with me.
Something funny or surprising that happened on the set?
The set was on a studio lot and I just kept trying different jokes mostly about how great Jennifer Lawrence‘s boobs are. So I have no idea what made it into the movie.
Who’s in your entourage?
My clownterage is a few stand-ups that open for me and some high school buddies. I’m basically king of the dipshits.
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4. Kelsey Grammer
How did your cameo come to be?
Well, Doug Ellin and I had been talking about developing a show together at one point. He came to visit me at my home and it turned out he used to live in it, back when I was leasing it to his friend. He said, “Oh yeah, my bedroom was upstairs.” I guess he was going through a divorce or something. Anyway. As things progressed, my buddy, [Partners executive producer] Brian Sher, who’s also friends with Doug, had a conversation with him and said Kelsey should do a cameo in [the movie]. Then one day the call came: “Can you come over to Hancock Park this afternoon to lay down this tortured portrait of yourself.”
What are the pluses or minuses of playing yourself in a movie?
They set up this scene in which everybody ends up going to the same therapist, and I suppose that is a Hollywood thing. I did spend a little time doing that. I actually like my therapist now, but I find them quite maddening as well. I think there are very few who are any good at it. So it was easy for me to tap into a certain rage about it. I came out pretty charged. It seemed to be appropriate.
Who do you most identify with: Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle? (Or Ari)
Oh God, I have no idea. I don’t really identify with Hollywood, and that may be one of my problems in Hollywood! It would be impossible for me to actually tell you that. I would like to be the guy who is doing well and not worried about it, which I guess goes against the whole idea of Hollywood.
So then Vinnie!
That’s true — I just don’t want to say that about myself.
Something funny or surprising that happened on the set?
I didn’t know how to get into that damned convertible. I actually jumped into the car and I thought that’s probably pretty funny. We’ll see if it ends up in the movie. The whole thing took about two hours to shoot — very hit and run.
