Steve Martin, Martin Short On The ‘Generation Gap’ Acting With Selena Gomez

Wherever there is injustice, you will find us. Wherever there is suffering, we'll be there. Line. Wherever liberty is threatened, you'll find... Wherever liberty is threatened, you will find... The Three Amigos! A scene from the 1986 classic Three Amigos, starring Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. Chase and Martin were established comedy superstars by then, of course, but that movie was Martin Short's first ever film. Though it's hard to imagine now there ever was a time when Steve Martin and Martin Short were not somewhere being funny together, they actually hadn't met until they were cast together in Three Amigos. Since then, the pair has worked together on the blockbuster Father of the Bride movies. They've toured the country making relentless jokes at each other's expense. And now they're starring in a hilarious new series about three neighbors working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment building. Steve, Marty, and I got together this week in New York for a Sunday sit-down. Okay, I'm almost ready. Can you see any netting? My hair is looking more like a wig every day. No, no, I mean we're actually perfect opposites because you look windswept and you've just gotten out of your convertible. What'd you do? I got out of the coffin. Good friends finish each other's sentences. Good comedians turn friends, finish each other's jokes. We're ready for you in the coffin, Mr. Martin. I got in the elevator with these two weirdos. Then Tim got in the elevator. Approximately 12 minutes from now, I will be murdered. Steve Martin and Martin Short, now bringing their act to the world of true crime. Anything can be a clue. In Hulu's new comedy series, Only Murders in the Building. The killer poisoned my dog. Where they star as washed-up artists who take up podcasting when their neighbor is found dead. I'm your host, Charles Hayden Savage. For right now. One day I'm telling Marty the idea. And you know, he liked it and he said, you know what? I said, what? We're old. So that's how we thought, okay, well maybe we can do this thing. So do you jump always, Marty, at the chance to work with Steve for a couple of months? Oh, absolutely. Every element of it seemed like ideal. You know, it always goes through that thing where you have managers and they're going to raise all the flags. And there were no flags. Actually, the idea of having, I know this is so boring and you can cut this out. No, they're not even filming this. I know. I saw the cameraman walk away. Who are you, you fascinating creature? The trio of self-appointed investigators is rounded out by a mysterious young sleuth played by pop superstar Selena Gomez. How do I know you? I feel the cameraman coming back. I'm talking about Selena. So when the idea for Selena Gomez comes through, you two guys, I suspect, are not terribly familiar with her music, unless you want to surprise me with that. Yes. So what did you think when you heard that name? Well, I thought it was kind of a brilliant idea because right away it seemed all generations brought in. Instantly I thought it was a good idea. I think there's a very strong chance that the person who poisoned Winnie was, and this gives me no pleasure in saying this, musical superstar Sting. The guy from U2. Are you kidding me? Sting. She also has sort of a charming eye roll at the two of them. Absolutely. Generally speaking, like, here they go again. People say, is there a generation gap? And I say, well, of course. Yeah. It's what you want. I don't want to be up and talk the lingo of a 29-year-old. Just using the word lingo kind of covers that idea. Here's a thing I don't get. People who worry about living in the big city because of all the crime. Do either or both of you listen in real life to these crime podcasts? Because you play it well. I do not. I do. And I've listened to a lot of crime podcasts and watched a lot of true crime shows. I'm always thinking, just walking into my life, thinking, what's my alibi? If something were to happen right now, could I prove I was in my car? Yes, I've got the GPS and there's a CCT camera and I wave at it. What is your crime that you're afraid of? I don't know. It could be anything. Are you planning anything? No, I'm not planning anything. No, it's some other crime, like God forbid. But I could always prove I'd be the first suspect. I would be. Oh, absolutely. I'd be the first suspect. So are you principally objected to the crime podcast or just not interested? You know, I just feel that there's so much despair around that I just don't want to hear about another person's murder. First of all, why should you research a movie you're working on? Oh, that would only get in the way. You like going in blind. I am playing a director. I know the theater. I've been on Broadway. Yes, you have. Yes, I have. Won a Tony, as a matter of fact. Yes, I have. Isn't that unbelievable? It's incredible. Won a Tony. He won a Tony award. You know, I've won an Emmy, an Oscar, and a Grammy. And this guy has won a Tony. Well, it's perfect for him because it's the ego. Listen, if I've ever offended you during any of the many times you've auditioned for me, then— I've never auditioned for you. Are you not Scott Bakula? The reception to the show has been overwhelmingly great. What's it like for you guys who've seen a lot of different forms of show business to put something into the atmosphere now in this streaming universe? I love it. Because, you know, when I first started, you put a special on, and then some monster show is up against you, and you're wiped out. Right. But here, you can do a good show, and somebody will find it. You're not going to be wiped out by competition. It is like all things. You can make a movie that no one cares about, and five years later, it's a cult classic. Right. And I got tired of going to movies because the volume was so intense. I'm really serious. The physical volume. It's just way too loud for me to listen to. I think it's an age thing. You think? No, no. Bieber's going through the same thing. Bieber. Justin Bieber. Why didn't you leave it to Bieber? No, no, no. Well, that's the age thing. And the two of them were just getting started, so we will keep it going with part two of our conversation in just a moment. Our favorite deals and so much more with the Today app. Download it now.