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We Are the Creators and Cast of The League - Ask Us Anything
We figured since we enjoyed our AMA last year, it was time for a follow-up. Currently on-set we've got Jackie and Jeff Schaffer - the Creators and Executive Producers of The League, along with Katie Aselton, Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll, Stephen Rannazzisi, and Jon LaJoie. As an added bonus, we've also got guest star Ike Barinholtz (Season 2's "Frank 'The Body' Gibiatti") for the first half of the day, and the lovely Kristin Cavallari is shooting her first guest spot on the show in the afternoon.
We're doing this from the set, so we'll be in and out between shots for the next couple hours. If we occasionally take 30 minutes between answers, assume it's because Jackie and Jeff are trying to figure out the precise wording of a dick joke, or Nick is getting punched in the face by one of our guest stars again - TV is serious business.
THANKS electrolemon - Yeah, SEASON 4 Premieres on THURSDAY OCTOBER 11TH 10:30PM on FX
[Edit] Taking a break to shoot. Don't worry, we'll be back for more.
[Edit 2] We're back. Shooting with babies in 105 degree heat is NOT fun. Or fast.
[Edit 3] Okay, we've gotta wrap this up for today folks. Thanks for all the awesome questions, you sick, sick frittatas. Season 4 premieres Thursday October 11th at 10:30pm on FX, and you can always find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Thanks again Reddit (and especially /r/theleaguefx, which we just discovered but absolutely love!)
TheLeagueFX900 karma
Christina and Robin - the stars of The League Wardrobe Department - forever finding new ways for Andre to embarrass himself sartorially http://i.imgur.com/ovyyA
TheLeagueFX555 karma
It's Katie's Aselton's Birthday today - Wish her a happy bday here people!
South_Side_Steve450 karma
Are you going to bring Mr. McGibblets back? Quite possibly the greatest child's toy ever.
Strike_Gently380 karma
Mark, is it weird having to see your wife kiss another man nearly every episode?
TheLeagueFX879 karma
The Kevin stuff doesn't bother me as much as the off screen Nick Kroll ones - MD
akmckeever348 karma
Hey Katie and Mark! how's it going? this is Alex McKeever (from Oak st.). love the show, when are you gonna get some NY Giants on it? and when are you coming back to Greenpoint?
TheLeagueFX532 karma
Alex! I was your babysitter! And now you've seen me in my underwear. Oh my god. Send me your therapy bills. And say "hi" to Greenpoint. - Katie
prhbtn340 karma
So, can we get another shot of Jenny in her underwear?
(You were all thinking it)
TheLeagueFX578 karma
We'll work on that. In the meantime, you'll have to settle with "Sofia" naked from behind.
TheLeagueFX328 karma
Has anyone else noticed Reddit has surprisingly awesome spell-check? We are NOT this smart.
slickestwood277 karma
Hey, guys! Huge fan of the show!
What NFL players can you confirm make guest appearances on the show? I've heard Ryan Fitzpatrick was going to be in an episode.
TheLeagueFX1026 karma
Ok let's spill it here. RG3, Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, Ryan Kalil, Felix Jones, Brandon Carr, Jason Witten, Jay Ratliff, Desean Jackson - did we mention thats just the FIRST episode? Get ready, people. This season rocks.
billsfan13259 karma
Has there been a scene that was so offensive that it actually ended up getting cut from the show?
TheLeagueFX755 karma
FX is pretty cool but let's just say there is a version of the Naginta song from Season 2 Episode 3 that will only ever exist for our own personal amusement
seannyboy06254 karma
As proof, can you have Jon LaJoie write and record a song about this AMA? Maybe do a live version of Pete's Little Tiny Erect Dick?
I have an anticiperection just thinking about it.
TheLeagueFX668 karma
OK - you want a live version of Pete's Tiny Erect Dick? You're on. We will film this and post it next week. And you will find a way to thank us for wasting so much of FXs money on set to do so.
GeauxHouston22118 karma
can I get some info on one of these russian brides? a 6 would be a massive upgrade for most of the internet community.
TheLeagueFX656 karma
Danny mcb is nothing like kenny powers. Hes a better pitcher and a bigger racist
looda61 karma
How do u make the herdsman sounds with such conviction. Without a doubt, u do it better than the rest.
vibin_152 karma
I could see your character coming back every season with a "higher rated" mail order bride. Any possibility?
islandniles169 karma
Will Jeff Goldblum be gracing The League with his presence again this season?
TheLeagueFX222 karma
We are working on it as we type. He's a busy guy but we are hoping Rupert will be back this season.
sibrahimi163 karma
Hey guys love your show. What I absolutely love about your show is that even though its about fantasy football you dot have to be a fan of the game to enjoy the show (extra brownie points because I love football) but my question would have to be. Are there any jokes you guys could not air on tv?
TheLeagueFX300 karma
So many. Too crude even for the dvd. We look through them and we are alternately amused and really ashamed of ourselves. God they're funny. And you'll never ever see them.
vectorix108163 karma
Hey guys I just want to say that this is an amazing show and I can't wait to see what this season will have in store for us!
My question is, does it ever get weird for Mark when Stephen and Katie are shooting one of their more "intimate" scenes?
TheLeagueFX486 karma
Sometimes Steve freezes up in the group scenes and kisses/ touches Katie like it's his sister. And we have to yell at him to grope her appropriately.
mkronfeld154 karma
Will the cast do a comedy tour again soon? And for the love of Goodell will they come to DC?
TheLeagueFX441 karma
OK - you heard it here first. We will be announcing the first 2012 THE LEAGUE LIVE show this WEDNESDAY. Get ready
33rpm149 karma
who came up with the concept for three penis wine and how stoned were they when they did?
is taco as cool in real life as he is on the show?
TheLeagueFX258 karma
Its a real thing in Asia - we've seen up to 9 penises (in wine, come on people, how foul do you think we are?) Our friend Sean bought us a bottle as a gag gift. We thought it was insane and wrote it into the show. Thank Sean for that.
TheLeagueFX309 karma
We asked him and his brothers - he said he was busy! Tweet him and tell him he's a fool.
McCabbage137 karma
Hey Stephen, love your character. I've got to ask, how bad was that nut tap delivered back in season 1 by Nick. Was it done in one take?
TrippKing3137 karma
Loved your AMA last year, it was actually what got me into Reddit. And your show is actually what managed to get my friends and I into Fantasy Football. So between the two of those you guys are responsible for a total drop in overall productivity in my life. And I couldn't thank you guys more for it! Keep up the great work!
Also I saw the trailer and was blown away by the amount of big names you guys have guest starring this season. Was there anyone in particular that made you guys feel starstruck??
TheLeagueFX284 karma
Thats our goal in life. To drag everyone down with us. First your productivity, then your morality.
ZigglersHEEL129 karma
Jon,
Thank you for your hit song "Show Me Your Genitals".. It's helped me get laid 2 and half times!
Thanks!
TheLeagueFX17 karma
Masturbating to my videos does not count as "getting laid". But thanks, I'm flattered. - Jon
varietyiskey121 karma
Did you expect 300+ comments in 20 minutes? Can you promise us a 5th season yet?
TheLeagueFX292 karma
No we didn't. We have much lower self esteem than that. It's pretty sweet. Want to see a Season 5? Start tweeting @fxnetworks - but please people, no chicken milk stink bombs like last year. At least those Jericho fans had the decency to send peanuts.
Ringwald112 karma
Huge fan of The League! I've always wondered, how much of the show is improvised?
TheLeagueFX236 karma
We write out full shows in advance with all the action and a lot of dialogue (come on people, having a 7' lavender stuffed character appear is not improvised). We also have bibles of Dialogue and jokes we keep with us that aren't in the scripts (shit we don't want to show FX before we try it) but we do leave lots of room and time for the actors to improvise dialogue on set too and a lot of that gets added into the show which keeps it feeling loose and authentic. Or so we think...
SphericalArc100 karma
Do any of you have a favourite line, or maybe a favourite scene, that ended up getting cut from the show?
And can I do a Shiva blast in here?
MyNameIsBruce293 karma
Kevin and Jenny aren’t bad parents, but Ellie is surrounded by a lot of bad influences. What do you think Ellie would be like grown up?
Also, I love Jason Mantzoukas. I just want to be the first one in this AMA to tell him to get a Twitter account.
GGoodman0982 karma
This is for anyone who is willing to answer: what has been your personal favorite scene to shoot these last few years?
TheLeagueFX296 karma
Rafi's apartment toilet kitchen in Bobbum Man. The crew and cast were laughing so hard it took us 3 hours to shoot that scene, a colossal waste of FXs money and we wouldn't have it any other way
jeffsomlo75 karma
Hey thank you for doing this AMA again. I am just wondering why FX decides to air your show at the same time as Thursday Night Football? I assume that a decent amount of your fan base are big football fans and are conflicted which to watch.
TheLeagueFX138 karma
THANK YOU. NO ONE LISTENS TO US. We begged. We cajoled. We wanted to move to a different night. But honestly they feel like the show has enough of a comedy following outside football fans that it won't make a difference. (last year our ratings held up against football so they have Thursday Hubris) What do you guys think?
jimprosser40 karma
How long does it take to get an episode from writers room to ready-to-air? I know you guys improv a fair amount of stuff, so curious if the turn-around time is shorter than your typical show.
TheLeagueFX99 karma
We start writing every year when we know the show is coming back (last December). Actually we usually start before that. We pitched the Season 5 premiere episode to FX back in May when we presented all 13 of Season 4. They're crazy if they don't let you guys see that show. It will be insane. - Jackie and Jeff
Dendi37 karma
I am constantly baffled by the professional players you get onto the show. Do they call you guys or do you have to wine and dine them to get on the show? Also, do you ask them for FFL advice when they are on set?
TheLeagueFX74 karma
They often approach us to be on the show - which is AWESOME. And of course we fucking torture them with FF questions on set, shamelessly. How obsessed with this trivial pastime do you think we are??
dukebd201036 karma
First off, I love the show so much that I decided to be McGibblets for Halloween. I saw FX is selling a suit that would ship out next week but the suit looks awful and nothing like the one used in the show. Do you guys have any idea why they either can't recreate the show costume or if they were lazy or what?
TheLeagueFX56 karma
We tried our best. The photo isn't that flattering but it is kind of awesome.
TheLeagueFX59 karma
We have tinkered with this idea for 2 seasons - but got turned when we saw that Adam Sandler/ Andy Samburg movie. Maybe we'll have the balls to resurrect it
ChieftressKya15 karma
Any advice for a writer who wants to have a good comedic element? Is it more about timing, or writing?
djcack1236 karma
The greatest job in tv has to be the person that selects Andre's wardrobe. Who is that genius and how do they get the inspiration?
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