The little Jew behind ARCHER got a little bigger. H. Jon Benjamin here. AMA.

Hey Jon, Lucky Yates here. I work on one of those shows you do. What's it like working with me? Am I too much? I'm too much, aren't I?

you're just enough

I saw you in Chicago O'Hare last June. You came into the Chilis and sat down at the table next to me and I was like "Is that? It is! It totally is! What do I do? What do I do?". I sat there for no shit, 45 minutes poking at my food arguing with myself to work up the courage to turn and say "Hey! I'm a big fan." But I was like "The man is just trying to have a meal and catch his plane. Don't be that asshole. But then I'm never gonna see him again. And really he made the decision to be famous, he's gotta just expect people to interrupt him all the time right?" I finished my meal, got the check and was like "Ok, now or never!" I got up, looked over at you, gave you some really awkward dude nod and walked away. And that's my H. Jon Benjamin story. FFS.

that's the best O'Hare story i have ever heard!

What is your favorite running joke on Archer?

i would have to say the messages on his voicemail.

How many more seasons do you see for Archer?

over 70

What Archer line made you laugh the most?

i think i laughed really hard when i read the meowshwitz joke, but i am sucker for holocaust jokes

John you might have the most unusual voice to face match I've ever seen, you look nothing like the way you speak if that makes sense. Either way Archer is my favourite show and I love you, anywayyyy... My question is: What is your favourite Sterling Archer quote?

i think based on my looks, most people would expect just squeaking sounds

Hey everyone, I'm going to stop typing now. Hopefully, i can do this again sometime soon. Keep up the good work. Be careful out there!

Which Belcher child is your personal favorite? And which do you think is Bob's favorite?

i really like louise, but i think bob likes Tina best. She's the most reasonable

What would you say is the reason for your success in the voice acting industry? You seem to be very high in demand (BB, Archer, Family Guy, etc). Do you prefer voice acting over being in front of the camera?

i like both. obviously i have had more opportunities doing voice work, but i certainly like doing on camera. voice acting has a lot of upsides in that it takes very little time and effort. on camera acting for me is a bit more pressure

You did a splendid job in A New York Minute.

that deserves a sequel

I really miss Home Movies. Was Walter & Perry the influence for Ollie & Pesto on Bob's Burgers?

I want pills that make me go "meow"

i think so. Loren Bouchard definitely has an affinity for weird falsetto, strangely homoerotic siblings, although i'm not sure walter and perry were related

Do you ever quote any of the characters you voice in conversation (intentionally or unintentionally)?

there was a woman who worked at starbucks near me whose name was Lana and I did say 'Lana, Lana, Lana' to her once but never yelled

What's your biggest similarity with Sterling? Biggest difference?

i definitely share archer's penchant for annoying everyone around him and his juvenile sense of humor, and biggest difference, my chest is significantly more pillowy

God DAMN I love that show.

Ok, fuck, marry, kill, eat?

Lana, Cheryl / Carol, Your Mother, Pam.

EDIT: Dammit, I just realized I was at a party with you and didn't know it. Comic Con, 2013, Maxim party.

Proof, for the terminally skeptical: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/wpyns/at_comicon_went_to_the_resident_evil_6_party/

i would FMKE (fuck marry kill eat) Pam

If I were to make another bottle of Glengoolie Blue, would you be willing to chug it in front of Aisha Tyler while holding your finger up in her face?

I'm half way through the first one and i'll chug the rest now

Will you marry me?

is it for love or citizenship?

What does the H in your name stands for?

Hymietown

Mr. Benjamin, If I see you walking around in public and you aren't "busy", what's the best way to approach you? Is there anything in particular that you dislike fans doing?

Second question, do you like Archer as a person?

run up and punch me in the dick. that way i'll know it's you!

Do you think changing Tina to a girl after the original pilot helped the show?

i actually do and i think loren does as well. That was a note from the network, but I do think if dan played a boy, it would have also resonated with awkward male adolescents in the same way Tina has become an icon for awkward teen girls

I want you to know that you are my celebrity that I can cheat on my boyfriend with and it wouldn't count. How do you feel about girls who don't shave?

i like a gal with a pronounced treasure trail

HJB! I’m so excited to be here on time. I set an alarm on my phone and everything!

So you obviously have a distinctive voice and most of your characters seem to simply have your voice rather than a distinct characterization.

My friends and I always argue about the voices of Bob and Archer. I feel like there are subtleties in the line reading that make them noticeably different. If Bob and Archer spoke the same sentence I feel like I could tell the difference.

Is this something you do intentionally in voicing these two or is this a placebo effect and I’m only imagining they’re voiced differently because they’re coming from different characters?

Also is there anything you’re really excited about in the upcoming season of Archer?

i hope they are a bit different. i think archer is bit lower register and certainly louder and more assertive. bob is a lot less confident, probably due to hirsuteness

You have to create a spinoff series based on a minor character from Bob's Burgers or Archer. Which do you pick, and what is it called?

i know people have talked about Pam getting a spin-off. I'm pretty sure it was called The Poovey Files and she was like Magnum PI

Does Christian Slater return your phone calls anymore?

he left his baseball hat at the photo shoot so i have something personal that he wants. that's the best way to get a man!

Hey Jon, thanks for doing this. What's wrong with Romania?

is she sick?

Looking forward to seeing you next Friday in San Francisco. What will you guys be doing? I would really like to shake your hand.

i mostly fist bump or kiss on the mouth

[deleted]

i am just getting into cooking. i have been using this delivery service called Blue Apron which delivers you the ingredients and provides you specific recipes. it's surprisingly great. it has gotten me exponentially better at cooking very quickly. as far as the most expensive meal, i think it would be masa in nyc

Do you have any fond memories of Worcester? Is that even possible?

I do. i actually like growing up there believe it or not. Coming from a place where the presiding narrative is 'how do i get out of here?' is often positive. it compels you to strive for better things. Worcester is powerful like that. Just getting to Providence was a victory, even just for a day

Would you be interested in voice acting for videogames? They matured a lot lately. Also what's your favourite videogame?

the last game i played on a regular basis was call of duty black ops, the zombie game within the game. that took me down a very dark rabbit hole for several months

Any plans to work with Nathan Fielder again in the near future? I love both of you to pieces.

i hope so. we did have a idea for a sci-fi show, but nathan is busy on his show currently

Favorite sandwich?

probably a traditional banh mi or a chicken parm

What's it like working on Bob's Burgers? Did you ever experience a mom like Linda?

I've met John Robert's actual Mom and she's pretty damn close. She had a disturbing interest in the show Blue Bloods from what I remember. She overshares and is very sweet just like Linda

Hey Jon,

I saw you at a comedy festival in Los Angeles when you presented the pilot for "H. Jon Benjamin has a Van" (that Staples bit was amazing).

At the end a deranged homeless person snuck in rather stealthily and sat down in the front row then started talking crazy and interrupting the Q&A. I shouted to give him the money you collected back from the audience and that didn't work either and you wrapped up the Q&A. Question is was that homeless guy hired for the bit or just a crazy coincidence?

If it was staged that was genius. He seemed to wrap up the show nicely, saved you guys from a long Q&A and give everyone something to talk about after.

He was for real, not part of the bit

Halloo. Archer and Jon Benjamin Has a Van are brilliant, but my favorite of your work is Ep#1 of Aisha Tyler's girl on guy podcast where you talk about crapping your pants, and when you voiced HAL for 2001:A Space Odyssey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0cqV3h-aDA). Any chance you'd say/remember who the celebrity coming through the lobby of the hotel was from your pants adventure, and any chance of you doing more random voice-overs? And, you know, thanks for everything.

i've since recalled (but not certain) that it was Jackie Earle Haley, but to be sure, not certain. i was in a diarrhea haze

Hey Jon, what are you wearing?

Just like a camo-print penis pouch, strapless on one side

Hi Benjamin. Can you please tell everyone about the time you and Sam Seder got a deal to write a sitcom and then had Sam's elderly uncle write it? Do I have that right?

sort of. it was actually my brother in law's father and sam and i went to florida to research a show about a young guy who went to live in a retirement community. When we were there, he was showing us scripts he wrote for his community's annual play- like vaudeville-esque stuff. Without Sam's consent, I offered him the chance to write the script and he did and Sam and I submitted that to the network. It was like 70 pages and had a 7 page scene of viagra jokes pulled from a joke book. The network was not amused.

Will you please tell me a fond little memory about Jon Glaser?

i fondly remember how we came up with the fuggedabuddies. we were driving to hoboken to open for yo la ten go and we couldn't find a parking space, so whenever we approached what we thought was a space, but ended up being a hydrant or a driveway, jon would yell 'fuggedaboutit' (because we were in NJ) and then we ended up somehow on us being a duo that said fuggedaboutit called the fuggedabuddies who were somehow from san diego and were jewish

How much fun did you and David Cross have with the "Jew them Up" sketch?

That was really fun. i could have done that for a year. to this day, i will occasionally insist on giving someone double the money they ask for

What shows are you watching right now? Are you a Community fan?

I haven't watched it yet, but I have been meaning to start. that and arrested development I have yet to see so those are mandatory viewing soon.

Greeting Sir! Have to say that my gf and I love your sultry voice and had to ask, what would your codename be if you were a secret agent? Assuming you aren't one, which is a large assumption I grant.

Codename 'Dumpling'?

Hi Jon. I've been a fan of yours since "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist." Do you have a favorite episode? Do you still keep in contact with Jonathan Katz?

I do. I just spoke to him today coincidentally enough. They are doing a 20 yr anniversary Dr. katz show in san fran next week and I have reprise my Ben role.

Hi Jon. Big admirer of your work. Just wanted to let you know that Archer and Bobs burgers are two of the family's favourite programs. My 9year old daughter loves BB. Would you kindly say hello to Sydney (daughter) for me? It would be a big deal for her. Cheers mate.

Hi sydney. Happy 10th birthday! (read this when you turn 10)

Favorite Lionel Richie song?

Definitely 'Hello'. I hate 'Dancing on the ceiling'

Who is the funniest person working in comedy right now that we've never heard of, ya jew?

ya jew is really funny