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| Fame & Fortune: Comedian David
Spade |
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Bankrate: When you
look long term, do you think about pursuing more hosting work, like
trying for a late-night network show, or do you see yourself as
more of a comic actor?
David Spade: I can see myself doing
another sitcom before I do that. There was a point on "SNL"
when I was talked to about taking over for Letterman, and I didn't
want to do it. Even back then, when I could have used the money
and instant recognition, I just thought that wasn't my thing. And
at this point, I'm kind of glad. I don't think I could do that format
every night. It's very taxing. I wouldn't mind doing a movie now
and then just for fun. But a sitcom, that seems like a good place
for me.
Bankrate: The Capital One commercials
-- do you get a lot of flack for those?
David Spade: People seem to like
them. I had no idea that commercial would get on [the air] so much,
because that's not always the case. I had no idea what I was getting
into on this one, but now I'm glad, because they make them pretty
funny.
Bankrate: When you get offered stuff
like the Capital One commercials, are you apprehensive, but agree
to do it when they back up the truck for you so much that you can't
really turn it down?
David Spade: I've definitely not
done some, but it's a weird business. You never know
what you're going to do, if you're going to make money, when it's
going to stop, and you can't be totally choosy because then you'd
never do anything. Some stuff is going to get offered to Jim Carrey
first, and I've got to take it upon myself to go, "If it comes
to me, they'd have to make it better," or, "I'm not going
to get the best script in Hollywood handed to me; it's just not
going to happen." So I either have to get a good writer, or
sharpen it myself, or get a good director, or do some tricks like
that. And sometimes it comes out good. Capital One read funny. I
read it, went, "These sound funny -- let's do it." That
was it. And in a world where De Niro and Kate Winslet are doing
commercials, I think someone like me, who's on TV 10 times a day
anyway, will be OK. Other than annoying people.
Bankrate: From a business standpoint,
between movies and TV, is one more lucrative than the other?
David Spade: I think I always just
try to take what's right for me. I turned down tons of money in
the sitcom world this year to do shows because nothing seemed right,
and then I took way less to do the Comedy Central show because it
seemed like the right kind of thing. So at this point, once I can
pay my rent and have a car and help my mom out, then it's like,
"OK. I can't make decisions based on that." I wouldn't
do commercials unless they were funny, and Capital One, I like.
If more came up that I didn't like, I wouldn't do it. It's case-by-case.
Bankrate: So you're in a comfortable
enough situation where you can have some discretion?
David Spade: Yes. Sometimes, I order
two Diet Cokes, and I don't even drink one. That's the way I roll.
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