Kevin Spacey On Underwood Vs. Trump: 'We Have Better Writers'

MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS A TONY AND ACADEMY AWARD WINNER
INFAMOUS FRANK UNDERWOOD O >> HOW MUCH MORE PROOF DO YOU
PEOPLE NEED?
I DEMAND THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE TAKE A STAND, LIKE
F.D.R. BEFORE AND WILSON BEFORE HIM.
I DEMAND THAT THIS CONGRESS DECLARE A FORMAL DECLARATION OF
WAR, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD!
>> THE HOUSE WILL ADJOURN.
THE PRESIDENT WILL CEASE.
>> I WILL NOT CEASE!
I WILL NEVER CEASE!
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME THE KEVIN SPACEY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: LOOK AT THAT.
I'M AFRAID THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD NIGHT.
>> Stephen: I LOVE A GUEST WHO TAKES HIS TIME ON THE CROSS,
SAYS HI TO THE BAND.
YOU'VE GOT TO.
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> Stephen: GOOD EVENING TO YOU.
>> NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK.
>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
>> Stephen: IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR.
>> IS THAT MINE?
>> Stephen: IT IS YOURS.
LET'S FIND OUT.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THAT'S THE GOOD
STUFF.
>> THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF.
>> Stephen: THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE YOU WERE HERE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> Stephen: AND THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, A BIT OF A
DIFFERENT WORLD-- OR AT LEAST DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP, LAST TIME
YOU WERE HERE.
>> YES, YES.
>> Stephen: IS IT-- IS IT ODD TO DO A SHOW LIKE "HOUSE OF
CARDS" THAT DOES NOT SEEM AS CRAZY AS REALITY ANYMORE?
( LAUGHTER ) IS THAT A CHALLENGE IN ANY WAY
TO YOU?
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> WELL-- AS CHRISTOPHER WALKEN
MIGHT SAY, IT'S CRAZY.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS-- ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT "HOUSE OF CARDS" IS YOU GUYS,
FOR SEASON AFTER SEASON, PEOPLE WOULD GO "HOW DID YOU KNOW THE
WORLD IS GOING TO BE THE WAY IT IS?"
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE SORT OF PREDICTIVE.
>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THAT EVERY SEASON-- AND I WOULD SAY
PARTICULARLY THIS SEASON-- WE HAVE-- YOU KNOW, WE COME
TOGETHER.
WE DO OUR BIBLE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE WHOLE SEASON.
WE START WRITING.
WE WRITE THE EPISODES.
WE SHOOT THE EPISODES.
AND THEN AT SOME POINT BETWEEN WHEN WE'VE SHOT THE SEASON AND
BEFORE IT DROPS, THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
DEALT WITH ON THE SHOW HAPPEN IN THE REAL WORLD.
AND WE GO, "OKAY.
EVERYONE'S GOING TO ASSUME WE STOLE IT FROM THE HEADLINES."
BUT IN FACT, WE DID IT FIRST.
( LAUGHTER ) AND I THINK ACTUALLY WHAT'S BEEN
INTERESTING THIS YEAR SORT OF WATCHING A LOT OF COMMENTARY.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING 'HOUSE OF CARDS' IS GOING TO BE BORING
THIS YEAR.
HOW CAN THEY COMPETE WITH REALITY?"
( LAUGHTER ) I HAVE TO SAY IN ALL HONESTY, I
THINK WE'VE NEVER BEFORE MORE RELEVANT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE HERE, THE FIRST TIME YOU
WERE HERE, I ASKED YOU LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN FRANK UNDERWOOD DOES
HIS ASIDES INTO THE CAMERA, IS THERE ANYONE HE'S ACTUALLY
TALKING TO YOU SAID IT WAS-- >> I THINK I SAID AS A JOKE THAT
IT WAS DONALD TRUMP.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THAT WAS A LONG
TIME BEFORE HE WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED A GUY WHO COULD BE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> WHAT HAS BECOME CLEAR SINCE THEN IS, OF COURSE, HE'S JUST
NOT LISTENING AT ALL.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen:IVE THINK TRUMP
COULD USE A LITTLE FRANK UNDERWOOD.
A LITTLE PLANNING WOULD BE COMFORTING.
BECAUSE HE SEEMS A LITTLE SEE THE OF THE PANTS SOMETIMES.
>> I WILL SAY THIS-- I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE BETTER WRITERS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: IMPROV.
I THINK HE'S DOING-- I THINK HE'S IMPROVISING.
>> A LITTLE BIT.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
IT'S LIKE JAZZ-- IT'S THE GOVERNANCE YOU DON'T DO.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> VERY INTERESTING.
HE-- YEAH, NO, IT'S BEEN-- I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN
VERY ENTERTAINING.
>> Stephen: YEAH, IT SURE HAS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: IT SURE HAS.
EXHAUSTINGLY SO.
>> NO, NO, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU COMING OUT HERE EVERY
NIGHT AND TALKING ABOUT IT.
THAT'S BEEN VERY ENTERTAINING.
>> Stephen: OH, THAT'S BEEN VERY ENTERTAINING FOR ME, TOO.
THAT'S BEEN MEDICINAL.
THAT'S BETTER THAN A COCKTAIL.
( APPLAUSE ) YOU'VE ACTED ON SOME OF THE
GREATEST STAGES IN THE WORLD HERE AND ABROAD.
BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TAKING ON AN ENORMOUS NEW STAGE RIGHT
HERE IN NEW YORK OVER IN FLUSHING MEADOWS.
>> YES, WHERE THEY NORMALLY DO THE U.S. OPEN, ARTHUR ASHE
STADIUM, I HAVE DECIDED TO DO A ONE-MAN PLAY I DID IN LOPPED A
COUPLE YEARS BACK ABOUT A GREAT, LEGENDARY ATTORNEY NAMED
CLARENCE DARROW.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: SURE.
>> FOR THOSE-- FOR THOSE IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC WHO DON'T KNOW WHO
CLARENCE DARROW IS?
>> Stephen: YES.
>> YOU DO ACTUALLY KNOW WHO HE IS BECAUSE HE IS THE BASIS FOR
THE GREAT FILM "INHERIT THE WIND" THE GREAT SCOPES MONKEY
TILE ABOUT THE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION IN A SCIENCE CLASS IN
TENNESSEE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY VOICES I THINK IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
IN FACT, HE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES NOW.
HE WAS A REMARKABLE LABOR ATTORNEY.
HE, IN FACT, IS THE REASON WE HAVE AN EIGHT-HOUR DAY FOR
AMERICAN WORKERS, CLARENCE DARROW.
( APPLAUSE ) HE WAS ALSO AN EXTRAORDINARY
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY.
AND HE TOOK ON CASES THAT NO ONE ELSE WOULD TAKE ON.
AND LATER IN HIS CAREER HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE CRIMINAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY.
AND SO I'M DOING THIS ONE-MAN SHOW ABOUT HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
AND I JUST THINK THAT HIS VOICE RIGHT NOW IN THE PLACE THAT
WE'RE AT, HE WAS A REASONABLE, VERY, VERY FUNNY-- THERE WAS A
LOT OF AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION-- WE'RE NOT SELLING OUT THE WHOLE
STADIUM, BY THE WAY.
IT WILL BE QUITE INTIMATE.
WE'LL PROBABLY PLAY IN FRONT OF 5,000 PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: 5,000.
>> I PLAYED AT THE EPIDUR IS.
>> Stephen: A SKIN DISEASE.
WHAT IS THAT?
>> YES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET, YOU CAN'T FIX IT.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: SO WHAT'S THE EPIDURIS.
>> EPIDURIS IS THE INCREDIBLE ANCIENT GREEK THEATER IN GREECE,
IN ATHENS.
I DID "RICH III" THERE AND PLAYED IN FRONT OF 14,000
PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: WOW.
HOW DO YOU-- HOW DO YOU-- LIKE, HOW DO YOU GAUGE THE LEVEL, THE
SIZE OF YOUR PERFORMANCE.
YOU'RE DOING "RICHARD III" IN FRONT OF 14,000 PEOPLE.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE-- >> FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY WE
WERE DOING IT HERE ON TELEVISION.
COULD I HAVE A CLOSE UP, PLEASE.
A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THAT.
( LAUGHTER ) A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THAT.
SO I COULD LITERALLY SAY THIS "NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR
DISCONTENT."
I COULD SAY IT JUST LIKE THAT.
BUT IN A PLACE LIKE THE EPIDURIS-- PULL THE CAMERA BACK
NOW, WAY BACK, WAY BACK.
( SHOUTING ) NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR
DISCONTENT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: I LIKE THAT ONE.
THAT'S LIKE A CUP OF COVE.
A CUP OF COFFEE.
>> LET ME TELL YOU THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT ARTHUR ASHE
AND DOING DARROW THERE.
WE'RE NOT USING THE WHOLE CENTER COURT.
WE'RE PUTTING A STAGE THERE BUT WE'RE BRINGING IN 600 ADDITIONAL
SEATS OF WHICH 300 OF THOSE SEATS WILL BE SEATS FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT-- ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: ANNOUNCEMENT, A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT IN ADDITION TO THE 300 SEATS THAT
WE'RE OFFERING TO YOUNG PEOPLE, THE 18- TO 25-YEAR-OLDS ARE FOR
FREE.
AND I'M OFFERING TONIGHT AN ADDITIONAL 100 OF THOSE SEATS,
AND IF YOU GO TO KEVINSPACYFOUNDATION.COM YOU CAN
SIGN UP FOR OUR LOTTERY FOR THOSE TICKET S.
>> Stephen: WOW.
WE'LL PUT THAT RIGHT UP THERE.
THAT WILL BE GREAT.
WOW.
WOW.
SPEAKING OF YOUNG PEOPLE, DID YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK WHEN YOU
WERE FIRST AN ACTOR?
>> YES.
I STARTED-- I STARTED MY CAREER AFTER I WENT TO JUILLIARD EYE
KNOW MOST OF THE BAND WENT TO JUILLIARD.
>> Stephen: YOU WENT AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT?
YOU GUYS WENT TO JUILLIARD-- >> , OF COURSE, AT THAT TIME HE
WAS IN THE DANCE DIVISION, STRANGELY ENOUGH.
>> Jon: YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG ACTOR IN NEW YORK, HOW DID
YOU MAKE YOUR WAY IN THE WORLD?
BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG ACTOR IN CHICAGO, WHICH WAS HARD ENOUGH.
BUT NEW YORK IS AN EXPENSIVE PLACE.
>> I WAS A HAT CHECK GUY AT A RESTAURANT.
>> A HAT CHECK GUY.
BACK WHEN PEOPLE HAD HATS.
>> BACK WHEN PEOPLE HAD HATS.
AND I ACTUALLY TOOK YUL BRENNER'S HAT ONE NIGHT AND PUT
IT RIGHT THERE.
>> Stephen: WHAT?
HE NEEDS IT.
>> AND I WORKED IN AN OFFICE.
I ALSO WORKED AT THE PUBLIC THEATER IN THE BASEMENT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DID IN ORDER TO REDUCE RENT AT AN
APARTMENT THAT I HAD WAS I WAS THE SUPER OF THE BUILDING YOU.
>> Stephen: WERE THERE AND YOU--
>> I CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS, I DID IT ALL IN ORDER TO HAVE A
REDUCED RENT.
>> Stephen: DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING?
DESCRU ANY-- DID YOU HAVE ANY SKILL?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE YOU-- I LEARNED ON THE JOB.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES.
BOTH JUST GOING OUT EVERY NIGHT AND CLEANING UP PEOPLE'S
(BLEEP).
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen: WELL, THE TONYS ARE ON JUNE 11.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Stephen: AND YOU ARE HOSTING THIS YEAR,
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I AM HOSTING THE TONYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M VERY EXCITED.
( APPLAUSE ) AND I'M NOT WRONG, YOU ARE
HOSTING THE EMMYS A LITTLE LATER IN THE YEAR.
>> Stephen: YEAH, I'M DOING IT IN SEPTEMBER.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> SO WE ARE-- WE ARE TRULY THE HOST WITH THE MOST S.
>> Stephen: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AREN'T WE?
>> Stephen: YEAH.
HAVE YOU SEEN EVERYTHING THIS YEAR.
>> I HAVEN'T.
I'M STARTING TO GO AND SEE EVERYTHING.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU SEEN "DEAR EVAN HANSEN."
>> DI.
>> Stephen: I CRIED LIKE A CHILD.
>> I SAW IT OFF BROADWAY.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO SEE IT ON BROADWAY.
WE'RE GOG HAVE SOME FUN ON TONY NIGHT.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE EVERY TELEVISION SHOW?
>> Stephen: YES.
>> IF I'M GOING TO SEE ALL THE BROADWAY SHOWS --
>> Stephen: EVERY TELEVISION SHOW, EVERY SINGLE ONE JOIRK
THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE, ACTUALLY.
>> Stephen: THAT WOULD BE "HOUSE OF CARDS" ON NETFLIX NEXT
TUESDAY.
AND THE TONY AWARDS JUNE 11 ON CBS.
KEVIN SPACEY, EVERYBODY.

Kevin Spacey On Underwood Vs. Trump: 'We Have Better Writers'

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