Shit My Dad Says: Η Συνέντευξη Στα Εγγλέζικα

Justin_Halpern

Πήρα μια συνέντευξη από τον Τζάστιν Χάλπερν, τον τύπο που έγραφε το @shitmydadsays, και μετά έγραψε το “Sh*t My Dad Says”ir?t=bookworm0e 20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061992704 και τώρα γράφει το “$#*! My Dad Says”.  Το βιβλίο κυκλοφόρησε τώρα στα Ελληνικά (εγώ το μετέφρασα) και τη συνέντευξη μπορείς να τη διαβάσεις στο Esquire που κυκλοφορεί. Από κάτω έχω το ορίτζιναλ κείμενο, το εγγλέζικο, που έχει πιο πολλή πλάκα.

In the book your dad comes across consistently awesome. Neither you nor your brothers seem to be anything like him. How come?

Ha, wow, well, I sometimes think I’m awesome.  On occasion.  Eh, no, you’re right, I’m not that awesome.  I think to be honest we don’t really have the balls he does, to say whatever we want, whenever we want.  I don’t think that’s a learned behavior.

Those tweets have become a cultural phenomenon, referenced in other sitcoms, even inspired CBS to pick up the rights to two additional feeds. What was it about those profane utterances that resonated with, well, everyone?

I think people found my dad to be a breath of fresh air, but I also think it was due to the fact that he’s relatable in a way.  It seems to me that everyone has somebody like my dad in their family.  Ultimately though, I think it’s because my dad doesn’t give two shits about what anyone thinks about him, and that makes people like him all the more.

I read in “The Guardian” that your dad has written a book about his time in Vietnam, and that you hadn’t read it. Not cool, man.

I have a reason for that!  I asked him if I could read it, (since there’s only one copy in existence, basically) and he said “No.  It’s shitty.  Don’t waste your time.”  So at the behest of him, I didn’t read it.

How is the show going? Do you enjoy working in television? Are you happy with the result?

The show is going well.  I think it’s taking us a little while to find our footing, but I think we’re getting closer each week.  I do very much enjoy working in television.  It’s a stressful process.  It’s not quite as gratifying as writing books, only because your vision is fully realized when you write books.  But I love the collaborative process of writing television shows and trying to make a story work in 22 minutes.  I also, lots of cocaine.  Just lots and lots of cocaine and fucking.

Is your dad watching the show? What does he think about it?

He enjoys the show.  He and I don’t have long conversations about it, but he tells me he enjoys it, and trust me, if he didn’t, I would hear about it.  It would be all I hear about.

Wait –you‘re beating 30 Rock at the ratings? Seriously?

First, let me say, I love 30 Rock.  I think it’s brilliant. But I have this theory that most people don’t actually watch 30 Rock, they just say they watch it because it makes them sound smart at parties. That said, I watch the shit out of it.  I watch our show live, and then DVR 30 Rock. Just because they are our competition doesn’t mean I will deprive myself of the joy I get watching that show.

Have you talked to the guys who created Twitter? Did you thank them?

I have not. I get this weird vibe from them that they don’t want to actually admit I’m part of twitter, yet at the same time, are happy that I am a Τwitter success story.  It’s kind of like having a son that shits his pants; you love him, but you’re not going to tell your neighbors about him.

Name the two main differences between William Shatner and your dad.

My dad doesn’t give a shit about French Canada, and William Shatner isn’t interested in watching shows about cancer research.

Name the two main similarities between your dad and Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

They both say whatever they want, whenever they want, and they both love horses more than most people.

What kind of a dad will you be? Will you swear as much around your kids?

Hopefully a good one.  Wow, that was a lame answer to that question.  Let me make that better; Hopefully a good one that has a wife with big titties.  I don’t think I’ll swear as much around my kids, only because I just don’t swear as much as my dad does.  No other reason than that.  Censorship blows.

Flash forward five years into the future: Where do you think you’ll be? Will you still be tweeting things your dad says?

I will be on a spaceship that I purchased just days before the world was destroyed by a nuclear holocaust brought about by North Korea allowing the television show Macgyver to be broadcast in syndication there.  And yes, I will probably still be tweeting the things my dad says.

Justin_Halpern2