With Fox Searchlight's very funny Cedar Rapids premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival (watch the trailer here), I got to sit down with Ed Helms for an extended video interview.  As a huge fan of his work, I'll admit that getting to speak to him in a one on one setting was something that I was really looking forward to.  Thankfully, he was super nice and willing to talk about anything.  During the interview we covered...

  • What was it like for him to premiere his movie at Sundance
  • Making Cedar Rapids and the awesome jokes that reference HBO's The Wire
  • What songs does he like to sing when doing karaoke. Says he would destroy me if we went up against one another.  I didn't argue.
  • Is he ever going to release an album
  • He talked about the "nudity clause" in his contract
  • The Mike Tyson tattoo he had to wear in The Hangover 2 and what it was like to walk around Bangkok with it
  • His early work which included an episode of Arrested Development
  • How he really wants to be in The Muppet movie
  • His upcoming movie with Jason Segel called Jeff Who Lives at Home
  • His thoughts on the future of The Office. Reveals most of the cast has one year left on their contracts
  • And so much more

While I've done a lot of interviews recently, this was one easily of my favorites and I can't recommend it enough.  Hit the jump to check it out.  I've time indexed it so you can watch the parts that interest you.

Finally, I laughed a ton while watching Cedar Rapids.  The main reason is the chemistry between Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Each one had a moment to shine and Whitlock Jr. got two of the biggest laughs at the premiere.  However, John C. Reilly also has a few awesome lines.

While most movies that premiere at Sundance take a long time to reach theaters, you won't have to wait for this one as Fox Searchlight releases it February 11.  I strongly recommend checking it out.  And with that…here's my interview with Ed Helms.  If you'd rather listen to our conversation, click here for the audio file.

Ed Helms

  • What the Sundance premiere screening was like
  • 1:15 - Discusses the rehearsal process of Cedar Rapids and the chemistry on set
  • 2:35 - How and when the Wire references made it into the film
  • 4:50 - Talks about the "nudity clause" in his contract
  • 7:15 - Helms will destroy you in karaoke, but there are no plans for an album
  • 9:05 - Touches on The Hangover Part II but avoids spoilers
  • 9:40 - The Mike Tyson makeup was like a "constant sunburn," but fun to wear in the real world
  • 11:35 - Talks about breaking out and a busy schedule over the past two years
  • 14:00 - Recalls his small role on Arrested Development
  • 15:20 - He would love to be in The Muppet Movie, and does a puppet show once a month
  • 16:10 - Talks Jeff Who Lives at Home with Jason Segel
  • 17:00 - What The Office will do when Steve Carell leaves the show

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