Jason Segel Talks Muppets, 'Gulliver's Travels,' and His Favorite English Pub

By Nicki Gostin Posted Dec 22nd 2010 02:45PM

Jason Segel Gulliver's Travels interview

Jason Segel, star of 'How I Met Your Mother' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' is co-starring in this season's surefire family favorite, 'Gulliver's Travels,' along with Jack Black. The genial 30-year-old spoke to PopEater about shooting in England, helming the upcoming Muppets movie, and memories of his "odd" childhood.

Had you read 'Gulliver's Travels' before you shot the movie?
I read it in junior high but I hadn't read it since and I probably didn't read it all the way through. It's long. More than anything I appreciated the experience of getting to shoot with Jack and being in London. It was so beautiful, some of the places we shot in. We shot in a place called Blenheim Palace, which is just gorgeous and out in the English countryside. I had never really gotten to experience anything like that.

Did you get to have afternoon tea with scones?
We did a little of that. A little pub crawling, played a little darts, I played chess more. I got really into the chess. I've always played; I've always really liked it.

You must have had a favorite pub.
Yeah, it's called the Duke of Kendall. It's a very, very special place that's sort of lost in time. The clientele, especially on Sunday nights, is pretty old; 80 would be the minimum. They would gather and sing old World War II songs. I brought the whole cast to check it out and it's just awesome. The lady who played the piano those nights, she played the soldiers off to war back in World War II, so that's pretty crazy.

And oh my god, you're doing the Muppet movie! How amazing.
I'm so thrilled. It's amazing and terrifying and exciting. I've got every emotion flying on all cylinders.

Who's your favorite Muppet?
Fozzie Bear because he's just so sweet.

Do you forget there's a hand attached?
Very, very quickly. You stop looking at the puppeteers, they disappear. It's amazing how talented these guys are. It's such an art form. It's really breathtaking.

When did you get into puppets?
I was young, I was in my early teens and I started writing little short films and I would use puppets as other actors because no one could drive at that point.

Did you have friends?
[Laughs] Yeah I did, I did! We were just too young to drive.

It's sort of an odd thing to play with puppets.
Well I was an odd thing. I wore a Superman cape under my clothes until I was 12. I'm not the most normal dude.

How about now?
I literally have 10 or 15 puppets out in my living room right now.

Do you put them away when girls come over?
No! You don't put them away, you've got to put it all out right in the beginning. You don't want to pull out the puppets two months in. Now it's my profession so it's cool. There was a time when I was just a weirdo dude in his mid-20s playing with puppets.

Did you get baby presents for your 'How I Met Your Mother' co-star Neil Patrick Harris?
You know it's funny you ask that, no I haven't and I really ought to. They're like a month and a half old now. What do babies like?

Anything sharp and pointy.
Okay -- darts and cigars.

What are you doing New Year's Eve?
I'm going to rest. I'm in some serious need of some sleep.

How are stars spending their holidays? Check out our video below!

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Tags: Gullivers Travels, Jason Segel, Muppets

Comments

(6)

Wednesday 22 December

By D Wayne

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Oh, good for you, just keep it in your pants.

Friday 24 December

By stiao3

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Very, very quickly. You stop looking at the puppeteers, they disappear. It's amazing how talented these guys are. It's such an art form. It's really breathtaking.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age'lessmate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

Sunday 26 December

By Mel

i love him!!! he's so hilarious on HIMYM i know the muppets movie is gonna rock!

By jorge

He looks jewish. Is he gay or bi-sexual by chance ?

By Ellen

Jewish father, Gentile mother. Sorry, apparently heterosexual.

By Marty

What a douche ! He probably uses the puppets to lure children into his bedroom like michael jackson did.

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