Neil Patrick Harris: Expect 'Spider-Man' Jokes at Tonys, Just No Tights

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jun 9th 2011 10:15PM

Are there enough hours in a day for Neil Patrick Harris? The actor juggles a hit sitcom, 'How I Met Your Mother,' a movie career that includes the much-buzzed-about 'Smurfs,' a hosting job with the Tony Awards this Sunday and um, he's got 8-month-old twins. But don't worry about the guy, little Gideon and Harper (with partner David Burtka) sleep 11 hours a night, he tells PopEater in a fun chat running up to his return to the Tonys. We talked with the universally loved 'Doogie Howser' alum about what to expect during the show ("There will be the inevitable 'Spider-Man' jokes"), why he chose to raise his kids in the big city and he reveals details about the 'Smurfs' flick and how playing a coked up hooker-lover changed his life forever.

You're hosting the Tonys again this year (last time was in 2009). How do you convince middle America that Broadway isn't some, I don't know, gay thing?
(Laughs) Well those are your words, not mine. I think the goal is to present all of these productions in a way that makes them desirable for the rest of America and entice them to come to New York and see a show. It's choosing the right numbers from the shows and explaining and then watching them perform, really.

Are there going to be a lot of 'Spider-Man' jokes?
I think there will be the inevitable 'Spider-Man' jokes. I don't know just how far we will go down that path.

Really? I thought you would have already been fitted for a Spidey outfit.
No, Sean Hayes wore one last year so I'm free. I'm not the biggest fan of silly costumes on hosts.

You have been so busy lately. Do you have time to eat or sleep?
Remarkably I do. It's been a busy year and when you add two babies into the mix it quantifies your time even more so.

I'm in awe of people who have twins. How do you even get out of the house?
We're kind of grateful and thrilled to be in New York while this is happening because New York is a great city for little babies, I think. Just going up and down the street, there's so much to see and the parks are unbelievable.

Are they on a schedule?
Yeah they're great sleepers. They sleep about 11 hours a night.

That's insane!
We had probably the most fantastic baby nurse/sleep specialist who helped us out for almost the first five months and she was phenomenal and the benefits have been incredible.

Are your friends with kids jealous?
No, I hope people are more happy for us.

'The Smurfs' Trailer | More Videos and News

Sorry, I'm a bitter person. You're also in the 'Smurfs' movie.
I grew up watching the Smurfs cartoon. I wasn't a collector of the figurines but they were definitely a Saturday morning must-see cartoon.

I always found them a little creepy.
I always found Gargamel a little scary because the smurfs were always so pleasant and so sweet and Gargamel would come in and try to destroy them all and I was a little bit intimidated by him.

Are you a goodie or baddie in the movie?
Oh I'm a good person. I'm married to Jayma Mays from 'Glee.' We're expecting a baby and I'm too busy with work and we get inundated by these little blue people and we have to figure out how to get them back to Smurf village and in turn learn a little bit about ourselves. (Laughs)

Naturally. Speaking of 'Glee,' you were on it.
It's miraculous how hard they work on that show. You would think that the show has been on the air for five years just based on its popularity and how much they are everywhere but they just finished their second season. We were having dinner with Jane Lynch and her wife and she kind of couldn't believe just that. It seems like it's been around forever.

And you've still got 'How I Met Your Mother' which is going into season ...
Seven.

So you're in syndication. Ka-ching.
(Laughs) Yes, I did it all for the money.

It's funny how you're a guy with kids and you play such a Lothario who appeals to men, women, ponies, everyone.
(Laughs) I don't know that Barney's ever contemplated a pony but there's always season eight. No, he's a great character. You don't often as an actor come upon someone who gets to be so bold and so broad and so horny. I embrace it as much as I can.

Was 'Harold and Kumar' life changing in the way the industry perceived you?
It was a fantastic, lucky moment for sure. I had no idea that sending myself up so completely and ridiculously would be as well received as it was. I thought it would be a small little movie that no one would really notice and if they did that gag might not even be that funny and it ended up having a cult status and a third movie is coming out.

It's like an Oprah moment. You took a risk, made fun of yourself and good things happened.
Yeah for sure. I think people appreciate I was making fun of myself in such a hardcore way - a prostitute and a line of coke! It was much harder core than I think people thought I was.

More Q&As From Nicki Gostin: Flavor Flav, Jerry Seinfeld, Will Ferrell and Paul Reiser

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NPH ON THE MTA

Stars, they're just like us! Neil Patrick Harris takes the NYC subway on May 20. (Editor's Note: This is nothing new. I saw him years ago taking the train in what appeared to be his 'Cabaret' makeup.)
Check out more pics of the actor >>

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Neil Patrick Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Actor Neil Patrick Harris attends Stephen Sondheim's The Company with the New York Philharmonic presented by Screenvision and Ellen M. Krass Productions at the NYIT Auditorium On Broadway on June 8, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Screenvision)

Neil Patrick Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: (L-R) Actors Katie Finneran, Aaron Lazar, Patti LuPone, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Anika Noni Rose, Chryssie Whitehead and director Lonny Price attend Stephen Sondheim's The Company with the New York Philharmonic presented by Screenvision and Ellen M. Krass Productions at the NYIT Auditorium On Broadway on June 8, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Screenvision)

Neil Patrick Snapshots

Tags: Neil Patrick Harris, The Smurfs, Tony Awards

Comments

(88)

Sunday 12 June

By oakspondman

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You did not pay attention. They did not mix sperm. One egg was fertilized with his and the other was fertilized with his husbands sperm

By rrw

@ suesiegel... Better than the Octomom, as there are two loving parents and they can afford to raise their children.

Saturday 11 June

By FM King

Vote down Vote up Report this

I must have been living under a rock. I just found out the other day that NPH was gay. My brother was gay & died of AIDS almost 25 years ago. I'm trying my best...but I've found it really hard to understand what it means to be gay...because in my family it has only meant death. I've been married for 44 years this summer & have had some beautiful daughters. I thank my lucky stars they are straight & have given me 3 great grandkids. Maybe someday I can accept everyone for who they are...but it's been a battle. Believe me!

By k8reg

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If two men live together and are not gay, but he is raising his children, say from a divorce, would that make a difference? It's not like they are going to have sex in front of the kids. But affection in front of the kids, is fine. Any affection is not going to affect the children except to show them that they can be affectionate. A child will not grow up to be gay, just because he/she has gay parents. Being gay is inate, not learned. My kids have a gay uncle and his partner. All they have ever called them both is 'uncle'. It is too bad people cannot tolerate or accept people who are different, regardless of what that difference is. I thank God that my three kids accept differences. And I wish the Archie Bunker attitudes would just disappear. I have always thought that Patrick would make a great father. I am glad to see that he appears to be.

I mean Neil Patrick...

By myhappylab

let's not forget that this is the 21st century and we are all created equal. him and his partner are great parents. they wanted the children and didn't just get prego carelessly like so many people do. these children will have a good life with great parents who will provide them with everything they need including LOVE!

By Glenn

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Let's also not forget that no matter what you read on a bumper sticker men and women are just not the same. They are unique in many ways. So, you can embrace the left wing propaganda all you want but two men raising children is not the same as a man and a women. It never was and it never will be.

By geef

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Oh yea...all of us parents really envy him when he's in bed with another man with butt up in the air.

By Nick

Damn, I'm glad my parents were straight..Gideon and Harper? .. Really??

By Chris

Only gay people give their kids weird names. Not like Gwyneth Paltrow who named her daughter "Apple." Or maybe Jason Lee who named his kid "Pilot Inspektor." Or Frank Zappa who named his kid "Moon Unit." And I personally know one kid who is lucky to have straight parents who named him "Southern Justice." (I'm not making that up.)

Anyway, what's wrong with "Harper"? I love that name. Harper Lee is one of my favorite authors. I'm not so fond of "Gideon" but, hey, it's a real name unlike "Kal-El" for example (Nic Cage's kid).

By Tripp

I like NPH. He's a good actor and a person and I am sure he is great with his kids. I don't think his kids will ever lack for anything, however, I think adoptions should only be to couples who are male and female. Yes, that can end it divorce, but were intended to have a mother and a father.

Popeater loves to feature and showcase gay entertainers. Why don't they just change their name to peniseater.

Monday 13 June

By Paul

He's so dull! He'll ONLY make a duller the dirt award show even more sleepy.

By Claud Pipkin

Surely you jest...........

By George

Man, this country is full of bigots. It's amazing how many people who respond to these articles really creep me out. I'm not gay, but the hatred this country has for gay people is shameful. I have friends who are a lesbian couple raising an adopted girl. They are by far the happiest and healthiest family I know. That girl is going to grow up knowing she's loved and will never need for anything. I know a little something about dysfunctional, neglectful "straight" parents. Invariably, they raise dysfuntional kids who turn into dysfunctional adults. And based on all the hate I have read in these posts, it looks like we've had far more neglectful "straight" parents than I thought.

By JWH

Good for you, George. There's so much hate here, it's disturbing. The people who respond to these articles are just miserable people.

Yeah, those straight people really are the problem aren't they George. Funny how that model of a man and a women raising a child has seemed to work for what, three thousand years? Yet in our enlightened society of today if you dare express the belief that a man and a women raising a child is still the ideal you get called a bigot and a hater. The fact is there are those that want to punish me for having that belief. They want to demonize people of faith for their convictions. They want to tell me what to believe, what I can think and what I can say. Oh I agree George, there is a definate lack of tolerance in this country. You just have it backwards is all.

By Michael

Davecalguy needs to learn how to spell "genitals". NPH isn't sending pictures of "gentiles." FYI Dave, gentiles are people who are nort Jewish!

No, wait! "Gentiles" is funnier! Imagine if that was it's nickname: "Here's a picture of 'my gentile' "

By mike

ummm, ok. I find it really funny how some of you are so pissed NPH is gay. Does it really affect your day to day life about what he does? seriously? I think hes funny and entertaining. I could care less if he's gay or straight. it just seems so funny to me

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