Neil Patrick Harris: Expect 'Spider-Man' Jokes at Tonys, Just No Tights
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.
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.
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
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: 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: 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
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You gay bashers are such cowards. You are envious of Niel for his looks, brains, family, and career. He probably makes more money in one day then you make in a whole year. Then again, 12 year olds don't make that much money and that is about the age level of your postings.
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Why do people get so much attention because they are gay? He never was in the spotlight so much until he came out. I believe in equality just not special treatment and consideration for those that are gay. Why is the media trying to ram it down or throat? It's almost as if now you are enlightened if gay.
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I love NPH he is hilarious, but I never knew he was gay. Good for him, having a happy family!
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well i guess he wants to go to hell. they don't need kids they showing them the worng way . they need a mom and dad . god didn't make abm and steve he made adm and eve. to have kids. read the bible its in there. o i forgot they don't read that part of the bible they take out them pages .
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Also the pages on spelling, grammar and punctuation. But I can't be too hard on you--Aramaic is probably your first language.
KIDS?? I thought he was gay? total BS, and now they want to get legally married? not on my watch! Im an Obama supporter!!
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My goodness, some of you boys and girls seem truly fixated on anal sex, as though this is an exclusively gay thing. Focusing on feces rather than love tells a lot about you. Bad potty training in your childhood?
Can you spell "pathological"?
Consider getting professional help in moving into your present
adulthood. Straight people have been doing anal sex since before recorded time.
Oh, and Neil? Not that you read this silliness, but very best wishes to you and yours...each of them!
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Who's the baby mamma?
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The main reason why I can't stand Harris is because he acted like a disrespectful little brat when he called Erik Braeden a name for not accepting an offer for a bit part on his show. He acted very unprofessional, and later apologized much like Tracy Morgan. They do their damage and apologize to clean up. Damage done.
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My Kids will never worship this guy. I guess it's ok to be gay. It is totally accepted these days. Not many god fearing people out there anymore. It's the old saying if it feels good do it. I'm no one to judge anyone. But do try to teach my kids right from wrong. Let him make his millions. He will face god one day. Any idiots like Jenna, read the bible and figure it out for yourself. It is clear you never have.
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Good actor but this adopting or artificial insemination, or whatever friggin' means they use is TOTALLY wrong. They should NOT be allowed to subject innocent children to their deviated lifestyle.
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I think most children learn values and their place in a parents world by the age of three. We coninue learning to be tolerant, kind,helpful, polite, and the importance of tolerance of people of other backgrounds, colors, faiths and hopefully good morals and appreciation for the differences and diversity without judgement. That is Gods job. In an ideal worl WWJD should cross everyones mind before they open their mouths or keyboards. Sexual identification is not a learned thing. It is your own perception of yourself and hopefully no matter the orientation it is a healthy one.
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So, you plan on teaching your children hate. Now that is good parenting.
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And your teaching children to hate is better
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""I feel that a child's sexual identity and how it is developed is extremely important. That's why I can not support gay marriage.""
A child does NOT catch their orientation from others and it is NOT developed over time, a child is born with their orientation. It is not a lifestyle 'choice'. Until that fact is accepted, many of you will be out of touch with the real world.
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Sorry Ron, you're wrong. Kansas State University did a study that showed children raised by gays are more likely to turn out gay. Sexual role models for young children are very important in how they turn out. So, you can support gay marriage for you like but also accept that children in those environments may grow up with sexual identity issues. That's the price you pay for being politically correct.
"""read the bible and figure it out for yourself"""
The bible turned out to be wrong. Religious leaders have caused so much family troubles and heartache because these leaders refused to change their preachings through the decades when more knowledge was gained. The preaching and quoting from the bible only continued the hatred and prejudice.
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IT'S HORRIBLE THAT NEAL HAS TAKEN THESE CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEIR BIOLOGICAL MOTHER. SHE IS ALSO TERRIBLE FOR LEAVING HER OWN CHILDREN TO BE RAISED BY 2 GAY MEN. EVERYONE WANTS TO BE WITH THEIR MOTHER. EVERYONE! HOW DARE THEY DEPRIVE THESE CHILDREN OF THEIR MOTHER!
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she was not the egg donor. She has done this before for another couple. She just is the carrier of the eggs
the only thing i got out of this how freightening it is for our society to allow them (gays) to adopt children into an abnormal perverted situation.
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