Simon Helberg: The _Heeb_ Interview

His father worked for Mel Brooks, and that’s a tough act to follow. But Simon Helberg doesn’t need a daddy complex (nor he be reminded that his pops Sandy had bits in High Anxiety, History of the World Part 1 and Spaceballs), because, as a lead on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and with a role in the Coen Brothers’ upcoming Jewfest A Serious Man (scheduled for an October release), Helberg is not concerned with filling his father’s shoes. Heeb spoke with Helberg about his recent gigwork.

Why don’t we start off with an easy one: If you were stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life and had to choose between either a daily selection of 10 different sandwiches but one woman or a daily selection of 10 different women but one sandwich…which would you choose, and why?

First off, those are already more options than I have in my regular life, and I’m not even close to being stranded on an island. I live in L.A. Also, I’m married, so the one-woman thing is a no-brainer. As far as sandwiches go, I don’t think I fluctuate between 10 now. You got tuna, turkey (usually from Subway), the Reuben, bagel/lox/cream cheese, salami…This is really racking my brain.

The second season of The Big Bang Theory wraps up on May 12. You play a nerd and in the upcoming Coen Brothers flick, you play a rabbi. Are you concerned with casting directors pegging you as the Jewy-Jewy Jewface?

Aw, I haven’t been called Jewy-Jewy Jewface since I was a little boy. It makes me nostalgic. I can’t control how other people see me, but I’m not a Jewish actor. I’m just an actor. So, no, it doesn’t concern me too much.

But shouldn’t you be concerned now that you are being interviewed by Heeb?

Yeah, I guess having Heeb among my credits doesn’t probably help my case against being pigeon-holed. Thanks a lot.

I see that Fyvush Finkel has a part in the upcoming Coen Brothers movie. Did you work with him? He’s prob the Jewiest face in Hollywood.

Saw him from a distance. Probably the best way to see him.

Speaking of Hollywood, your father has been working forever. Did his career have a lot to do with your getting your start?

I grew up around the business and hanging out at the Groundlings my whole childhood, so I think it sort of engrained itself into my bones. But I didn’t want to be an actor until the end of high school. I was really going to go down the music road….When I decided to go into acting, my parents were concerned in the way any parents would be–knowing the perils of the real world and a business like show business. But they supported me studying theater at NYU and have been very supportive since.

Did you get the douchechills watching your father deal with industry shitbags your whole life, and if so, has it made you more jaded toward showbiz as an adult?

Wow. Those are your feelings, not mine. I definitely saw my father go through a fair share of disappointments and tough times, but I think it fueled me. I really had something to prove when I first started. As for the douchechills, I had them once for like a week, but I know a great doctor. Now I’m much more cautious when going to Thailand.

What was the most agonizing situation you’ve been in, say, when it comes to auditions?

Commercial auditions can be tough. I once was found myself wearing a suit holding a tiny toy xylophone and being screamed at that I had a lot to learn about auditioning. I had asked which one of the scenes we were going to do, and then was told, ‘Be funny. Like Pee Wee Herman. That’s your job.’ Another time there was a commercial director who had five actors auditioning for the same role in the room together, and auditioning in front of one other. He tore everyone down and gave a lecture on eyebrow acting.

Back to your father: Did you absolutely shit your pants when you saw him as Dr. Phillip Schlotkin in Spaceballs–especially the part when Dark Helmet told him to ‘Go to the golf course and work on [his] putts?’

I do remember the moment when my dad’s head is in the nurse’s boobs being slightly odd for me. Not that I’d feel more comfortable watching him do that to my mother. In fact, that might be worse. I don’t know what I’m complaining about.

For that matter, what about History of the World? Do you think he had a chance to hit on Madeleine?

I hope not. My mom wouldn’t be thrilled about that. But, wow, who doesn’t have a little crush on Madeleine Kahn?

What do you think?