>> announcer: from 30 rockefeller plaza in new york, it's "late night with seth meyers." tonight -- uma thurman, from "unsolved: the murders of tupac and the notorious b.i.g.," actor jimmi simpson, author stephanie wittels wachs, featuring the 8g band with jim riley. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ladies and gentlemen, seth meyers. >> seth: good evening, i'm seth meyers. this is "late night." how's everybody doing tonight? [ cheers and applause ] that is fantastic to hear. in that case, let's get to the news. president trump today criticized officers who failed to confront a shooter at a florida high school and said quote, "i really believe i'd run in there even if i didn't have a weapon." [ light laughter ] [ audience ohs ]

this brings us to a new segment entitled "it slowly dawns on seth that this man is our president." [ laughter ] ♪ [ laughter ] >> seth: this man is our president. [ light laughter ] >> announcer: this has been "it slowly dawns on seth that this man is our president." [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: that's right. president trump said "i really believe i'd run in there even if i didn't have a weapon." i got to say, i find it hard to believe trump would voluntarily run inside a place of education. [ laughter ] the only way he would run inside is if a reporter asked you a question outside. [ light laughter ] in a new interview, president trump repeated his suggestion that teachers should be armed with firearms. teachers do our country's most important work, they shape our nation's future leaders and deserve our utmost respect. but do we really want to give

guns to people who haven't fully mastered chalk? [ light laughter ] according to the "washington post," russian spies hacked computers at the winter olympics in south korea, which explains why another trump won. [ light laughter ] you know. [ applause ] all right. that joke won the bronze. [ light laughter ] in a new interview, president trump said that he would like to have a military parade on july 4th or veterans day. added trump, "whichever one comes first. [ light laughter ] there's no way of knowing." president trump today called for the revival of mental institutions, saying that there is no halfway between jail and leaving troubled people at home. well, sure there is. it's called the white house. [ laughter and applause ]

you know, those guys. a new cnn poll has found that democrats have a 16-point lead over republicans in a generic congressional ballot. which means that with a little hard work and some elbow grease, they can still blow this thing. [ laughter ] a couple in north carolina recently had their wedding at a whole foods store, which explains why when the officiant asked if there any objections, someone said, "$12 for milk!" [ laughter and applause ] department store neiman marcus is selling dolce & gabbana toaster for $600. or for the same results, just buy a regular toaster and put $600 in it. [ laughter and applause ] a company has developed a new sex toy called the rub grub,

which has a button that will order a large cheese pizza from domino's after the user orgasms. [ laughter ] to see what that would look like, watch any porn in reverse. [ light laughter ] and finally, we were on hiatus during the winter olympics. so here with a recap is one of our writers, amber ruffin, in a segment we call "amber says what." [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> hey. you guys! the olympics were crazy. okay. first of all, usa won its first cross country skiing gold and i was like, what? then we won the gold in women's hockey. and everyone was like, what? [ light laughter ] then 17-year-old red gerard overslept, lost his coat, began in last place and ended up winning the gold for snowboarding. and everyone was like, what? [ light laughter ] but he's a snowboarder, so he was like, what? then he said holy [ bleep ] on

live television and everyone was like, what? [ laughter ] then the north korean cheer squad had everyone, like, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, this is creeping me out. [ light laughter ] then figure skater adam rippon refused to meet with mike pence at the opening ceremonies. tweeting, "i personally have nothing to say to mike pence." i was like, what? [ laughter ] [ applause ] neither do i. i like this guy. and then i saw adam in an interview and he said this. >> 28-years-old, skating the best you ever have in your life. how do you explain that to people? >> i can't explain witchcraft. [ laughter and applause ] >> what? what? how do you explain witchcraft? is it this? [ light laughter ]

witchcraft, this is witchcraft. scares me a little bit. then i saw curling and i was like, what is this sport? and why am i so drawn to it? [ light laughter ] then i found out a russian curler was doping and was like what, why? [ light laughter ] did you get bored? [ laughter ] then american figure skater nathan chen hit six quadruple turns in his routine and i was like, what? [ light laughter ] what? what? [ light laughter ] what? what? [ light laughter ] then something great happened. novice skier elizabeth swaney used a loophole to sneak her way onto the hungarian olympics team. it was the most average freestyle run of all-time. look at this. [ light laughter ] i was like, what are you doing? [ light laughter ] she looks like she fell asleep standing up and then someone pushed her down the halfpipe. the woman did nothing and then

had the nerve to be mad that she got last place. [ laughter ] that's what happens when you do the least. you end up in last place. [ light laughter ] then ivanka trump flew out for the closing ceremonies and took a picture holding a medal. and i was like, what? [ light laughter ] i didn't know nepotism was an olympic sport. [ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] did she steal that medal from that black lady? [ light laughter ] oh, i'm sorry. did that joke go too far? [ light laughter ] 'cause you know who liked it? these guys. [ laughter and applause ] this has been "amber says what." ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: give it up for amber ruffin, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] we have a great show for you tonight. she's starring in the broadway production of "the parisian woman" at the hudson theater here in new york city, uma thurman joins us tonight.

[ cheers and applause ] from "unsolved: the murders of tupac and the notorious b.i.g" on usa, jimmi simpson, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] a fantastic actor. her moving new memoir "everything is horrible and wonderful" is available today, stephanie wittels wachs joins us tonight. [ cheers and applause ] it's a great show. before we get to all that, it's been almost two weeks since the horrific shootings in parkland, florida, and the never again movement started by students at stoneman douglas high school, continues to intensify. putting more and more pressure on republicans and the nra. for more on this, it's time for "a closer look." ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: president trump's approval ratings have fallen back down to historically low levels amid an avalanche of scandal and chaos in his administration. and yet, on friday, trump went to the conservative political action conference and made this outlandish claim about all the promises he's made that he's supposedly kept. >> remember this, we've gotten -- you know, somebody got on television recently and they

said, "actually this is the first time i can remember, trump made campaign promises. he may be the only person that actually fulfilled more promises than he made." i think that's true. [ light laughter ] >> seth: oh my god, what is he talking about? [ light laughter ] trump is so garbled, his speeches are becoming logical paradoxes. [ light laughter ] "i fulfill promises i haven't even made. i married a woman i haven't met. and i made a rock so heavy, i can't lift it." [ light laughter ] so trump claims he heard someone on television make that claim and he's just repeating it. and i think he must have gotten it from this guy a few weeks ago. >> i was there four months. you know this poll, and they were saying, "he didn't fulfill a promise." but now we've fulfilled far more promises than we promised. [ audience ohs ] [ light laughter ] >> seth: does trump think that the trump on tv is a different guy? [ light laughter ] "he's back. he's on tv again. oh. i like the cut of his jib. i'm going to copy his haircut." [ light laughter ] of course, the immediate crisis facing trump and the rest of the

government right now is our country's epidemic of gun violence. the national conversation over gun safety has only intensified in the days since the parkland shooting. and people are demanding action. and in response to those demands, trump has spent the last week or so rambling nonsensically about his truly deranged idea to arm teachers. and today he took that rambling one step further, insisting that he personally would have run into the school to confront the shooter, whether he was armed or not. >> you know, i really believe, you don't know until you're tested, but i think, i really believe i'd run in, even if i didn't have a weapon. >> seth: nothing about that is believable. [ laughter ] forget running into a school to confront a shooter. i don't believe you'd run anywhere, period. [ light laughter ] you can't even be bothered to walk down a flight of stairs. [ laughter ] then, again, i said before that i didn't think he'd run and man did i get burned. [ light laughter ] there's really nothing worse than a fake tough guy. trump lives in a fantasy world where he's some sort of action movie star who'd rush into danger and save the day. i'm sorry, but you're not exactly liam neeson. if you'd been in the movie,

"taken," they would have had to change the name. [ laughter and applause ] "all right. so you have her? okay. okay. thanks for the call." [ light laughter ] but it kept getting worse, because trump lashed out at the media accurately describing his plan to arm teachers as his plan to arm teachers, insisting that he would only give guns to teachers who knew how to use them. >> when the press covered it, the headline was, "trump wants all teachers to have guns. trump wants teachers to have guns." i don't want teachers to have guns. i want highly trained people that have a natural talent. like hitting a baseball. or hitting a golf ball or putting. how come some people always make four-footer and some people under pressure can't even take their club back? right? >> seth: well, even when he's laying out his plan to prevent school shootings, he can't hide how much he'd rather be playing golf. [ laughter and applause ]

also, the only people who ask how come some people always make the four-footer are the people who never make the four-footer. [ light laughter ] when trump putts, i bet he makes eric lie down on the green to try to blow his ball into the hole. [ laughter and applause ] "father, i'm running out of air." [ light laughter ] of course, the only reason we're still talking about the issue of gun violence is because of the students at stoneman douglas high school, who have demanded action and sparked a national movement for gun reform. their passionate calls for action have disrupted the usual routine that seems to unfold after every mass shooting. and for that, they've been subjected to deranged attacks on everything from their maturity, to their credibility, to their tone. like stoneman douglas student sarah chadwick, who was scolded by conservatives when she tweeted "we should change the names of ar-15's to marco rubio because they are so easy to buy." [ audience ohs ] [ cheers and applause ] damn. damn. that is a white hot burn. [ light laughter ] there's only one thing to do when you get burned that hard,

marco. [ light laughter ] yeah, drink up! after that tweet, fox news host laura ingraham quoted chadwick's line on twitter and added how teens speak to and about adults, calling her stoneman douglas sophomore sarah chadwick. which prompted this response from chadwick. "i'm a junior." [ cheers and applause ] laura ingraham, what is wrong with you? don't go after teenagers on social media. you saw what happened to marco rubio. [ light laughter ] so in short, marco rubio might be easy to buy, but laura ingraham is easy to own. [ audience ohs ] [ laughter and applause ] oh. and then there are those who have spent the last two weeks lecturing students on their maturity and their qualifications for talking about gun reform and claiming their movement is somehow being hijacked by left-wing groups. >> the media's focused more on a teenager's expertise in supply-side control measures for guns which, tucker, let's be candid. they probably have not studied a

very complicated layered issue. >> their sorrow can very easily be hijacked by left-wing groups who have an agenda. >> but do you think it has been? >> let's ask ourselves, do we really think that -- and i say this sincerely. do we really think 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally? >> seth: you don't think 17-year-olds can plan a rally? [ light laughter ] 17-year-olds know how to plan things. when you're 17, you're too young to do most things. you have to find ways around it. you got to get fake i.d.s, coordinate alibis, figure out how to make a bong out of an apple, an inhaler, and a straw. [ light laughter ] you got to bring scope with you so you can wash away the smell of alcohol. but then your parents smell a ton of scope and they knew you were drinking. but they're also a little impressed you remembered to bring scope. [ light laughter ] the attacks on these students are clear evidence that the movement is working. the nra and their supporters are scared. and now the nra and their allies are resorting to increasing ludicrous suggestions for how to deal with gun violence in schools. trump, for example, spent the weekend repeating his deranged idea for giving guns to

teachers. in a cpac speech, and then again in a interview with fox news. >> we would have had some great teachers that were gun adept, meaning, you know, really understood weaponry and guns. and if they had concealed permits you wouldn't have this problem today. >> seth: this is one of the worst things about having trump as president. every time he goes on tv and blurts the dumbest things in the world, the rest of us have to debate it like it's a real idea. [ light laughter ] he said, "hey i think we should take incredibly stressed out people who make $30,000 a year and give them guns." and then wolf blitzer has to stand there and go, [ bleep ] well, let's ask the panel. [ laughter ] he said it. so now i got to ask you all. you have to give me answers like it's a real thing. and there's no evidence anywhere close to 10% to 20% of teachers have firearms training as trump claims. nor is there evidence that it would actually prevent school shootings. second, there's the question of how teachers, themselves, feel about this idea. and in the days since trump floated it, the response from

teachers, including those from stoneman douglas, have been a resounding no thanks. >> you heard the president today. he in effect, wants people like you to be on the front lines. to be armed. if you have the aptitude for it, aptitude, as he described it. is that a good idea? >> no. [ light laughter ] i have no desire to own a gun, carry a gun, shoot a gun, touch a gun. and the president said that those of us who would be willing to be armed would get some kind of a bonus. i'm not even given adequate money to buy supplies for my classroom. but now if i choose to carry a gun, a gun will be provided for me and i will be given a bonus? >> seth: now, i know we didn't get to them in the clip. but just in case you're curious, the guy on the right is pro-gun. [ laughter and applause ] yeah, i know. i know you're all watching the clip. you're like, yeah. what's the guy in the super clean cowboy hat think? [ light laughter ] very pro-gun.

but seriously, the teacher's right. teachers need supplies, not guns. the only guns that should be in schools are glue guns. and they should be used the way all students use them, to glue the shop teacher's butt to his chair. [ light laughter ] and when they're not calling for more guns in schools, gun supporters are complaining that it's actually video games and movies that are causing violence, as trump did last week. >> i'm hearing that more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young people's thoughts. and then you go the further step and that's the movies. you see these movies, they're so violent. and yet, a kid is able to see the movie if sex isn't involved. but killing is involved, and maybe they have to put a rating system for that. >> seth: does trump not know that movies already have a rating system? [ light laughter ] i love how he's always trying to suggest things that already exist. "movies should have a rating system and on top of that, you should have to buy a ticket. i think we can all agree. [ light laughter ] and they should have a concession stand where they sell

some sort of snack made from popped corn. [ light laughter ] you could call it corn pop." [ light laughter ] but you know what, trump is right. people are way too influenced by movies. just take this guy as an example. >> in fact, i have a license to carry in new york. can you believe that? nobody knows that. [ cheers and applause ] [ light laughter ] what was the famous movie, you remember? [ audience speaking ] no. remember? where he went around and he sort of -- after his wife was hurt so badly and killed. what? charles bronson, right? the late great charles bronson. name of the movie? come on. "death wish." remember that? oh, we're going to cut you up, sir. we're going to cut you up. oh, oh, oh. one of the great movies. but could you imagine with trump, somebody says, oh, all these big monsters aren't around. he's easy pickings, and then -- [ light laughter ] >> seth: and you think 17-year-olds are too immature to

discuss gun control? [ light laughter ] he's literally making gun sound effects. [ light laughter ] and the wrong ones. bink, boink, woop, woop, woop, woop, woop. [ laughter and applause ] commentators on the right have spent the days since the parkland shooting insisting that teenagers are somehow too immature to comment on an issue like gun reform. when in reality, the only people who sound like children are the ones using phrases like "good guys" and "bad guys" and pretending that all you need to do to stop a school shooting is have someone there to run in and go -- >> bink. [ laughter and applause ] >> seth: this has been "a closer look." ♪ [ cheers and applause ] we'll be right back with uma thurman, everyone. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> announcer: for more of seth's "closer looks" be sure to subscribe to "late night" on youtube. ♪

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: welcome back, everybody. give it up for the 8g band right over there. [ cheers and applause ] also, sitting in with us this week, he's the drummer and band leader for the multi-platinum country group, rascal flatts, whose latest album, "back to us" is available now. for tour dates and more check out rascalflatts.com. jim riley is here, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] >> thanks for having me. >> seth: our first guest tonight is a golden globe winning actress you know from "pulp fiction" and "kill bill." she stars in "the parisian

woman" which is playing at the hudson theater on broadway. please welcome to the show uma thurman, everyone. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: thank you so much for being here. >> thank you for having me. >> seth: i'm always so flattered and honored when people who are currently doing a broadway show come to this show, because you really only have the one day off a week, and yet you have chosen to spend your monday here. >> yeah, i think to be on broadway you just have to give up having any days off. >> seth: yeah. >> just forget it. >> seth: has it been daunting? because obviously you've done film and television, not only is the work so different, but the schedule is so different. >> i think that being a, you know, the lead of a broadway play is hands down the hardest job in show business. >> seth: i believe it. >> but incredibly satisfying. >> seth: you are -- the show,

you play a socialite in d.c., this is a very topical show, who is trying to get her husband a job as a judge in the trump administration via blackmail. >> yes. via blackmail. >> seth: yeah. [ light laughter ] >> of course. >> seth: of course. why not? >> what else are you going to use? >> seth: guys, there's maybe some shady stuff happening in d.c. [ laughter ] >> the egalitarian system, we're done with it. we're just pure nepotism, pure blackmail. >> seth: so -- but you and i have something similar, which is, we obviously, are both talking about the world in our jobs. so it's not really escapism. are you finding -- is it cathartic to talk about trump or is it -- do you find it overwhelming? >> well, i would say overwhelming as an american. >> seth: yeah. >> and as a patriot. >> seth: yeah. >> but as an artist, it's a lot of fun. but, no, it's -- i was involved with a play when it was written about a washington couple and sort of the bedroom mischief, she's very naughty, liberated woman that i play, but then trump was elected while we were

developing the play, so it's naturally, the world changed and it became this -- it's kind of like one person described it as like a rock concert almost, because the audience is getting such a sort of, like, a relief of laughter and sort of bitter irony and they kind of let loose. >> seth: you do have something that's -- >> like they do here. >> seth: yeah, exactly. [ cheers and applause ] something that's very risky, though, because plays, we can change based on the news every day what we write. >> right. >> seth: you guys have a play that's written, john kelly is mentioned a lot in the show. >> 14 times. >> seth: 14 times. >> oh, yeah. >> seth: and i -- >> i just had a count done just a couple weeks ago. >> seth: 14 times a day i feel as though we hear rumors that he's about to be fired. >> it's true. >> seth: what would happen -- >> or possibly say enough is enough. >> seth: or leave. exactly. we should give him the power to make his own choices, yeah. >> i mean, definitely. >> seth: what -- have you guys discussed what would happen if that changed? >> there was some e-mails went around the last few weeks where i was kind of like, contingency

plan, please, because the play will have to pivot. yeah, absolutely. >> seth: i wrote a lengthy play about anthony scaramucci. >> and it just didn't work out. [ laughter ] actually, beau willimon said to me when we were in -- before rehearsal, he was like, "i was really looking forward to making you say scaramucci, scaramucci, scaramucci." >> seth: yeah, scaramucci is far more fun to say. >> just turned into kelly. >> seth: so, i wanted to ask you about this, you grew up, you had a very interesting upbringing. and now i have a 2-year-old and we spend a lot of time, my wife and i, talking about the things you talk about in front of your child, intelligent conversations. your father was a buddhist scholar. so did you -- was the conversation around your dinner table growing up, was it incredibly, like, not just enlightened, but intellectually superior to the point -- >> it was usually, like, eat your dinner! >> seth: that does not seem in line with buddhists. >> have your vegetables. >> seth: yeah. >> no, but well, you know, growing up in an academic environment can be challenging. it's good for you.

to be prepared for the hard-hitting brains of hollywood. [ light laughter ] but, you know -- >> seth: yeah. >> all that hard work. [ applause ] >> seth: yeah. >> but, no, it was good. good debate skills. >> seth: uh-huh. >> i think my dad had been, like, captain of the debate team when he went to school. >> seth: i think that's very helpful. i think arguing is the one skill that's helpful -- >> follow the ball. >> seth: yeah, it's helpful in all fields. you -- >> thinking in general, actually. >> seth: thinking in general is helpful, yeah. now, did you have, like, sort of escapism things that you liked as a kid? >> i went to hollywood. >> seth: there you go. you got to meet -- >> i escaped all the way. >> seth: you got to meet another scholar backstage. and this is a really exciting -- >> yes, a woman whom i love. >> seth: a woman you love. there's dr. ruth. >> dr. ruth. best time ever. not our first meeting, though. >> seth: i got to be honest, i had thought you were taller than her. [ laughter ] >> yeah, you know, she grew. she grew. >> seth: yeah, she's a very -- how was that? i mean, that must be one of the

fun things to do in your broadway show, is the people who come backstage. >> yes, really great seeing great people. including, like, distant family, relatives, like, that you wouldn't have met that, like, come and see your play. >> seth: oh, they're just lying to get backstage. >> hi, i'm your cousin. no, it's been on a family level actually, it's been really fun. >> seth: that's great. >> yeah -- i've got to meet some relatives from down south that i never grew up with. but dr. ruth is a gem. my character is so sexually promiscuous and naughty. she really appreciated her. >> seth: oh that's good. [ laughter ] did she have any notes or did it all ring true to dr. ruth? >> she thought it was -- i was doing well with it. >> seth: that's great. well, that's the highest praise you can get. >> that really was good. >> seth: hey, congratulations so much on the show. >> thank you. >> seth: i also want to say you had a wonderful piece in "the new york times" about your experiences with harvey weinstein, on the set of "kill bill." i, you know, i think it's been so wonderful how people are speaking out about their experiences in this moment we're having right now. and i just wanted to thank you for doing that as well. >> well, you got to be a citizen.

you can't leave people alone holding a bag of truth by themselves. >> seth: that's very -- i'm glad -- [ cheers and applause ] >> but there's no one i wish to get due process more than him. >> seth: yeah. well, due process is a beautiful thing. thank you so much for being here. such a pleasure. uma thurman, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] "the parisian woman," playing through march 11th at the hudson theater on broadway. be right back with jimmi simpson. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ but it gets pretty intense. -ahh. -the new guy. -whoa, he looks -- -he looks exactly like me. -no. -separated at birth much? we should switch name tags, and no one would know who was who. jamie, you seriously think you look like him? uh, i'm pretty good with comparisons. like how progressive helps people save money by comparing rates, even if we're not the lowest. even if we're not the lowest. whoa! wow. i mean, the outfit helps, but pretty great.

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: welcome back, everybody. our next guest is a talented actor you know from shows such as "westworld" and "house of cards." he stars in the limited series "unsolved: the murders of tupac and the notorious b.i.g." which premieres tomorrow night on usa. let's take a look. >> one of 'em said gaines might have been involved. >> well, making a good anonymous tip in your mind. >> we know gaines knew knight. >> so gaines was banging suge knight's ex, while also acting as some kind of hitman for him. >> i didn't say that. >> yeah, it sounds like exactly what you're saying with no evidence to back it up. and if it go down that road and leaks, russ, the press won't care if you don't have any evidence.

okay? and that -- no, wait a minute, that's a nightmare for the department. >> okay, but we at least need to consult vegas p.d. >> vegas? >> there is a very real possibility that the murder of biggie smalls is directly related to the murder of tupac. it's our job -- >> that's our job? really? is that our job? >> yeah! >> or is it your excuse not to go home to your sad little lonely apartment? >> seth: please welcome to the show jimmi simpson, everyone. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: welcome to the show! >> thank you for having me, seth. >> seth: this is your first time here, but you did one of my favorite late night comedy bits of all time with david letterman. >> yeah. yeah. >> seth: on the "late show." multiple times you appeared as lyle the intern. >> several times. >> seth: several times. there are you with letterman. you were his intern. [ laughter ] and -- one of the main thrusts of lyle the intern is he was not intimidated in any way, shape, or form by dave. >> he would hand dave his ass. >> seth: yeah. >> he would hand it to him.

[ laughter ] >> seth: and people are famously intimidated by letterman. >> yeah. >> seth: you got to be the one person who got to pretend not to be. were you in person, though? >> the first time i was so blown away that someone was asking me to show up on the letterman show and do a bit that there was no -- zero stage fright. i was just like, "what is happening? just go with it. [ laughter ] he's not sticking to the cue cards. neither will i." and then when they had me come back, i was like, "oh, no!" >> seth: yeah. >> now i have to deliver. [ laughter ] i've set a standard. >> seth: yeah. >> that was terrifying. [ laughter ] >> seth: it was great. and i'm so happy to have you here now -- >> i am -- i'm such a fan of yours. >> seth: oh, thank you. >> my pleasure. >> seth: same here. and i have been for a long time. this show -- were you aware of these murders? was this something you were paying attention to when it happened? >> no. >> seth: okay. >> no. [ laughter ] it was not. i mean, like the rest of us, i had the hits of b.i.g. and tupac. >> seth: yeah. >> under my belt and they moved me and i danced to them -- poorly. >> seth: uh-huh. [ laughter ] >> but -- but all of the different takes of, "oh, maybe 'pac's still alive. i bet it's this. it's just reduced to a gang war."

it just kind of -- well, it's chaos. i don't know what happened. but it -- you know. it was unpacking the show where i realized how deep it went. how -- how much it was botched. how we didn't do what we should have done and figured out what happened to these two musical geniuses that were cut short before they even reached their prime. >> seth: yeah. i think people forget exactly how young and how -- what a short period of time they were making music. >> it's -- yeah. and they did so much and, you know, i just feel like this show is the first time where you're like, "oh, so this happened and this happened," as opposed to a take versus a take. it's all the information in the most artful way i've ever seen the story told. >> seth: the detective you play passed away a few years ago. >> he did. >> seth: but you -- you made an effort to talk to friends and colleagues of his. is that something that was important to you? >> it was so important. when doing a role, any role, i just -- i take it so seriously. i'm always shocked that i'm working. that i'm playing this role. [ laughter ] they want me to do that? well, i just don't want to ruin it. but then when there's a human being involved and his living family and his memory.

and this man in particular i think, hasn't been given a fair shake when it comes to what he was after. he gets reduced to just -- obsessed. he was passionate and he wanted to find justice, not just for voletta wallace, but just for everyone so they can rely on the cops. because he believed that they -- they should be justice, and it wasn't being done. and he wouldn't let it go. >> seth: well, it's fantastic that his story's being told. >> yes. >> seth: i love the first episode. another show that i am so excited is coming back, "westworld." you're fantastic in that. >> thank you so much. >> seth: season two -- [ cheers and applause ] >> appreciate it. >> seth: i have, you know, when we've had co-stars of yours on the show, they've talked about everybody on set talks about, has their theories of the world. >> yeah. >> seth: because of course, you're not finding out the macro. you're kind of getting a script at a time. >> exactly. >> seth: did you have any grand theories about the show? >> well, luckily i was -- i was spending a lot of time near evan rachel wood. >> seth: mm-hmm. >> and -- i mean, people think poole was obsessed -- her,

figuring out what was happening in "westworld," it was amazing. it was like watching sherlock holmes reborn every day. [ laughter ] "oh, i got it, i got it. you guys, i got it. it's this, this, this and this." eight out of ten times she was right. >> seth: really? >> yeah. >> seth: and if it had been up to you, how many times do you think out of ten you'd be right? >> zero out of ten. >> seth: zero out of ten? [ laughter ] >> no, i was right one out of ten. >> seth: okay. >> i got one thing right. and it -- but it mattered. >> seth: you -- [ light laughter ] we didn't -- you know, now we kind of know that you're, you know, spoiler alert. give everybody a second. but you're the man in black. we know that now. the man in black. >> yes. >> seth: so you're kind of -- you weren't playing the creepy character, but we know you're going to a creepy place. >> yeah. >> seth: you've played a lot of creepy characters in other things. >> so, so many. [ laughter ] >> seth: so many. >> so many. >> seth: and the nice thing about the tupac/biggie show is you're not creepy. >> no, no, no. [ laughter ] >> seth: were you happy about that? was your family happy about that? [ laughter ] >> my family was ecstatic, actually. because my dad's line is, "are you playing another creep?" >> seth: oh, wow! so that -- [ laughter ] >> yeah. >> seth: yeah. >> and my mom's line is, "doesn't hollywood know you're a nice man?" >> seth: oh, wow! [ laughter ] >> yeah. >> seth: that's very sweet of her. >> yeah, i actually surprised my dad once, i was researching a role a few years ago, and he got

ten books about serial killers sent to me. because they got the amazon address wrong. >> seth: oh, really -- >> oh, that was his christmas pres -- nope, that was for me. and he's like, "goddammit, jim, what are you doing? [ laughter ] what are you reading? why are you reading this [ bleep ]?" they're over the moon. >> seth: okay, good, yeah. >> yeah, they loved it. >> seth: they're like, "finally, my son's a police officer." [ laughter ] >> legitimate, i know. obeying the law. not frightening people. >> seth: thank you so much for being here. >> thank you for having me, seth. >> seth: such a pleasure to meet you. [ cheers and applause ] jimmi simpson, everybody! "unsolved" premieres tomorrow night at 10:00 p.m. on usa. we'll be right back with stephanie wittels wachs. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ i like your... hair.

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: our next guest is a writer whose new memoir, "everything is horrible and wonderful: a tragicomic memoir of genius, heroin, love, and loss," is available now. please welcome to the show stephanie wittels wachs, everyone. ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: thanks for being here, stephanie.

>> well, thank you for having me. >> seth: so i knew your brother a little bit. i was a big fan of his. met him a couple times, but for those who don't know, he's incredibly talented comedian and writer who overdosed at the age of 30. heroin overdose. what would you want people to know in both now and in the book about your brother harris? >> well, first and foremost, harris was a comedian and human being who all the comedians that we all love think was the funniest. >> seth: yeah. >> so he's the first place. everyone else is second. >> seth: that was what i remember. >> sorry. >> seth: that's alright. no, hey. >> you can't ever be first. >> seth: look, a lot of people like silver medals. >> yeah, yeah. [ light laughter ] they're good. >> seth: they're good medals. >> there's a place for those. >> seth: yeah. >> he was also this magical boy wonder human being who at 22 was discovered by sarah silverman at an open mic. he got on to her show. he went on to "parks and recreation." if you've heard the word, humblebrag, that's his handiwork.

>> seth: he came up with that. >> he came up with it. i see it everywhere now. he's never credited. so, i feel like he's really arrived. yeah, he's just done a lot. >> seth: and you guys, your parents would take you to see comedians when you were really young, maybe age inappropriate times. >> absolutely. we never should have been where we were. [ light laughter ] yeah, we went to see -- we lived in houston and there was a club called the laff stop. i don't know if you're familiar. >> seth: no, i've never been. no. >> but they had great people come through. we saw mitch hedberg there. we saw, you know, louis c.k. harris went up actually after his set. harris was 13, and gave him notes. >> seth: louis c.k. >> yeah. so, very fearless. >> seth: very fearless. very confident. how did you come up with the title "everything is horrible and wonderful"? >> 'cause it is. >> seth: yeah. >> i think that that sums up a lot for me personally. first of all, it was a tweet. harris was a prolific tweeter @twittels if you don't know, look it up. he had a tweet, it said "let's stop finding a new witch of the week and burning them at the stake, we're all horrible and

wonderful in figuring it out." and harris was the most wonderful person that i've ever known. and he struggled with a horrible disease. and died tragically. so there was that. i also when i was writing the book, i wrote the book in real time the year after he died. i had a 1-year-old. and so i had this beautiful baby who was discovering the world, you know, you know babies. >> seth: yeah. >> another one. she was like, clouds and water and oh, flowers. and so she's discovering these beautiful things and at the same time, i was really suffering from this terrible grief and so "wonderful and horrible" kind on summed up that moment. >> seth: what i like about the book, is you're very honest about, obviously, how much you loved harris, how devastating his loss was but also how hard it is to be close to an addict, and how frustrating it is. he told you, was it three days before your wedding that he was an addict? >> yeah, not the coolest.

>> seth: yeah. >> addicts can be uncool sometimes. >> seth: yeah. you hear that a lot. >> you hear that a lot. yeah. he -- he really struggled with his addiction. he was in and out of rehab for a year. he went to three different rehabs. he tried really hard to beat it. but unfortunately, you know, the stats are true. >> seth: something that you hear so much now with stories of how this happens, how people -- he was on painkillers, they were expensive, he started using heroin. what -- is there anything that you would say to families who have loved ones going through this? is there -- i mean, i know it's hard to say this, obviously, because there's not a playbook. but what would you say to anyone as far as what you learned and what you'd want them to know? >> it's a tough question, because ultimately, we lost. you know, i mean, if being smart and funny and talented and the most charming person in any room could win drug addiction, then

harris would still be here. it doesn't matter who you are. that stereotype of a drug addict living under a bridge is not true. it can affect anybody. and there's such a stigma around it, so i feel like if we can get rid of that stigma, i mean, people will tell me all the time, i've written a lot and i've put a lot online and they'll say, oh my gosh, nobody's talking about this, and you just vocalized something that i've been too ashamed to talk about or i feel like if we could just talk about it more and get the judgment out of the conversation, then maybe it would help. i also think that as a society, we just haven't figured out how to address the issue because 30 days in rehab clearly isn't enough. i've heard people say we need to do six months in rehab. but that's totally bonkers. who can take six months off? >> seth: yeah. >> i can't even take off three for having a baby. >> seth: that's a big deal. >> did you know that? >> seth: that's a person. you're having a person. >> a person.

yeah, so, it's hard. >> seth: harris had an interesting relationship with decorum. did not have a lot of respect for it. >> he had none. >> seth: there was a wonderful thing in the book, which is -- will you read harris' reply if i read the first half of the e-mail? >> i would be honored. >> seth: okay. great. i feel like this will honor him and his memory. he got an e-mail that went to the entire staff on the show, "parks and rec," which a mandatory workplace harassment meeting. and it was -- it's a brief reminder, we all attend mandatory nbc workplace harassment seminar. here at the lot, it will be downstairs in the basement, multipurpose room number 1. there will be bagels and coffee, thanks. and then your brother harris wrote back -- >> reply all. to executives who hire him. >> seth: yes. >> will the bagels be shaped like [ bleep ] holes? [ laughter and applause ] >> seth: can't think of a better way to honor his memory than that. >> sums it up. >> seth: thank you so much for writing this book. thank you for being here. congratulations on your baby. such a pleasure to have you. >> thank you. [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: stephanie wittels wachs,

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[ cheers and applause ] >> seth: my thanks to uma thurman, jimmi simpson, stephanie wittels wachs, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] jim riley, and of course, the 8g band. stay tuned for "carson daly." see you tomorrow. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ >> carson: hey, what's up, everybody? you're watching nbc late night. it is time for "last call." tonight, we're coming to you from a very cool place in new york city, this is the cutting room. and we've got an awesome show