David Spade rose to prominence in the 1990s as the sarcastic “Hollywood Minute” reporter, one of several memorable characters he created during a five-year stint on Saturday Night Live. After saying “buh-bye” to SNL in 1996, Spade scored a breakthrough role as wisecracking assistant Dennis Finch on the hit series “Just Shoot Me!” For his work on that show, Spade was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy.
He hasn’t fared as well on the big screen, however. Following successful collaborations with the late Chris Farley in “Tommy Boy” and “Black Sheep,” Spade starred in a succession of duds that included “8 Heads in A Duffel Bag,” “Senseless” and “Joe Dirt.” While his latest picture, “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” probably won’t elevate Spade to the level of superstardom enjoyed by his SNL contemporaries Adam Sandler and Mike Meyers, it ought to demonstrate the diminutive comic’s ability to hold his own at the box office. Here are some excerpts from a recent interview: Question: There is a definite Oedipal aspect to the relationship between Dickie Roberts and Mary McCormack’s character, Grace, Dickie’s surrogate mother. Give us your take on the Freudian elements of the film.
David Spade: Yeah, that was a little dicey. I mean, it was fun to do the “your mom’s hot” stuff with the (two) kids, but in the end when Mary and I got together it was weird. But it was less of a sexual thing, and more just, like, these four people should be together. This should be a little unit.
Question: Dickie goes from being a household name to being a nobody and it nearly destroys him. What, in your opinion, are some of the other downsides to celebrity?
David Spade: Well, nobody really wants to hear the rich guy complain … that is, if I am rich anymore. I put away three thousand bucks from “Just Shoot Me,” but it just wasn’t enough. But there is the (loss of privacy) because you don’t blend in anymore. It’s funny, I was out with Howard Stern last night — and talk about not blending in. I can at least cruise through the mall like a college kid with a hat on, but he’s a giraffe and he’s got crazy people for fans. So rather than deal with that, he usually just stays home.
Question: What challenges do you face? David Spade: If you’re Sean Penn, people have to stay away from you because they’re afraid. But if you’re me, you’re like their buddy from “Tommy Boy.” People come up and say, “Dude, a friend of mine knows your brother.” And I’m like, “Really? Let’s drink! Let’s hang out!”
Question: What’s your take on child actors and their showbiz parents?
David Spade: Some parents are, like, “They love it. My kid loves show business. I can’t stop ‘em.” But they also love candy and money, and, you know, they’re kids — it’s your job to stop them. If they love to play in traffic, that doesn’t mean you let them do it. It’s tough, how to deal with it? I don’t know if I’d put my kid in there … if I had a kid.
Question: Do you keep up with the latest happenings at Saturday Night Live?
David Spade: Not as much anymore. I did with Will (Ferrell) and Cheri Oteri and Jimmy Fallon, but I don’t know as many of the new people.
Question: You live in California. What do you think of the prospect of Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming the next governor?
David Spade: He was asked the other day at some press conference what he planned to do to balance the budget and he said he planned to fix it when he’s voted in (laughs). He said, “That’s the plan. It’s so complicated, I won’t even think about it until that day.” I thought it was kind of ballsy that he really had no answer. I like that he surrounds himself with guys like Warren Buffett and George Shultz and says, “You know these guys. They’re good. And I’m with them and we’re going to figure it all out later.”
Question: What kind of music are you listening to these days?
David Spade: I love ’80s music. I don’t know any new bands. I’m out of it. I tell people I like new music, but I really don’t. I just want them to think I’m cool.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 5, 2003. Read the original PDF.