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[0:14] Robert Bannon: Well, happy pride, everybody. And as you know, we've been celebrating Pride, and I couldn't think of a better guest this year than the one and only Nathan Lee Graham. I have seen him on screen. I have seen him off Broadway. I have seen him on Broadway. I've seen him on TV in my house. I think he is hysterical and funny. And I better class it up because I find him to be a class. He's a classy lady here in this show. You know, he is the real, it's a real deal. Nathan Lee Graham has made us laugh forever. And the new show, Mid Century Modern, is a must see, especially this pride. I'm so excited. He's been every I think he's traveling around the whole entire world. He's gonna be everywhere, and he made some time to be with us. Nathan Lee Graham, welcome back to our show.

[0:52] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, thank you so very much, Robert. Thank you. Are you getting married soon?

[0:57] Robert Bannon: I get married. I am getting married this Sunday.

[1:01] Nathan Lee Graham: Oh, Marble Top, congratulations. This is so fabulous.

[1:04] Robert Bannon: Thank you. And you know, Nate, see, I told you classy. Nathan, he is a good Midwestern man. Like you, he is from Michigan.

[1:12] Nathan Lee Graham: No, I'm from Missouri.

[1:14] Robert Bannon: Oh, so you're the South.

[1:15] Nathan Lee Graham: Missouri's the South.

[1:17] Robert Bannon: Well, let well, let's get it all correct. I'm actually, I was born in St. Louis, but raised in Los Angeles, and I've lived in New York City for most of my life. But St. Louis is not considered the South. It's considered the Midwest because it's not South of the Mason Dixon line.

[1:35] Nathan Lee Graham: Got it.

[1:36] Robert Bannon: So oh, see? Oh clack, clack, clack, clack, clack.

[1:40] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, yes.

[1:41] Robert Bannon: She's a she's country, but she's not southern.

[1:44] Nathan Lee Graham: No.

[1:45] Robert Bannon: Missouri, that is. Well, you know, I'm just Jersey trashy gay. I'm just Jersey trashy gay.

[1:51] Nathan Lee Graham: Listen, Jersey is a garden state.

[1:53] Robert Bannon: That you we are the garden state.

[1:55] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, yes, it's a beautiful state. I don't know why it gets so trashed all the time.

[1:59] Robert Bannon: And why do they trash us, Nathan?

[2:01] Nathan Lee Graham: I don't know. I don't know. I mean, yes, we all have our unspeakables, but uh, you know, Jersey's lovely.

[2:12] Robert Bannon: Nathan, you know what's my favorite thing about you when people talk about you or see you, this is who you are. You have this tie sweater, you have your fan. You are like I picture you have dinner parties. I bet you don't put paper plates out in your house.

[2:24] Nathan Lee Graham: I don't know. There's no there's no paper here except that goes into the uh printer, of course.

[2:29] Robert Bannon: See, that's I'm sure you have potpourri or something that smells lovely in the bathroom.

[2:33] Nathan Lee Graham: It is classy.

[2:35] Robert Bannon: And what do you think about the world? Like, we are in like a world of like decorum is not up on the up. Like people go to theater, they're they wear flip-flops. We're a mess out here.

[2:46] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, I I I have to agree with you on that. I don't I don't love the theater etiquette. I'm I must tell you, the worst part of going to the theater is quite frankly, sitting with that audience. Um I I mean, we want people to patronize the theater, of course. We want people to come and see all of the shows and tune in to all of the shows and go to the cinema.

[3:08] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[3:09] Nathan Lee Graham: But if you could just show up like you care about what you're going to see, that would be nice. You know, perhaps not in your gym talks, you know. Just take just take those off and put on, you know. I don't even require you to be, you know, glamorous. Just you know, a nice clean pair of dungarees and a button down, you know, or a lovely t-shirt, but just something.

[3:34] Robert Bannon: Something.

[3:35] Nathan Lee Graham: Some I'm I'm here with you. And while we're talking about it. You know, something. I mean, you know, I know the ticket prices are ridiculous and astronomical, and they shouldn't be, but at the same time, you know, try to pull up just a little bit.

[3:49] Robert Bannon: Just something.

[3:50] Nathan Lee Graham: Something, people. We're gonna follow Nathan Lee Graham. I follow, and it's the best place to follow. And while we're talking, we're gonna get into it. But mid-century modern is on Hulu. You can watch it today. You can straight. I watched it a whole Saturday. I sat down, I had an orange juice and a little little egg frittada moment in honor.

[4:06] Robert Bannon: That sounds fancy.

[4:07] Nathan Lee Graham: And then I finished the show was done. It was the perfect time. And I've heard so many friends. Nathan, you must hear from so many people. I heard from my aunt, I heard from my cousin, I heard from the gays, I heard from the gay adjacents. I heard from the people who have never been around, you know, uh been to that anywhere to don't know anything about Palm Springs, and they have just howled and cackled with this show.

[4:26] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, this is what we want. This is what we want. We want people to feel good about themselves after they watch the show, right? And we also we also want people to know that, you know, people like us exist. We exist, we we exist without shame, we age. You know, I see these wonderful shows coming out, you know, like the one like Love Simon and Overcompensating. I love all of these new shows that are about coming age, coming of age, you know, in your sexuality, and um, and celebrating the LGBTQ plus community because we're not a monolith, you know.

[5:02] Robert Bannon: What I say to to you is that all of these shows should be on, they should be on all all at the same time, you know, because we're here and we age, and what I love about our show is that you're you're watching people who uh who have no shame, you know, uh about themselves, and it's so liberating to to have that, you know, and and we know who we are, we're not discovering ourselves in uh in that kind of way, you know, which young people do. But that should not be the only story.

[5:39] Nathan Lee Graham: It should be one of many.

[5:42] Robert Bannon: That's what I love too. I see myself as I love this coming out stories, and it's important that people see themselves represented.

[5:48] Nathan Lee Graham: Absolutely.

[5:49] Robert Bannon: But we need to see grown people who have grown relationships, who are who are grown and have set their lives and they could be together, divorced, single, trying to figure it out. Grown people and this show professionals, all of those sort of things.

[6:02] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes. So when you audition for this and you got the call, and they say, hey, it's Nathan Lane, hey, it's Matt Bulmer, hey, it's Linda Labin. Hey, it's a show of uh about uh you have this is like you must eat this with a spoon. This is so Nathan Lee Grand, this is made this part is made for you.

[6:19] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, it's very kind of you to say, but you know, I treat every job the same, uh, with a hundred percent commitment to whatever we're trying to do, whatever we're trying to put over, right? And so um Max and David, Max Muchnik and David Cohen, the creators of uh Mid Century Modern, along with the wonderful Ryan Murphy, uh producing, when Max and David approached me, it was very simple and very easy, and that doesn't happen quite often, you know. We had two Zoom sessions. The first was just to introduce, you know, they were introduced to me, I was introduced to them formally, and then the second was uh, you know, work on this and let's try this. And then the third was a chemistry read with the the great and powerful Nathan Lane, whom I adore, right?

And always have. So uh it was easy, it really was. I I won't lie about that process, and then when Max called me at 10 45 p.m. New York Standard Time, you know, Eastern Standard Time from Los Angeles. Uh I just took the call, he says you got it, and he was so pleased, I was so pleased, and then I went back to bed and I lied down, and it was a very calming thing because uh, well, as I said to Tamron Hall last Friday, it was Besherit, it was meant to be, you know. Um, and so that that's it. I mean, not as glamorous as some people might think, but it was very meaningful and meant a lot to me. And boy, oh boy, am I just so thrilled and so honored to be a part of a show that I I'm proud of?

[8:08] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm so proud, and I'm so excited for you, and I know that you have put in years of work off Broadway, Broadway, television, film, and now this is the the the special moment of this time right now for this show to be out, especially in the times we're living in. I was watching it, and what I was amazed at with Nathan and Matt and yourself is the comedic timing and the physical comedy, yes, is and comedy and physical comedy is hard. Your chemistry together is off the chart. What was it like on set to be able to do all these fun, crazy things?

[8:42] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, you know, we're all fans of each other, so when we met initially, that was already set, and then all of us are from the theater, so that has a special bond that you can't get anywhere else, where you immediately become vulnerable and you trust because there's no time not to, right? And then, as Max has mentioned in the interviews, this was light like lightning in a bottle. Because you can't make up chemistry, yes. So we actually like each other. We actually speak, we actually text, we go out to dinner. Um, we did this with the with the late great Linda Lavin as well. And you know, um, it's such a wonderful thing when you have that. We we all recognize that it's special and that this is a rarity, and so just so pleased to be a part of it, and uh it's so fun, and we all we all have similar uh likes and dislikes, you know, or uh about the art itself.

So we're working in concert all the time. When that ball is thrown up, someone's gonna catch it, you know, and uh it's just really exciting to be with people like that to uh to share the share the stage with them, you know, the set. Shout out to the people at Hulu and shout out to the creative team for putting a show like this out and not being afraid to show you know these gay gentlemen of a certain age having a grand old time.

[10:19] Robert Bannon: I definitely see myself and my family and people in my crew, my chosen family in represented in this show. I was thinking about you, I mean, this is a minute ago now. Priscilla is a is a minute ago, Nathan Lee.

[10:31] Nathan Lee Graham: It is.

[10:32] Robert Bannon: Look at that. That's the Warriter, the national flower of Australia, I believe. I'm obsessed, I love it. I saw the first time I saw you on stage was in a view from upstairs.

[10:43] Nathan Lee Graham: Oh love.

[10:44] Robert Bannon: What a fun, amazing show. And I mean, Mr. Pope is a superstar now. Talk about Ryan Murphy. Y'all came out here swinging for the for the heavens with this show. And you have been a part of telling these stories like Priscilla and you from you've been a part of telling community stories and our community stories from the beginning. How important is it in your career that you tell queer stories for audiences out here?

[11:07] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, a few things. Um, I've never been in the closet. I don't need except you know, get some lovely drag, some lovely clothes, couture, and then um, and then of course, uh, you know, as I was coming up, getting out of school, all that sort of thing, I had colleagues who were in the closet who said, Nathan, you're never gonna work. And I said, you know, I can't double act because acting is already a very vulnerable, wonderful thing, and you have to, you know, and if in order for me to have beautiful behavior right away and be and have it accessed, I can't double act. So none of that for me. And then, of course, I would always say to uh directors and casting people none of my straight colleagues complain about doing straight roles ever. I don't ever hear them complaining about it. Oh my god, another straight roll, I gotta do another straight role. So why the fuck would I care about doing a gay role when I'm gay as the seven C's?

[12:07] Nathan Lee Graham: I just want them written properly, like anyone else. And why would I want to do anything else? I don't need to prove anything to anybody. You know, funny is funny, drama is drama, and I just want it written well. I just want it written well, and yes, I would love to continue to do the things that I do in the way that I do them with wonderful directors, incredible writers. I've been so fortunate. My whole career, I've been so fortunate to work with wonderful composers, writers, directors, amazing women. Women have been such a vital part of my career, you know, working with the best actors who happen to be women in the world. And then, you know, that's just what it is. It's just unfathomable to me to worry about, you know, the aspect of, you know, are you a legitimate actor if you can play straight?

Who cares? Is it written well? Can you go on this journey? Is the behavior there? Is this a wonderful story that everyone can relate to at some point because we're all humans with human emotion? So that's what's most important to me. I don't have to play a straight person for the rest of my life. You know what I'm saying? So I mean, it would be great if it's a great role and people want me to do it. I'm not canceling myself out of anything, but at the same time, there's just so many wonderful roles out there. And I like seeing myself, you know, on the screen. I like being represented on the screen because we're here in everyday life, you know. I don't suddenly become straight when I get on the A-train.

So, you know, it's like we're here. We're everywhere. We're in every aspect of life, every vocation, you know. So it's exciting, and I'm just so grateful that I have the opportunity to do it, and I've done it for such a long time.

[14:07] Robert Bannon: You know, while you're talking, it is literally, I'm sitting here and I'm like, God, please let me be at a cocktail party with Nathan Lee Graham one day. I just want or brunch somewhere. I just want to like if you are the quintessential person to sit next to at a party and Kiki.

[14:23] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, I could never write a book. I am gonna write a book actually, but I want to do it when I have six weeks left to live, because no one will have a career after I write that book, that tell all.

[14:36] Robert Bannon: That's why I want to sit next to you. Before the show came out, before Mid Century Modern, which I'm sure your phone is blowing up. You're at all these benefits, pride is here, you're gonna be everywhere, everything, and this is going on and on. A lot of people must have stopped you and talked to you about this. They must talk to you about Zoolander and...

[14:50] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, uh Robert, I'll be honest with you, I never know what people are gonna stop me about because fortunately for me, it's all over the place. So you have your hardcore Zoolander fans, you have your hardcore Sweet Home Alabama fans, you have your hardcore Hitch fans. Um, and now you fold in Theater Camp, you fold in The Comeback, you fold in people who just exclusively watch Law and Order, SVU. You know, um, I'm one of the few Americans that's done Absolutely Fabulous, the wonderful show from London, um, from the UK. And so, and we could just go on, and the thing about it is I never know what they're gonna stop me for. And I've actually forgotten some things. So, you know, and people when it gets really obscure, you know, like Woke or Katie Keene, or you know, it's just like what huh?

Oh, yes, I did that too. You know, and then there are people who just love the stage work that I've done, which is so wonderful to be a part of, you know, the New York theater scene and having traveled around the United States and the world performing as well. So I just really I'm very I'm very I feel very fortunate. I feel tons of gratitude, and I'm just really pleased that this is all I've ever done and that I'm allowed to continue to do it.

[16:18] Robert Bannon: I think we're the ones that are pleased because we've had so much joy and so much laughter doing what seeing you do what you do. We're the lucky ones that get to see your talent up on the screen and stages, and we are the better for it because you've given us so much joy. I'm such a fan. This year feels like pride is heavy and important, and all of the work that you've been doing, and we talk about Mid Century Modern, how representation matters. How are you gonna celebrate this year? What are you up to? What are you doing?

[16:44] Nathan Lee Graham: Well, there's so much going on, yes. I was um, I'm very flattered to have been awarded the Critics' Choice Award, the Vanguard Award, along with tons of people that I love and respect. Um can't wait to be in a room with all of these wonderful artists. I won't name names because I don't want to leave anyone out, um, although I know pretty much every single one of them. Uh so I'm happy with that. Um, there's a wonderful benefit here for the Alley Fournae Center called A Night of a Thousand Dudes, and I'm winning the Judy Icon Award after my dear, dear, dear Uber talented friend Justin Vivian Bond, who won it the first year. Um so that's how I'm sort of celebrating pride, because you know, I get an opportunity to do all of these things, you know.

Even speaking with the people at JP Morgan Chase and just every echelon of society, you know, that I get to dip my toe into. That's what pride means to me that we show up. My activism, as I've said before, is like um, well, there she is again. There she is again, like a glamorous cockroach. You know, I'm never gonna go away. And that to me is activism showing up and showing out by doing what I do. And someone in Shibuti, Mississippi is gonna say, Oh, I see that person. If they can do it, it's possible for me to do whatever it is they want to do. You don't have to go into show business, but you can see yourself being represented, being represented in a positive way. And you say to yourself, oh yes, we exist, we're here, we're alive, you know.

[18:39] Robert Bannon: It's one of the things.

[18:42] Nathan Lee Graham: Oh no, I'm afraid not. I'm afraid not. A glamorous cockroach. Can I steal that? That is the best line.

[18:48] Robert Bannon: Please. We're like a glamorous cockroach. I'm just gonna keep showing up.

[18:53] Nathan Lee Graham: That's it. Keep showing up. Can't get rid of us in the best homes, honey, in the best homes. And I've been in some lovely homes. Let me tell you. And there is good old ye cockroach running, scurrying across the kitchen. You know.

[19:10] Robert Bannon: I need a bucket list. I'm gonna put that on here. Yes. Brunch with Nathan Lee Graham.

[19:15] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, we must have it. But I'm here, I'm here for it. Glamorous cockroaches here with you.

[19:20] Robert Bannon: Yes, yes, I've seen them run across all the Baccarat crystal. So we're everywhere. Are you you must be self-taping? You must be ready for the next gig. I know that people are talking about the next season of Mid Century Modern already as we wait. Like you, you're just the train keeps rolling.

[19:33] Nathan Lee Graham: The train keeps rolling. You know, there's some films coming out. Um there's some indies on the horizon. Um, I'm just fortunate that people want to work with me. I want to work with them. Um, you know, I'm old school, so I show up, hit my mark, know my lines, and keep it moving. Go ahead. And uh that's pretty much it. You know, I don't, there's not a lot of histrionics with me. I save that for the actual characters.

[20:03] Robert Bannon: And that's the way to be. We're so honored to be here with you. I love you. I'm so happy for you. I wish you nothing but the best. I'm ready for the work, the work, the work, and keep making us laugh. And um, we'll be if you haven't watched it yet. I don't know what you've been doing, but Mid Century Modern is...

[20:17] Nathan Lee Graham: Oh, you must watch. You must watch. We need that second wave of watching. You know, so many people watched it right away. Um, you know, and because we opened at number one that weekend like a film because they dropped all ten. But what's so exciting is that we do this in front of a live studio audience, which is important for people to know. That's not a laugh track. Um, it's been massaged so we, you know, because there's a sound department, but there's no laugh track. People are actually laughing. And uh, you know, in season two, we're gonna have that laughter be a little bit more raucous, like it is, like it was on The Golden Girls or All in the Family.

[20:57] Robert Bannon: Well, you'll be laughing too from your house, because I was laughing and it's body. Like y'all, you all get away with some fun little double entendre cheeky cheeky. You're gonna get a kick out of it, everybody.

[21:07] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, I think so. It's for everyone to watch and to laugh and to feel good. You're gonna laugh and feel good, and that's what you make us do. Thank you so much for being here. We're gonna follow you, Nathan Lee Graham on Instagram so we can stay up to wherever they're gonna be.

[21:19] Robert Bannon: And I'm gonna try to. You know, my husband is very much like he does not allow me to have paper plates. He tells me that why is my shirt wrinkled? He's taught me how to properly clean a bathroom because he says, No, he's taught me I have a punch bowl, a crystal punch bowl.

[21:36] Nathan Lee Graham: Why does anyone need a crystal punch bowl?

[21:36] Robert Bannon: For punch, darling? For punch. Classy bro, you classy bras. I'm just gonna you need it's a punch. I mean, my god, what are the benefits of being a human being? Alligators and elephants don't have punch bowls.

[22:00] Nathan Lee Graham: Okay, well, just for you.

[22:02] Robert Bannon: Yeah, we get to have punch bowls, you know. You know, uh, Arthur, who I play, he's so about people feeling good about themselves. That's why he wants the world to look good. That's why he likes to dress people and talk about it.

[22:17] Nathan Lee Graham: Listen, I don't need to tell you how bad you look. So I could care less. But all I can say to you is, do you want to go down in the plane in that outfit? Do you have to ask yourself that when you get dressed for the plane? Do you want to go out like this just in case? And this looking like a schlampadinker. I'm just saying, just ask yourselves.

[22:44] Robert Bannon: Oh my god, I fly on Thursday. I gotta change my sweatpants. I gotta put something.

[22:48] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, I mean, put on some Lululemon. Do something.

[22:51] Robert Bannon: I could do that. You know, you know, upgrade even the American sportswear. Do you have house shoes? You would never wear your outside shoes in your house.

[23:01] Nathan Lee Graham: No, I have five pairs of slippers. I'm wearing I'm wearing two of them right now. Yes, I'm wearing a pair of slippers right now. From Muji that I love.

[23:10] Robert Bannon: See, these are the things I had to learn, Nathan Lee Graham. I just you know roll up on the couch and take.

[23:18] Nathan Lee Graham: I uh the look was death. Oh listen, if I fall out, if I get out from here and hit my head and they have to find me three days later, at least I'm gonna be in that matching Heather Gray togs.

[23:33] Robert Bannon: I love you. You're my favorite. You know what I'm saying? So go with God, honey, and put on some panties. Come on, be a fancy cockroach and stick around. But okay, Nathan Lee Graham, we love you. Thank you for being here. Happy Pride. Much love to you.

[23:49] Nathan Lee Graham: Yes, happy pride to you and Maslov and the wedding. Congratulations. Much love.