INTERVIEWS

Jason Biggs
July 14, 2000 http://www.etonline.com

"The adrenaline is just rushing...!" 

On the set, JASON BIGGS gives us the skinny on NEIL DIAMOND, lip-synching and his new tunefully funny film, 'Saving Silverman'! 

ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: Hey, Jason! You look pretty cute! 

JASON BIGGS: Thank you! Yeah, it's pretty hip, huh? 

ET: Is this from your own wardrobe? 

JASON: It is! I offered it because I knew we were doing the whole Neil Diamond thing, so I said, "Hey, I got something!" And I had another one for JACK (BLACK) and another one for STEVE (ZAHN), so I supplied my own wardrobe.  I supplied one for everyone in the cast here today, including Neil, actually. I gave Neil a shirt of mine to wear, as well. 

ET: Well, I'd like to see your closet! Now, is this just the most fun you've ever had? I mean, you guys look like you're just having a ball up there! 

JASON: We're having a blast! I mean, we're performing with Neil Diamond, first of all, which is just amazing. And we're a Neil Diamond tribute band. I have to admit, prior to this movie, I knew his songs and certainly knew who Neil Diamond was, but I didn't consider myself a fan. I wasn't not a fan, but I didn't follow his music. But I am sold on it now and it's cool. We've been rehearsing and we've been in our Neil Diamond garb for other scenes and it's all built up. And now we're here performing with him and he's the sweetest guy! And it's so much fun! We're in front of thousands of people here at the Coliseum and it's just very cool! 

ET: Although they're doing the same song over and over again! 

JASON: We're doing the same song over and over again, but I haven't gotten sick of it! Every time we go we're just so amped and so into it, and the adrenaline is just rushing through all of us and it's just very cool! I'm going to be singing it in my head for a year! 

ET: Now, speaking of singing, I saw Jack and Steve up there jamming, really jamming with Neil. Where were you? 

JASON: I was not jamming with Neil, because I can't jam! I'm not much of a jammer. You see, Steve and Jack are talented musicians, and I'm not musically inclined, unfortunately. I mean, I have rhythm, but I can't play anything, I can't sing, and they can! And they're getting to do it with Neil Diamond live! I'm lip-synching with Neil Diamond, which is exciting for me as a semi-professional lip-syncher, but I wish I could play. But Neil Diamond told me he was going to teach me a few chords. Isn't that wild? 

ET: Although you are a killer tambourine player! 

JASON: Thank you! Is it the tambourine that I'm playing? Yeah, tambourine, that's what I'm playing! See, case in point! What am I playing? I don't know! 

ET: So, what the heck is going on in this movie? Why on earth is Neil Diamond here? Give us a little idea what this whole thing is about. 

JASON: Well, Steve Zahn and Jack Black and myself play characters in this movie. We have a Neil Diamond tribute band. We're huge fans of his and we take it very seriously. Nothing is a parody of Neil. It's that we love Neil. And at the end of the movie, we get to perform with him! And he's at a marriage.... Without giving too much of the ending away, we get to perform with Neil. 

ET: You know, ET loves a wedding! And there is a wedding in this! Now, I understand we can't know who's getting married though, but there's a heck of a wedding! 

JASON: There's a heck of a wedding. Yeah, there's definitely some marriage stuff. Again, I can't give away who's getting married, but that's not a wedding ring on my finger. 

ET: Now isn't it like two weddings and a funeral going on? 

JASON: Yeah, it's just comedy! It's just lots of high jinks! 

ET: Now, why did you want to do this? You are on a roll right now. You're probably one of the hardest working guys in Hollywood. You've had a string of movies come out. Why did this one appeal to you? 

JASON: This one appealed to me because it was hilarious on paper, first of all. And then the opportunity to work with an amazing cast and a great director, DENNIS DUGAN, who made 'Happy Gilmore' and 'Big Daddy.' The guy knows comedy! And Steve Zahn, Jack Black, AMANDA PEET, AMANDA DETMER are just absolutely hilarious! And we're having a great time! It's going to be funny. Funny, funny, funny! 

ET: And you're spending a lot of your time in Vancouver. Didn't you just do a movie here? 

JASON: I did! I just finished up 'Prozac Nation' here in Vancouver as well, and segued right into 'Saving Silverman.' Yeah, I think I have dual citizenship now! It's easier than getting the whole work permit thing every time I cross the border. 

ET: Now, you're being very modest about saying that you're not musically inclined, because I've heard that you're actually quite a good singer! 

JASON: Really? 

ET: Yeah! That's what people are saying! 

JASON: Was the person you talked to deaf? 

ET: I was hoping you could do a little Neil Diamond for me! 

JASON: Well, I learned a lot of songs, but have you been taping us? Check that out, because I've been getting a lot of help up there! But I can't right now, I can't! 

ET: Did you have to go and learn a lot of his songs because you're a tribute band? 

JASON: Yeah, We have "Holly Holly," which is what we're doing now. "Cherry Cherry" is another one that we're going to be doing, as well as "Hello Again." I have all these songs running through my head. 

ET: Now, I also understand that this is 'Saving Silverman' and you're the Silverman that needs to be saved. What is going on? 

JASON: Yeah, I need to be saved. From marriage, basically! I fall head over heels for this evil woman, played by Amanda Peet. She's got me like her puppet, and so Steve Zahn and Jack Black hatch this plan to save me from marriage and hook me up with the person who I've loved since high school, played by Amanda Detmer. 

ET: So you're torn between two Amandas! 

JASON: Yeah, exactly! Pretty much! 

ET: Not a bad couple to be torn between! 

JASON: Not at all! No! I'd be torn! I am torn! Jason Biggs is torn! Detmer, Peet, Detmer, Peet, I mean, come on!