Fred Willard reteams with director Christopher Guest for their first mockumentary in a decade, Mascots.

Den of Geek: Hard to believe, but its been 10 years since the last one of these.

Did you ever wonder if he was going to get back to the movies?

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I always kind of thought, yes, I knew he would do something.

He directs a lot of commercials.

He surprised me with this.

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You make up your own character, but then you never know until you get on set.

Thats all I can say about it.

Its not just, Go out and have fun.

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When you come up with your own ideas about the character, do you run it past Christopher?

No, I never do that because I just like to spring it on him.

Ive done that before and he usually doesnt like it.

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If you go in already with somebody, once youre doing it on camera, he gets it.

Sid said, Well, lets just try it.

Well, thats not funny.

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He said, Lets try it.

You started in improv around 1962…

Well, my first improv was Second City in Chicago.

Before that I worked at, with a partner, doing comedy sketches.

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Theres different kinds of improv.

Theres Second City improv where you venture to slowly build a nice sketch.

Theres stuff you do in college coffee houses where you just go joke, joke, joke.

Bring another funny character with a funny hat on his head.

Christopher Guest is more the line of trying to get a story out.

He does these quirky characters who are serious about trying to do what they believe in.

Like these mascots, they dont take their jobs humorously, theyre very serious about it.

They work hard, they struggle.

We miss him so much.

He passed away years ago and he was wonderful.

He started working under the name George Terry, but his real name is George Memmoli.

He was just a terrifically funny guy.

We tried to replace him but it didnt work.

If you happen to do a scene with someone its, Hey, how you doing?

When we didBest in Show, that was the closest thing to a reunion.

Everyone you knew, so it was great.

Its a reunion at the press screenings and all.

You know, Hi, how are you, its great to see you.

Everyone seems to love each other.

Its not like a series where by the fifth season this one isnt talking to that one.

IsBest in Showthe movie that you get the most quotes thrown back at you from?

Yes, that was amazing.

That was the second movie I did with him.

But I got great feedback from Gene Siskel and it was just so great.

Yes, that was the one that people quote the most.

That was a scary movie.

Tobe Hooper, I sawTexas Chain Saw Massacre, and then he called me to be in this movie.

He was the gentlest, sweetest guy.

I have no idea why he put me in that movie.

I said, Oh, Im supposed to be kind of a funny guy?

That was a scary movie for its time.

I said, Thats me in that thing.

You had a couple of scenes with James Mason in that.

Yes, and I forgot that.

It was a big thrill.

I had a joke prepared.

Then I thought Id better not do that.

He was a very charming guy though, Im sure he wouldve laughed.

They couldnt do it for the American version.

Mascotsis now streaming on Netflix.

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