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Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. I would say to the Pats now, who wins the game is not the team with the best players. Who wins the game is the players with the best team.
Earlier on the show. Actor Josh Lucas. Coming up. Actor Nikolai Koster Waldow. Super Bowl 60 storylines.
Your phone calls, latest news, and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We're on ESPN 2 now, everybody. And we just, you know, we're going to go through a wardrobe change because we're on the deuce.
That's an old school reference. That's an old school reference. We're on ESPN 2 now, but of course, still streaming on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio. We're on terrestrial radio, SiriusXM Channel 80. For those who listen on our podcast, we say hello to you.
All three hours available every day, wherever you get your podcasts. The Overreaction Monday podcast is up and running. Chris Brockman and I recorded it before we did this live show. And so, wherever you get your podcast there or our YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show. Great chat with Josh Lucas, the actor in hour two.
He's a diehard Seahawk fan. We're about to get Nikolai Coster Waldow out here. He's arriving shortly. And as you know, In addition to his current work, right now he's coming on in support of his show that's in its second season called The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV. We're all over the Apple TV programs.
We had Shrinking last week and Pom Royale in our number two. He we also know he was the Kingslayer, Jamie Lannister.
So we got, I don't know how we wound up with this, but when we first moved in here 11 years ago, you know, the folks at DirecTV, the set designers are like, what are your favorite shows? What do you like? And we've mentioned Game of Thrones. They got this Game of Thrones board game. And every single.
person who's been on the show that has been a guest here. We have them sign this, and it's been signed by John Bradley, who played Samuel Tarley, right? Yep. Ewan Rion, who played Ramsey Bolton. A real SOB.
Wasn't a fan. I believe Sir Davos is up top right here. Yeah.
Okay, Ian Cunningham. Uh Sir Davos. Um Lena Hedley. has been on this program. Right, yes.
It's that was a whole uh uh that was a pardon me, that was a um sort of a Blazing Saddles Lena Heati moment right here. She should come back soon. Kid Harrington. Kid Harrington was right as well.
So we're about to get another signature on this year board. True 101.
So that's coming up right here. Rich Eisen Show. Oh, that's right. Give that to me again. Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show.
Why don't we use that more? We're going to hit the rejoins. They're great. Yeah.
You know? We have a Hodor door jam, too. Oh, we have a Hodor door jam. We actually have Ser Davos signed to sign the Starbucks Cup, too, if you remember.
Okay, that's right. We got that going on here. Controversy in the last season. Very good.
So we'll go down that word a little bit coming up shortly. Let me talk about this, and then we'll take a phone call.
So Uh You know, this is year 24 for me covering the NFL. Woo. Dang. With the NFL Network, I believe. I forget the math.
It started. We started in the 2003 season, in November of that season. It's 24. And. You know, what a group it was to start that thing.
And It was quite a time. And if you had told me... In that first week of November, I believe it's November 4th of 2003, when I strolled out. And uttered the first words on a set in the history of NFL Network. The first words ever uttered was Steve Sable.
Because we created that hallmark that you always say that the following is a presentation of NFL Network. First voice you heard was Steve Sables. And I believe there's like a two-minute. NFL Films cut together a two-minute montage. To count down from two minutes to the start of NFL Network.
And then I came out to lead off NFL Total Access. Delivered the first on-air words in the history of NFL network. And that was uh Highly Highly combed through by a handful of executives, every word, every syllable I said. And one of them, by the way, I can't believe we didn't mention, he just passed away last week. The great Jeff Mason was a.
Long time producer in our business, ESPN. If you saw the recent. Um film on the um assassinations in Munich. Uh last year. Um It was about Jeff Mason.
producing the moments in Munich And um Of that awful moment when the Israeli team was assassinated. in uh the 72 Olympic Games. At any rate, I think of Jeff because he passed away last week and he was just beloved by so many people. And Steve Bornstein, the man who Uh, created NFL Network with the 32 owners of the National Football League and the commissioner at the time, Paul Tagliabu. Um Steve put together an All-Star cast to help us launch.
And Jeff Mason said to me Um I'll never forget it because I had just left ESPN. Or, you know, they cardboard boxed me back in 03. And I you know, my my my head was swimming. Just wondering, you know, um What the future was Holding and whether what just happened to me, where my full identity is a sports center guy and an ESPN guy. hired in in ninety six as a twenty six year old.
Now as a thirty three year old Now with NFL Network, which was just launching. What was going on? And he saw I was struggling with it a little bit. And he pulled me aside, Jeff Mason, and said, nothing. in this business is as rewarding as you starting something from scratch that could potentially last forever.
He said that to me. And I'm moved by it again because he just passed away last week. And I think hopefully you guys all feel the same here, you know, on this show that we started something new together. I know my name's on it, but this is all ours. Mm-hmm.
I came in late, but you're part of this pretty much from Jump as some part in the DirecTV universe. But the reason why I bring all of this up is if you had told me That on that day of launching NFL Network and me wondering if what's happened in my life and what's going on, because My ESPN tenure had just Come to a conclusion. That this one day on the final Friday. of January in 2026. Would be sold to ESPN.
You would have told me. I would have said, you are. Out of your minds. Like, what do you what like? What planet are you from?
Is this the English language? I wouldn't have believed it. But the news came out on Friday that the Leagues sale of NFL network to ESPN. I don't want to get too deep in the weeds because I, you know. I haven't seen the term sheet.
You know, for the NFL gets a stake in ESPN and ESPN gets NFL network. Um That came out Friday. And people are texting me or reaching out to me: what do I think about it? And, you know, first of all, it is the hard work in the testament. Of everybody at NFL Network since its inception and the support it's received.
from various parts of the league. at various times and also throughout. It's a testament to the hard work of everybody. In that office, in those offices, once upon a time, he In Culver City, here in California, in Southern California, now in Englewood across the street from SoFi Stadium. Yeah.
It's a test of hard work. Testament to hard work. And And the 2.0 of NFL network has arrived. Through no choice of anybody's at NFL Network. But it has arrived.
And clearly. Clearly, we have an insight here on this program being part of the Disney. World? And universe, I guess I have to use that phrase. Uh since September.
that I'm excited. I'm excited because everybody that I've Yeah. been reintroduced to As well as introduced to through this show winding up on Disney Plus and ESPN. ESPN Radio. We're on ESPN 2 right now.
We were on ESPN last hour. I mean, it's crazy. Crazy. What's going on? That taking NFL networks' creation.
and 24 years of work. and hard work and dedication. to bringing you, the fans, the NFL, in the way that we imagine it. needs to be brought in our voice and our brand. And our experiences In our time of being NFL employees for almost a quarter century, some of us.
Um Um putting that in the hands of the distribution. And the resources of ESPN is an exciting, exciting thing. An exciting time. And, you know. We know from this experience you see inside the NBA being on.
Okay, Pat. By the way, for any fans who are like thinking, you know, where's Pat today? He's going to San Francisco. He's going to ride on. He's going to be there.
And then Just talk to anybody. on that program and see You know what inside the NBA, it's the same thing that you've seen. It's just a different. Set of letters at the bottom of the screen. And so I'm excited.
Because there's a bunch. of dedicated Hardworking, lead pipe-wielding professionals. Who love the NFL and know what it's like to present the NFL and have done so and have a track record about doing it that is ready to do the work. for NFL Network 2.0. And um I can't wait.
That's just my genuine excitement. I honestly do not know what the future holds. I have no idea. People are like, oh, this is a game in Paris. You're going to call that game?
I. I have no idea. I have no idea what the What the setup is going to look like. I have no idea about what's going to be expected of. The current version of NFL network in the universe, I have no clue other than the fact that I know the people.
who are taking ownership of it know what they're doing. Certainly from our experiences here. And I'm excited to see our studios across the street from SoFi Stadium be a vibrant project. production community sports production community. And and seeing what the the crossover is going to look like.
I mean In terms of what does NFL network and ESPN look like together, I mean. I used to have hair on both networks. And I'm sitting here. On ESPN2. ESPN Radio.
So Let's do it. Yeah, it's exciting. This is what I'm saying. You were there. You were there once upon a time.
True, yeah. I was five years at NFL Network. I know much. Hard work went into building that place and bringing it where we are now. And so just the fact that we're now on ESPN, it's really just still so wild to think about, but it's also so exciting.
Well, you know that men and women who walk around the halls of NFL Network are diehards. Yeah, diehards. about the sport. and about presenting the sport. and are excellent at it.
And we have created our own voice. And I believe from what I've been told and from what I hear. You know, and what I've experienced here is that our voice is going to continue to echo. And it'll just be presented maybe a little differently, distributed differently? The answers, I don't know, and we're all eager to find them out.
But that's uh that's my two cents on all of that. 844-204-Rich is that number to dial. Let's go to Jimmy in San Antonio, one of our favorites. What's up, Jimmy? What's up?
Man, Rich, you know, people confuse you for Ryan Gosling, but not Josh Lucas. That's. That's horrible.
Well, that'll end because, I mean, when Josh and I were talking, I mean, you could hardly tell the difference, right? I didn't know who was on. You're right, Jimmy. The screen. It was amazing.
Yeah.
Sounds good.
Okay. Are we talking Westminster or what? Day one, buddy. It's the one hundred fiftieth day of one just best in breeds. This is all on the side stage.
It's not in the main part of Madison. Square garden? No, baby. But last year, Monty, the five-year-old giant Snauzer that won, was amazing. And I was going to bet on the toy.
Or the Terrier group this year, but then I saw Graham from the working group, the English. Shepard, you know, the Shaggy DA type dog. Nice. Yep. Shaggy DA.
Keep an eye on Graham. I bet he's going to be minus 320 to make it to the car show on TV. Do you make Herbie the Love Bug references too, Jimmy? You made some really old school. Shaggy.
Okay, Shaggy DA, man. You went deep. Listen, I love dog shows, man. I would kill to do a Westminster dog show. I would kill to host one of those.
100% is missing my resume. Your boy John O'Hara does that one after Thanksgiving. I know. I know. Jay Peterman.
He's been doing it for years. He's been doing it for years. I would honestly, that would be, that is one of the few things I have.
Well, I'm fortunate to say I've I've I've done More than most, but you know, I would kill to do a dog show, kill it.
So does everyone on set love The Best in Show, that movie?
Well, sure. I mean, Catherine O'Hara, may she rest in peace. I mean, some of her some of her scenes from that movie with Eugene Levy are as classic as they come, man. And then you mentioned Carol Burnett earlier with Josh. I got to play in front of her when I was in high school.
And we made eye contact. And I gave a tug of the ear, and she gave me a tug back. Jimmy's incredible. Jimmy and Satan tie up. As it brings a tear to my eye, man.
I can't find any updated betting odds, but when I find them, I'll pass them on to everybody. Thank you very much. Let's go to Jared in Pennsylvania. What's up, Jared? Mm-hmm.
Mr. Rich, how are you doing? How are you? Hey, first off, thank you for taking my call. Just uh want to let you know, I'm getting ready.
to finish up doing uh sports broadcasting Uh, in uh at Full Sale University, so I'm super excited about that.
Okay. Just wanted to weigh in on the Super Bowl here. I feel I feel like everybody is Kind of shying away from the Patriots and and f I I feel like it's Going to be a dogfight, but I really do. I think Drake May has shown us that. That he is Willing to step up and and Take the pressure in winning this game.
Listen, Jared, at some point. What what what's the current what's the current line? Uh four and a half.
Okay. Seahawks are favorite. What do you think? It's going to be a coin flip by the end of the day? Three and a half?
No, no, no. It's going to probably get up to five and a half. Is that really? Why? Because everyone's worried about Drake May's shoulder until he shows up in front of a podium and basically says three straight days, I'm okay, I'll see you Sunday.
Is that basically what it's going to take? Didn't really practice at all last week. Although he got off the plane, he was holding his duffel bag in his right hand. Oh, that's great.
So that showed me he's probably fine. Do you think he did that on purpose or he's just a right-handed duffel bag holder? I don't think he thinks about money.
Okay, I don't think he thinks about it. Yeah.
All right. Jared, I'm with you, man. I haven't heard a single person say they're taking the Patriots, though. And the one thing, and thanks for the call. I sent you this guy, I think I think, did I send you this video over the weekend?
Um that the last ten Patriot Seahawks games. the last ten, going back to The 80s. Come down to like the last play of the game. Yeah.
Yeah.
Last play of the game, or they're a one-score game. They always come down to it. There's no blowouts, none of them. And they're all crazy. Obviously, the Malcolm Butler play is the only one that sticks out, but take a look at the last 10 results.
None of them have been a blowout. None of them. This would be the first of its kind. Because the Patriots and Seahawks only play each other once every four years, unless there's a Super Bowl. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a blowout, but I think the defenses are too good on both sides for this to be a two-three score game.
Okay. Let's take a break. When we come back here on the Rich Eisen Show, Nikolai Coster Waldau is coming out of our green room. The last thing he told me is on Apple TV, but of course, we might go down a.
Okay. Westeros wormhole coming up. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. In a world in need of a hero, one man rises to the challenge in style. He is just driving the kids to soccer practice.
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I've got Nikolai Kosterwald out here on the Rich Ison Show. Our radio audience has returned with our streaming and linear cable audience here on the Disney family of networks. We just saw a great clip from the last thing he told me. Season two premieres on Friday, February 20th, on Apple TV. I kind of just joked with you about everything you do runs out of source.
Exactly, Game of Thrones. We're still waiting for the final book. When's it coming, man? I know, exactly.
So you went through season one without expecting maybe more to come. It's just too damn popular, and so more happened. Yeah, I mean, I think she already had an idea, but you know, we and Apple were, you know, they were smart. They obviously put in some options in case. Sure.
It did well. Right. But we didn't know. And what's been so much fun reading. The book is just out now as well.
It's just that you learn so much about what actually happened. Because in season one, you don't really know why the whole point is she has to find out. Her husband disappears and she has to kind of find out what happened. Where is he? Right.
And uh in in uh season two you'll actually discover The reason behind. What's up with all of that? Again, the season two is based on the book sequel, The First Time I Saw Him, which was just released in January.
So perfect timing, right? That the book comes out with. Almost like they thought of it. I love that.
So you have shown up with a piece of paper. Yes, no, I have a question for you.
So when you were. There's a couple of questions because I thought I was going to meet you.
Okay. I want to do some research.
Okay, sure.
So when you were starting out at Staten Island, what was it called? This is amazing. This is the Staten Island Advance. The newspaper. Did you imagine that one day you were going to have a show like this?
Was this always the dream? It's always the dream.
Well, first of all, the dream was to actually be an athlete. Yeah.
Age six, age seven. What kind of where I realized I couldn't really. Shoot. A basket successfully, you know, the curveball and baseball wouldn't be confused. I mean, this is not, this is not, this is pretty hard on yourself.
It's okay at the age of six or seven, you already go, no, this is not working. I realized that my interest in talking about it might be my way through is what I basically thought.
So it was always sports journalism that was your passion? Game show hosting, late-night TV show hosting. What else have I talked about my passion? There's that. Um and and stand-up comedy.
I did stand-up comedy for a while in college. Yeah, yeah, man. That's the most frightening thing I've ever had to attempt. I just ever. I can imagine because I was just like two nights ago, a friend is trying to break through, and I went to see him and some others.
In stand-up? Yeah.
Oh, man. And it's brutal. What was. No, but I mean, he was good. He was good.
He was good. No, no, he was good. He was good. But, but also, and he like, but not every. Joke landed, and it's just the way it goes.
Well, you go, come on, please. Please, I beg you to laugh at my material. But these guys understand that I say that to you guys every day. Please laugh at what I'm saying. Sure, please.
You know, please laugh. You know, thank you. Seeing that happen, even though it's not very funny.
Okay, so that was the first question.
Okay, what the next question is. You have a list? Oh, wow. Wow, he's got a whole. I want to ask you about, you want to be an athlete, and 20 years ago, you started doing this thing where you were doing a race every year.
Yeah, for sure.
Now you're raising money for chair. But back then, did it start like that? No, it did not start. It was with Terrence Terrell Davis Challenge. Wow, you've done your research.
To a 40-yard dash. Yes, sir.
So, the question I have is: you must have known that this was going to go on every year for a long time. No, I did not.
Well, the reason I asked you that is because the time you put down back then was 677 in 2005. Yes, that's right. Last year it was 647.
So you're still faster than you were 20 years ago. Yes, I am. I'm a fine wine. But. This is where, you know, we're going a little deeper here.
Yeah, yeah. 'Cause I'm look I've looked at all the times those twenty years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The time you said in twenty-five was by far the worst time. That you already then was like, I'm going to give myself some time before I.
No, no. Listen, you know what it's like to shoot a movie, shoot a TV show. Oh, there's a lot of waiting around, right? Like you sit around in your trailer, you're wondering, maybe you do re-I don't know how you do your preparation for your work. You're excellent at what you do.
I assume you know what you're doing. For me, back in 2005, I was bored out of my skull, waiting to do something live. It was two and a half hours away. And I was sitting next to Terrell Davis, who at the time was just coming off of a Hall of Fame career. And I was at this event where you run a 40-yard dash.
And I'm standing in the stands. And I thought to myself, you know, how fast can I run it? I asked Terrell Davis. He says to me, you can't. He laughed.
I cursed at him and I went down and I ran it in my suit and tie because that's how I was dressed to broadcast later on. Had no idea that the crew was recording me. Oh, cool. No idea. And I ran it and they showed it live to clown me.
Basically, had no intention of doing it ever again. The next year, a coach named Mike Holmgren, who had just gone to the Super Bowl with the Seahawks, interestingly enough, which is who are in the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, he said to me, Are you going to run again? I said, No. He goes, You got to beat your time. And I thought to myself, A real deal football coach is challenging my sense of competition.
How do I not do it? Of course. Over and over and over again. And now it's the logo of the show. It's me running a suit.
Right there. Oh, of course form. No, but it's very cool. And then you've also, which is very impressive. This is great.
You have.
Okay, we're going down the list here. No, no, but I think this is actually what's you've raised. Approximately $5.2 million. You have old information there, sir. Is that old information?
Yeah, it's more? Closer to $8 million. Wow. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.
Thank you. Oh, but that is really impressive. Thank you very much. And so I don't know anything about the time. Is it good?
It's not. What would an NFL player could do that in what? A great, like top-notch?
Well, it just. The record is 4.21 seconds. Oh, you you still um you know, you could yeah, you could set you could set That's not bad, is it? Your best one is five. Five nine four.
Yeah.
It is. How fast can you run? Yeah.
593. I feel like this is the price is right, just happened right here. Fantastic. Oh.
Well, I mean, I can keep going. But this is. Do you like this better than me asking questions? Hilarious. No, I so okay.
Now, because you obviously don't know much about.
Well, actually, there was one thing. I asked you about this if you always wanted to be a journalist, and you told me. Why the NFL? Actually, the question is: I was because I also read that because you're from Staten Island. Yes, sir.
Have you ever been? I I was. I was just shooting before Christmas. I was in Jersey for four months. Yeah.
And the jets are there. Just.
So that's your team, right?
Well, I grew up in Staten Island rooting for the Jets, yes. Sure, yeah, yeah. When was the last time they gave you? Because I'm, you know, I have, I love soccer, football. My team back home is Elites United.
So I think I can appreciate. What it's like to be a Jets fan.
Okay. When was the last time you had real joy? Joy. 2010.
Well, that's not too bad.
Well, I mean, it's been 16 years now. That's the last time it's been pure, unadulterated. Was that they won? They almost made it to the Super Bowl that year, and they have not exactly been. It's almost as if.
When they lost that AFC championship game to the Steelers, it's almost as if. If I was a fan, okay, as you. They would cut off my right hand and I'd have to live with it for the next decade and a half. That is that. And the rest of my life.
You understand?
Well, I do understand. It's a beautiful analogy. I mean, I'm impressed. Yes. And so, so that's, but you also will support other teams.
Well, I mean, I'm a guy that roots for all 32 NFL teams because I'm rooting for a good game. I see you're definitely looking at me like I have some issues here. No, do you have some issues? Because what I'm saying is. Because there must be rivalries in sport.
There always are. There always are. There must be a team where you go, yeah, I know, and I understand your platform, you have to support all teams. Yes, sir.
Yes. I have to. But there are teams that you support more than others. That's true. Yes, I'm a University of Michigan graduate, so I root for my college teams with my chest.
I really, you know, puff it out there. Oh, yeah, that's true. Yeah, man, for sure.
So and then I have another question. And this is just because this is NFL. I have to understand Liberty. I never thought I would be interviewed by the Kingslayer. But this is no, but because you can inform this, because I was trying to understand.
Yes. A game, NFL game, is an hour, right? Four quarters. It's four quarters, yeah. But in real time, it's like three hours it takes.
But in terms of time on the clock. But then I was looking up, because I always find that is the one thing that is frustrating for me. Yes. I love watching the game, but then it's constantly stopping.
So yeah, what's the actual play?
So that's 15 minutes, let's say on average, right? But then it's not even that because with it's in a way, would am I wrong to say it's actually four teams.
So let me ask you. It's like two an offensive and a defensive.
So most players will play at most seven point five minutes So, let me ask you this question, Mr. Leeds. If I had a stopwatch on the actual action of a camera, or yeah, thank you for using the Americanized version, your football or the rest of the world's football. Would it be as much as an NFL game? Much more.
Yeah.
Come on. This is what you Google Island. And I don't mean to denigrate because I actually do love watching. Football. I love watching it.
And I love watching this. You could sense the strategy, you could see when there's action, but frequently there's. There's not a lot of it. Listen, there's a lot of falling around. There's a lot of, oh, I'm hurt.
And all I mean, I agree. Come on now, right? No, I agree 100%. Like, it's really annoying. Right.
But what we all love, we love watching the actual plays. Yes, sure. And for me, sometimes it just there's a lot of wading around. Yeah, there's a lot of diving. There's a lot of that stuff.
Yeah, yeah, you're right. You know, it's funny because I was calling an American football game over in London between the Jaguars and the Rams. Oh, yeah. And so the Rams owner owns Arsenal, and the Jaguars owner owns Fulham.
So I went to a Fulham Arsenal match the night before, and I said on the air, I'm like, it was really great. And I saw how the fans were saying things, although, you know, you couldn't mention what the fans were saying. And so my colleague on the air, Kurt Warner, says, well, what were they saying? And I said, what they were saying rhymes with banker. By the way, have you seen those videos where they compare the U.S.
chance and then the U.S.? Yes, some are not safe for work, if not all of them. Oh, fuck. I know. I love that.
Oh, by the way, so another thing is, because it's interesting how you just mentioned that, like, an owner that had bought into Arsenal. Yes. What do you make of, because Leeds, the Ford Niners. Are now owners of the United States. I did not know that.
The York family owns.
So, why do you think there's been this? Because there's a lot of American ownership now. Diversification, and I have no idea. That's where the money is, or that's where the success is. I don't know.
It just seems like it also helps expand a brand across the. Are you going to, it's in San Francisco? I'm going. We're going on Wednesday. And you're going to be walking.
Are you taking in the game? Do you have any rooting? Oh, I'm going to watch it. I remember there was. The first Super Bowl I saw, I've never been to an actual game, but I watched it in LA with some friends, and he said, You got to put money on it.
It's more fun then. And I did. And I set up an account and I won. It was a year where there was because I did a bet that I like to do in soccer, which was half-time, full-time, one team winning and half half-time, the other team winning at full-time. It's just a simple.
So do you got the money? I couldn't get the money out. You couldn't get it out because I wasn't a resident. I'm not a like I they allowed me to s to put a to set up the account, but then when it was time to get the money out, they're like, No, sorry, sorry, you can't. Chris, you want to set up you want to help out?
Sure, that's that's the uh issue of living in California. Oh, is it? Not a legal game with it. There you go. Damn it.
There's your answer. All right, I got to ask you one Game of Thrones.
Okay, please. Shooting the scene where you lose your hand. Yes. What was that like for you? That was, I actually remember that very well because I was really, I had the flu that day.
So I was in the trailer and they were like, can you please come out? And I'm like, yes. And so I was just almost just lying there.
So that was that was fun. It was fun. And they had this this knife that like a fake knife with a with a like little curve thing so he could so he could smack it down on me. And um Yeah, that was it. Then I screamed.
That was it. That was it. And then they dragged me back to my mic bed.
So it helped that you were fluish? I was completely out of it that night. That helps. Yeah, yeah, it helped. Yeah.
Yeah, it did. It did. Did you have any idea when this started? No. I remember thinking when we did a pilot first, like episode one, we did that.
And I remember thinking, because. Often, well, you've like I also noticed that you've also placed yourself on the odd couple. You've been an actor as well, right?
So you know, you and I are both actors, yes. No, but you, but that thing about there is the reason is you have to really take it seriously when you do it because otherwise it's so it's kind of ridiculous. And especially when you having big armor and you're sitting on a horse and you're like, you have anyway, but there are times when we did the pilots, like, this is. We're talking about dragons, and this is never going to go anywhere. And then a year later, it aired, and we went to the Comic-Con in San Diego, and it was packed with people.
And I realized, okay, this is real. People like this. No doubt they did. What's your favorite scene that you were part of then? Um I There was a well, there's a few, but but I think there was a there was a sequence we did we shot in Spain, which was a which was this loot train.
I was was being attacked by uh the dragons. And I think that whole we had three weeks there and it was just incredible. That was pretty. I don't know if that's what it is or something. That's exactly it.
That's the sequence. That's it. Wow. So what did you love about it? I mean, well, it was a beautiful place, and then it was the whole.
For me, that's the peak of that show. It got so big. We had these incredible stunt teams. On that sequence, they set a world record on most people put on fire in one go, which, you know, which is ridiculous. But when you're watching it, it's pretty amazing.
And then me being on the horse going through, and there's fires everywhere. It was the scale was. Um Yeah, that was it was fun. It was a lot of fun. Was there ever any moment uh where you learned about what happened in a table read?
What happened like what was going on in your show? Did you ever where you had no idea John Snow dying, for instance? Spoiler alert. Yeah.
Well, he comes back. I know that. No, yes. No, I mean, we well, always no, no, it never it was never like at the actual table read. But were they hiding it from you or something like that?
No, no, I would I would I would get I would get the script. But I think like that would only be for the regulars. Everyone else would come on and they wouldn't know well what ha what happened. Sure. Okay.
But all that, I mean. It's a funny thing, isn't it? Because you know that whole secrecy and and the the way people want to guide i hide these things. It just b it feels like to me it becomes part of the publicity. Like the short is at the end of the day Nobody really wants to know.
You know what I mean? Like, you don't want to know what happens in your favorite show.
So, the people that start talking about it, like, it's just, you know. It's noise for sure. And was there uh ever anything in your show? where you're like, yeah, I don't want to do that. For your character.
Work was tough for you to do. No, I mean there's awkward things. Like there's a scene in the bath where I had to be butt naked. That's just awkward. Sure.
Like it's just embarrassing 'cause you're like all your you know, the crews become your friends. Like we it was and then suddenly you And then because I had like at that time I had I'd lost my hand, so I had to have like this weird um I had a green sock on my actual hand, and I had this prosthetic sticking out. It sounds wrong, but it does. Can't confirm, but no. But the whole, so that's just, and then, of course, you were like that scene, we spent a whole, you know, 12 hours in a tub of water.
That, you know, so you, it, yeah. But that's, there was nothing I. I loved being on that show. I really did. I wouldn't blame you.
No. And then the best, you know, one of the things that's so. uh you never hear about is like in we had These The background or extras where we had hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. They would come in every year from all over the world. They would go in a camp and train.
And I've never, I mean, they, you know, there's so many scenes you see with a lot of people. Right. And you always see that, and you go, they're all there, they're all acting, 100%. And just a shout out to all those people because the scope was dedicated their lives. And you know George R.R.
Martin, you know the NFL team he roots for. No, I don't. It's the Jets.
Well, there you go. Yeah.
Which is why he couldn't finish. Wait a minute. Did I just say that? At any rate, thank you for coming on here. Thank you.
Please come back because I barely scratched the surface on what I want to ask you. And I imagine you've got more questions. I have a lot more questions for you. Thank you so much. And thank you for coming on.
Greatly appreciated. The last thing he told me, again, season two premieres February 20th on Apple TV. Make a note of that. Also, season two of your docuseries, An Optimist's Guide to the Planet, can currently also be seen. And you're just wrapped up filming The Last Mrs.
Parrish coming to Netflix soon as well. Anything about that one you want to drop or what? It was a joy to shoot that in Jersey. Robert Sumek is directing. It was okay.
You don't call him Bob? I think. I thought people call him Bob if you were.
Well, yeah, but this is an official, you know. That's great stuff, man. Great director, and obviously, everything that you do. Congratulations on everything going on. Congratulations to you.
Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Nikolai Koster-Waldow is here on the Rich Eisen Show. We're going to have you sign the Game of Thrones board game for us to put up here. We're back in a second.
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Okay. Never thought I'd have a show, let alone a show that would have six members of the Game of Thrones cast on, and they would sign a Game of Thrones, the board game. All of them, as this is now a new item, or not a growing item in our collection, and have the Kingslayer himself come on and sign good luck with the Jets right there. Good luck with that. Yep.
Now it's going to change.
Okay. What exactly? Your fandom? No. The Jets' fortune.
Oh, shit. Because, you know, a Lannister always pays his debts. Right, true. You know, it's kind of crazy. I know how this stuff works, but to hear, like, they had a.
um I guess a sword Or a blade that had a wrist. Um Sort of slice it in there so they could chop down on it. It wouldn't really chop his hand off, but it would look like it would chop his hand off when they do it in post. You know? That scene was wild.
That was shocking. Wasn't it? That they actually went through with it? Oh, for sure. Because he was, he was.
It's a top five. I can't believe they went through with it moment in the history of games. And then that show had so many of them. Right, that's what I'm saying. Obviously.
Like, if we had a top five, I can't believe they went through. Oh, man, they just did that. Yeah, for sure.
And it wasn't by I mean spoiler alert, it's been on the air for a long time. I don't know. You know what I mean? But it wasn't amazing. This is our annual conversation, it seems like, or semi-annual conversation, is like how long.
does someone get? You know what I mean? There's still people who are. You know, that was a season three moment. When was season three of Game of Thrones?
Had been like, what, 10 years ago? What I'm saying is it wasn't a character who did it, which was also kind of a surprising part of it. But the whole point, the whole point is, is like there could have been somebody who was in grade school that now Game of Thrones would be perfect for it was Game of Thrones 3? Season 3. No, 2013.
This is what I'm saying. It's. It's thirteen years ago.
So, somebody who was like eight is now 21, they weren't watching Game of Thrones when they were eight. I would hope not. They wouldn't have this sign in front of them. You know what I mean? Would they?
It's like an annual conversation about that. All right, our first guest on tomorrow's program when we're back on ESPN for the first couple hours, Troy Aikman's going to join us. Your guy. He's my quarterback. Yeah, he is.
Let's go. By the way, we have Emmett on Friday. Yeah.
Dion before him on Friday. Trying to get Irv to join, but he's doing his pod.
Something tells me he's going to pop up. I don't know. Oh, really? I don't know if our timing may not work out. We're going down to some serious CD Lamps joining us Thursday.
These are all for you. Ew. Thank you. Jeez.
Well, the thing is, they're going to be too busy next year to come on the show. Nice. My guys are busy. We'll be playing.
Well, we got Gronk for you Wednesday. My man.
Well, it's really Gronk's for all of us. Yeah, Gronk's for the people. Gronk is for the people. For the people. Tomorrow, Mark Schlereth and Tom Pellisero join us as well.
Pat Roblox. And we hope you should too. Who's that? Pat Roblox. Oh, that's right, Truck.
Sheriff said that was his nickname. Pat Roblox. We're back to wrap this show up on Disney Plus and ESPN2 in a moment. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
