Actor and comedian Joel McHale has lived in Los Angeles for nearly a quarter of a century, but he’s quick to point out that having a Sunday off is a rarity here. “I don’t think I’ve had a leisurely Sunday in L.A. since February,” he said in an interview in mid-December. “I’m away from home probably eight months out of the year[for work]and I’m always flying back and forth.” ” was filmed primarily in and around Vancouver, British Columbia).
Sunday Funday provides live coverage of LA people’s ideal Sunday on the town. Find ideas and inspiration for where to go, what to eat, and how to enjoy your weekend life.
McHale brings this up as a way of emphasizing that the ideal Sunday itinerary he is about to sketch relies heavily on the ideal part. It’s an ambitious collection of things to do and places to eat in the Southland that could easily fill a month’s worth of Sundays, but he didn’t actually plan it. Given his busy schedule, it’s unlikely we’ll see him around Los Angeles (or Studio City, where he currently lives with his wife, Sarah, and their two sons, Isaac and Eddie) any time soon. But every week he talks about the creatures (and their co-workers) on “Animal Control” (which he also serves as an executive producer), which hosts the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films’ annual Saturn Awards on Feb. 5. You can find them fighting. , and would eventually (though not immediately) reprise the role of Jeff Winger in the film version of Community. (Yes, that’s going to happen,” McHale said. “We’ve got the money, and Peacock wants it, but we haven’t started filming yet.”) )
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
10am: Play some tennis
If this were really my ideal Sunday, I’d wake up and play tennis for a few hours with my wife, son, and friend Bill Hanson. Tennis is the last form of sport – a competitive sport. I can move around a lot and play somewhere where I don’t collide with people. I played in football and basketball leagues and played baseball and stuff, and I kept seeing all my friends take a knee or get hit in the face and I thought, “I can’t do this anymore.” . ”
Noon: Stock up on ingredients at the farmers market
Then I rode my electric bike to the Studio City Farmer’s Market. I attached shopping bags to both sides of my Super 73 bike. We got fresh pasta, pickles, meat, fish, and tomatoes there. Really delicious ice cream. It’s very vague, but I don’t know the name of the specific vendor.
1:00 p.m.: Cast a wide lunch net
For lunch, you might head to a place called Holbox, which just received a Michelin star, on Mercado La Paloma near the University of Southern California. It has amazing fresh fish and is really great. I think I’ll buy Komal’s tacos at the same market. They have some really cool tortillas here.
Before that, I might head to Proof Bakery in Atwater Village. I think they have the best croissants in the whole country. Or Cortado Coffee Shop, Saint on Moorpark (Street) in Studio City. “Cortado” has no meaning. Nowadays, coffee names are (generally) all mixed up, (and) most are Italian. (But the word is) Cortado is Spanish, and in Italy they call a cortado quarto, but no one here calls it quarto. And the British started calling everything a flat white, and the Australians started calling their cappuccino “Gibraltar.” It’s very Paul Rudd (that scene from “Role Models”).
Maybe I’ll buy a pie at Curtis Stone’s Pie Room in Beverly Hills. Because I’m doing “Crime Scene Kitchen” with Curtis. And his pie is…amazing. His rabbit pie is one of the best. It’s really good. (Even though the Pie Room is usually closed on Sundays) He opened it for me to make my Sunday perfect!
Or let’s say I’m out really far. There is a taco shop in Mascoy called Tacos de Cabrito y Machito El Lagunero. It’s in the Inland Empire, so you have to exit the 210 (freeway) all the way. They roast a goat every weekend, take pictures to prove it, and post them all the time. It’s like, “The goat is on!” And it’s great.
3pm: Run along the river
I like riding along the Los Angeles River, and there is a section between Laurel Canyon (Boulevard) and Coldwater (Canyon Avenue) that actually has some beautiful trails. Sure, you might have to fight a few people, but after all, it’s LA and it’s cool!
4pm Lost and Found Checkout
If I want to buy something for my wife, I think I’ll go to a store called Lost & Found on Yucca (street). They always have weird and wonderful things that she wants. I think this is the first time I ever smelled palo santo baking. I thought, “I’m going to buy this!” The last thing I bought was actually a book bag for myself. As if I were always on campus.
5:00 p.m. Record parent permission time
(Isaac) My 16-year-old son just got his driver’s license, so we go for drives around. When I’m sitting there, my right foot goes into[the floor of the car]and he always says, “Calm down, Dad, calm down.” It’s okay. ”He has much better reflexes than I do.
6pm: Relax at the wine bar
After my son drives me around, we’ll go home, he’ll probably do his homework, and I’ll probably go to a wine bar with my friend Geoff Johns (author of “Stargirl”) (TV series). My favorite is Augustine Wine Bar on Ventura Boulevard. It was destroyed by fire about a year and a half ago, but preparations are now being made to reopen it. They’re fun guys and they do really cool things like open things like 1976 Châteauneuf-du-Pape and (serve) them in glasses, so you don’t have to buy them all to buy these crazy glasses. (bottle).
7:30pm Nosh at N/naka or make a beeline for Baroo
(Dinner) may be held at n/naka. This is one of our favorite Japanese places. We’ve known Niki (the chef), who started this place with his wife, since they had a small shop on Melrose and La Brea (Main Street). Or Baroo, a restaurant in Mina Park. She’s so cool and such a great character. And you talk as much as I do. That’s saying a lot.
9pm: Taste “Shadows”
My 16-year-old son might want to play tennis again, so maybe we’ll play tennis together late at night, or I’ll watch “What We Do in the Shadows” (on the FX network) with my 19-year-old son. Either. I’m very sad that the show is ending. We talk about it, we analyze it, we debate it like fine Scotch. It’s truly a masterpiece.
11pm: Another court date
Maybe I’ll go to the tennis court again or shoot a little basketball.
1am: Early morning terror
In fact, I think this is how my Sunday started. My 16 year old son comes home from playing with his friends and plans to start watching horror movies. The last thing we saw was something called “stop motion.”
4:am: “The Blade” before bed
Depending on my red wine intake, I sleep for 6-7 hours (and end the night by scrolling through Instagram or watching a little more TV). I recently watched the documentary “Anatomy of Lies” about an author. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, it’s wild – or listen to the audiobook. I’m listening to Joe Abercrombie’s “The Blade Itself” again. he is a genius Audible also allows you to set it to turn off (after a while) so you can take a nap.
