During a recent appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Pamela Adlon and Taika Waititi discussed their connections to Britain and their knowledge of British culture. Adlon revealed that she recently obtained British citizenship, pledging her allegiance to the Queen. She shared that her mother, who is an anti-monarchist, found it amusing to witness her become a British citizen.
Waititi, who is in a relationship with an English woman, was also asked about his knowledge of Britain. In a fun quiz, Corden tested their familiarity with British culture. They were asked to name three flavors of Walker’s crisps, a popular snack in the UK. While they struggled to come up with accurate answers, they humorously suggested flavors such as chimney sweep and Dick Van Dyke.
The conversation then turned to a commercial Adlon starred in for a fast food chain. Adlon explained that the commercial was meant to be a play on the famous “Where’s the beef?” catchphrase. However, instead of beef, she insisted on saying it with chicken, leading people to refer to her as “the chicken lady.” The commercial did not resonate with audiences as expected, but Adlon and Waititi reminisced about the hilarious clip.
The talk show then delved into Waititi’s experience auditioning for his first Marvel role. He shared a memorable incident where he almost missed his flight due to a mishap with his luggage. He had given some of his luggage to friends who were returning to New Zealand, not realizing his passport was in one of the suitcases. Despite the challenge of not having proper identification, customs officers recognized him from his involvement in Disney’s “Moana” and allowed him to board the flight, eventually leading him to land a job at Marvel.
The conversation about Marvel continued as Corden asked Waititi about the process of impressing the people at Marvel and landing such a significant role. Waititi playfully replied that he said yes to everything and reassured them that he could handle any task, even if he had to fake it. The discussion then shifted to Adlon’s critically acclaimed show, “Better Things.” Adlon shared that she had to say no to other opportunities in order to focus on writing and producing her own show. Despite the initial uncertainty and fear, her dedication paid off, as the series recently concluded its fifth season.
In a lighter moment, Adlon revealed her surprising relation to a famous celebrity. While appearing on “Finding Your Roots,” a show hosted by Dr. Henry Lewis Gates, Jr., she discovered that she is related to Meryl Streep. Adlon jokingly mentioned that she had been hoping to be related to Redd Foxx, but being related to Streep was an exciting revelation nonetheless.
Overall, the episode showcased the lively banter and entertaining stories shared on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Adlon and Waititi brought their unique perspectives and humor to the talk show, engaging both the audience and host with their fascinating experiences and anecdotes.
