Joel McHale is a busy, busy man. In addition to having filmed the sixth season of Community ( which is now on Yahoo! Stream ), he hosts The Soup and is performing stand-up across the country ( including an April 10 stop at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana ).
In a phone interview, McHale talked about Community, sports, the Indiana religious-freedom law and the importance of squats.
Windy City Times: First of all, you have a Chicago connection.
Joel McHale: I doall roads lead to Chicago. My father was from there, on Kostner Streetacross from the old Schwinn [bicycle] factory.
By the way, are you a Cubs or White Sox fan?
WCT: I would say more of a Cubs fan, but I'm a North Sider.
Joel McHale: And you're white.
WCT: Actually, I'm not.
Joel McHale: Really? You'll have to send me a picture, thenand you know what kind of picture I'm talking about. Where's that slide rule?
WCT: This interview is already going off the rails. [Laughs] But, yes, I do like the Cubs.
Joel McHale: Going there is like one big party. It's almost as good as a Seattle Mariners game. [McHale is from Seattle.]
WCT: By the way, I'm sorry about the Seattle Seahawks. People are still saying [coach] Pete Carroll's call was the worst in the history of Super Bowls, but I understand what he was trying to do.
Joel McHale: Thank you for that! Yeah; he was trying to take some time off the clock. I didn't agree with the calland, unfortunately, I was there when it all happened. I'm still not over it.
WCT: I appreciate you talking with our little gay newspaper, by the way.
Joel McHale: I love little gay newspapers! By the way, you do have a lot going on in Indiana.
WCT: Yesand I was going to ask you about it since you're going to be performing there.
Joel McHale: Yes. I got people telling me I should boycottbut they have no idea what I'm going to say during the show. Believe me, I'll be saying something during the show about that. Did you see what [former NBA player] Charles Barkley had to say about that?
WCT: I did. I posted it on my Facebook page.
Joel McHale: I don't agree that all Christians support the law, but I agree with everything else he said.
WCT: Congratulations on Community.
Joel McHale: Thanks! By the way, have you seen the "gay dean" episode this year?
WCT: No, not yet. My favorite episode up until this season was last season's G.I. Joe-based one.
Joel McHale: Yeah, that was a good one ( and one of my favorites ), but gay peopleand people of all orientations, for that mattershould watch this one; it's called "Queer Studies [and Advanced Waxing]." Are you hearing more sound?
WCT: Yes.
Joel McHale: [Turns to his kids] Why did you turn the sound up [on the TV]? [Returns to talk with WCT] Kidsthey don't change your life at all, and they don't cost any money. In fact, you end up spending less money than you normally would. You have kids?
WCT: [Laughs] None that I know of. By the way, you have a lot of gay fans. I told a couple of my friends I was going to talk with you, and they said, "He's so hot."
Joel McHale: Oh, wowfantastic! What did the lesbians say?
WCT: They like you, but they may be holding out for someone like Lucy Lawless.
Joel McHale: I love Lucy Lawless! My wife and I are friends with her.
WCT: I have to admit I was thrown off when I saw you co-host Live! with Kelly [before Michael Strahan was chosen to co-host]. There was this one episode where you allowed a guy to grab your [behind]. Kelly was thrown off, too.
Joel McHale: I don't remember that episode. I'm surprised my wife didn't say something. Usually, I can tell how bad something is by how far back her eyes go in her headbut she made a decision to marry me. But I should maybe have a show where people just grab me. The key to a nice [behind] is deadlifts and squats.
WCT: And what is your workout routine like?
Joel McHale: I try to do 40 minutes a day, no matter what. It makes a massive difference. If I can do an hour, that's great. Even 10 minutes a day make a huge difference. You'll be changing your body. [In commercial spokesman voice] Hi, I'm Joel McHale for "Working Out Daily."
WCT: So, after I talk with you, should I work out first or watch that episode of Community?
Joel McHale: Do both, my friend.
WCT: I can't.
Joel McHale: Here's what you do: You work out. Then you have the rest of the day. When your day is done, go to Yahoo! Screen and start watching the show, and have one glass of wine. There are commercials, but the show flies by. It'll be like nothing.
WCT: OK; I'll try it.
Joel McHale: How often do you work out?
WCT: Every other day.
Joel McHale: Why every other day?
WCT: My scheduleand the body sometimes needs time to recover.
Joel McHale: Where did you come up with that rule? In your brain? Yes, you made that up. You don't need any recovery time. Say you're stranded at sea and you've paddling for 16 hours with your bare handsyeah, you deserve a little time off. [Interviewer laughs.] Professional athletes do it every day, mister.
WCT: Yesand they're professional athletes.
Joel McHale: They weren't always professional athletes. They were just athletes, but they had to work at it.
WCT: [Going along with McHale] Heymost people recommend exercising twice a week, so I'm just going along.
Joel McHale: Who are "most people?" Who are these people? Why are you allowing these people to give you a pass?
WCT: I thought 70 percent of fitness comes from diet, not exercise.
Joel McHale: Let's just pretend that's true. So you can eat 70 percent of the year and just exercise for the other 30 percent.
WCT: [Laughs] Eating correctly accounts for most of your fitness.
Joel McHale: I don't agree. You can be in super-good shape but be totally fat, obviously. A healthy diet is important but you can't have that alone, so why not exercise every day? Oh, I have another interview to do!
WCT: You do, but I have one last question: What's the secret to a long marriage? [McHale has been married to Sarah since 1996.]
Joel McHale: You have to choose your wife or husband every single dayand lots of oral. That's my adviceand work out every day.
WCT: It's been a pleasure. Have fun in Indiana.
Joel McHale: I will. Hammond is on the border, so I'm very excited.
To purchase tickets for Joel McHale's show ( 8 p.m. on Friday, April 10 ), visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-hammond/shows .