Jon Hamm on 'Million Dollar Arm', Nicknames, & the Perfect Batting Stance

We're so happy to have you here.

Thank you. I'm not young and I don't live in Hollywood. But I am here for young Hollywood people.

For young Hollywood. Well, we always say that it's an attitude, not an age.

Oh.

Are you immature? No. Cuz that'll do it.

No, I know, but I'm not. I'm responsible.

Are you? What do you mean you don't live in Hollywood?

I live in Los Feliz.

Oh. I thought sort of I figured like Los Angeles vicinity. It's sort of it sort of counted. Do you live in Hollywood?

I live in I live in the Valley.

What does that mean? Why did you say, "Ugh"? No, I was only kidding. Hi, John.

Hi. How are you?

Excellent. Last time I saw you, you gave me the firmest handshake I've ever. I still feel it in my hand.

Well, I'm sorry. That was probably rude.

No, it was good. You do one of these. You do the And then

Oh, well, that's like the double is it? The double's always a good way to go. You know.

It is. This film phenomenal.

Thank you.

Loved it.

Thank you.

It's one of those movies I'm gonna go out and tell everybody they absolutely have to see it.

Well, that's very nice of you to say and I agree with you. I liked it too.

So, you watched it.

Yes, I have seen it and I really like it. Um it is a nice departure for me. You know, sort of being known for the Don Draper of it all, is it this is about as far uh 180 degrees away from that as you can get. And it's um it was important for me to do that. I I yeah, I read something about an anecdote sort of like the

Yeah, you know, I felt very much um very much so that like I I wanted to to to be in something that like my friends' kids could see honestly. Like, you know, it's a it's a Disney movie. It's a family movie, but it doesn't really veer into like sentimental or sappy or any of that.

No, there's such a sense of realness to it.

Yeah, and you know, part of that is our incredibly talented cast um my Duer and Suraj who play the boys are so soulful and such wonderful actors and and and it's a true story. Like you you you can't you can't kind of like roll your eyes at it because it actually happened.

How long has he been like that? Not a minute. Is he gonna throw? I have no idea. Is that right? 82 with that motion? Is that even possible? A leftie with juice, you don't see that every day. A leftie with juice is good, sir. A leftie with juice is great. A leftie with juice is money in the bank.

Speaking of Suraj, he had a nickname in the film called the flamingo and that was based on his pitching stance. Yes. Did you have any nicknames in high school or do you have any nicknames now?

Well, my last name is Hand. Well, I would think. So, there were a lot of iterations on food-based puns and nicknames.

What is your last name?

Novak.

I was no chance Novak.

Jesus Christ, what? What did you grow up?

It was a small town. We don't have a lot else to do there. We had to create our

No chance meaning like boys had no chance with you.

No shot.

Because you were pretty?

No, I wasn't. Meaning you had no chance.

No, they had no chance cuz I was the girl that like if you took to like a parking lot, things were not gonna happen.

Oh. Yeah. Let's talk about your nicknames. I'm kinda not done with that one.

We can come back to it. We'll come back to it. Um well, then that's actually kind of adorable. Um no, I you know, again, there was ham and cheese, there was ham and eggs, there was hammer, there was hammer time, there was hammer toe, there was I mean, any iteration of uh either food or tool based.

Did you ever do the hammer time dance?

God, not on purpose. Right. Maybe I would slip and fall into some palazzo pants.

Have you ever worn palazzo pants?

No.

Would you like to? Do you have some? This is young Hollywood. It's back in style. Do you have palazzo pants right now?

I do.

Where?

At home. I I really wish they were here.

Wait, did you wear palazzo pants?

Thank you. They're They're happening right now. There couldn't be a less uh flattering look on anyone. It makes you look like you have a giant situation happening down here.

I mean, well, depending on what gender you're talking about, then that could be a good or bad thing. But for a girl, maybe not. Not a great silhouette.

Right. This in the lower third. Got it. Just

Another tip. Another dating tip. If you guys this is what you want here. This is why old Hollywood came to visit. This is why Father Time decided to grace you with his knowledge and wisdom.

No chance, Novak.

Father Time. That's right. That's your new nickname. There you go. At Young Hollywood, you will always be known as Father Time. When you're talking about shooting in India, the crew, I think the director or somebody talked about that scene where you were sweating profusely. It was like 130 degrees in the room, no air conditioning.

Yeah. And your shirt was

Was that you?

Yeah. Oh yeah, that's not.

Can I tell you I can relate to it? I'm such a Schwitzer.

Really, you're a Schwitzer.

I was that day.

But in general?

Uh not in general honestly. Like I'm I'm I'm really not so much, but when it's when it's that hot and there's no air moving, it's just is what it is.

So that was really you. That was you.

Oh yeah. They were like the wardrobe department kept wanting to change shirts and I'm like, "Guys." I wrote something about blowing you dry, which I'm like, that would just make you more warm and actually

It's not hair. That's I was like, "Why are you putting a hot air dryer on me right now? It's not helping."

So, to to go out, I have one last request. You said you used to play baseball. Can we compare batting stances? Can I show you my batting stance? Do you have a good batting stance?

Yes.

Do you have a bat?

No.

Well, it's gonna look ridiculous then. And I'm also attracted to this like. And I'm gonna dry. Well, all right. First of all, I would I would change shoes. Um but okay. All right, let's see. Are you right-handed or left-handed?

I'm actually throw right but I bat left.

Oh, you bat left. Throw left but I bat right. Okay, ready? That's actually not bad. Okay, that's not That was not great. That was a little golfy. Can we see yours?

Yes. Mine I'm right-handed, so it's important I sort of have a good base. Okay. And this is your bottom hand obviously if you're right-handed and you bring your bat up here.

Oh, you're fancy like that.

Well, no, it's it's how it is. I don't usually do this that's golf. But you bring it and then you have to line your knuckles up. Your knuckles are important to line up like right there. And then the important thing is what you did was this which is A, very girly. That was very girly, especially with my skirt just flew up and I just flash the Young Hollywood audience.

Well, they appreciate that by the way. Some chance Novak.

Um but the the most important thing is that all of the motion has to go toward the ball. So you what it's like coming down a slide. So you take you take your step first and all of the motion goes through there and through your hips and through the thing and through the bat and through the ball and then you end up in the wall.

That was insane. It was so good. Thank you very much. This was a pleasure. Nice to meet you.

Likewise.

Come back and visit us again.

I shall. See? The double. That handshake.