'It's a Double-Edged Sword': The Cable Guy Star Recalls Feeling Sympathy for Jim Carrey
The Cable Guy has become a cult classic that's looked back at fondly by many fans. However, the film didn't set the box office on fire as much as other Jim Carrey movies from the era, seen at the time as a disappointment.
Released in 1996, The Cable Guy starred Carrey as a demented stalker who forces himself into the life of a customer, played by Matthew Broderick. Directed by Ben Stiller, the film had comedy legend Judd Apatow serving as a producer. Per Deadline, Broderick and Apatow reunited for a chat at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the two spoke about The Cable Guy. They joked about the exorbitant $20 million paycheck Carrey received for the film, with Broderick quipping of his own pay, "I got a Swiss cheese sandwich." However, Broderick said he actually felt sympathy for his co-star because of how much pressure the high pay put on him with the role.
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“Nice as it is to make all that, it put a lot of pressure on him in a way," Broderick explained. "It hadn’t been that long since he was relatively unknown and suddenly he’s the highest paid, you gotta be the greatest genius ever, every minute. So I was sympathetic to the pressure he must have put on himself.”
"It hadnt been that long since he was relatively unknown and suddenly hes the highest paid, you gotta be the greatest genius ever, every minute."
When Apatow remarked how he doesn't "know many people who had gotten that big, in that way, that fast," Broderick added, “It’s a double-edged sword when you have that kind of success, I was sympathetic to that."
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Apatow spoke a bit more on the negative reactions that the film had been given at the time. He shared the story of how he showed a ten-minute cut of The Cable Guy to manager Bernie Brillstein, and this resulted in a dissatisfied reaction to the way Carrey spoke with a lisp in the film.
“I said, ‘Waddya think? Isn’t he great? and he’s like ‘Nooo!’ Is he going to talk like that the whole movie?'" Apatow said. “I said it’s like the movie Neighbors with Belushi and Aykroyd, then Bernie goes ‘I know! I produced that movie! It was terrible! It didn’t work!'”
Many Notable Stars Were Featured in The Cable Guy
The Cable Guy had many other notable stars, including Jack Black, Leslie Mann, David Cross, Owen Wilson, Kathy Griffin, Bob Odenkirk, George Segal, Diane Baker, and Eric Roberts. Director Ben Stiller also had a role playing twin characters seen in clips playing on television sets. With the film coming to develop a cult following, it was revisited with a Super Bowl ad that saw Carrey reprising the role in 2022.
The Cable Guy is currently streaming for Starz subscribers.
Source: Deadline
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The Cable Guy (1996)
Steven Kovacs, a recently single man, moves into a new apartment and decides to take advantage of a cable TV deal offered by Chip Douglas, an eccentric cable installer. Initially friendly and helpful, Chip's behavior quickly turns obsessive as he forces his way into Steven's life, seeking to become his best friend. When Steven tries to distance himself, Chip's antics escalate from intrusive pranks to dangerous sabotage, threatening Steven's relationships and career.
Director Ben StillerRelease Date June 10, 1996Cast Matthew Broderick, George Segal, Jim Carrey, Jack Black, Leslie MannWriters Lou Holtz Jr.Rating PG-13Runtime 96 MinutesMain Genre ComedyGenres Drama, Comedy, ThrillerBudget 47000000.0Studio(s) Licht/Mueller Film Corporation, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Columbia Pictures