James Austin Johnsonis hitching a ride back to Whoville.
Seuss' infamous holiday hater.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: From the outside looking in, this feels like a massive year for your career.
James Austin Johnson.Wondery
You had a voice role in the biggest movie of the year withInside Out 2.
You probably have the strongest job security of anyone atSNLin the wake of Trump’s reelection.
JAMES AUSTIN JOHNSON:Oh, man.
James Austin Johnson.Wondery
When you list it all out like that, I guess it’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?
That’s good for a young dad.
So I like that.
James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC via Getty
My child won’t be able to appreciateSNLfor 15 more years.
That’s when he’ll think that’s cool, as he gets a little older.
So yeah, it feels like a good mix of things when you list it out to me.
‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast.Wondery
It makes me sound really cool.
I hope people think I’m cool.
I just feel like a dorky dad.
[Laughs]
Does your son have any understanding or awareness of the Grinch and your involvement in it?
So we’re keeping the scary guys away from the baby at the moment.
But it’s fun playing the Grinch.
Yeah, he’s a villain, but it’s such a silly world.
It’s really fun to blend the late night stuff with the Dr. Seuss storybook stuff.
Hopefully there’s not too much fart noises on the show.
We are a classy show.
It’s going to be really fun to show it off.
My nieces and nephews really love it.
We’re still stuck on the solar system.
Wondery
Which guest were you most excited or starstruck to work with on this season of the Grinch?
I’ve been working on Jon Hamm and John Stamos for a while now.
I just was like, ‘Oh man, they would be great for the show.’
Stamos: an American icon, a Beach Boy.
It simply does not get better.
And then Jon Hamm it’s Don Draper, ‘Shut the door!’
‘That’s what the money’s for!’
These are guys that need to be moving into the Seussosphere, you know what I mean?
I’m in the Seussosphere and I’m loving it, so I wanted to get those guys in.
Fortune Feimster was really fun too.
I really loved chopping it up with other comedians, obviously.
This man, if you want to talk about an American icon, I meantrulyan American icon.
Danny DeVito, come on.
So Danny DeVito and his daughter did the show.
That was a little starstruck.
I think the Grinch was a little starstruck.
Grinch lives a veryIt’s Always Sunny-style lifestyle.
He’s a mess.
Heidi Gardner is the first currentSNLcast member to guest on this Grinch show.
What was it like working with her in this different context?
Heidi and I love working together at [SNL].
I mean, I love working with Heidi at the show.
I won’t speak for her.
She’s one of my favorite comedians that I’ve ever seen.
I mean, it’s the creme de la creme.
Heidi is certainly that.
And it was pretty interesting because I’m the Grinch when I’m interviewing Heidi Gardner.
I’m the Grinch onThe Grinch.
It’s not James Austin Johnson.
It’s the Grinch, and I think she’s used to working with James Austin Johnson.
So this whole thing where the Grinch is my Hannah Montana, it’s a pretty interesting lifestyle.
Yeah, she’s the best.
It’s like being strapped to a rocket, man.
Who would you say the Grinch is more similar to: Donald Trump or Bob Dylan?
Oh, man, what a good question.
And you know what?
Bob Dylan is someone who is constantly reinventing himself.
And that’s kind of where the Grinch is at in our show.
Stealing Christmas inHow the Grinch Stole Christmas that’s his “Blowing in the Wind.”
You know what I mean?
But if you go see Bob Dylan, I mean, he’s recorded 39 studio albums.
So I’m playing a version of the Grinch it’s like the Grinch going electric.
So I see it as a Dylan-style trajectory for the Grinch each season of the show.
He’s growing into a new artist, frankly.
There’s simply no one like him.
His name has “The” in it.
Have there been any conversations about bringing your Grinch into other media movies, TV shows,SNLsketches?
I mean, there’s talk of bringing the Grinch into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I’d have to get really ripped, I suppose.
I think a Jacked Grinch could really achieve aDwayne the Rock Johnsonlevel of renown.
You know what I mean?
If it happens, I’m here.
I’m hanging by the phone.
The more I talk about it, the more excited I become.
How does your performance style differ when you’re doing a voiceover role versus on camera work?
I love doing voice work, and I love doing silly voices.
For me, any character that I play probably starts with the vocal performance.
It starts in the ear.
But with that, it does open up a lot of creative possibilities.
That can just be really fun.
I mean, through voice acting.
Perhaps it’s more of an interpretive act or something like that.
Let’s just say: bullet dodged.
I mean, he’s a hairy guy, and that little belly of his.
I’m glad I don’t have to get in the makeup chair for that.
I’m glad it’s not on camera.
Now I get to, to really let loose just from the comfort of my Hokas.
Who’s your dream Grinch guest?
My dream guest might beTom Waits.
And I think that the Grinch and Tom Waits would really get along.
And then you play a little song.
I think they’d really hit it off.
Tom Waits is one of my favorite artists of all time.
Can you see a through-line, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits?
I only like guys whose voices sound like accordions falling down the stairs.
I’ve saved my stupidest question for last.Charli XCXis hostingSNLthis week.
Is the Grinch brat?
Grinch is so brat.
The Grinch is sooooo brat.
It’s so brat.
I can’t even explain how brat is brat.
It’s that brat.
So yeah, the Grinch is brat.
I mean, there’s no other way to say it.
The Grinch is brat.
He is all those things.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcastpremieres on Wondery+, Amazon Music, and podcast providers everywhere on Nov. 25.
Listen to our exclusive preview of the Grinch’s conversation with Jon Hamm above.c
