But there was at least one problem with that analogy: His strength does not go undetected.
one of theirfive must-have cable channels just so they could watch him.
ET he agreed to answer questions submitted by those readers.
McHale phoned us March 6, right before taping an episode ofThe Soup(Fridays, 10 p.m. What happened to those Dina Lohan jokes he read earlier?
Did Kady Malloy just get kicked offAmerican Idol?
(I liked her Britney impression a lot, he says.)
And will his answers to these questions shorten his career?
(You be the judge of that.)
A lot of like,Mmm, f you.
Theyll love that.Okay, good.
[Silence] Im just trying to think of other things that I can say that are inappropriate.
A lot of people want to know how the show actually works.
But now I force production assistants to do it.
And I laugh, and laugh, and laugh at them.
There is a person on our staff that has to watch theTodayshow.
Well, its the fourth person to do that.
The first three committed suicide.
[ToSoupwriter Lee Farber, also in the room] Lee, whats your average for TV?
Six hours a day?
[To EW] Oh right, we measure in how many hours we dont watch.
One of the guys on our staff made it to three.
It was 21 hours ofExtreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Huge Ty Pennington fan.
And also has a soul patch.
What about you, personally?
I actually watch those.
Im a big fan ofThe Ultimate Fighterbecause thats the most honest reality show on television.
Its not like, Well, you didnt sing very well.
Youre a little off-key.
Hope you dont get cut.
Its like, you go into a ring, and you have to bare-knuckle fight someone for two grand.
And theres a good chance that youre gonna get your nose broken.
Ill watch other stuff, likeBig Brother.
ButBig Brotherdrives me up the wall because its just conspiratorial whispering.
The entire show is people lying around, conspiring and whispering.
Literally, I believe it is a glimpse at hell.
If they go, Joel, youre going to hell, I go, Oh.
Am I being burned alive?
And when you get voted off, youll just go to the nextBig Brotherhouse…..
I do also watchPants-Off Dance-Offsometimes.
I usually agree with Simon, every time he says something, almost to a T.Almost.
I actually likeSurvivor, somewhat.
Sometimes its a little contrived, but I think [Jeff] Probst is a great host.
Well include clips fromLostand stuff like that, just to talk about what happened.
We are devotees ofLost, and24, andBattlestar Galactica.
I want to watchCars.
I want to watchCars.
And I go, Daddy has to watch Bret Michaels!
I have to watchFlavor of Love.
Since its E!, theyre Zeniths from about 74.
And Im not kidding.
I give out my e-mail way too much.
A lot of the time Im managing the audience and not paying attention to the show.
[To Lee] Lee, do I give out my e-mail to people all the time?
[Lee answers] Did you hear that?
Like its kinda sad.
Yeah.Its how I sign autographs.
just, just tell your friends about me and the show.
Best wishes, JoelMcHale@eentertainment.com.
[NOTE: Not his actual e-mail address.]
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You do a lot of ad-libbing, but the show is scripted.
We can find anything.
We are theCSIof finding crappy television.
Clip ofDutch OvenonThe Soup
CARISSA is curious about how you choose which clips to feature each week?
Are there fights?Oh yeah, were always like, Ughhhh.
How can you cut that clip fromFlavor of Lovewith the girl whos got the herpes outbreak?
Come on, you jerk!
Its not like anyones screaming at each other.
We are not doing anything important here.
But well get like, Well, I want this clip.
Well, I want that clip.
Well, I want this clip.
In those situations, I venture to just make the best call.
But sometimes its a toss-up, and sometimes were wrong.
Those are the pitfalls that we have to take a stab at avoid.
DidViva Laughlinlast two episodes, Lee?
[Lee: It actually got canceled halfway through the second episode.]
There was another one.
What was the one hosted by Donny Osmond?
The more trainwrecky a show is, the more we want it to stay on.
We are very sadDate My Momhas not come back.
A horrible injustice, damn it!
Like most normal people.
I can speak on that… for an hour.
Not that we want you to stop.JOEL McHALE:E!
is incredibly good to us.
Seacrest is a really good sport.
Many people wanted to know how Seacrest takes the ribbing.
]He lets me make fun of him a lot, and I cant thank him enough for that.
I think hes too distracted by him carrying the pile of money out every day.
That was a popular question.
MONA, however, wants to know who youre afraid to run into.I fear Tyra.
Watch a clip of McHale ribbing Tyra:
So, no contact with her yet?No.
Well, she tried to have us stop [showing clips], thats about it.
Im tryin to think how Im gonna word that…
Lets just say shes not a fan of mine.
[Representatives for Tyra Banks did not return calls for comment by press time.]
Youre much funnier than that.Clearly, coming from a fat woman.
[Laughs] What fatty asked that question?
[To Lee] Is that bad?
So its pretty much open season….
But, I like What fatty asked that question?
[Laughs]
Lets talk about people who definitely love you.
How do you feel about your gay following?Im more concerned about my bisexual following.
Theyre a little confused at times as to where theyre going.
Who said I have a gay following?
Youre absolutely adorable, and many of my male friends feel the same way.
[Yes, he instructed us to use 12 exclamation points.]
Last question: How much longer will you be onThe Soup?
So, my plan is to do both [The Soupand acting] at once.
So very Seacrest-y of me.
And Im shootin a movie in April.
I think its calledLucky.
Its with Donal Logue and Heather Graham.
Its about a serial killer who wins the lottery.
I play Heather Grahams boyfriend that dumps her, and then eventually, gets murdered.
You had a great death scene onPushing Daisies.Thank you.
Is this the direction youre heading in?I hope to die in every production Im in.
