Once We Were Spacemen

Nathan cannot seem to visit Paris without ending up underground. Last time it was the basement of the Eiffel Tower; this time, the catacombs, where one prisoner's story pulled his attention off the other six million skeletons. Back above ground, Nathan and Alan recount the laser eye surgery they both had years ago, and the small difference in results that one of them still refuses to forgive... Fo...

Jim Rash will insist the Groundlings is not a cult, and he is mostly right. The improv troupe turned him into a gifted actor, though he insists his deep well of characters is closer to a kiddie pool. He waves off his writing talents too, which is harder to pull off with an Oscar at home. The newest thing he is being modest about is Miss You, Love You, a film he wrote and directed, now on HBO Max....

Alan was once cast as Robot #4, but his trailer door now says Gary. The upgrade was not an accident. Checking in from the Atlanta set of the Superman sequel, Alan makes the case that a little conviction can turn a number into a name. Nathan knows a thing or two about conviction himself, having once taped a script page to his own forehead in service of a scene. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever...

Eric Winter spotted Nathan at a farmers market and assumed, with some certainty, that his career was over. Fortunately for fans of The Rookie, he was wrong. Despite being told he was too nice to play mean, Eric landed the role of Tim Bradford. After eight seasons of playing television's crankiest cop, somehow none of the cynicism has rubbed off. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your p...

Do you know how real cowboys earn their belt buckles? If you don't, Alan will tell you. And if you do, Alan will tell you anyway. The guys wander from Texas to Paris, where most people visit the top of the Eiffel Tower. Nathan, however, visited the basement… which is probably for the best, as the wind makes it rather nippy up there. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. List...

Edi Patterson is one of those performers who commits so fully you forget you're watching someone act. Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals fans need no introduction. Alan witnessed her brilliance firsthand on Resident Alien, where she played the tallest, most beautiful, most unhinged avian alien in the universe. Their characters’ scenes had a way of going places no one planned, including one th...

Alan just moved into a new place that may already be occupied. He's fine with some light haunting, as long as the ghost mostly stays out of his way. Nathan, however, thinks Alan should go full Ghostbuster. Speaking of things hiding in plain sight… a soap opera veteran once gave Nathan a piece of advice that he's been slipping into his performances ever since. If you've watched The Rookie, you've s...

Bill Roe was eleven years old when he rode a trolley to Bavaria Studios, waved to the guard, and went to work scooping foam out of the chocolate river on the set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Five decades later, he's the Supervising Director on The Rookie, and Nathan and Alan finally have a microphone in front of him. As it turns out, the man who was present for some of the most iconic...

Alan drove a motorhome across America and arrived with lots of feelings about freedom, the open road, and the structural integrity of RV awnings. Nathan has 150 fidgets – organized by type in velvet-lined display cases – which honestly tracks. The guys catch up on new beginnings, old neighborhoods, and the kinds of stories that only happen in New York. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get...

Jon Huertas has lived a life that defies easy explanation. He'll try anyway. From the Bronx to the Air Force, from Castle's precinct to gold country, Jon has always found his way… usually by ignoring the obvious path. Nathan and Alan could listen to his stories forever. They almost did. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by j...

Once, Alan Tudyk humped a national treasure. Tom Hanks, specifically. In jeans. Other business includes worst haircuts, surreal celebrity encounters, and the time Alan accidentally got stoned before a red carpet. Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline… Actually, it's just Alan's dog. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week earl...

Very few people can trace a straight line from a small town in Bavaria to playing supervillains in Hollywood. Flula Borg is not one of them. His path involves an improbable mentor list, a trainer named Paolo, and a holiday tradition that only makes sense if you've seen all eleven seasons of Frasier. Tune in for the slowest lightning round in OWWSM history. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you...

Quicksand, rip currents, and falling windows… all ways the guys have narrowly avoided death. One of them happened before Alan was even an actor, let alone a Spaceman. Here's to hoping he doesn't see a pair of tiger sharks. Press play; your life may depend on it! **Listener Note: The segment from 35:30–37:52 includes a discussion of sexual coercion in duck mating behavior. Please skip ahead if the...

Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk are aging into senior discounts. They’re even wearing shoes with elastic laces. Yet, they STILL found the energy to record a live episode in front of an audience. While on stage, the guys swap stories about prosthetic makeup mishaps, commiserate over dog digestion, and open the floor to audience questions. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. L...

Pro tip: if you ever find yourself living in a cramped hotel room without a fridge, store your bagels and cream cheese on the window sill. Just beware the pigeons. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.

Molly Quinn left small town Texas with two goals: become an actor and travel the world. She has done just that. In this episode, the drawbridge comes down and we cross the moat into Castle. Molly and Nathan reflect on what it was like to build a TV family. Molly also shares insights about eating on camera, talks about her first impressions of Nathan, and explains how Alan inspired her as a fellow...

Nathan, Alan, and the cast of Serenity just announced a brand-new Firefly animated series in development… set during the time between Firefly and Serenity. Whether it happens depends on YOU. The cast has a pilot script. They have showrunners. They have an animation house. They have permissions and blessings from the powers that be. What they need now is proof that the fanbase that kept this show a...

What would your 10-year-old self think about your life today? That’s the question Nathan tries to get Alan to answer in this episode. It takes a few tangents, but the journey is worth it. From the joy of Saturday morning cartoons to the challenge of substitute teachers, this episode brings out our inner child. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes...

Felicia Day is a DIY goddess, an internet icon, and no tool to the industry. A homeschooled violin prodigy turned Hollywood self-starter, she was always intent on carving her own path. Fate connected her with Nathan Fillion, but as for Alan… Felicia doesn't even remember the first time they met. Felicia’s new graphic novel, The Lost Daughter of Sparta, comes out March 17... preorder now! Join her...

Once, Alan and Nathan were just two kids trying to earn a buck. For Nathan, that meant working at a trophy shop. For Alan, that meant tossing newspapers from his bike (and selling dead snakes in exchange for silver dollars). They’ve come a long way since. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were...

Summer Glau moved to LA with ballet training, one community theater credit, and a film education that mostly consisted of Jane Austen adaptations. Nonetheless, she believed that she could become an actor. She was right. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 productio...

Nathan and Alan left Firefly with more than memories… they walked away with actual souvenirs from the set. Alan's item involves quite a heartwarming story, but Nathan's? Let's just say he snagged a vital artifact. The guys also dive into forged autographs, getting duped by their own mom, and how to properly respond to a joke. Plus, they answer your listener questions. Follow Once We Were Spacemen...

The Doctor is in! Sean Maher made an impression on Alan and Nathan from the moment they first met. In this episode, the guys cover reparenting, piercings that Sean had during college, and Michigan pride. We also learn that Sean regularly texts Jewel Staite, but only to send her videos of people falling down. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a...

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? According to Alan, it's a rush… of delicious smells. The guys reflect on some creative contributions, and Nathan has a ¿great idea. While they share many on-screen adventures, this episode is proof that Alan and Nathan are actual friends behind the scenes. Complete with the kind of stories you only tell people who really know you. Listener note: This episode incl...

Seth Green has made George Lucas laugh. He's also waged Nerf gun warfare with Nathan, matched Alan’s “yes, and” energy, and isn't afraid of the low hug. Nathan and Seth met at a party sometime between Austin Powers, Buffy, and co-creating Robot Chicken. This episode is proof that their friendship isn't coincidence… it’s inevitable. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Liste...