Fred Armisen: ‘I don’t worry about the future of satire because comedy always wins’

Is it intimidating to take on a well-established character like Uncle Fester?

It’s nothing but awesome. I enjoy looking at pictures of the 90s film or 60s TV show and going, “That’s us! We’re the Festers!” It’s like putting on a uniform. You have to honour previous iterations, while also making the character your own. From the first scene I shot, it immediately felt like I was the right guy for the job.

Did you base your portrayal on anyone?

Jackie Coogan in the original Addams Family series, and the things he did with his face – sort of smiling, even though there was no reason to smile. It reminded me of Danny DeVito in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He’s in this mental institution but he’s smiling the whole time. I thought that was kind of cool.

Tell us about how you achieve Fester’s distinctive look.

I shave my head for a start. It’s a better way to go than bald caps. I shave my face thoroughly too, then put prosthetic covers over my eyebrows. Looking totally hairless makes my forehead kind of hulking. They paint dark circles under my eyes and give me a grey, corpse-like pallor. What I always forget is my hands. They shave them too, then put dirt under my fingernails as a little finishing detail. I remember sitting there in costume, with electrodes connected to my head and Tim Burton behind the camera, and thinking: “This is as crazy as things can be.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billie Piper, Thandiwe Newton and Joanna Lumley are all in the cast. Do British actors bring something different?

You know you’re on a quality production when there are British actors there. It’s like going to a restaurant and seeing Italians making the food.

The show is a celebration of outsiders. What were your own teens like?

I was definitely an outsider. I had a mohawk and was in a punk band. I embraced it, I wanted to be weird. A lot of the bands that I grew up loving were British: the Damned, the Clash, the Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Bow Wow Wow. They meant so much to me and still do. I lived by them. I haven’t outgrown that.

Did you have a TV show that you connected with?

Not really. It would’ve been music videos or John Waters films. Waters was a big influence. I wrote to him, he replied and he really saved my life. I felt kind of lost, being a weirdo, but he wrote: “You can make a life for yourself being this way, so embrace it.” It was quite something that he took the time to do that. It arrived at the perfect time. To hear a grown-up say “Hey, not only is it OK, it’s great” was really nice.

Earlier this year, you took part in Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special. How was that?

Like a dream. I grew up watching that show. To end up on it was insane. For SNL50, I got to play drums with Devo and the B-52s, as well as doing sketches. It was so perfect, I thought: “Am I going to die right now?” What a way to celebrate. It made us appreciate anew what a valuable institution it is.

There’s a UK version launching next year. Do you think that will work?

I believe in it because I believe in Great Britain! So many great comedians come out of the UK. I’m a big fan of Matt Berry and The Mighty Boosh, among others. Come on, it’s got to work.

What did you make of Stephen Colbert’s show being cancelled by CBS?

It’s very sad. All I know is that Stephen Colbert is beloved and brilliant. He’ll do something else great. I don’t worry about the future of satire on TV because comedy always wins. That’s the magic of it.

Which current bands do you rate?

I still love punk and new wave. Newer bands are carrying that torch. Mannequin Pussy and Amyl & the Sniffers are great. I can’t stop listening to Real Estate. It makes me happy to be alive when a new band shows up and blows my mind. I’m like, ah, the world is good.

You’ve worked with all manner of famous names. Has anyone made you feel starstruck?

All the time. The big ones were Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. I played at Ringo’s 85th birthday party and spending time with him was such a thrill. He’s so energetic, engaging and funny. I was like, man, this is awesome. I also got to meet Prince. I was such a fan, all I could do was tell him he was the greatest.

How did your mixed heritage shape your comedy?

Neither of my parents are American. They were immigrants from Venezuela and Germany. While learning their languages, I had to listen more. I think those auditory skills helped me do impressions.

You work in lots of different genres and media. Do you have a restless brain or do you see them all as the same thing?

I see them all as the same. If something seems new and interesting, I’ll try it. But somehow, it’s all in the same zone. I feel like Matt Berry is that way too. Steve Martin is as serious about playing banjo and bluegrass as he is about doing comedy. I have the same approach.

You say you never got nervous on Saturday Night Live. What does make you lose your cool?

Getting through airports. No matter how fancy you go, you still get the same customs checks and baggage searches. All the same nonsense. It’s barbaric! How has this not been modernised? The time in our lives it takes up is demeaning. It makes me livid. Enough!

Wednesday season 2 is now streaming on Netflix

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