Question: Are you happy that X-files is not in Vancouver, so you don't have to make the trek?

Michael McKean: No one has to force me to go to Vancouver. It's a beautiful city. Instead I got a real good look at Palmdale and Lancaster, which is not as pretty as Vancouver. Some really nice people, but not as nice. I go to Vancouver voluntarily. It's a very hard working crew. They're adapting. But I'm sure they don't want to move the show to some place worse than Los Angeles.

Question: What was it like working so closely with Gillian Anderson?

Michael McKean: I think you are referring to when I whacked her on the butt last night? She's great. She's very funny. And a very nice lady and smart. And great actress. I had a great time working with her. It's a very interesting experience to suddenly become, at least in the eyes of the cast, as cute as David Duchovny.

Question: How did you manage to get your part on 'The X-Files'?

Michael McKean: They had this character that they didn't quite know what to do with it. There were a lot of ways to go with it and they decided to go with me. I'm not sure Chris Carter even exists. I worked on the show for two weeks and never met him. I think he's a construct. Maybe he lives in Area 51.

Question: So everyone wants to know what is the deal with Squiggy and how many people still call you Lenny?

Michael McKean: Squiggy is actually, unlike Chris Carter, is a real person. David Lander is a good, close friend of mine. I spoke with him a couple hours ago on the telephone. We're in the process of a venture together where we're going to create radio spots. David and I were in college together. He's a great guy and he's, like I say we're still involved in business together. People DO call me Lenny. On the coasts I get called Gibby from Dream On and sometimes from Spinal Tap, but in the Heartland it's Lenny.

Question: What do you get recognized most for, LENNY AND SQUIGGY, SPINAL TAP or SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE?

Michael McKean: It depends on where you go. I was only on 26 shows on Saturday Night Live so it's kind of a small window of recognition. And God, I looked so haggard during those years. People do ask me what it was like from time to time. And it's a combination of a really great job and a murderous one. The schedule, and also the competition and the pressure. I really don't know how the show works. I don't think I was there long enough but those who mastered it are awfully good at what they do.

Question: In the episode last night where you and David are dancing in the mirror scene, I was dying laughing. Was that hard to do and try to be straight about it?

Michael McKean: Now, when you say "straight" LOL Here I was in my underwear opposite David Duchovny. It was very difficult actually. Every day we would rehearse at least for an hour and then it took us 12 takes to shoot it. Which is more than you want to do. I think we came pretty close to nailing it and it looked pretty cool. Some of it was tough just because it involved a lot of turns and movements here we weren't just locked in eye to eye. That would be a little easier. Technically it was thought out brilliantly by the cinematographer. These guys really know their onions and we knew we were in really good hands.

Question: Would you like to become a permanent member of the cast?

Michael McKean: Boy, gee, make me an offer. I don't know. It would be exhausting. I'd love to do another series if it was really something I was the right guy for and something I felt comfortable with.

Question: You were great in Clue and the three endings... that was fun. Did you enjoy that experience?

Michael McKean: Yeah, it was a great show to do. I think we were originally booked for ten weeks and we ended up shooting about 12 weeks. I became close friends with the people I worked with like Marty Mull. It was only one of two shows I did where it was shot in sequence. I gained about ten pounds so if you watch the show you'll see me expanding. They had great Kraft services. It was a great show to do. Jonathan Lind was the director, and Tim Curry who is an awesome man. And Madeline Kahn. It was a great show.

Question: I loved Spinal Tap. How did the idea for the movie come about?

Michael McKean: Well, Rob Reiner had a TV special in 1978 called the TV show, which he starred in and produced and was the head writer on. And one of those who he hired to write was Harry Shearer and I was doing the Laverne and Shirley show. And Chris Guest and I had been doing these English rocker idiots. And we created this act, Spinal Tap and we did a mock video, performance/video and when Rob was looking for a project to do as a director, we started kicking that idea around, to do a mock documentary. It was the time when they were doing a lot of rock documentaries like The Band and the Rolling Stones. Chris and I were actually roommates in the late 60's when we were going to college and he and I had written some songs together. So we were all kind of songwriting partners from the get go. And from that little acorn grew the mighty oak of Spinal Tap.

Question: Is it true that Spinal Tap is planning an Unplugged appearance?

Michael McKean: Well, we're unplugged right now! We have done acoustic gigs from time to time and we always love to do that. We haven't done that in a couple years. Sure, we'd love to. I don't know how loud the clamor is other than our one guest here.

Question: What would be your dream role? And who would star in it with you?

Michael McKean: Boy, there's a book called The Disenchanted by Bud Shulberg who wrote "What Makes Sammy Run" and the Fitzgerald later in his life when he's being thought of as a relic. I've always wanted to play that role. Gee, I don't know. It's a great question. That's the first one that springs to mind.

Question: Do you prefer comedy?

Michael McKean: I'm in the comedy ghetto, but fortunately they pay well in the comedy ghetto. But I have a couple roles coming out one is in Clint Eastwood's movie that's a straight role. And you approach a straight role the same way you do a comedy role because you just make it real and if it's a comedy it will come out funny. I loved people like Stan Laurel who seemed completely, completely serious. Tom Hanks' comedy roles are funny for the same reason his dramatic roles work -- because he's dead serious. So I don't think it's a huge switcharoo, if you do your homework it's all pretty much the same.

Question: Did you watch the X-Files before going on?

Michael McKean: Oh yeah, sure. Of course. We tape it now. We're not a Nielson family, but we do tape it every Sunday night and then we watch it the following week when I pick him up. When I was growing up I was a big fan of Twilight Zone and this is the same kind of show that you really look forward to and you plan the evening around.

Question: Did working on the TV show spoil anything?

Michael McKean: No, I wouldn't want to read a script of a show I was going to watch. It was a shock of how hard they work. They warned me, in fact, when I went to meet the guys. They said, "Now, you know the kind of hours we're talking about?" And they weren't kidding. They work until it's done. It reminds you of the dedication that you really need to make a good show really work.

Question: Is it true that you met your girlfriend on AOL or is that just a rumor?

Michael McKean: Well, a little of both. My fiancée is an actress named Annette O'Toole, we've known each other peripherally for 20 years. We've known the same people. We worked together for the first time in November of '97 and I was seeing someone. But that ended amicably and Annette and I were corresponding online. We really got to email and instant messaging. So the rumors are kind of true!

Question: When I first saw BIG PICTURE I did not like it, then I moved out here to be a filmmaker and realized what a genius you are. Was that movie based on any of your own experiences?

Michael McKean: I co-wrote it. Well, you know my experiences as a genius are somewhat limited!! LOL :) I gotta say I came in to do the rewrite. The experience was a great experience. It was the first time I really worked on a script like that. I'm also credited as a writer for Spinal Tap but that was more building the film and improvising. So this was my first real screenplay. My favorite part of the process was casting. I was kind of the designated actor for all of the people that we read with so I got to read with some fabulous actors. And it was great for my ego because I would read with an actor who was brilliant and he still wouldn't get the part. Because of many reasons. But it was really a great education. In fact, I think if any actors or people starting out as actors, if you get a chance to work for someone in casting as a designated actor, a reader, take it! It's a huge process. And when you're a young actor, you think it's you and the rest of the universe conspiring to give you this role.

Question: What was your favorite part of being on the X-files. Did they give you any up in coming secrets?

Michael McKean: No, they're not really loose-lipped over there. Everything is top secret. Once again, I just had a fabulous time on the show. It was great to do.

Question: Was it scary to ask questions?

Michael McKean: I did occasionally have to ask, "Should I wear my wedding ring now?" There were a couple of times when it was a little iffy. It's a very confusing episode from the inside out. I can't imagine what it's like watching from the out. I was watching with my fiancée and there were a couple times we said, "Wait a minute."

Question: Do you feel you're being stereotyped as the bad guy? Like your characters in Airheads and Coneheads.

Michael McKean: I don't worry too much about stereotyping, really. That's a very interesting pair of films. Airheads and Coneheads. Yeah, and the Brady Bunch Movie is another one where I was kind of anti-Brady. I don't worry about that too much. It's more like what's fun to do. When I'm a bad guy I'm generally a comical bad guy. I'm pretty benign. But then again I'd love to do that. The one film where I really played a true bad guy no one saw.

Question: What are your New Years resolutions?

Michael McKean: Oh boy, I think... to stop abuse wherever I find it and I'm starting with my own body. No, I think just to eat a little bit better and to remember to take my vitamins and to get married as soon as we find a house!

Michael McKean: Thanks a lot!

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