Steve Carell and Amy Poehler gave listeners a taste of what it’s like living with opinionated Massachusetts natives on the latest episode of Poehler’s Golden Globe-winning “Good Hang” podcast.
The pair of Bay State-born stars sat for a wide-ranging chat, covering everything from Carell’s “Anchorman” days to his new, New England-set comedy “Rooster.” They also commiserated over their shared Massachusetts roots, with Poehler revealing that she has her parents to thank for booking Carell on the podcast.
The former “Parks and Recreation” star explained that her parents ran into Carell while out for dinner at Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton when they asked the former “The Office” actor if he’d be a guest on their daughter’s podcast.
“They were very charming,” Carell said of Poehler’s parents.
The conversation then turned to Carell’s Bay State bona fides (he grew up in Acton), with Poehler admitting she didn’t realize the actor is a “Boston boy.”
“You don’t seem very Boston to me,” Poehler said. “You’re polite and thoughtful and considerate.”
Noting how “politeness registers differently in Massachusetts,” Carell asked Poehler about her thoughts on Bay State natives and their reactions to recognizing her whenever she’s back home.
“I love Boston. I love where I’m from. I love the directness. I love the real loyal, just really good, honest people,” Poehler said. “But there is a definite… brusqueness and, honestly, I’m going to say it, there’s just like a ‘you’re not better than me’ quality about Boston.”
Carell enthusiastically agreed with Poehler’s assessment, adding that Bostonians’ directness can be “actually very charming” when you’re prepared and anticipating their responses. He went on to share a memorable reaction of a fan from Massachusetts who recognized him at a grocery store.
“One guy came up to me and said, ‘Hey Steve, I know you! That thing you did was good. Don’t get cocky,’” Carell said. “You’re one of us. Don’t embarrass us.”
“Don’t you dare grow or change,” Poehler joked, with Carell adding, “Mostly [don’t] change.”
Matt Juul can be reached at matthew.juul@globe.com.
