Advice is one of the cheapest things on Earth, but that doesn't mean it can't also be priceless. Comedy icon Bill Murray has been dispensing sage wisdom for longer than I've been alive, and Justified standout Walton Goggins received a golden-plated pointer while the two were on set filming Danny McBride and Jody Hill's upcoming HBO comedy series Vice Principals. Goggins apparently spent many early takes in comedic awe of Murray, and I guess his awe was a little too vocal, because here's how he explained Murray's advisory reaction.
I was just kinda consumed with laughter, and literally two hours into the day, I said, 'Hey man. How do you really do what you do? Is there some secret?' And he said, 'Yeah, by not laughing during another person's take.'
It's as if 12 different clones of Danny McBride's Foot Fist Way character Fred Simmons had all simultaneously laid some serious Tae Kwon Do action onto Walton Goggins' face, but not even that would be as much of a slam as Bill Murray's scathingly sublime words. Because regardless of whether or not he said it with a giant goofy smile or with a militant glare, there are few imperatives more sound in Hollywood. Not that Goggins is new to the scene, but we've probably all gotten a little googly-minded in the presence of an idol at one point or another, so he can't be blamed for having a time of it.
Goggins also can't be blamed for taking Bill Murray's advice to heart very quickly, which probably allowed them all to get through the scene that much quicker. I won't complain if two hours of outtakes from that session are included on a Blu-ray down the road.
Unfortunately, Bill Murray isn't a major presence on Vice Principals, as he plays the vacating high school principal whose replacement, played by Kimberly Hebert Gregory, becomes the target of much antagonism from Walton Goggins and Danny McBride's respective co-vice principals Lee Russell and Neal Gamby. That's basically all you need to know going in, because it goes into some unexpected places early on that don't need to even be hinted at. But it's a much-appreciated comedic TV turn from Goggins, who is building up a feature career to complement his small screen work, which also includes The Shield and a memorable selection of guest spots on Sons of Anarchy. And we can assume that he was able to tap into the genre that much more with Murray's poignant counseling.
You can check out the full clip of Goggins on Jimmy Kimmel Live below.
Vice Principals will make its expletive-laden debut on HBO on Sunday, July 17, at 10:30 p.m. ET. A review is coming soon from yours truly, and you can check out the hilarious full trailer on the next page. Check out everything you can start watching in the meantime with our summer TV schedule. That's advice as good as Bill Murray's.
