Judd Nelson Trades in His Brat Pack Membership for Principal's Bowtie

What's up, guys? Nicky Novak here for Young Hollywood at Comic-Con where you can always expect the unexpected. You might think we're at a gym, but no we are not. We are at a party and we're here to talk to Judd Nelson. How are you?

I'm very good. Nice to be here.

Very nice to see you. First and foremost, we are at Comic-Con. Is this part of your costume? It says I'm not myself today, maybe I'm you. Everyone's somebody else. That's actually a really interesting point. When are we ever ourselves?

Well, I guess some people think we are being ourselves. Other people think we are becoming more ourselves. I believe that line from the Bob Dylan song, he not busy being born is busy dying, so we're always becoming something better.

So we are, I just want to point out we are at a CrossFit gym that has been converted into a party. Pretty impressive. How are you, how are your training skills?

I can um light a cigarette really fast. I can light a cigarette in the wind. I can light a cigarette

That's a skill.

while moving.

So bad kids go to hell. The concept, four kids. Four kids at detention.

Five kids.

Five kids. Okay. And you are the head master.

Yes, but I'm not in charge of the detention.

You are not. Are you wreaking havoc?

No, I'm just trying to run a good school but these kids are miscreants. They don't want to learn. They're bad, they should be punished. I can't imagine anything like that. They get their just desserts in this. We're in detention. Yeah, this is not a love This is not the fucking feel good '80s movie of the year. Where for 7 hours we put aside our diffs and through commiserating about our mutually dysfunctional family lives or how lonely or alienated we each feel, we find some sort of common ground and end up as BFFs. Spirit, show us your presence.

Well, I know the film is based on a comic. Yes, which we happen to have here. Did Head Master Nash ever have a comb-over and a green suit in the film?

In the film, no. But he always had a bow tie.

Got it. Got it. And a bow tie, that's kind of a weird thing to wear. So I that wasn't your costume choice. Cause I know sometimes actors they put their input in.

Oh no, I mean, I think that we reach a consensus. Yeah. And I think there's something about the um those bow tie wearing people, there's just like I think they think they're better than us.

Well, how did you feel when you had it on? Did you feel superior?

I felt better than everyone.

You did? Really?

Although, I had to get help tying it. So I couldn't feel that superior.

Right. Oh jeez. So how many times have you been to Comic-Con?

This is my first time.

Oh, it is? What are your impressions so far?

It's a blast. I think it's great. I think that um the crowds seem really enthusiastic. And uh people believe in the genre and I love comic books.

You do? So I was going to ask you, what kind of like it Comic-Con is all about geeks. It's like celebrating geekdom. In what way would you consider yourself a geek?

I'll tell you I'm I read all the time. I spend most of my time reading. I I don't know if that makes you a geek or not. I don't know what makes anyone a geek. So I'm worth. I mean a geek what, someone who does their homework? Someone who's responsible, does what they say they're going to do? Maybe a geek's a good thing.

Maybe a geek is a good thing. Maybe we're going to turn the tables here. So you say you you love to read. What is one book that Young Hollywood needs to read?

The Trial by Franz Kafka. It's all about red tape and bureaucracy and everyday it gets tougher and tougher for us, more confusing. Read The Trial.

How was the premiere tonight?

Really fun. Really good. Uh Baz, one of the producers spoke before and after, gave great speeches. The performances by all the people were great. Crowd was enthusiastic. Great use of music in the movie.

How how is the crowd different here from like other premieres in other towns? Were there people in costume?

No, there wasn't anyone in uh costume. But I like the fact that it's a real fan base. It's not industry insiders. So you get a real sense of how the public feels about the project.

Do you after all these years, you've been in the business so long, you're such a veteran. Do you do you ever get nervous at these events, the red carpet?

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah, I'd rather just kind of slide in the back door and slide out.

Well, you're right in the center of it all. Are you going to dance?

I'm going to No, I'm not going to dance. No. Holmie don't play that, but uh you know, I'll have fun.