Its a winding conversation that doesnt take too long to head into some strange territory.
Mullally and Offerman had just received their first final, hardcover copies of the book as our interview began.
Naturally, its where we started.
Credit: Emily Shur
Read our full conversation below, andpre-orderThe Greatest Love Story Ever Toldahead of its Tuesday publication.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was that moment like, when you got the final copies?
MEGAN MULLALLY:They looked beautiful.
Dutton
The book was so beautiful.
The paper if I was reading this book and turning each page, I think itd be pleasurable.
The paper is really fancy and nice.
When you actually see them in action this physical artifact theres something magical about that.
MULLALLY:The photos look so good.
Theres some drawings by Meryl Rowin who also did all of the hand-lettering, including the cover.
It looks so good.
Theres a little more bells and whistles in this book than if we had not embellished it at all.
If we had written a novel, for example.
So lets get into this: How did you decide to write a book together?
MULLALLY:At first, Nick didnt want to do a book!
[Laughs] Thatd be the main thing.
OFFERMAN:Im still having second thoughts.
MULLALLY:Hes still having second thoughts, he says!
Every time one of us posts a photo of the two of us, people like it.
I said, I dont know, just like a funny book about our relationship.
He said, Eh, I dont really get what it would be.
She said, Oh my God, that would be amazing.
I said, What if it was just chapters and certain topics and we talked about stuff?
But when our editor got the recording, she said, This is really good just like it is.
I said, Why dont we just leave it like that as a he-said she-said?
It really shows: This is just us talking to each other.
We didnt go back in and change it or rewrite it.
Those are our actual conversations.
How did you record it?
The flow is very natural, in that the conversations turn incredibly weird.
MULLALLY:The concept of the book was that we would have nine chapters on various topics.
We just turned on the recorder on Nicks phone and laid in bed.
Nick wouldnt even know in advance what the topic was going to be.
I would say, Well, the topic is such-and-such, and then we would start talking.
It was all very in-the-moment, spontaneous, kind ofInterviewmagazine-style.
If you could describe the feeling of the recording process, how would you?
OFFERMAN:For me, it would be comfortable.
Its strange having a pleasant and successful domestic relationship.
Were lucky enough to continue enjoying each other.
Were just a couple people who like doing puzzles together.
MULLALLY:I would say pleasantly focused.
I just wanted to be really in the moment.
We heard things about each other for the first time while we were recording the book.
What was the thing you learned that surprised you the most?
MULLALLY:Things about his family.
That blew my mind: That would have been what we did before breakfast at my house.
Any topic, Nick, you were particularly surprised by?
One unique thing about our marriage is that we havent actually had sex.
I feel a little shy and insecure about talking about that in public.
MULLALLY:Just dont rush me.
OFFERMAN:I dont feel like I am.
We got through it.
We eked out a chapter.
MULLALLY:We set a proposed date of 2024.
I think thats fair.
OFFERMAN:Yep, six years.God.
MULLALLY:[Laughs loudly] It was just a conversation we were having.
It just came out.
I mean, its the truth.
OFFERMAN:I think thats whats commonly referred to as a fun fact.
Between the photographs and the illustrations, its a very visual book.
MULLALLY:I designed the book.
The titles of the chapters leave something to the imagination.
It was a pretty good day.
He didnt even know we were going to do a ballet shot.
He was like, Oh, okay.
He was very in the moment.
[Laughs]
OFFERMAN:It was a collaboration.
The tone weaves, and at times you both venture into more complicated, painful territory.
Was there a particularly challenging topic to dredge up?
MULLALLY:It was hard for me to talk about my father.
Id never really talked about my father, and so that was the hardest thing for me.
Nick doesnt have anything thats hard to talk about, because hes like a little twinkling bunny.
Is that true, Nick?
OFFERMAN:Yeah, I get described as a bunny in many ways.
MULLALLY:Weve gotten him a couple of manuals.
Hes studying up for 2024, but well see if hes there by then.
I think BuzzFeed has a few quizzes that are good for that.
OFFERMAN:Im all over it.
MULLALLY:BuzzFeed gives him a sunny.
OFFERMAN:[Groans]
What?
MULLALLY:[Laughing] I said, just the word BuzzFeed gives him a chub.
OFFERMAN:Can you guys like stop saying that word?
If Megan can agree to that, Im good with that.
OFFERMAN:All right.
OFFERMAN:The chafing.
So Nick, you didnt initially want to write a book with Megan.
Tell me why from your perspective.
OFFERMAN:I cant keep this up, David.
This is George Clooney.
Nick is shooting in Vancouver, and I like to come over.
They have a really nice shuffleboard court here in the hills.
There were specific things that I wanted to address in book form.
In all honesty, there was a sexual negotiation involved.
I was able to take four years off of Megans deadline.
When we got married, it was 2032, and so were down to 2024.
Ill do another goddamn book.
Ill write a trilogy.
Ill write it in Braille.
I dont give a shit.
Youll have to write it fast.
MULLALLY:[Laughing loudly]
OFFERMAN:Im doing everything I can here, buddy.
Do either of you have a favorite chapter?
When she answers me in a hilarious and curt way, it makes me laugh out loud every time.
Thats my favorite thing about the book.
Rather than pick a favorite chapter, Ill pick a favorite characteristic.
We weigh in with all of our faculties, but we also like to make each other laugh.
MULLALLY:I have a favorite photograph: The big ballet lift.
We took maybe seven photos because Nick had to hold me like that and it wasnt very comfortable.
Its succinct and really gets to the point.
You may be the first author to say that.
Thats the state of affairs over here.
Last question: Is there a sequel toThe Greatest Love Story Ever Told?
OFFERMAN:We do have an idea.
Honey, Ill let you tell him about it.
MULLALLY:I dont know what the joke is.
So yeah, I think itd be fun to do another book, or more.
Nicks going to prison, so well probably have to do a lot of it via the U.S. mail.
Itll be like love letters.
But his letters will just be coming from prison.
OFFERMAN:The proposed title for book two isPatience.
