There's a freedom there and an understanding of my career and the things I've done. I'm seen here as primarily a comic actor, which is OK, but I can go to New York and I do something that's very emotional. It would be lovely at some point to do something like that on film.
I used to say things like, 'My name's not Al (Bundy), you know?' Not to the press, but to fans. 'My name is actually Ed. ' I'd find myself saying that, and I'd think, 'Who do you think they think you are? They only know you from that!' And finally I just got. . . I don't know, I guess a switch went on for me, and I realized, 'This was the greatest job that you've ever had in your life. Why are you acting like an asshole?' So from that minute on, I kind of. . . well, I hate the word 'embraced,' but I just kind of went, 'Yeah, okay. ' 'So you're Al, right?' 'Yep!'