Seth Rogen probably thought calling James Woods “a second-rate B-lister” would be an easy laugh. He didn’t count on Woods answering back.
Rogen took the shot during a recent interview, waving Woods off as a washed-up actor who is better known these days for his political posts than his movies. The clip made the rounds online, and fans of both men wasted no time picking sides.
Woods responded during an appearance with Greg Gutfeld, and he came prepared.
“I sat down with all of my five Oscars and went through Superbad,” Woods said. “That is the only movie I could watch starring Seth, and it’s safe to say that we were not blown away.”
Gutfeld cracked up, and so did the audience. Woods let the moment land before moving on to what he said was the real point.
According to Woods, the insult says less about his career and more about the way Hollywood treats people who don’t share its politics. He said it’s funny how quickly certain people in the industry start questioning his acting the moment his conservative views come up.
“Nobody was calling me a B-lister when I was getting nominated,” he said. “That only started when I stopped agreeing with them.”
Woods has a long list of credits to back up the argument. He earned Oscar nominations for “Salvador” and “Ghosts of Mississippi,” won Emmy awards for his television work, and starred alongside some of the biggest names in film for decades. He’s played gangsters, presidents, lawyers, and the voice of Hades in Disney’s “Hercules.”
Rogen, meanwhile, rose to fame in the 2000s with comedies like “Knocked Up,” “Pineapple Express,” and of course “Superbad,” which he co-wrote. He has since built a successful career behind the camera as well.
Woods didn’t seem interested in comparing résumés line by line. He had one more point to make, and he made it plainly. “I have been appreciated as an actor much earlier than this guy was even born and knew about Hollywood,” he said.
The response was a hit with Woods’ fans, many of whom have watched him take on celebrity critics for years. Clips of the interview spread across X and Facebook within hours, with plenty of people calling it the best burn of the week.
Not everyone was impressed. Some Rogen fans said Woods was taking a casual joke far too personally. Others pointed out, with a laugh, that Woods doesn’t actually have five Oscars.
Woods doesn’t seem to mind the nitpicking. He’s spent most of his career enjoying a good fight, and this one appears to have been no exception.
As of now, Rogen hasn’t fired back. But if he does, it’s a safe bet Woods will be ready.
