Hour 3: ESPN’s Josh Pate Talks Brendan Sorsby Debacle, plus ‘Toy Story 5’ Star Tony Hale In-Studio

Tony Hale, best known for his role as Gary in *Veep* and the voice of Buster Bluth in *Arrested Development*, joins The Rich Eisen Show to reflect on his career, from bombing stand-up sets at the University of Michigan to making out with Liza Minnelli on screen. He shares a deeply personal story about being hung from a chinning bar as a child—a moment he calls formative trauma—before pivoting to the emotional core of *Toy Story 5*: the enduring power of human connection in a tech-saturated world. Hale argues that the film’s message isn’t anti-technology, but pro-relationship, using the humble spork as a symbol of creativity sparked by physical play. He also reveals he never met the main cast of *Toy Story* until press tours, despite voicing a central character, and shares wild behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including a loose seal biting off Buster’s hand as a running joke tied to his mother issues. The episode culminates in a playful pitch for *Toy Story 6*, imagining a world where Olympic silver medalists receive stuffed animals—inspired by Buster’s Army souvenirs—and envisions a heartwarming reunion of forgotten toys. Hale also teases a surprise Taylor Swift appearance in the film’s soundtrack, with his son Xander being a die-hard fan who decodes her music like an archaeologist. The conversation underscores how nostalgia, trauma, and creativity are deeply intertwined in pop culture.