Seth Rogen on His Good Movies, His Bad Movies, and His Apology From Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen in “Knocked Up” Photo: Universal Pictures

Not too long ago, Seth Rogen was in New Mexico with his longtime writing partner Evan Goldberg doing what they’ve been doing for years: Hanging out and smoking weed. The two flipped through what was on TV and stumbled upon their 2007 movie “Knocked Up,” starring Seth and Katherine Heigl.

“As I was watching it, I was like, ‘Fuck, we’re so funny together, me and Katherine,'” Seth told Howard during his Stern Show appearance on Monday morning, adding that while making the movie, he got the sense that he and Katherine would wind up shooting several comedies together. The onscreen couple’s chemistry was praised by audiences and critics alike when the movie was released, but while promoting the film, Katherine made headlines after telling reporters she didn’t like the person she was asked to play in “Knocked Up.”

“I thought she hated us,” Seth told Howard. “We made a movie, I was very proud of it, it was critically very well received.”

Seth continued: “Then we just heard that she didn’t like it and that it seemed that she didn’t have a good experience making it and that she didn’t feel as though the product was reflective of how she thought she should be portrayed.”

In April, Katherine visited the Stern Show and told to Howard that her quotes about “Knocked Up” got taken out of context, explaining that she was criticizing her own performance, not the movie or character that Seth and Judd Apatow created.

“They were incredibly good to me on this movie, so I did not mean to shit on them at all,” Katherine told Howard. She eventually issued an on-air apology to Rogen in the form of a song.

When asked about Katherine saying (or singing) sorry to him, Seth told Howard that he can relate to having to apologize.

“Every week I send three apology emails to people,” he joked. “I’ve said a thousand stupid things and I really like her.” And when asked whether or not he would take a call from Katherine, Seth answered, “Of course.”

“If she actually didn’t like the movie, which is valid … then that I am actually very sympathetic to,” Seth said. Rogen said he knows firsthand how difficult it is to be forced to promote a film that you’re not 100% proud of. He had to do just that for 2012’s “The Guilt Trip,” a movie he made alongside Barbra Streisand.

“I did have a wonderful time making it,” Seth said, telling Howard that the script for the film was actually one of the best he’s ever read. “As we were making it I was beginning to suspect it was not turning out in the way I hoped.”

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in “The Guilt Trip” Photo: Paramount Pictures

Seth wasn’t the only one who sensed the film was struggling – Barbra grew concerned with the movie during production, as well.

“We would talk about how we did not think it was coming together,” Seth told Howard. “I’m more surprised when any movie is good … A hundred million things need to come together in order to make a movie good that I am not surprised when movies are bad. I am shocked when movies are good.”

Seth Rogen’s new movie “Sausage Party” (which JD Harmeyer gave rave reviews to) is in theaters Friday, Aug. 12.