Jason Bateman dodged a dig from David Letterman at former child star Ricky Schroder while discussing “bratty” behavior he saw on set over the years.
During the Tuesday, December 16, episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, host David Letterman asked Bateman, 56, about his experience on set as a child. Bateman shared his favorite moments from working on Silver Spoons, which aired from 1982 to 1987.
Bateman specifically shared several stories of adventures he had alongside Schroder, 55. He was subsequently asked about the potentially negative aspects of being an actor as a child.
“I thought I was pretty fantastic and I was probably a little bratty at times,” Bateman noted. “However, I wasn’t as bratty as some of my peers, I think.”
Bateman tried to answer diplomatically, adding, “I will not mention names, but I did do a show with a fella that taught me a lot of what not to do. It informed the way that I hope I act now on sets when I am in a lucky position to be in a leadership position or directing something.”
Letterman, 78, found a way to ask whether Bateman was referring to someone specific.
“What was the guy’s name? Ricky … Rick?” he asked Bateman, who avoided the question, “I am losing you, Dave. Are you going over a canyon? I gotta call you back, you are breaking up.”
Bateman and Schroder shared the screen in the hit sitcom, which followed a wealthy playboy (Joel Higgins) and his relationship with his young son (Schroder). In addition to the trio, Silver Spoons starred Erin Gray, Leonard Lightfoot, Franklyn Seales and Alfonso Ribeiro.
In the years since the show came to an end, Schroder appeared to leave acting behind after starring in his last project in 2016. He has made headlines for his personal views with backlash breaking out in 2020 when Schroder grew vocal about COVID precautions. Schroder notably picketed alongside anti-vaxxers at events that required a shot against the virus in order to gain entry.
Schroder was also seen in a 2021 video arguing with a store employee over a mask mandate. He asked his social media followers to boycott Costco as followers pointed out that the former actor previously helped bail out Kyle Rittenhouse when he was charged with two counts of murder at a Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin. (Rittenhouse was later tried on the charges and acquitted.)
Ribeiro, 54, previously spoke out against Schroder’s behavior. “You are a product of your society and he does represent half the country,” he told People in 2020. “It’s an opinion, and we’re all entitled to have our opinions, right or wrong, good or bad. It’s just an opinion, and you don’t have to listen to it if you don’t want to. So it is what it is, right?”
Bateman, meanwhile, has opted not to relive his Silver Spoons days too often.
