Ben Falcone

Ben Falcone isn’t exactly known for making kid-friendly projects. His films with wife and frequent collaborator Melissa McCarthy are “R-rated quite often, but I do think there’s a certain sweetness that we usually try to hit.”

- H. Alan Scott

And it’s that sweetness he’s bringing to his first kids’ book, What’s Scarier Than Thunder? “My secret goal is that it’s something that kids will think is funny, but that parents will, too.” The story follows Claire, who is afraid of thunderstorms. For future stories, Falcone sees many other things to be scared of: “Heights, first day of school, remember that one? Meeting someone new, auditions...” Another story he’s actively involved with is the podcast Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire, which he created with McCarthy and Steve Mallory. “There’s going to be a season two, so we’re excited.” And even though “the industry is clearly changing,” Falcone says he believes in comedy. “Melissa and I, our big goal is