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    • Billy Bob Thornton in the new show ‘Landman’, oil politics and Demi Moore
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    Billy Bob Thornton in the new show ‘Landman’, oil politics and Demi Moore

    Vaseline Posted on

    Billy Bob Thornton knew that starring as an oil company crisis management specialist in “Landman” would never be a glamor job.

    Thornton, 69, stars as foul-mouthed Big Oil fixer Tommy Norris in executive producers Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace’s Paramount+ series, based on Wallace’s 2020 “Boomtown” podcast, which explores the impact of the historic oil boom in West -Texas captured. Getting into the character means more than getting his hands covered in raw material, and it shows.

    “I look older in ‘Landman’ than I do in real life,” says Thornton, whose Norris contrasts with his fashionable ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter). “Tommy barely combs his hair, never shaves. He’s always a mess with dirt on his hands and face.”

    For Thornton, it’s a powerful introduction to the Sheridan verse (including “Yellowstone” and “Tulsa King”). The actor, who spends much of his time touring with his band The Boxmasters, lives a much quieter Hollywood life with his wife of 10 years, Connie Angland, than during his days with ex Angelina Jolie (they were married from 2000 -03).

    The “Bad Santa” star and Oscar-winning screenwriter (for 1996’s “Sling Blade”) spoke with USA TODAY about “Landman” (episode 3 airs Sunday).

    Q: You’re wearing Tommy Norris jeans very low on the hips, which gives an instant West Texas feel. How do you navigate that look?

    Thornton: It’s low, and it’s more pronounced when the shirt is tucked in. And I don’t have a butt. No way. George Carlin would say, “He’s a man who needs two wallets to have an ass.” Ali (Larter) used to pull my pants up on set. Every day she said, “Honey, come here.” And she literally came and grabbed them and pulled them up.

    Tommy often barks at critics of his Big Oil profession and lifestyle. Are you worried about getting into politics by playing this rough character?

    When someone catches Tommy, he defends how he makes his living. That’s why he continues these rants. But if they discover a way to make cars and planes run on water, these oil guys will end up in the water business. These business people just want to make money. The show is not for or against; it shows the good, the bad and the ugly of the oil industry. But everything has been politicized. If I made a movie about Jack the Ripper, and the Jack the Ripper actor was great, that doesn’t mean people are like Jack the Ripper. We should see this as a piece of entertainment.

    We can all get behind Tommy and demand his change from the bartender in episode 1 because tipping culture is getting out of hand, right?

    And if you’re famous, you should tip even more. Because there are literally magazine sections talking about tipping and saying, “This guy is cheap.” So I’ve given a 100% tip before. My wife says, “We’re going to go bankrupt if you keep doing this.” But I don’t want to end up in some magazine.

    You work with Demi Moore, who plays Cami Miller, the wife of oil company owner Monty (Jon Hamm).. Was it an “indecent” reunion, in the sense of the 1993 film?

    I did two scenes in “Indecent Proposal,” playing a guy named Day Tripper. I was there for six weeks, mostly on call, and then they cut one of the scenes. But I got to know Demi and Bruce (Willis, Moore’s then-husband) very well, and Demi always brought the kids to the set. Then I worked with Bruce on three films. We were always pretty close.

    You’re from Arkansas, so you know Tommy’s F-bomb declaration against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide is going to cause some upset.

    It was a sentence I had to say, and I thought, “Dadgummit.” I’ve always liked Nick Saban (former Crimson Tide head coach), and I’ve followed Alabama even though I’m an Arkansas Razorback fan. I love people in Alabama, and our band is very popular there. I hope they understand that this is just a TV show. Let’s not get carried away.

    “Countryman” really goes after Pop-Tarts, even comparing eating the highly processed breakfast pastry to smoking. What is this about?

    There are all kinds of things you can have for breakfast. But what is a Pop-Tart? It’s this thing that barely has anything in the middle with this bread stuff around it.

    You’re so anti-Pop-Tart.

    I’m not anti-Pop-Tart. I love them. But I don’t eat them. I don’t eat processed food.

    Tommy’s favorite drink is Michelob Ultra, the butt of his jokes. Is this a strange product placement or a logical choice?

    I don’t think about product placement. But that’s an interesting question because I’ve seen other shows with products where the entire idea behind using them is criticized. Of course I don’t drink Michelob Ultra while filming. Whatever I drink is 90% water. So I’m fully hydrated.

    (This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

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