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Tom Papa talked to Star Tribune about Madonna, Jerry Seinfeld and his attraction to ice fishing. Here are some of the highlights:

Q A lot of viewers were also not quite sure what to make of your show. Do you worry that it might be too different?

A Not at all. Who wants another show that’s derivative of something else? This is something refreshing and new. Sometimes it’s a bit of a reality show, but that’s only for two minutes. Somebody gets a prize, so in that way it’s a game show. In other ways, it’s a talk show.

Q I know Jerry knows a lot of famous people, but I’m sure they wouldn’t do it just as a favor. Why are the big names signing up?

A I think a big part of it is that we’re giving them a platform they can’t get anywhere else. Usually someone is pushing a book or a movie and there’s all these pre-interviews. It’s a marketing machine. Here, it’s just three funny, bright people having a blast, letting their hair down. I think that really appeals to them.

Q For one of the promos for the show, you and Jerry flew into Duluth to do some ice fishing. Why Duluth?

A We were just thinking of the funniest things that men do to get away from their wives. We thought that instead of doing it in a studio, it’d be cool to go out on an actual frozen lake. The crew was shocked because Jerry and I took like over 30 pratfalls. We were like kids out there.