By Kurt Schlosser
NBC News

Zach Galifianakis warned Brian Williams that viewers would turn off a long interview piece with the actor if it aired on "Rock Center." But after watching several candid minutes with the comedian and "Hangover" star on Friday night, it was hard not to be left wanting more.

Galifianakis, the bearded comic turned reluctant big-time star, opened up to Williams about more than just the buddy-movie trilogy that has made his extended Greek moniker a household name.

They talked about life on the North Carolina farm where Galifianakis, 43, and his wife Quinn Lundberg spend part of each year. "I have donkeys. I have blueberries," Galifianakis said. "But enough about your Brooklyn apartment," Williams countered. "I asked about North Carolina."

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Cue the whistling: Galifianakis says a 6th grade visit from the man behind the iconic theme song of "The Andy Griffith Show" convinced him he should go into show business. "I remember being affected by that whistler, thinking I could maybe try to do something like that with my life. Not whistling ... but telling diarrhea jokes."

But it's no joke that life at home on the farm has framed Galifianakis' view of Hollywood and all that comes with being a celebrity. "It's not for me. I'm not into that scene," he said. "It's so stupid. It's all so dumb. It's so weird to me."

And for a man with the last name Galifianakis, there's a punchline waiting in the wings. "If I've always wanted to have my name up in lights I would have changed it to Don't Walk." Nod. Wink. Cheers.

Starring roles on television aside, it's the "Hangover" movies which did put Galifianakis' name in lights. Alan -- the portly, man-purse carrying sidekick to Bradley Cooper's Phil and Ed Helms' Stu -- is back in theaters May 23 in the third and final movie.

And any interview with Galifianakis wouldn't be complete without actually being interviewed with ferns for a backdrop, something he's turned into comedic art with his fake Internet talk show "Between Two Ferns." Williams brought the two ferns to the interview and Galifianakis was game for a lengthy chat among the plants.

"This is the longest conversation I've had with anyone in, like, seven years," Galifianakis said, contradicting his earlier directive to Williams to "do a couple of jokes and then get out."

She's been an international entertainment superstar for 30 years, but Madonna has another super role in her life: She's a mom of four. And as she told "Rock Center's" Harry Smith in an exclusive interview, glimpsing a photo of her 15-year-old daughter, Lourdes, puffing away on a cigarette recently was not a happy mom moment.

"(I) wasn't very happy," she said, admitting she's a tough parent, "but honestly, I don't think I'm as tough as I should be. I think I need to be maybe tougher. It's hard -- every day is a negotiation. But cigarette smoking I'm not very fond of -- for anyone."

Sure, Madonna smoked in a recent video, but when Smith pointed that out, she fired back with a small smile, "I don't smoke. That's just an accessory, Harry. There's a difference. (Lourdes) smoked that cigarette before I did that video!"

Smith stopped by TODAY Wednesday to share select clips from his exclusive interview with Madonna, and showcased one where she spoke about, well, being Madonna. "It must be hard, because I complain all the time," she said. "It's pretty challenging. But so far I've survived with sanity and humor intact."

But her kids are seeing a different Madonna from the ones fans know. She explained that they get the version "that comes home and says, 'Have you done your homework?' and 'Why are you wearing that?' and 'Why did you say that?' and 'What are you eating that for?'"

Check out more of Harry Smith's chat with Madonna on "Rock Center with Brian Williams" tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

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