Anthony Michael Hall Looks Back on His Experience Filming Nation’s Dumbest
Anthony Michael Hall learned a valuable lesson from Nation’s Dumbest: never underestimate the enjoyment of reality TV.
“It’s quite amusing, really, considering this is the karma for all the smack I talked about reality shows, especially since my wife is such a fan,” Anthony, 58, told Us exclusively before his elimination in the Wednesday, September 9 episode of Fox’s popular summer series. “Love Is Blind, Love on the Spectrum. When you’re married, you need at least two TVs. And here I am, appearing on one all summer.”
While participating in Nation’s Dumbest, the National Lampoon’s Vacation actor took part in an episode called “Family Teacher Conference,” where family members observe their loved ones’ intellectual struggles.
Understanding his wife Lucia Hall’s passion for reality TV, Anthony knew he had to involve her. The couple, who tied the knot in November 2020, welcomed their first child in June 2023.
“I had to get her involved, and she was like, ‘Oh my god!’” he reminisced about his wife’s enthusiastic response to the show. “Meanwhile, my mother was taking care of our son, and we had a blast. She really saved me a few times.”
As he competed on Nation’s Dumbest, Anthony had the pleasure of working alongside various reality TV celebrities, including JoJo Siwa and former Dancing With the Stars contestant Hilaria Baldwin.
Anthony Michael Hall Shane Mahood/ FOX
When questioned about the possibility of participating in more reality TV, Anthony remarked that he would “never say never.”
“Immediately after this, I got a call from Fox. They invited me to Dublin to film an episode of Name That Tune,” he revealed. “I couldn’t accept due to being busy with another project, but I appreciated the invitation. Never say never. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t assume you know someone.”
Anthony added, “The vibe among everyone was fantastic. … Everyone was really supportive, and I have to give kudos to BBC and Fox for their excellent production. At one point during the show, I thought, ‘This show’s going to be a hit.’”
Even though Anthony didn’t finish as the final contestant standing in the game show aimed at avoiding the title of the worst in class, he remains thankful for the entire experience — despite admitting, “my dumb ass failed every logic test for 12 weeks.”
“These contestants were enjoyable,” he reflected. “I had a wonderful time. It was truly an adventure.”
Nation’s Dumbest airs on Fox Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
