And in each movie, Stiller and Wilson display a timing, chemistry and sense of humor that speaks to the pair's close friendship off the screen. Those same elements also became apparent as they fielded questions in a conference call to promote their latest joint venture, "Starsky & Hutch."

"I'm sorry we insulted your intelligence," Stiller said in response to a question that suggested the cameo of the original "Starksy & Hutch" television show stars in the movie was insulting. "I didn't know you were that smart. Sorry. Don't write anything bad about me."

"Too late," Wilson chimed in.

"I can't hear your response if you're telling me to go to hell," Stiller apologetically said in a final plea to the reporter.

And so went the exchanges between Stiller and Wilson on topics covering everything from Snoop Dogg to presidential campaigns.

Stiller and Wilson, respectively, play the title characters in "Starsky & Hutch," a send-up of the 1970s free-wheeling, fast-loving and action-intensive TV cop show.

The movie starts with the anal retentive David Starsky (Stiller) first being partnered with the rule-ignoring Ken Hutchinson (Wilson), a dichotomy similar to the pair's differences on- and off-screen. Stiller's lack of height and dark hair always contrasts with the tall, blond Wilson and his Texas drawl. And while both are part of show biz families, Stiller had the shadow of parents and comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara while Wilson rose through the business with brothers Luke and Andrew.

But the friendship and working relationship between the two continues thanks to their similarities and shared goals.

"I think it's trying to find like-minded people … you want to find people that you believe in," Wilson said. "I've been lucky. I met Ben I think my first year when I came out to Los Angeles."

Stiller offered a varying opinion.

"I just can't find anybody else to work with," Stiller said. "I keep trying."

The personal differences between the two also shaped the characters of Starsky and Hutch for the movie.

"Owen and I are different, so we want to sort of do what we thought would be best for us playing the parts," Stiller said. "I think, both those characters on the show were really just based on the personalities of the guys (that played them)."

Wilson and Stiller both hoped their real-life friendship carried over into the movie.

"Hopefully the fact that Ben and I have worked together a lot and that we're friends in real life, hopefully we kind of have our own rapport that'll help the movie," Wilson said.

"I think we both sort of tried to kind of take a little bit of our real sort of vibe with each other," Stiller said. "I think it just kind of came out just because (in) this kind of movie, you're trying to keep the real thing going on."

And while both repeated that the movie was set before the television show would have started, Stiller looked to Paul Michael Glaser, who played Starsky in the 1970's television show, for further character definition.

"I got together with Paul Michael Glaser before we started shooting and talked to him, and then I just watched as many of the episodes (of the television show) as I could, constantly while we were shooting, just to get a feel, because I thought they were so great on the show," Stiller said.

Stiller also enjoyed diving into the attitudes and spirit of the 1970s, seen in the clothes, hair and shameless parodies of "Starsky & Hutch."

"You could just be a cop and a tough guy and not worry about offending anybody," Stiller said. "That was kind of who they were. It's fun to try and be like that."

Wilson found the era's clothes a little tougher to deal with.

"It was a little nightmarish to have to see Ben wearing tight jeans every day," Wilson said. "It was a little tough to watch that."

Also taking part in the '70s throwback is Snoop Dogg as Huggy Bear, the street-wise informer for the cops. The rapper-turned-actor also led to a laid-back feeling on the set.

Snoop Dogg "kind of lives a totally different lifestyle and he enjoys who he is," Stiller said. "I really enjoyed being around him. He's just a very warm guy."

Despite the platitudes thrown around, the pair never lets each other get away too clean.

On the stunts in the movie, Stiller said he was only allowed to do some of the driving of the film's nine Gran Turinos (the television show's trademark car), while Wilson claimed his biggest stunt was riding with Stiller during those scenes and goaded Stiller into claiming he also wanted to star in a "Night Court" remake.

And when Wilson said it was doubtful that there would ever be a sequel to "Bottle Rocket," he and Wes Anderson's first film, Stiller offered an opposing view if one of Wilson's former co-stars were involved.

"If you can get Jackie Chan to do it, Owen might do it.",”Matthew T. Olson”

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