Hank Azaria Says Hal's Smiles Are 'Clearly Random'

Joshua Roberts/Reuters/Landov

All parents are eager to witness baby’s first smile, but Katie Wright might be a little too eager, according to her boyfriend Hank Azaria. “The baby at this point, his mom insists he is smiling and recognizing faces,” the 45-year-old actor tells Celebrity Baby Blog of son Hal. “He is only 3-months-old…I insist he’s not.”

Adding that “any responding he’s doing is clearly random,” Hank appears to be setting the bar low for baby boy.

“If we can get him not to cry, that’s about the best I can say at this point.”

That said, Hank concedes that parenthood “gets easier one day at a time,” revealing that he is in charge of “poop and milk, and that’s it for now.”

Happily the fear that Hank expressed as an expectant father has eased — though only somewhat! “I was terrified and remain slightly terrified; I was so scared to be a dad, I was asking friends what do I do as a father,” Hank explains. “So far, it’s mostly about pooping and spit-up [but] hopefully that will change.”

It’s also about new baby gifts, and Hank says he’s gotten some “lovely” ones from his castmates at The Simpsons. Nancy Cartwright, who voices the character Bart Simpson, offered up a “big red fire engine … for [Hal] to ride around,” Hank says.

The couple are all stocked up on at least one new baby essential, however. Explains Hank,

“We have 8 million blankets. Anybody reading this: No more blankets.”

– Missy with reporting by Nicholas White

Comments

Hank they definitely smile around six weeks so your girlfriend probably isn’t lying to you!

- Brandi on September 21st, 2009

My son smiled at 2 weeks, i have pics to prove it so I think it’s possible. Also, in the 3D sono we have of him, he’s smiling in the womb (forgot how many weeks but it’s documented somewhere). I don’t know why people think that a baby isn’t smiling when they clearly are.

- Mary on September 21st, 2009

Hank, 6 weeks is about normal for non-random smiles, some do it sooner and some later. for sure at 3 months you are getting real smiles! Hope your friends who bought blankets aren’t offended now…

- ritter on September 21st, 2009

I thought he meant more that while the baby might smile, he isn’t neccessarily recognizing anyone. (mom insists he does)

I like his honesty lol

- kai on September 21st, 2009

I hope he donates the extra blankets!

- millefleur on September 21st, 2009

Yep, at six weeks, my son was definitely smiling at familiar people and voices….definitely at 3 months those smiles are for real.

- CTBmom on September 21st, 2009

Perhaps I’m just tired and I’m reading this wrong, Hank certainly doens’t sound very positive about his child. The tone of his comments almost denote annoyance at the small things that, in my opinion, he should boast about as a first time father.

Again, perhaps I’m just too sensative lately, but I expected him to seem more joyful.

- Korrie on September 21st, 2009

I agree with Korrie. I know there’s no “expected” way to behave in any situation but he does seems pretty down. Hope I’m wrong. I once read that babies smile in utero and have to re-learn the skill when they are born. All my three smiled once at two weeks, then regularly from about six weeks.

- Violet Ruby on September 21st, 2009

You know what, everyone reacts differently. To some people it comes naturally, others are running scared the first couple of years. You can’t blame him for brutal honesty. I’m sure a lot people feel that way, they’re just afraid what others will think of them if they ever voice it. I hope someone who’s dealing with the same emotions reads this and finds that they’re not alone. Just because he feels this way now doesn’t mean he’s not a good dad. I’m sure he’ll be fine

- RandomPerson on September 22nd, 2009

Mary- Of course babies smile even as very tiny newborns. However, they don’t actually smile AT anyone in particular for the first few weeks of their life. Instead, the mainly smile in response to stimuli. Social smiling, or smiling at or in response to another person, happens a bit later.

- CelebBabyLover on September 22nd, 2009

Oh, and I feel kind of silly for having to ask, but…What character does Hank voice on The Simpsons? On another note about his acting…He looks so much like his character in Night at the Musuem 2 that it’s scary (obviously most actors look like the characters they play in live action movies…but usually they don’t look like they could pass for the character’s identical twin!)!

- CelebBabyLover on September 22nd, 2009

I’m thankful for his honesty as well! I agree that particularly in those first few months it gets easier one day at a time! My son is six months old and honestly I have enjoyed the last three months WAY more than the first! It seems more and more stars are being honest which I really appreciate!

- Alice on September 22nd, 2009

CBL he does several voices, most notably Apu, Moe the bartender and Chief Wiggum. There are many other recurring but not regular characters he does.

- Shannon on September 22nd, 2009

I agree with you Korrie. It reminds me of when people cry for help (obviously his situation isn’t so dramatic though), they sort of speak sarcastically of their feelings. Or maybe he’s just a big pessimist and everything is always half empty for him. Hopefully he can relax and enjoy things. Babies are usually a lot more fun around 7 months or so! Of course then you miss the days that they couldn’t move around and get into trouble.

- ritter on September 22nd, 2009

Shannon- Thanks!

- CelebBabyLover on September 22nd, 2009

I don’t know, perhaps it doesn’t translate well to others, but when I read this I take it in the self-depricating, cynical tone of humor that I associate with Hank. I don’t think he begrudges parenthood at all, he is just a sarky man.

And I know what it’s like, with every development a baby makes at least one parent thinks it is mega-amazing. Not saying milestones aren’t, but if I were to believe my brother my 5week old neice has been smiling and recognizing since birth and is beginning to talk…..

- Daisy... on September 24th, 2009