VIDEO: 'White Lotus' Creator Mike White Calls in to Talk Jennifer Coolidge, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and the Future of His Hit HBO Series

Mike White has earned a vacation of his own.

The celebrated writer, director, actor, and showrunner just finished another season of his smash-hit HBO series “The White Lotus” — a darkly comedic drama about a fictitious chain of luxury resorts and the disaffected, sometimes depraved wealthy tourists who wreak havoc upon them — and now he’s ready to get some rest and relaxation himself.

“There are times when I felt like I was going to die trying to finish this job,” Mike told Howard with a laugh on Tuesday morning during a call into the Stern Show. “I forgot what my life is,” he continued, adding, “I’m going to Colombia today just to get the hell out of here.”

Considering “The White Lotus” is an anthology series and each season takes place in a different country, Howard wondered if Mike’s upcoming vacation was a clue to the show’s next locale: “Are you thinking maybe the next season will take place in Colombia, so you’re going to do research?”

“I don’t think we’re going to South America [next], so probably not … but maybe one day we could do it there,” White responded. “I just gotta get out of L.A.”

Howard’s and Mike’s hour-long conversation touched upon the earlier chapters of his life and career, including being a contestant on “Survivor” and penning the script for the Jack Black comedy “School of Rock,” as well as how his life has changed since “The White Lotus” debuted in 2021.

White also spoke candidly about the recent departure of composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who won three Emmys with “The White Lotus” before trashing the show last week in the New York Times. “I just don’t think he respected me … He says we feuded, but I don’t think I ever really had a fight with him except for some emails,” Mike told Howard, adding, “I was thrown that he’d go to the New York Times to shit on me and the show like three days before the finale.”

Mike had nothing but kind things to say about the show’s ensemble cast, including veteran actress and comedian Jennifer Coolidge, who won back-to-back Emmys for her turn as Tanya on Seasons 1 and 2 and has since become a household name. “People didn’t really believe in her as a leading person [before that],” Mike said of Coolidge, who has been his friend for decades. “So, yeah, [her success] was very satisfying.”

Season 3, meanwhile, thrust up-and-coming star Patrick Schwarzenegger into the limelight. The actor and son of action icon turned Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in some of the show’s wildest scenes to date, and as White explained it to Howard, Patrick’s famous father only adds to the appeal.

“He’s got such a great personality and so much fun,” Mike said of Patrick, adding, “He’s doing these scenes and this whole incest storyline, and him having this, like, ‘gay panic’ [while] knowing he was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son [was] funny in a deep, meta way. You just gotta go with it.”