1 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business, the podcast where we talked with 2 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: some of the brightest minds working in the media business today. 3 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: I'm Andrew Wallenstein with Variety. Writer, producer, actor, show creator, podcaster. 4 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: There's not a lot Larry Wilmore hasn't done in the 5 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: thirty years he's been working in comedy. Now he's taking 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: his second swing at being a talk show host, with 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: the premiere of a new program last month on the 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: Peacocks streaming network. You talked to him on October five, 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: is part of Variety's annual Entertainment and Technology sun. Good 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: to have you, Larry, Hey, nice to see you, Larry. 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: You've done the talk show thing before. You had a 12 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: show for a few years on Comedy Central that ended 13 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: in So what's different this time around? What new are 14 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: you bringing to the table? Well? Yeah, back then, we 15 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: kind of had an electus interrupt us. You know, we 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: weren't able to cover you know, the gathering storm as 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: Churchill called forward the um. So you know, there's a 18 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: little bit of frustration about that and everything. Now, you know, 19 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: I do get to cover it, but from a completely 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: different point of view. We're coming out of this. We're 21 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: in this COVID World, this George Floyd summer with you know, 22 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: racial protests going on. You know, our whole world have 23 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: turned upside down, you know, and we thought it would 24 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: be good to do a show where it's more than 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: just reacting to the news, which my old show was, 26 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: you know, something would happen, would react to it. Here, 27 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: we thought, let's do a show we can just have 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: a conversation with America. And America said they want to 29 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,639 Speaker 1: have these tyficult conversations, so let's try to do something 30 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,759 Speaker 1: like that. So the show is kind of built around that, 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: you know, very simple in that sense. It's a very 32 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: spare show, but each week we try to tackle a 33 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: different topic as well as me weighing in on what 34 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: kind of is going on in the moment. So it's 35 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: a combo platter of those two. Yeah at it. And 36 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: I'm also wondering when there's so much political themed comedy 37 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: to be done, you know what, I'm always curious about 38 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: comics like yourself in terms of what percentage of you 39 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: is licking your chops at the sheer, you know, comedic 40 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: potential of what's going on, and what part of you 41 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: is a human being? What percentage of you is a 42 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: human being that's just sort of appalled and concerned. How 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: do you balance those impulses. It's a great question, Andrew. 44 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: It's one of those things I talked about in my 45 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: old choice that unfortunately, when the world is going bad, 46 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: it's good for us. And it's not a nice combo platter, 47 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: you know, but um, I always try to approach everything 48 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: I do with humor and you know, uh, satire and 49 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: that sort of thing. Um what's good about this show 50 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: is that because it's built as a conversation, my point 51 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: of view just naturally gets in there as I'm engaging 52 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: with the people who are presenting you know, those issues 53 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: and everything. And since it's not just political what we're doing, 54 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: it's it's also cultural. You know, we're talking about what's 55 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: happening in the culture and some of these observations we've 56 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: had for a long time, Andrew, you know, so it's 57 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: almost this thing that's been building up that you feel 58 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: like you have a chance to talk about, you know, 59 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: and that sort of thing. So it's kind of a 60 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: good combination. So let me throw you a strange hypothetical 61 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: at you. I I come down, I am, I am 62 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: the devil. I come to you and I say that 63 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: I can make this whole Trump thing disappear, but in 64 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: exchange for making this happen, your career in comedy is over. 65 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: Do you make that sacrifice? UM? I am Catholic, and 66 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: I make no deal with the devil. I think maybe 67 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: because lace is I'll get in trouble if I say that, 68 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: because maybe they made a deal a long time ago. 69 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: Who knows. UM, I don't think we have to make 70 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: that deal with the devil. I believe in the democratic process, 71 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: you know, And I think I would if the devil 72 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: offered me that, I would say, you know, devil, we 73 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: have something called voting, and I think it's better for 74 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: us to persuade people to get out there and vote 75 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: and do the right thing and let our feet through 76 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: the talking and in this movement. And that I can 77 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: use my voice to help that type of thing rather 78 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: than kind of wishing it into the corn field. Is 79 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: how I would approach that. But you know, I'm the devil. 80 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: The devil has been promising a lot these past two years. 81 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: I have not seen any of it. Well keep waiting, um, 82 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: but I'm curious, like, is there Things obviously late and 83 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: seemed pretty bleak on the political front. Is there a 84 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: part of you is there is there is there a 85 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: moment where you're like, this is just not even funny anymore. 86 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: I'm I find difficulty being humorous about something that is, 87 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: you know, at a time of such stress and angst 88 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: for so many Americans. Well, now we're getting into the 89 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: psychosis of Larry Wilmore. You know, let's get in there. 90 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: I can make fun of anything that can be a 91 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: plus and a minus. Unfortunately, it's why I'm kind of 92 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: in this business. You give me the darkest thing, I 93 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: can find the humor in it. And I'm saying, people say, Larry, 94 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: why did you get into into why did you get 95 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: into comedy? I say, actually I didn't. I got into 96 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: show basins I could get comedy out of me, you know, 97 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: because it's it's kind of my point of view in 98 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: the world. So I don't rely on the subject to 99 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: bring me the humor. I rely on me bringing the 100 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: humor to the subject, you know. Yeah, because there's so 101 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: many dark things, and you're right, there's nothing funny about it. 102 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: What's funny is that I'm the one that's screwed up 103 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: in the head and I have a warped point of 104 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: view about these things. So that's my job is to 105 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: bring that. And it's not necessarily like our show isn't 106 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: like a strict comedy show type of format. It really 107 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 1: is set up as a as a chat show type 108 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: of format. You know. It would be the humorous version 109 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: of you know, firing line, let's say, or that type 110 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: of thing, you know, more than in the fake news 111 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: category where it's joke joke, joke, joke, joke, you know, 112 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: so you really want to It's really set up to 113 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: get my point of view about something like one of 114 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: our previous shows respecting this timeline, uh, when it was 115 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: the week where Trump and Biden had their debate, and 116 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: rather than me just doing joke joke joke about the debate, 117 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: which you know now i'm competing with Late Night, I 118 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: had to take on the undecided voters where there was 119 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: a segment after that. And so my ticket is just 120 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: tearned down be on decided of voters and my point 121 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: of view about how in the world can you be 122 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: undecided right now? I can if you're for I'm not 123 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: mad if you're for Trump or for Biden. But there's 124 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: no way you can be undecided, you know. And so 125 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: I took that as my comic point of view, and 126 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: that was my way into it rather than think, oh, 127 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: this thing is sad there, you know, there's nothing funny 128 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: in that. Well, I guess I'm quick to sort of 129 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: slap the comedy label on you because you've done so 130 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: many different things in the comedy lane throughout your career. 131 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: Now you're a performer. Other times in your career you 132 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: were better known for creating this show or writing that show. 133 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: And I'm just curious about the balance of it all 134 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: is there? You know? Do you make decisions like now 135 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 1: is my time to be more a performer or behind 136 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: the scenes? Are you just continuing to do a little 137 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: bit of everything? Sometimes it's a little bit everything. It's 138 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: a really great question, though, and sometimes I am conscious 139 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: of the fact that I want to focus on certain things. 140 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: I really hadn't planned on doing this show, to be 141 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: honest with you. It kind of came up. I've been 142 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: at NBC Universal developing TV shows the past year or so, 143 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: and I have a lot of things in development right 144 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: now actually on my slate that take up a lot 145 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: of my of my time and and kind of bandwidth 146 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: if you will, you know, And so this wasn't something 147 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: I was consciously planning. I hadn't really made room for it, 148 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: so when it came about it, I then had to 149 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: create space for it and room for it and that 150 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: sort of thing. So you're right, I actually do think 151 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: of those I'm like, what do I actually have the 152 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: time for and the desire to do and all that. 153 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: And it's funny and when I was doing in the 154 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: Night and Show, I didn't have time for anything else. 155 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: I had to kind of leave Insecure and Blackish those 156 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: shows that I have been working at the time because 157 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: it was way too demanding. Um. Instagram. I was able 158 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: to consult a bit, but it was way too demanding 159 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: for me to kind of keep my duties as executive producer, 160 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: you know. So there is a balance to it all. 161 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: So it sounds like you're you're you're doing something a 162 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: little more balanced than you were the last time you 163 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: did a talk show. Um. I'm curious. When I talk 164 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: to people like yourself who have a lot of irons 165 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: in the fire, I typically hear two different kinds of attitudes. 166 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: These are there is you know, a master plan to 167 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: build a brand with a capital B. Or this is 168 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: more casual. Hey, I just go Where the gigs are 169 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: you know who who are you? Larry Wilmore? Are you 170 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: building the Wilmore brand or is it just like hey, 171 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: I take what comes. Yeah, I've been more in the math, 172 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: in the master plan category. Um, It's something I've been 173 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: doing for a long time. I had conversations like this 174 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: twenty years ago with my agency of what I wanted 175 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: to do build a brand and company, but also, um, 176 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: I've always been very interested in helping to open the 177 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: door for young talent, especially people of color, people who 178 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: when I was coming up, I saw a lot of 179 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: those stories were closed. In doing so, part of my 180 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,599 Speaker 1: mission statement and this started in the nineties talking with 181 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: my friends was like I said, I could be one 182 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: of those people to help open these doors, you know 183 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 1: with the type of shows I'm doing that are different 184 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: and their thought of differently in the marketplace, like like 185 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: in the late nineties, black sitcoms that kind of taken 186 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: a downturn in turns of their luster, like Cosby Show 187 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: had gone away, even Fresh Prince was gone, and some 188 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: of the high profile shows and most of the black 189 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: shows were in UPN and c W, and people in 190 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: my industry didn't regard them very highly, and my friends 191 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: we would talk about this. It was very concerning to us, 192 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: you know, and I said, well, we have to do 193 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 1: that ourselves. We gotta put out that content. And when 194 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: I did the Bernie Max Shaw, I was really proud 195 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: of the fact that that we want an Emmy, you know, 196 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,359 Speaker 1: and that it was considered in that type of category, 197 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: you know, And and the people who have associated with 198 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: Big gone on to do those types of luster type 199 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 1: shows where it's not just in the marketplace, but there's 200 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: it's also considered here too, So we have to be 201 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: looked at differently, and not just not just you know, 202 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: talent doing a screen, but we're adding something of value 203 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: on different levels too. That was very important to me, 204 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: and because I saw us cut out of those pictures 205 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: a lot, you know. Do you know, Here's here's a 206 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: little trip. Do you know? In the early nineties, there 207 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: used to be a Black Emmy nominee dinner that was 208 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 1: put on for this organization because they didn't think black 209 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: people are gonna win. It was so sad. I still 210 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: you had a chance to go up and do your 211 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: speech and everything because black people weren't winning Emmies, you know. 212 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: And I remember I was nominated for a Living Color 213 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: back then, you know, it's one of my first gigs 214 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: and everything, and I went up in Vegas speech and 215 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: I made fun of it and everything as a joke, 216 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: you know, And so it meant a lot to me 217 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: ten years later to actually win one and be in 218 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: that category. And now it's all over the place, you know, 219 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: you have you really see our representation on television making 220 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: a substantive mark, which that has always been part of 221 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: my master plan to help that rise up, you know, 222 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: with what I'm doing. So so, then would you say 223 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: you're satisfied at the gains that black writers, producers, artists 224 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: like yourself have made because they're you know, right now, 225 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 1: we're at a time where there's a lot of talk 226 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: in the industry about opening up more opportunity, being inclusive. 227 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: Are you saying that you are You're you're seeing progress 228 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: made or is there a lot of improvements still needed? 229 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: I'm saying both. Okay, Yeah, so there's definitely a lot 230 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: of progress that's been made, but we were so far 231 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: back there's still ways to go, you know, not either 232 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: or exactly exactly both of those things are true, you know, 233 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: And you know, I think the audience is more receptive 234 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: to hearing different stories, seeing different stories, which is fantastic. 235 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: You know, I'm developing sure right now with the this 236 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,599 Speaker 1: talent too Young Lady. She's an give American woman and 237 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: a writer with that point of view, and I feel 238 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: like I haven't really seen that on television that much, 239 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: and and I'm so excited to be, you know, developing 240 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: the show with her and try to put it on 241 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: you know right now. Um, they being able to do 242 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: different genres. I love what Jordan Peale is doing in 243 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: the horror genre. You know, we haven't been represented so 244 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: much in that genre in that way, you know, that 245 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: suspense genre in that sense, and for him to do 246 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: that and kind of twist the genre a little bit, 247 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: I think it's fantastic when I see things like love 248 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: Lovecraft Country and and the Watchers and things Watchmen and 249 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: things like that. You know, I love how people are 250 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: doing different things in genres and that type of thing. 251 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: It's it's it's very encouraging. So you're building this great 252 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: track record not just for yourself, but in the way 253 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: you've helped artists like Ray Robin the Ed And I'm 254 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: curious because it's hard to develop talent. It's hard to 255 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 1: bring up someone who's younger doesn't have the experience. What 256 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: is it about you that clearly you know how to 257 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: get it done? How I don't know. I can't give 258 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: myself too much credit. I mean, I've been doing it 259 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: for a long time, and you know, because that's what 260 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: I want to do, I'm more likely to find somebody 261 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: then if it's an accident, you know. Um. So, like 262 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: when I read Kenya's script, you know, I've been ABC 263 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: was trying to make a determination first page. I'm like, 264 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: this is a no brainer, this is this is fantastic. 265 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: Of course I want to do this, you know. And 266 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: because that's what I was open to enough. If I 267 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: had not been open to that, like no, I just 268 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: want to do my own thing, that never would have happened, 269 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: you know. So it's being receptive to it as part 270 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: of the game. It's not like I have some talent 271 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: for that, really, because I don't think I do. I 272 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: think it's just being receptive to the game and taking 273 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: a lot of different swings. Because there's swings I've taken 274 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: that haven't you know, worked out, But I'm still taking 275 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: those swings. You know, got it, got it? Um, so 276 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: you're on peacock now, and I'm curious, as a producer, writer, performer, 277 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: how do you look at the landscape right now as 278 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: all these new streaming networks pile up? Is your attitude 279 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: like great, more buyers or is there something more to it? 280 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: My attitude always with new technology is great. I see 281 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: this as a challenge. I see this as opportunity. You'll 282 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: find this about me. I'm more of a positive person 283 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: than a negative when it comes to things, because for me, 284 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: it's it presents a puzzle, and the puzzles how am 285 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: I gonna win in this arena? You know? So, so 286 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: that's why when I say positive, that's what I mean 287 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: when I say it's great. So for me, the thing 288 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: that's really good about it is there are a lot 289 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: of opportunities for content creators, you know, and for writers, 290 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: probably more now than I can ever remember, especially when 291 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: they were three networks or maybe three in you know, 292 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: two half networks or whatever. You know. The opportunities for 293 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: writers and actors and all this stuff is is huge 294 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: right now. The financial opportunities are a different thing, you know. 295 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: I think that's actually unfortunately going down for writers, and 296 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: having once been on the board of directors for the 297 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: writers good years ago. I am concerned about that, but 298 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: that's a that's for a whole different variety. I think conversation. 299 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: You know, maybe we're doing the NBA's you know, we'll 300 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: talk about that kind of stuff. But that's that has 301 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: to do with more of a corporate takeover of the business, 302 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: which I think has some negative ramifications. The positive ramifications 303 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: is the content part of it and the opportunities for people, 304 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: especially people just starting out don't have that much experience. 305 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: They could get on a lot of these shows and 306 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: build their experience, you know, get their confidence and that 307 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: sort of thing. So well, but would you say, then 308 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: does your optimism extend to and this is the new 309 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: normal there will always be a thousand new networks or 310 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: are you sort of wait and see on all this? No, 311 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: it's the new normal. Um, ten years from now, people 312 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: gonna say, so wait, so tell me what CBS was again. 313 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: So there was a net so they told you when 314 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: you had to watch something. I don't understand that because yeah, 315 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: and it wait, you didn't get it on the internet, 316 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: So how did you watch it? It can through the air. 317 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: That doesn't make sense, you know, but you know, and 318 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: it's changing all the time, you know. I remember when 319 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: Tebow came along, the fact that you could record a 320 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: show in real time and pausitive live shows seem like 321 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: such an odd thing, you know, But streaming your Peacocks 322 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: or Hulus, your channels that have both a live component 323 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: and the streaming, I think it's going to be with 324 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: the future is I think Netflix is probably gonna do 325 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: something like that in Amazon where there's a live component, 326 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: because you're not gonna want people to leave to go 327 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: to that after a while. They're gonna want people to 328 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: stay for all of it. So I think certainly Hulu 329 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: and Peacocks, since are already doing that, I feel like 330 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: that's kind of the template I think of what we're 331 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: gonna be seeing more of. I mean, I think of 332 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: what you're saying also in terms of your own show, 333 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: where I you know, as I read about it and 334 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: people are calling it a late night show, and it's like, well, 335 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: I could watch it any time that does something like that. 336 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: Does the late night label really mean anything? You know what? 337 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: I think it's there so people know what genre it is, 338 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: But you're absolutely right. I view it more as like 339 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: the way people interact with podcasts, you know that they 340 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,719 Speaker 1: they will watch it when they want to interact with 341 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: it and that sort of thing as opposed to late 342 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: night you know. Um, you're absolutely right, and but we're 343 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: just at the first talking about that and the way 344 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: that those should be marketed. And in fact, I was 345 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: just talking to Dance here about those types of things 346 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: and how the audience is interacting on a streaming platform 347 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: with this type of show is evolving, you know, it's 348 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,919 Speaker 1: it's still something that we're trying to figure out how 349 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: to engage with them properly and all that kind of stuff, 350 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: because you're right, we're using the language of broadcasting for it, 351 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: which is different now, you know. Yeah, and you mentioned podcasting. 352 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: You've you're in that business as well. You've got one 353 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: with a Ringer network. I'm a man. Well, but that's 354 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: the thing. That's the thing I don't understand. How are 355 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: you able to do this show that show? Um, do 356 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: you run into a place of not just your own 357 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: personal exhaustion, but just an exhaustion of ideas. There's only 358 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: so much to go around. Well, luckily that I launched 359 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: the podcast at a time when I had the bandwidth 360 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: to do it, and so that's something that's going and 361 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: it's you know, I have people who are supportive in 362 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 1: man and all that kind of stuff, and for me, 363 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 1: it's something that I really love passionately doing, you know, 364 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: having a long form conversation. I ended up liking it 365 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: way more than I even thought I would, so I moved. 366 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: I used to do it during the week. Now you 367 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: do it on Saturdays, which gives me time to have 368 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: it in a space. The hardest thing is managing my company. 369 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: But I have a great person, Tamara Gregory, who's the 370 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: head of my company, helping me to run it day 371 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: to day, and and she does a lot of that 372 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: heavy lifting. And my assistant Alex too does does a 373 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: lot of that. Um. Those people who are the front 374 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: line of that part of the development company reading scripts 375 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: help and to give notes that sort of thing. I 376 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: can swoop in and give a bird's eye view or 377 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: give you know, some thought to where I think it 378 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: should go, you know. Um, And each collaboration is different. UM. 379 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: I'm developing this show with Kerry Washington and her company, 380 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,959 Speaker 1: and we've been developing for a while. But how we 381 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: in because we have a big support system in it, 382 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: we can interact you know here and there in it 383 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: when we need to, when we need to come in 384 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: and that sort of thing, you know. And it's fun 385 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: to do that as opposed to just talking it every 386 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: single day, you know, because you're right, I would be 387 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: exhausted about trying to do that, you know, So that 388 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: the key is figuring is having the right team in 389 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: place so you can compartmentalize in the most effective way. 390 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: And luckily my brain kind of works like that, you know. 391 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: I used to think I was just scatterbrain, to be 392 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 1: honest with you, you know, but I can just look 393 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: here and go, okay, yeah that was said, Okay, now 394 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: what are we doing this thing? And now I'm not 395 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: thinking about that, you know, I can think about that. 396 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: So I'm naturally able to do that. So that's a 397 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 1: good thing. But if I didn't have that team and 398 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 1: I had to try to do all this and keep 399 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: in my head at once, I couldn't do it. Be impossible. 400 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: I just couldn't do it, got it? And I'm curious 401 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: to your ambitions extend beyond comedy. I mean, could are 402 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: you developing any drama? For instance? I am I have 403 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: a drama idea that I thought of a year or 404 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: so ago that really excited about. It's something completely different. 405 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: It's like a period thriller. I never thought I would 406 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: have an idea like that, you know, And so that's 407 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: something that I'm developing. You know that I have to 408 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 1: find the right for had the right time to do it, 409 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: you know that sort of thing. So I do get 410 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 1: different types of ideas, and you know, they're very exciting 411 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: to get things like that. Um, And sometimes I'll get 412 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 1: an idea and I'll go, you know what, I like 413 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: this idea, but it's not something ill, right, let's see 414 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: if we can find a writer for it. So sometimes 415 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 1: things happen like that as well, you know. But in 416 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: terms of drama, you know, whenever I he talked to 417 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: someone who says they're sort of straying outside their lane, 418 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: there's also this trepidation and like, oh, the business isn't 419 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 1: going to accept me outside of my comedy pigeon Hole. 420 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,479 Speaker 1: Any fears there no, Because for me, it's not that 421 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: I'm that I want to do a drama, is that 422 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: this is how this story has to be told, and 423 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 1: it happens to be in that genre. So I kind 424 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: of the story came to me and the story told 425 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: me the form as opposed to me thinking, had I 426 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: really want to do a drama, what would be a 427 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: good drama? So it wasn't the other way around. So 428 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: to me, you know, we whoever is going to be 429 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: in business with that is either gonna like this story 430 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 1: or not. You know, It's how I kind of look 431 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: at it. And we were talking about the podcast business 432 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: that's become a rich source of I p for a 433 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: lot of writers and producers. Um, do you look at 434 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: podcasting from that perspective? No, not at all. I don't 435 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: use it to my material of that sort of thing. 436 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: It really exists as its own form um as a 437 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: means for me to have these type some long form 438 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: of conversations about subjects that I think both myself and 439 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: the audience would enjoy. Um, I hope to do it 440 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,439 Speaker 1: for a long time. Actually, have you looked and I 441 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: totally get what you mean in terms of it's uh 442 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: why it could be so satisfying as creative expression. But 443 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: what about podcasting as a business? Are you looking at 444 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: that closely enough where you're like, Okay, I get where 445 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: the growth is going to be and I know where 446 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: we're all going with this. Mm hmm. Actually not really, 447 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: you know, um, because since I'm in broadcasting and all that, 448 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 1: that's kind of where my energies are in terms of 449 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: figuring that out. So I guess I'm just I'm existing 450 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: and podcasting, but I'm not like looking at it as 451 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: you know, a building them. Yeah, exactly that type of thing. 452 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: I don't know enough about it to do that or 453 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: have a real opinion of a strong enough opinion to 454 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: engage in that. I guess you know so. But you 455 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 1: you know, you express yourself in the TV show, express 456 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: yourself on the podcast, you also haven't fairly active presence 457 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: on social media. I mean again, I kind of go 458 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 1: back to the old question where it's like do you 459 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: get to a place where there's nothing in the cupboard 460 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: because you've sort of put it all out everywhere else, 461 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 1: and so you know, where does social media fall in 462 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: that sort of juggling act you call your career. I 463 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: have a purpose chosen not to be too expressive in 464 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: social media. I'm more promotional or you know, liking or retweeting. Um. 465 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: I'd like for my opinion to come out a little 466 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: more refined, like in the podcast or on shows. UM. 467 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: And occasionally I'll engage like I like to live tweet 468 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: events and then I'll put my opinion out a little 469 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: more for that where it's special. So it doesn't it 470 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: doesn't take that much for me just to engage in 471 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: the way that I'm doing. Oh that's funny, I'm gonna 472 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: retweet that or that's nice. So but if I want 473 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: my opinion and something out there, I'd rather curated a 474 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:59,439 Speaker 1: little better than than how Twitter is. No no shade 475 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: to Twitter it. I just feel I have platforms that 476 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: have give me a better chance to make that expression 477 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: more meaningful. Do you look though, to social media to 478 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: get a sense of how your work is coming across 479 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: in general? What people are tweeting about the new show 480 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 1: or the podcast or whatnot. Um, a little bit. You 481 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: just never know because all of those are kind of 482 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: their own bubbles, so you know, sometimes the people follow 483 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: your people who like you, so it's hard to know 484 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: how things are really being taken. Like I always used 485 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: to joke that I had cable faint, so I was 486 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: only famous enough for people who knew I was, you know, like, well, 487 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: you know you're you're getting famous. When when people or 488 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: I was famous enough for people who like me, you know, 489 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: you you know you're getting famous when people recognize you 490 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: who don't like you. That's a definition of fame because 491 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: if people who like you, they have found you, you're 492 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: part of their tribe, you know. So when people say, oh, yeah, 493 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: Larry Litmar sucks, then that's when you're famous, you know. 494 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 1: At Ah. You know, a lot of what I do 495 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 1: is kind of niche, So I get a lot of 496 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: bubble talk and not a lot of general talk. So 497 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: it's hard to tell. Thankfully, the people that like me 498 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: really like me, you know. Um, you know, but there's 499 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 1: a combination thing. Sometimes you hear things out in the 500 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: world and that type of stuff. People seem to like 501 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 1: the new show a lot, so they like the look 502 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: of it. It feels fresh to them. So the things 503 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,720 Speaker 1: that the way they're describing, and I go, yes, that's 504 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: what I was trying to do, you know. So I 505 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: listened for keywords of things that they're saying, as opposed 506 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: to them just saying that they like it, you know, 507 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: so well the look of your show. You know, I 508 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: think when we use the label earlier talk show or 509 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: late night show, you immediately conjure up thoughts of you know, 510 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: the desk and the couch and then you that's not 511 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: what you've got. You've got the you know, the guests 512 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: on the big screen. It's a pretty spare set. So 513 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: were you sort of making a very sort of conscious 514 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: deviation from the traditional talk show set up. It was 515 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 1: a combo platter. First of all, we had zero budget 516 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: and it's not an exaggeration. We really have very few resources. 517 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: Is and we're in COVID, which is another consideration, and 518 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: you know, with those and I didn't want to compete 519 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: with what I did before on television. I wanted to 520 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: present something I didn't want me to compete with myself, 521 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: you know, so I even dressed differently. You know, I'm 522 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 1: a little more casual in this than I was on 523 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: the other show. There's a lot of considerations, so all 524 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 1: of those went into the considerations. We're kind of using 525 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: a negative space in a way as opposed to filling 526 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 1: everything with objects and that sort of thing. So it 527 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: gives it, it gives images a different type of power 528 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: that you couldn't have otherwise, which is very it's very 529 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: interesting too, you know, especially using the images of the 530 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 1: times that we're in and in a palette of you know, 531 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: this black Lives matter type of energy and that palette. 532 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: You know, all those things to me are very simple, 533 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: almost artistic in a sense, you know, uh, almost expressionism 534 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: as a way to do a show, you know, which 535 00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: is kind of interesting. Um. So you know, I really, 536 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: I really love that the fact that we can use 537 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: the limited research that we have to you know, have 538 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: a very distinct look and distinct feel, um, without having 539 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: all those things that we have before. So it's kind 540 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:18,479 Speaker 1: of cool. How else has COVID changed the business of 541 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: Larry Wilmore, And you know, I assume it's more than 542 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: just what's going on on the set and what you 543 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: did there. Well, you're able to have more meetings than 544 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: you can without being get hopping in a car and 545 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: getting exhausted driving through Los Angeles and that sort of thing. 546 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: And I find that kind of a plus. You know, 547 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 1: regular writers meetings are tougher because you're you get tired faster, 548 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 1: so those have to be shorter, which by the way, 549 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: is probably a plus to you know, Um, the ability 550 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: to work with people in different places, which a lot 551 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: of the workforce out there is happening now in the world, 552 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:53,919 Speaker 1: you know, and we're doing the same in showbiz. So 553 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: by showrunner exact producers in New York, you know, is 554 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 1: a right one of our writers and our researchers also 555 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: in the arc, you know, So we're able to be 556 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: in these different places and produce a show together. We 557 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: never could have done that if I had done the 558 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: show a year ago. I wouldn't be able to work 559 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: with a couple of people working with because you know, 560 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: they wouldn't come out her to do this thing, you 561 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: know or whatever. You know, So that may change our 562 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: business permanently. As we know, there's a lot of shows 563 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 1: that are shot in Canada, you know, and you know 564 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: there's ways for your production team to interact a little better, 565 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: like well, a lot of those kinks have been will 566 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: have been worked out through this period of how to 567 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: more effectively work remotely and that sort of thing. So 568 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: I think a lot of the changes are going to 569 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: be permanent, permanent, And it sounds like you're saying positive 570 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: changes for the better in terms of how production and justus. 571 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: But I would rather have my executive reducer here. There 572 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: are some things that are frustrating because of that, So 573 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: I wouldn't make that part permanent, but certainly like I 574 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: wouldn't make a key position like that, um but some 575 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: of the other ones, certainly, like you know, our researcher 576 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: being York not a problem, you know, that sort of thing, 577 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, Um, and some of the ways that we interact. 578 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 1: We had a couple of writers, there's things like that 579 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: wouldn't be a problem. You know. It's a little tougher 580 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: with somebody who has to be there almost everything, you know. Yeah, Well, 581 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: hopefully we'll be moving out of this this sort of 582 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: sorry phase of our lives. Uh soon enough. Uh, Larry, 583 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate you taking the time out to talk to 584 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: me today. Thank you for joining us. Oh. Thanks, Andrew, 585 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate you having me. It was a great conversation, 586 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: great questions. I really appreciate it. Cool. Thanks for your time. 587 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: This has been another episode of Strictly Business. Tune in 588 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: next week for another helping of scintillating conversation with media 589 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: movers and shakers, and please make sure you subscribe to 590 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: the podcast to hear future episodes. Also leave a review 591 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: in Apple Podcasts and let us know how we're doing.