1 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,239 Speaker 1: I want to talk about doing things properly from the 2 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: ground up. My apartment in the city, which I love, 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: was a wreck. I got a crazy deal on it 4 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: because I don't think I could have gotten something in 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: the worst neighborhood of New York for the same price. 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: But I just had vision and I am always economical. 7 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: I choose my spots, meaning if something really needs to 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: be done, I have to do it properly if it's 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: going to bother me. But there are certain areas where 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: you don't have to go so high, so highs and 11 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: lows and the way that I addressed too. I buy 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: things that are high end. They're usually on sale, but 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: I wear them for years, and I mean for like 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: ten years, versus just by something super trendy and expensive 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 1: or something cheap. I don't like anything cheap. I like 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: you to buy well and keep it forever. So things 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: have to be done properly from the ground up. And 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: the reason I say that is when I'm moved into 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: that apartment in the city, I did it properly. In 20 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: the beginning. Most of the things that I wanted done well, 21 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: a whole plan, a whole narrative thought out, and I 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 1: just love it now so much because it was done 23 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: properly from the beginning. My house in the Hampton's, for example. UM, 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: and I know these are high class problems, but it 25 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: doesn't matter whether we're talking about a closet, a pantry, 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: a small area your office, uh, doing a birthday party. 27 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: These are examples that are you know, rich person problems. 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: But I'm still explaining a concept that applies to everyone, 29 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: and even applies to when I was broke and I 30 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: realized that you have to sort of do things properly 31 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: from the beginning. In business, the same thing happens, like 32 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: if things don't start off properly, they'll run away from you. 33 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: You don't realize it. I don't think for my talk 34 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: show I could have changed it drastically because when I 35 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: got my talk show, Anderson Cooper had been on for 36 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: I think one or two years before me, and it 37 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: bled out a lot of money, and Warner Brothers was 38 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: gunshy about it. And by the time mine got on 39 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: the air, the same person who put Mine on the 40 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: air put Anderson's on and they really didn't want to 41 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: spend a ton of money on it. And the people 42 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: that put Anderson's show on the air got fired the 43 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: president of Warner Brothers Television or unscripted or whatever, so 44 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 1: we were left with no principle, So meaning we were 45 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: producing a talk show, which I didn't want to do, 46 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: and I didn't like it anyway. I was going through 47 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: a bad divorce and it was being a traffic cop. 48 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: And when we come back and up next and after 49 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 1: the break and just constraining and syndicated talk shows me 50 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: and every single place in the country has an opinion 51 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: about your lipstick and your cleavage and your skirt, and 52 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: and you know, they weren't doing the show based on 53 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: what they thought would be a good segment. The executive 54 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: producer was like, no, that worked really well, So we 55 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: have to do that five days in a row. And 56 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: it was very fear based, and there was no manager 57 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: of it, and it was moving so quickly that I 58 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: couldn't get a handle on it, meaning I knew it 59 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: felt wrong. It felt like, what are we doing. We're 60 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: just we're not we're copying other people and we're not 61 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 1: being original, and I feel constrained, and I just didn't 62 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: like it. It felt wrong. In that case, I don't 63 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: think I could have made a big friends because the 64 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: trains moving so quickly, and you have to shoot every day, 65 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: and there's so many people doing it, and there was 66 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: no management. So there's no person at Warner Brothers managing 67 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: the project because the two people got fired. So we 68 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: were sort of lone wolves and on our own, and 69 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: it didn't get picked up for a second season. I 70 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: was very relieved. I didn't like doing it. I was happy, 71 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: but I was unhappy for the several hundred people working there. 72 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: But there's a lesson there. So when I went to 73 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: start The Big Shot with Bethany, which is my show 74 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: on HBO Max, which is like a modern, more authentic 75 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: version of The Apprentice, whereas The Apprentice was about sort 76 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: of brand integrations and not authentic to his business and 77 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: really seeing my house and really seeing my life. So 78 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: the first day of The Big Shot, there are hundreds 79 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: of people at my house in Connecticut. I didn't live 80 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: there yet. It was going to be sold and they 81 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: had hundreds of people. They warned me would be a 82 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: big production. But this wasn't like The Housewives. This was 83 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: hundreds of people that massive jib camera. It looked like 84 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: you were walking into the shooting of a movie. Were 85 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: like a massive Coca Cola commercial for the Super Bowl. 86 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: I mean it was overwhelming, right, and I'm very authentic 87 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: in the way that I do things on television, so 88 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: I was fumbling. Truthfully, I couldn't get into the key. 89 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: I couldn't find the key for the door, and they 90 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: weren't covering that. And I walked inside and they were like, no, 91 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: we just want to capture you, like sitting down doing this, 92 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: and I'm like, well, no, I just I just literally 93 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: couldn't get into my house with the keys. So that's real. 94 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: Let's do real. Reel is always better than manufactured. So 95 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: the way that the producers were working on it was 96 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: just sort of like, we want you to be doing 97 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: that and standing there and saying this. We want you 98 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: to say this is not your big shot to people, 99 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: and I'm like, oh, I would never say that. That's 100 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: so contrived. It's not truthful. Like I don't need lingo. 101 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: This isn't the eighties. It needs to be a certain way. Well, 102 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: the shoot was on the on election day, and it 103 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: was the eve of my birthday. So the shoot was 104 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: out of hand my house. I was walking in the 105 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: kitchen and there was the house was getting messed. They 106 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: were ruining the furniture and things, which is not going well. 107 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: And I felt overwhelmed, okay. And it was during a 108 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: pande I make on election day eve of my birthday, 109 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: and I was worried about like just coaster marks and 110 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: paint getting scratched and all this stuff. And some of 111 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: the people I was working with, We're looking at me 112 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: and saying, oh, honey, like that's like worrying about a 113 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 1: deck chair off the Kiwi two, Like there's a lot 114 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: more to worry about here. And I could see a 115 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: scared look in everybody's face. And they were like a 116 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: hundred people on my property and I could see a 117 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: scared look where I kept saying, two people working on it? 118 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: Is this good? Is this a good show? Like? And 119 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: that's not like me at all. So it was sort 120 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: of getting away from me. Do you ever have like 121 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: you're planning something, you're doing something, and your your job 122 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: or a trip or anything, and it's like getting away 123 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: from you. So now I'm the talent, but I've created 124 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: the show, I've produced it. My name is on this show. 125 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: It's costing hundreds of thousands, if not and a millions 126 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: of dollars. Okay, A h BO max is legit, So 127 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: we get we're shooting, and it just feels weird. And 128 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: I'm upstairs in my master bedroom and I am waiting 129 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: two hours in hair and makeup in my dress to 130 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: come out and say what I'm gonna say to these 131 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: cast members about this thing. And it's feeling very contrived 132 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: and very like formatted and just too overly structured. And 133 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: I'm feeling like I felt on the talk show, like constrained, 134 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: and I don't know how to like course correct this thing. 135 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: So now I'm outside and it's thirty degrees and we're rushing, 136 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: and now they're like, it's two o'clock in the morning, 137 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: and we have to get this last thing because we 138 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: had to finish this one episode on this day, which 139 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: usually don't do an episode in one day. So now 140 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: I realize we're trying to fit twenty pounds of ship 141 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: in a five pound bag because this is the only 142 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: day that we're shooting in Connecticut, and we're worried we're 143 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: gonna get shut down at some point because of COVID 144 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: because it's crazy in New York right now, and so 145 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: we're trying to rush and now we're doing a shoddy job, 146 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: like a half ass job. And now I'm looking around. 147 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: I'm like, there are people that are here that have 148 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: been sequestered in a hotel for weeks, that are up 149 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: at two o'clock in the morning, and like as it 150 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: gets later, I look over and I say, like, is 151 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: this okay? Can we be doing this? And they're like, well, 152 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 1: it's not union, but you know it's not right. So 153 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: I call the production company and I'm like, we need 154 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 1: to like stop this. But I'm also obsessive because I 155 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: don't want us to not have an episode. Whatever comes 156 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: out on the television can't be good enough. So I 157 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: want to try to finish this, but we can't. We 158 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: have to get everybody home. So we have to close 159 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: it out and get everybody home. And it's like a 160 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: crazy day and it just feels weird and my house 161 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: is a wreck. Okay, now it's my birthday now. Because 162 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: so I get home at four o'clock in the morning, 163 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: it's my birthday. I call up my business managers and 164 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: my lawyers, and I say, who do I call? Do 165 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: I call the production company that I'm partners with? Do 166 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: I call my friend who runs the network? What do 167 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: I do? And so everybody that I work with And 168 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: this is another part of like do what's in your gut. 169 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: This thing goes sideways. It's my name, and everybody always 170 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: wants to cover their own ass. It's just nature. It's 171 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: nothing wrong with anybody, but everybody wants to cover their 172 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: own ass. My gut says. I call my friend at HBO, 173 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: Gen O'Connell, and he says, absolutely absolutely. I said, I'm 174 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: calling to say to her, and I'll tell you what 175 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: I said to her. I said him, I want to 176 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: call her just because I need to level if I 177 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: don't say this out loud. And this train keeps moving, 178 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: which is really nobody's fault because it's a pandemic. But true, 179 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: if there's one, it's gonna be your name. It doesn't 180 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: matter what happens in the back of the house. You 181 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: give someone a shitty meal, you are responsible for it. 182 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: It's your name. It's on the front of that restaurant. 183 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: It's not the sioux chef, is not your electrician. It 184 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. So even though you know it's not going 185 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: to be the EP that's gonna be on the written 186 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: about in Variety, the executive producer, and it's not going 187 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: to be my production company it's not gonna really even 188 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: be HBO Max. It will be a little bit HBO Max, 189 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,239 Speaker 1: but it's gonna be my name looking like the loser. 190 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: So I call up Jen O'Connell and I said to 191 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: Gen O'Connell, Hi, I don't know if I'm supposed to 192 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: be doing this. I don't know who I'm supposed to 193 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: be calling. One of the reasons I'm not a great 194 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: corporate person is because I never know who to call 195 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: for what. Like there's fifty people on an email and 196 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: I never understand who's who and who you call for what. 197 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: So I just knew that this is my relationship, and 198 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: I know the HBO is the one that putting the 199 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: show on, so they are put on there like the 200 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: best streamer going. They have a high quality standard and 201 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: they're not gonna put crap on the air. So I 202 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: say to her, listen, I don't think we got it. 203 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if we've got it. What happened yesterday 204 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: needs to be course corrected. But I'm nervous, like I 205 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: don't want the crew to be like what the fund 206 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: Because you have to have the morale of your team 207 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: in your office, in your corporation, in your production. Your 208 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: team has to believe in you. Otherwise they're all like, 209 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: what the funk are we doing with this clown reality star? 210 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: You know that that they can't take seriously. So I'm 211 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: really thinking about this because there's there's my studio, which 212 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: is my partner, and then there's the production company that 213 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: is producing it, and then there's the streamer or in 214 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: other cases, and network that's airing it. A lot of people. 215 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: So she said, they may think that we're not going 216 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: to put it on the air if we know what's 217 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: going on, but we're never going to walk away from 218 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: your show. You're a TV goal, You're my secret weapon. 219 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: That's what she said, We're going to put this on 220 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: the air. But and I said, so, how much does 221 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: it cost to make an episode? And it's like a 222 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: lot of money, but still it would be a lot 223 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: more money to keep going if it's not working. So 224 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,719 Speaker 1: I I communicated with her and I said to her, 225 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: listen to me, let me grab the reins on this. Okay, 226 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna call you in two days and I'm going 227 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: to tell you whether I can get the ship together 228 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,199 Speaker 1: or not. And then I'm gonna call you. And I 229 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 1: have a growing up conversation about whether this needs to 230 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: be done after the pandemic. It costs everybody money. It 231 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: changes when the show is gonna air, which is inconvenient. 232 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: It's it's scary because they could then change their minds 233 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 1: and say no, we don't want to do it, etcetera. 234 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 1: But I'm saying I would rather not feed people anything 235 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: then feed them something that's shipped. The message overall is 236 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: to do things properly from the beginning, and if you 237 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: feel something in your gut, strongly stop the fucking train 238 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: and collect yourself. It could be a dinner party, it 239 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: could be something going on at school, could be going 240 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: something going on with your kids. Just use your gut, 241 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: trust your gut, and stop the train if you feel 242 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: that it's on the wrong track. My guest today is 243 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: Kevin Nealon, actor, comedian, and writer. He's best known as 244 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: a cast member on SNL, where he was also the 245 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: anchor on Weekend Update for three seasons. Since then, he's 246 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: worked on TV shows such as Weeds and Ma'am with 247 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: the Plan, as well as countless films and his video 248 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: series Hiking with Kevin. Today, we talked about the importance 249 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: of being present and trust in your instincts, why you 250 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: should always take chances on your passions, how chemistry is 251 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: important in comedy end in business, and why you need 252 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: to be committed to succeed. Kevin's hilarious and always makes 253 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: me laugh. I think you're really going to enjoy this episode. 254 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: This is Kevin Nealon who um, I welcome today, and 255 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: I do respect you, and I admire you, and I'm 256 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: interested in what makes you tick? Okay? I like everything 257 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: you say, Like you know what. I've known you for 258 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: probably fifteen years. We did a pilot together once for 259 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: your talk show. Started on that a few times, and 260 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: you know, you asked me, what makes me tick? Is 261 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: a comic and it's you know, it's been so long now, 262 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm I'm just sure what the original tick was. You know, 263 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: get into it. But I think I was like a 264 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: lot of comedians. I'm also a musician of sorts, where 265 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: you know, I grew up playing the guitar and the 266 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: band or the five stream banjo, and I always fancy 267 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: my stuff. Becoming a singer songwriter interesting, but comedy just 268 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: came so much easier to me. It seemed more of 269 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,719 Speaker 1: a natural ability for me. I used to memorize the 270 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: jokes in the back of the Prey magazine, you know, 271 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: like they're called my favorite jokes parties and tell them 272 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 1: like they are mine. And I think, in a nutshell, 273 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: that's kind of what it was down to. I also 274 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: enjoyed the craft of it now, you know, as I've 275 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: gotten into it. I like the idea of building a 276 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: joke or a concept. And there's so many different styles 277 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: of comedy now those attitude there's alternative comedy, there's vnting, 278 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: you know, there's Yeah, it's not it's not even the 279 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 1: idea of building a joke as some instances anymore. Crafting 280 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: a joke. It's more craffing you know, a performance, you know, 281 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: or an attitude. Well, it sounds like it's about the journey, 282 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: not necessarily the destination anymore. And back with like you know, 283 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: Don Rickles and people like that, it was about the joke, 284 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: like get to the joke and land the land, the finish, 285 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: you know, not just the whole process, which is which 286 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: is an interesting thing, and I wonder so I found 287 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: it interesting. So they what do they say, dying is 288 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: easy and comedy is hard. I found that preparing for 289 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: comedy is hard and doing it that's up a little 290 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: an entire craft. I've done it one time in my life. 291 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: That's saying like you could hit a golf ball and 292 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: get it in, you know, some you hit. Anything can 293 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: happen once. A broken clock is right twice a day. 294 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: But if you're comfortable in front of people, and if 295 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: you're prepared, then that then it is not that. The 296 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: worst that could happen up there is like so some 297 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,319 Speaker 1: people don't laugh, but if you're not organized, you don't 298 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: if your ship together, then you feel like you're flying, 299 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: like you know, you're driving without no breaks. So I 300 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: felt that because I had spoken to different comedians who 301 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: had given me really specific advice, like tactical strategic advice, 302 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: that being up there, what wasn't that scary? People laughed 303 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: and thought it was funny. I don't. I don't know 304 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: if people at homes there was the funniest they may 305 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 1: ever heard in their life by any means. But like I, 306 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: you know, I stuck the landing, you know what I mean? 307 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: And I walked out of there, and I felt like, Okay, 308 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: that was seven minutes and I did that. But because 309 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: I was prepared, and I'm sure you can't be prepared 310 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: for a bad crowd or anything. But if you feel 311 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: in life like you've done something well to the best 312 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: of your ability, I don't think you can really feel 313 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: that bad about it, do you. How do you feel 314 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: about that? No? I always tell my son that. So 315 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: he's fourteen, and you know, he gets nervous about tests 316 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: and quiz. I said, you know, just do your best. 317 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: And if you do your best, and you've done your best, 318 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: you've prepared. You know, you've you've studied, and if you 319 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: get a grade less, you know then you wanted to. 320 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm still proud of you because you put a lot 321 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: into it, and you put the work into it. You know. 322 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: It's the same with stand up. I learned a lot 323 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: from Steve Martin because I used to love walk see 324 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: him on the talk shows. He would always come out 325 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: with a prepared bit. He was always prepared, you know. 326 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: He wasn't just going out there and winging it like 327 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: some comics do. And sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. 328 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: But Stephen always go out with something, just like Albert Brooks. 329 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: That's a different style. Though some people like to be free, 330 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. You could do both. You 331 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: can go out there and that's what I do. I 332 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: like to go out there with a bit, but also 333 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: like it's I'm doing the Colne O'Brien show. We have 334 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: a long history, so we pivots each other a lot, 335 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: and we tease each other and sometimes we never even 336 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: get to the prepared stuff because you feel safe there. 337 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: I feel comfortable and stafe, and I know I'm much 338 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: funnier than he is back obviously, and much better hair 339 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: obviously too. Yeah, you know, it's all about being prepared, 340 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: especially doing standard and I think the audience looks at 341 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: you as the captain of the ship, and if you 342 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: seem confident and relaxed and you're having a good time, 343 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: that relaxes them and they're comfortable and they're enjoyed it. 344 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: But if you're nervous and you're floundering and you're distracted, 345 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: they are going to be distracted. And that's so interested 346 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: and a little uncomfortable, and that's life, and that's good 347 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: for people who are listening, who are doing business presentations, 348 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: who are going to a wedding, and doing a speech 349 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be just about being funny. It's about committing. 350 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: Sometimes you get lost, but you've got to commit. You know, 351 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: my daughter is not a great singer. She loves to 352 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: sing and she wants to and I but the way 353 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: that she commits to it is is amazing. And so 354 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: it's like karaoke if you really are committed, which which 355 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: is what it has to be in life and in business. 356 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: So I ask you. So I'm addicted to the idea, Okay, 357 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: in general, I I have to execute the idea. I 358 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: love the idea. Just whatever the idea is. If I 359 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: have it, it's a light bulb by right, I just 360 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: I have to execute the idea. And I do have 361 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: a good relationship with humor. I meaning I think someone 362 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: said once humor is its own excuse if that thing 363 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: is funny, who gives a ship? And I'm really comedy 364 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: has been a threat in my entire life. It's like 365 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: I'm a secret comic, you know. I have other vehicles, 366 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: but I get to like throw in one liners and 367 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: be be funny, and I have a relationship to it. 368 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: But I wonder about um the loneliness of wanting the laugh, 369 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: like the loneliness of the career that is really validation 370 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: from other people. And I have the same thing, by 371 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 1: the way, being on television or a good bit you know, 372 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: a business deal is the product? Do they like it? 373 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just a different format for that. But 374 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: it's so it's it's so like it's cup of noodles, 375 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: like reaction. It's it's so quick. You're up there. It's 376 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: a zero sum game. You're funny or you're not. Like, 377 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: it's not that much half pregnant. So what is that about? 378 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: Like I watch people that every night go up there 379 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: and need that laugh? Are you addicted to the laugh 380 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: at all? Are you addicted to the to the love? Like? 381 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: What what is it about that? And comics are known 382 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: to be I think it's an addiction to the lab. 383 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 1: I think it's an addiction to the connection connecting with 384 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: an audience and relating to that. For me, it's like 385 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: kating and it's sharing. And I don't necessarily looked in 386 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: the lapse, and I don't panic if there's no laughs. 387 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: I think I might have told you this. You know, 388 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: just because people are laughing doesn't mean they're not having 389 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,360 Speaker 1: a good time. My son will sometimes say the opposite 390 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 1: of that, like I'll make him laugh, and I'll say, 391 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: just because I'm laughing doesn't get unhappy. So, um, you 392 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 1: know that's that's what I like to do with it. 393 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: And you know, I learned a lot from Gary Shandling, 394 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: who was kind of my mentor, one of my mentors, 395 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of years he would always say, 396 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 1: you know, just be open on stage, be president, you know, 397 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: just be honest and trust your instincts. And if I 398 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: could just do that, even if I don't get a laugh, 399 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: I feel like I've won, you know, if I could 400 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: be in the moment and present, That's what I felt. 401 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: That's exactly what happened. That's what I was just describing. 402 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: It's so funny that you said that there's a security 403 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: to it. I was prepared. I at it through. I 404 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: didn't like wasn't cavalier. I had legends, like yourself, tell 405 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: me advice, and I was prepared and I went up 406 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: and I was calm, and you know, did everything I 407 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: was told, and there was a connection and I felt 408 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: secure because of that. Like I felt it was a 409 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: validation of hard work and execution, which is why we're 410 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: talking about the art of this, and you're describing something therapeutic. Yeah, 411 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: I mean during the pandemic, you know, none of us 412 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: did stand up comedy, and you know, clubs we might 413 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: have done on Zoom or something, and then we started 414 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: doing the outdoor shows. But it was a really interesting 415 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: kind of experience, not to speak. It was stand up 416 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: after doing it for forty years, like you know, never 417 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: taking off more than a week or so, and then 418 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: not having that in your life. And it really opened 419 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: up a lot avenues and buff as it did to 420 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: a lot of people during the pandemic and other kind 421 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: of reassessed things. But for me, you know, I don't 422 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: I realize that I don't need stand up like I 423 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: thought I used to. I don't need to get laughs 424 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: or you know, I can communicate with people like we're 425 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: doing that, communicating with it, so I don't really need that. 426 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: I've done that. I enjoyed it. And it's like that 427 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: old adage, be careful what you wish for, you know, 428 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: you talk about being lonely on stage. If you wanted 429 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: to be a standard, that's all I wanted in life. 430 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: I was like you, I love these comics growing up, 431 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: you know, like Prior and Steve Martin and do you 432 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: know all those comics that were successful and kind of 433 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: shaped us and influenced us. I love those comics and 434 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: I wanted to be a stand up I wanted to 435 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: be a stand up comedian. I wanted to work on 436 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: the road and maybe get a sitcount and be careful 437 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: what you wished for it. I got that, and now 438 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: four years later, I'm still doing stand up. I still 439 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 1: love it, but I'm not crazy about working on the 440 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: road or you know, thinking that I might have might 441 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: be in hotels in my seventies. So what about the 442 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: business of comedy? Like, what's your relationship to money? Did 443 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: you come from nothing? Are you blue collar? Like? What's 444 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: your origination and relationship with money? I come from the 445 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:00,719 Speaker 1: upper middle class family and my father was a near 446 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: anomautical engineer and work with, of course, the helicopters. My 447 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: mother was amemaker. I have four siblings, and I went 448 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: to school for marketing. I have a bus and marketing 449 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: from a small business college in Connecticut, and I never 450 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: used it. I can't even fall back at it anymore 451 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: because I think it's expired. Don't they expire after a while? No, 452 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: And how do you know you haven't been marketing yourself 453 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: all this time? You didn't get on Saturday Love by 454 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: sleeping on your ask, right? I mean, well, you know 455 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: you're doing a lot more marketing and I was social media. 456 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: But um, you know, I wish I was a better 457 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: business person like you, because there is a big aspect 458 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: of that to becoming successful in stand up. But you know, 459 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 1: my goal was to get on a night show. That 460 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: was my marketing tool before Johnny Carson left, and that 461 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: was my goal and I did that several times. So 462 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: you've been singular focused throughout your career. It sounds like 463 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: you had the goal to be a stand up, then 464 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: you had the goal to be so at least you 465 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: knew to have a laser focus to get you to 466 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 1: the next step. But you know, as far as stand 467 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: up comedy, you know, it's enough to just become a 468 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: good stand up and to create material and to get 469 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: a following and to get paid and work in clubs 470 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: and and you know, to to really focus on the 471 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: business of it, I think you have to be you know, 472 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: extra special. I'm just you know, my my goal is 473 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: to you know, I have a business manager, now I 474 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: didn't have for always, but you know, he's he's a 475 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: good businessman, so he knows you put away this X 476 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: amount of money and for one case and you know, 477 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: and that. But I was more just stand up, and 478 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a stand up. And I said, 479 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: I wish I got into an improv bus. You know, 480 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: I wish I studied improv and I came up with characters. 481 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: So when I got on SNL, I have characters to 482 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: do in accents, but instead I was just me. I 483 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: was me and I had to learn how to do 484 00:22:51,200 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: all that stuff. I read something about you going on 485 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: hikes with Is it not just comedians, it's just famous 486 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: People's everybody, it's notable people. The hiking show is called 487 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: Hiking with Kabn. I love to hike around the canyons 488 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: of l A. I don't mean really hike at walk. 489 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: You know, I don't even have hiking here. I have 490 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: sneakers that I wear, but I like to walk. I 491 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: like to be outside and I have friends that like 492 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: that too, and so I want to hike you with 493 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: Matthew Modine. One day about three years ago, he's a friend, 494 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: and we got talking. We're hiking in a real challenging 495 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: uh trail. It was steep, We're both out of breath 496 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: and it was hard to understand each other, and I 497 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: was thinking this would be a funny talk show segment 498 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: you know where I'm interviewing you and you're on a breath. 499 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: I'm on a bread When you first came to l A, 500 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: you have a small apartment and they you had friends 501 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: and agents, and posted that on my Instagram and Twitter. 502 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: And then I did a little short interstitials lay two weeks, 503 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: like a minute or two, and then three or four 504 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: different segments from that hike, and then Howard Stern loved it, 505 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: and he goes, you should do longer ones, so I, 506 00:23:58,160 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: you know, go too. I forgot out how to work 507 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: with Tube channel, and I just got more and more 508 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 1: progressed into it. I you know, I learned how to 509 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: edit myself, and I learned how to fly a drone, 510 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: and more and more people started following it and watching it, 511 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: and then, um, we recently have been pitching it to 512 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: some of the networks. I love that, all right, I'm 513 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 1: gonna check that out. I love that it's a great idea, 514 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: and the best ideas are usually the simplest ones that 515 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: are just true to what's actually going on. So are you, um, 516 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: do you consider yourself more lucky or smart? And I 517 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: know you don't think you're the biggest business person, but 518 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 1: as a comedian or in your career, do you consider 519 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 1: youself more lucky or smart. I never thought of myself 520 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: as smart. There's always been that thing about me where 521 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 1: I've never been a good test taker. You know, I'm 522 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: not smart in that way. But I think I do 523 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: have smarts, and I think that I've been incredibly lucky, 524 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: I mean, really really lucky in every aspect of my life. 525 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: But also I've been a good person. I mean, you know, 526 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: to get on SNL. Coming from my position, I was 527 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: a stand up. Like I said, I didn't I didn't 528 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,880 Speaker 1: have any characters in my back pocket when I want 529 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: to do my audition. You know, I think, now you 530 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: have to do three characters and accents or whatever. I 531 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: never wouldn't. I wouldn't have to like come up with something. 532 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: But I was just, you know, I happened to know 533 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: Data Carby and he got on Saturday Night Live that 534 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: summer for that coming fall, Lauren needed one more cast member, 535 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: and Dana recommended me and somebody else, I think, and 536 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: I came in and I did maybe up come on material, 537 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: but I did on the Tonight Show with Jenny Carson 538 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 1: and a couple of ideas that Data and I used 539 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: to work on when we hung out, you know, just 540 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:41,959 Speaker 1: some character, loose character stuff, and that was it. And 541 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: I got on SML when there was people flying on 542 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: an airplane with me who were accomplished improv players with 543 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: bucket full of characters from the Groundlings and Second City 544 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: and they knew what they were doing. So it was 545 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,479 Speaker 1: at a comedy store. That's the big one on Sunset 546 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: that everyone that's the pinnacle, So that that dot you 547 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 1: mentoring about the comedy store. They said that the owner 548 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: would look for just the essence of somebody, like so 549 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: someone's vibe. It wasn't necessarily and that's interesting because that's 550 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: what reality TV is ultimately. Like getting on The Apprentice, 551 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:11,640 Speaker 1: I thought it was about a business show. I thought 552 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 1: it was like, oh I'm so smart and I'm driven. 553 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: It was about the essence of somebody. So I think 554 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: that that's interesting. But I bet that's what I just 555 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: thought to myself. Lauren Michael's probably you had just the 556 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: essence of what he wanted. That was me. On The Housewives, 557 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: I wasn't rich. I lived in a studio apartment. They 558 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: never put someone on who lived in like a shitty 559 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: ikea decorated apartment, and who didn't. I lived on Andyways. 560 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: It was a fine rental building on sixty second Stree. 561 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: I'm just saying people are in palaces, getting facials and 562 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: buying diamonds and driving ferraris. I had eight thousand dollars 563 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: to my name. I did my own makeup, obviously, and 564 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: they put me on The Housewives as the question mark character. 565 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: But that would never happen. Now you have to be somebody, 566 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: have to be rich, so it's a similar thing. But 567 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: I had the essence. I I guess what they didn't 568 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: know they wanted. So that sounds like what you're talking about. 569 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: Would you say that you're happier now than you were 570 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 1: when you were in a sixty second street. Yes, I 571 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 1: had a lot of anxiety. I really had no safety 572 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 1: net and I didn't I have no idea what was 573 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 1: going to happen to me. I was in my late thirties. 574 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 1: Still it wasn't that cute. It wasn't like my twenty 575 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: four it's cute to be poor. It was in my 576 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: mid to late thirties alone and not pregnant, and you know, 577 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: it wasn't that. It wasn't that cute. I keep my 578 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: wife gets sick and tired of me telling her this. 579 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 1: But when we travel to Europe sometimes, you know, we'll 580 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: stay in a nice hotel, take a five star hotel, 581 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: and you know we'll fly first class. And I all 582 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: we talked about is how much fun I had when 583 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: I ain't staying in ut hostiles as a three year 584 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: old and taking the Urale train, having the ural pass 585 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 1: and meeting people that were so outgoing and friendly as 586 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 1: opposed to nobody talking at first class, and you know, 587 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: having the white women table cloths at a ridge, because 588 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 1: that was in twenties. But if you were thirty seven 589 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: year old man who couldn't afford to buy a woman 590 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 1: to drink or take a taxi downtown like I couldn't. 591 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: I could not afford a taxi. I wasn't learning about 592 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: a woman. I was worried about me. I just want 593 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 1: to make sure I could have a taxi out. But 594 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:07,719 Speaker 1: you know, that's why I talk about money a lot 595 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,159 Speaker 1: on here, because people's relationship to money their noise, Like 596 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: it's still so much closer to the time that I 597 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: had no money than it is. Further, you know, it's 598 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 1: not that long ago that I really would see insufficient 599 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: funds of that a t M. And you know, the 600 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: big the moments that you realize are rich are the 601 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 1: moments that you aren't the big aren't buying a car 602 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: or a house. It's when you're like, oh my god, 603 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: I can open I can open the minibar, like I 604 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: can get the big room. You don't have to replace 605 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 1: the seven up in the mini bar, yeah, Or like 606 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: I don't have to get the two room, like I 607 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: could get the nice like the sweet doesn't panick me, 608 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: or just that the little things taking a taxi. I 609 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: couldn't take a taxi in Manhattan that was that was 610 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: like twenty six dollars plus you the tip the person. 611 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: That was like a lot of money. I couldn't do 612 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 1: that one way, much less two. So you know, I 613 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: remember how excited I used to get when I didn't 614 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: have that much money and I would be approved by 615 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: a parking leader. I'd say, yes, yes, I'm approved. I 616 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: wish it was a well you would get like a 617 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: new cell phone service that give you like this cash 618 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: card and it would be like more money to do. 619 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: It would take away most of the money by just 620 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: cashing it in. It was like a scam. But I 621 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: would take that like fifteen dollars. I would get that 622 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: fifteen dollars. I mean, you know that the number of 623 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: ways to finagle trying to get money back then was crazy. 624 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: But I did not like the feeling of having anxiety 625 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: and not having any many But um so, what was 626 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: your high and your low in your career? Was the 627 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: high getting SNL or the Tonight Show? No, it wasn't 628 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: actually because that came out of nowhere and I didn't 629 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: even know if I was prepared for it. Give you 630 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was my high. I've 631 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: never had a natural highlight that before in my life 632 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: because it's it's all I stroke for. It's what I 633 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: want to do as my goal. And so when I 634 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: got on there, not that I get on there, I 635 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: had a really good set and invited New York to 636 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: the panel. I did panel of them, and people were 637 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 1: talking about for a long time and I was like, 638 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: just in heaven. I was floating for so long after. 639 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: That's the pinnacle that was my eye. What about your low? 640 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you've had sperienced a lot of loss in 641 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: his in his business right, a lot of talent to 642 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: people that you probably were close to. My loss is 643 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: losing friends. You know. When I first moved on, there 644 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: was And when I was about twenty five, I got 645 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: four or five callbacks for a TV show over a 646 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: paramount and the producers after the fifth meeting with me 647 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: and reading, they looked at each others said, we're not 648 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: getting even close on this. This is you know, it's good, 649 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,720 Speaker 1: and they're all happy. They're all happy with me. And 650 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: the week goes by. I don't hear from them. Two 651 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: weeks goes by, gotta hear from Following my manager's callably said, 652 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 1: what's going on? You know, is he getting the party 653 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: goes you know, you know, we decided to look at 654 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 1: older actors for the role. He's too young. And it 655 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 1: was the part of Sam. Sam Malone on Cheers said 656 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: that it got it, and I was like, at the time, 657 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: the car was for a quarterback, you know, a football player, 658 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: and I had played football in college as a quarterback 659 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: and a bartender, and I had bartended at the improv 660 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: here in Hollywood, so was the next part. So it 661 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:15,239 Speaker 1: was really and I was East coast. I was from 662 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: the East coasts, so it was like it was everything 663 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: you know, see it, so but I didn't get it. 664 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: But then you know, Snel came along, and then Leeds 665 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 1: came along, and other shows and movies. So so you know, 666 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: I've never really had a real low because I just 667 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: love what I'm doing. So if I miss out on something, 668 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 1: It's like when I happened with Matthew Muldeine. I said 669 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: to him, did you ever regret anything? He turned down 670 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 1: and he rolled his eyes and I posted this too. 671 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 1: He said, after I did Flat Metal Jackie, I was, 672 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: you know, really picky about projects, and I turned down 673 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: the role of Tom hankson Big Tom Cruise's role on 674 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: Top Gun Black, and pay Box's role in Back to 675 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: the Future, Charlie Sheen's roll and ship did you idiot? 676 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: And he laughed and I laughed and I posted that 677 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: that people love. That's amazing that I've never heard of, Like, 678 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: I've never heard of a lineup like that. I know, 679 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: I know. But he went on to do other things, 680 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:17,239 Speaker 1: and he's a very happy man and talented. It's the 681 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: path of the hike, It's literally the path. Yeah, and 682 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: he didn't. I don't think he was regretful. You know, 683 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: he was able to laugh it off. He had very 684 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 1: good attitude about it. You know, I think everything happens 685 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 1: for a reason. Sometimes not always, but sometimes I've had 686 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: I've always had a great career. It's never been meteoric 687 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: where it's just taken off, you know, because if I 688 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: got an SNL, I'm not like the breakout guy there, 689 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 1: I'm I'm more the attitude guy. You know, I'm kind 690 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 1: of you know, you know, but I've always worked and 691 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 1: I've always been getting, you know, whether it was you know, pilots, movies, 692 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, television shows I've done. I've been really fortunate 693 00:32:56,160 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: to do everything, stand up writing, it comes, you know. 694 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 1: I just did a sitcom for four years, the Matt 695 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: Laklan Call Me Out with a Plan. That was a 696 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 1: great run. I had Weeds for eight years, SDL for 697 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: nine years, live show, you know, I got to do 698 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: it all movies. So you know, as I look back, 699 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 1: I just can't be angry or bitter. No, this is 700 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: a great career. And then it's a line though too 701 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: for people listening. You put one ft in front of 702 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: the other, like on a hike, not not seriously, like 703 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: when you've been on this fifteen mile o Stam hikes 704 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,959 Speaker 1: and you just had one goal at a time, and 705 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: not that you haven't done multiple things at the same time. 706 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: But it seems like you've had major goals one at 707 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: a time and accomplished them and then gone into the 708 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 1: next major goal and done very well at each thing. 709 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: That's what it really sounds like. Weeds was excellent, Senil 710 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 1: was excellent, The Tonight Show is excellent. You know you're 711 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: doing this grassroots project that you love because it's a 712 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: passion product. That's excellent. I think you do have your 713 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 1: own way of doing business. It's your own. It's like 714 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: the comedy, your style, it's my style. And you know, 715 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: I said, I've been lucky, but also you know, like 716 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: what they say, it's luck is when you're prepared and 717 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:08,879 Speaker 1: that opportunity arises, you know, and I've I've I've just 718 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,280 Speaker 1: loved what I've been doing. So when an opportunity comes along, 719 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: you know, I present myself. I love it. Like the 720 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: fish are there, but you've already got your rod ready, 721 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 1: You've got the basket, whatever the net, You're ready to go. Okay. 722 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: I like this and if and if it doesn't work 723 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: out for me, I love what I do. I could 724 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: stay home. I could, you know. I tell people comics this, 725 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: I tell them if I never was hired as a comic, 726 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 1: I'd still be doing open mic nights because I love 727 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:36,759 Speaker 1: standing someone. You're doing what you love. You've built a 728 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 1: life of doing you love. The last thing I want 729 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: to mention, just because I don't, we don't want it 730 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,320 Speaker 1: to go unmentioned, is that you are passionate about charity 731 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: work you do. It's important to you to give back. Yeah, 732 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 1: like I think it is a lot of people, you know, 733 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 1: are passionate about that. Now it seems to be a 734 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 1: whole new world of giving back. You know, when I 735 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,880 Speaker 1: first started out, there were no fundraisers. I think the 736 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:58,279 Speaker 1: big first one that came along was Comic Relief with 737 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: Billy Crystal and Robin Wily and said Woopy Goldberg, you know. 738 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 1: And then it seems like every week now somebody has 739 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 1: a fund raiser. Then there was you know, we are 740 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 1: the World all that stuff, and now there's always crowd 741 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:15,600 Speaker 1: fundraising and and charities for you know, comics that are 742 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 1: need or whatever or you know whatever it is animal stuff. Um, 743 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: and I have a lot of you know, charities that 744 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: I are close to me. You know, there's a hospice 745 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: in Florida to care of my parents and my grandmother 746 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: in their final years that I'm just totally debted to, 747 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:35,360 Speaker 1: you know, because when you're in that position and you 748 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 1: know their health starts failing, you don't know what to 749 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 1: do or where to go. And then they come in. 750 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 1: They know what they're doing, they know what's going on, 751 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:43,320 Speaker 1: you know, and they know how to make people comfortable. 752 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 1: And so I'll be internally grateful to them forever. And 753 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: then you know, I have a passion for animals, so 754 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:55,240 Speaker 1: shelter's rescue dogs, things like that. Well, to your point 755 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 1: though about so many people being in charity another day, 756 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 1: I'm going to talk about there the business of philanthropy, 757 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 1: because you want people want an r o I. They 758 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 1: want to return on their investment, their donating. They want transparency, 759 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: they want to know exactly where it's going, how much 760 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: is going. That's what's really changing about this space is 761 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,279 Speaker 1: that people need to be accountable. You need to let 762 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 1: people know exactly what's going on. We I do a 763 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 1: lot of relief work um in crisis relief percent goes 764 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: to the effort. We don't do events. It's all about 765 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 1: like get the money to the people. Being a good 766 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 1: business person is helpful in this regard because it's about 767 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 1: being organized, executing, communicating. So it's interesting, Um, the world 768 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:36,360 Speaker 1: of philanthropy, it really is. You're right. You know a 769 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: lot of times you'll donate to places, and I'm sure 770 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 1: we all have done, and a lot of the money 771 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 1: goes to CEO or whatever, and it's not getting to 772 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: the people that really need it. So you hear oftentimes 773 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,959 Speaker 1: you hear now when somebody's asking for donations. By the way, 774 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: all this money goes right to the services, it goes 775 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: right to the people, you know, And that's a Celebrities 776 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 1: are just posting a link. They don't know what's going on. 777 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:58,799 Speaker 1: I see this because I'm in this space. They just 778 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 1: post a link with a koala that looks cute and 779 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 1: you want to cry because the koala was in the fire. 780 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:04,919 Speaker 1: But you don't know where the hell the money is going. 781 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:06,440 Speaker 1: So you're now post you know what I mean? Like 782 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,800 Speaker 1: you have to be educated, just like business with philanthropy. 783 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,959 Speaker 1: So that's important to me. Um, you're amazing. I love 784 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: this conversation. Give my love to your family. I appreciate you. 785 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: You know, this podcast takes on different paths. Actually speaking 786 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:31,440 Speaker 1: to Kevin Neil and talking about hiking and you just 787 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:33,600 Speaker 1: sort of start walking one foot in front of the other. 788 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 1: And Kevin is not the same as the traditional guests 789 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: on here. He really gave me incredible guidance and advice 790 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:43,480 Speaker 1: in doing stand up, which was about facing uh not 791 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: a fear or something I've been hesitating to do to 792 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: I thought I should do, And many of you can 793 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,879 Speaker 1: probably relate to that. In business. As it turns out, 794 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 1: Kevin neal And has had a real interesting business trajectory. 795 00:37:53,239 --> 00:37:56,320 Speaker 1: He has been singular focus. He has accomplished his goals, 796 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:59,040 Speaker 1: he has then set new goals and had a more 797 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:03,480 Speaker 1: traditional one step in front of the other approach to business, 798 00:38:03,480 --> 00:38:06,400 Speaker 1: but always doing what he loves, always working hard, always 799 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: being prepared, always setting himself up for success when the 800 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 1: lot com So for that reason, I think he was 801 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: an amazing guest. He's a beautiful person, but I think 802 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 1: he like he really fit into what we talk about here. 803 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,200 Speaker 1: So I appreciate you listening and I appreciate him being here. 804 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:30,240 Speaker 1: So I have a wonderful day. Just Be is hosted 805 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 1: an executive produced by me Bethany Frankel. Just Be as 806 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:37,240 Speaker 1: a production of be Real Productions and I Heart Radio. 807 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,800 Speaker 1: Our managing producer is Fiona Smith and our producer is 808 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:44,799 Speaker 1: Stephanie Stender. Our EP is Morgan Levoy. To catch more 809 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:47,160 Speaker 1: moments from the show, follow us on Instagram and just 810 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:53,799 Speaker 1: be with Bethany