1 00:00:15,264 --> 00:00:22,864 Speaker 1: Pushkin. I'm Drew Schwartz, and I wrote Meet Radio Man, 2 00:00:23,304 --> 00:00:26,864 Speaker 1: Autograph king friend of George Clooney bum for the New 3 00:00:26,944 --> 00:00:30,384 Speaker 1: York Times, and it's the story of the week. No 4 00:00:30,464 --> 00:00:34,064 Speaker 1: one would ever ask me for my autograph. Yet when 5 00:00:34,064 --> 00:00:37,664 Speaker 1: I write a book, people will sometimes stand in line 6 00:00:37,744 --> 00:00:41,504 Speaker 1: to get me to sign their copy. They somehow need 7 00:00:41,504 --> 00:00:44,464 Speaker 1: it to make their purchase complete. It makes about as 8 00:00:44,544 --> 00:00:46,704 Speaker 1: much sense to me as if every time you ordered 9 00:00:46,704 --> 00:00:49,464 Speaker 1: a pizza, you got the chef to sign the pizza box. 10 00:00:50,064 --> 00:00:54,504 Speaker 1: Autographing books is so uncomfortable to me that I eventually 11 00:00:54,544 --> 00:00:57,144 Speaker 1: figured out this workaround. So the person would come up 12 00:00:57,144 --> 00:00:58,944 Speaker 1: to me in line, and I would ask them to 13 00:00:59,024 --> 00:01:01,104 Speaker 1: tell me a bunch of stuff about themselves or the 14 00:01:01,144 --> 00:01:03,864 Speaker 1: person they were buying this book for, and then I'd 15 00:01:03,864 --> 00:01:06,424 Speaker 1: go to the title page and i'd write a little 16 00:01:06,504 --> 00:01:08,704 Speaker 1: letter to them with their name at the top, and 17 00:01:08,744 --> 00:01:12,064 Speaker 1: I'd signed the end of it. And I'm not proud 18 00:01:12,104 --> 00:01:14,864 Speaker 1: of this, but either because I was so uncomfortable with 19 00:01:14,904 --> 00:01:18,544 Speaker 1: a dynamic or I thought they expected me to be funny, 20 00:01:18,944 --> 00:01:23,344 Speaker 1: the letter was just me mocking them. Several times people 21 00:01:23,424 --> 00:01:27,024 Speaker 1: told me that I had ruined their book. Many more 22 00:01:27,224 --> 00:01:29,464 Speaker 1: saw what I was doing to the person in front 23 00:01:29,464 --> 00:01:34,744 Speaker 1: of them and pointedly demanded just your name. Author's signatures 24 00:01:34,784 --> 00:01:38,864 Speaker 1: are what people want. It's what bookstores want. They somehow 25 00:01:38,904 --> 00:01:42,984 Speaker 1: increase the likelihood of the book actually selling. I guess 26 00:01:43,064 --> 00:01:46,984 Speaker 1: because it proves I exist, regardless of how I feel 27 00:01:46,984 --> 00:01:51,824 Speaker 1: about them. Autographs are a huge industry, an industry that's 28 00:01:51,864 --> 00:01:57,384 Speaker 1: dominated by one very unlikely man, the autograph king of 29 00:01:57,544 --> 00:02:06,904 Speaker 1: New York City. Writing is hard. Who's got that kind 30 00:02:06,904 --> 00:02:09,704 Speaker 1: of time when you're already big? Is he trying to 31 00:02:09,824 --> 00:02:12,824 Speaker 1: be Joe Stein? Until it turns on a Mike me 32 00:02:13,024 --> 00:02:16,384 Speaker 1: It twiddles and knob because a journalist Frand has got 33 00:02:16,464 --> 00:02:21,264 Speaker 1: in that jul job oftory single story. Just listen to 34 00:02:21,384 --> 00:02:28,264 Speaker 1: smart people speak conversation filming information is a story of 35 00:02:38,144 --> 00:02:42,224 Speaker 1: Craig Costaldo, who's known as Radio Man, has been collecting 36 00:02:42,264 --> 00:02:46,024 Speaker 1: celebrity autographs in New York City for decades. Drew Schwartz 37 00:02:46,024 --> 00:02:49,064 Speaker 1: wrote about him for The New York Times. Drew, thank 38 00:02:49,104 --> 00:02:52,184 Speaker 1: you for coming on and telling us about maybe the 39 00:02:52,184 --> 00:02:56,824 Speaker 1: most interesting man in New York. No offense to your mayor. Yeah, 40 00:02:56,824 --> 00:02:59,344 Speaker 1: he's fascinating. I mean, he's like one of the wildest 41 00:02:59,384 --> 00:03:01,544 Speaker 1: characters I've ever encountered. Are you talking about the mayor? 42 00:03:01,584 --> 00:03:04,304 Speaker 1: Are you talking about radio man? Check about radio man. Okay, 43 00:03:04,304 --> 00:03:07,944 Speaker 1: it just wasn't sure at the moment. What is going 44 00:03:08,024 --> 00:03:11,384 Speaker 1: on in the world of autographing Now it's this bizarre 45 00:03:11,944 --> 00:03:15,104 Speaker 1: kind of secret economy. There are about one hundred and 46 00:03:15,144 --> 00:03:17,424 Speaker 1: fifty people in New York City alone who do this 47 00:03:17,464 --> 00:03:20,864 Speaker 1: full time, and then there's hundreds more across the country, 48 00:03:20,904 --> 00:03:23,224 Speaker 1: at least five hundred all around the world who do 49 00:03:23,224 --> 00:03:25,904 Speaker 1: this as a full time job. And who buys autographs 50 00:03:25,904 --> 00:03:27,784 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three, Like, I could see why you'd 51 00:03:27,784 --> 00:03:32,704 Speaker 1: want to selfie, but who's collecting autographs? That seems so 52 00:03:32,984 --> 00:03:38,984 Speaker 1: nineteen forties, excellent question. So basically a huge chunk of 53 00:03:39,024 --> 00:03:41,464 Speaker 1: the people who are buying these are people who are like, Okay, 54 00:03:41,664 --> 00:03:44,184 Speaker 1: I have a super fan in my life and they're 55 00:03:44,184 --> 00:03:46,704 Speaker 1: obsessed with Taylor Swift, and I have no idea what 56 00:03:46,704 --> 00:03:47,944 Speaker 1: to get them, So I'm just going to get them 57 00:03:48,024 --> 00:03:50,504 Speaker 1: an autograph photo of Taylor Swift. So that's like half 58 00:03:50,504 --> 00:03:54,064 Speaker 1: the revenue, and then the other half comes from autograph collectors. 59 00:03:54,344 --> 00:03:56,624 Speaker 1: There are people who like live for this shit. They 60 00:03:56,664 --> 00:03:59,944 Speaker 1: spend like, you know, nearly all of their disposable income 61 00:04:00,104 --> 00:04:02,864 Speaker 1: on autographs. True, how much do these things go for 62 00:04:03,864 --> 00:04:06,264 Speaker 1: at the cheapest less than one hundred bucks, at the 63 00:04:06,304 --> 00:04:09,464 Speaker 1: most expensive more than a thousand dollars, And it's all 64 00:04:09,464 --> 00:04:12,704 Speaker 1: dependent on how famous is that person, but also crucially 65 00:04:12,904 --> 00:04:16,544 Speaker 1: how often did they sign, Like Bob Dylan notoriously does 66 00:04:16,584 --> 00:04:19,784 Speaker 1: not sign Walking Phoenix does not sign. Ed Norton does 67 00:04:19,824 --> 00:04:23,024 Speaker 1: not sign, and their signatures are worth like bonkers amounts 68 00:04:23,024 --> 00:04:25,384 Speaker 1: of money because you just can't get though. Okay, so 69 00:04:25,864 --> 00:04:28,184 Speaker 1: one of the places where you can get a lot 70 00:04:28,224 --> 00:04:31,624 Speaker 1: of graphs is outside the Ed Sullivan Theater where Stephen 71 00:04:31,624 --> 00:04:34,184 Speaker 1: Colbert tapes. And so what's the scene like there? What 72 00:04:34,264 --> 00:04:38,824 Speaker 1: did you see? So, like one night, Harrison Ford was 73 00:04:38,864 --> 00:04:42,464 Speaker 1: scheduled to a rat and there were sixty plus graphers 74 00:04:42,584 --> 00:04:45,264 Speaker 1: and they're all in this huge pack and they're kind 75 00:04:45,304 --> 00:04:49,104 Speaker 1: of like elbowing and jockeying for position and jostling each other, 76 00:04:49,344 --> 00:04:52,384 Speaker 1: and they've all got photographs in one hand markers in 77 00:04:52,424 --> 00:04:54,664 Speaker 1: the other. And it was like intense because the Harrison 78 00:04:54,704 --> 00:04:56,504 Speaker 1: Ford's signature goes for a lot of money. So this 79 00:04:56,584 --> 00:04:58,864 Speaker 1: was like a high stake scenario. Okay, so they're all 80 00:04:58,904 --> 00:05:02,304 Speaker 1: looking for Harrison Ford's autograph and what is he given 81 00:05:02,344 --> 00:05:05,544 Speaker 1: the out or does he do so? Basically, he pulls 82 00:05:05,624 --> 00:05:08,304 Speaker 1: up in black escalade and gets out of the car, 83 00:05:08,384 --> 00:05:10,744 Speaker 1: and they just start losing their minds. They're fighting for 84 00:05:10,784 --> 00:05:13,744 Speaker 1: the best spot, and they're like, Harrison, Harrison please, Harrison 85 00:05:13,784 --> 00:05:16,264 Speaker 1: comes sign, Harrison, come on man, come on, Harrison please. 86 00:05:16,504 --> 00:05:19,464 Speaker 1: And they're just fucking losing their minds. And then by 87 00:05:19,464 --> 00:05:23,144 Speaker 1: this dumpster, like right by the stage door, there's this old, 88 00:05:23,544 --> 00:05:27,384 Speaker 1: homeless looking guy. He's got this like greasy beard and 89 00:05:27,464 --> 00:05:30,904 Speaker 1: this crazy hair, and he's lying on the ground by 90 00:05:30,944 --> 00:05:33,304 Speaker 1: the dumpster and he just kind of like pushes himself 91 00:05:33,384 --> 00:05:35,944 Speaker 1: up to his feet. Honestly, what he said, which I 92 00:05:35,944 --> 00:05:38,584 Speaker 1: couldn't print the time story was I'm getting too old 93 00:05:38,584 --> 00:05:42,624 Speaker 1: for this ship. And he reaches into like this kind 94 00:05:42,624 --> 00:05:46,224 Speaker 1: of gnarly looking grocery bag and pulls out FedEx mailer, 95 00:05:46,304 --> 00:05:49,064 Speaker 1: like one of those big envelopes. There's probably like one 96 00:05:49,144 --> 00:05:52,384 Speaker 1: hundred photographs at Harrison Ford in there, and he starts 97 00:05:52,384 --> 00:05:56,504 Speaker 1: walking up to Harrison Ford's escalator and there's a security 98 00:05:56,504 --> 00:05:58,944 Speaker 1: team of like five bodyguards and press black suits, and 99 00:05:59,024 --> 00:06:01,904 Speaker 1: he just walks past them like no big deal, and 100 00:06:01,944 --> 00:06:04,104 Speaker 1: he walks up to Harrison Ford as he climbs out 101 00:06:04,144 --> 00:06:07,064 Speaker 1: of the backseat and he just goes, Harrison, how are you? 102 00:06:07,824 --> 00:06:13,544 Speaker 1: And Harrison Ford goes Radio and they shake hands, and 103 00:06:13,744 --> 00:06:16,104 Speaker 1: I'm standing there and I'm just like, what the fuck 104 00:06:16,144 --> 00:06:19,824 Speaker 1: am I watching right now? And this guy, this apparently 105 00:06:19,864 --> 00:06:22,344 Speaker 1: almost guy, hands him the package and he's like, listen, 106 00:06:22,344 --> 00:06:25,344 Speaker 1: I got some photos for you. And Harrison Ford's like, sure, sure, 107 00:06:25,424 --> 00:06:27,904 Speaker 1: no problem. And then you know, an hour and a 108 00:06:27,904 --> 00:06:32,104 Speaker 1: half passes, maybe two, and all those people they've now 109 00:06:32,184 --> 00:06:34,704 Speaker 1: like swelled a number. Now there's like eighty ninety of 110 00:06:34,824 --> 00:06:37,864 Speaker 1: them behind there. Harrison comes out, he goes across the 111 00:06:37,904 --> 00:06:40,344 Speaker 1: street and he starts signing for the huge pack of graphers. 112 00:06:41,104 --> 00:06:47,264 Speaker 1: These people are going absolutely bonkers. They're like thrusting photographs 113 00:06:47,264 --> 00:06:50,824 Speaker 1: at him. They're like screaming, They're like, Harrison, please one more, Harrison, 114 00:06:50,944 --> 00:06:52,864 Speaker 1: just one more, like and it's like getting intense, like 115 00:06:52,904 --> 00:06:55,584 Speaker 1: they're shoving each other. One girl fell over and screamed, 116 00:06:55,704 --> 00:06:59,184 Speaker 1: and at that point Harrison was like, guys, I'm done, 117 00:06:59,464 --> 00:07:02,584 Speaker 1: and he turns and he walks away, goes back to 118 00:07:02,664 --> 00:07:05,504 Speaker 1: his escalade, and Radio walks up to him as he's 119 00:07:05,504 --> 00:07:08,744 Speaker 1: sitting in the backseat, and he's like Hey, du Harrison'd 120 00:07:08,744 --> 00:07:10,904 Speaker 1: you get like chance or whatever with the photos? And 121 00:07:10,944 --> 00:07:12,664 Speaker 1: he's like, oh no, I haven't gotten to it yet. 122 00:07:12,784 --> 00:07:14,864 Speaker 1: And Radio is like, well, you want to like take 123 00:07:14,904 --> 00:07:16,464 Speaker 1: down my address or something? You want to send him 124 00:07:16,464 --> 00:07:19,264 Speaker 1: to me? And Harrison for It's like surety have Ben 125 00:07:20,504 --> 00:07:22,264 Speaker 1: writes the whole thing out, and he's like, all right, 126 00:07:22,304 --> 00:07:24,144 Speaker 1: I'll send it to you, and then he drives away. 127 00:07:24,344 --> 00:07:27,224 Speaker 1: Oh wow. What makes Radio man so much better at 128 00:07:27,264 --> 00:07:30,024 Speaker 1: this than everyone else? Well, for one, he's been graphic 129 00:07:30,064 --> 00:07:32,464 Speaker 1: in New York City since the early nineties, and he's 130 00:07:32,464 --> 00:07:34,144 Speaker 1: been hanging out on film sets in New York since 131 00:07:34,184 --> 00:07:38,584 Speaker 1: the early nineties, and he just has become like this 132 00:07:38,664 --> 00:07:41,464 Speaker 1: tolerated fixture. I mean, he's really funny, he's really fun 133 00:07:41,504 --> 00:07:44,984 Speaker 1: to be around. He is, he's polite, yeah, And I 134 00:07:44,984 --> 00:07:47,624 Speaker 1: mean he's got the foulest mouth of anyone I've ever heard. 135 00:07:47,664 --> 00:07:50,664 Speaker 1: But I think like celebrities kind of like him because 136 00:07:51,264 --> 00:07:53,464 Speaker 1: he treats them like normal human beings. I mean, like 137 00:07:53,544 --> 00:07:57,624 Speaker 1: he'll his first line to somebody's like, hey it's Samuel Jackass. 138 00:07:57,944 --> 00:08:01,344 Speaker 1: It's huge Jackass, you know, and then after that they're 139 00:08:01,384 --> 00:08:03,464 Speaker 1: like Radio and He's like, how you been? Man has 140 00:08:03,464 --> 00:08:06,784 Speaker 1: the wife, how the kids. It's impossible not to love 141 00:08:06,864 --> 00:08:09,144 Speaker 1: him when you spend time around him. For as like 142 00:08:09,784 --> 00:08:14,464 Speaker 1: wild and sometimes bat in the offensive as he could be, 143 00:08:14,984 --> 00:08:17,784 Speaker 1: he's just really charming, you know. Is this pity I 144 00:08:17,784 --> 00:08:19,664 Speaker 1: guess that's what I'm wondering that is this pity or 145 00:08:19,704 --> 00:08:24,184 Speaker 1: people actually love him. I think there's some pity somewhere 146 00:08:24,224 --> 00:08:27,584 Speaker 1: in there, but that's not the reason that they treat 147 00:08:27,624 --> 00:08:32,504 Speaker 1: him nice. I mean. George Clooney talked about this like 148 00:08:32,544 --> 00:08:35,104 Speaker 1: one moment that really made an impact on him and 149 00:08:35,184 --> 00:08:37,984 Speaker 1: really endeared him to Radio Man, which is that it 150 00:08:38,064 --> 00:08:40,184 Speaker 1: was like not long after he and a Mall Clooney 151 00:08:40,224 --> 00:08:42,304 Speaker 1: had started dating, and it was their first trip to 152 00:08:42,304 --> 00:08:44,784 Speaker 1: New York together as a couple, and a Mall wanted 153 00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:46,624 Speaker 1: to go down the street and visit her brother who 154 00:08:46,624 --> 00:08:48,664 Speaker 1: lived on Fifth Avenue, and she was like, I'm just 155 00:08:48,664 --> 00:08:50,584 Speaker 1: gonna walk like a big deal. She walks out of 156 00:08:50,584 --> 00:08:54,264 Speaker 1: the hotel and there's like a hundred paparazzi there, right yeah, 157 00:08:54,344 --> 00:08:57,264 Speaker 1: and she's just like, oh my god, like what, like 158 00:08:57,344 --> 00:09:01,024 Speaker 1: she's completely surrounded and Radio Man pulls up on his bicycle, 159 00:09:01,064 --> 00:09:02,744 Speaker 1: which he rides everywhere. By the way, at the age 160 00:09:02,744 --> 00:09:06,224 Speaker 1: of seventy two and blocks the pack of paparazzi, hails 161 00:09:06,264 --> 00:09:08,864 Speaker 1: a cab. He opens the door like ushers her an 162 00:09:09,104 --> 00:09:11,264 Speaker 1: he's like, get out of here, and she like flees 163 00:09:11,344 --> 00:09:13,984 Speaker 1: and escapes. He just pops up out of nowhere like 164 00:09:14,024 --> 00:09:17,704 Speaker 1: Batman because he knows where George is and so he's 165 00:09:17,704 --> 00:09:21,264 Speaker 1: always around, right um, but yes, like Batman out of nowhere. 166 00:09:22,944 --> 00:09:26,824 Speaker 1: And he looks like you went to like a second 167 00:09:26,864 --> 00:09:29,784 Speaker 1: rate casting director and asked for a homeless person. Absolutely 168 00:09:30,264 --> 00:09:33,064 Speaker 1: two on the nose, right absolutely. I mean he's got 169 00:09:33,104 --> 00:09:35,184 Speaker 1: this like so like there's no hair on the very 170 00:09:35,184 --> 00:09:37,144 Speaker 1: top of his head, but he has this like gray 171 00:09:37,624 --> 00:09:41,024 Speaker 1: mane and it's like wiry and greasy and like just 172 00:09:41,184 --> 00:09:44,624 Speaker 1: like crazy looking. And then he has this like huge 173 00:09:44,744 --> 00:09:47,624 Speaker 1: gray beard and he wears the same clothes every day. 174 00:09:47,784 --> 00:09:52,944 Speaker 1: But it's amazing because this guy who looks homeless, smells homeless, 175 00:09:53,184 --> 00:09:55,104 Speaker 1: is lying on the ground by a dumpster or whatever, 176 00:09:55,544 --> 00:09:58,904 Speaker 1: is like shaking hands with like Meryl Street. It's insane. 177 00:09:59,144 --> 00:10:02,624 Speaker 1: And he bikes around everywhere, and he's got that boombox 178 00:10:02,784 --> 00:10:05,744 Speaker 1: around his neck kind of like he's Radio Rakim from 179 00:10:05,744 --> 00:10:09,464 Speaker 1: Do the Right Thing. So he used to carry around 180 00:10:09,464 --> 00:10:11,904 Speaker 1: this radio and like he would tie a rope to 181 00:10:12,024 --> 00:10:13,704 Speaker 1: a radio and hang it on his neck and bring 182 00:10:13,704 --> 00:10:16,064 Speaker 1: it everywhere but over the passage. Like at least every 183 00:10:16,064 --> 00:10:17,584 Speaker 1: time I was with him, he never actually had it. 184 00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:20,784 Speaker 1: I think it's like now become like a I don't know, 185 00:10:21,104 --> 00:10:23,144 Speaker 1: a relic or something. He doesn't do it anymore, but 186 00:10:23,184 --> 00:10:26,584 Speaker 1: he does ride his bicycle literally everywhere from his apartment 187 00:10:26,664 --> 00:10:29,544 Speaker 1: in Yonkers that must take forever each way. It's a 188 00:10:29,544 --> 00:10:32,784 Speaker 1: thirteen mile ride and it takes him like two hours, 189 00:10:32,944 --> 00:10:35,344 Speaker 1: and then all day long he's just biking here, biking there. 190 00:10:35,464 --> 00:10:37,504 Speaker 1: He's got these like three grocery bags filled with like 191 00:10:37,784 --> 00:10:40,544 Speaker 1: toughware containers and like kind of rotting food and like 192 00:10:40,664 --> 00:10:44,584 Speaker 1: just weird ephemera and you know, packages of photographs or 193 00:10:44,584 --> 00:10:46,984 Speaker 1: celebrities for them to sign, and he's toting those the 194 00:10:46,984 --> 00:10:50,384 Speaker 1: whole way. He's just like inexhaustible. Yeah, and he used 195 00:10:50,424 --> 00:10:53,464 Speaker 1: to be homeless, right, it's not just a look Yeah, yeah, yeah, 196 00:10:53,464 --> 00:10:55,704 Speaker 1: he used to be homeless, at least for a year, 197 00:10:56,144 --> 00:10:58,904 Speaker 1: possibly more than that. Yeah, he's spent a long time homeless. 198 00:10:59,144 --> 00:11:02,424 Speaker 1: Is radio Man into graphing or is he into being 199 00:11:02,424 --> 00:11:04,464 Speaker 1: on movie sets? And graphing is just a way to 200 00:11:04,504 --> 00:11:07,184 Speaker 1: pay rent. He doesn't give a shit about the autographs, 201 00:11:07,224 --> 00:11:09,184 Speaker 1: and if he could abandon that part, he would. He 202 00:11:09,184 --> 00:11:12,824 Speaker 1: just needs some way to support his very minimal expenses, 203 00:11:12,984 --> 00:11:15,384 Speaker 1: you know, which is paying nine hundred dollars a month 204 00:11:15,424 --> 00:11:19,304 Speaker 1: in rent and like feeding his two cats. But I mean, 205 00:11:19,424 --> 00:11:23,664 Speaker 1: he doesn't care. He just wants to be around his friends. 206 00:11:23,904 --> 00:11:26,944 Speaker 1: And in his mind, his friends are these actors, right, 207 00:11:26,984 --> 00:11:29,344 Speaker 1: And so if he could somehow just hang out on 208 00:11:29,384 --> 00:11:32,584 Speaker 1: movie sets and hobnob with everybody and sneak into a 209 00:11:32,624 --> 00:11:34,064 Speaker 1: scene every once in a while, because he's been in 210 00:11:34,064 --> 00:11:35,704 Speaker 1: an extra in like more than a hundred movies, if 211 00:11:35,744 --> 00:11:37,824 Speaker 1: he was able to do that and support himself somehow, 212 00:11:37,824 --> 00:11:41,504 Speaker 1: he totally would. How did he get into this this 213 00:11:41,704 --> 00:11:45,024 Speaker 1: thing where he hangs out in movie sets. So the 214 00:11:45,064 --> 00:11:48,544 Speaker 1: story that he tells is that sometime around nineteen ninety, 215 00:11:48,624 --> 00:11:51,304 Speaker 1: he was homeless at the time, he was rolling a 216 00:11:51,304 --> 00:11:55,704 Speaker 1: push cart through Central Park and he encountered this guy. 217 00:11:56,064 --> 00:11:58,544 Speaker 1: And this guy looked like even worse off than he did. 218 00:11:58,624 --> 00:12:01,624 Speaker 1: He was in like crazy like rags, and he just 219 00:12:01,944 --> 00:12:04,544 Speaker 1: was like dirty, and you know, radio man thought he 220 00:12:04,544 --> 00:12:07,664 Speaker 1: was a bump. And so, you know, he had a 221 00:12:07,704 --> 00:12:09,864 Speaker 1: case of beer in his little cart. He's like, hey, man, 222 00:12:09,944 --> 00:12:13,424 Speaker 1: you want a beer? And the guy was like, do 223 00:12:13,464 --> 00:12:16,504 Speaker 1: you know who I am? And it was Robin Williams 224 00:12:16,664 --> 00:12:18,344 Speaker 1: and he was shooting the Fisher Cake, which is that 225 00:12:18,464 --> 00:12:22,464 Speaker 1: Terry gilliam movie about like this bum. Robin Williams plays 226 00:12:22,504 --> 00:12:26,144 Speaker 1: the bomb, but that sounds fake because Radio Man happens 227 00:12:26,144 --> 00:12:28,864 Speaker 1: to look just like Robin Williams. There's like a spinning 228 00:12:28,864 --> 00:12:31,224 Speaker 1: image of each other. It's crazy. And then Robin Williams 229 00:12:31,264 --> 00:12:33,464 Speaker 1: dressed up like Radio Man happened to sit next to 230 00:12:33,584 --> 00:12:36,424 Speaker 1: Radio Man. Well it sounds fake. Past each other up 231 00:12:36,624 --> 00:12:39,384 Speaker 1: all right. You know, one may have their doubts. But 232 00:12:39,464 --> 00:12:44,504 Speaker 1: the story goes that they start chatting and Robin Williams 233 00:12:44,544 --> 00:12:46,904 Speaker 1: is like, yeah, I'm playing this bum and Radio is like, man, 234 00:12:46,944 --> 00:12:49,264 Speaker 1: you're doing this all wrong. You're not acting the way 235 00:12:49,304 --> 00:12:51,344 Speaker 1: that a bomb would actually act. And he's like, let 236 00:12:51,344 --> 00:12:53,184 Speaker 1: me take you down to the South Street Seaport. We're 237 00:12:53,184 --> 00:12:55,264 Speaker 1: gonna go to the fish market. I'll show you my spots, 238 00:12:55,264 --> 00:12:56,704 Speaker 1: like we'll hang out and I'll show you how to 239 00:12:56,704 --> 00:12:58,704 Speaker 1: really do this. And so they spend some amount of 240 00:12:58,744 --> 00:13:04,024 Speaker 1: time together just like living on the street basically. So anyways, 241 00:13:04,024 --> 00:13:06,184 Speaker 1: the movie's producers gave Radio Man like two hundred bucks 242 00:13:06,184 --> 00:13:08,184 Speaker 1: in a case of beer, and so he was like, 243 00:13:08,504 --> 00:13:10,384 Speaker 1: this is a good place to get food and hang out. 244 00:13:10,424 --> 00:13:12,264 Speaker 1: And it's pretty get food. And the other thing to 245 00:13:12,344 --> 00:13:14,264 Speaker 1: keep in mind is that they actually did cast him 246 00:13:14,264 --> 00:13:16,184 Speaker 1: as an extra in The Fisher King, which lends the 247 00:13:16,264 --> 00:13:19,664 Speaker 1: story some credibility he's in that movie. And so he 248 00:13:19,704 --> 00:13:21,384 Speaker 1: would go. He would eat the free food and then 249 00:13:21,424 --> 00:13:22,904 Speaker 1: he'd be like, hey, like put me in your movie. 250 00:13:22,904 --> 00:13:24,984 Speaker 1: I'll play a bum and they're like, fuck, yeah, dude, 251 00:13:25,064 --> 00:13:27,784 Speaker 1: you look exactly like a bomb, because you are. And 252 00:13:27,824 --> 00:13:30,384 Speaker 1: he was like an amazing extra, right, And so he 253 00:13:30,384 --> 00:13:33,224 Speaker 1: would just go. He would get a little bit background parts, 254 00:13:33,624 --> 00:13:36,504 Speaker 1: never really speaking. Sometimes he speaks what movies has he 255 00:13:36,544 --> 00:13:45,144 Speaker 1: been in? Ransom, Zoolander, Spider Man two, The Irishman, Shutter 256 00:13:45,224 --> 00:13:48,864 Speaker 1: Island That Departed. I mean it's like one hundred plus movies. 257 00:13:48,984 --> 00:13:51,344 Speaker 1: And you saw him on a movie set, right, Yeah. 258 00:13:51,384 --> 00:13:55,224 Speaker 1: So the first real big day that I ever spent 259 00:13:55,264 --> 00:13:58,584 Speaker 1: with Radio Man, we go downtown and we arrive on 260 00:13:58,864 --> 00:14:05,224 Speaker 1: this movie set and there is George Clooney and Brad 261 00:14:05,224 --> 00:14:08,024 Speaker 1: Pitt and they're like seven feet away from us, just 262 00:14:08,064 --> 00:14:11,664 Speaker 1: shooting a scene. And during a break in filming, George 263 00:14:11,664 --> 00:14:15,744 Speaker 1: Clooney takes a seat in a director's chair and Radio 264 00:14:15,784 --> 00:14:17,984 Speaker 1: Man walks up to him and he just goes, Clooney, 265 00:14:18,064 --> 00:14:22,064 Speaker 1: you know good fuck. George Clooney just goes there it is, 266 00:14:22,664 --> 00:14:24,864 Speaker 1: and they just start chatting. He goes, you know where 267 00:14:24,864 --> 00:14:27,904 Speaker 1: you're shooting tomorrow, and George Clooney goes, I don't know 268 00:14:27,904 --> 00:14:31,744 Speaker 1: where I'm shooting tomorrow, and radio goes under the Manhattan Bridge, 269 00:14:32,184 --> 00:14:34,344 Speaker 1: and then George Clooney says, see, this is what I'm 270 00:14:34,384 --> 00:14:37,184 Speaker 1: talking about. You don't need a call sheet. Radio Man 271 00:14:37,384 --> 00:14:39,544 Speaker 1: is the call sheet. And that's very much how it is. 272 00:14:39,584 --> 00:14:41,784 Speaker 1: It's just like Brad's gonna be over there shooting on 273 00:14:41,824 --> 00:14:44,184 Speaker 1: the corner of like East Broadway and Katherine Street, by 274 00:14:44,224 --> 00:14:46,264 Speaker 1: the way, like Kate Blanchet's over at the Carlisle and 275 00:14:46,304 --> 00:14:48,584 Speaker 1: Sam Jackson's shooting at the Barrymore. You guys should meet up. 276 00:14:48,664 --> 00:14:51,984 Speaker 1: Then we're doing studio shoot. That's gonna be in Queens. 277 00:14:51,984 --> 00:14:53,744 Speaker 1: I give the address if you want. Have you seen 278 00:14:54,144 --> 00:14:56,624 Speaker 1: It's just like boom boom boom, boom, boo, boom boom. 279 00:14:56,664 --> 00:15:00,464 Speaker 1: And he knows so many people in the industry that 280 00:15:00,704 --> 00:15:04,944 Speaker 1: he's been to the Oscars. Yeah, So, like six years 281 00:15:04,944 --> 00:15:08,184 Speaker 1: ago or so, George Clooney got together with a bunch 282 00:15:08,184 --> 00:15:11,064 Speaker 1: of his buddies and they flew Radio Man out to 283 00:15:11,184 --> 00:15:14,704 Speaker 1: LA and they sent him to the Oscars and he 284 00:15:14,784 --> 00:15:17,944 Speaker 1: walked the red carpet. He wore a tuxedo. Nice. He 285 00:15:18,024 --> 00:15:21,864 Speaker 1: brought a date. Who's Radio Man's date? And George cloy 286 00:15:21,904 --> 00:15:23,104 Speaker 1: asked that. He was like, do you remember when we 287 00:15:23,144 --> 00:15:26,104 Speaker 1: taking the oscars? Man like, who'd you bring? Like? And 288 00:15:26,144 --> 00:15:27,904 Speaker 1: he was like what He's like, who'd you bring to 289 00:15:27,904 --> 00:15:30,104 Speaker 1: the Oscars? He's like, what He's like? Who is your date? 290 00:15:30,304 --> 00:15:32,944 Speaker 1: And Radio was like, well there were several of them. 291 00:15:35,904 --> 00:15:38,904 Speaker 1: It's just a fucking rout. You know. He's quick, and 292 00:15:38,944 --> 00:15:41,424 Speaker 1: he's hilarious and he's super lovable. Now I need to 293 00:15:41,464 --> 00:15:44,224 Speaker 1: find out who he brought to the Oscars. We may 294 00:15:44,264 --> 00:15:47,104 Speaker 1: never know. When we come back, we'll find out why 295 00:15:47,224 --> 00:15:50,584 Speaker 1: Radio Man might be the worst business person in all 296 00:15:50,624 --> 00:15:53,624 Speaker 1: of New York City. But first, our sponsors are going 297 00:15:53,704 --> 00:15:56,704 Speaker 1: to try and sell you some me undies, only they'll 298 00:15:56,744 --> 00:16:09,344 Speaker 1: be signed by me. How does Radio Man sell his autographs? 299 00:16:09,344 --> 00:16:13,864 Speaker 1: He has dealers. So um, there's these two guys, one 300 00:16:13,944 --> 00:16:15,544 Speaker 1: of them is based in New York and the other 301 00:16:15,584 --> 00:16:18,264 Speaker 1: one lives in Florida. And basically, the guy in New 302 00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:21,464 Speaker 1: York prints out hundreds of photographs of whatever star happens 303 00:16:21,504 --> 00:16:23,544 Speaker 1: to be in town that week, brings them to radio. 304 00:16:24,024 --> 00:16:27,024 Speaker 1: Radio goes and gets them signed, and then Radio hands 305 00:16:27,064 --> 00:16:29,704 Speaker 1: them back to the guy who dropped them off. That 306 00:16:29,744 --> 00:16:31,784 Speaker 1: guy shifts them to the guy in Florida who lists 307 00:16:31,824 --> 00:16:35,544 Speaker 1: them on eBay or you know whatever autograph marketplace you 308 00:16:35,544 --> 00:16:38,384 Speaker 1: want to name. They're all really obscure and weird, and 309 00:16:39,184 --> 00:16:42,624 Speaker 1: they sell them for I mean, let's say, let's take 310 00:16:42,624 --> 00:16:45,104 Speaker 1: the Clooneys for example, George Cluney signed one hundred and 311 00:16:45,144 --> 00:16:49,664 Speaker 1: eighty five photographs for Radio. I counted one shot in 312 00:16:49,664 --> 00:16:52,464 Speaker 1: one shot. That must take forever, I think, he said. 313 00:16:52,464 --> 00:16:54,664 Speaker 1: He said, it usually takes like an hour or something. 314 00:16:54,704 --> 00:16:58,704 Speaker 1: So Clooney is spending an hour just signing stuff for radio. Man, 315 00:16:58,904 --> 00:17:01,864 Speaker 1: an hour signing things for an hour sounds like no 316 00:17:01,904 --> 00:17:05,144 Speaker 1: big deal, but just for like my limited time signing books, 317 00:17:05,464 --> 00:17:09,344 Speaker 1: it's sort of oddly exhausting. Yeah, man, I love when 318 00:17:09,384 --> 00:17:11,184 Speaker 1: you drop a flex in the mix. I want you know, 319 00:17:11,224 --> 00:17:13,064 Speaker 1: I really held off on telling you that I've met 320 00:17:13,104 --> 00:17:15,624 Speaker 1: Brad Pitt. It was hard but I held off. No, No, 321 00:17:15,824 --> 00:17:17,384 Speaker 1: I mean it seems like a total pain in the ass. 322 00:17:17,424 --> 00:17:20,424 Speaker 1: I would hate to do that. Okay. So these people 323 00:17:20,784 --> 00:17:24,104 Speaker 1: that radio Man directly deals with, who give him these 324 00:17:24,144 --> 00:17:26,944 Speaker 1: packages to sign and he hands them back, what are 325 00:17:26,984 --> 00:17:29,424 Speaker 1: they like? Did you meet these guys? Yeah? I mean 326 00:17:29,464 --> 00:17:31,944 Speaker 1: they basically exploit Radio Man. But he's got to put 327 00:17:32,024 --> 00:17:33,864 Speaker 1: himself out there and put himself in, honestly, the kind 328 00:17:33,904 --> 00:17:36,264 Speaker 1: of an uncomfortable position where he's asking for something from 329 00:17:36,304 --> 00:17:38,104 Speaker 1: these people that he would really rather not ask for 330 00:17:38,144 --> 00:17:40,704 Speaker 1: anything from. But if he loves hanging out on movie 331 00:17:40,744 --> 00:17:43,304 Speaker 1: sets and he loves talking to these people and being 332 00:17:43,384 --> 00:17:45,904 Speaker 1: in these things, to then go and basically ask them 333 00:17:45,944 --> 00:17:48,864 Speaker 1: for money sucks. Yeah, he doesn't want to have to 334 00:17:48,904 --> 00:17:51,384 Speaker 1: do that at all. So keep this in mind, Right, 335 00:17:51,424 --> 00:17:53,104 Speaker 1: he has to do that. He has to wait around 336 00:17:53,184 --> 00:17:56,184 Speaker 1: in the cold like shiver haing. He gives it to 337 00:17:56,224 --> 00:17:58,544 Speaker 1: these guys. There's one hundred and eighty five signed George 338 00:17:58,544 --> 00:18:01,784 Speaker 1: Clooney's in there, right, that's worth at least eighteen thousand dollars. 339 00:18:02,584 --> 00:18:05,464 Speaker 1: He gives it to the guys and they're like thanks, Radio, Like, 340 00:18:05,544 --> 00:18:08,824 Speaker 1: here's three hundred bucks, you know, Like yeah, like Jack, 341 00:18:09,464 --> 00:18:11,584 Speaker 1: is it literally like three hundred on that one. He 342 00:18:11,664 --> 00:18:13,944 Speaker 1: might have gotten like five. But like I know that 343 00:18:13,984 --> 00:18:16,864 Speaker 1: for this package of Sarah Schell gellers, there were forty 344 00:18:16,904 --> 00:18:20,224 Speaker 1: two signed Sarah Schell gellers and those are worth like 345 00:18:20,264 --> 00:18:22,784 Speaker 1: six thousand dollars and he got three hundred bucks for that. 346 00:18:23,264 --> 00:18:27,024 Speaker 1: So why isn't Radioman selling these directly? Well, because he 347 00:18:27,104 --> 00:18:29,024 Speaker 1: doesn't know how to use the internet. He doesn't know 348 00:18:29,064 --> 00:18:31,104 Speaker 1: where to find the photographs, he doesn't know how to 349 00:18:31,144 --> 00:18:33,264 Speaker 1: list them on eBay, he doesn't know how to communicate 350 00:18:33,304 --> 00:18:35,224 Speaker 1: with people who would be buying them. I mean, he's 351 00:18:35,224 --> 00:18:37,504 Speaker 1: seventy two years old, Like he just doesn't have a 352 00:18:37,544 --> 00:18:40,384 Speaker 1: working knowledge of the web. But if someone just helped 353 00:18:40,464 --> 00:18:43,744 Speaker 1: him do some of this, he could do like ten 354 00:18:43,784 --> 00:18:46,144 Speaker 1: percent of what he's doing now and get by right, dude, 355 00:18:46,184 --> 00:18:47,984 Speaker 1: he could be like a millionaire. I think the two 356 00:18:48,064 --> 00:18:50,944 Speaker 1: dudes who he sells to, those guys I was told 357 00:18:50,944 --> 00:18:53,264 Speaker 1: by a grapher who's in this scene, clear four hundred 358 00:18:53,264 --> 00:18:55,704 Speaker 1: and six hundred thousand dollars a year off radio Man's 359 00:18:55,704 --> 00:18:58,344 Speaker 1: merchandise alone. And radio man maybe takes home like forty 360 00:18:58,344 --> 00:19:00,584 Speaker 1: grand a year and survives exclusively on food that he 361 00:19:00,624 --> 00:19:03,144 Speaker 1: gathers from free pantries and movie sets. I mean, like, 362 00:19:03,224 --> 00:19:07,024 Speaker 1: this guy is living in poverty and he's holding in 363 00:19:07,104 --> 00:19:10,504 Speaker 1: his hands on any given day five thousand dollars, ten 364 00:19:10,504 --> 00:19:14,304 Speaker 1: thousand dollars, twenty thousand dollars. It just it feels really 365 00:19:14,344 --> 00:19:16,464 Speaker 1: weird that there's these middlemen who who didn't get to 366 00:19:16,464 --> 00:19:19,744 Speaker 1: interview as him. I spent time with him Radio Man. 367 00:19:19,824 --> 00:19:21,224 Speaker 1: He was like, I don't want to eat to talk 368 00:19:21,264 --> 00:19:25,704 Speaker 1: shit about these guys. And I tried to handle it carefully, 369 00:19:25,944 --> 00:19:28,504 Speaker 1: and I put that scene in there where basically one 370 00:19:28,504 --> 00:19:31,584 Speaker 1: of the guys pulls up in a nice silver stan. 371 00:19:32,064 --> 00:19:34,704 Speaker 1: It's freezing outside, like one of the coldest nights of 372 00:19:34,704 --> 00:19:36,984 Speaker 1: the year in New York, and he walks up to 373 00:19:37,104 --> 00:19:41,024 Speaker 1: Radio and takes the package from him, doesn't say anything 374 00:19:41,024 --> 00:19:43,224 Speaker 1: to him, and on his way back to the warmth 375 00:19:43,224 --> 00:19:47,144 Speaker 1: of his car, Radio is like, hey, you got like 376 00:19:47,184 --> 00:19:48,824 Speaker 1: six bucks or something so I could get a tea. 377 00:19:49,584 --> 00:19:51,024 Speaker 1: And the guy turns and you, guys, I don't have 378 00:19:51,104 --> 00:19:52,704 Speaker 1: cash on me. And he just gets in his car 379 00:19:52,744 --> 00:19:55,504 Speaker 1: and drives away, leaving Radio Man buy his bicycle which 380 00:19:55,504 --> 00:19:57,984 Speaker 1: he'll ride home that night. And these guys like they 381 00:19:58,024 --> 00:20:00,744 Speaker 1: just had like a kind of a stranglehold on radio. 382 00:20:01,544 --> 00:20:03,864 Speaker 1: I mean, the other thing is radio He just doesn't 383 00:20:03,904 --> 00:20:06,624 Speaker 1: give a shit about the money, which is like so endearing, 384 00:20:06,904 --> 00:20:09,784 Speaker 1: but it's also frustrating as someone who cares about him. 385 00:20:09,824 --> 00:20:12,784 Speaker 1: You know, it's crushing. I mean, this story was so 386 00:20:12,824 --> 00:20:16,664 Speaker 1: fun and exciting and hilarious, but then there were some 387 00:20:16,784 --> 00:20:19,744 Speaker 1: nights where I was just so sad. I mean where 388 00:20:19,864 --> 00:20:23,224 Speaker 1: I was physically suffering from being outside for ten hours 389 00:20:23,224 --> 00:20:25,504 Speaker 1: at a time. I had handwarmers in my boots, I 390 00:20:25,584 --> 00:20:28,504 Speaker 1: was shivering, you know, and Radio Man's like pissing an 391 00:20:28,504 --> 00:20:31,624 Speaker 1: alley and you know, half passed out in it, and 392 00:20:31,944 --> 00:20:34,264 Speaker 1: he's getting ripped off for the shit that he's working 393 00:20:34,304 --> 00:20:36,304 Speaker 1: so hard to get. And this is the other thing, 394 00:20:36,384 --> 00:20:38,224 Speaker 1: is that, like no one's bringing radio food, no one's 395 00:20:38,224 --> 00:20:40,744 Speaker 1: bringing water, no one's bringing tea, No one's checking on him, 396 00:20:40,744 --> 00:20:42,704 Speaker 1: no one's making sure he's warm, no one's making sure 397 00:20:42,704 --> 00:20:45,384 Speaker 1: he has like appropriate clothes on. Like, and I'm not 398 00:20:45,424 --> 00:20:48,704 Speaker 1: trying to like strip radio Man of his agency. Obviously 399 00:20:48,744 --> 00:20:51,224 Speaker 1: he has it, but he's also seventy two, you know, 400 00:20:51,424 --> 00:20:54,264 Speaker 1: like kind of could use somebody just to be looking 401 00:20:54,264 --> 00:20:58,064 Speaker 1: out for him, and he doesn't have that. It became 402 00:20:58,784 --> 00:21:01,064 Speaker 1: really troubling to me at a certain part, although I 403 00:21:01,064 --> 00:21:03,984 Speaker 1: will say this was fucking awesome. So Radio man like 404 00:21:04,024 --> 00:21:06,664 Speaker 1: calls me all the time. We still talk, and after 405 00:21:06,704 --> 00:21:09,704 Speaker 1: the story he called me and he was like it's great, man, 406 00:21:09,904 --> 00:21:11,704 Speaker 1: like I love you like a brother, and like you 407 00:21:11,744 --> 00:21:13,984 Speaker 1: know all this stuff, and and he was like, get this, 408 00:21:14,144 --> 00:21:16,744 Speaker 1: it's like I'm gonna invent names here. These are not 409 00:21:16,744 --> 00:21:19,304 Speaker 1: these guys real names. But he's like Chucky and Kyle 410 00:21:19,344 --> 00:21:22,824 Speaker 1: are like so pissed off about, like you know, the story, 411 00:21:22,864 --> 00:21:24,864 Speaker 1: and they say they look like shit and they're like 412 00:21:25,024 --> 00:21:27,064 Speaker 1: you know that they're exploding men. It's I don't give 413 00:21:27,064 --> 00:21:29,504 Speaker 1: a shit about that. Fuck those guys like whatever, and 414 00:21:29,544 --> 00:21:31,784 Speaker 1: now get this, like they feel really bad. So it 415 00:21:31,864 --> 00:21:35,344 Speaker 1: just like gave these kean news and they gave me 416 00:21:35,384 --> 00:21:38,384 Speaker 1: twenty five hundred bucks for him. And that might even 417 00:21:38,424 --> 00:21:41,064 Speaker 1: still seem low, but for Radio, who was getting like 418 00:21:41,144 --> 00:21:44,824 Speaker 1: three hundred before the story and twenty five hundred afterwards, 419 00:21:44,864 --> 00:21:48,184 Speaker 1: that is a fucking like huge difference. I was so 420 00:21:48,264 --> 00:21:51,944 Speaker 1: psyched when I heard that. So these other graphers who 421 00:21:51,944 --> 00:21:54,904 Speaker 1: were standing outside Colbert, like eighty of them, are they 422 00:21:54,944 --> 00:21:58,224 Speaker 1: also going to these two slimy middlemen. Are they selling directly. 423 00:21:58,584 --> 00:22:01,184 Speaker 1: Some are selling to these guys, some are selling to 424 00:22:01,264 --> 00:22:03,504 Speaker 1: other dealers. I mean I think there's probably like twenty 425 00:22:03,544 --> 00:22:07,144 Speaker 1: five dealers in New York City. Wow. And who's the 426 00:22:07,224 --> 00:22:11,464 Speaker 1: second biggest grapher out there to radio man Geo Geo Arnold. 427 00:22:11,744 --> 00:22:16,104 Speaker 1: So there's this guy and he calls himself Black Radio Man. 428 00:22:17,544 --> 00:22:22,224 Speaker 1: So it's just amazing, it's so good. Wow, that's an 429 00:22:22,224 --> 00:22:26,624 Speaker 1: honor catchphrases stay black. But his catchphrase is stay black. Yeah, 430 00:22:26,744 --> 00:22:29,744 Speaker 1: and she like almost exclusively yells at white people. His 431 00:22:29,944 --> 00:22:32,184 Speaker 1: radio man cool with him. Yeah, they hang out, they 432 00:22:32,224 --> 00:22:34,384 Speaker 1: know each other and like every time he's like like 433 00:22:34,544 --> 00:22:36,544 Speaker 1: Geo's like, hey, what's up, radio man, how are you doing? Man? 434 00:22:36,624 --> 00:22:38,984 Speaker 1: He's like, oh, it's Black Radio Man. And you know 435 00:22:39,024 --> 00:22:42,144 Speaker 1: they just pall around. I mean they're betties. So anyways, 436 00:22:42,184 --> 00:22:44,624 Speaker 1: this guy, Geo, he got his start back when he 437 00:22:44,704 --> 00:22:49,104 Speaker 1: was like ten, eleven, twelve years old, and he is 438 00:22:49,144 --> 00:22:51,744 Speaker 1: like dog it in his pursuit of autographs. Like if 439 00:22:51,744 --> 00:22:53,664 Speaker 1: he doesn't get it on the way out, he'll like 440 00:22:54,024 --> 00:22:55,784 Speaker 1: chase somebody down the street while they're in their car 441 00:22:55,824 --> 00:22:57,744 Speaker 1: until they finally signed for him. Then he gets a 442 00:22:57,744 --> 00:22:59,904 Speaker 1: bicycle so that he's following them in their car like 443 00:22:59,944 --> 00:23:01,624 Speaker 1: forty blocks till they get to their hotel, and he's 444 00:23:01,624 --> 00:23:03,744 Speaker 1: like please please, please, please please. I mean he's like 445 00:23:03,944 --> 00:23:05,624 Speaker 1: in in the way that radio Man is in because 446 00:23:05,624 --> 00:23:07,864 Speaker 1: he's been doing it for so long because he's hilarious. 447 00:23:07,904 --> 00:23:10,064 Speaker 1: But Radio Man just wants to hang out on movie 448 00:23:10,064 --> 00:23:12,584 Speaker 1: sets and be in movies. This guy is a true 449 00:23:12,944 --> 00:23:17,024 Speaker 1: autograph seeker as a businessman, yes, yes he is. And he, 450 00:23:17,264 --> 00:23:19,744 Speaker 1: unlike radio Man, sells his own merchandise on eBay and 451 00:23:19,784 --> 00:23:22,104 Speaker 1: to private collectors, and so he's actually making a pretty 452 00:23:22,104 --> 00:23:25,424 Speaker 1: good living for himself. And I think he wants to 453 00:23:25,464 --> 00:23:28,024 Speaker 1: get out of the autograph game because like everywhere you 454 00:23:28,064 --> 00:23:30,304 Speaker 1: go in New York, if it's a really big star, 455 00:23:30,584 --> 00:23:32,304 Speaker 1: and it's going to be like an actual opportunity to 456 00:23:32,344 --> 00:23:34,824 Speaker 1: get a signature from them twenty five guys here, thirty 457 00:23:34,864 --> 00:23:37,584 Speaker 1: ft five, sixty eighty. Who knows it depends on who 458 00:23:37,624 --> 00:23:40,184 Speaker 1: it is, right, But it's like getting more and more competitive. 459 00:23:40,384 --> 00:23:43,184 Speaker 1: Is there competition between Radio Man and Black Radio Man. 460 00:23:43,464 --> 00:23:47,384 Speaker 1: The thing is Geo knows that, you know, radio Man 461 00:23:47,544 --> 00:23:50,144 Speaker 1: is the fucking king. I mean, they're different, but he, 462 00:23:50,304 --> 00:23:52,184 Speaker 1: like he told me, he was like, you know, I'm 463 00:23:52,224 --> 00:23:55,224 Speaker 1: good at what I do. Radio Man is another level. 464 00:23:55,624 --> 00:23:59,224 Speaker 1: You know. It's just like no one gets a radio 465 00:23:59,264 --> 00:24:02,224 Speaker 1: man gets Radio Man gets quaking Phoenix. No one gets 466 00:24:02,304 --> 00:24:06,184 Speaker 1: quaking Phoenix. Like radio Man gets Ed Norton. Nobody gets 467 00:24:06,344 --> 00:24:09,664 Speaker 1: Ed Norton. He gets the ungettable and he gets hundreds. 468 00:24:09,984 --> 00:24:14,264 Speaker 1: He's famous radio Man anyway. There's been a documentary about him. 469 00:24:14,264 --> 00:24:16,944 Speaker 1: And when you were around him, did you notice that 470 00:24:16,984 --> 00:24:20,464 Speaker 1: people but he was sort of famous. I mean, there 471 00:24:20,544 --> 00:24:24,144 Speaker 1: was this crazy moment where we run set and this 472 00:24:24,184 --> 00:24:26,504 Speaker 1: guy that I'd never seen before and that Radio Man 473 00:24:26,584 --> 00:24:29,464 Speaker 1: did not recognize, walked up to him and he was 474 00:24:29,544 --> 00:24:33,584 Speaker 1: holding an eight by ten photograph of Radio Man, and 475 00:24:34,184 --> 00:24:35,704 Speaker 1: he held it out to him and he was like, hey, 476 00:24:35,824 --> 00:24:39,544 Speaker 1: radio you men sign it real quick. And Radio Man 477 00:24:39,664 --> 00:24:43,304 Speaker 1: signs it in this big, messy cursive and the guy's 478 00:24:43,344 --> 00:24:46,704 Speaker 1: like thanks, just walks away. And it was like is 479 00:24:46,704 --> 00:24:50,584 Speaker 1: he a grapher? Is he a fan? Like? What is he? 480 00:24:51,144 --> 00:24:54,944 Speaker 1: And it was a really surreal moment. Drew Schwartz, you 481 00:24:55,024 --> 00:24:59,424 Speaker 1: wrote Meet Radio Man Autograph King friend of George Clooney 482 00:24:59,744 --> 00:25:02,864 Speaker 1: bum for The New York Times, and it was so 483 00:25:02,984 --> 00:25:05,704 Speaker 1: much fun talking to you. Blast talking to you too, Betty, 484 00:25:07,104 --> 00:25:10,184 Speaker 1: because I write profiles of actors from magazines. I've spent 485 00:25:10,264 --> 00:25:14,344 Speaker 1: a lot of time on movie sets, and for every 486 00:25:14,384 --> 00:25:18,144 Speaker 1: person there besides the director, they are the most boring 487 00:25:18,384 --> 00:25:22,104 Speaker 1: place you can possibly be. All the action is just 488 00:25:22,384 --> 00:25:26,624 Speaker 1: moving lights. The rest is retouching makeup and hair. There's 489 00:25:26,704 --> 00:25:30,384 Speaker 1: so little action on a movie set that the actual 490 00:25:30,424 --> 00:25:33,984 Speaker 1: actors have lookalikes who spend more time than the actors 491 00:25:34,024 --> 00:25:36,344 Speaker 1: do on set trying to see if the light is 492 00:25:36,424 --> 00:25:39,304 Speaker 1: right or the makeup is right. What I'm saying is 493 00:25:39,904 --> 00:25:43,144 Speaker 1: radio man, come hang out with me in my closet 494 00:25:43,344 --> 00:25:46,264 Speaker 1: while I make a podcast. This is where all the 495 00:25:46,304 --> 00:25:51,944 Speaker 1: action is. At the end of the show, what's next 496 00:25:51,984 --> 00:25:56,104 Speaker 1: for joel Stein? Maybe he'll take an never poke around online. 497 00:25:57,424 --> 00:26:02,264 Speaker 1: Our show today was produced by mo Lahboard and Nishev Bencutt. 498 00:26:02,864 --> 00:26:06,904 Speaker 1: It was edited by Lydia Gencott. Our engineer is Amanda 499 00:26:06,984 --> 00:26:11,384 Speaker 1: kay We and our executive produce series Katherine chi Adol. 500 00:26:11,944 --> 00:26:14,544 Speaker 1: And our theme song was written and performed by Jonathan 501 00:26:14,624 --> 00:26:17,584 Speaker 1: Colt and a special thanks to my voice coach Vicky 502 00:26:17,664 --> 00:26:21,624 Speaker 1: Merrick and my consulting producer laurenz Alaska. To find more 503 00:26:21,624 --> 00:26:26,384 Speaker 1: Pushkin podcast, listen on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or 504 00:26:26,384 --> 00:26:29,944 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'm Joel Stein and 505 00:26:30,064 --> 00:26:33,704 Speaker 1: this is the story of the week. I've met one 506 00:26:33,744 --> 00:26:35,784 Speaker 1: autograph collector in my whole life now that we're talking 507 00:26:35,784 --> 00:26:39,224 Speaker 1: about it, and it's Judd Apataw. Really yeah, Judd Apatow 508 00:26:39,224 --> 00:26:41,344 Speaker 1: has been collecting autographs since he was a kid, shown 509 00:26:41,384 --> 00:26:43,384 Speaker 1: them to me. He's a weirdo. Now that I'm thinking 510 00:26:43,424 --> 00:26:45,464 Speaker 1: about it, this is a flex Joel. He's like, yeah, 511 00:26:45,464 --> 00:26:47,344 Speaker 1: I was just hanging out with Jed Apatow and you know, 512 00:26:47,864 --> 00:26:50,184 Speaker 1: oh no, we're only like three minutes in. It's gonna 513 00:26:50,224 --> 00:26:55,504 Speaker 1: be a bunch of flexes. Just prepare his name, Jaffie. 514 00:26:56,184 --> 00:26:58,384 Speaker 1: That was the original name of the podcast, Joel Drops 515 00:26:58,464 --> 00:26:58,704 Speaker 1: Names