1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: This is Alec Baldwin and you were listening to Here's 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: the Thing from iHeart Radio. He was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia. 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: His mind is a blank slate. He is the son 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: of a pig farmer and one of the most iconic 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: characters in sitcom history. He could only have been played 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: by my guest today, Jack macbriar. He inhabited the role 7 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: of wide eyed, television obsessed Kenneth the Page on NBC's 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: Thirty Rock for seven seasons. Hailing from Macon, Georgia himself, 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: macbrair discovered his improv skills at Second City in Chicago. 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: He continued to hone his craft with recurring roles on 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: Late Night with Conan O'Brien and arrested development before landing 12 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: the part that would change his life. The Emmy nominated 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: actor has also voiced countless animated characters, and in twenty 14 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: twenty one, he created Produce Uston starred in the Apple 15 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: TV series Hello Jack, The Kind Of Show. His latest venture, 16 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: a travel series called Zillow Gone Wild, premiered on HGTV 17 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: just this past May. Playing Jack Donneghey alongside McBriar. Was 18 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: one of the most momentous parts of my career. I 19 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: was curious if thirty Rock had as big of an 20 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: impact on mcbrear's life as it did mine. 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: It changed everything for me, would you say so it did? 22 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: Oh for damn sure, yes, sir. That was kind of 23 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 2: my first break and the fact that it was with you. 24 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 2: I was just so excited to have a job. But 25 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 2: then when I realized what the job was, I was like, Oh, 26 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 2: this is amazing. 27 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: What were you doing just prior to the show, because 28 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: your resume is like the menu at whoa Hop. It's 29 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: like the longest thing I've ever seen in my life. 30 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: With pictures to boot. But I was temping. I was 31 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: in California and I was temping at a place called Teleflora. 32 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: I was rearranging their storage facility. And when you have 33 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: some OCD tendencies like I do, that's a breeze. So 34 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: I was just a hustling boy. Yeah, thirty Rock by far, 35 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: which is crazy. And so this would have started in 36 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: two thousand and six, right, and you are fifteen years 37 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: older than me. Katrina Bowden is fifteen years younger than me, 38 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: and it would have been a few years ago. I 39 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 2: was reading an article that when we started thirty Rock, 40 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: you were forty eight years old, And when I was 41 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: reading that article, I was forty eight years old. I 42 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: was like, how is this possible? 43 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: Right? 44 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: Because I mean, like you've always been a grown up 45 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: to me and I still eat cereal for dinner. But 46 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: it is amazing to me just to see how much 47 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: time has passed and how my life has changed, and 48 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: it's great, like I'm really having a good time. 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: When you weren't a telefloor right before we did thirty Rock. 50 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, because I booked. I told y'all, how was 51 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 2: that possible? I don't know, but I mean I've never 52 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 2: been scared to, you know, hustle and pay the bills 53 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: and everything. I knew that I was gonna get something, 54 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: and I'd had little bites. I was able to do 55 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 2: Talladega Nights just before thirty Rock. I was doing a 56 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: couple of episodes of Arrested Development just before thirty Rock, 57 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: so I knew I was on the right track. And 58 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: of course, I mean Tina Fey giving me this lifeline 59 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: that really it changed everything. 60 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: Had you known her, because she quite often is accessing 61 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: people that she's known and worked with her she knows 62 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: something about them. 63 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, Absolutely, I started doing the comedy scene in 64 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: Chicago in the nineties nineteen nineties, and Tina Fey's husband, 65 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: Jeff Richmond, was my director at Second City. 66 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: So he was Yes, that was a connection with Jeff 67 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: as absolutely. 68 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Tina was on the main stage when I was 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: taking the classes and all that kind of stuff, but 70 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: she very quickly moved on to New York and Saturday 71 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: Night Live. Jeff stayed around for a couple more years, 72 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: and he was my director at Second City, and she 73 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: would come back to visit. I know, I know, and 74 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: it was just it was so fun to and then 75 00:03:58,240 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: I did move to New York just to give that 76 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: a shot as a poor person. So for three years 77 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 2: between two thousand and two and two thousand and five, 78 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: I was just just a hustling in New York and 79 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: exploring the UCB scene there, doing bits for Late Night 80 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: with Conan O'Brien, and that paid my bills, and then 81 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: I was able to hang out with all the people 82 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: from SNL that I really knew from Chicago. And so, 83 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 2: you know, I've always been in Tina and Jeff's life 84 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: for a very long time. And so when the time 85 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 2: came for her to create thirty right. I'm sure it 86 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: was Jeff, just like nudge and or say, hey, throw 87 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 2: mcbrear in there, so I'll take that bone. 88 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: Well for me and I wonder to get curious about 89 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: you as well. You know, we did season one. It 90 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: was kind of like introducing ourselves. And we get through 91 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: that first season. Seasons two, three, and four, we win 92 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: every prize in the world. We win everything. We have 93 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: a great time. Then season five comes and I'm thinking, 94 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: I don't think I want to do this anymore. Season five, 95 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: everybody acknowledged was like kind of more neemic, still good, 96 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: but not up to her standards of what she normally achieved. 97 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: Her and Carl Lock and everybody, and this says. The 98 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: season six comes and I'm like, sign me up for 99 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: five more seasons. This is funny again. We have a 100 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,559 Speaker 1: great six season and we stop, and when it was over, 101 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: I was so sad. Oh yeah, what was your last 102 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 1: scene that you recorded on the show. 103 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: It was the last scene of the series. It was 104 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: me as the president of NBC behind your old desk. 105 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: I know, I know, and I'm being pitched a show 106 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: by Liz Lemon's great granddaughter. 107 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 3: I know, I know. 108 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 2: This show was so weird. 109 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: But my gosh, I loved it. 110 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 2: I loved it. I loved it, And I will say 111 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: to your point, I've never been a person who can 112 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: like watch a series and be like, oh, that season 113 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: was lacking or whatever. Like when people talk about The Simpsons, 114 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: for example, they're like, oh, they should have thrown in 115 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 2: the towel at season seventeen. I'm like, these are just 116 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: as funny as ones I remember from seven years ago. 117 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 2: But I understand that some people are, you know, they 118 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: compare them differently, But as far as I can tell, 119 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: it was just all a blast. I was very you know, 120 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: you're catching me at an interesting time because I'm starting 121 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: to realize as a grown ass man, I need to 122 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: reevaluate how I. 123 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: Move in the world. 124 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: Meaning I was tempting at Teleflora before thirty Rocks started, 125 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: and so what I kind of had to do was 126 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: just hold on to money like this, just not let 127 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: go during the course of thirty Rock. And then because 128 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: I was on thirty right, You're able to get other jobs. 129 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: I think once people saw what we were doing and 130 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: what kind of character I could play on thirty Rock, 131 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: you do start getting more opportunities. You were very instrumental 132 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: in guiding me towards voiceover work, and now that is 133 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: my bread and butter. I mean, I know I sound 134 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: like a banjo, but I tell you what I like it. 135 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: I like it a lot. You're great, You're the best 136 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 2: banjo human best. But because of the opportunities that thirty 137 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: Rock afforded me, I really was just hoping that it 138 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: went on forever. I absolutely understand why Tina and the 139 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: writing crew were just like, well, the story has been 140 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: told after seven seasons, but it was again. It was 141 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: incredibly emotional. I remember I remember walking into your dressing 142 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: room on our last scene together, and I just burst 143 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 2: into tears. I burst into tears because I just realized 144 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: how special it was and how important the whole job was. 145 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: And not to blow smoke, sir, but I am so 146 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: grateful to you saying yes, because there's a you know, 147 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: we read stories about who all else audition for mister Donneghe, 148 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: and you know, all these other possible casting choices, and 149 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 2: if you had not said yes to this crazy live 150 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: action cartoon that we did, then like who's to say, 151 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: it might have gone like thirteen episodes and. 152 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: You know the end. 153 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: But no, seven years we got to do that. 154 00:07:59,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: That crazy. 155 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: It was nuts. 156 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: I did the last scene with Tina. We're in this 157 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: little marina, this really cute little marina down in Battery Park. 158 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: It's nighttime. We're shooting at night and it was cold, 159 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 1: remember it was really cold, and the whole crew was there. 160 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: And it's my last scene in the show. And I'm 161 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: going on and on with this monologue about the German 162 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: Luba for whatever, really funny speech. And as I'm groping 163 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: for what I want to say, she of course interests 164 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: me and says, I love you too, Jack, And I 165 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: couldn't get through it. I couldn't get through I was crying, 166 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: and I thought, this has been such an important part 167 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: of my life. But this was six and a half 168 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: years of my life, and it was such a great group, 169 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: as we all know. You know, I breeze out there. 170 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: I'm doing the reverse commute over the fifty ninth Street bridge, 171 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: hit Silver Cup. We're out there. The only complaint I 172 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: had was there was no restaurants nearby for us to 173 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: order decent food. None. None. We were like the Siberia 174 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: of Queen's there. Really important and economically a piston in 175 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: the engine of Manhattan. Economics, but no good restaurants was 176 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: to order or coffee truck, mud truck, taco truck, ice 177 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: cream truck, a lot of trucks. We ate more fucking 178 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: food off of a truck than I ever thought was possible. Construction, yeah, 179 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: like we're bridge builders or something. But yeah, when that 180 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: was over, I was so sad, and I was so 181 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: blessed by everybody there. Like I really believe, like any 182 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: group it could be sex in the city, the Beatles, 183 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: you name, you remove one person, it's not gonna work. 184 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: It had to be those five people that those five 185 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: people just meshed and the writing more importantly meshed for them. 186 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: And I was so so sad when it was over, 187 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 1: and it put a curse on me because everywhere I'd 188 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: go people would send me scripts and say, well, here's 189 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: a comedy, here's this, here's this. When I sit there 190 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: and I go, this is more cute than funny. Sure, sure, 191 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 1: I mean they taught these people taught me what funny, Carlos, 192 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: they taught me what was funny surgical? 193 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: And you are right, I mean, like the choices made 194 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 2: with the casting and everything, I can't even imagine what 195 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: it was. Another thing that I was so impressed with 196 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: and I learned a great deal from was how strong 197 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 2: the were at mixing up the dynamics of the characters. 198 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 2: The fact that Ken at the page could have all 199 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 2: these scenes with Jack Donneghe, the fact that you know, 200 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 2: they could pare me with Jane, they could spare me 201 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 2: with Tracy like and it worked and it was fun 202 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: and it didn't seem weird. Well, I mean it seemed 203 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 2: weird because the man that show was weird. I mean, 204 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:25,479 Speaker 2: do you remember you were dressed like Thomas Jefferson's misters? 205 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: I mean there were. 206 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: What was the one I said to you before? First 207 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: of there's too many to count, and not even the 208 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: ones I'm in. I mean the Sandwich Day and all 209 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: you're drinking with Dennihee. I mean that Sandwich Day thing 210 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: is the funniest episode of all. But I mean, I 211 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: I'll never when you sit there and go remember your 212 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: live television when we do these are the live shows. 213 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about that and the live 214 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: show you go. He was like you, mister Jordan. He 215 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: didn't like to rehearse at all. And then because to 216 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: Joey Montero and I'm doing my bad Dean Martin. You 217 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: know when I come out there and I thought to myself, 218 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: this is the most fun I've ever had in my life. 219 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: Almost fun I ever end of my life. Stupid as 220 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: hell funny. 221 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: It was ridiculous. Oh, in the fact that Kenneth the 222 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 2: Page is immortal. I was like, Okay, here we go. 223 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: Well, Kenneth the Page was a joke, Like when we 224 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: said when people would say about Tracy, they say this 225 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: about you personally. They were like, when Tracy was on 226 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: the show, and I think it was Tina, it was 227 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: either Tina or Jane turns the other one and says, 228 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 1: you know, well, he's black. He could be thirty, he 229 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: could be seventy. Like we're trying to guess his age. 230 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: And people say that about you, They're like, Jack mcbaar, 231 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 1: he could be thirty, you could be ninety. You know, 232 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: you're so youthful. 233 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 2: Look in my brain, I'm seventeen. 234 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: But god, that show. 235 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 2: It was ridiculous. You know what's interesting too for me, 236 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 2: and maybe it's the same for you. I just kind 237 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 2: of it didn't click for me that. Oh, once we're 238 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: done with the show, it will stream, it will live 239 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 2: on beyond, you know. Twenty thirteen when we wrapped or whatever. 240 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 2: And so for me, it's so strange when young people 241 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: recognize me from thirty Rock and are like quoting lines 242 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: and stories. I'm like, it kind of breaks my brain 243 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: a little bit. 244 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: Actor and comedian Jack mcbraer. If you enjoy conversations with 245 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: singular comedians, check out my episode with Caroline Ray. You're 246 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: most comfortable when you're on stage, Probably you really love it. 247 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I feel like I always think my stand up 248 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: is a dinner party. I know what I'm gonna make, 249 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: you're my guests. I don't know what's gonna happen. But 250 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 3: the thing about stand up that amazes me is it's 251 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 3: only gonna happen in that moment in time. Even if 252 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 3: we film it, it's never gonna be what it feels 253 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 3: like live. So I think it's just an exchange of energy. 254 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: To hear more of my conversation with Caroline Ray, go 255 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: to Here's the Thing dot Org. After the break, Jack 256 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: McBriar shares the story of his very first night in 257 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: New York City and visiting the set of Saturday Night Live. 258 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the Thing. 259 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: Anyone who has caught actor Jack mcbrair in one of 260 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: his many roles on Phineas and Ferb big Mouth or 261 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: The Jack and Triumph Show, knows the depth of this talent. 262 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to know when McBriar himself first discovered he 263 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: was funny. 264 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 2: I think when you get that reaction of people laughing 265 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 2: at you, and it does scratch an itch, you know, 266 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: doing live comedy especially, you get that immediate gratification if 267 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 2: people laughing. People are laughing, then yo, you're funny. And 268 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 2: if they're not laughing, you're like, oh, let me learn 269 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: a trade. 270 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 1: I'm got me go work at Teleflora. I think I 271 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: was so good at it. 272 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, I got people who are vouched for me. 273 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 2: But when I think about that, I think about opportunities. 274 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 2: I didn't even start doing school plays till I was 275 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 2: in tenth grade. We moved to Conyer's Georgia, and so 276 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 2: for me acting showbiz that wasn't even on the radar. 277 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: When I would watch television, I would love shows like 278 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 2: Carol Burnett and Friends, and so I think I got 279 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 2: bit by the bug then of ensemble comedy making each 280 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: other laugh, not having to be the star of anything 281 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 2: that really appealed to me at a very early age. Again, 282 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 2: I did not know of opportunities to participate in that, 283 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: so did the plays in high school. Starting in tenth grade, 284 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: realized I wanted to pursue performance, and I always enjoyed 285 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 2: getting the comic relief roles or whatever, but again I 286 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: didn't know what my options were. Went to college, didn't 287 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: really get to perform there, but then moving to Chicago, 288 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:49,359 Speaker 2: but you studied what I got a BS in theater management, 289 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 2: emphasis on the bs. 290 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: Es now, But were your parents encouraging you back then? 291 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 2: Performance writers are always very supportive, but again if this 292 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: is in the zeitgeist, if they if there's no understanding 293 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: of what it means to be a performer, and there's 294 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 2: some lean years in there too, but they were being supportive, 295 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 2: but because they didn't fully understand what it meant, they're 296 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 2: just like all right. And their three rules were make 297 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 2: sure you're able to pay your bills, always have insurance, 298 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: and do something that makes you happy. So I was 299 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: able to check those boxes. 300 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: What did they teach? They were both teachers, right. 301 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, Mom was health them pe and dad was 302 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: social studies. And I mean decades. 303 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: It's funny you say that that's the word social study. 304 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: My dad taught studies the term they had use. 305 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 2: That term right, So in a weird way, I kind 306 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 2: of just assumed I would be a teacher as well, 307 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: that I would have been a good teacher. But I 308 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 2: am so glad that I was, like, I let curiosity 309 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 2: get the best of me and be like, I wonder 310 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 2: what it would be like to try this. I wonder 311 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 2: what it would be like to move to a different city. 312 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 2: So I'm so glad I trusted my gut there and 313 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: just went for it. 314 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: Now, would you say that like many people who they 315 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: take a swing at an acting career, at an on 316 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: camera or on stage career, and then they're convinced that 317 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: it's going to be too much of an uphill road, 318 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: so they access some other part of the business. They 319 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: want to get into sets and wardrobe and editing or 320 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: camera or directing or writing anything that's not acting and 321 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: not performing. Did you feel that the theater administration was 322 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: you saw yourself doing something that was just your setting 323 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: your sights on something not performing. 324 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 2: Honestly, in hindsight, I think I was straddling the fence 325 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 2: at that point. I was like, there's no way I 326 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: can make a career out of acting. So let me 327 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 2: get some business courses in here as well, so that 328 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 2: I can go and be a business person or you know, 329 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: just have a fallback essentially. And I don't regret doing that. 330 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm not gonna lie. Having some of that 331 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 2: business background, and especially with like accounting and finance economics, 332 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 2: that has been immensely helpful for me as a grown up, 333 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 2: no matter what career or want to chose it. But 334 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 2: I'm very grateful that I chose it as an actor, 335 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: because I mean, I can balance the checkbook real good 336 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: and just have an understanding. Now, if we want to 337 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 2: dig deeper, I do have to wonder if I need 338 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 2: to look at some maybe d programming on my relationship 339 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 2: with money or planning for the future or anything like that. 340 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 2: But I think that's just a human thing and it 341 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 2: wouldn't matter if I was acting or not. 342 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: But I think people rarely or certainly not enough to 343 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: look at performers, especially ones who work a lot and 344 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: have been successful and understand them as people and say 345 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: that if you grow up with tremendous economic insecurity, once 346 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: you come into this business, if you succeed, you don't 347 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: just make a lot of money, you make it fast. Yes, 348 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: Like one day I'm standing there and a guy goes, 349 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: we're gonna make a test deal with you to do 350 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: this TV show. They're gonna get twelve five an episode 351 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: and twenty five for the pilot. And I'm like, my 352 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: Gomer pilot. I will do my Goomer. I'm like, god, 353 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: y'all gonna pay me two thousand, five hundred for the 354 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: and two two fifty for the show and the Like, 355 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: my agent literally on the phonecals, no, you Maron, We're 356 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: gonna pay you twenty five thousand for the pilot and 357 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: twelve thousand five dred an episode. I'm not going all sudden. 358 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 1: The phone booth I'm in haint hint no phones back 359 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: then is the early eighties. The phone booth I'm in 360 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: near Culver Studios is starts spinning. The room is spinning. 361 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean it was a shift of gears and 362 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 2: I just had. You know, it took me a while 363 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 2: to find my legs. Even with that, I am very 364 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 2: grateful that I did not get thirty Rock until I 365 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: was thirty three years old, because at that point I 366 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 2: knew who I was, I knew what things I needed. 367 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 2: I am not a car guy. I still drive my 368 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 2: two thousand and four Hundai Accent, So I did not 369 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: go out and buy a Ferrari or anything like that. 370 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 2: I knew that I wanted a house and I've always always, 371 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: always wanted a swimming pool. 372 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: Do you have a house now, sir? 373 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 2: Look this is my house. It is my dream house, not. 374 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: The house thirty Rock built. 375 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 2: When I give the tour, I'm like, well, Tina Fey, 376 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 2: wont me this exactly? You know that they gave me 377 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 2: a page uniform for a rap gift, no swear to go. 378 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? They said to me, if you 379 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: could take one prop with you, pick one thing you wanted. 380 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: It's a memento of the show. And I still have 381 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: it on my desk and my office, which is there 382 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: was a glass a glass globe of the world mounted 383 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: on a stand like a glass stand. They said, you know, 384 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: ge innovator of nineteen you know ninety nine whatever to 385 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: Jack's period was. And then I have this award I 386 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: was given. It's small, it's like the size of like 387 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: a like I how tall. It was like a coke gift. 388 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: And then they gave it to me and I still 389 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 1: cherish to tell you. 390 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 2: Fe also gave me the snow globe that Kenneth holds 391 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: at the very very end of the series that has 392 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: a little tiny thirty rock inside the snow globe, and 393 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 2: I have it. 394 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: But I'll never forget. When we were contemplating, my ex 395 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: wife was going to come on the show and play 396 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: your stepmother. And she comes to New York to visit you, 397 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: and your father has died down in Stone Mountain and 398 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: your father is dead, and your mother comes up at 399 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: your stepmother and it's my ex wife, Kim Basin, and 400 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: she's gonna come and do the show. And we fall 401 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: in love and get married, and you become quasi illegally 402 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: my step son. I'm your step father, and then I 403 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: make you the president of NBC, of NBC Entertainment. And 404 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: I was almost swallowing my tongue and gagging on this idea. 405 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: It was the funniest. And it was always things they'd 406 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: say to me that I sit there and go, you 407 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: can't be serious, We can't do that. Oh. I was 408 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: always looking at car locking and he'd hand me the 409 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: script on Wednesday before the read through. I'm in the makeup, 410 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: dur In the morning reading the script and I'd say, 411 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: are you out of your fucking mind? We can't do this. 412 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 1: And he always said the same phrase, he goes, it's 413 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: a big swing, it's a big swing, but we believe 414 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: in you. We know you can make it. I was like, 415 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: you little bastards, I mean, and they always had these 416 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: insane I did well. They didn't do it, obviously, but oh, 417 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: I was dreaming of being. 418 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: Stuff you imagined. Now, mister Baldock, you certainly don't remember this. 419 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 2: I actually met you before thirty Rock. 420 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: The year was two by buying Flowers. 421 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: L seventh, two thousand and one, you were the host 422 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 2: of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Coldplay and Tina 423 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 2: Fey Rachel Jets. They were like, showing me it was 424 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 2: my first night in New York City. It was that 425 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 2: was the first time I'd ever visited, and they were like, 426 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 2: I got to go to the after party and they 427 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: brought me over and I got to meet you very 428 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 2: very briefly, and they introduced me to Chris Martin from Coldplay. 429 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 2: And now all these years later, I'm like friends with 430 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 2: the both of y'all. I know, I can't get over 431 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 2: I can't. 432 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: Get it is. It is for me that is the magic. 433 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: The people you get to meet. 434 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:36,959 Speaker 2: I know. 435 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: I mean I say to people, I like, you know, 436 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: thirty rocks to me, which is perfect. But that idea 437 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: that to go in to work with her and be 438 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: the beneficiary of all her great talents. It was really 439 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 1: like the highlight of my life. Now, when you go 440 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: to Second City, what's that experience like for you? Was 441 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: there a competitive nature to that? Do you go into 442 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: there and you're like, God, that guy's funny and she's funny, 443 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: and you're you want to keep up with them? Well? 444 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 2: Good question. One thing that really drew me to improvisation 445 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 2: was the collaboration and the ensemble part of it, and 446 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 2: really the basic tenets of make your partner look better 447 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 2: than you do, and that really aligned with what I 448 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 2: liked doing and what I feel that I was good 449 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 2: at doing. So Yes, in terms of competition, you have 450 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 2: to audition and you might get cast and you might not. 451 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: Don't get me wrong. 452 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 2: At the end of the day, you do have to 453 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 2: make people laugh, but I appreciated not having to, you know, 454 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 2: it was not so cutthroat, and I made some of 455 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 2: the most incredible friends and I learned so much from 456 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,920 Speaker 2: watching people who were better than me, and I think, 457 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 2: I do have to admit I think, in my heart 458 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 2: of hearts, I knew that I could succeed at this. 459 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 2: I knew I could get some traction, but it was 460 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 2: such a I remember when I decided to focus on 461 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 2: Second City. It really was a revelatory experience. I was 462 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 2: sitting in the audience, it was my first time being 463 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 2: at this theater, even no and what it was seeing 464 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 2: the show, seeing Adam McKay, Rachel Dretch, all these phenomenal performers, 465 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 2: and then it was just like the heavens opened up 466 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 2: and I was like, this is what. 467 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: I want to do. 468 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 2: They are doing exactly what I want to do, and 469 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: this is their job, and these people are dying like 470 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:16,360 Speaker 2: it's amazing. 471 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: It was so fun. I went to UCB to do 472 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: the live episode of thirty Rock. We had the strike 473 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 1: and we go there and because we weren't doing the 474 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 1: episode due to the strike, we did it live at 475 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: UCB and eighty Falco role the Congressional The congresswoman who 476 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: I was in love with was played by Paula Paula 477 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: Pelle and she walks up to me. Paula Pell who. 478 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: I don't think there's another person in this business I 479 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: worship more as much, maybe like Paula Pell. Oh my god, 480 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: she's the one that wrote all the Tony Bennett sketches, 481 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: you know, hold that thought about blah blah blah. We 482 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: do this spot for you know, lamasille, nail fungus, whatever 483 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: it was. And we do and she goes. You know, 484 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: I dated a woman once who was one one thousand 485 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: gorgeous until it took a shoe shop and her toe 486 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: nails looked like a bunch of barbecue fridos. I mean, 487 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 1: Paula Pelle wrote this. No clippers contain those poker chips. 488 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: Paula Pelle, Paula Pell, she made me cry. We do 489 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 1: UCB and she's playing EDI's role, and she walks up 490 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 1: and she wraps her thigh around my body and starts 491 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: humping me. Oh yeah, slow, like almost imperceptibly. She's the 492 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: funniest fucking woman, like one of the ten I've ever met. 493 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 2: In my life, and nice and generous with a laugh. 494 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 2: She's sweet as she's the best. She's the best. 495 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,479 Speaker 1: But when we did the show live, I thought to myself, 496 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: I could never last with these people. You must have 497 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: loved every minute I did. I did. How long were 498 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: you there. 499 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 2: At Second City? I was there for about seven years, 500 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 2: did three resident stages, the first one directed by Jeff Richmond, 501 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 2: and then when I did move to New York, for 502 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 2: those three years I was able to do ucb Amy 503 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 2: Poehler was in town. All the SNL gang would come 504 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 2: for the Sunday night Asscat show. 505 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: It really fell Asscat. 506 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: That's it, sir, Yes, sir, I. 507 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: Want to go do ascast they asked to do, Like 508 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: I would just play say one line. Yeah, they had 509 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: me come on stage and say some something that would 510 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: launch the show. 511 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, you would. You would give like a monologue 512 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 2: that would inspire the improvisation that would happen after that. 513 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: But fella, I tell you what my whole thing. You know, 514 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 2: it's so interesting when people are just like, oh, I 515 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 2: could never do improv. I And for me, improv is 516 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,400 Speaker 2: like breathing. But my argument is, like everybody's doing improv 517 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 2: all the time. I mean, we're not giving the script 518 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 2: to like go around and like say lines all day. 519 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 2: So for me, it's just the interaction with the other 520 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 2: people on stage, the supporting that. Yes, anding it's just 521 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 2: I mean baked within me. But I do understand how 522 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 2: some people would be reticent to do so. But I 523 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 2: can totally vouch that anybody can do improv. 524 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: Two quick things they want to ask you. One is 525 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 1: thirty Rock was a show that was adorned with guest stars. 526 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: We had so many famous people come on that was 527 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: just ridiculous. And was it one you had a special 528 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: feeling for that? I mean, I'm sure there's many, but 529 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: what's what's one that's stands out in your mind? So many? 530 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 2: You know, I became such good friends with John Hamm 531 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 2: because of his time on thirty Rock, But I do 532 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 2: have to say one that was just I still to 533 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 2: this day can't get over it. Tim Conway, who joined 534 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 2: us for the episode I believe it was called Subway Hero, 535 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 2: and all of my scenes were with him, and he 536 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: was my comedy hero growing up, so watching Carol Burnette 537 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 2: and friends, watching him, watching him and Don Nott's do 538 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 2: their two person movies, and. 539 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: Marvin Corman on all of them, all of them. I 540 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: loved Harvey Korman. 541 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: God bless but so to be able to meet my 542 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 2: comedy hero, and he lived up to all of my 543 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 2: hopes and expectations, and we got to become friends. After that, 544 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 2: I would go and have lunch with him and his family, 545 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,400 Speaker 2: like it was the best. It was the best when 546 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: you meet your hero and they absolutely live up to expectations. 547 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: So you'd say that Conway, where's your family? 548 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, among your yes, just because again, like when 549 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 2: I take that stick back, I can't believe what we 550 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 2: were able to do and who we were able to 551 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 2: play with and Tim Conway, what a joy. We had 552 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 2: so many fun people come here. I can't believe. Catherine 553 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 2: O'Hara played my mom. Katherine O'Hara, You. 554 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: Know, I was always knocked out. I worshiped Carrie Fisher. 555 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 1: She came on the show. I loved Carrie. I mean 556 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: there were people on her episodes a great episode and 557 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: there were people that came out. But of course, even 558 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: though she wasn't a guest star, she was more of 559 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: us recurring character. Everybody's eclipsed by Elaine, who played my mother. 560 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 1: When I was doing those scenes with Elaine, oh I was. 561 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: I just couldn't help it, and she was, and she 562 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: taught me so much. 563 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 2: She did. 564 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 1: You could tell she was completely contrived and completely fake. 565 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 1: She would pretend to blow a line at the end 566 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: of the take. She was buying herself rehearsal time. She 567 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: do take one, take two, flub the line, Take three, 568 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 1: flip the line, Take four, flub the line. Take five, 569 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: get more of the line. Take six, git almost the 570 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: whole line. Then by seven she was warmed up, and 571 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 1: then she'd just go like she was skeet shooting. She'd 572 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: be like pol and she shoot all the clays out 573 00:27:58,320 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: of the sky. She nailed. 574 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 2: He mailed it. My first interaction with miss Stritch was 575 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: I think one of her first episodes. She came down 576 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 2: and so we put her in a guest dressing room 577 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 2: that was just down the hall from mine, and so 578 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 2: here I am sitting in my page uniform, and she 579 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 2: hated to get some ice. She's like, this sofa needs 580 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 2: to come out of my dressing room. I'm like, and 581 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what. Instead of trying to explain to 582 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 2: her like, oh, madam, I'm an actor, I was just like, Okay, 583 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 2: this is a costume about me and Vanessa Hoffman. 584 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:32,480 Speaker 1: We're in Queen's Actually we're not in Manhattan. On Rockefelle Plaza. 585 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: Me and little Vanessa Hoffman were lugging this giant sofa 586 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 2: out of her dressing room just because it was easier 587 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: that way. 588 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: She thought you were the help well actor and comedian 589 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: Jack mcbraar. If you're enjoying this conversation, tell a friend 590 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow Here's the Thing on the 591 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. When 592 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: we come back, Jack McBriar shares the inspiration for his 593 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: new show Zillow Gone Wild. I'm atc Baldwin and you're 594 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: listening to Here's the Thing. In addition to his memorable 595 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 1: television work, Jack mcbrair is also a thespian. He performed 596 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: in the Broadway hit Waitress in London's West End and 597 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: in the Gershwin musical Crazy for You at Lincoln Center. 598 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: I was curious if McBriar had any traditional theater training 599 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: or background. 600 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 2: High school theater really didn't do it in college, No, 601 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,959 Speaker 2: I mean Second City was live performance and it was, 602 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 2: you know, eight shows a week. But that was the 603 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 2: easy stuff. When I sometimes I just say yes to 604 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 2: things to see what it is like and to kind 605 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 2: of scare myself. So saying yes to that one night 606 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 2: only performance of Crazy for you was terrifying, but we 607 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 2: did it and it was really fun saying yes to 608 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 2: six months in London on the West End doing Waitress. 609 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 2: It was terrifying, but I said yes, and I did it, 610 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 2: and I'm just I'm proud of myself. 611 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: Go over over there were you had you already done 612 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: thirty Rock when you do Waitress? 613 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 2: Uh? Yes, I believe Crazy for You is twenty seventeen 614 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 2: and then Waitress was twenty nineteen. 615 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: So you went there just a few years ago, and like, 616 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: how did you? I mean, I mean, I'm always terrified 617 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: of this, of performing over there. I'm like, how did 618 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: you go over with a British audience? Oh gosh? 619 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 2: Everybody was super kind. Now, what was interesting is it 620 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 2: was a musical and I mean, I can sort of 621 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 2: carry a tune, but I am not a singer. Our 622 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 2: star was like Katherine McPhee, who is a singer. But 623 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: the good news was as the comic relief, I had more, 624 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 2: you know, of the power songs. But i tell you what, 625 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 2: Like those reviews were just like, well, not the strongest singer, 626 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 2: he's definitely delightfully funny, and I'm like, I'll take it. 627 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: Yes, a basket of chim and when you did thirty Rock. 628 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: I'm curious when anything you do with improv you have 629 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: more of a somewhat of an influence and a contribution 630 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: to this in terms of the text and the material, 631 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,719 Speaker 1: when you were doing thirty Rock or anything you've done, 632 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: if people come to you and asked you for your 633 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 1: input into the material or you just take the script 634 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: on thirty Ruck and do it as written, they never 635 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: asked you what your thoughts were about the material. 636 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 2: It was rare that they would ever ask me what 637 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: I thought on thirty Rock. And the good news was, 638 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 2: you know, the cripts were pretty fantastic. Now, with that 639 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 2: being said, I don't bring nothing to the table. And 640 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: there were a few times where you know, it was 641 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 2: just like really and it was so rare, but I'll 642 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 2: never forget. There was one time they made Kenneth speak 643 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 2: gibberish and I was like, well, as they say in 644 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 2: Stone Mountain, old gig to see sell people. And I 645 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 2: will never forget it was Carlock Matt Hubbard, maybe both 646 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: of them said no, no, it's sea salt gone pee. 647 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 2: Paul on the like, oh wait are these real words? No? No, 648 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 2: I was like mm hmm, okay, So just having to 649 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 2: get gibberish down correctly. But at the same time it 650 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 2: was just like if you trust those scripts, then who care, 651 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 2: like just say the words cash the check taking that 652 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 2: you know? It is interesting because again you were the 653 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 2: one who's like Jack, you should think about voice acting. 654 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 2: And now what I have learned in the years that 655 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 2: I've been able to do it is, I guess in 656 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 2: the voice acting world, I have what's called a signature voice, 657 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 2: meaning like, when you hire me, this is what you're 658 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 2: gonna get. And so even though I've been able to 659 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 2: do all sorts of different characters, they all kind of 660 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 2: sound alike as opposed to it well, and I mean, 661 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 2: I'm okay with it. But you know those actors who 662 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 2: work on the Simpsons who do like twelve different voices 663 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 2: and stuff. I just don't have that skill set. So 664 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 2: I am very deferential. Like I am very I give 665 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 2: all accolades to people who are just better trained at 666 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 2: voice acting than me. 667 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: Now thirty Rock was over, and you wouldn't did describe this? 668 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: What is the children's show you did? 669 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 3: Oh? 670 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 2: The preschool show that I was able to do for Apple, 671 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 2: Hello Jack, the Kindness show. 672 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: Whose idea was that it was mine, and why did 673 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: you want to go in that direction? 674 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,959 Speaker 2: Well, it was another like revelatory kind of thing. I 675 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 2: had just reached a point. So this would have been 676 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 2: maybe in like twenty seventeen, where I have never been 677 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 2: very politically active or even really politically aware, because the 678 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 2: sad reason is I didn't have to be. And in 679 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, I think I just started paying more attention 680 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 2: to the state of the world and how people were 681 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 2: behaving towards each other. And it hurt my heart. It 682 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 2: surprised me, and it disappointed me, and I was confused. 683 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: I was like, I. 684 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 2: Thought human beings, I thought grown ups knew how to 685 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 2: treat each other with compassion and this kind of thing. 686 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 2: And so as I felt my heart breaking, I was like, well, 687 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 2: but what can I do about it? And I'm start 688 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 2: writing checks to every organization that I think can benefit 689 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 2: from it. But then I was like, but what can 690 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:01,120 Speaker 2: Jack mcbrair do with his very limited skill? And so 691 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 2: I thought about it, and I was like, you know, 692 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 2: everybody's treating each other so rudely, and these are like 693 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: lessons that we should have learned as children, like on 694 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 2: mister Rogers neighborhood. And then I was like, Oh, I 695 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 2: want to do a show very much like mister Rogers 696 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 2: Neighborhood that teaches messages of kindness and compassion and listening 697 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 2: and patient, you know, like just all the good things. 698 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 2: And where'd you shoot that beautiful Seami Valley, California? 699 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: Have you been? My God? That brings out the best 700 00:34:34,719 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: in all of us? Doesn't some one of the greatest 701 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: shows in history. 702 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,320 Speaker 2: It was a joy. It was definitely a labor of love. 703 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 2: It was a great deal of work because it was 704 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 2: live action, it was preschool. The curriculum for preschool is 705 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 2: very exacting, and I wanted to do it correctly. So 706 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 2: the good news is I surrounded myself with a lot 707 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 2: of experts and consultants and professionals who knew what they 708 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:58,479 Speaker 2: were talking about, and we did it. And I'm very 709 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,919 Speaker 2: proud we got, you know how many episodes? Let's see, 710 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 2: I think we did eighteen total over two seasons, with 711 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 2: a tremendous cast of young actors. And that was a 712 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 2: whole new thing for me, working with like six year 713 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 2: old children who knew their lines better than me. And 714 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,560 Speaker 2: I'm very proud of what I was able to do. 715 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 2: I'm curious to see what the next thing is, because 716 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 2: now that this has been opened up to me again, 717 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 2: you're catching me at an interesting time where I'm like, 718 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 2: what am I doing? What am I supposed to be doing? 719 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 2: What is my raison etra? What is my purpose? And 720 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 2: it's not scary. It doesn't give me anxiety or make 721 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 2: me feel desperate or anything. It really is just that 722 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 2: curiosity like what can I be doing? 723 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,359 Speaker 1: Now? Well you're doing Are you doing Zillo Goes Wild now? 724 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 1: Or that's done? 725 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 2: I'm doing Zillo Gone Wild? 726 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:49,359 Speaker 1: So you're doing that now? 727 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, which is a very fun and easy travel 728 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 2: show on HGTV. And what I do love about that 729 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 2: is I just get to go into these strangers' homes 730 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 2: and they give me a tool or of their incredibly 731 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,360 Speaker 2: weird and wild homes and it's so fun. So I 732 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 2: like it really makes me think, like, Okay, is my superpower? 733 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:12,359 Speaker 2: Just making people feel comfortable? Is my superpower? Just that 734 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 2: I make friends pretty quickly and pretty easily. And if so, 735 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 2: I love it. What can I do with that? 736 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 1: You know? But you are doing it? 737 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 2: Well, I am doing it, But like, what more can 738 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: I do? Like? Am I supposed to run for office? 739 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 2: Am I gonna be a diplomat, Like I'm not saying 740 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 2: like quit anything that I'm doing. What else can I 741 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 2: do that will scratch the curiosity. 742 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 1: Your warmth and your kindness? So I wonder sometimes do 743 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: people come up to you in public? They must come 744 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,360 Speaker 1: to you all the time, and do they want the 745 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: relationship with Kenneth the Page to go another step further 746 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,760 Speaker 1: now that they've met you? Can we go have lunch together? 747 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:49,600 Speaker 1: Can we go have a coffee to gother? Do you 748 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: find people that are really really drawn to you that way? 749 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:53,759 Speaker 2: I mean, like, I'm not hard to talk to. I 750 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 2: can make friends with wallpaper, but I like that. 751 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: In the airport they're like, you're gonna miss your flight 752 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: because they won't shut up, which they love you, I 753 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 1: would suspect. 754 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,760 Speaker 2: Yes, it's not far from the truth. 755 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 1: That's you get a very warm response from people in 756 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 1: what you Deserve because you really really brought such an 757 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 1: essential ingredient to that show. Now, my last question, yes, 758 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 1: is you're on thirty Rock about Somebody. But these shows 759 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 1: you've done subsequently were your creation? Do you like doing 760 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: that you see yourself doing more of that or was 761 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 1: it more work than you envisioned? 762 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 2: No? No, you know, depending on the project, it can 763 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 2: be a great deal of work, but also it depends 764 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 2: on where my heart is for that. So I am 765 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 2: so grateful for the chance to be a co creator 766 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 2: on a show, EP on a show, but I definitely 767 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:38,400 Speaker 2: want to continue to do that. The most important aspect 768 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 2: of that to me, though, is the collaboration with people 769 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:44,879 Speaker 2: that I like, I trust are talented. That has been 770 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,800 Speaker 2: the most amazing gift to me about this crazy business 771 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 2: that we've chosen. Meeting these people who have such diverse 772 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:57,880 Speaker 2: talents and you're able to create something together that is 773 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 2: so special to me, and that is very mean to me. 774 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 2: I don't need to be the solo artist. I don't 775 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 2: need to be the star. I like working with other people, 776 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,000 Speaker 2: and I want to keep creating things that people enjoy, 777 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 2: enjoy with comfort, laugh at, can have kids watch. 778 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 1: I like all of that. All right. Let me just 779 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,800 Speaker 1: say that I'm so happy for you. And when the 780 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,400 Speaker 1: show's over, you went out there, you got your house, 781 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,319 Speaker 1: you got your pool. It's all coming together for you, 782 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:29,479 Speaker 1: your vision of show business success, which I love because 783 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 1: if I had it to do over again, I would 784 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,920 Speaker 1: have enjoyed myself more sure. My love to you. My 785 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:34,759 Speaker 1: deep love to you. 786 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,760 Speaker 2: This was a delight. 787 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 1: As Jack mcbrair and I were wrapping up, my producers 788 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 1: brought on a special guest, Kevin Brown, who thirty Rock 789 00:38:46,239 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: fans will recognize as dot Com Tracy Jordan's bodyguard and 790 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:53,960 Speaker 1: right hand man. Brown surprised us at the end of 791 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,720 Speaker 1: the taping, dressed head to toe in a graduation gown. 792 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: All no way, Kevin, where'd you graduate from? Is your 793 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:02,959 Speaker 1: graduation time? 794 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,880 Speaker 4: It's today, and it's from City College and it's a 795 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:06,880 Speaker 4: master's degree. 796 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 2: Buddy, congratulations Kevin, you a master's and what well, I 797 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,919 Speaker 2: just say Black studies, but it's called Study of the Americas. 798 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:18,720 Speaker 1: I like Black studies better. 799 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,279 Speaker 4: I'm a Black study scholar. I'm an adjunct professor at 800 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 4: Hunter College and I'm still do a stand up comedy. 801 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:27,080 Speaker 1: My god, how wonderful, Kevin. 802 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 2: Oh, I miss you, buddy. 803 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:29,680 Speaker 1: Good for you. 804 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 4: I promised my mother in eighty eight when I was 805 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 4: dropping out, that I go back one day with no 806 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,840 Speaker 4: intentions of going back. So twenty twenty one, she sadly 807 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 4: passed away. But I realized I didn't honor that promise 808 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 4: to her, and it became the most important decision I 809 00:39:44,719 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 4: haven't made in my life. 810 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:46,319 Speaker 1: I have to go back. 811 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:48,840 Speaker 4: So I went back and got my bachelor's in twenty 812 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 4: twenty one, and then I got my master's and it 813 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,240 Speaker 4: took about two years. I think it was from twenty 814 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:57,719 Speaker 4: twenty two to today, buddy. The timing of connecting with 815 00:39:57,760 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 4: you guys because I miss you, guys, Kevin. My classmates 816 00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:03,839 Speaker 4: ask me about you guys all the time. But it's 817 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:04,800 Speaker 4: great to see you. 818 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,439 Speaker 2: You two, you too, Bunny, congratulations, Pal, Well, my love 819 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 2: to you both. 820 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 1: Good to see you. Listen, Kevin, sincerely, congratulations. You should 821 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: be very proud of yourself. That's an amazing achievement. 822 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,400 Speaker 4: Well, I tell you, it's a pleasure to see you guys. 823 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: Jac you are hilarious. You stole the many scenes from 824 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:25,439 Speaker 1: all of us. See that's the second person that said 825 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: the same thing. You stole those scenes, you bastard. 826 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 2: I'll read the lines and smile. Omit, that's all I got. 827 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:38,640 Speaker 1: My thanks to my friend, the one and only Jack mcbraar. 828 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:43,680 Speaker 1: Here's the Thing is recorded at CDM Studios. This episode 829 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,280 Speaker 1: was produced by Kathleen Russo, Zach MacNeice, and Maureen Hoban. 830 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 1: Our engineer is Frank Imperial. Our social media manager is 831 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,360 Speaker 1: Danielle Gingrich. I'm Alec Baldwin. Here's the thing is brought 832 00:40:55,360 --> 00:41:11,440 Speaker 1: to you by iHeart Radio