Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - JON LOVITZ: Losing PHIL HARTMAN, The Truth About CHRIS FARLEY & Why He Stopped Joking For a Year

Episode Date: October 20, 2026

Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live, A League of Their Own, The Wedding Singer) joins me this week for a conversation that keeps flipping between hilarious and genuinely heavy. Jon busts my chops for a solid hour, then opens up about losing Phil Hartman and still thinking about him every day 28 years later, the last phone call with his mom before she passed at 97, and everything he tried to do to pull Chris Farley back. We also get into the craft he takes far more seriously than people assume, the acting coach who wrote him off in front of a class, and why the hardest year of his career is the one that made him. Thank you to our sponsors: 🔏 See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds at https://cloaked.com/INSIDE ❤️‍🩹 iRestore.com + "inside" 🧠 Mod: https://mod.com/ ❤️ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/inside and get on your way to being your best self __________________________________________________ 💖 Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/insideofyou⁠⁠ 👕 Inside Of You Merch: ⁠⁠https://store.insideofyoupodcast.com/⁠⁠ __________________________________________________ Watch or listen to more episodes! 📺 ⁠⁠https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/show⁠⁠ __________________________________________________ Follow us online! 📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/insideofyoupodcast/⁠⁠ 🤣 TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@insideofyou_podcast⁠⁠ 📘 Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/insideofyoupodcast/⁠⁠ 🐦 Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/insideofyoupod⁠⁠ 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Please play responsibly. Consider about your gambling or that as someone close to you. Call 1866-531-2,600 to visit connectsonterio.com. You're listening to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. Thank you so much for being here. Ryan, Tayas. Always a pleasure to see you, my friend. Nice.

Yeah. Yeah, it's good. Good. How's everyone's week? Is your week good? Fine. You're taking care of yourself? You go in therapy?

Yeah. Okay. These are good things. You know, we always talk about routine. I just did another segment of doing the work that we have on inside of you. And so many of you, you know, send videos. And it's brave of you. And it's nice to see that you're doing the work too.

And we're just, you know, nobody's perfect. So you do your best. Poh buddy's nerfect. Yes, that is correct. Great show for you today. I've always wanted this guy on the podcast. I think he's incredibly funny. and I've been watching him since I was in college, John Lovitz.

But a few things. Follow me at the Michael Rosenbaum. I have the Inside of You online store with scripts, Smallville scripts, and a bunch of great tumblers of the podcast and shirts. So go to the Inside of You online store. Check that out. I'm also on Cameo. The Nashville Con is coming up.

25th anniversary at Creation Con in Nashville. November, I think, 6th and 7th. Ryan's going. I'm going. Tom Well, Welling's going, Kristen Cruz going, Erica's going, a lot of people going from Smallville.

It's going to be a lot of fun. And we're doing a Smallville Knights and they're capping it. So if you haven't gotten a ticket for Smallville nights, you better do it. You better do it, man. What else? What else is new?

Tom and I just did a lot of press for the 25th anniversary and doing cons and stuff like that. And yeah. So look, John Lovitz, I love him. And if you watched S&L, you've seen him in many movies. He just makes you laugh. It's just his delivery.

He just knows how to do it. You know, like he had his dog here. And I remember it's going, I think your dog farted. He's like, good. I'm glad he farted. Yeah. Good dog. He's just a hoot.

You're going to love this interview. So please listen and tell me how you feel. If you want to support the podcast, We can't do it without you. We need patrons. So go to Patreon, p-A-T-R-E-O-N.com slash inside of you. Become a patron, give back, and I will send you a message. And thanks for supporting the show, patreon.com slash inside of you.

And let's get inside of the great John Lovitz. Where you get nervous for a role. Oh, my God. I get panicked. Do you get anxiety? Yeah, I live with anxiety. What are you doing? I was just taking a live picture.

I always get nervous, but that's fun. I look forward to it. Let's get everything out of today we can. And how much time do you have left, and how are you going to use it well? So come on now. We would have to do another inside of you. But actually, but that's kind of what you're doing, Michael. I mean, you're on this road, this journey of what's inside of you.

Inside of you with Michael Rosenbaum was not recorded in front of a live studio audience. Are you happy to be here? I am, but I'm a little disappointed. Okay. I thought you'd be bald. Really? I thought I was doing a podcast with Lex Luthor and no. Did you see that poster?

You have more hair than I ever had. Do you see the poster behind you? What? Superman poster signed. It says to the second best Lex Luthor from Gene Hackman. How cool is that? Very cool. Wow.

Right? Extremely. Are you a big Superman fan? Yeah. Like when I was. I dressed up a picture of Superman for Halloween. But did that continue?

Did you watch Smallville? Just a little bit. You did, a little. I like George Reeves as Superman. Okay, that wasn't my show, though. No, that was in the 50s. I love that show. Look.

Well, that was Superman. Up in the sky. You were a pretender to the throne. No, but what was the Superman? Was it Tom? Well, I met him a very, nice guy. Yeah. We met at a convention, but I met you. Do you remember where we met? You have one guess. I'll give you a hint. It had to deal with celebrities and a sport. Baseball? Softball. Where was it? Was it Seattle? Dodger Stadium. Dodger Stadium. You played pretty good ball. Yeah, I think I, oh, that was Jimmy Kimmel. I hit two home runs. I hit the game winning home run. Off Kimmel? In that game, I did. I couldn't believe it. Did they announce it? I hit two home runs. Well, I mean,

the field was, you know, it wasn't that far to hit a home run. It wasn't like the hard. But I hit two, and I hit the game winning home run. Did you ever listen to the announcer? Because they have a recording of it. Here's John Lovitz, never played pro ball, no high school ball. Here's the big. Hide drive and right field.

Back goes Kimmel. It's gone. John Lovitz out of nowhere. Jimmy was hosting it, and he goes, I think you hit the game winning home run. I was thrilled. You love that shit. Well, I wanted to be a baseball player from when I was like 7 to 15. So to be able to play Dodger Stadium.

But before that, it was the Hollywood Stars game. We got to play real baseball. Yeah. I mean, it was really fun. And I played Center Field growing up. Then I get out there and they go, where do you want to play? I go, Center Field. I get out there.

And I remember thinking, oh, I picked the wrong position. It was so much land. It was like over an acre. I go, how do they do this? And I'm a slow runner. I go, what was I thinking? I had a good arm, but I mean, when you're out there on the field, the outfield, how they get any ball? It's huge.

Did you drop any balls? Not on the field. Oh, yes. You know, want to hear something kind of funny, not funny, but. It took you five years to grow your hair back? No, it only took me about six months or seven months. That's a lie. Gone.

Not entirely. So you, I grew up in a small town, Newburgh, Indiana, about eight. miles from evansville indiana oh yeah we shot league of their own there i just want to know personally if you remember anything for all my hoosiers out there if you remember anything about being in indiana was it fun were the people cooled you is there any experiences that you had there that you haven't told or my part i i was like the first three weeks and then i was done but but uh um was shot at rigley field and then we shot on a farm i think it was a in Evansville and it was beautiful, middle of this farm.

Yeah. And I remember, it has seen with Lori Petty, well, with her and Gina on the farm, Gina Davis, but anyway, Lori Petty and I, I'm leaving and I go, they don't want to play, I go, fine, I don't need you, see you, see you later, you know, and then I'm out in the field and, and Lori runs up to me, you know, and says, I want to play and I go, I don't want you, I I want the one who hit the ball. You can climb back under the cow. And then I go, all right, if you get your sister to play, I'll hire you, you know.

And then I'm walking and all these chickens are on me. And I'm going, get these wild animals off of me. Haven't you people heard of a leash? Right? So to get the chickens all around me, they put grapes in the cuffs of my pants. And then they put eggshells on the ground because they go, they like to peck eggshells. And it was about four in the afternoon. And, I mean, it was beautiful, you know.

But I'm looking at. Lori with these grapes and these eggshells. I go, and I remember I go, Lori, look where we are. I go, look what these grapes and eggshells. I go, look what we do for a living. This is crazy. You remember that like it was yesterday. Oh, yeah.

Because it was beautiful, but it was so like, this is work? I mean, it was insane. You know, it was so much fun, but it was like, what job? Only acting. What job are you like? But some jobs. Standing in the middle of a field with, with grapes and chicken shit.

Chicken's all around you. It's a good man. It's a fun. It was fun, but yeah, and it was summer. And then what I left though, this is interesting, but I left about three weeks. So it was like 40 women in the movie, right? So one of them, after later on I was talking to them,

and they were saying it got like crazy hot, like 106 degrees and they're playing in the World Series. and people were fainting. Lori Petty said there was a guy in the crew. He was sitting in a chair. And he leaned back and crossed his hands behind his head. And he just kept going. And he fainted.

He just fainted. Just like, and he was out. And then she goes, yeah, you know, all the women were so cranky. I go, why? She goes, well, you know, John when I don't have Lori told me one of it goes, well, don't you know what happens when you get a bunch of women together for months? I go, no. They go, they all get on the same mess.

menstrual cycle. True. They do? Yeah, I go, well, I go, how would I know that? So, so, because I'm not a woman. Yes. Much to your chagrin. So, and so they, they did.

Apparently, that's what they said. I don't know if it's true, but she said that's what happened. So they would all be like, you know, cranky and irritable at the same time. I'm like, oh, I left just in time. My three weeks is up. You know, Gene, I'm working with Gina now on a project I created. and Gina Davis? Yeah, she's the most wonderful woman.

Oh, please give her my best. Yeah, she's so nice. Such a professional and so sweet and funny. I love her. No, she's great. I met her when she hosted a Saturday Night Live, and they wrote a sketch. It's kind of mean.

It was called The Last Man on Earth, and it was just me and Gina. And I'm like, and then, you know, she wouldn't date me. But there's no one else. It's just me. Yeah, I'm good. That's amazing.

She influenced the way I played the part because I was imitating my grandfather at a huge personality. And they wrote the part for me. Lel Gans and Bob Blue Mandel, every time we see Bobbillie goes, we wrote that part for you. We've never written a part for an actor before since. Well, thank you. So anyway, they wrote it for me. So I was imitating. I like old movies.

So I was imitating guys from old movies. But I knew that Gina, who there's a story. of her being cast was, you know, going to play it her style, you know, very real, very, not, like bigger than life. Right. So I go, I can't be, try to be bigger than like, you know, big because it won't match the style of acting. So I had to make, it forced me to bring it down. Right. I made it up in my head that the writers, uh, saw a guy like me, movie writers from Hollywood in the 40s. I made it up. And then they based characters on the way they met this guy talked,

but they exaggerated it. You know what I mean? Right. So, I mean, hey, how are you? Good to see you. What's going on? You know?

Yeah. They met a guy that was like, hey, how are you? Good to see it. What's going on? Well, you know, you know, so not as big. I thought your performance was amazing.

It was so natural. Thank you. It really was. Like, I think about you in different movies. Well, it's called acting. You're damned fool. I think I think you're underrated. I do.

You know, is that supposed to be a comment? Everyone goes, you're underrated. I go, who the hell's rating me in the first place? Well, here's the thing. You'll rate me. What do you write yourself? I'll decide whether I'm good or not. And I don't know. I just know that you can, I picked acting because I know you can always get better the rest of your life at any art.

So that's what's fun about it. If you strive to just keep improving, I don't know that you do that. But I know that I do. Would you do something? Because you'd grow your hair back. Would you do something very serious and really dark? I just did it. What'd you do? It's called redemption, and I play like a sociopath killer. Oh, that is music to my ears. See, but if you were really into acting, you see, you did Lex Luther.

You shaved your hat. You grew it back. You would be more bald. If you would shave your arms, legs. I'd be albino. And your bush. Inside of you is brought to you by Cloat. Stay with me.

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That's cloaked.com slash inside for a free security scan and 30% off. Privacy isn't dead. It's cloaked. Were you honestly always funny? Did you have a good upbringing? Did you love your parents? Where they give you unconditional love? What was that?

What was the household like in a lot of themselves? Yes. But, um, oh my God, your dog just farted. You know something? Your, your dog's 15 years old. That was a 15 year old fart. You, you, I'm not kidding. Are a horrible person.

Oh, it's slaming. Still there. It's still there. An innocent 15 year old dog. Well, who else would do that? You. My farts don't smell, John. No, that was a hundred percent you.

That was like close to a shit. It. Well, I told. I told you he wouldn't. You said he can't pee, so you got to pick one of the other. Oh, boy. It's gone. It's gone. But what were you like? What happened was I slept over to a kid's house. My dad was a doctor and he had a nurse who had two sons, Greg and Michael. This is what's funny. So I was five, right? So in my mind, so Michael was four. And I go, he's way younger. And then Greg was his older. Greg was six. I go, oh, he's an old. Right? Olds.

He's a way older. Right, when you're five, because you go out of five and a quarter. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's five and three quarter. He's sick. Oh, my. So anyway, so about nine o'clock. So mom said, you know, time to go to bed.

So Michael, I was at his house and they had a, he had a room with twin beds. So I lay down and he's a cross for me. And I couldn't, at that age, I didn't know, you know, they go, close your eyes and go to sleep. I couldn't keep my eyes closed. They would just flutter. I didn't have the, I couldn't do it. I go, I don't know how people do it. So I would just lay there with my eyes open and just wait to fall asleep.

And I always remember thinking, I wonder if I can catch that moment when I fall asleep, you know, never could. Because I would just stare. So I'm just waiting and there's light in the room. And Michael's like laying, he's asleep, right? Yeah. And about five minutes later, he pops up and he makes this face at me. And then he lies back down like he's a sleep. sleep and I went up. So I started laughing and then he kept doing it over and over. And I was crying laughing.

And I remember right then I go, I want to be funny like Michael. Really? That's when you thought that at moment. Yes. And so what did you do from there to make that happen? Well, I just, you know, I was just. Were you funny in the house? Yeah, just, you know, silly. Did you get in trouble as a kid? In school, yeah. Were you good with grades? Yeah, mostly. I got C's and D's. Attention deficit disorder does not work with me. I mean, it's very difficult. No, I have that. And I think I was dyslexic.

But you still got it. I remember I would read in high school, I'd read a sentence. I go, wait, wait, what? And it didn't make sense. Yeah. But I still have it like for years, there's a website, Lindiken, Lindiken. And I looked at it three years. And I went, oh, LinkedIn.

I thought it was Lindicke. I thought it was Lindic. I swear. I said Lincoln, Lincoln. link it in link it i fucking didn't know what it was yeah yeah so it took long

but i said mom what do i have to get in high school she was uh do i have to get straight a's she was no but mostly a's mostly a's and be okay so that's what i had like four a's so you wanted to please your mom it seems like you always wanted to make her happen no i didn't i just you loved your mom

yeah my mom was funny i'd make her laugh when did she pass last year you dick are you serious Yeah. Was that the hardest thing ever to go through? No. What was the hardest? And why wasn't it the hardest?

Well, I knew she was going to go. But she did something very loving. So the last time I talked to her, she goes, you know, she just said, hey, John, I just want you to know. I've always been very proud of you. And then I love you very much. And I go, thanks, mom. And then she went, okay, bye. No.

And I went by. And then I hung up. I went, oh, fuck, she just said bye. Like, she's out of there. And that was it? Yeah. And it really, it really, of course I was sad, but it, but it, it took the sting out of it. It just did.

It's kind of like I'm ready to go. Like, it's cool, bye, you know, and I'm thinking, yeah, she's going to be with my, you know, grandparents and her sister and brother, you know. And I believe in that. And anyway, she just said, bye, you know. She did say one other thing. It was weird. Clean your house. Why did Michael, um, she said, um, she said, um, she said,

his head. That was your last words. I go, Michael, she knows, I just have a vision. I should have shaved more. You've been telling me that for years. You know, I'll say the rest of your life. When you did groundlings, what drew you to groundlings?

I knew about, I was a, did plays in high school. I was a draw major for four years at Irvine, you see Irvine. And then the acting, but I always like comedy. And then my dad kept saying, oh, there's these patients of mine and they're in this group called the groundlings. And then when I was, I knew about it. When I was 20, I went a recommendation of a manager saw Paul Rubens to Pee Wee Herman at the midnight show. And I thought it was great.

So I called the next day. And Tom Maxwell is an artistic director. He needed a release. I think he's from North or South Carolina at one of them. But he goes, I go, hey, you take classes? Yeah, come on down. You know, and I went, okay. And then it, like, scared me.

But I don't know, five years. I went to New York for a year and nothing. an acting class for a year and a half for the camera, just the camera. And then New York for a year, and I came back, I'm going to go to the groundings. I want to be a comedian.

And so I was in Canoga Park, and I was friend, you know, Lisa Kudra. I grew up with their family. So her brother, David, is like my brother, you know, so I grew up with their family. So I'm living with David in a condo. I hadn't had gotten my own place yet.

I just come back from New York. So David said, you can stay here, do you do? So I'm going to go to the groundling. So I grew up in the valley, but you have to understand. When you go up in the San Antonio Valley at that time, you know, you're the Santa Monica Mountains and you're going over the hill. And there was a whole other world.

You didn't really leave the valley when you were kid. You were just there. Like we moved from Encino to Tarzana. And I thought, oh, Encino's like miles and miles away. It was right next door. I had no idea. It was five miles away. But over the hill was like another world.

So even though I was from here, it was. So you were nervous. It was like being from, you know, Long Island or somewhere. Yeah. Yeah. So I get on the freeway. It's like five minutes and I'm like sobbing, crying. I'm so scared because I'm really committing 100% in my head.

I'm going to be a comedian. No one knew who I was. Nothing. So I get there. And then I do an improv and the teacher, Randy Bennett, from Texas was great. And he goes, well, that was good, but you could have done this. You could have done this. So there's all these ways of telling you how to be silly and funny.

Then that's what they're telling me. as opposed to shut up, stop talking, you know, don't do that. It was the opposite. And I went, oh, I'm home. So I loved it. Yeah. And then everybody there was just all these really funny, smart people and silly like me. All of them.

And I'm like, this is so great. Anybody famous? Well, Kathy Griffin was in it. I mean, there were a lot of funny people. Mindy Sterling, she was in Austin Power. Yeah. Was there anyone that? Later on, Phil.

I was in the group of Phil Hartman, you know. Ah, yeah. Was there anyone in there that you're like, they're going to be a star? This guy's unbelievable and they didn't do anything. There was a guy in one of my classes, Charles, I forget as I was. And they had class beginning, intermediate in advance. And that was an intermediate.

And he was really good, you know, really nice guy and very funny. But a lot of, I think one reason I did well was my attitude of it was like, I can keep getting better and trying to improve. So whatever the teacher, said, same in college, right? I would try it. And they go, God, you pick it up so quick. I go, well, I'm just trying what you said.

You said, do this. So I'm not fighting it. I don't have the attitude like Charles was. I go, I don't know. You know, like they're kings of comedy. Right. And then these people are completely unknown going, I don't know if I want to be a movie star.

I don't if I want to be famous. I go, I go, and they're like in their 20s. You want to go, just shut up. You don't, it's not up to you. And you do want to be famous. You do want to be famous. want things to work out. Well, of course, but they just say that as a defense. So it's the mentality of, and I used to have it, I go, well, if I don't try as hard as I can and I don't make it,

then I have an excuse. I didn't really try as hard as I could. And then I realized that, that was no good for me. And then one of my best friends' dad was Ty Ganderus. He was a Captain Greer on Mod Squad in the 60s, big Broadway actor and stuff. So I finally got the guts to my friend John and son I go can I ask him to help your dad to help me he goes yeah so when I said I'm going to the ground and he goes all right well I just remember you know you you you know these places you can't go these kids go and they goof off you got to take it serious you get out of it what you put into it okay so I went and I took notes on every class and I typed it all up and showed it to the teacher and he goes what's this I go it's your class no one did that you

were determined determined yeah and and a friend of mine had passed away sadly but I had all these books in my shelves. I had no money. But I grew up nice, but after college, my dad goes, you're on your own. So I was living on $600 a month. So I had furniture for my room, you know. So the bookshelves were all on acting. And my friend Steve said, he goes, John, there's more to life than acting.

He goes, well, Steve, how are you going to make it? I go, do you know how competitive is? I go, what are you talking about? Yeah. I was obsessed with, because. No one, no one would ever. Andrews, he said, he goes, listen, you make it in this business, you've got to be either like extraordinarily beautiful, great looking, or extraordinarily ugly. And other than that, you got to act your way out of a paper

bag. So I thought, well, God, I'm very handsome. But I'm so handsome. I'm borderline ugly. So I better learn how to act. You know what's crazy is. Depends on the lighting. People look at you. I'm speaking for myself, but I think a lot of others. Well, what people? I think a lot of people probably think... The people that are under-rating me. You do it so effortlessly that people probably don't think you put the work in. That, like, John Lovitz, oh, he just does it. He doesn't put the work in, but now I'm hearing...

That's a compliment. Yes, that is a compliment. That's the art of it. Hello? Yeah. But you do work hard, don't you? Yes. On every role?

Yes. Like anything, even if you have a cameo for one scene in a movie. Yes. I never walk through a part. But by the way, the people, whoever thinks that, I don't know who you're talking about other than yourself. What? Because I don't think you did a survey. First of all, first of all, these are people that are probably shitty actors and don't understand act.

Am I right? They're not very good. If you're not putting the work out. Secondly, they don't know what that means. They show the work. I go, well, then you're winking at the camera or this, you know, all the great actors. they go, you know, Henry, it's fine, you hide the wheels. Or who said acting's fine as long as you can't tell, you know, Spencer, Tracy.

They all say the same thing. You don't, you don't, it doesn't look like you're acting. You want to draw the audience in so that you're believable. And you're either doing a character or you're playing yourself, but like a different side of yourself, right? But it's always, you're always doing a different side of yourself. Yes. But some parts are closer to me than, than not. others. Right. So they don't understand, like just us talking like this, if this was an actual

scene in a movie and we're talking like this, people go, wow, you know, they're amazing. You know, it's not that you have, it's a lot of practice. Inside of you is brought to you by I Restore. Hey guys, I'm Michael Rosenbaum and I'm starting to lose my hair in a little area up on top. Isn't that fun? I got the I restore helmet, which I war on the last episode. And look, if healthier looking hair and skin have been on your mind, this is your sign to stop putting it off. Okay. This stuff works. This red light therapy is amazing. It's everyone's doing it now. And these guys got it down. I restore. I restore makes it easy to bring clinically backed red light therapy into your routine at home. No appointments,

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Just head to I Restore. dot com and use code inside to take advantage of the sale that's inside at irestore.com please support our show and tell them that we sent you give your hair and skin the upgrade they deserve so you can feel confident and refreshed thank you iris store do you learn lines easily well see spoken like true amateur do you learn lines quickly no it's not about learning and i feel like when I saw Charlie Rose interviewing Peter O'Toole. Now, you're Charlie and I'm Peter. It's not question of learning the lines.

It's about being alone with the scene and doing study. And you have to figure out why you're saying what you're saying. So I know you know this. Thank you. Or do you? I wonder by the question. So an acting scene, the dialogue, it's like, you know, that shows CSI. They show up, there's a body dead on the ground.

That's the lines. That's the end result. Now you've got to work backward. How do the body get there? Right. What's the angle of the bullets? How do they die? Who is in the room?

You really want to do that much work on CSI? No, I'm saying detectives. No, right, right. And so you have to go, why? And where am I from? What's the world? I'm a trained actor. you fool.

I studied for years. I know. You have to know why. Well, not just the book. Yeah, but I read them. And you have to, you have to, you know, what's the world of the play? Yeah. All these questions.

And the best book, though, my parents actually got it for me. It was called Audition by Michael Shirtleft. You know that book? I think I do. And he has these thing guide posts. And there are 12 questions you ask about every scene. And then you can use it in regular acting. So at least you're not just starting, like, where do I begin?

you begin with those questions you know what's the world of the play who wrote who wrote it why did they write it what's the theme of the play when did it when did it take place what you know we get it you're a trained actor john i don't think you do i do i get it no i'm impressed

i'm impressed because i didn't know don't judge a book by its cover you didn't know i didn't know you put so much work into everything you do like i thought it was just effortless like yeah and you just turn it on and you're well once you do the work it becomes effortless doesn't it but when you have a part it's like a puzzle you know and you go i got to find the key to this person and you think and then you go i'm not getting it's not yeah yeah and then one day you go oh and then you get it what about like i'm going to just bring up a little scene that comes to mine go ahead and wedding singer when you come

behind the curtain in that scene is there more of a pressure because it's adam who you're good friends with to that you feel like there's more pressure to be funny to be better or do you take every job just the way it is no matter who is directing it or who's in it because you know people you know cause samler right here could be like you know do it again do it say this say this dude you know well first of all adam's been great to me secondly his movies are really if he ever get offered to work on just do it oh yeah it's so much fun in a second i every time i do it i go adam you create the set the atmosphere the way it's supposed to be. All he wants you to do is be funny the way you're funny. And then if he says, try this line. It doesn't, it's like great. You know, he's coming up with

funny jokes. It doesn't throw me because I had the improv of grounding. So you learn how to do it. It doesn't. It's fun. Yeah. I don't go like, oh, he's trying to throw him. And then the wedding singer, though, he called me up. He goes, hey, can you, it's, I'm asking you for a favor. Could you do this part as Wendy? But it's with him and Drew and I get to sing in a movie. So I said, well, all right, let me think about it. So I called him back three hours later. I said, I go, Adam, wait a minute. You said I get to sing in a movie.

He goes, yeah, I go, yeah, what am I thinking? Yeah, I'll do it. I've always wanted to do that, you know? And Drew, I've known since she was 11, right? So now I've a scene with her and Adam. And I had a blast. But yeah, but everything in that you think it through, you don't just, I mean, you know that. But you add your little things like at the curtain where your head kind of goes,

Well, I was behind the curtain. That wasn't written. It goes, you go, where I'm behind the curtain and I open it up. And the line is he's losing his mind and I'm reaping all the benefits. So, so I had two choices there. One was, one was to play it like, like I'm crazy, really crazy. I'm crazy than him. And then I said, Adam, you know what would be funny is when I pull the curtain back in front of my face. I'm so crazy that even though I'm covered, you know, I just keep going with the curtain. way after it's long after it's past my face. So you see it, you see the curtain go like this, and then it just keeps going. And it's for no reason, but then that tells you the guy's like a nut, right?

Yeah. Right. I love that. That's the thing people don't understand about it. You go, what is acting really? It's choices you make about how to play the scene. And what are you going to do? And your job is not just to be natural,

but to make it interesting and entertaining. And also you have to, Every character has an agenda. They want something and they go for it. You know what I mean? And then you have what's in your way. The obstacle, what are you going to do to get it?

You know, and you go for it. No, I agree. But I'll tell you an interesting story. You want to hear your story. So this comedian friends of mine. I didn't answer.

Well, you're going to hear it anyway. You want to talk about acting. So they asked me to teach and act. Who's a good acting teacher? I go, I don't know. I go, I haven't been in that world in years. So my friend goes, why don't you do it?

You'd be good. I go, I don't know. So then I said, okay fine get the people together so i did it for about seven months and what you learned you could do it you just you just you just you regard to everything you've learned right right and and then all of a sudden you realize how much you've learned because you've been doing it for so long and so i did this movie happiness right yeah so so the director todd sons wrote it and directed it so he cast me you know in that part he wrote it it's his vision the movie's a director's vision he directed

me in the part, you know what I mean? And we collaborated, but I wasn't, I had ideas. I always have ideas. That's, yeah, I don't just mind. Always. You're right. Yeah. I always do. I come up with, it's what's fun about it.

It's what they wanted you to do. Right. And then, but then he goes, that's good, but remember this. So it was great, you know, you collaborate. So, so, because you're trying to make a memorable for performance. Yeah. Michael. I'm aware.

I agree. Damn it. So, so this kid in the class. goes, oh, John, these kids in my class said, did that scene from happiness. And then the teacher, Ivana Chubbock, who's supposed to be so great, said, now try it like Will Ferrell to the guy. So then the guy does the scene again. Right.

I made the same face. And then she said, now if John Lovitz had done it like that, he'd still have a career. And I was like, what? She said what? I go, fuck her. I go, first of all, that tells you, first of all, that's wrong on so many levels. First of all, since I did that movie, I've had 27 jobs. Secondly, I'm still working.

Thirdly, you don't tell an actor, do it like Will Ferrell, because they already have Will Ferrell. There's already Will Ferrell. There's already Will Ferrell. Be you. Be you. Use what's unique about your personality. Use that.

And fourthly, I go, I didn't act in a bubble. I go, there's a director who wrote it and cast me and, and, and, and, and, and, you know, and, he directed it. The director and the writer is the same person. So it was his vision that I was fulfilling. So, and I'm known for that scene. I hate to tell you. This woman upset you. Well, I looked up her credits. You know how many acting credits she has? Two. No, zero. And she wrote a book about acting, right? Wow. Well, go get Uda Hogan's book from 35 years ago. Respect for acting. I've read it. Well, look at the table of contents. It's the same. It's the table of contents. She put them in a different order. Fraud. Here, I'll give you something.

An acting teacher has never been on a set, doesn't know shit. She doesn't know how to pace yourself for the day. She doesn't know, well, when you eat and what do you eat at lunch and how do you do do all this and this and this? They don't know. Yeah. Because it's a 12 hour day every day after the week, everyone's tired. What do you eat at lunch? I learned from Tom Hanks. I go, what do you do? He goes, I have a salad and take a nap. You got a pace yourself what do you do when um because if you eat a bunch of pasta and stuff you're slow you're sleepy after lunch and then you and then uh oh i go who's the first you say an actor okay who's who should you introduce yourself to on the set who do you think probably the the cinematographer the dp

the no the filming how about the script supervisor no how about yeah you meet them but there's somebody you want to, you're specifically working with. What is it? What is it, John? God, I didn't know this was going to be an acting list. No, it'll all be cut out. It'll all be cut out. It's the camera operator. I said that. No, you didn't. The cinematographer, the DP.

No, you said the DP. Well, it's all it goes hand in hand. It goes hand in hand, John. No, it's not the same. The director of photography sets up the shots and the lighting goes, put the camera here, here, here. Right. The camera operator. is the one that's looking through the lens.

Of course, moves the camera. You walk up to that guy and you say, nice to meet you. Is it cool if I ask where I am in the frame? He goes, yes. He goes, and thank you. You know your stuff. Two T's. Cowboy, where are we?

Yeah, you're at the neck, chest, waist, whatever. And because you can't always tell. And they keep you in the light. I was doing moving. And they go, John, a couple inches to your left, just a little bit. Right. They go, good. And I walked up to the guy, I said, why?

Why did you want me to move over? He goes, there was a shadow on your face. because it's past your peripheral vision. It's called photography. Yeah. Michael Roosevelt. So, and I said to the guy, I go, let me ask you a question. Some actress slash or Michael Rosenbaum was being a real bitch.

Would you, would you say, and there was a shadow in their face, would you tell them? He goes, nope. Yeah. Don't do the punchline. Make friends. Make friends with the camera operator. Camera operator. I agree. Let me talk to you about SNL. First of all, how, because you hear these horror stories, how difficult it was, how it wasn't that fun. I had Fred Armisen on, and his experience was great, but a lot of others, it wasn't so great. What would you say SNL your experience on that show was?

Very great and difficult. Well, what was difficult? If you're on the show looking for approval from Lorne, that's like you're dead in the water. And you think, but he's got a million other things on his mind. But my first, I get along with him great. I love the guy. He gave me the life I dreamed of. But when I was on the show, it was a very rough year. I was up, like in the groundlings, you'd write a sketch. You'd take like two weeks.

I was, and they write that show Tuesday night. I was at all seven in the morning from Tuesday. I wrote three sketches a night. I worked my ass off, which is why a big reason why I did something. so well. I mean, you know. Yeah. It was a lot of pressure that year.

And then my character hit, you know, but he, what was the character that hit? We had a rough time for a while. You're a liar. Oh, yeah. You mean Tommy Flanagan? Yeah, people still imitate it. Dude, one of my favorites is. Trump imitates it all the time.

Every time he goes, oh, this one's lying. Or any time a politician's lie, the right is right. Yeah, that's the ticket. It's nonstop. It's still, and that was in 1985, they're still imitating it. So, Willie Nelson. Good to see again, my friend. Yeah, that sketch.

I didn't like that sketch. I didn't like it. Willie Nelson is by the great man, the nicest guy ever. That's one of my favorite. But I didn't like that sketch, not because of him, but because it ruined the character

because they wrote, they wrote him saying, oh, you're liar, you're like. And that's not the character. The character is, the audience knows he's lying, but in the scene, it's a comedy scene,

the people are suspicious and confused. Right. You know what I mean? them out. But they don't call them out on it because it just kills it. Me and my wife, Morgan Fairchild. Yeah, and I'll go like, yeah, I was in the, yeah, I was at the LAZ the other day with the Alliance, which I trained. And then they'll go, oh, and I suppose you trained the monkeys too. And I'm like, well, now you're being silly. You know, so he was always worming his way in and out of it. Right. I love that. I love that. No, I didn't train them. They trained me. Yeah, they used to be

the line tamers you know it was just did you write it mostly i wrote it the first time and then and then um and i'd done it in the groundings and then i got to do it on the tonight show if you see it i'm like 27 and it was like you know 40 41 years 40 years and 40 years and 60 pounds ago so if you see it you go oh my gosh i look at it now i go is that my son so so so but I did it's then. And then I did it on the first time by myself. And then the next week, Robert Smygler would triumph the insult dog.

He goes, John, I was in Lawrence's office and this guy came in and said, said, oh, the electrician, that liar thing's the funniest thing he's seen on the show in years. Really? So then Lauren goes, we're into the liar again.

We want you to write it with A. Whitney Brown. So, okay. And Whitney was a great comedian writer. And thank God, because I had no idea what to do with it. next. I had none. Right. So thank God for Whitney. And then he and I would write it together. And I really learned how to write jokes from him. And I was good at editing. He's like, John, we're a great team. I'm learning about editing. You know, I knew how to pair it down.

And he was great jokes. And I learned, I go, well, your jokes. I'm learning. You know, and, but Whitney, I always give him credit. And he really blew it open when a, when a huge thing was when Paul Rubens hosted this show. And, you know, he was peeve at the Groundlings, which is a big reason I went there. And it was a big influence. So if you look at what I'm wearing is Tommy Flanagan. I'm not wearing this exact same thing, but, you know, it's kind of close. I'm wearing a gray, he's wearing a, you know, a gray suit with a red tie.

I'm wearing a gray jacket. My tie's darker, red, you know, is influenced. Amage. Yeah. And, well, but it influenced a lot. And plus he, you know, he was, everyone was like, you know, you're going to be the next Paul Rubens, you know, that's what everyone thought about Pee. You know, he's a big inspiration and look how well. So to do a sketch with him was great. And then, and then, so we're in jail. It's a really funny sketch. And then, but when he goes, why don't you do like, why don't we make the lies like, like just huge, right? Where right. I go, what do you mean? He goes, I don't know, like just outrageous. Like he's just insane. Like, like, you know, yeah, I'm in jail and every night I, yeah, every night I cut off my head and I go bowling, come back the next morning, you know, like just insane. So I'm crying, laughing because it's so nuts.

But that, you know, we did stuff like that. You really love that. It was a fun working with him on that. I had a blast. Inside of you with Michael Rosenbaum is brought to you by Mod. We love our mod. Mod prescribes a once or twice daily medaphanal drink that can keep you energized, focused, and alert throughout the day. Here's the mechanism, Ryan. Energy drinks with caffeine temporarily block adenosine, the chemical that makes you tired. It builds up, and when the caffeine wears off, it all crashes down on you at once, like a wrestler. Medanol works differently. It engages multiple pathways in your brain, dopamine, norepinephrine, histamine, and orexin to achieve

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Who cracked you up most backstage or on stage? Well, Phil and Dana Carvey and Dennis Miller. Always cracked you up. Kevin Neeland. They were all the, the, for, yeah, they're hysterical. And they're hysterical off, off. They are. I just had Kevin. Very funny. They're all very, very, very funny.

Like, really, really, really funny. What was it about? Was it about Phil Hartman that made him such a special performer and friend? Well, he was, he's from Canada. You know, they're very nice people. He was the nicest guy in the world. Very humble. And just, he's a genius.

He could do anything. He was, first of all, he, he, he was. first of all, he was a graphic artist. He had a brother that was John that managed all these rock groups. So John goes, hey, I need a managing the group America. You know, I love America. So he said to Phil, I need an album cover like the best of America. Can you, you know, draw something?

So Phil goes, okay. So then he showed it to John. He goes, here's something like this. And John saw it and goes, something like this, this. He could just do it. Wow. A real talent. He could do anything.

or he would learn about it really quick. He became a pilot. He had his own plane. He became a captain of a boat. He could do that. You know, they have these sailing clubs. He was the captain. One time I went in his office, I go, what are you doing?

He goes, I'm reading the magazine about fly fishing and fly fishing. Three weeks later, I'm in his office. He's got the whole kit. He's making flies for fishing. Three weeks later, like expertly. He just did it. His mind was sad. He did a genius.

And he and Jim Carrey are the only two actors. I know they could change their face without makeup and look like the character they were playing. Like how do you do that? Like Jim was genius, brilliant, and Phil could do it. That's it. I mean, I don't know. I can't change. Is there a special story about Phil that you haven't told or never really had a chance to tell?

No. But he was also, he was the best improviser. I mean, Tim stacked at Sun of a Beach and Tim was in the Groundlings, he was great. But I said, don't you think Phil was just like incredibly? He goes, oh, yeah, he goes on another level. And Tim was like one of the stars of the groundlings. But Phil was just out there.

And then sadly, there's this movie called The Dink. And Lynn Stewart is in it. She played Miss Yvonne. Did you fart again? No, your dog farted again. No, it was you. No. So it's come full circle now.

Let me just tell you. I almost thought about taking him out for a shit during the interview. If my dog is farting, it's on you. Is it going well? And it's called karma. So watch what you say about me. Because he'll gas you. If he senses that you're being mean in any way or cutting or rude.

A little bad guy. Boom. Jerry. He'll let you have it. Jerry Brookheimer the third is his name? Yes. Hello, Jerry. Brookheimer the third.

What do you think Phil honestly would say about? you, what do you think he'd say about you right now if you were alive? Like, what do you think of John Levitts? What do you think Phil would say? John, you've aged very well. Is that what he'd say? I don't. I get, I don't know.

I'd say I miss you. I mean, it's still horrible. I miss him like crazy. How many years has it been? 28. 28, and you still think about him. Every day, you know. Every day.

We were like brothers. He was like the big brother I always wanted. I idolized him. So when I got an SNL, you know they brought back myself and norah done and dennis miller and then uh they said we want people you work well with so i recommended phil and tim stack and lynn stewart and tress mcneal trust you see her name all over the simpsons she can do any voice anything she's brilliant on stage and um and i got her and lynn auditions and tim and and loren goes yeah tress and lind

he goes they were by far the best of anybody audition but they were in their 30 so he thought they were too old. Tres could do anything. And then Lynn was just like, like the female Phil. And she and Phil worked together. They were like the best. Right.

Just on a whole like 10 levels above. Yeah. How do you, I just want to know it's just like, everyone gets through things the way they get through them. But is there any advice? Like what, when,

when Phil died, like how did you, how were you able to function? How long did it take you to be a little, like have a glimpse of you back? Well, I mean, you know, I didn't, I didn't,

crack a joke for a year. It was horrible. You know, I was devastated. And then I was pretty depressed about it. Well, I learned, I'm just saying this because I learned for about five years. Because everything I did, I go, oh, Phil and I can do this, feeling I could do this, you know, and we were at the point in our friendship where it wasn't me, like he'd say, Johnny, you got to get in the golf. Okay.

He was nine years older. Right. John, you got to get into this. Okay, yeah. And then I made a suggestion once, and then he took it. Or I said, I might do this. And then he did it. And I went, oh, you're listening.

But we were more equal, you know what I mean? Yeah. And it was, I did this pilot, and he was in it. And I remember him watching me and being really proud of me. You know, I did a cameo in this pilot I was doing that I had written and, uh, co-written. The guy Mike Langworthy, and we did it. And, um, so it felt.

felt great that he was there, you know, but it was like, I felt like we're more even. Like, you know, like I wasn't, like I wasn't, I wasn't the young 28 year old kid looking up to, 25 year old I was, you were at the same level, 41 and it was, yeah, is it different. It was great, but it was more, yeah. It turned into a real friendship. It wasn't like, he wasn't just the big, it was more equal, you know, right. I mean, equal, like, I wasn't looking to him to lead me on everything. Right. It wasn't a big brother. He's a brother. Yeah, like he, he, he, you know, he called me his brother. I mean, we were very close. Yeah. So. So. So. So, but anyways, I was in my driveway one day.

It was like 46 and I go, and I just said, I'm still alive. So that's when I started doing stand-up comedy, you know, and it's hard. You've got to go move forward. But you never forget the guy. It's still, it's still, you know, it's awful. I miss him horribly. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If you thought about trying therapy with our long-term partner BetterHelp,

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Guess what? You get rid of them. You switch therapists, no questions asked. Better help does it for you. You could text your therapist or you can be a FaceTime call or you could just be a phone call. You don't have to go drive to therapy like an hour. I'm telling you, man, I don't know what you're waiting for. But therapy, Ryan, isn't for just big life choices.

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Please do. I hope you'll thank me. I think you will. That's better help help.com slash inside. This is called shit talking with John Lovitz. These are my patrons who are on my Patreon platform. Oh, I see. Patreon.com slash Inside of you join. They get to ask these questions.

It's rapid fire. Linda M says what made you smile today. Simple. When my dog farted and you smelled it. Little Lisa says when was the last time someone showed you legitimate kindness? Today when you showed me around your house. Really? That's the nicest thing you said to me, I think ever.

Well, I mean, if I'm just nice to you the whole podcast, it's so boring. It's got to be adversarial and then it's funny. Don't you think? Yeah, I love it. I don't mean it. You're a great guy and you're very nice. I'm just teasing you. No, I love you.

I like teasing my friends. Look, I was looking forward to this for a long time. Has you? You should. You're coming back on. Ms. Leanne says, fill in the blank, the one thing life has taught me is... It's easier to take care of yourself than be a victim and wait for others to take care of you. It's your life's easier if you take care of yourself.

Step up for yourself. Yeah. It's like, you know, they go, God helps those who help themselves. It's that. And it's true. You've got to help yourself. And then it's easier instead of just you're waiting for someone to save you or do something. You know what I mean?

Yeah. As an adult, you know, if you're a kid and you can't, you know, you're stuck in a horrible situation because, I mean, you're a kid. Yeah. No, I think that is honestly great advice. But once you're an adult. I think people wait around, me included, we wait for somebody to help us when there's nobody to help you.

You have to take the steps to make. Well, they're not going, because they're worrying about themselves. About their own life. Yeah. They're taking care of themselves. But try to make something. think of yourself you know step step says what was your favorite skit you were in or character you played in s&l um master thespian i like was fun and i liked harvey firestein he didn't like

it but i did and then i did uh i did a sketch with phil we wrote it together called one more mission where i'm like the head of a studio and he's a actor and it's like spoof of the you know that 40 style right right that one that was phil's favorite sketch it was really fun Raj says tell me about the funniest S&L skit you recall pitching that never made it on the show. I did a piece. Tim Stack did a piece about a soldier in World War II. And then when I got in the groundings, he added me into it. So it was two soldiers saying how they ended up in the front line in France.

And I did it and it got me on the show. And they would never let me do it on the show. That's weird. Yeah. If you were good enough to get on the show from it. I don't know why. Lauren didn't he didn't like it. Don G.

Who is the funniest person you ever worked with? I don't know. I mean, one of the, off the top of my head, one of the funniest people, like they're really, one of the funniest off camera, I'll say that is Martin Short. He's just hilarious, but he's always joking. I mean, he's real, but he's, he's always trying to make you laugh. He's just so witty and funny. He's just hilarious.

What did you think of Chris Farley? Well, Chris was also one of the funniest people off. Any fun stories? He's funny on camera, but off camera. Not all comedians are. Some are serious, some analyze it, some are funny. I mean, but the guys I was, you know, Phil and Dana and Dennis, they're all very, very funny. But Chris would just, he's one of the funny.

I mean, he would do anything, you know. For a laugh. But we were very close friends and, you know, everyone, I tried to help him from the moment I met him. From the moment I met him. You said, you got to stop this. I called Jim Belushi's agent and said, can you have Jim call this guy? Because he really idolizes John Belushi and he's going down. bad road. Yeah. That was after the first time I met him. Wow. And then, and then we, we'd, uh, I rented a beach house

and our manager Mark Edwards. So we'd be at the beach and, and, um, I was very hard on him. Like how so? Well, just, oh, because I loved him, you know, I wouldn't pull any, I go, dead man walking. What'd he say? John. I go, well, you got to stop. And then, and then, and then, and then I said, I would do meetings and I'd pretend like it was a black preacher. You have got. You've got to stop this crap. You've got to love yourself, motherfucker. You got to.

And he was, it would really make him laugh, you know. But yeah, we were close friends, you know, but he was just, I mean, it's just, he didn't, he thought he was indestructible. And he was getting high. He had fun. It was fun, you know. How often? I go, yeah, they make you feel good, but you're, you know, we had a, I'll just say,

we had talking once I go, he lost a bunch of weight. No, he'd stopped doing, he was sober for like three years. And I said, Chris, it's great, but you got to lose weight, you know, my dad's a doctor. And I told him about you. And he said, he won't make it until 40. You really got to lose weight. Good job. My dad's 660 pounds.

And then I said, um, I said, um, I said, you got to, you got to, you got to. out of love yourself. And then he goes, like he goes, well, okay, but John, but if I love myself and I, and, and drugs make me feel good and I deprive myself of drugs, isn't that depriving myself of love? So I started laughing. I go, shut up, you idiot. I go, yeah, they make you feel good, but they kill you, you know.

Yeah. He was like half joking, but it was like, I can't you shut up. You know, but he, we told him, we told him, we told him. And then when he died, I was like, you know, of course, I was very upset. But I went that idiot, God damn it. We told him, we told him, we told him, we told him, we told him. But you just, you know, it's like any drug. They have to, they have to do it themselves. They have to stop. You, you just can't make them. And, and, and I realize with other friends, I realize that it's more about that, that, that, when you have that problem or alcohol and drugs.

It's, you may, you do want to, a lot of them want to stop, but it's, it's stronger than their willpower. I get it. Which I, I have very close friends. And you think, oh, I could say something. I read a book. You think you could say, oh, if I just said the right thing, they'd stop. And they go, no, there's nothing you can say.

They have to want to stop and then go get help. Oh, I know. Or just, or quit cold turkey. I've had the worst where, I'm not going to say who it is, but saying, you know, They want to not live. Like, I've had it. You know, it's like I'm done. I've done everything, you know, and I go, you can't do this.

First of all, you can't do this to me because it's going to kill me. And if you love me, you got to not do this. And we've got to take the right steps here. Take a beat. Your mind is not right. I understand. And it took everything for me to get this person to get a little help. And it's still a battle.

But like, they have to want to do it. Well, but also it's usually there's people I know that had it is they're bipolar. They're self-medicating. See, that's the real issue. I think this person might have like a manic depression or something. Right. That's mostly what it, you know.

Because it's like the highs are high and I'm great, great, great. And all of a sudden you're like, I don't want to live. I'm like, whoa. They're bipolar. Yeah. And so, so then you learn that that is just like being a, it's like being a diabetic. You know, you're not, you don't have, like, you don't have enough insulin or they have too much. And it's bipolar is it's, it's about your neurotransmitters and your serotonin.

Yeah. And it's not, you know, it's chemically and it's not going all the way across your nerve cells. It's half of it's being taken back up. So that's what they call them, what is it, SSRI standard serotonin reuptake inhibitor. And so it's if your nervous system is operating slow for, they don't know why, but that, your mood. So if it's slow, you feel like the energizer, bunny in the batteries low, you're like down. And then if the serotonin gets all released really fast, you get hyper and manic. And that's why they say you can't take SSRIs and drink alcohol because the alcohol,

when you get drunk, it's the same thing that releases all the serotonin. So your brains, it's too much. You're like, you know, you can't speak. Then the next morning you wake up and you're totally depressed because you've depleted you depleted all your enzymes that released the serotonin. You just sounded really smart for about two minutes. You know what? I'm praying my dog farts again. No, that listen. Well, I learned about that's what it is. Well, I am smart. I don't know everything, but you are smart. There's no question. I unfortunately had to learn about it. You can't do what you do and not be smart. What do you know, but that's what it is. What do you miss about S&L? Do you ever miss it? Yeah, I miss hanging out with, you know, all the comics and joking around and that stuff.

But you still see them. Yeah, but it's not like you're with them every day. So that's why, like, if you're doing a Sandler movie and there's all these comedians, it's fun. Because everyone's, like, funny and you're joking around. Right, right. He's been great to me. He's a great, great guy. I've been dying to be in one of his movies.

He came up to me once after I did this movie that bombed. And he comes up and goes, hey, I just want to tell you, you're fucking funny in that movie. I saw it. You were fucking funny. really wanted to be in one of his movies. Just tell him. I have. I go, I would do anything to work with you. I would just, I would do one line. Anything to work with Sandler. He's one of my heroes. And he's like, I was in line at the deli. He goes, hey, how you doing? Rosembaum, you know, he grabs my phone, talks to my grandpa for 20 minutes. Then he sees a trailer from my movie that has Swartz in it. He goes, hey, can you call me and goes, can you bring the movie over? And I brought the movie over him and his wife watched it. But I'm still not in his any of his movie. So I guess I'm not that funny. I've never been to his house. wasn't at his house, I was at his office. Oh. You've never been to his house?

He's very private. He is very private. You wouldn't think, but he is very private. More private than you. Yeah. Are you going to get a house cleaner? Are you? Because I think my dog just shit on your house. Do you ever see it? Oh, by the way, Saturday Night Live, it's tough because they'll write 30 to 40 sketches. I know I didn't finish answering that one.

Yeah. Yeah. And they pick eight. Eight end up on air. So it's very tough. And we had, we had five. men and three women as regulars and two features 10 now they got 21 people i mean it's so many so it's very hard to be on that show now breakthrough and still the same amount of sketches you know it's very very it's tough yeah and then what's tough is is when you get it everyone all their friends and relatives everyone that's on it saying you're the funniest you're the best why aren't you on more i mean

they just drive you nuts i know and it's you know it's you know like there's not much like you don't understand you're not here and then I saw what's the minute they go you feel like you're auditioning every week and it's the same it feels like that like and you're not sure are they going to bring me back next year everything's vague and and you don't get paid that much in the beginning well compared to what I was making it was it was a lot of money yeah but compared to other TV shows no because it's late night but then you know at when I was on it was like the one a TV show you could do, and it would give you a shot at a movie career. And back then, if you did TV, like, great, but then the chance of being in movies was very

slim. Right. And a few guys would break through, but not many. What do you have coming up? You always have a lot of your God. Well, you know what? You know what, I'll tell you what you got coming up, God. Bless it.

You've got a lot of shit coming up. I'm on the, I did force shows of that show, the paper, which is the great Daniels that did The Office. Don't say good luck. Don't say good luck is the movie starring Adam Sandler's daughter. Yes. It's a drama. It's very good.

I have a little cameo in it. The toast? The toast is a movie about a, I play the father of a bride who on the day of her wedding, and I'm in AA and the whole movie, I fall out the wagon, I'm drunk and high, and then I give a toast,

drunken high. I can't wait to see that one. And if you saw it, you'd go. oh you really do know how to act don't you and i go yeah michael yeah i do yeah so luda logan hello whoever these idiot people go i got too doesn't do anything any i go by the way the people that say that i promise you they don't have careers redemption i play a psycho killer you're always working you love working yeah it's fun i'm not always working but yeah and i'm doing another show now i can't say no well we had signed an nDA do you what that is yeah yeah

Non-disclosure. Yeah. And then I do stand-up comedy. Yes. I'm doing that. You always, you hang out with, I see a lot of videos of you and Andrew Dice Clay. Yes.

Well, we, he called me and he wanted, I met him when he hosted SNL. And then I'd see more of the years. But then he goes, hey, I'm doing these stand-up shows and I want you to do them with me. And I go, he goes, and we'll build. I go, great. You know, you played arenas, for God's say, you know, whatever you were. Are you having fun doing that?

Yeah, really fun. And then we've become. come very close friends and then he goes hey i do he's always i think for 30 years used to videotape these little scenes and now he does them on instagram every day so we go out and yeah yeah and people people really like it yeah i loved dude i was a huge did you watch you any of this yeah hilarious yeah the one in the uh well i just seen stuff like you in the deli you guys outside yeah there's one where we go to a sporting goods store i didn't see that one guys shirts that's like it's so ridiculous All right, I'm going to check it out.

And what's your Instagram? At John Lowe's. What is it? John, lowercase. Lower Slech? What's it called? Ryan, John lowercase? The line on the bottom, not a hyphen.

Yeah, it's that line. John lower lecase line. Love it. L-U-V-I-T-Z. L-O-V. What? Do you, God. Damn it.

Love it. Do you do any research? Yeah, not really. You don't read the research. No, I do. I just didn't know how to spell. I just messed up. You know, people go on and on about acting, but they never mentioned.

Spelling. They go, what's the job of an actor? Yeah. They go, I go, listen to me. Your job is to make the scene work. Right. Which means what? To make the scene great.

Make it entertaining. Right. Move the story forward. Did I not do that today? No. Move it forward. They never talk about. what is an actor?

They go, well, you're going to be believable. No, it's about making choices, how to play the scene. And then you've got to play off the other person. And it's, it's, I just think you had to control everything. And now I like, no, now I go, especially in drama, I go, drama, comedy's different. Drama, you go, you just, you set up all the character and all that,

but then you just play off the other person. You have to. And then it would work, whatever you do will seem real. if you're playing off the other person. You didn't know that. You did, when you did Superman, everyone was playing off of your head because it was bald

and the lights were blinding everybody. I put a lot of work in that role. So they were like, I can't see. No, you were great. You were great. But the other actors were blinded. By my head. By the light.

By my pate. No, I was shocked when I met you and you had hair. I go, oh. You did. You go, what is that? Remember? Yeah, you were just, the first time I met him, he's looking at me,

You have hair? What's with you? What's wrong with you? I thought you were dying. You had hair. And you also looked about 20 years younger. It was 20 years ago. No, I don't mean 20 years younger than today.

Oh. I meant 20 years younger than when you're, then you looked on the show. He thought I'll look at, yeah, I looked at pretty much the same to me. No, not really. Thank you. I know. Do you have any memorabilia at home? Do you have any memorabilia or anything you save from movies or anything?

Yeah, I got stuff from Smallville. I'm going to give you something. today from smallville you don't like that stuff smallville which is do you collect things like if i gave you something would you keep it what smallville is not the name of my dick it's meteor v it's mediocreville this has been great will you come back yes all right i love you thank you for being here oh we're done well your dog just took a shit i got to clean it karma oh what a treat unlock unlimited free grocery delivery with PC Express Pass. Shop online and get the same low No Frills prices delivered.

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He just makes me laugh. Very few people can actually make me laugh by just looking at them. And he just has that thing. He knows how he... Lex Luther. He knows how he's funny and he digs into it. Yeah, he digs into it. Let anybody off the hook.

Yeah, he's, he's just, he cracks me. Every time I look at him, he's just like, what are you doing? You know, he just has that look that mischievous look on his face. John, you were awesome. I really appreciate you doing the podcast. Finally, for the love of God. Thank you. We couldn't do this podcast.

It's not possible at all without patrons. So join Patreon. Think of it as a streaming service, right? Yeah. Most people spend $20 or more for a streaming service. This is free. So if you want to give back, anything helps the show. Patreon.com slash inside of you, one of the perks besides being on the show and getting asked guest questions and getting boxes from me and occasional zooms and YouTube lives.

And we're doing a patron meetup. You know, you get a lot and you support the podcast and it really helps us. So I'll name the top tiers. Let's do it with you. Okay. Nancy D. Little Lisa, Ukiko, Nico P. Rob B. the 4th, Jason, Dreamweaver,

Raj C, Stacey L, Jamal F, Janelle B, Mike Ldon Supremo, 99 more, Santiago M, Kendrick F, Belinda, and Dave H. Brad D, Ray H, Tab of the T, Tom N, Talia, M, David G, Betsy, D, Rian, C, Michelle A, Jeremy C, Mr. Melski. Mr. Melski. Eugene R, Mell, S, Eric H, Kevin, E, J, Jem and J, Leanne, J, Jen, Jules, J, Jules, Jessica B, Frank B, I just met Frank B at a con. Frank B.

Yeah, Frank B at Kahn's. And I always see Jules at Kons, and I've seen Eugene at cons. I've seen a lot of people at Kons. Who else here? We got, Jen T. Talk to her man, Randy S and Teresa, Claudia, Rachel D. Nick W. Stephanie and Evan. Stephen.

Charlie and A, Don G. Jenny B-7, 6, NG. Tracy, Heather and Greg. Grether. All right. Continue on, Ryan. Pierre C. Sultan. David T.

No, just Dave T. David L. We got Dave T. and David L. Back to back. Dave T. Dave T. David L. Trying to trip us up. We love you both.

Brian B. Gary F. Ritzel Pitzel. Benjamin R. Other brother, Daryl. And Cheryl T. I'll let you finish. Cheryl T. Elizabeth R. Eduardo V. Julie F.

I got to say it, Edward V. Julie F, Merritt, Dino, or it's Dino you. Dino. Thanks, Dino. You're new. I mean, we've said your name before, but who's your step is new, pretty new. Rocco.

LMHC, life coach, Donna V. Can do this show without you. So thanks for all your support. I hope you'll continue supporting, and I'll keep trying to get good interviews and make you proud. So thanks for listening from the Hollywood Hills in Hollywood, California. I'm Michael Rosenbaum. He is.

I'm Ryan Teas. I am here, usually. Yes, he is. A little wade to the camera. I'm blocked behind the camera as usual. But thank you. And we'll see you next week. Thanks for making this podcast, the one that you choose, you know, every week. And most importantly, as you know, be good to yourself.

You got to. We'll see you. Unlock unlimited free grocery delivery with PC Express Pass. Shop online and get the same low, no frills prices delivered. Get your first year of PC. express pass for just $2.50 a month. Learn more at no-frills.ca.