Joy, a Podcast. Hosted by Craig Ferguson - Jon Lovitz

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Meet Jon Lovitz, acclaimed actor and comedian. You may know him from Saturday Night Live, The Critic, A League of Their Own, or his many appearances across film and TV. Jon has also appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon’s play “The Dinner Party”,  taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He has sung at Carnegie Hall three times and performed the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open. Please enJOY my conversation with Jon!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart podcast. Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes here. Diddy's former protege, television personality, Danity King alum Aubrey O'Day joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there. Listen to Amy and TJ Presents, Aubrey O'Day,

covering the Diddy Trial on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war this year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. It's kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We met them at their homes, we met them at their recording studios.

Stories matter and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really it. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi.

We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or ever you get your podcasts. This is me, Craig Ferguson.

I'm inviting you to come and see my brand new comedy hour. Well, it's actually, it's about an hour and a, and I don't have an opener because these guys cost money. But what I'm saying is I'll be on stage for a while. Anyway, come and see me live on the Pants on Fire tour in your region. Tickets are on sale now and we'll be adding more as the tour continues throughout 2025 and beyond. For a full list of dates, go to thecraigfergusonshow.com. See you on the road, my dears.

My name is Craig Ferguson. The name of this podcast is Joy. I talk to interesting people about what brings them happiness. Hello, everyone. About 15 years ago, I was in a comedy club in Cleveland as an audience member watching what I think was maybe one of the funniest performances I have ever seen a comedian give. Today that comedian is here and he's an unusual customer. His name is John Lovitz. Enjoy.

I have to tell you something by the way before we begin. Do you remember we had dinner after a show of yours in Cleveland years ago. Hilarities in Cleveland. Do you remember that? Kind of. Well, hell, well, I know who Hilarities and all the restaurants have kind of, you know, this is what I think really is I got the COVID vaccine and I got COVID anyway.

And so my memory, it locked out a lot of crap from my memory. And I don't know if it's the vaccine or COVID, but I've asked a lot of people this and they say, yes. I say, do you find you're like searching for a word? You're thinking of a word or a name and also it's right there and it just goes away and happens a lot. And they said, yes. And I said, and did this ever happen before the vaccine or COVID?

And you know what they said? No. Then that's clearly scientific proof. I would say this though, I have no, I've had the COVID vaccine a couple of times and I've had COVID a couple of times. And I feel like my memory is kind of the same, but I might have forgotten how it used to be. I don't know. Well, then it means I've just gotten older and I'm getting, cause I go, it's either that or I'm getting senile.

I forgot about this. I remembered it yesterday, but today I've been... Well, it's all right. I feel like I quite, as I get older and I forget things, I mean, look, if it's going to be, and I've thought about this in my life, if I get very old and things start to fall apart, do I, is it the plumbing or the upstairs? And I think I'd probably prefer upstairs because if upstairs, if you go like forget things and everything then you just forget them but and that's somebody else's problem but if you if your

plumbing goes that's kind of your problem you know what I mean maybe both will go I don't know if your plumbing goes it's my problem no well not necessarily yours it depends if you're in the room with me, but. Aren't you from Scotland originally? I am. Yes. Aren't you from California though? Yeah, but I live in California. Why don't you live in Scotland anymore?

What do you have against this? You know, that's a very good question. I feel like I lived in Scotland enough and, and now I live elsewhere. Also my wife's family's from here in New England. So I, I have to be near them. I know this is your show, but I have a question. We're turning it into mine. Okay. Sean Connery was Scottish, correct? Correct.

So why aren't you James Bond? Aye, that's the question I've been asking myself for years. You'd be a good James Bond. You'd be great. And you'd be a funny, clever James Bond. All right. That's the question I've been asking myself for years. You'd be a good James Bond. You'd be great and you'd be a funny, clever James Bond. I totally agree. I feel like we should call someone. Do you know who is in charge of it? Well, Amazon.

Right. Well, I'll call that man that runs it. I've got an Amazon account. Maybe I could ask the question on the Amazon account. I would think so. I don't know what. And I have another question for you. Okay.

Why did you stop doing your talk show? Well, that's a, you're, you're genuinely one of the funniest talk show house. So I was like, why? Well, I would say the same to you about Saturday Night Live. Do you know what I mean? It's like, you know when you do a show for a long time, like for me, you were maybe the funniest guy who was ever on Saturday Night Live. That's a high bar. Well, that's insane.

But I think that... Why did you stop? Oh, I guess we're back to it's your show now. Well, because... Yeah. Because I was supposed to do a movie of my of my liar character and it fell apart. So five years later, I got a chance to do another great part and my contract is up. So I would have had to miss two shows.

They said they couldn't work around my schedule. So Lauren said you can't miss shows. They said they couldn't work around my schedule. So Lawrence said, you can't miss shows. You can go back and forth. And I said, well, I'm happy to do that. But they're saying no. And so I was mad, so I quit. But in retrospect, because I said, I'll sign up for five more years.

I go, just let me miss the first two. And he goes, no. But in retrospect, I should have said to the movie, I go, I'm not leaving. So if you want me, you have to work around the show. I go, you can't ask me to leave this, you know, the series. Yeah. What was, what was the second opportunity to do this? And the first movie I was supposed to do with Lauren and it got all messed up.

So I was like, come on, like, give me, you know, a chance, but also in retrospect, they go, it says that they're hiring you because you're on the show That's right. You're getting all these offers But I was stupid Well, you were very young I mean you were really young well, I was 33, you know, well you really Know you gotta be You're 80? No, 100 and 80. No, you do moisturize

because clearly you and I suppose because you're a Californian as well you wear sunscreen and that will help you. No, I'm 67 now. Yes, a lot. Well, you do look very good on it. Do you have a very strict health regimen? Are you a vegan? Yeah. This is all broccoli. Do you still have your stand-up club?

No, I don't have that anymore, but I still do stand-up all over I'm going to a I'm doing certain to do I do clubs and you know in America and theater and casinos It's not like I left America for Scotland Neither did I I left Scotland for America. I did the opposite of what you were saying. And let me say this. I will say this though.

And I feel like, and I did want to chance to say this to you. When I saw you in Hilarities in Cleveland, a night that was so important to you that you can't even remember it. But when I saw you that night, I have to say that it was perhaps one of the funniest performances. I remember weeping with laughter. One of the funniest performances. Yeah. You did a song about-

That's a whole big company coming from you. Thank you. Oh, it was hilarious. And I went with a bunch of guys I was working with. We all went and we all, we were up in the balcony of this club and we were all hanging onto each other. We said, ladies, you did a song about my late friend, Bob Saget, about Bob, Bob Saget is gay, that song, which was a very, I can't even really remember the song.

I just remember being a very, very funny and talking to Bob about it. And he was quite grumpy about it. Were you friends with Bob? Yeah, when he quite grumpy about it. Were you friends with Bob? Yeah, when he was grumpy about it, he knew about it. Yeah, we were very good friends for years. Yeah, God bless him. It's horrible that he passed away and- Oh, terrible. Yeah. I would do songs about my manager, just make up stupid songs about him, just to him and then and then I started doing stand-up

So I started doing the songs about my manager Mark Ervitz and then I go well And I realized no one knows who mark is so I saw Bob who by then I'd known You know 20 years I said Bob. Yeah, no this can I make can I use your name instead of his yours? Yeah, go ahead So he he gave me permission. He thought it was funny. Went somewhere that the Laugh Factory doing, he came on stage behind me. Oh, that's great. But see, he was grumpy because he would try to make up songs about him and I go, they're not funny. He goes, well, why are your songs about me funny and mine aren't? I go, because

you're not funny. Well, they weren't funny. Well, I go because Bob, my whole thing is, is that I'm trying to kill rumors about you with these songs. And then clearly the my songs are the source of the rumors. So it's a reverse reach around. Um, it's called that. That's's I believe that's what it's called in comedic terms. Well, I'm not getting into your private life. But yeah. Well, perhaps I should get into your private life. What is your private life? I should maybe Barbara Walters you a bit. How are things with you after your- I'm on TikTok, but with your would show I'm just not wearing it

Nowhere in a dress. No, but you're so funny. I don't know what I guess you got tired of doing the show but it's like the top shows now you're so political and like What happened to the comedy what happened? It's like I. I think what happened is that... Everyone... I go, yeah. I go, they're comedians. Why do you care? Aimee Robach and TJ Holmes here. Diddy's former protege, television personality, platinum-selling artist, Denity Kang alum, Aubrey O'Day,

joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Aubrey O'Day is sitting next to us here. You are, as we sit here, right up the street from where the trial is taking place. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Ditty Trial?

Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise based on her first-hand knowledge. From her days on making the band as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamour. It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there. Listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O'Day covering the Diddy Trial on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, it's Chase Shetty and I'm thrilled to announce my first ever on purpose live tour presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve. That's right, I'm coming live to a city near you. Come and see me. Join me in surprise guests for meaningful and insightful conversations to spark learning, experience growth, and build real connections. I'll also guide you through live meditations,

share groundbreaking insights, and create powerful moments of inspiration designed to deepen connections spark growth and foster learning. Chase Sapphire Reserve is the gateway to the most captivating travel destinations and offers exclusive rewards and experiences so you can explore the world your way. Discover more with Chase Sapphire Reserve. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's Mental Health Awareness Month and on a recent episode of Just Healed with Dr. J,

the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs.

I still play like a kid. I laugh, you know, I love jokes. I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard.

To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian, Dan Flores,

and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Steven Ronella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say, it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, this is Craig Ferguson. And I want to let you know I have a brand new standup comedy special out now on YouTube. It's called I'm So Happy. And I would be so happy if you checked it out.

To watch the special, just go to my YouTube channel at The Craig Ferguson Show. And it's right there. Just click it and play it. And it's free. I can't look, I'm not gonna come around your house and show you how to do it. If you can't do it, then you can't have it.

But if you can figure it out, it's yours. Have you ever gotten into any trouble for anything you've said? Yeah. Oh really? What happened? Well, I was at my comedy club and I was complaining about when President Obama, who I voted for, was saying the quote the people in the upper 1% weren't paying their fair share of

taxes, which wasn't true at all. I mean maybe there was a few people but I go they'd be in jail, They're tax cheats, you know? And, um, so it, and he kept saying it over and over and over, but it wasn't true. He was, it's like you paying over half of your income. And I would go to people, I go, let me ask you a question. Do you think it's fair? If like, say you earn two for every $2 you earn, you have to give a dollar back. In taxes. And they'll go, no, that's not fair. They go, I don't care how much you make if you broke his. I go, right.

Well, I go, well, it's more than that. So who did you get in trouble with? Did Obama call you? Was he angry at you? No, I don't think so because I've actually met him twice. He's very nice man. But, uh, what I said was I go, it's bullshit and I'm a Democrat and I voted for him. What a fucking asshole. But then I went

on to say, I go, you know, I go, it's America and they say, do whatever you want. Go for it. I go, so then you go for it, you make it. And then everyone's like, fuck you. Which is true. You succeeded. Everyone gets pissed. I go, and the best example of somebody who had nothing and went all the way, I go is the president himself, which was Obama. I go, he's amazing. The guy had no money and no father. He's half black and half white. I go, which is a burden in this country. Don't kid yourself. And then he went to Harvard. He became president of the United States. And now he's like, fuck me. Yeah.

He was saying about people that were successful, which he was a part of. He goes, you know, if you have a business, you know, you didn't build that business. The government, what about the roads and the cars that get you there? You know, the roads and I go the roads that our taxes pay for and three three days later He made a video saying you built that I apologize You know he made a video But it had been left out the part that I said I was clearly making a joke when I said a fucking asshole And then when I said, but I said he's amazing, you know

They left that out. So all the headlines were I called him a Name, you know that, that affect your life. I was fairly mad at Joe. Did you lose work and stuff? Amazing what he's achieved in his life, which he it is. Yeah. But they left all part out. See what I mean? Did you get into trouble?

Did you lose a job or anything like that? Did anyone get mad at you? Well, it was all over the press. Yeah, I don't think I lost any work. Yeah. You can't like it's very, I go, that's the whole thing. Well, people don all over the press. Yeah. I don't think I lost any work. Yeah. That's the whole thing. Well, people don't do that. People don't even read the whole thing.

Yeah, it was a joke. I clearly, oh yeah, I had to go, I went on the, I had to go on the news to defend myself. I ended up going on a Bill O'Reilly. He tried to like, he was, I'll just ask you a few questions and this. And then he tried to like going, yeah, but you said this and you're, you know, he tried to, uh, what's the word corner you. No, like set me up. What's the word?

Set you up. Not, I don't know. It's that's the COVID. I can't remember the word. He tried to set me up. All right. Yeah. I, well, I think journalists do that. that and then I but he's not that smart and I'm smarter than him

I was cleared as a bell You don't have to be that smart to be smarter than him But he was trying to you know set me up and then he had Dennis Miller Was on the show at the time I'm friends with Dennis in trying to get Dennis to slam me Dennis goes I'm not doing it. The guy's my friend. Yeah, but he said this. He goes, I'm not slamming him. The guy's my friend for 30 years. And then I ended up going Fox News with Sean Hannity. And he goes, well, he goes, I know you said this, but clearly you were joking and you were trying to make the point that people are appearing there for sure. I go, exactly. I go, thank you for being like the only person to get it.

I go, clearly I was, I was mad, but making a joke, you know. But I said the guy, and he is amazing what he achieved. Anybody that becomes, anybody that runs for president of the United States and gets elected, it's pretty, it's a giant accomplishment, whether you like them or not. It's, it's, I agree. You got to have a tough skin to do that. I don't, would you ever be drawn to politics? Is that ever something that you would like?

Cause you're quite political. You care about things. Why, why wouldn't you get drawn into politics? I care about them like anybody else cares about them, but no, I, I, I wouldn't be good at it. People go, what are you doing? I go, I go because I'm, I wonder why I'm an actor. I'm not, I'm not qualified. And secondly, I'm great at making the speeches, right? And convincing

people. But I go because it's acting. It's what I do for a living. So my speeches would be way better than any politicians because they're hor- they're not good at it, you know, because they're not actors. They don't know how to deliver a speech. Well then, wouldn't Reagan was an actor? He'd be talking to certain cadence in this and if they were doing that, like say on stage in a play, you'd go like, what are you doing? You sound wilted and phony and you know, I go, but that doesn't mean anything. I go, that's acting, you know, I go but that but that doesn't mean anything.

I go that's acting, you know, I'm not qualified. Then people go, who should you vote for? I go whoever you believe in. I would never tell anybody to vote for because I go one, I'm not qualified. And also I do believe just because I'm known does therefore mean I'm qualified to tell you who to vote for. It's ridiculous. And secondly, what if I did tell you who to vote for?

And it turned out it was the wrong guy and it was bad. So you never endorse anyone for candidacies then? You never do that? No. Ridiculous. No, Craig. Wait, you look offended when I even asked you. You were like, no, like, no, Craig, I would never do that.

You fucking idiot. No. And I just- Yes, there you go. No, because of course it's idiotic. It's like, if you said, do you have advice about acting and comedy? This I go, sure. Because I'm qualified.

It's all I've been doing and thinking about since I'm five. I've done everything in acting you can possibly do and done it quite well. You ever done porn? Yes. No, but this is the thing about it. I did it for like three years. But I only did the insert shots. And I did it for like three years. but I only did the insert shots.

And I did it for like three years, but I wanted to be an actor, you know? And I go, I get the face on camera, no one knows it's me. This is a waste of time. A waste of time. Let me ask you this. Is there any chance of doing a reboot of The Critic? Well, I've been trying to get that going for years and we're still... You're kidding. But it can't do it and I don't know. We're trying, but I don't know. But finally... It's funny because for me, The Critic, I love that show. He wants to...

He goes, no, no, no. But for some reason, think he's changed his mind and so we want to do it, but, but will it happen? I don't know, because there's all these things and there's rights and there's, uh, things like, um, who owns it at Sony. And then, and then there's like their animation isn't part of the writers guild, which is the union, I mean, the guild and Al who created it and Mike Reese created there in the guild. So it's like, can you do it?

And, you know, you can't be in a union, you're working on union. It's a whole thing. My God. I feel like you should be able to figure that out. The way you're looking at me, it's very... Well, I'm, I'm, I'm, uh, what I'm, I'm not, I'm looking at you, you know, in a friendly, I'm not being come Heather with you. I'm just, I'm just, yeah.

And well, I'm sad about it because I loved, I thought the critic was the, was the, the, the forerunner to Bojack Horseman. I thought it was, it was like, it led to other great, you know, kind of yes, yes. John Lovett's in the front row. Bojack Horseman. I don't know what that is. Bojack Horseman was a great card. I'm not embarrassed about something you don't know something. I don't know what that is. No, no, I'm not trying to embarrass you. I'm going to tell you what it is.

No, I know. I'm just saying I'm not embarrassed about saying I don't know something. Oh, right. Well, you shouldn't be. There's no reason for you to be embarrassed. Yeah. I would be more embarrassed about your three years working in porn than, uh, although, you know, maybe I'm being, first of all, you would never know it's me. No, no, it's me. That's true.

Yes. It was a lot of money. Yes. It was, you know, every week, three, you know, three different women. It sounds like a fantasy come true. No one will know it's you. It's just the insert shot. Right. And then you're making a lot of money. But then they go, if you say to, well, deny it. Then they go if you say to will deny it

Right why why can I ask why that? Deny it but surely that would be great publicity for them if it's you know, John Lovett says business on screen People would pay to see that or I was maybe don't see so it didn't it wasn't. Oh, I see Wouldn't meant anything Well, maybe you could go back and see if you can reboot that. No, it looks like with your hand, it looks like you're... I'm gesturing. Well, this is what it looks like. No, no. Well, that's not what I'm doing at all for heaven's sake.

I'm gesturing. I'm holding my glass. You're very... You're very... You're quite sexy today. You're, you're saying quite sexy things. What's going on there, man? You feeling a little, you feel a little frustrated. What's going on? Things are a little sexy with you. And I didn't do your talk show more because I just remember when I did it and, and I

was like, oh, this guy, he gets my humor and he just giving it right back. This. Yeah. This is so much fun. Why didn't you ever have me back? You know, I have no idea, to be honest. I thought you were on it tons of times. Once.

You were only on once? Once. And I liked it. I was pleasantly surprised. That seems crazy to me. But you know, they're really funny and you were really making me laugh. I go, we didn't know he was this funny and witty. I had watched it.

You know, it's so it's weird to me, John, because I've met, I've run in a couple of people since doing the show who've said to me, why was I never on the show? And I'm like, Oh, you weren't. Cause I forget me. Honestly, I forget. Like in the 10 years that I did the show, I once watched a documentary about Leonard Nimoy, the original Mr. Spock, and Nimoy, oh, Nimoy, Nimoy, I don't know. In New England, we say Nimoy.

But Leonard Nimoy. And I said to my wife after the documentary, what a lovely man I should have had him on late night when he was alive. We looked up, he was on twice. I don't remember. You had COVID and the vaccine. I had COVID twice. Did you get very sick when you had COVID? You had Spock Leonard New on your show,

who is arguably, not arguably, is one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons, characters, one of the most, name a bigger character on television than Spock. I don't think I could. I don't think I could. Equal but bigger? No.

No. Spock. Spock. Spock. Spam. Spock. Jay Sherman, the the that he wrote a book. I am not Spock.

Did you know that? That's right. Yeah, that's right. Then a few years later, he wrote another book goes, OK, I am Spock. I am Spock. I am Spock. I'm going to want very nice an audition for some movie, you know? And it was really nice, but I just couldn't stop laughing because everything he said,

I'm just going, but he, it's Spock. It just, you couldn't get it out of, I couldn't get it out of my head that no, he's not Spock. He's an actor. He's a person. He's not Spock. He's an actor. He's a person. He's not an alien. He's human. And I just remember talking and looking at his ears, you know, going, they're not pointing, I just didn't put it out of my head. It was just, it really is like, you know, da da da da.

And he's laughing and I'm like Spock's laughing and cracking jokes. Yeah. It's, it's, it's weird. Cause that's not, but he's not Spock. da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da Have you written a book yet? You spread a book. I wrote a book. I'm not a Frank Bertson. Oh, I read it. That's right. I forgot. I forgot. I read it, but I had COVID and I forgot that I read your book. I read it today. I don't know. I have funny stories about people, people writing about a book. I never talk about my personal life because you know why, Craig? Because there's other people involved. Exactly. a book. I never talk about my personal life because you know why, Craig, because there's other people involved. Exactly. That are privates. And then you have to talk about them. Right. But you got it's hard to not talk about your personal life. So I'm doing it, but but I guess I kind of get it. But you could do

whatever you want. So can you must have been fine. You can do whatever you want. So can you. It must have been fun. You can do whatever you want. No, I'm sitting on your talk show. Do you ever think about going back? You should go back and do a talk show and just make it comedy and everybody would, you'd be the number one rated. Cause it's just comedy. Yeah, I don't know, John.

I think I'd have to have you on it a lot. I don't know, John. I think I'd have to have you on it a lot. All right. I don't know. I feel like doing a show every day is not, it's not my cup of tea anymore. Are you familiar with that expression? A cup of tea? It's not my cup of tea anymore. Yes. I don't want to work every day like that. No, what like sometimes. I go, you do it once a week and you go, I am, I'm doing this. Yeah.

Well, I'm doing this once a week. And the good thing about this one is I only, I don't have to talk to anyone. I don't want to talk to, it's not like say, well, they've got a big movie coming out. So you have to talk to them. I'm like, I don't want to talk to them. They talk to me. Yeah. Of course I want to talk to you.

That's why I'm talking to you. What do you want to talk about? I'd like to talk about your book. The book detailing your anecdotes. I want to hear, I want to hear stories about, uh, my stepmother is an alien, which is one of my favorite movies. Okay. I love that movie.

I'm reading the script. This is when I was getting a lot of offers and and I'm I was Penny Marshall befriended me my first show on SNL and then and then after she put me in her movies She was where you're living in LA this summer. I don't know. She says well, you can stay in my house She had a big beautiful house Yeah, it's a mansion, you know, so I stayed there Joe Pesci was staying in the room next to me I live there for, and um, anyways, the summer I'm there, so I get off of this movie, my step-mother's Naily. So I'm reading it, I'm thinking, I'm in Penny's kitchen, which is one end of the house, and

I'm reading the script, thinking, do I want to do this, you know? So I'm reading it, and then my character, you know, and Dan Ackway I play his brother Dan's the best but I go well like Dan and so and then Kim Basinger is gonna be in it and Then it says page 36 my character It kisses Kim Basinger goes he kisses her. He really kisses her. That's what the script says and I start Screaming do I want to do it? Do I want to do it? Are you kidding me? Oh my God. And Penny runs in, what's wrong? I go, I'm reading the script. Do I want to do it? I get to kiss Kim Basinger? Do I want to do it? So I guess yes. I go, I don't need to read the rest of the script. I'll do it. Right? And I read it, but I just go, I'm in.

So now we're doing the movie and she is so beautiful and sexy. It's insane. And I remember one time I'm in the makeup trailer and she was leaving, right? And I go, hey Kim. And she turned around, right? And I'm just like, I didn't have anything to say. I just wanted to look at her again. Because I mean, she didn't look real. She was so beautiful in sex. She's one of those women like,

they're just looking at you and they go, oh my God, they're trying to seduce me. No, she's not. She's just looking. But just so sexy and so beautiful. And her skin's like perfect. And she turns around and I could see the sun in back of her coming through the door

of the makeup trailer, right? So it looks like, and she has this gold blonde hair and it's like a halo around her. And it was like, ah, like angels singing. And I go, she was, yeah. And I look at, and she's looking at me, I go, oh, I say have a good day. Have a good day today. Okay.

And I'm just like, ah. So this is all I'm thinking about for the movie. One week, two, now we're six weeks into the movie. And I look, you know, you're in the makeup trailer and they give you these like, you know, like this, this, like this. Yeah, like sides, like your lines for the day. Right, this big, as big as an envelope with all your lines. So I'm looking at it, I'm reading it and I go,

oh, I think this is the, today's the day, the scene where I kiss her. Oh, right. I go to Richard Benjamin and I said, is this the scene where I kiss her? And he goes, yes. He goes, yes. I go, now I've never kissed a woman in a movie.

Right. So I'm like, well, what do I do? He goes, just kiss her. Oh, okay. This is all I've been thinking about since I said, yes, this is all I've been thinking about. So I walk up to Kim, I go, hey Kim, you know, today's our big scene. And she goes, what? I go, it, what?

Nothing. Forget it, nothing. Right? I realized she hasn't thought about it for like a second. Nothing. It's all about, it's the whole reason I did the movie. What? But the thing is, I love that movie. I'm like going, hey, you wanna do a movie?

You get to kiss Kim Basinger? I was like, yeah. You wanna know what it pays? No, I'll that movie. I was like, what's going on? I'm like going, hey, you want to do a movie? You get to kiss Kim Basinger? I was like, yeah. You want to know what it pays? No, I'll pay you. What are you kidding? Right? So, so anyway, so the scene is we're doing it and, and she's an alien and, and she marries Dan. I'm the brother-in-law and I go walk up, I go, well, maybe the first to kiss the bride.

She was okay. And she's kissing me and she sees her dog floating up in the air because she's got this purse with this alien in it this eye and it's making it her dance dog a beagle float up in the air like so she's like you know kissing me on the side so they go okay do it again do it again so now it's the third takes I go you know I'm like has I go I'm gonna really kiss it, right and I had to stand in a hole. So I give her a good kiss right and I swooned You swooned it swooned. Which means I mean all the blood went to my head and I went And I will spell over and

Then so we finished the scene so then And I almost fell over. And then, so we finished the scene. So then we're at this house and she's nasty. And she was okay to me, but after that kiss she was super nice. She goes, John, come on in the house. These are the people that live here. And I go, oh, nice to meet you. She was super nice after that.

And then anyway, she was always very nice, but she was even nicer. But then I saw her like a couple of years ago and I told her that whole story I just told you. And she's like, no memory. No memory of it at all? It's like when I had dinner with you in Cleveland. And I said to her, Kim, that summer, this club, Helene, is in LA. And I saw you at this club. You have to understand, she was not just pretty. that summer that this club, Helene is in LA and I saw you at this club.

You have to understand, she was not just pretty. She was one of the most beautiful women in the world. Like probably the sexiest woman in the world. Right. And she's super nice, but she was just like, well, obviously drop dead gorge. So, so I go, Hey, you want to dance? And she goes, yeah. And then she was with this make go hey you want to dance and She was yeah And then she was with his make a guy that did her hair and she was dancing with him and then I didn't get To right then I'm looking around I go she left. I'm like fuck now. It's about two in the morning and I see her again

She was there I granted I go. Hey, remember our dance you promised shows. Oh, yeah, okay so it's like oh, it's about 80 degrees out of warm summer night. And Frank Sinatra's song, The Summer Wind, right, is playing. And I'm dancing with Kim Basinger to The Summer Wind. And I'm holding her, you know, not like separate, but like this. And she's laughing. And I'm just like, one of the greatest moments of my life, right? It was just like magical.

In like 30 years, I remember that night. It was one of the best nights of my life. She's like, she kind of remember. No, that's how I felt when I told you that I had dinner with you in Cleveland, which is one of the greatest nights of my life. And you, you don't remember it and you made a joke about it. You said it was COVID, but I think you just, you just really didn't remember it. Even without COVID.

Well, I remember the club in Hilaria. I kind of remember now that you're mentioning it. But you understand, what was that? 20 years ago? No. Yeah. Yeah. It's like 20 years ago.

It was all 10 years ago. I have a feeling Craig, no offense, but I have a feeling that as time goes on, your brain, it's like say this is 20 years ago, right? And now here's 20 years later. So this chunk, it kind of start fading away because you put more and more in your brain and you just don't remember everything. Well, I haven't noticed that. I have noticed that I remember stuff that's back further, but the stuff like, you know, five years ago,

I'm like, oh yeah, yeah, but 25 years ago. Two days ago, what'd you have for lunch? I had salmon probably, I think. Yeah, but you don know, three days ago? I have no idea. Right. Do you know? I do know what you had for lunch three days ago, yes.

Well, now that's weird because it did taste a bit funny. So how were you involved? You were in town and I was working this hot dog stand and you get a thing and I go, oh, you oh you go you look like John Lovitz I'm like oh yeah I get that a lot yeah yeah because it's embarrassing do you get recognized a lot in LA like you must all the time right oh yes yeah do you like it I don't mind I don't like when people are drunk yeah that's who recognizes me. Well, cause you're always in the pub cause you're Scottish from England. Yeah, I guess.

I don't go in the pub that much anymore. I used to live in pubs. I look at, if they're not drunk, I'm like, cause they're nice and they're complimenting you and I just think, be grateful. Like what other job is there where there's hardly any job. People go, Hey, I love what you do. I love your work. Great job.

Yeah, that's true. You don't get that. So it's kind of lucky. Not very lucky, fortunate, you know, grateful. I'm very lucky, fortunate, you know, grateful. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here. Diddy's former protege, television personality, platinum selling artist, Danity King alum Aubrey O'Day joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation.

Aubrey O'Day is sitting next to us here. You are, as we sit here, right up the street from where the trial is taking place. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York, and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Ditty Trial? Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise based on her firsthand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band as she emerged as the breakout star

The truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamour. It wasn't all bad But I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things There listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O'Day covering the Diddy trial on the I heart radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey it's Chase Shetty and I'm thrilled to announce my first ever on purpose live tour presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve. That's right I'm coming live to a city near you. Come and see me. Join me and surprise guests for meaningful and insightful conversations to spark learning, experience growth and build real connections.

I'll also guide you through live meditations, share groundbreaking insights and create powerful moments of inspiration designed to deepen connections, spark growth and foster learning. Chase Sapphire Reserve is the gateway to the most captivating travel destinations and offers exclusive rewards and experiences so you can explore the world your way. Discover more with Chase Sapphire Reserve. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's mental health awareness month and on a recent episode of Just Healed with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey.

So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs. I still play like a kid. I laugh, you know, I love jokes.

I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard. To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J

from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me, writer and historian, Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck.

This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian, Dr. Randall Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Stephen Rinella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say, it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you still get as much out of it as you did? Because you love acting. You're really good at it and you clearly love it.

Do you still get as much joy out of it as you always did? I do, but I was for a while in my magic. Oh, you know, the parts rubbed out. You got to get back in. So I was doing a lot of movies that I didn't, I wasn't enthusiastic about. And I finally said, you know what? I can't do it. I can't do those anywhere.

I go, why? I go, because I'm just filling my resume with crap and I don't enjoy it and acting, he doesn't understand because he said, well, it's just business and I go, I know, but I have to be enthusiastic. It just means too much to me. I go, I have to be enthusiastic. I just, it just means too much to me. I go, I have to be enthusiastic about the part.

I can't just, I can't do it otherwise. I can do it, but I'm like, I'll end up, and I never walk through a part. It's just too hard. It's just, cause I don't care, but you have to care because you know, they're paying you and you can't walk through the part. And I just said, I can't do this anymore. So, I'm not doing it. So that, but recently I did, so I do still like it

because now I'm just, if I really like the part and I like the movie, I'll go, I'll do it. So, and that's also, standup is great because I love doing it, but you can still make a good living. So you don't have to do the movies that are crap and you don't care about. Yeah.

So I did a movie recently last year called, it was really fun. It was called the toast. It hasn't come out yet, but it's about a, um, I play the father of a bride and my daughter's getting, um, it's the day of her wedding at the venue. So it's everything leading up, getting ready for the ceremony and then everything after. It's a comedy and it's a big disaster and I'm part of the disaster. I play father who's an AA and drug and I fall off the wagon. So and I don't drink or do drugs,

but the whole movie I'm drunk and high as a kite. And then I get up and have to make a toast at her wedding and I'm completely blitzed out of my mind. And the guy wrote a great part and it was really fun to do and very moving. Craig Oh, oh really? Oh, I love that. When is it coming up? I'm crying.

You were crying? I was crying. The people watching it were crying. Oh, wow. I feel like crying now. The extras gave me applause. Oh, nice. That's when you know it was good.

The director goes, John, people watching the scene on the monitor, they were crying. Oh, wow. No, they weren't crying because I was so bad. They were crying because it was so much of an honor for them to be in there on the day that that piece of work was recorded and put on film. That's why they were crying. But they were so moved emotionally.

And then the guy, I can't stay serious for more than a second. And then the guy in the scene played a priest and I'm just telling you what he said, Craig, I didn't say it, I'm bragging, but he's, I didn't, he goes, I haven't seen, you can take it by the way both I've only seen that level of acting once It was so great. I go Really? Yes. I go. Well, who was the actor and he said Al Pacino. No. Yes. Wow. Did he do that long of a pause before he said Al Pacino?

I should have, I fucked that up because I should have, and he said, Al Pacino. And I think both ways are good. Are you serious? I'm not. I'm not. I'm not. I'm not. I'm achieve.

And I think both ways are good. Are you serious? He goes, yes, I played a judge and I was a lawyer and I watched him for two weeks and I go, thank you. Now Craig. Yes, Craig. Yes, John? I am not comparing myself in any way to Al Pacino.

I really think you did. No, the guy did. No, the guy did. Yeah. I mean, I'm not on that level. He's one of the greatest actors ever. But... He's good. You're good. You know, he's a of the greatest actors ever. But he's good. You're good.

You know, is a big fan of mine. I think Al Pacino would, but he's no, he's, he's, you know, one of the greatest actors ever, but he's not that funny anywhere near his level as an actor. I would never say that. But the other guy said it. The other guy said it and he knew what he was talking about. He said it. That other guy.

Because he played a judge and who do you get to play a judge? Well, do you think he's right? My answer to you is no. But he said it. It's very nice compliment. Yeah. Somehow. What's with the smoking the imaginary cigarette though? Why is he the invisible cigarette? But he said it. It's a very nice compliment. Yeah. Somehow...

What's with the smoking the imaginary cigarette? Why is he the invisible cigarette? What's that about? They're bad for you, Craig. But it's... Emphasis. The point of it, Craig, is that it was a giant compliment that I just now accidentally let slip out. I can't believe, I hope you don't mind if we leave it in the podcast.

We're going to leave it in, even though it was totally an accident that it slipped out because you were so relaxed. Yeah. I really didn't mean to mention it. That's okay. Now this guy who played the Jets. So of course movies you go, well, when does it come out? I go, is anyone going to see it? That's okay. Now, this guy who played the Jets. So of course movies you go, well, when is it coming?

I go, is anyone going to see it? So it was a thing, isn't it? You never know. But you get to do it. So I learned that you go, you got to enjoy, like a lot of times, you know, you're moving, you go like, oh, if I do this and get me this, I'll get me this. And I go, can I just enjoy this? Like I'm doing this now. Can I enjoy this now like I'm doing it yeah that's a challenge as

well because it's kind of how you get in the habit of thinking that way because you know everyone does because it's just you know it's not like a steady job you go what's the next thing but stand-up is very steady. It's a, it's, it's like, I feel like I beat the system. I love stand up because it gives you a autonomy. You can be your own man. You can be your own person. You don't have to follow any other rules. They book you, you turn up, you do the show, you leave.

And that's it. Yeah. And you can do it. I'm not going to say you inferring that I'm a man and you can do whatever you want. It was, it's just an expression and I didn't mean to load it with any gender specifics and I feel like it was like the performance that I saw you gave in Hilarities, the one you forgot about, which was hands down one of the funniest performances I've seen.

And I don't think you were, one of the things that really made me laugh about it was I don't think you were aware of how great you were being doing the stand up. It seemed like it was so easy. And then now I realize the only other time I've seen comedy that good was. Al. But you know. I think the only time I've seen comedy that good was. Me.

In the mirror. That's what I should have said. Me. But I've never seen me. On stage. Do you like watching yourself? Do you like looking back at stuff? Do you like watching your performances and stuff?

No. Because I see this jiggling. Ugh. John. I know. And then you... I mean, I do and I don't, but it's, it's, I don't know. I'm just like, Oh, I got, I look so fat.

Oh, my voice. It's weird. Cause what you think you're doing. And then when you watch yourself, you go, you go, Oh, that's not what it felt like when I was doing it. And then also it, it's very strange because a lot of the stuff I do, it makes me laugh because I didn't know, I, I go, I didn't know I was doing that. Right.

It's really weird. Stand up. Even movies you watch this. Cause when you're doing a scene in a movie, have you ever done a movie? A movie? I'm one or two yet. Well, if you know, as acting, you, you can't, it's hard to do because you, you can't watch yourself, have an eye on yourself and do the scene. You've got to just forget you and focus on

the other person and just get like almost lost in it and just go with it, you know, when it works its best. And they go, that was great. You go, what? And if you're not watching yourself, you go, what did I do? And then you watch it. It's very strange. And you go, I don't even remember doing that. It's like, it just, you know, I went like this.

I don't know. And then I watch it. I go, when did I do this? And like my hand like that. You have no memory of it. It's very strange. But it could, because it means you're focused hand like that. You have no memory of it. It's very strange. But it could, because it means you're focused on the scene.

You can't watch yourself. So you're doing stuff that you didn't even know you were doing. Yeah. And- But I mean, what I do love is I love making people laugh. And I know I'm trying to be funny and I'm like, you know, I'm like, oh, I didn't know. Of course I'm trying to be funny

and I'm trying to make them laugh. So like, you know, I'm like, oh, I didn't know. Of course, I'm trying to be funny and I'm trying to make them laugh. So it's very satisfying when they laugh. Yes. But you know what I don't like in stand up? When I'm talking about something and they do it and it builds a belt and then they clap, oh, yeah, I'm like, no, no. I don't like that because I'm not trying to make some like state political statement, I'm trying to make them laugh.

No, I kind of feel the same way. I know what you mean. You don't want to move into that like, you know, I'm on a soap box and everything. Yeah. Agreement comedy. Yeah. I'm not into agreement comedy very much.

No. And then the other thing I realized was that I think you've maybe you've, well, maybe you'll find this true. I don't know if you will because you're Scottish. Well, it's true. Maybe as a human being. When you're making a point about something and you go, oh, I'm really getting through to these people and I'm making them see the light and I'll make them change their mind.

And then you realize, no, you're not making them change it because as soon as they leave, they completely forget. And you have no effect on that. You think it's important what you're saying and you're changing the world. And then you go, no. And then you realize every comic probably thinks that. And you go, no, you're just kidding yourself. It's not, they just want to laugh.

I think that's true. I think most of the people that come to see stand up, they just want a good time. They just want to laugh and that's all. And I'm, I'm fine with that. That's a good deal. Yeah. And then if you are making a point, they're laughing because they already agree with you. So you're not, you're not changing anybody's mind.

That's true. Yeah. I think I did it. You think, oh, I'm really changing their mind. And then you're no, oh, I'm enlightened people now. No, no, no, no, you're not. Hey, we're out of time, John. We're out of time.

You have to go. You have to you have to go to another room because you're in your own house. So you actually don't have to go. We're out of time. Yeah, you have to take a shit. I have to take a shit. Yeah. We're out of time or you have to pee. We're out of time. We're hungry. No, number twos. It's number twos. It's I have to poop all the time. And then I see a TikTok of you that went crazy. No, no, no, wait, no, it's too late. I've done it now, but didn't I see a tech talk for you when you were talking about

pooping, I feel like it's so that it went crazy viral, something about you talking about shitting yourself, right? Very proud of that. It was no, I know exactly what it was. It was, I was playing tennis. I played tennis with my teachers and I was just goofing off going, you know, and just saying the silly thing. And he goes, he goes, you should record that. So I did.

And one of the lines, one of the lines was I came in my head at the at the moment So then I stopped and I started was on five say and I started laughing I go Um, and I was just starting to post stuff on Instagram. I go maybe you should post it I go They go I can't post this is so in my career. They're gonna fuck it. So I posted it. It's the 2.1 million View it's ridiculous. It's the most ridiculous. I go, you know, I was talking with my tennis teacher about aging and I realized with aging comes confidence. For example, an hour ago, I shit my pants. And I've yet to wipe. Because I'm confident it will eventually dry out and cake off.

Cake off! It just pots my... Ha! Ha! Ha! And then it w- Ha! Ha! Ha! That's what it was. That's the one. Alright, you're not going to beat that. Get out of here. It's lovely to talk to you again, John. Mike, great seeing you again. Thank you.

It's great to see you too, John. You're one of the funniest men in the world. Nearly as funny as Al Pacino. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here. Diddy's former protege, television personality, Danity King alum Aubrey O'Day joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there.

Listen to Amy and TJ Presents, Aubrey O'Day, covering the Diddy Trial on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American West with Dan Flores

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glod. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war this year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man.

We met them at their homes, we met them at their recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of 2B. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there.

And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.