Mayim Bialik's Breakdown - Joel McHale: Conquering Dyslexia & Imposter Syndrome

Episode Date: July 4, 2023

Joel McHale (Community, The Soup, Animal Control) joins us in studio to discuss his struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and imposter syndrome. He shares his experiences working on The Soup and Community, opens up about what it was like to work with Chevy Chase, and his fears about never being taken seriously as an actor. Joel recalls how his challenges with dyslexia impacted him in school and his ability to perform, how he was able to channel his imposter syndrome into positive motivation, and how his kids handle his fame. Joel McHale's Book, Thanks for the Money: http://joelmchale.com/thanks-for-the-money/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know, Chevy, there's a thousand stories about Chevy, and probably all true. And he did not really want to be there. That's, you know, and the hours were long and all that stuff. And I was like, you don't have to be here if you don't want. Well, I think, yeah, I think that's sort of, and I'm not, I'm not particularly interested because, like, oh, it's Chevy Chase. Like, I'm interested just in sort of what it's like to make a comedy also when there's complexity, you know, personality-wise. you know, you have a very, a very bubbly, you know, kind of extroverted presence about you. Did you find yourself trying to kind of compensate for some of that, you know, like trying to fill in holes?

Like, how do you... They had started off that way. Yeah. And then, you know, well, now that means in the book. Yeah. We just fight each other physically. That happened. Yeah.

No, we did. Actually, yeah. I mean, we didn't swing, but he always wanted to kind of... like a horse play wrestle a lot he's like come on let's fight and I'll be like all right I'm bigger than you uh barely uh younger and stronger so I might argue also body fat percentage same height but uh yeah no it was yeah everything you just said you know there was a lot going on and yeah sometimes we you know you'd walk into a set and be like uh I wonder how this day's gonna go wow it was so yeah my poor wife had to sit and listen to you too what was

I was going to say, what was it like when you got home? After the 17 hours, uh, yeah, no, it, um, yeah, my wife had to hear everything all the time. Yeah. And also, you know, the hours were, it wasn't, the hours were a lot because we were making movies every movie. Right. And so we were always behind. And, uh, so if people, you know, if personalities, uh, got too, uh, spicy, uh, it could, uh, fuck. things up. And so yeah, that happened. And

and then, you know, he left the show, or he was off the show. It's my and Bialy's breakdown. She's going to break it down for you. Because you know she knows a thing or two. So now she's going to break down.

It's a breakdown. She's going to break it down. Should I do the music? Yeah. Can you sing the music? Go ahead. You shook me No, no. Hi, I'm I, I'm Bialik. I'm Jonathan Cohen. Welcome to a breakdown.

I don't know if we can pay for that song. I will pay for it. Please, we break things down so you don't have to. Today we're breaking down, Joel McHale. No, we're breaking it down. My knees are already broken down. I'm not going to even bother to read his bio. Don't.

While he sits here. Read the Wikipedia page. You were born in Italy, huh? You were. You were born in Rome. It's very interesting. Okay. You went to the University of,

Washington. Now, now tell me about Rome. Oh, my goodness. What are you like a molecular biologist or something? Your brain surgeon. I'm a neuroscientist. I have a doctorate. He may be our most difficult guest to date, which is great. Listen, Jonathan Donovan. Hats indoors. Still cool. When did you move from Italy back to America? Right after, I did eight and a half. Wow. The Fellini film. Yeah. And after that, I was just like, I'm out of here. It's too much.

It's too corrupt. And then I did La Delje Vida. I went back and I was almost six months at that point. And no, it was very quick. I was like two and a half years. Oh, got it. Then we moved to Mercer Island, which at that point was the woods. And Seattle was, it's not the shining, you know, diamond on the neck of.

The bastion of anarchy that it is now. Yes. So there was only Boeing and timber, Weirhouser. And my dad went to work for Warehouser. They left Swing in Rome and went to Seattle. Then we moved to New Jersey, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where Haddonfield, outside of Philadelphia, and then moved back because my parents actually fell in love with Washington State.

Wow. They are there right now in Walla Walla Prison. Yeah, it's a penitentiary. You played football. and you also liked acting. You were that guy. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm a regular Fred Dreyer.

And y'all went to the Rose Bowl in 93? Fred Dreyer, guys? Yes, got it. You went to the Rose Bowl in 93? I went there last night as well. I did. I went to the LCD sound system concert. I was in full pads just to reminisce.

I threw a few chop blocks at the keyboardist. Let's see. That was a lot you covered. So I did play football in graduate school while getting my fine arts. No, I'm kidding. During undergraduate, I was a walk-on, which you can do on some teams. That after two years, I was like, I should get out of here. These people are way better at this.

And they're very dangerous. And I need to run away. And so, yeah, no, but I had already, I was a terrible student, just like you, Mian. And I really was bad. I just cheated all the time. And I got through it. And because I'm very dyslexic. And that's why I wrote the book.

And with all the misspellings. And so I, what I'm saying is that I walked onto that team, but I was also doing theater. Got it. I did everything to avoid school while in school. I shouldn't have gone to, you know, like a regular university. I should have gone to a conservatory. or something. Right.

But it all worked out. I do want to mention your book, Joel McHale, thanks for the money. Yeah. Did you get that in a $2 bin or was it free? No, we ordered them. Wow. How to use my life story

to become the best Joel McHale you can be. Yeah. The book came out... Long time ago. 2016. Yeah. But I have to say one of the prettiest books I've seen.

First of all, it's printed in color. And that's very special. They lost a lot of money on that. They really did. Yeah. But really, there's some very fun. stuff and some very interesting stuff. You actually read it?

Fantastic pictures. Geez. Yeah. Fantastic pictures. My parents like the simulated sex on page 72, I think, which they mentioned numerous times. It shows you hamming it up in school plays and when you were young. So do you remember liking that kind of attention or experience? Like, that's what sort of got you?

It's called a narcissistic wound. Yes. Where you want to be seen. Right. I, and I'm not kidding, I did a play at Haddonfield Elementary School. It was, it's a small world. Oh. The ride.

No. Yes. So it, there was a, there is a Disney play. There's a Disney vert of, of the ride called it to small. So they were like, talk about indoctrination. Like, you're like, come, you've ridden the ride. be in the play and I auditioned for the role of

a monkey and snake and a Swiss bell ringer and I got a I they no one else wanted to do it so I did all three and my parents were like look at this Pam

and it's all I ever really wanted to do and I was and I love and I love sports so I love so those are the things I was I could do. do and then but fucking a if i tried to spell the word through thorough or though i was like fuck you yeah so that's kind of what i wanted to ask because some people do anything they can to

avoid school just for many reasons you didn't you didn't have a notion though that you were dyslexic i mean no it was the 70s and 80s right so what what did it what did it feel like dumb shit syndrome yeah that's what they literally i was like evaluated and they were like he's a slow starter. And then when my son was diagnosed with it, the doctor was like, so which one of you is it? And I was like, yeah, you're describing everything that I, and she was like, yeah, it's always, it's passed down.

And I told. Also known as genetic, if you want the technical term. Yeah, true. And so my poor wife, who's, you know, she's as, can read as fast as you, not Jonathan. That gay. Look at the glasses. And what am I?

I'm saying is that they literally said he's a slow starter, which my kid's doctor was like, I cannot believe they called him slow. And I was like, yeah, can you believe that? And so, yeah, that's how they just were like, well, too bad. Right. There was no sort of way to, I remember they were like, just move your finger along with the word and stuff like that. And it wasn't, they didn't equip you with anything. So I was very lucky because, you know, I had sports and I had the narcissistic need to be seen on a stage.

And so that was, you know, that was my escape. Well, I'm curious. I had pretty much the exact same thing. Oh. But in Canada. But in Canada. You were very polite about it. Yeah, they were like, oh, hey there.

So I don't know why I went to that. It's always Fargo. Yeah. It's basically North Dakota. Were there, well, you're younger than me. A little bit younger. where there, um, where there, well, I'm, I was curious about a couple things. One, how old was your son when he was diagnosed? I'm just like wondering how many years ago was it for you that you, like, had that realization. Oh, it was early. It was first or second grade. I mean, it was right. Like a normal age for them to say, oh, this kid is bright and needs some help. Let's figure out what's going on. Yeah. How did you like, you know, you said, oh, so I just, yes, I just got around it. I was very good at cheating. Uh, I was great at it. And, uh, I would just make deals with friends and, uh, you're charming. Yeah. I've, be like, all right, so here's this Italian final.

So let's, uh, that was in college. And I just, uh, yeah. So did you have a very good auditory memory? Like, can you? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. At that time, but with enough wine, I really tamped it down. It seems like there was a big flip in like, oh, kids are, have other, have other ways of learning.

It seemed, I don't know, you know how when it was like, oh, CDs came into the mark and then all of a sudden they couldn't get a record. The big breakthrough for me, when my first go, around at university, I went a couple times, didn't make it the first. In the U.S., there was a library system for the blind that would send you books on tape. He's not blind. But that's the only way I would be able to get through is that I would get these books on tape and I could sort of follow along and listen. And then my auditory just got faster and faster and then sort of. I mean, I don't know what I used to get. So I listened to

like when I first moved here, was driving around going to commercial auditions. I would was like, I got Lord of the Rings on tape, or it was on CD. It was like just 60 short CDs. And I lost one of them at one point. Oh, no. Fuck. But did it impact your ability to, like, read scripts and memorize lines? Like, how did that impact your ability to perform?

Well, you just read slower, but memorization is not a problem. And also you did a lot of improvons, right? Lots of improvising. Yeah. Yeah. But I, yeah, and I'm out of the practice of like, because I'm memorizing a play or something, but it doesn't, those things, as you know, are not. They're not affected by dyslexia. I mean, memory and, yeah, if anything, I think my memory is better, at least for certain things.

Though I can't tell you what I did last week. I got, I think I had hit myself in the head with a hammer. Were you, as a kid, this verbally fast, or was that come on? No, this is the cocaine. Yeah. Yeah. It helps. You know, obviously, this is a.

we're on a podcast, so I'm talking faster than, I do talk very, yeah, I mean, sometimes my mom is like, can you not talk so fast? And I'm like, yeah, I can get pretty excited. The reason I ask is because it's common for kids who are diagnosed with whatever we were diagnosed with, also to be highly bored in school. Oh. And that, you know, often they'll have other abilities. So when you say, oh, now, all of a sudden the world has come around to be like, oh, kids learn differently, but also some times a deficit in one area also has strengths in others. And so for me, I was quite bored in school and I could always sort of talk my way out of situations.

Was it boredom or was it you were, I was always kind of like, like, this huge ball of like confusion. I was like, and I always kind of hated it. I liked all the people, the most part, but didn't want to ever, when I'd sit in class, it'd be like, yeah, I would just glaze over. When I was in chemistry, oh, dear God. Same. You're a scientist, aren't you?

I still had to get through chemistry. It doesn't mean it was my favorite thing. It was that plus the terror of like, how am I going to do whatever assignment is given to me? There was a teacher in high school, an English teacher that did not assign papers. It was the greatest. So he would like put on an album,

like a spoken word album of like, and now a Samuel Clemens impression. and I'd be like, ah, perfect class. Yeah. Those were, yeah, and my end's like, huh. No, but that's, no, but I think it's also like the fact that, you know, you kind of, you did, you did, it was a local sketch show, right, in Seattle for several years. Yeah. Like, that's a long time for that kind of gig.

I didn't get here until, boy, almost 30. I mean, I arrived. Yeah, I got here in the summer of 2000 when I was 29. Wow. Yeah, I had a make-up for lost time. Yeah, no kidding. When did you get the soup? 2004.

Okay. Yeah. And so in that time, you did commercial auditions, like you kind of did. You walked that beat. Yeah, I couldn't get an agent. So I did a lot of plays and just did a lot of hustling. And as actors do, and then I did get a commercial agent, aka, thanks to you guys, Doug Ely and Mike A.man.

they are, I think they're still, they're still going. And they took a, they literally, they, I remember going like so, because I had like a reel from the, I thought, oh, I was on a show. I literally was on a show. And then I had local show. And then I had local, like, I had some commercials and it was, I would go with like have the tapes edited and like, here's my tape. And then everyone passed. And everyone passed except for AKA. and then I began booking commercials.

And I remember thinking, and I still couldn't get whatever they call a legitimate agent, which is a terrible way of saying. A theatrical agent, they call it. Yeah. And so I just thought, well, I'll just be the greatest commercial actor of all time. Were you making a living? Yes.

Oh, yeah. It was good. Wow. It was the first time I started making, yeah, I made a lot. There was a lot of commercials. And so I did like, like 200. of them. What?

Oh, yeah. I did 60 Burger King ads. Really? Yeah, a bunch of McDonald's ads. Not the same time, guys. It's water under the bridge. So then with the soup, because the wonderful casting director at E, her name's Annie, was Annie.

She's still alive. For as far as today it goes, she is one of my favorites. And she would bring in, she would see. like actors on TV and go on commercials and be like how that person can do our, you know, celebrity oops. Got it. Panels. And then I got, I booked the soup with no agent.

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And after you sign up, they'll ask how you heard about them. Make sure to mention my ambiolics breakdown to help support the show. Okay, so for people who may not know, because I first learned of you from the suit. Yes. And I was on it. That's a different story, which Jonathan really wants us to talk about. I did not know this. That was done in the research. First, what I want to say is, you know, for those of us, I'm a little bit younger than you.

Like, minutes. You're 75. I'm 55. I'm 51. So for those of us who enjoyed weekend update, let's say, on SNL, which was, you know, like, a funny take on nude. Like that was a thing that I liked. I often liked that, you know, as a feature of SNL.

And I don't know if you like that comparison, but for me, for me, the soup was like that but like sharper, stranger was smarter. I would say stranger. It was stranger, but no, there was something

about, I mean, for people who don't know, like you were the guy and you would go through stories and things and you kind of had your own kind of mystery science version kind of take on it. It was shocking how much they just let us do. But I'm going to say you were hilarious.

Oh, thank you. No, like I really, this was like, for people, again, like it was a quirky thing. Like if you were into quirky humor, if you were into like kind of a strange take on culture, which I was, like, it was really, it really filled like a gap for me because mainstream television,

it didn't have people like you. And it was like you were cute, like cute, but smart. Like you, he was. was that guy. He was that guy that you see at a party and you're like, oh, he's hot, but like, oh, he's so smart. I mean, quirky. Anyway, so this sort of became your life for over a decade. Yeah. You did this. It never got old for me. I don't know how you felt. I got old for E. Yeah, yeah. They were, they were done with it. How did that, how was that show structured? Like, you had writer, like there was a room. Yeah. No. You did stuff. Like, how did it work?

Well, Greg Kinnear started Talk Soup way. back in 91. Yes. And when I got like, it wasn't even, it wasn't called the soup when I booked it. It was called the what the awards,

which is a terrible name. It was supposed to be like, the what the hell awards, but they didn't want to put that in there. So people go like, huh? They go, the what the,

what is it? And they'll be like, what a great name for a show. One, you have to keep having to tell people. So then the new, the president at that point was fired for him.

bezzling, I think. And then they brought in this new president, Ted Harvard. And he was like, what is this? Call it the soup. And he let us do what we wanted to do. So there was no, I mean, it was such an odd thing to be going from commercials to a thing where they were like, well, you're going to do this five minute presentation. And because that's what it was.

It was just a pilot presentation at that point. And they were like, so what do you want to do? And we were like, they were like, here's some clips we can use. and that's how it just came together. And then they hired a, they started hiring. They literally two of the writers were just producers on other shows and they are to this day.

I work with them right now. Boyd Vico and Brad Stevens. And they are two of the funniest people on this planet, way smarter than me. And anyway, but yeah, we did it. Yeah, also my friend Dominic DeLeyo, who played Mancini. Uh-huh.

He was, I've known some fifth grade. Great. We went to Catholic school in Mercer Allen. And he was, we both, he was all, early on we wrote like how, what's, what's our opinion of all these things? And it was also the open frontier of reality shows. Correct.

There was no rules. And Whitney Houston, God rest her soul, I mean, that show, a publicist would throw themselves off a bridge if they were allowed something like that now. So, like, flavor of slave with, you know, with the flavor of love. No, it was insane. I mean, a woman just pooped walking upstairs and then they aired it. It doesn't happen.

And that's when the Bachelorette and the Bachelor started. Yeah. No, you're old school. Yeah, it's going way. And now you're like, what the Bachelors still there? Right. Yeah. And so the Kardashian, Amy, all that started.

What was fame like then? Oh, I was so excited. I was like, I think, well, no one wants. the show for about a year. Right. So I would kind of call out my friends, my friends from high school. I'd be like,

anyway, that was a signature joke for Dean Scalzo. Dean? And then, so we were kind of entertaining ourselves. But when, I think it was, there was, when people,

you know, when the first time when people started recognizing me for that thing, I was like, Oh, fuck, it's working. But I remember one of the reporters said, hey, I just interviewed Julia Roberts. She wants to let you know she will never come on the show,

but she watches it every week. And I was like, oh, hey, all right. But I liked how she prefaced it. She's not coming on ever, but she likes it. So I was like, that's a win. Yeah. So, yeah, it was, I mean, whenever, whenever, I don't know, I get that some famous people

are extremely introverted, and I understand how it is a lot of pressure and stuff like that when you are this guy, an extreme extrovert, who's okay with that. But it's always weird to me that were like, when celebrities are like, oh, I just ate all the, I mean, I get it if you're,

you know, someone, Megan, you can't go out, but I'm not right, I'm not about that problem. But, uh, and people get excited when they see you. Like they, they. Yeah. Like this is. Yeah. Or, yeah, no, no.

I mean, sure. People are like. But I'm like, you know, C plus, right? I'm like a C plus level. I don't think that. Well, yes. I don't think. Well, okay.

How do you define that grade? How do you get to a C plus? We have many ways, usually therapists sell them. That's true. I'll run it by my therapist. Just to validate. That was actually, that kind of leads to sort of what my, you know, next level of inquiry was. So I loved, you know, what you did.

And I'm assuming it was fun. It looked fun to me. Did you feel like, and I don't mean to put something in your head that you're going to have to take the therapy. That I can read? I mean this. You don't have to read it. But was there part of you that was like, this isn't what I want to do?

Like, this isn't acting. It's not exactly what I want to do. Oh, yeah, I was for a while really worried. But then because Greg... What was the fear? Like, what was the worry? I was like, oh, I'm just going to be... No one will ever take me serious as an actor,

but I realized that I was just making... I mean, now when I look back, I'm like, oh, well, more so I was like, Greg Kinnear did it. He went on for to do, you know, he went into, so I was like, okay, so there's the blueprint that I'm going to try and follow. Because at one point they wanted to make it daily and I was like, we shouldn't do that anyway because we're packing all these clips in to one show. So it's a satisfying truffle. And, but yeah, I asked a couple of my actor friends and they were like, oh, no, I'd never do anything like that.

But then I now I realize that you know Hollywood is a strange It's a combination of obviously very talented people and you have to be you have to be good But you also it's a popularity contest and a weird so when I the soup started working I started getting the additions that I always dreamt of like oh they're I'm not coming in for the third neighbor on this pilot They're actually considering me for a role that has a name a first name it's Bill the neighbor. So that was like, oh, that's, oh, that's not, well, I was like, well, if I can't, you know, get them on the merits of my acting, then I'll just get them on the merits of my, you know, people. I'm on a show that people see on basic cable.

So that's, so then, I mean, you know, community came along. Well, first of all, Stephen Soderberg came along and hired me. And so, so that all, you know, those things. Then I, you know, now it's all different because game shows are hosted by movie star and all that crap and no one cares anymore. But I mean, who would ever host a game show, am I right? Exactly. So anyway, that all those rules now, I mean, now when you, now who no one cares, but back then I was like, oh, I don't know what's going to happen. So tell us about community.

Well, it stars me and Amy Poehler and Adam Scott. Some little whippersnapper name Chris Pratt. One of my side. Well, yeah, that, that came on, that audition came along in 2009 in January, 2009. Wow. Yeah, because we aired in September of 2009. Yes, that's correct. So you were still doing, you were doing both for years?

Yeah, for six years. Wow. They ended, they both pretty much ended at the same time. At the same time. Yeah, I felt great. People loved community. And there's also some things that people talk about. a lot, namely, like, the Chevy Chase thing.

What's your, what is your sort of like, what's your overarching sort of spiel that you give people when they ask about you? About Chevy? Yeah, well, or just about, like, that experience. Boy, well, you know, I, the whole experience, well, I met, saw the script and I was dynamite for a pilot, I couldn't believe how funny it was and the jokes and the, I thought it was just great. And I was like, I think I can do this. and I'm going to pursue it hard.

And the Rousseau's were, they wanted me in it. So I championed me in it. So that really helped. And because NBC didn't want me, even though I worked for Comcast. Why? They were like, they didn't like when I did the big network thing, the network test. They were like, mm-hmm. And then I did it on tape.

And they were like, okay. Wow. Yeah. I hate going on tape. I usually feel so much more confident in person. But sometimes they have very little creativity. They left the office. Right.

Then they brought a camera into the office. So then they went and watched the same thing. Oh, I can picture that on TV. Was there, was there an alt that you were competing against? Like, did they have someone else? Or was it just they weren't sure about you? Well, now we have talked about it because I went on his podcast. Michael Rosenbaum was,

was he, it was between he and I. And he's a fantastic, you know, insanely funny and a very good man. And so nice to meet. So, uh, I was very cool. Anyway, so that, yeah. So we, yeah, and then Chevy got cast. Uh, and obviously the rest of the cast, Alison Brie didn't, she wasn't there until the first day of shooting the pilot.

And, uh, so. And then, you know, like it was one of the things where I got the role and then we started casting and like Danny putty just, yeah, he should have won every Emmy every year for what he's doing. And then Gillian, you know, she walked in and fucking, she, she, I never was ever the, the person was like, oh, and then they walked in, they opened them out. And they got it. And that's how, like she was so good at playing the wounded bird kind of thing. thing for that role. And then of course, a vet was like fucking so funny.

It was an incredible ensemble. Yeah, and then Donald, his career tanked. He was having a hard time. Yeah. Anyway, that was a long way of saying it was a rare moment where I'm like, I know what we're making

is good. I know this is good. And Dan Harmon will fight you to the death to protect his, you know, to protect his shows. and he did, and so did the Rousseau's. And so, yeah, so we, at the time, the show was okay doing in the ratings. But the new president, there was like five different presidents came in through NBC,

and the one that we were under, he didn't like it. So that didn't help. And then he eventually canceled it. And then we were brought back to Yahoo screen. Wow. That's right. But there was a lot of fan, like, demand for the show. It became, yeah, it became.

So, yes, the cult following of the show became very cultish. And they killed a lot of small animals and sacrificed. So, no, it was weird. No. So, yeah, that we, I remember we booked the, we were, we filled the big hall at Comic-Con. And on a show, I mean, that's, you know, that's someone like on, that's big bang theory level. Right. You know what I mean?

I mean, sure, we didn't get the private. from Van Nuys in and out and two hours, but still. But anyway, that's a lot. But we knew that we were, it was going well. But then the show really didn't become this big thing until the pandemic. I mean, it was doing fine. Right. Yeah, but then it, yeah, it took off.

So you get cast, and then you said they cast Chevy. Yeah. What's going through your mind when he gets cast? Because he's, you know, SNL, like, comedic icon. Like, I don't know. It's... Comedy gold. Yeah, no, it's...

Yeah, he's a vacation. It's, yeah, it's all that. And, you know, Chevy, there's a thousand stories about Chevy. Probably all true. And he did not really want to be there. That's, you know, and the hours were long and all that stuff.

And I was like, well, you don't have to be here if you don't want. Well, I think, yeah, I think that's sort of... And I'm not particularly interested because, like, oh, it's Chevy Chase. Like, I'm interested just in... sort of what it's like to make a comedy also when there's complexity, you know, personality wise.

Yeah. Because, you know, your job and look, I've worked on three shows with many years and, you know, there's all sorts of different permutations. But I'm curious, you know, you have a very, a very bubbly, you know, kind of extroverted presence about you. Did you find yourself trying to kind of compensate for some of that, you know, like trying to fill in holes? Like, how do you...

They had started off that way. Yeah. And then, you know, well, now, I mean, it's in the book. Yeah. We just fight each other physically. That happened. Yeah. No, we did.

Actually, yeah, I mean, we didn't swing, but he always wanted to kind of... Like, a horseplay wrestle a lot. He's like, come on, let's fight. And I'd be like, all right. I'm bigger than you. Barely. Younger and stronger.

Some might argue also. I mean, body fat percentage. Same height. Yeah, no, it was, yeah, everything you just said. There was a lot going on. And sometimes we, you know, you'd walk into a set and be like, I wonder how this day is going to go. Wow.

It was so, yeah, my poor wife had to sit and listen to. I was going to say, what was it like when you got home? After the 17 hours. Yeah, no, it, yeah, my wife had to hear everything all the time. Got to hear. Yeah. You're welcome, Sarah. Thank you for putting up with me.

And also, you know, the hours were, it wasn't, the hours were a lot because we were making movies every week. Right. And so we were always behind. And so if people, you know, if personalities got too spicy, it could fuck things up. And so, yeah, that happened. And then, you know, you left the show. or he was off the show. Right.

You also had, you had two kids somewhere in there. They were, yeah, born in 2005 and 2008. Right. So you've kind of been actively working, I mean, essentially for all that time, right? Yeah. I mean, you know those things. Yeah, for sure. You just kind of expand your brain to include now to people that you are trying to keep alive.

Right. And, I mean, and my wife, she, as I did these two jobs, and then I was such a crazy person, I would be going and doing stand-up on weekends or shooting. What were you running from, Joel? Oh, that's a good question. It's a wolf. That's how it manifests.

It's kind of like, you know, that, what's that animated movie? The Rob Doll movie? You know. Come on. Phantom's all of us. No, Phantom Toll Boo. Willie Wonka in the Taco Factory. Yes, it's rear window.

My favorite Raldol movie. Clockwork Orange. No. So, yeah, I don't know. I'm always running. Yeah, this is how I've always been. Yeah. I always think, you know, as a performer, you always think I've tricked everybody.

And just, you know, imposter syndrome. Yeah. Which makes me, yeah. But I play a great imposter. Absolutely. What's your wife like? Because, you know, I'm almost dated many men like you. Not that I wouldn't. Right. But I'm saying like growing up, you know, as a teenager in the industry, like, you know, there's a lot of actors and there's a lot of like, you know, large personalities. And I don't really have that. But I, I'm always curious. Jonathan's out of control. I am curious kind of, because you've been with your wife a long time.

Yeah, 29 years. Like, what's that balance like personality-wise? Like, are you always joking with her? I do joke with her, but she's an extremely tough audience in the best way. Because way back when, I've dated people that laughed at everything I said. And I was like, oh, this is weird. It's like that twilight. There's nothing to fight for if you already think I'm funny. Yeah, it's on episode where the thief realizes he's in hell. And he's like, I'm winning at everything.

I hate it. So, yeah, no, she's my friend described her as the adult. in the room. And, uh, but she's not serious. She's, uh, she's,

like a normal adult. Yeah. She can be way sillier than me. Uh, but, uh, yeah, she's,

you know, first she's beautiful. So I was like, immediately like, who's that? And, uh, how can I trick her into liking me?

And, uh, so then, and she's super smart, all that stuff. And in the, in the, in,

for real, like smart, like, you're smart, not Jonathan's smart. You're smart. And so I just, she was just like, even like her voice. When I hear her voice, I'm like, that's just the greatest. And so she somehow, I mean, after two, I don't know how to believe me,

she married an actor with no job. So not that smart. Yeah. What an idiot. And at that point, I was not on TV. And while we were dating, I got on TV. I got on TV. And, I mean, like, literally people like, tell asking her, like, what the hell are you doing with this maniac?

And, uh, and, yeah, her family members, like, you should really marry a rocket scientist or something. And, and then I got on TV. And it's such an interesting thing. Like, actors get treated like, you know, fourth class citizens. And then when they get on TV, they're like, oh, your royalty. And so that, yeah, she, I drag, I, before we got married, I was like, you're going to have them. If you want to be with me, because I sure want to be with you, we got to go to New York or L.A. and least try it. And so we're like, we had a five-year plan. Like, if things aren't working

from 2000 to 2005, if it's not happening. We're moving to Rome. We're moving to room where it's much easier and cheaper to live. And I know the language. And she was like, cool with that. She was just ready to go. She was like, okay. And I mean, God bless her. I mean, so nice of her. And she got a job and supported me. She worked at a graphic design company. And that was her first job and here. And so, yeah, and she has been extremely patient with my mania and my running away to get to go to the next job

and saying yes to everything. So, yeah, she's been extremely patient. Yeah, do we have cool stuff now? Yeah. Yeah. Have you ever been in therapy or have you ever been in therapy together? No. I mean, not in therapy together. I started therapy last week.

No, you didn't. I did. Yeah, it was great. I really liked it. Cured one session, right? Yeah, I just did that and that was that. What drove you? I can get pretty anxious and like, because there is a, I mean, I do take on a lot, but I also love working. I love it. I really can't believe that people still pay me to entertain them. And, you know, tell fart jokes on stage or go on a make fun of Anthony Anderson. Tell the truth. Got you again, dummy. And Ken Zhang, what?

What? Hi, Ken. Yeah. I know you're going to listen to this. Have you ever been on this podcast, dude? No, you haven't. Ha, ha, ha. Anyway, what am I saying?

So, yeah, I'm guessing. I mean, I realize now that everybody needs therapy of some kind. And yeah. So it's been great for two weeks. I'd go every day for four hours. No, you don't. No. You do, I mean, you have, I wanted to also mention season two of Crime Scene Kitchen,

which is out on Fox. Mondays this summer on Fox. And also Animal Control. Animal control, which got picked up for a second season. It did. Also on Fox. Also on Fox. Fox likes you, which is great.

And can you talk a little bit for people who haven't seen animal control about what it is? It's a very, very funny premise. It is a workplace comedy about, well, they used to be called the dog catcher, right? That's what they, I mean, it's the people that go out and help remove or, you know, stuff like if you've got a coyote in your backyard or a Raccoon in the front yard. A raccoon. They, you forget that they're like,

oh, there's an actual, like, government, you know, agency that will help you out. And so that, and I was like,

oh, I've never, I thought that show had been around. And I was like, it hasn't. Oh, that'd be great to do. And I freaking love animals.

And my wife, every time I would be like, send her photos, she'd be like, this really is a perfect job for you. And, And so the cast is dynamite and really funny people. And yeah, so I believe me, when Fox, you know, laughed if I would do it.

I would like, fuck. Yeah. What kind of animals have you gotten to work with? For the Super Bowl spot, we did. Thank you. Super Bowl spot. I held a cougar. Wow.

Yeah. And it was the offspring of an injured cougar in British. Columbia and uh was a baby yeah it was about uh when i first met him he was three months and then he was four months the second time and uh the purring was so loud it's like a growl yeah that uh we i'd be like sorry we're can you we're just gonna have to shoot the line uh tarantulas okay uh which i didn't know that i would love and oh what do you love about tarantulas they're super mellow I mean, as long as you stay on their good side. This one was named Gretchen, no joke, seven years old.

She goes around to schools in Canada. Is that the... That's you being bitten on the cheek. How dare you? He's licking me. And... Wow, that's a big baby. Yeah.

So, yeah, no, obviously lots of dogs and cats, a lot of snakes. Yeah, and I love all that stuff. Jonathan does not like snakes. Can you tell him a snake story? No, there's no reason to be in contact with a snake. What's going on, dude? They're disgusting. He's got a real thing.

Do you think they're slimy or something? No, they're just, I have a visceral reaction to snakes that is totally normal and reasonable. And anyone who doesn't have that, I really question. Is this some sort of Bible thing? No. Jonathan has the kind of reaction that when they do primate studies and they show them a picture of a snake and they freak the F out. Yeah, there's just something about a snake. He has that reaction.

It's like. There are safety. mechanisms if it starts to strangle you or it just doesn't strangle you? Like, how do they know? Well, if you watch the scene of the snake, I wrapped the snake around my neck and pretended to be strangled by it. And- But couldn't it just squeeze?

Yeah, it could have, but it's, uh, so with snakes, if you, if they are fed, uh, then they don't care, uh, there, I was like, how long do we have this stuff? It's when they're hungry that they try and kill you. Yeah, but they're, that sort of that, so that's a, oh, no. No, he, no. That's a Burmese Python. That's, and that's... Your hair looks amazing here, by the way.

So much, thank God for transplants. You've got great hair. I think it's worth saying. It's really come a long way in the last few years. It's, uh, so the Anacom that's... Which is that one? That's, uh, that's also another. So an Anna, like a Burmese Python,

if it eats, like that one had had a rabbit. Oh, three days before, a frozen rabbit. So, you know. I think it was dipped in chocolate. No! And nuts. It was just, and they stick a little caramel. Yeah.

And, no, they will be like as agreeable. They were like, you can work with them for 20. Here's the thing about working with animals, though. It's still a wild animal. And for any reason that that animal wants, it could decide to hurt you. You could also make the same argument about dogs, though. I think you're going to say about Jonathan. Well, yes.

Look at that beard. It's just glorious. I do make that argument. about dogs. Yeah, I mean, they're, they're animals. And yes, you have to be extremely, you know, the trainers are all there. The Humane Society is there every day. You know, so anyway, anyway, just if you run into an African rock, yeah, Python, then it'll kill you in two minutes. Seconds flat. Oh, you, it will, yeah. What's the deal with that snake? Well, that's why they're not pets at all. I just assume all snakes are those snakes.

It's like, like, would you do Shark Week? I don't. No, she would definitely not do Shark Week. No. You would like get... Shark Week on Discovery? You get dipped in a, dropped in a container and then sharks come up and try to eat you.

It's not interesting to me. Lower in the ocean. But, you know, like a nurse shark is like a golden retriever. They are not interested in you. They're interested in food and, but they're interested in like not you. But a tiger shark, this is why you never see them in, ever in an aquarium because they have an automatic

if you touch their nose they automatically bite down. So you're clearly not afraid of animals. Do you have any fears? Like heights or something random? Just when I look in the mirror, I burst out crying. Just facing myself.

No, that sort of thing doesn't. Heights and stuff. I don't have never had those sorts of worries. So I'm trying to think of things. packing. I hate it. Unpacking. I hate it. Well, I'm very, as you can tell, extremely ADHD. And so if my wife's trying to get me to do paperwork, stuff like that,

it's like, she's like, this is where you need to step up, dummy. And I'm like, yes, I'm going to engage. Do you have a formal diagnosis or you just know that you fit that diagnosis? Yeah, I fit it perfectly. Does that go with your dyslexia, do you think? I hope so. We did the quiz at one point. Peanut butter and chocolate.

We took an ADHD quiz. And? I have all the internalizing features. He has all the externalizing features. Like, I'm amazed he hasn't pulled out his phone anytime you've taken a breath. Because usually if there's any blank space, he cannot, you know, think. It happens all the time. Yeah.

I do find it hilarious when, because they're like kids like, they're always on screens. I'm going to like, check out old people. All old people. They are on screens. Yeah, they're like, wow, I'm so glad we went to all the way to Cabo San Lucas to look at our phones. That's what we do. I do want to say, you know, Greg Kinnear aside, like, you've had a really amazing, you've had an amazing career. I was like, who's this man's rep?

Because you kind of, you've been working very consistently on things that really feel like you. Like, that's the thing. When I see you in things, I'm like, that feels like, that feels like, him. Like, it feels like he got the thing that he deserves, that he wants, that he's good at and appreciated for. See, this is where my imposter syndrome kicks in. No, but I'm just, I'm just, like, my career's just two seconds from being over. No, but it's, you've, you've done, you've done really incredible work very consistently. And I think that's really amazing. And not a lot of people have that experience. But, like, for me, I mean, look, being on something like Jebri, like,

I'm literally in everybody's house all the time. And with Big Bang Theory, You know, and I have some friends who are like, I don't watch, but I've never watched it. And I'm like, okay, well, it was the number one show. And I'm like, people loved it, but it's nothing like Jeopardy. Because now I get the like, my grandmother and my great grandmother love you. And we all watch together. It's like a very different, it's a different, I'm ubiquitous. It's not even like I'm famous.

Yeah. I'm just like ubiquitous. I don't would you, I mean, it's crazy to think those worlds don't cross that often. Which, oh, yeah. Because when I go to, when I do stand up, it'll be these community fans. then it'll be like soup fans who are going way back. And then people would be like, I love card sharks. And I'd be like, wow, this is.

But then, you know, you think about, oh, like, why, how do I, how do I associate myself with certain celebrity or like someone I'm a fan of and you realize, oh, they do this whole other thing that you don't even realize they do. And so, yeah, then, yeah, it's an interesting. What about your role as a dad? Like, what do you think of when you think of dadness? Like they've known you famous. They've known you public.

Yeah, they don't give a shit. Right. They actively make fun of me. Same. Like my kid, they're like, hey, dad, what was it like when you were relevant? Like when you were a popular. Are they getting notes for my kid? Yeah.

And it would be odd if your kid was like a big fan. True. I mean, sometimes they're like, they like the, like, I took one of the, to the Super Bowl. And so he was like, all right, this is, this is good. Right. I like this part. Do they feel like it's the least you can do for all their misery?

Because that's what my children feel. Like, my mom is constantly being like poked at and looked at and like she never looks like herself except when she's in her pajamas. So I think they also feel like the least you can do is like take us somewhere interesting. Yeah. No, yeah. They have, well, they have no desire to go on location with me ever. No, no, no.

But I mean, like the Super Bowl, like that's fun. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And if we can go to like a Seahawks practice, that's like, okay, that's good. Right. And so or like, you know, I hosted the, my older son is, loves Legos to this day. And like 35% of our Legos are sold to the adults, by the way. And, well, I hosted the Lego Con.

Yeah. We were in Denmark. That's awesome. Oh, that's incredible. Like, oh, yeah, this is, this is a good one. Can we do rapid fire real quick? Rapid fire. Rapid fire. Breakdown style. You're going to get the, when everyone's like rapid fire, yeah, you're going to get my same

answers. Ready? Okay, Joel, Weisenheimer. What was your mother right about? Pass. What was your father right about? What? What was my mother not right about? What was your mother right about? That I would regret not learning an instrument. Oh. She would be like, well, you can quit piano, but you will regret it. And she's right. And then I see like Ed Helms like playing the piano. I'm like, fuck, and hey, yeah, I really should have done that. What was your father right about?

My dad said to me early on, he's like, sometimes you just need to tell people that they're shitheads. And if I said that right now, my dad was like, I never said that. Shithead. Location that promotes your best mental health. Location? Yes, location. What are you saying?

Like, you've never heard that word. I didn't realize, no, I didn't realize there was a location. Yeah, where do you feel most healthy? Louse. Doesn't feel lousy. Okay. Narnia, probably. Great. No.

Some people say like the oak. God, Joel, some people say the ocean. The oak wood? Some people say the mountains. Some people say like my kitchen. Oh, tennis court? Right now, yeah. You play tennis?

Not pickleball? No, I don't play tennis. Yes, I play. I love tennis. And I'm rediscovered it recently. And I'm not kidding. I played as a kid a lot. And now it's all I think about.

Oh, you don't play pickleball? See? This is the tennis players. No, because it's fast-growing sport. I started playing pickleball in 1980. Thank you. That is my high-roading because the sport was started in Washington State. We played it in PE.

What? So my dad got a backhoe and dug up our lawn and we put in a pickleball court because, you know, they're smaller than tennis courts and I played it all through. Jonathan is currently aroused. That's what your dad was right about. I will smoke your ass on pickleball. So my friends and I would do overhand. When we were in high school, we would just do all overhand

serves. Oh, that's what I'll look. Yeah. You will know because you guys are playing an old man's game. Yep. You're like, think, think, think, ding, ding, the noise. And we're like, what are you guys talking about? Can't hurt your shoulder. Yeah. Do you have a mantra or do you have a saying that you like?

Yes. Fuck shit up. Who's been your best? Or no, Hicks from aliens. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Who's been your best spiritual teacher? You've seen aliens, right?

No. You've never seen aliens? No. Okay. Who's been your best spiritual teacher? John Cleese. Oh. Yeah.

No, well, my wife is way more, yeah, smarter. Moment of best intuition. I knew Donald Trump was going to win in 2016. Same. Yeah, I was like that guy, and everyone, and every time people would be like, there's not a chance. I was like, he's winning.

It's happening. whether you like them or not. And it did. Who were you most competitive with? Uh, my, boy, it depends on the time. I'm just thinking now, oh, yeah, my entire goal in life

is to be my tenant teacher. You hear that bill? Joel McHale, it's been really, really fun. Having you here and talking. Welcome to the halfway point. No, you're done. Please tell people where to get all the things Joel McHale that they should get.

Besides your book, Thanks for the money, which is really awesome. And in color. That's, yeah. Flop. People can watch. People can watch Animal Control. Yeah.

At 9 o'clock after. Stars on Mars. Yep. And then Animal Control is repeating this summer. It's on Hulu. Amazing. And then House of Villains comes out in the fall. And yeah, a couple of the Big Bang Theory movie that I'm doing.

I'm excited about that. You're playing me. Yeah, yeah. The Blossom movie. I'm excited about that. And then this dating show that takes place in Ashland. I post that. I can't. I'm sorry.

You ever been to Lincoln City? From our breakdown to the one we hope you never have. We'll see it next time. No, we fucking won't. It's my ambiolyx breakdown. She's going to break it down for you. She's got a neuroscience PhD or two. One fiction.

And now she's gonna break down