My Mom's Basement - EPISODE 376 - ROBERT ILER (WITH GLENNY BALLS)

Episode Date: August 14, 2024

Robert Iler joins Robbie and special guest co-host Glenny Balls to discuss his role as AJ on 'The Sopranos', what the most emotional moment on set was, the experience with fans of the show and how it's changed over the years, what his experience on the Daredevil set was like, and more! #TheSopranos #RobertIler #NotTodayPal **************************************** My Mom's Basement is a weekly podcast hosted by Robbie Fox, started in March 2019, to discuss movies, music, comic books, wrestling, mixed martial arts, and more with his friends and idols alike! Subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-moms-basement/id1457255205 Follow Robbie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatrobbiefox Follow Robbie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbieBarstool My Mom's Basement Merchandise: https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/my-moms-basementYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/mymomsbasement

Hey My Mom's Basement listeners, you can find our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Alright, welcome back to My Mom's Basement. It is Robbie Fox, special guest Glennie Balls, and a very special guest, Robert Eiler. You know him from The Sopranos, obviously, AJ Soprano. You also know him from Not Today, Pal, with Jamie Lynn Siegler, one of my favorite podcasts. It's literally one of the only ones I listen to. Thank you so much, man. I appreciate it. I love it. I love the Sopranos trivia at the end, the dynamic you guys have.

It's great. Thank you. I know you've been asked probably everything under the sun about this for the last 20 years, but as a huge fan, I just got to start with what was it like being on the Daredevil set? Yeah, it was a huge moment in my life. When I look back at everything, that's the one thing. If there's turbulence on a plane and your life flashes before your eyes, that's what I see. I see the daredevil.

I see being on this. Bully number one. Bully number one. So I was actually a huge daredevil fan when it came out. I was five when it dropped. And that stopped you from liking it? It was perfect. No, no.

And I was wondering, have you been contacted to reprise the role as bully number one by Marvel? Never. Never? Never heard back, no. Was that the reprise the role as bully number one by Marvel? Never. Never. Never heard back, no. Was that the sort of thing where you're doing it in 2003? Is that cooler to kids your age than The Sopranos or no? No, I don't know. Like, I don't know if people might, because I think I'm 18 at the time.

For some reason, like, my friends just didn't give a fuck about that. Like, I don't remember anybody ever being like, oh, yeah, Daredevil. Like, now people bring it up more than, like, then. I don't know. It is weird that nobody ever talked about it. But my friends would always just make fun of me for, like, being an actor. They'd be like, you fucking wear makeup, you pussy. I'd be like, yeah, I know.

I have to wear makeup sometimes. It's tough. How did the Daredevil thing come about? Was that, like, someone trying to get you into movies or something like that? Yeah, it was just one of those calls like, hey, we have this role. You don't have to audition. Do you want it? Which is like the only time I ever said yes to stuff.

You don't have to audition? I'd be like, okay, I'll do it. Because auditions are the worst part of acting for sure. Memorizing lines, doing auditions are the fucking worst part of acting. It's horrible. So was that, I assume, like, a one-day thing? You're on the Daredevil set. I think maybe, like...

You get beat up a little bit. Yeah, I think maybe, like, three days, and as goofy as it is, I think we actually had to do, like, stunt coordination, where, like, they took us to, like, you meet in, like, a dance studio, and they're like, oh, here, like, this guy's gonna hit you with this stick like this, and you're like, okay, like... I was wondering about that, because the clip is just... We rewatched it today.

So goofy. It's just you getting hit over and over again with the Daredevil stick it's also so fucked up and so funny that like it's 2003 you see a blind kid down an alley you're like let's go kick his ass right of course yeah that's good for and i was like oh i'll take it like yeah i didn't even i didn't even think like now what people are like i don't know if that's good for my image or whatever like 2003 i was like i don't know you're gonna pay me and i don't have to audition like sure i'll show up i'd love to know what i actually got paid for that i have no idea i have no clue if I was like, I don't know, you're going to pay me and I don't have to audition. Like, sure, I'll show up. I'd love to know what I actually got paid for that. I have no idea.

I have no clue if it was like $1,000 or like five or 10 or $500. I have no clue. It was a big movie. And they recently, I don't know if you knew this, the new Deadpool movie. Yeah. They have looped that into the MCU. So technically you're part of the MCU now. Wow.

Yeah. That's, that's what that feels like. You should get an extra check for that. Yeah, yeah. I would love to get some Marvel money. That's money. Now, when it comes to Sopranos, we were talking about it earlier. All of the random little small roles in the Sopranos

that the actors would turn out to be these huge stars afterwards and it's like, oh, shit. I watched it for the first time this year and you're like, oh, there's Lin-Manuel Miranda, there's Will Arnett, there's all of these characters that have one line, sometimes no lines, and they're huge stars. I didn't know Will Arnett was in Sopranos.

Oh yeah. Oh wow. He has a decent role. He has a decent role. He's in a few episodes. Really? Yeah. But never with the family?

No, he's married to the woman that disguises herself to be Adriana's best friend, works with the FBI. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think he's in a few episodes, probably. Yeah, and just like a serious role, too. I don't think he's got one joke in it. But you had a scene where someone would go on to be Lady Gaga. Do you have any recollection of her on set?

Not that she was like, oh, I saw something in her that day. No, no, no. That cool vandalizing scene? Yeah, no, I just remember we were that day. No, no, no. That pool vandalizing scene? Yeah, no, I just remember, like, we were all hanging out, and it was, like, it was cool because I actually, so, I grew up a few blocks away from where she went to school, so some of my friends went to that same school. So, like, I knew people who kind of, like, knew her,

so it was, like, I think it was, you know. But, no, there was nothing. And even, like, when Lady Gaga was, like, coming out, I don't even, I think it was not right away where I was like, oh, yeah, Lady Gaga was in coming out I don't even I think it was not right away where I was like oh yeah Lady Gaga was in that scene

I think people had to tell you but yeah no I don't remember anything but it's hard to have memories from back then

you know it was like 25 years ago where it's like hey do you remember this thing on this Wednesday 25 years ago and you're like

I don't remember shit yeah it was just another day at work yeah like even think about like 5 years ago on a Wednesday if somebody asked you something,

you're like, yeah, I kind of, and then you go 25 and you're like, fuck, you know? Yeah. No, I'd be fucked. Yeah. And I did a lot of boozing and pills in between then. So that doesn't help, you know? Yeah. That fucks you up.

Yeah. At what point did you go from the kid on the show that everyone was just looking out for, taking care of, to like, hey, we're taking you along and you're just partying with the crew now? Yeah. That was great. That's a great transition. Because I started it started a little when i started smoking cigarettes and then you're smoking cigarettes outside with the guys and they're

like okay like this is you know for i don't know how old i was 14 15 and it's like oh that's a little weird and then then like you know in 16 but then once we started taking like all the trips to the emmys and like the the award shows and I was drinking and it was like obvious. I think guys were just like, whatever, definitely around like probably 18. They were like, all right, come,

come hang with us. And then once I was 21, it was like, you're just one of them. By then it was like, you're just one of the guys. Like I'm sure in 1920, I was one of the boys,

but it was, it was so great. Cause people describe acting. And a lot of times as a young as like, when you're young, it's just like predatory thing. And people are kind of like, these are like these guys on set like fucking tony sirico's paulie walnuts and james canolfini was 20 these guys were so cool and protective and sweet and like family and never was

there ever a feeling of like oh like you know this is uncomfortable this person's trying to take advantage of me or this if anything they were like oh are we comfortable with drinking with him when he's 18 you know but then you know when i was around enough and just drunk all the time they're like what are they gonna you know what are you gonna do you know and then there were a few nights where after work it was like all right we're going out you know and then you'd be put and that was fucking i mean it's just it was just the best it was great would you guys always come to the city to go out or were you going out in jersey too both but also sometimes like wherever we were like when we a lot of times when we spend time together We wouldn't go to LA a lot

But when we would go to LA It was for award shows So they would HBO would put us all In like the same hotel And we were all Not used to really nice stuff And they would put us

In like the nicest hotel In Beverly Hills And you're like Holy shit Like we could order These $46 cheeseburgers And like Well like you are

The people were still like Wow this And HBO was like We got it Like whatever you spend here We got it So you're just like yeah bring it like they'd be like they'd be by the pool they'd be could you like this you're like all right like i don't even know what that is like but yeah bring it and then um yeah we would hang out a lot when we were all in california because i think also people weren't really comfortable out there like we were all

new yorkers and yeah we didn't have those like these are our places to go and these are this was like hey everyone's just gonna chill on the roof of the hotel and kind of hang all day and then come back to our rooms and we'll hang there and then when we would be at these, you know, these Emmys and these award shows,

it was like, we just all wanted to hang together. I was just going to say, there is something special about fucking traveling with the crew. Like, you don't get to do it a lot. Yeah.

Like, we have our Sunday crew. It's like, it's a special fucking, it's a special thing. I do it from rough and rowdy is the only thing I get to do. It makes me up.

It's great. When you got your little travel family. it's we'll find a dive bar in west virginia and take it over yeah like now this is and that's like what was the vibe that you guys would be looking for like was it the quiet kind of hangout vibe i know you've went through your club era i went through my club era there were one or two times where i'd be like let's go to the club and they would be like okay like let's go. I remember one time we were on set. We were filming at, what is that, Old Homestead on 14th Street, right? That steakhouse?

So we were filming there and there was, I don't know if it was a VMA party, but P. Diddy was doing some party at this place, like, show I think, on like around 42nd Street. And this is not P. Diddy's crazy parties. It was his club parties. Not one like crazy parties. It was like his club party.

Yeah. And he's like, so my friends hit me up and they were like, yo, tonight you come by whatever it was. I don't know. 11, 12 or whatever.

Come by this, uh, he did his party or whatever. And we're working real late and it's going later and later. And like James who played Tony came over to me and he's like, what's wrong with you? Like, you know,

cause I was always saying, I was like, ah, I was like, I just, I'm supposed to be out right now. And I didn't have a scene where I had like a lot of lines. I was just kind of in the back.

And I was like, I want to get out of here. I want to go party. I want to go to fucking P did his party. like, ah, I was like, I just, I'm supposed to be out right now. And I didn't have a scene where I had like a lot of lines. I was just kind of in the back. And I was like, I want to get out of here. I want to go party. I want to go to fucking P. Diddy's party. And he was like, all right. He's like, what if, because I was like, you know, we're not going to make it. He's like, what if when we're done with this, I'll get a limo. We'll go out.

And I was like, yeah, sure. Like, because that's not, that was never his thing. His thing was like, like, you know, the ear bar downtown, like a dive bar in the corner, stools, like chilling hanging and um i was like yeah sure and like 30 minutes later a fucking limo pulled up to set and he's like there's our there's our limo for when we go out after and i was like that's not our limo and then he like proved it was his limo and then when we were done he was like who wants to come and like literally like the guy who holds the boom like who held the mic was like i'll go and

like people just piled into this limo and we fucking went out partying. That's awesome. And we went to go to P. Diddy's party and the fire marshal had already shut it down. So you couldn't even get within like blocks of it. And we just fucking went to my buddy's club, my buddy Eitan's spot, Suede at the time, and just fucking hung out. And it was the best. It was just awesome. Were people coming up to you guys, like was it cooler back then before camera phones and shit like that where were people still like

mobbing you like crazy it was a very different thing like people just wanted to say hi to you rather than like i have this other thing i'm focused on i'm trying to get that like they wanted to look at you and go hey man i'm love the show i love the show i'm there and then that's it which is like a normal human interaction where like now it's all these people and they're like frantic about their phone and they want to get it in they're pushing you're like yo yo chill but also like i think not my presence was ever intimidating but like you know the james genolfini tony cerrico these vini pastor who played big pussy these guys i think there were people who were like i don't want to go over there and bother them. Like, you know what I mean?

It's interesting when you think about the dynamic of actually going out at one night because when you add alcohol into it, it's a whole different realm. When there's alcohol in it, it's so much crazier. Everyone's got the drunk confidence to come up to Gandolfini or something. It's just like, ugh. Yeah. And then that's a scary thing if you're drunk too. It's very scary.

And then you wake up then wake up the next morning like oh my god what did i just do last night to james gandolfini yeah yeah he would prefer the like old school bar kind of like burger spot you sit in the fucking corner and like nobody's bothering you and you could actually talk right like the few times they came to clubs me they're like you're an idiot you know like i just i just wanted to be like standing on a table yelling with like a bottle in my hand. You're a kid. Yeah, I was 17 years old. I wanted to be a moron.

And they wanted to sit around and laugh and tell stories and shit. How old do you think you were when you decided to slow down from the club game? Because I'm thinking about myself. I just turned 28. I'm kind of even feeling kind of getting low on the club game. I like martinis way more. I'd rather go to a dinner and have a martini than go out, I think. Yeah.

So that was it. 28, 28 was the last time I drank. And I was, and even at that time I had slowed down to where I was going out, but I just love to like, I don't know. There was, I wasn't, and then at 28 was like, oh, now I want to start having like conversations with people and sitting around rather than just being like, what? I can't hear you. And just like, that's, I don't need, I'm shocked that I ever liked that. But the weird thing is I can't hear you. I'm just like, that's, I don't even, I'm shocked that I ever liked that. But the weird thing is, I never did like that.

That's why I was drinking so much and taking all the drugs. And there's other reasons, but that's one of the reasons why it was like, I hated being in a nightclub. But then when I would drink and do fucking cocaine and then you're like, oh, this place is fucking awesome. It would make you think thoughts that you normally wouldn't. So you're like, oh, like I do like this, where really I never did. Is there any of AJ's partying and clubbing in the show that was inspired by you at all? No, there was stuff with AJ that was inspired by me.

Like, you know, I'd be wearing like a Pantera shirt and they'd be like, all right, we'll do this. Or like, I loved, you know, I loved like guys on Roadrunner Records, like Slipknot and all these people. And so they would like put, like they made me go into like a Mudvayne concert you know or like people would never like you know people still don't really you know know and appreciate fucking Mudvayne and Dig which is like the best gym song of all time but yeah like they that kind of stuff was like okay this is what he's into that which is awesome for like because like you know these David Chase and these guys

Terry Winter they're the best writers in the world. And that's what the best people do. They look at – okay, what is this 16-year-old actually doing? Because I'm whatever age. I'm 40. I don't know what concert he would go to. So it's like what – Slipknot was at the Garden last night.

Really? Yeah. They sold at the Garden last night. Holy shit. For their 25th anniversary tour. Wow. Yeah. That's sick.

Yeah. I saw them at the roxy when i was man i have that picture of you as a little kid with them yeah yeah i was gonna ask about that picture because i've never heard the story behind it it's incredible like memed all the time really yeah wow i didn't know that we're on with the whole band yes and they're in the red jumpsuits yeah yeah i didn't know that that was a meme. That's crazy. I'm not on social media. I shouldn't know that. So I was a fan of theirs, and they were like,

hey, come down to the Roxy. I knew somebody who worked at Roadrunner Records, somebody named Michelle. She was awesome. She was dating somebody on the Sopranos set, and he was like, oh, you should be my girlfriend. So we became friends,

and she was like, oh, come see Slipknot. They're playing at the Roxy. So I go to see them. And again, I could be wrong. I think it's 1999. I'm 14. And we're outside. And the bouncer's like, ID.

And I'm like, oh, I'm 14. And he's like, well, you have to be, I forget if it was 16, 18, whatever. You have to be, I don't think it was 21. But he's like, you have to be 18 to come in. And I was like, oh, fuck. Like, we came all the way down here, which at the time for me, like 14 going all the way downtown was a big deal, you know?

I'm like, I'm all the way downtown for nothing. And the guy, so the guy who plays the drums, Sean, who wears the clown mask. Yep. The man, he's so great. He was like, he came outside. He's like, this is my son. If he doesn't get in, we don't play. And I was like, I was just standing there like, what?

And then he was like, yeah. And they were like, all right, just let him in. And then they took me backstage. We were hanging out. And they were like the coolest fucking guys ever. Yeah. I've had Corey Taylor on the show. And still to this day, he's the coolest dude.

Corey is awesome, man. Sid was fucking great, dude. Are you still into that kind of music, too? I mean, I still listen to the old stuff, like especially when I'm like at the gym or where like I still love that shit. Like I just love fucking Pantera and stuff like I'll listen to Rage Against the Machine all the time. But like I'm not I don't follow up with like the new shit.

Yeah. I don't know what's going on now. Dude, speaking of how you're just saying you're a fan of Slipknot and whatnot. I have a I have a very question I need to ask you because I always do this shit too. Now that you feel like you're in this, obviously you're on Sopranos and shit like that, do you have any like side quests that you do just for like the fun of it? You know what I'm saying? What do you mean?

Like. What you're talking about when I was younger? Just any time. If you're like, oh, I'm a fan of any random, something like Slipknot. Like when you're older, do you like have to be like, oh, I want to get into Slipknot, see Slipknot, like become friends with them? Is that like have to be like, oh, I want to get into Slipknot, see Slipknot, like become friends with them? Is that like anyone else that you've tried to leverage your position to become friends with?

I've never, I think I've been very lucky that like I haven't wanted to like do that. I've just been lucky where like that's happened sometimes. Like even hanging out with like Tom and Christina, like I was a fan of YMH before I hung out with Tom and Christinaina so it's like it's that's obviously i mean being here right now like i'm a fucking stoolie i love being at barstool like this is awesome but i never like push it because i also think like you know not to sound like a dick but like i've been in show business for 34 years and like i don't i'm kind of done with like i really want this or like i want to

go to this con like people are always like we have tickets this concert I'm the guy who's like nah like I don't I don't want to do shit not a concert guy I'm just kind of like again I've been sober now for 10 years like 11 years and I'm just like I don't want to do yeah I want to be on my couch I want to sober being around people that are fucked up is the worst yeah and also just like a lot of times meeting people you know like I remember like I was a Howard Stern guy and like meeting Howard Stern I was like oh like I don't not that he was a bad dude at all but i just like i i didn't i didn't want to meet howard stern because i knew howard stern and i knew he didn't want to meet he doesn't like to meet people so i think a lot a lot of the people who i like are not people who like want to meet people so i don't want to meet them i don't want to bother people and like

yeah no it's very rare that they're i mean it's more so for me where i'm like i want to meet them. I don't want to bother people. And like, yeah, no, it's very rare that they're, I mean, it's more so for me where I'm like, I want to try a restaurant. And I'm like, I know I can, because of who I am, I could talk to like, like, like, like for Charles prime rib. Oh yeah. I haven't been yet, but. Oh yeah. It must be nice.

Dude. I got to get on Sprouts. For Charles is just, and the fact that like i could get in there i'm like wow i'm really grateful for that or whatever but it's never been a thing with celebrities like even if you said right now like in the other room is like somebody who you think i'd want to meet like i just like i feel this kind of thing i'm like i don't i don't want to meet them like yeah i worded that wrong i meant more just like a good experience if that makes sense but i guess restaurants would be in the same thing that's a good one as well when i was

young i oh like like for me when i was young getting to go see pan guess restaurants would be in the same thing as experience as well when I was young like for me when I was young getting to go see Pantera and like go in the back and hang with those guys and take shots with them and meet them was the pinnacle of life

like I was like this is the cool and I was they let me bring all of my friends like I was with fucking 12 kids and we're like

in the back and they break open a bottle of Crown Royale and we fucking when I mean kids we're old enough and they're like pouring fucking Crown Royale and Cokes and we're all taking shots and i'm like these are like your idols so pantera is like my they're the top for me and i'm like we're they're

hanging out with me and you're like this is but i would never be like that's what i want to do like go when i was 16 i'd be like i want to go see pantera how can i get in there that's cool but i never would be like i want to be backstage just hanging out with them because I don't feel worthy. But then when you're back there and it happens, you leave and you're like, that was the greatest thing of all time. Yeah. Like were you – I know you've said you don't really get starstruck because you've been in the industry and around so many people like this for so long. It was also just like when I met Jennifer Love Hewitt when I was like 16, it was like I still can feel the – or I was maybe younger, but I could feel the shaking. Yes.

I know what it's like to be struck. And, like, yeah, nobody just does that for me. But it's cool when you meet somebody and they're cool. Yeah. You know, then you're like, oh, that was cool. I was going to say, like, Pantera was way bigger for you than I'm sure people way more famous than them. Oh, of course. Yeah.

I mean – I would be the same way. Yeah. Like, there's a possibility Pantera can, like, eat at a restaurant and, like, maybe very few people, like, come up to her. Oh, definitely. People know who they are. Where, like, I've been around people. Like, I remember there were times where I would be at dinners with, like, really, really famous people and have no clue, like, who they were, you know? And I forget, I don't want to say the girl's name, but there was one, like, huge celebrity and, like, I was with this girl and she was like, oh, my God, we were at dinner with blah, blah, blah. And I was like, oh, yeah? Like, I had no fucking, because I'm like, I don't want to say the girl's name but there was one like huge celebrity and like I was with this girl and she's like oh my god we were at dinner with blah blah blah and I was like oh yeah like

I had no fucking because I'm like I don't care I don't I don't watch I don't want to say the name of the show but like I don't I don't watch that like but if someone told you like oh I was out to dinner with Rico Bosco you might be like oh yeah yeah you're at the overs club you know yeah like that's that's sick yeah and that's like I was always in that. Like even since I met Tom and Christina, they've definitely even blown up even more. So like they were, I feel like they were less popular. Like they were still very popular, but even less popular then. But even when I met them, it was, it's more so the like walking into YMH Studios and you're seeing them and you're in this world and you're like

Oh, this is crazy that like I'm in my TV. You've been watching it for so long, right? We're like, you know, I've we're like you just meet a big celebrity and they shake your hand You're like, why am I doing this? Like I don't yeah hair, you know It's like the autographs to if you're like I want you to write your name on a piece of paper and they call you like Why do I have this piece of paper? Like I don't want I don't want that Yeah, it's way more I don't I'm not gonna start you now is if it's someone like I'm obsessed with like the cast of Jersey Shore when they

Came in I was like holy shit. I'm fucking star Terrifying like when Artie Lane came in here. I just kept my head down. I was like I can't even look at you Yeah, but when like some like we had the Jersey Shore cast come in here like five years ago It was like the Beatles came in. I remember that legitimate. Yeah, I've never seen it was true like the Beatles were here Yeah, I think someone was here recently and I remember saying this is like the closest I've seen to Jersey Shore. I can't think of who the fuck it was, but yeah. We do have like the really random people, like people that blew up on the internet in the mid-2000s or something

will come in, and it's like, oh shit, they're in? And then A-Rod will come in, it's like, eh, whatever. Right. Yeah, I remember going to do Artie Lang's show like downtown, and he was doing it with Nick DiPaolo at the time. And I remember being like, oh, yeah. And I had met him before that, but doing his show because I watch it all the time and being there with them. And it was sports-y, and he was doing what he wants, and they designed the whole thing. And then he was like, oh, later on, he was like, oh, come to my crib and do my podcast.

And I was just sitting in his crib with him. But again, it wasn't like a starstruck thing. It was like, oh oh this is cool like i i like we're like when when you when you're watching pantera on stage and then you go backstage and you're hanging out with them and you're like dude your hair's still sweaty from the show like like that shit you're like this that that was nuts we're like now at 40 like i'm gonna be 40 i don't i don't even know if there's something that would really get me. I don't know.

But you know what I do think is crazy? And not that I'm a big Portnoy guy. Not that meeting Portnoy. But when people are going to their pizza spot to get a slice of pizza and Portnoy happens to be walking out of the door, that's got to be insane. That does have to be crazy. That's got to be when you're like,

wait, I was just going to grab a slice and like that's Dave Portnoy walking out of my pizza place with a slice in his hand. He's like, all right, like doing the bit. And this could be like, he could ruin your favorite pizza spot in terms of if he gives it a great review, it's like, oh, now I'm going to be fucking standing online

at my local spot. Yeah. Yeah. He's ruined a couple spots like that where he gives it like an 8.0 and the locals are like, you've got to be fucking kidding me. Yeah. Dario's at Frango Square now.

You literally can't get a pie there. Yeah. And then, you know, what I even think is even worse, like I don't mind for like a slice waiting in line because it'll go faster, but when it gets so busy that then the quality goes down. Yeah. That's tough. Yeah.

They just make a bunch of pies and they leave them in the window for way too long. Yeah. Sometimes I like a window slice, of course. They gotta hire more people and now there's this. What do you think right now is the best burger in the city? Best burger in the city? See, I'm very impartial to like I'm not sure to go against what I like. I'm very impartial

to Smash Burgers. I love Smash Burgers. I just think they taste a lot better. But honestly, I always say my favorite burger in the city is J.G. Mellon. It's the best. J.G. Mellon is... Have you ever been there? The OG spot. It's so good.

Yeah, 74th. Always my favorite. They got a great chili. I love a good chili. They have a great chili. Yeah. And this burger is nice. Yeah.

Dude, the first time I went there, I'm pretty sure they had like cottage fries. They were like chips. Yeah, yeah. They're way skinnier. I don't really like the fries that much. Really? They're almost like a chip. But the actual burger itself, Bob,

that burger, classic lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, it's amazing. Yeah, and it's like, you see, you walk in there and you're like, yeah, maybe this burger's alright, and just blows your dick off. But the the Four Charles has

the Au Chevelle burger. I've had Au Chevelle, I haven't had Four Charles yet. Real good. That's the Au Chevelle. I haven't had 4Charles yet. Real good. That's the only thing to me that I would ever put up against JG. But it's very different. It's the egg, the bacon. And it's kind of a thinner patty. It's more of a smash burger, too.

Like, everyone's loving the 7th Street, which I think is okay. It's good. There's a place in Chinatown or anywhere I try called, I think, K.O. Burger. That looks really good. Whoa, what's up with the burger at the gas station? Oh, yeah. That one's down by the Exxon. One of the best burgers in the city is at the gas station the exxon but now i will now everyone's saying all these new smash burgers are the best burgers in the city it's taken yeah it's taken over and la thing it's taken over new york it's all everything is smash burgers i'm not complaining

because i like smash burgers but at the end of the day they're it's just a smash patty onions a special sauce and cheese it's almost like how i feel about philly cheesesteaks now you go to philly everyone's a go what's the best che, oh, what's the best cheesesteak? What's the best cheesesteak? At the end of the day, it's all just shaved ribeye, onions, and cheese. They kind of taste similar.

Like my experience, have you been to Angelo's? Oh, yeah. Angelo's and John's Res Pork are like above the rest, but all the rest tastes exactly alike. Angelo's is so legit. Angelo's and John's Res Pork

are in their own realm. I never thought I would say that I think there's a better burger than JG, but I think the Au Chevelle for me, when it's done right, because like, I don than JG, but I think the Au Chevelle for me, when it's done right. Because I don't know how they do it at the Au Chevelle spot, but when you're at Fort Charles, the way they break the egg in front of you and it runs, it's just class. Now, since you've been in, and I've never been in, what else did you have?

What did you eat? Fill me in. So my favorite thing there were the burger, but then the sides like and I think they change the sides all the time. But they and again, I'm not a guy who's like, you know, oh, I mean, I had this amazing like butternut squash, but it was some shit. I don't know if it's butternut squash. What's the thing that's like butternut squash? Sweet potato. It wasn't a sweet potato. It's something. And this was like this was years ago. This wasn't this trip to New Yorkork but it was like a butternut squash type thing and i think however they made it was great but then they just like tossed it under the broiler for like a minute or whatever and that shit was like kind of burnt but not in the it was the best

side i've ever had of anything it was fucking lights out when you do these trips yeah oh it's close when you do these trips yeah do you try to load up on all your favorite food spots because like my brother grew up in Jersey with me. He lives in Michigan now. And whenever he comes back, he's just like, yeah, we don't have food like this in Michigan. For sure. I mean, Austin has great food, I know. Austin has great food.

But I try and be healthy now because if I eat all that stuff, I'll feel like shit. Yeah. I forgot from the pod you're super healthy. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to be 40. You got to, you can't, like, I can't just be, you know, eating like shit. And I try and work out like five days a week and hit the fucking sauna and do the right do the right thing. And when you're, you know, if I'm like going to have pizza tonight and this and shit, but

I will I'll allow myself when I'm in New York, like one meal a week where it's good. Like a couple spots that, you know, you got to hit a couple spots. But more so like lately, I've been like, I want to do sushi and like stuff that i'm not gonna feel like shit tomorrow yeah you know what i mean so it's like but yeah i'm also like you know i talked about it on kfc but i'm such a sweet green like i'm in sweet green just fucking oh yeah constantly it's just so easy i've also never had the uh we recently were traveling me and caleb had it for the first time sweet green like a bowl like not a salad from there oh i don't do salads do salads ever. Yeah, I didn't even know they had bowls. The bowl was pretty freaking good.

Yeah. It was like honey chipotle chicken and rice. Yeah, bomb. Nice barbecue sauce. It was good. And people are always like, how do you eat the same thing every day in that spot? I'm like, because you can switch it up. Oh, yeah.

I could eat the same thing every day. Every day, yeah, of course. And it's also like you put a different thing. You are disgusting. What did you eat last week when you ordered a sandwich? That's what I'm talking about. My Subway order. Yeah, last week you ordered the Subway.

He got grilled chicken. He got grilled chicken. That's all I need. There was no sauce on it. You don't need sauce, Lenny. Yeah, I mean, I guess if you're different. And I used to, when we used to have a potbelly below the office that closed, that used to actually be what I got every day.

I would walk in, they would start making it. I was a regular. It was the best. Yeah, you were a regular. I'm so anti-potbelly. I hate that word. Oh, shut up. It's the worst. I don't know that spot. Potbell. Yeah, you were a regular. I'm so anti-pot belly. I hate that word. Oh, shut up. It's the worst.

I don't know that spot. Pot belly? It's like a Chicago chain, kind of, but the one here used to be one right under us. But their whole thing is they toast every sandwich. I fucking cannot stand a toasted cold cut sandwich. Really? It's gross. Like a hot turkey sandwich.

I like hot turkey. Maybe I'm going to a barbecue restaurant or a nicer place that has a real turkey BLT, but a hot sandwich, like a cold cut turkey is weird. I can go both, but I love the panini pressed. Yeah. Panini pressed kind of like sandwich. Oh, 100%. Oh, yes.

God, it's so fucking good. I don't know. So you said you're from Manhattan? I grew up in the city my whole life. Have you ever had a La Bottega? What? It's like a little tiny panini chain on Long Island. I think there was a few in Queens.

It is fucking awesome. I feel like I've heard it. It's so good. I i've heard the name before but i think there might have been like a bar called that back in the day to go with it but like uh no i don't know i don't think it's good but um they have their all their paninis are ridiculous like i take that back like their paninis are good but they have they have a real turkey panini and it's awesome yeah but the friggin i don't know something about hot turkey cold cuts yeah Yeah. I think there's a time and a place. It could definitely be whack. But when I was growing up, my dad would do hot ham and cheese.

I was like, you're gross. But now that I'm older, I'm like, I don't know. Oh, I could go for that. Yeah. Yeah. Honestly, also the weird thing, thinking about it, you would assemble the sandwich, and they'd put it through a conveyor belt,

like a conveyor belt toaster. So the lettuce was getting hot. That's a little weird. The lettuce and the lettuce was getting hot. That was hot. Lettuce and the tomato were getting hot. That's strange. That I don't like. I don't like that either. It's annoying.

I don't want hot lettuce. I was just telling Glennie on Sunday, I went to Michael Imperioli's spot in the city. How was it? Really good. Awesome lobster rolls. My fiance got short rib sliders. It was great food, great drinks. It was a cool vibe.

Yeah. By the way, congrats on that. You're doing Surviving Barstool, yeah? I am, yeah. Very nerve-wracking, but I'm excited for it. I've been wanting to do one of the reality shows forever. Well, they said on name, they're like, you could win. You could take it.

I was upset that they said that. Yes. Because now everyone's calling me the Dark Horse. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I said even to David Ruffinradi, I was like, at what point does everyone calling me the Dark Horse not make me the Dark Horse? And he was like, yeah, you're right. Yeah, you immediately, dark horse not make me the dark horse and he was like yeah you're right yeah you immediately when you said you were doing it

I think almost would say you're the favorite to win that's tough respectfully I don't like hearing that like 24 people now because like you're a nerd

like you're gonna no one's gonna try to take you out physically and then you're just physically I'm saying like well thinking of like survivor mindset

it's like oh when someone's kind of a nerdy guy like oh we don't need to take him out like leave him in we need to get the stronger players out first. Everyone loves you. You got a wedding coming up. But I think that hurts me.

You got a wedding. I think people are going to go, this is the only guy that really needs the money, so we got to get him out of here because he's going to be, he's going to, we'll see.

I don't want to even talk too much about it. You're like a, I'm a Survivor guy. I love Survivor. You're top three. You're winning. We'll see.

Yeah. Again, I feel like I'm going to be the first one out and someone's gonna clip this and be like look at this idiot he talked about surviving barstool for longer than he was on the show maybe cut this i like the new bullying you can believe me all you want i like when you believe me um did the sopranos ruin mob movies for you like can you enjoy a mob movie today or do you avoid them the opposite yeah like oh you love them i had never because i was 12 years old when we started so so I had never seen any.

And like the guys on the Tony Sirico's like you got to watch Goodfellas, you got to watch this, you got to watch that. And I was like, okay, they're my favorite

movies still to this day. Okay, I love that. Yeah. I don't know if being around it that much would like. No, no way. I think maybe it makes you like it even more.

Maybe, I don't know. But I think, I think Donnie Brasco is the most underrated one. I love Donnie Brasco. It's good. Donnie Brasco is so good. It's so good. I only Brasco. It's good. Donnie Brasco is so good. It's so good.

I only watched it for the first time like five years ago. Me too. I watched it over COVID, yeah. Yeah. My brother told me to watch it. Donnie Brasco, it doesn't get mentioned with the greats, and I think that's bad. I think it's really up there with- I think you're right.

Honestly, Goodfellas is obviously number one for me. I watched Casino for the first time this year. I think Casino's my number one. Casino's- I've only watched Cas time this year i think casino is my number one okay you know i've only watched that close twice i think the thing about goodfellas though is it's so similar to the sopranos and that it's fucking really funny really funny yeah it's really funny like people don't remember i know you don't watch a show but like sopranos is literally almost more of a comedy than it is i just told our producer was like oh my girlfriend really wants to start it neither of us have seen it. And I was like,

dude, you will be shocked at how funny it is. It's so funny. That's me going in. I was just like, I knew it as a mob show, whatever. Growing up in Jersey,

you hear a ton about it. But watching it, I was like, holy fuck, it's the funniest show I've ever seen. It truly could be one of the funniest shows you've ever seen.

And I just hate serious stuff. We were talking about Boardwalk Empire before. I like Boardwalk Empire, but it's just so much more serious. Sopranos is literally a comedy. It's the reason I just watch Sopranos and Entourage. I don't like serious things. Yeah. I know you so much more serious Sopranos is literally a comedy it's the reason I just watch Sopranos

and Entourage I don't watch I don't like serious things I know you're like the biggest Sopranos fan did you hate my character

yeah respectfully to you no I can feel it no like you know I love you but I wasn't a fan I wasn't a huge AJ fan

I'm thinking like the three most hated people off the top of my head on the Sopranos AJ oh let me say who I think your other one is. Keep going.

Janice. Janice, one. Janice, two. Fuck, I don't know enough characters. I think I have the third. Who? Livia? No, I would say probably Richie April.

Oh, really? Yeah. People love Richie April. But I mean, Ralph, you're supposed to hate Ralph, obviously, but Ralph's the funniest. He's the funniest character on the show. Yeah.

People loved Richie April. Like me and Pat, he was so good though. That's the difference I say the show. People loved Richie. Like, me and Pat, oh, he was so good, though. That's the difference I say is, like, Richie, if you're like, I'll look at him and I'll be like, I'll say to myself, he's a good villain. You and Janice are just no good. Honestly, I'm not saying this because you were here. After watching The Sopranos, after hearing so much

about it my whole life, one of my brother's favorite shows, if not his favorite show, my main takeaway was AJ was nowhere near as bad as he was made out to be. Right. Yeah. Well, I think it's also, there's a, I don't think people who were like, cause how old are you now? 26.

Okay. So yeah, no late. Yeah. I mean, 20 is watching the show. I guess maybe that was, I thought you were a little older, but like, yeah, I think, I think older people cut him a little more slack where like i think like younger like people who are fucking 18 hated it because and there's also that feeling again of like you're on the show you lucky piece of shit which i feel like

even now when i work for ymh i know there's people who like this fucking lucky piece of shit like you just get to you're a fan of ymh and then you get to go there and now you have a pod for them and you just hang out and like you have fun and i'm like oh i get it you're around everyone yeah i'm like i i get the hate i get the fucking you know like fuck this guy you know also like maybe it's the people that are older cut you this slack or aj this slack like what did you expect with his parents with the way he grew up it was like it was written and played exactly as a kid in that situation, I think, would be. Yeah.

AJ lost you when he shaved his eyebrows by accident at that concert. No, they didn't. He didn't shave. Yeah, the friends did. That riled me up. He was just so mean to his mom. It was disrespectful. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That was when I lost him. I remember even filming that was like weird, like being like, I forget what he says, but then like runs up the stairs and she falls. I remember like that felt weird. This little fucker. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The worst. Oh, dude, there were times where I would read a script and be like, ah, like this fucking guy. And he was so cute.

You were so cute. Yeah. Right. Yeah. See, I didn't even get to look at myself and go, oh, well, at least I'm cute. You know, I was like, oh, and you're a dick and just tough. Wait, one question I do have that i told you we have to ask him um speaking of just like um like shooting schedule and whatnot like obviously sopranos there's two sides it's tony's in the mob and freaking the

family side like during your average shooting day you're mostly i guess like at the house or something or do you know what's going on in anything like reading the script or anything like with the mob side of the show you just have no idea oh yeah no you know 100 because so to me like besides traveling for award shows and all being together the the other like best part of sopranos is the read-throughs so at the beginning of every episode everybody who's in the episode all the crew everybody comes around like they make this big table in a big room. They make food, like Italian fucking sandwiches and sodas and this, and you're all hanging out.

You go there for maybe 20 minutes. You're talking, and then they're like, all right, everybody, we're ready. And you all sit down, and everybody reads their part in the script. So that was the funnest. That's awesome. And sometimes you read the script before, but then especially towards season four or five, six, five six you're like i'm not gonna read everything like i'll listen to it at the read-through and then all of a sudden it's like tony kills christopher

and you're like what like you know what i mean there's some parts where you like and there were times where people were crying there were times like there were like fucked up things that would happen and then you know and then there was obviously like the finale that where like everybody was just fucking sad and you're like this is the last time we're ever gonna do this we've been doing this

for 10 years like 10 years we always got in this room we always spent this time together we always were there and now it's like this is it like no it's over

so there was a lot like a lot of great memories then some sad ones too but yeah you always knew everything they never hid shit from like the main people okay that's what I was wondering because I just had Dre

on my podcast, and she was saying when they killed her character that they filmed two separate endings. They filmed her getting killed and then her surviving. So I guess not you guys, obviously, but the crew didn't leak it or anything. Editor or something. And there's always some...

Yeah, there's always... Because it's also the thing of if it does come out, it could be like, well, no, there's this. But it wasn't the same as it was back then with now where like everyone has a phone everybody has this but i remember like i remember people telling me that they bought clothes at like goodwill and they found like soprano sides in the jacket pocket because like after you're after they're done with wardrobe sometimes they like they try and like sell it or whatever or use it for other stuff but if they can't they just like donate it so people would be like yeah we just like found like old sites of sopranos in

like a jacket pocket damn i can't stop thinking about the friggin the food spread out of sopranos read through oh it must have been awesome that's got to be that's got to be the peak of food i assume every italian spot back then wanted to be the one to be able to cater and be like look what we have for you yeah there were times where we had great spreads but read throughs was more just like you know sandwich and like you know the times where we had great spreads, but Reithers was more just like, you know, sandwich. And like, you know, the trusted spot we had, because it was in Queens and, you know, it would be good. But there were some times where you would go and like,

because I remember being like a fat little Irish kid and eating like, we'd be at Madison Square Garden and they would have like, you'd be in like the special suite and they would have like tortellini Alfredo and I'd be eating that and they'd be looking at me like, you're eating the fucking tortellini Alfredo that's being flamed by the hot little like you're disgusting yeah no it's good and they're like you're not italian you know and then they'd be like no you got to eat this and take they would take me to like the real spots and you're like damn this is this is

fucking good god forbid you have like dominoes or pizza hut in front of anybody oh yeah no no they would never they know that ain't yeah i, we were just listening to your KFC interview. You're a trans Italian. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm transitioning. Yeah. Back in the day, I was trans. Now I think I'm transitioning back to Irish. You spend that long on the Sopranos.

You're an Italian, for sure. Yeah. There's definitely certain things that you do pick up where you're like, oh, I shouldn't. You know, I shouldn't. You should get like a card. Right. Like the other day, me and my friends were in nashville this past weekend and there were there was like eight of us who went to dinner and we're all italian from long island we're like

we should get like 20 off this meal yeah there was it was a frank sinatra lounge in nashville tennessee i was like we should get like 10 off just for actually coming here yeah i'm mostly irish but being raised by my like mom's side of the family the della bella is the most like it's like i'm 25% Italian. I feel like I'm mostly Italian. Yeah, if you go to an Italian restaurant outside of the Tri-City area, you should just get a little discount. You should be Italian.

You order galamad instead of calamari. Yeah, I had to go to the waitress the other day. I was like, hey, can I have the calamari, please, sir? There's probably places where you could go in, yeah, North Carolina. They wouldn't even know if you were like galamad, right? No, definitely not. I would think definitely not. They've never heard it.

That's crazy. Sometimes I feel weird saying it, though. Sometimes I go to a deli in Long Island. I don't look Italian. Am I going to walk into my local deli like Antonio's and be like, oh, let me get the gabagool? I don't actually say it. I just want you to say it.

In that setting, it would be too weird to actually say it. But then you know the next guy coming in is actually a real guy just being like an idiot, actually ordering it. Do you have a most annoying thing you get on the street? Is it quick people bringing up the finale and stuff like that? No. You know, again, I guess one of the positive sides of the phone thing we talk about is now when people see you on the street, they just want a photo.

True. Like almost every time. Where back in the day it used to be, yeah, questions about this, why was this. Yelling quotes at you? Yeah, yelling quotes, but also like, you know, because there's something about Sopranos where more than yelling quotes,

it was always like they were dying to know something. And they'd be like, in season six, and they'd be asking me, and I'd be like, dude, I don't know what you're talking about. Is that David Chase, like that writing style and, you know, all the writers. Right. Everything would get teased and some things would get paid off and some things wouldn't.

Yeah. Misdirections. It makes sense. The ending for sure. People were like, what was that this? And then as it went along. But it is interesting because it's like David Chase's brilliance. Like the whole point of it is like, who's still talking about another show's ending 20 years later?

Oh, yeah. You know what I mean? Like who's still and I think that's what David want. David wanted to like fuck people up. You know, what was that moment like at that final table read when you read like cuts to black? And then is it everyone crying? Is it ever clapping? A lot of clapping, a lot of crying a lot and then standing up and hugging.

And then it was, you know, not to be like whatever the word like a chauvinism. But it was like, you know, going over to the women a little more and being like, it's all right. You know, we all love you. And we're going to be, you know, because the weird thing is it's like even though we were done there, I think the guys knew like we're going to be hanging out for the next six months. Like we're going to be at the Emmys. We're going to be at this. So like it's not over. And then we also knew that like we're going to be friends forever.

You know, like we're it's not over and then we also knew that like we're gonna be friends forever you know like we're it's it's it's not over but then i remember the time that almost had like i almost broke down was they said um they you know so you know there's a scene where i'm sitting on the couch and i'm like covered in the dirt from when my car explodes and like the last thing and they're like yelling at me on the couch or whatever so So that was the four of us. And the way that we filmed that, when we were done, we didn't know when we were done with that scene, they were like, all right, cut. And they're like, hold on, wait, we need to stay around for one second. Like the whole crew came in and they're like, guys, for the last time ever together as a

family, the Sopranos. And like, wow. Yeah. Think about it now. It's like, that's a, that's a moment. Yeah. And like everybody, and like everybody, and like these people who you've loved for 10 years are all standing around clapping,

and like your friends are crying, and this, and you're like, fuck. This was special. Yeah. Like that was, for me, more so than the read-through, that moment I still think about where you're like, shit.

Was that like, did you have something that was actually the last scene you filmed? Did they try to make it something that was towards the end of like they you know film the diner scene right no we didn't

film the diner at the end it was some dumb scene that I don't even remember why I spoke about this recently I don't remember why it was but like I don't know

if they had to reshoot it or something but like I'm jogging on the side of the road and like Tony drives up he's like get in the car or like whatever I don't even

know why I'm like I in my head again it's something I did join in the military or something yeah I don't know i haven't watched a later season in so long trying to get into shape or and like that was the last thing that i filmed but again it was like like was that emotional or you already had that no like i had that moment and also like it wasn't in the soprano's house like we were on the side of the road and they were like, all right, Robert's done. It was like David Chase was there and like gave me a hug.

And that that was being like James. But then it was also like, all right, see you next week. Like we'd see them next week and then we'd see them at the premiere and then we'd see them at the Emmys. So like I didn't have that goodbye thing. But yeah, like the four of us for the last time together was the impactful moment that I remember from the end. But something I want to ask you guys that I've been hearing lately is people say, like, the pilot is very different from the rest of the show. Oh, so different.

Like, the first episode, and some people are actually like, we don't like it. Like, we're happy it changed, and like... The first episode of the pilot, I mean, James Hale-Lafini narrates it, basically. That's really weird. Yeah, it narrates the whole thing. It's, like, jarring to watch back.

He has a really full accent, honestly. Yeah. It's a very different episode. Yeah, because I know there's people who are like, oh, I tried watching Sopranos and they watched the first episode and then they didn't keep watching. Oh, Caleb did that,

but that's what I was telling you before. He was just talking about Boardwalk Empire literally an hour ago and I was like, most shows you got to give it past season one. You got to give everyone a season one. Yeah. But I mean,

I remember when I first started watching Sopranos, it it was like the eighth ninth episode hit and i was like oh shit now i have to i like the first episode i don't agree with it not being good i feel like the first episode is really good i don't think it's bad by any means like the the just the storyline of trying to get the hit away from arties is like i was in and there is like a full-blown storyline and the whole episode is basically a movie kind of. Well, that was the thing. I guess if it didn't get picked up, David Chase has said like, oh, I thought maybe we could add another half an hour onto it and just release it as a movie.

And like it does have more of a movie vibe, I think, than the rest of the show. Until like the final two episodes. I say the final two episodes feel like a movie to me. And then you stick around. The fifth episode is the episode when Tony takes Meadow to college, and that's an addictive episode. So then you're in.

Yeah. Right, yeah. As a poker guy, I wanted to ask a Barstool poker debate that's been going on. Yes. We have Nate, who went into the World Series of Poker a few times. He cashed for the first time this year. Yeah, yeah. Dave fully believes he can just beat Nate in a head-to-head.

He doesn't think it takes that much skill to cash in the World Series of Poker. He thinks it's just getting lucky on tables. dave doesn't really play poker he has played poker he knows the rules and obviously yeah do you think that's that's a real like do you think dave is right in thinking he would be able to just beat nate head up so i've obviously you know like i said i'm a stoolie i've i've been around this conversation i heard it when you play somebody heads up in poker like if you just play somebody one time it's like I don't know the exact odds or whatever but like the biggest advantage you could have is like 60 40 it's not that big and that's like somebody who's great

against somebody who's not but what Dave said and I reached out to Big Cat when he said this I was like dude this I love Portnoy I was like this is the he's so wrong is when he said i can go to that there's like a big event at the world series every year i think it's like 250k buying or whatever and he's like if i buy into that he's like i have the same chance of winning it as everyone else in it that's insane to think that is so it's like no no these guys do this for a living and they're way better than you they understand the game more and whatever and do you have a chance of winning sure that's what makes poker beautiful is like the the like my grandma could go against the best player in the world and she has a chance of winning so you have a chance

yes is your chance the same as him no and if you really believe that it is then you should take the odds of we're allowed to bet everyone else at the same percentage that you have, like you're just going to lose your shirt every time. Because, again, these guys are, you know, and maybe if he played for a few years or whatever, but it takes, these guys are fully devoted, their whole life is poker. And, like, there is a, you know, way to play that is better than the way that he's going to play and they're going to play that way. That's, I don't know anything about poker.

Like, I legitimately can't sit down and play poker. I don't know the rules. But that's the vibe I got was like, yeah, no, I don't think you can waltz into the World Series of Poker and get a bracelet at the end of it. No. And the other thing is like, I know, I know a lot of people who play poker with like well respected businessmen. And what they say about them is like they're just very

good decision makers and poker becomes making a lot of decisions and some people after making eight hours of decisions somewhere around hour three four or five they start not being able to make the same decisions they were before and then they're just saying it gets a little foggy and like i just don't want i just we're like these guys who are businessmen, a lot of people look at them as the whales and sometimes they are as like the suckers or whatever. But also there are these guys who like this guy is a fucking incredible decision maker. And I think Portnoy is. Like I think he's – so I think maybe he'll be able to like – when you're playing somebody heads up one time, like maybe he makes one better decision. But also he could just get lucky.

Like he could get it in with the worst hand and they could do the exact right thing and then portnoy could win or whatever but if if he plays and you don't want to do this it's so boring but like if he played nate a hundred times yeah i think nate wins you know whatever the percentage is i don't know 60 of the 100 or whatever like every single time he's gonna win more than dave yeah that's interesting interesting to get your perspective on but i I also think that Dave could get Nate in his head too much. You know what I mean? Where like Dave's going to have nothing to lose. Like Dave's going to be like, yeah, I don't really care.

And Nate's going to be like, this is the moment. Yeah. And that's not good. No. Some people shine in that moment. Some people shine too, but I think. Nate does. Nate with the bright lights, the Barstool Awards.

You know, he has his moments where Nate comes out on top, he gets a big dub. For sure. Yeah. I love the dog. The dog. Love the dog. Yeah. When you get the Barstool Awards. He has his moments where Nate comes out on top, he gets a big dub. For sure, yeah. I love the dog. The dog? Love the dog. Yeah, when you get the dog out to play. The dog. When the dog comes out, he starts barking.

And then the final thing I had for you, one of the most controversial, I would say maybe the most controversial moment on your podcast was when you shit all over Top Gun Maverick. Yeah. Hated it. I want to kind of get the flip side. What are your favorite movies of the last few years? Do you have movies that stick out as like, oh, I loved that? Because not really. Respectfully, I listen to the podcast a lot. You hate a lot of recent movies. Yeah. Yeah. No, there's not a lot of

stuff recently that I've liked. And because I haven't liked it, but also I'm not I'm a big TV show guy. Yeah. I'm not really a big. So what are your shows? What are shows that I've I mean, I think Fargo is really, really top notch. I got into that this year. I only watched the first two seasons so far. Man, it's how good. So good. Dude, the first two seasons.

And like both seasons are amazing in very different ways. Very different. Yeah, I think that's really great. I think, is it Chef? No. Oh, The Bear. The Bear. Love The Bear.

I think The Bear is awesome. I think there's a lot of good shows right now. But also, just to clear it up, it's not so much that I fucking hate Top Gun. It's when Top Gun got nominated for Oscar for Best Film. Set me off. Because it's like, no, no, no. This is not like, again, you look at Godfather and these other movies where you go, best film. And then you look at Top Gun and it's like, this is like candy summer blockbuster yeah it's fucking candy

it's like this is not this is not honestly i i really liked top gun i just saw twisters two glenn powell movies i put them on the exact same level and twisters should not be nominated for any right exactly yeah there's a cow flying by it's like yeah this is cool and like seeing shit in top gun there was and by the way i think last, and I could be totally wrong on this. In my head, like the last 45 minutes of Top Gun is like flying around in jets. It is. Which was awesome. It is.

But for a fucking Oscar for best film, like you got to be. And like there's just so many moments in Top Gun where it's like, hey, you want to hop? You want to do the, like it's like these like, and you're like, cool. Yeah, that's great for for a movie and whatever. It's like a dude's rock movie. It's a movie where they're constantly being like, aren't dudes awesome? Right, you're like flexing. And it's like, no, this is not like when you –

again, it's one of these things where, to me, when you have Oscars for best film, it's one of those things where if it's in a time capsule thousands of years from now, you're going to go, this is beautiful art. Is Top Gun something? Like, cool, yeah, it's popcorn. It go, this is beautiful art and this is it. Like, is Top Gun something? Like, cool, yeah, it's popcorn. It's cool. It's fun.

It's it. But when you go, oh, what one, what restaurant is the best restaurant in the world or what's the best food in the world?

You don't go, hey, try this buttered popcorn. Like, try these, like Sour Patch Kids are cool but you don't go, hey, the best food in the world is Sour Patch Kids.

Like, no, that's when you go to like a chef. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is a different thing. This is elevated. Oh, there it is. Right. You go, this is some elevated shit, but yeah. I never go to the movies. The last movie I saw

in the theater was, I've probably seen three movies in the last 10 years in the theater. Holy shit. You really never go to the theater. I never go to the theater. The last movie I saw in the theater was The Joker because my dad wanted to go and he was visiting me and i was like you like it yeah of course it was good i thought it was all right yeah but the but also again that's one of those things where like well listen was the joker good of course but it was one of those things where

everybody told me it's the best movie i'll ever see that was when people do that to me and that's what happened with top gun i didn't see top gun in the theater i was at home after it got nominated for an Oscar. I was like, I got to watch Top Gun. I was like, I'm because I love the original Top Gun. I'm like, I must be. They must have fucking done something so incredible. And then I'm watching these guys play volleyball on the beach.

Like, oh, it's like the first one. But they shot it with better cameras. Right. I'm like, are you Oscar? Like, I'm holding that Oscar. I'm like, you were playing volleyball. Yeah. Wait, but Bob, what's your take on that then, a really top-of-the-line

Marvel movie? What that got nominated for an Oscar, would you be mad? No. Like, yeah, I'm a huge nerd with Marvel stuff, so, like, Endgame I think was, like, so good, but, like, Black Panther got nominated for Best Picture, and, like, everyone was like, come on. Like, it's not Best Picture. Like, I understand for the historical

significance of it, you could say, like, it belongs in that class, but it's far from the best Marvel movie. And you're like, we're going to say the 10th best Marvel movie should be nominated for best picture? I was thinking that immediately in my head. Well, that's the first one that I would say

maybe that one could, it was the highest grossing movie ever made, and it capped off 10 years of a storyline. But even that would be like, you would be nice to give it a nomination, but you would never in a million years be like, that would be nice to give it a nomination, but you would never in a million years be like, that's the winner.

Off the top of your head, if one Marvel actor had to win an Oscar for their work on a Marvel movie, who would you say it should be? The one who just won an Oscar for Oppenheimer would be Downey.

Yeah, Robert Downey Jr. I think that's the... He is Tony Stark. He created a character that... They write the comics now in his voice. They draw Tony Stark to try to look like him.

Outside of Marvel, what do you think are in the last five years, whatever, like, great films, great movies? I loved Oppenheimer. I was crazy big on Oppenheimer. I loved the Dune movies. Dune 2 I thought was way better than the first one. I couldn't. I watched Dune 1. I was like, I don't get it.

I watched the first one. The first time I watched it, I was like, yeah, it was all right. Like, cool visuals, but it was all right. Rewatched it before seeing 2, and then 2, I was like, holy fuck, this is awesome. And I've rewatched the first one maybe four or five times since. Like, I just toss it on in the background. I'm trying to think of my other favorite movies of the last few years. I have, like, my letterbox pulled up or whatever.

What about you, Blaine? I'm pulling on my list right now. I'm not, like... What are other, Blaine? You got... I'm pulling on my list right now. Yeah. Movies. I'm not like... What are other, like, what are other of the great shows in the last... Because I want... There's more that I want to mention besides just Fargo. I got my show list, too, right here. There's a lot of good shows on Apple TV that have been crushing it.

Severance, I think, is fucking awesome. I don't know if you've seen that. Severance is good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I watch Severance. But you gotta... When you talk about a show, you gotta give at least three episodes to it. You gotta sludge through.

You really... Like, if you're ADHD and addicted to your phone, good luck with fucking Severance. Yeah. Because it's tough and it's a lot of repeating. Oh, listen. I know people have different opinions about this. Handmaid's Tale, again, you've got to sludge through because it's sad and it's fucked up. But there's a lot of stuff in there where you're like, man, this is so good and unexpected.

I haven't seen it. It's good, but you know you gotta push through but like the what it is about handmaid's tale to me is the great moments are greater than even most great shows yeah but then the stuff in between you're like okay like i'm i'm putting there's just a lot of to get you in the world they do a lot of like repetition and just kind of understanding what it is and you know but it's it's it's interesting it's yeah i'm looking at my list right now i'm not a serious type of show person my list right now I'm not a serious type of show person

my list right here is Entourage, Sopranos Ted Last Show The Offer, Friends Two and a Half Men It's Always Sunny Californication Sex and the City

can you just have a note type of your favorite I thought it was going to be like favorite shows of the last year that's just in general you want to remind yourself

how to make it in America you got to write down Sopranos to remember you love that show did you watch The Offer I was fucking I heard that was great. Awesome.

Yeah, you told me. Very underratedly great show. It was a mini-series. It was about the making of The Godfather. Miles Teller was like the head producer of it. It was awesome.

Yeah, yeah. That was so good. I always say one of my most underrated shows I've ever watched because I like historical fiction if that makes sense. There was a show

that came out probably like 8, 10 years ago on Hulu called 11-22-63. It was a mini-series. like eight ten years ago on hulu called 11 22 63 it was a mini series james franco is the lead it's off of um stephen king book yeah it is a awesome show he like goes back in time to try to stop the jfk assassination right one of my favorite one of my favorite mini series i've ever watched that is a awesome suggestion yeah i very controversially i think the first season of the oa is 10 out of 10 oh i've heard about that the

space show right like 100 people left or something like that no that's a different one the silo leftovers or something the leftovers was HBO like Justin Theroux was in that and like Liv Tyler yeah the OA was something Netflix did where they put the first season to me is the one of the best scenes of something ever

and then season 2 I didn't really vibe with but it's really good. But I'm trying to think. There's something recently where I remember watching and being like, fuck, this is so... Oh, Friday Night Lights, old school. Man, what a show. Never watched it either.

Yeah. Wow. Yo. I know people do love it. I remember people love it. That's something, too, where you got to get past. I think it's just the first episode or maybe second, but when you start, like...

You know when your team is like in a big game it's like that but on a show and you're like and you're like it's fucking awesome Friday Night Lights were you in on Thrones at all yeah well I watched Thrones during COVID okay so I caught I caught it all so like you know there's a lot of feelings that people have about Thrones that I didn't have because they were like um oh, you know, the ending sucked. And I'm like, well, for me, I waited two weeks for that. And I thought it was cool. But if I was waiting ten years or five years

for this big thing, maybe it's different. But I thought, yeah, Thrones is very entertaining. The opinion I had about Thrones is, all everyone talked about were the dragons. The dragons. The fucking giants were so much cooler than the dragons. I'm a dragon guy. One Darwin.

King. Yeah. Most underutilized guy ever at the Battle of the Bastards. Yeah. Those fucking giants were the best. When they were on TV, it was like how people feel about them. They were cool. Thrones Live was, like I always say,

probably my top Twitter moment to have would have been the Sopranos ending, just like see Twitter explode. But that was also when Twitter, I think Thrones was probably the last big show to come out the same time every Sunday, like, 9 o'clock, where, like, everybody was tweeting about it as it happened. Yeah.

And that, I mean, those final three seasons. Succession almost got there. Yeah. Yeah, it's not. Succession, right. Those final three seasons, like, I remember literally getting ready for the Battle of the Bastards like it was a football game. It was.

Yeah. It was unbelievable. And then you just think about the last two seasons what a shit show but I feel the same way as you though because I kind of

I binged everything right before the final season yeah right so then I watched the final season oh I was I was like

so deep in on reddit like doing all the theories trying to finish it out same thing with Lost I watched Lost after it was all out I know people shit on the ending of that one

I was like I thought it was great yeah and also how am I spacing on the meth show? Oh, Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad is just the best ever for me.

It's that and Sopranos for me. Yeah. Neck and neck. What are your guys' feelings about the Sopranos ending? Oh, I loved it. Like, me watching, I knew the ending going in, because how could you avoid it? Right. It was like a meme.

But realizing that a few episodes earlier, it's teased, and Bobby Bacala is talking about, you know, it's just going to go to black, and you're not going to hear anything. I was like, oh my god it's teased and Bobby Bacala is talking about you know it's just gonna go to black and you're not gonna hear anything I was like oh my god they teased it like why were people surprised they teased it right so I loved it I thought it was great and when Silvio gets on the guy gets killed like Silvio on the restaurant and he doesn't hear anything yeah it's it's all there and like there's really no patsy talk I'm such a patsy I'm such a patsy guy on that you know that he's great He's Oh I'm fully on the theory That he's the one Who got Tony killed

But I like that theory I think it's fun I'm fully on to the theory Yeah But Or at least he knew Yeah definitely

Did you like the ending Yeah because there's no way Like There's no satisfactory ending Like no one wants to see Tony go to jail No one wants to see Tony get killed

No one wants to No one wants to see him Be just happy So there's just No possible ending But there was finishing the show after binging it

and like everyday getting home from work and be like alright let's watch two or three episodes finishing it was like oh but what happens to the family now like

their lives are gonna continue and it's like no the show's over it's just like what's Carmella up to right now yeah it's like a weird feeling to be like

oh it's over it's not gonna continue i don't know if there's anything i enjoy more than being on like if i start a show that's like five seasons and i'm in like the beginning of season two like that feeling of when i'm out doing other stuff and i'm like yo i got this fucking show gotta get home for it yeah it's like there's nothing i mean you know it's like i i battled fucking addiction for a long time it. It's that feeling when I have that fucking thing ready to go. You're jonesing for another episode. I'm in the shower.

Like, come on. I'm trying to fucking rush my shower because I'm like, I need to. And that's just the best when you have something that you love. Like when I was fucking deep into fucking Fargo, like season two Fargo and being like two seasons. Have you seen Fargo? No. You would love it. Oh, bro.

The best thing that I could say about Fargo season two, first of all, season one, Billy Bob. So, and him and Martin Freeman, is it the lead? Right. He's like the nerdy dude. Oh, so good. So good. But in season two of Fargo, almost every character on the show you could have made their own show about. Really?

Yeah. Which is, I think, the most flattering thing you could say to somebody who's making a show where you're like, every time they cut to somebody, like the fucking, the brothers and the hitman, and every time you go to somebody else, you're like, this is fucking better than the fucking last. Yeah. They're so, and the characters are so good. It's really.

Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst in that season. Oh. Outrageous. It's just. That's where they metirsten Dunst in that season Outrageous That's where they met They like got married after that Is Fargo like a really serious show? I wouldn't say really serious But it's a drama

It's serious but it's like It's like What's the word? Like awkward Yeah You're like Honestly it matches the tone of the movie What is the quick plot of Fargo?

I don't even know what it is Do you know the movie? No You've never seen the movie? Holy fuck No Or is it Argo? That don't even know what it is. Do you know the movie? No. You've never seen the movie? The one with Affleck? Holy fuck. No. Or is that Argo? That's Argo.

That's Argo. That's where I get my Argos mixed up. Oh, you're thinking, yeah, Argo is like something totally different. What's the Fargo movie? Go watch Fargo. It's about a guy who wants to get his wife kidnapped for the ransom money. Ooh. He wants to set up a kidnapping for his wife and get her father-in-law's money.

Ooh. And then the show takes a different spin. And the show, every season's about something else that happens within this town or around the characters and stuff. But it's all the same tone. One season is just about how credit cards start. It's like this weird... But

not. You're just like, oh wait, they're telling... It sounds boring, but it's not. It's not. Because there's fucking action. There's backstabbing. Killings. Yeah. You would like it. It's cool. Okay. Check out the movie. You would like it. It's cool. Check out the movie. You would think the movie You know what I have been thinking about

starting recently actually because every older person in my life is telling me to watch this. I didn't realize it was only like 30 episodes of The Honeymooners. Oh yeah, Glennie.

It's only like 30 episodes. I thought it was like 300 episodes. It used to be a New Year's Eve tradition for me. After New Year's Eve they would put it on. That might be my number one

all time show. I didn't know it was only 30 episodes. The funny shit is still funny unlike any other show from back then. Here's the thing. I hate black and white. I started Oppenheimer and five minutes in I was like, I just can't do this right now.

I'm going to watch it, but I can't do it right now. Honeymooners, for some reason, it doesn't matter. I think I've got to watch Honeymooners. Dude, Honeymooners is so good. There's only 30?. I think I got to watch the Honeymooners. Dude, Honeymooners is so... There's only 30? It's like... I think there's like 35 episodes. I think you're right.

There's not a lot, yeah. Because you would think if they would run them for 24 hours, wouldn't there have to be 48 episodes? I know, like... The way people talk about it, I thought there was like 500 episodes. There's 39 episodes. It's so old school that when they slam the door on the set,

you see the wall. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was only on from October 1st, 1955 to September 1956. They're talking about the icebox in that episode. Wow. They started Art Carney. Yeah. Audrey Meadows.

I need to continue my prophecy of being the oldest 28-year-old in the world and watch Honeymooners. That's next for you. You know, you got Reel into Sopranos, next to Honeymooners. Dude, Honeymooners, Jackie Gleason. You're going into this old man Italian zone at 28. Yeah. Great.

I've been doing World War II documentaries. Yeah, you got it all done. I feel like Honeymooners will be fulfilling my prophecy. Yeah, you got to go full grandpa. I've gone full grandpa now. Even when I'm with my family, I'm allowed to say stuff that most people my age can't say because I'm like, oh, he's grandpa. You just got to go grandpa.

It's great. It's great feeling old. And the big ones are war documentaries. I've been big into war documentaries. Yeah. I wish I could get, like, I like to listen to,

like, Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast. Oh, yeah. The history episodes. When they talk about history and stuff, I'm like, man,

I wish I knew. Like, I want to be cool. I want to know what you're talking about. But I'm like, I'm sure someone's brought this up to Shane. He needs to do some sort

of a history show. He did a history show with Louis C.K. I know. A podcast. People loved it. Remember like Drunk History on Comedy Central? True. That'd be good.

If Shane did one, it would be... Honestly, just bring that back and make him the showrunner. Yeah. It would be amazing. It would be unbelievable. And it would be a fun way to learn about history. Yeah. I know I did Chris DiStefano's podcast recently.

He's a cool guy. And he has like a history. Oh, yeah, he does history podcasts. He does different history podcasts or whatever, and he's like, but he's like, man, it's hard to get people. It's hard to get like, you know, you get people in the beginning or whatever, but then they're kind of like, oh, I could listen to like YMH where people are getting hit in the head with a frying pan or like, you know,

whatever's happening on YMH just to like funny shit where I could listen to like the Battle of Gettysburg. Sometimes it's just like I don't want, like I just got off work, and it's Friday, and I drive home. I don't want to listen to the Battle of Gettysburg. Sometimes I just got off work and it's Friday and I drive home. I don't want to listen to the battle. You don't even want to think.

You don't want to have to think. I just want to fucking... I want Top Gun. Yes. I want Popcorn. Sometimes you want Top Gun. You want the candy. Yeah.

That's why I was just saying I need it to be a visual show. I can't listen to a history podcast. I don't know if I could do but a visual show I could easily do. Yeah.

Alright. Well I hope people enjoyed this one. The visual't know if I could do, but a visual show I could easily do. Yeah. All right. Well, I hope people enjoyed this one, the visual show, or maybe you listen to this on a podcast feed, but thank you for coming in. Thank you for the time. This is really cool for us.

Yeah.