Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson - Kevin James: Bringing Out the Big Guns

Episode Date: July 28, 2025

Comedy superstar Kevin James pulls no punches in this funny and frank chat with Oliver about career, family and his new action flick "Guns Out."Kevin opens up about why some stunts might be better left to professionals, the night he bombed on stage and the role his sibling played in his success.Plus, is there another sitcom in his future? "The King of Queens" star spills what it would take to make that happen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. September is a great time to travel, especially because it's my birthday in September, especially internationally. Because in the past, we've stayed in some pretty awesome Airbnbs in Europe. Did we've one in France, we've one in Greece,

we've actually won in Italy a couple of years ago. Anyway, it just made our trip feel extra special. So if you're heading out this month, consider hosting your home on Airbnb. With the co-host feature, you can hire someone local to help manage everything. Find a co-host at Airbnb.ca slash host.

I'm Jorge Ramos. And I'm Paola Ramos. Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time, as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians, artists, and activists to bring you death and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. The Moment is a space for the conversations

we've been having us father and daughter for years. Listen to The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos on the IHeartRadio app, podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story.

Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack, available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Introducing IVF Disrupted, the Kind Body Story, a podcast about a company that promised to revolutionize fertility care.

It grew like a tech startup. While Kind Body did help women start families, it also left behind a stream of disillusioned and angry patients. You think you're finally, like, in the right hands. You're just not. Listen to IVF Disrupted, the Kind Body Story, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On a cold January day in 1995, 18-year-old Krista Pike killed 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in the woods of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Since her conviction, Krista has been sitting on death row. How does someone prove that they deserve to live? We are starting the recording now. Please state your first and last name. Krista Pike. Listen to Unrestorable Season 2, Proof of Life, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Kate Hudson. And my name is Oliver Hudson.

We wanted to do something that highlighted our relationship. And what it's like to be siblings. We are a sibling reverie. No, no. Sibling rivalry. Don't do that with your mouth. Sibling Reveory. That's good.

Oliver Hudson here reporting live from sibling revelry radio. This is no longer a podcast. This is the radio station I've changed my whole fucking voice. Welcome to WKRB, Sibling Re-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-A. We play all the hits and all the cuts. No ifs, no ands, no buts. Here we go.

Let's start it off with a little oasis. Wonderwall. Kick it. Oh, sorry. Our fucking music doesn't work. Let me just talk then. I don't know what I just did, but I just did it. That's kind of my motto in life.

I don't know what I just did, but I just did it. You know what? I'm going to put that on a T-shirt. actually on on my phone and I'm doing this as we speak you can see this hear this in real time

I have on my notes I have like a list of all kinds of crazy t-shirt ideas I would read them off but I don't want anyone to steal them because I'm going to create an online store and sell these hold on right here we go

I don't know what I just did but I just did it boom billion dollar idea right there. Anyway, it's me, O-L-L-I-E, the number one MC, and we're just kicking it. We're in Colorado, it's a bit of a gloomy day, but it's about to get much brighter

because my boy, my friend, I've actually worked with this man before. He's extremely funny, it's borderline iconic. And he's got a cool-ass movie coming out with Christina Reach called Guns Up. Haven't seen it, saw the trailer. It looks amazing.

My boy Kevin James is here, and we get to talk about his life, his brother, his growing up, how he became so funny and what it's like talking to me, which is the most important thing. So, without further, let's bring in Kev. What's happening, man? How are you? I'm doing good. How about you?

I'm good. I'm good. I was going to say, if you're not in Colorado, man, you have to go with something. I've got decorating issues if I'm not in Colorado. Yeah, and I'm on the floor of my kids' room because it's such a packed house. I got to find a quiet place. I love it. This is my new life. I know, man. Where are you? I am in Beverly Hills right now to, I'm out here doing jelly roll is guest hosting Jimmy. Kimmel. So he asked me about he's I guess Kimmel takes off for like a week

or something like that. Yeah. Didn't you just do something with him though where you came out on stage with him? Yes. Yeah. Performed it. Gosh, it was Ohio State Stadium in for 75,000 people. Oh my. How was that? It was insane. It was

it was really, it was absolutely nuts. It was scary as can be. Yeah, the horseshoe. Yeah. Not fun. It was fun, but it was fun once it was over put it that way yeah yeah yeah no i get it i get you've been i'm good man i'm here for a little bit i actually go to new york to the happy gilmore two premiere i was in it so i'm

i love i saw it yes it was just did you see the movie yes i here's the thing i haven't seen it yet you haven't no no i haven't seen it yet it's ridiculous yeah of course it's the biggest like it it literally it made me want to have and i know it's not going to happen but these movies in theaters again because I saw in the theater the crowd was just going crazy for it you know yeah ridiculous and it's like that's what I want and I know possible to come back or not but well it feels like the movie experience is slowly coming back you know but it's not there right we see all these big tent pole movies you know these Marvel movies and you know they're making some money but yeah that experience man i hope hopefully it does hopefully it does come back yeah they're all the

they're all the big you know massive action yeah and stuff but uh we just shot a uh a romantic comedy in rome that i i really i'm i'm so excited about it you know it's it's not that it's that different or anything but it just feels like it has that old classic feel of a really really funny real good balance of all the romance and comedy and great people in it and we're doing that in theater so I'm oh good who'd you do that who'd you do that with I did it with uh you know it was all Italian actors oh cool and uh Kim Coates you know Kim Coates uh from uh you know sons of anarchy yeah Jonathan Roomy was another guy in it and uh you know we had Alison Hannigan um she's And it was just, yeah, she's amazing.

So it was just such a fun experience. And again, we're putting, I'm a little afraid to bring that to theaters because it's, it isn't, you know, crazy. But I love it. We've screened it and it's, it seems so fit for that. Well, it seems like the romantic comedies is sort of coming back. You know what I mean? I hope, man. Yeah.

I mean, me too. Movies are just in a funny place. But you had a cool one. I watched the trailer for Guns Up. It looks fun. Yeah, it's a fun one. Yeah. I mean, Ritchie is so badass in that movie, man.

Dude, I know. Because you're not used to seeing her. I've known her like for a million years. You're not used to seeing her in these kinds of roles. And halfway through the trailer, she's fucking pulling out guns. Yes. You know, and, you know, obviously it doesn't give it away in the trailer, but there's something going on with her.

Yes. You know, she's obviously some sort of an operative of some kind. She's a badass. And it's, you know, it's, you know, It's actually a surprise to me as well. But it is. And she stepped up and she was so game to play and everything we did with her. And she was just, she was awesome in it.

Is, what, do you like doing that kind of, it's not drama necessarily, but having a little more serious playing a hitman, you know, is that fun? Yeah. It's, it's got a fun, you know, when you do a sitcom for so long and you're playing the same type of characters, then you do in the movies and you get kind of locked into these, you know, these big kid movies and it's the big goofy guy of, It's always fun to do something a little bit different. But again, like, this is, you know, it's a little bit different with the comedy and the action.

Like, I do love working the action. Of course, as I get older, it's getting so freaking hard. I tore my bicep in this thing. Did you? Oh, my God. Look at this thing. I literally right through the whole thing. And we didn't even start filming it.

This was right before we're doing, you know, the choreography for it. It ripped. And I'm like, man, this is. is 60. This is what's happening. Yeah. This stuff. So it's like, you got to keep yourself in shape. I got to try to do it. I don't. I don't even stretch and I go out to stupid stuff.

Well, that's because we're used to, because you're an athlete, right? And like, yeah, I was always athletic. And we never had to stretch. I never had to stretch. I could just go play basketball, go play hockey, do whatever. And now as we get older, it's like, oh, geez, this is not working out. If you were feeling it, look at

you. And then look at me and then say, well, you know what I'm like wow it's like my body is just like what are you doing and it's like inside here I'm like trying to move on camera like these guys you know and it's it's just getting harder and harder yeah I dude I had such a false sense of my athletic ability we were in Greece with the um this summer with the whole family which was an amazing like Kate mom Kurt Wyatt like everyone everybody but so the boys wanted to race you know it was rider wilder bodie everyone was racing I was like I'm gonna fucking I'm gonna race I'm gonna race

I'm going to show them. I'm almost 50, but I was always pretty fast. It was humbling. I was so slow that they're like, let's race again. I said, absolutely not. I will never sprint ever in front of a human in my life again. Yeah. But I thought I still had it.

I've always loved, you know, being able to think like, I'm pretty quick, man. Like, I'm pretty fast. If anybody steps out, you know, I can go and I can show. I saw footage of myself hitting myths, just hitting myths, you know, the focus it looked like a 75 year old guy that was drunk at a barbecue just stepped up the balance was off everything like slow I'm like that's not hitting that's not landing on anybody getting out of the way so it was pretty humbling I got to say yeah and I bet I bet like can we speed up the film like two X they're like well this is I mean we this is they go we already have we took every frame out

that we could, you're like, oh, no, you know? Yeah, it's, it's tough. They already know the tricks with me going in, and it's like, oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you find that, you know, because you said before, you do this sitcom forever, and I want to get back in your childhood just in a little bit, but you do this sitcom forever, and it's amazing, and it makes your career, and you make a ton of dough, but you're sort of stuck in this world,

and then you get into the sort of movies and you become typecast a little bit, Did you have to make a conscious decision to say, you know what? Like, I want to do something different now. You know, I need to step outside of the, step out of the box a little bit and make a concerted effort to do shit. Yeah. I mean, not the same. Or do you even care? I didn't care as much as it, like, it appeared.

Like, you know, I did a movie called Becky, which was like, during COVID. It was just in drive-ins and stuff like that where I play this, like, white supremacist guy. is. It's a crazy, you know, action movie, too, but it's a, it's a little bit, it's a campy movie. And, you know, it was, it wasn't like, they asked me to do it and they said, you know, we'd love you. And then I was like, yeah, it was different. I, I wanted to do a good job with it, but it's not like I'm out searching. Like, I have to play, show the world that, you know, you know, I'm Christian Bell, man, I can show you. I'm okay. You know, it's like, it's story. Not that I don't want it. It's, like, it is fun to have a chance.

challenge where you were you you're out doing something different but yeah I was originally in that movie asked to be the father and I was like you know what I don't want to do that like the father of the girl that you know and I was like let me play the bad guy so it's like just yeah I'm like something different yeah and how much a stand-up sort of come back into your life you know you look at well you look at Sandler right the dude has done everything you could possibly imagine yet he is still out on the road doing his thing you know I mean I mean, are you, because you do, you have a special. You had a special just come out?

Yeah, it came out a little last year. We have another one that's coming out. Another one that's coming out, that's right. Yes. Because he loves it. You know, we were talking about, he's going back out on the road again. Yeah. And I just, I'm, it's, it's something, it's how I started.

It's how he started. I mean, it's, it's just something that is, I don't know, it's, it's so different than than movie making and any, you know, TV or any being on a series, because it really is, you don't have to answer to anybody as far as you know well get the script back let's give we'll give you notes and we'll do the development and all that process it's go and it's you know write stuff and edit it and put it up that night and see if it works and and i don't think there's anybody better at it than him as far as i mean making it an event you know he makes it with the music he has in it and the comedy and the people that show up i've jumped up you know i i i don't know a few gigs with

him. Yeah. Yeah. It's insane from the police escort to the fans and the jerseys and the, you know what I'm saying? It's like, it's different than when I do it, you know? Yeah. He just made it so incredible and yet it couldn't be, you know, it couldn't be more, you know, up his alley. He just loved doing it. I know. It seems like it gets you just back to your roots a little bit as well, right? I mean, for you, it's just kind of like, I do all of these things and just to have a mic and a stage and an audience. simple you know he calls me he'll call me in and hey what do you think of this joke i just wrote this joke i went up and he went up in front of 12 people yeah he's he's putting it up everywhere just trying to get up and get some reps in and yeah he just loves it he loves it so much yeah you know he

doesn't have to do that september always feels like the start of something new whether it's back to school new projects or just a fresh season It's the perfect time to start dreaming about your next adventure. I love that feeling of possibility, thinking about where to go next, what kind of place will stay in, and how to make it feel like home. I'm already imagining the kind of Airbnb that would make the trip unforgettable, somewhere with charm, character, and a little local flavor. If you're planning to be away this September, why not consider hosting your home on Airbnb

while you're gone? Your home could be the highlight of someone else's trip, a cozy place to land. and a space that helps them feel like a local. And with Airbnb's co-host feature, you can hire a local co-host to help with everything from managing bookings to making sure your home is guest-ready. Find a co-host at Airbnb.ca slash host. I'm Jorge Ramos.

And I'm Paola Ramos. Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time, as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians. I would be the first immigrant mayor in generation. but 40% of New Yorkers were born outside of this country. Artists and activists, I mean, do you ever feel demoralized?

I might personally lose hope. This individual might lose the faith, but there's an institution that doesn't lose faith. And that's what I believe in. To bring you depth and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. There's not a single day that Paola and I don't call or text each other sharing news and thoughts about what's happening in the country. This new podcast will be a way to make

to make that ongoing intergenerational conversation public. Listen to The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Ed. Everyone say, hello, Ed. Hello, Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself. My dad is a farmer, and my mom is a cousin.

So, like, it's not like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. The 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer was?

walks into a comedy club, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I started trying to get pregnant about four years ago now. We're getting a little bit older, and it just kind of felt like the window could be closing. Bloomberg and IHeart Podcasts present. TVF disrupted, the Kind Body story, a podcast about a company that promised to revolutionize fertility care. Introducing Kind Body, a new generation of women's health and fertility care.

Backed by millions in venture capital and private equity, it grew like a tech startup. While Kind Body did help women start families, it also left behind a stream of disillusioned and angry patients. You think you're finally like with the right people in the right hands. and then to find out again that you're just not. Don't be fooled. By what? All the bright and shiny. Listen to IVF disrupted, the kind body story, starting September 19 on the Iheart

radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is a tape recorder statement. The person being interviewed is Krista Gail Pike. This is in regards to the death of a Colleen slimmer. She started going off on me tonight. hit her. I just hit her and hit her and hit her. On a cold January day in 1995,

18-year-old Krista Pike killed 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in the woods of Knoxville, Tennessee. Since her conviction, Krista has been sitting on death row. The state has asked for an execution date for Krista. We let people languish in prison for decades, raising questions about who we consider fundamentally unrestorable. How does someone prove that they deserve to live? We are starting the recording now.

Please state your first and last name. Krista Pike. Listen to Unrestorable Season 2, Proof of Life, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So what did you grow up? Is it just you and Gary? No, me and Gary, my sister, Leslie, we grew up on Long Island, and that was the thing. It was, you know, we were middle, lower class, middle class.

For comedy, it was always looking for that. Like, I had a decent upbringing, you know, it's like I didn't have the crazy uncle. I didn't have, you know, it was like Little League and McDonald's and Slurpees. And, you know, it was just everything kind of pretty normal, which was hard. to write stand-up I didn't have these crazy stories this edge and these angles that these other comedians did I'm like

oh man I could talk about my dog I could talk about the local dairy queen exactly exactly so but it was a great upbringing man did you grow up what did your parents do well my dad was an insurance salesman he sold insurance and my mother pretty much took care of the home

and took care of us she got a job for a while I was a, I think, a secretary. Was it a creative house, though, in general? I mean, were you, was there creative freedom or just? It wasn't creative. It was just kind of more of that, like, you know, Sundays having everybody the company over.

And, you know, like, Crystal always talked about, like performing in front of his, you know, it was, it was more of that. It was like we would get there and do impressions and laugh and drinking. And I remember my parents, you know, just like smoking in the house, the parents and everybody and these wild parties. and me and my brother would kind of get up and do impressions and things like that and just kind of goof around, but never really

I definitely wasn't a comedian that thought like, hey man, when I, you know, at eight year years old, I want to be on the Tonight Show and I want to become a stand-up. I didn't have those. I just love to. You was an entertainer for your family, meaning you love making people laugh and have fun. It was dinner table stuff. Yeah. Yeah. And then same thing at school.

Yeah. I was never like a class clown but it was like, you know, I was just having fun with my boys and that was it. Did you ever, was there a moment when you're like, oh, wait a minute, like, I think this is what I want to do. And then like a lead up to that is sort of, was there anything that you wanted to do prior, meaning I wanted to be a cop, I wanted to be this, not. 100% I wanted to be. Stand-up came to me because a lack of anything else I could do.

I looked at the college. I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to be like, I wanted to play football. I was running back in high school. I never went to class, so I didn't have the grades. Like, I didn't, I could never get into a great college. Not because I didn't have, I wasn't smart enough. It was just more that I just never applied myself.

Like, I never went to class. And yeah, so I had to go to a, you know, I was getting these, you know, a scholarship offers to these colleges that I couldn't, they wouldn't accept me because grades. Yeah. So my SATs, I cheated on my SATs and still only got a 950. I copied off the guy. I copied off the guy next to me.

I remember. And I'm chopping in sections, not knowing that they changed the sections on each. Yeah. Didn't match up. Yeah. By the way, I got you beat, dude. I got a 760 on my SAT. And I didn't cheat.

No, you went straight in? Oh, dude. I mean, I didn't. I was a horrible student. I got expelled from high school from the same your cheating situation. I cheated. I had the right answers on the wrong test because I put two tests out, different ones. I didn't even care to look at the question.

question you know so yeah i i i can feel you there with that's hilarious so that that made me end up at courtland uh state suny uh you know as state university in new york division three football where it was like it and when you this is you know when you start to realize even the athletes there were like the running backs were just so good men and and this is division three so when it's like when you can't cut it at division three your hopes of becoming a professional You got to cut bait here and you got to look for something else. Yeah, yeah. So I didn't finish college and I went home and I was bouncing at the time

at a couple clubs on Long Island. And my brother joined this like improv group. They started doing stand-up and that's, I started doing like community theater and just said, let me try this now. Oh, cool. I failed at everything else. So Gary was the one who kind of led you into it a little bit, right? Yeah, Gary started before I did.

He had a group of guys and, you know, he was doing it. And I'm sure he was pissed off when I was like, I want to do this too. He's like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I came in and thankful enough, he was pretty cool to me. And he was like, you know, you got to do this. And I remember him saying, like, when I started stand-up, he was like, you really need to, you know, go every night. He was, are you doing stand-up? He came home.

I was home living at my parents' house. And he's like, are you doing stand-up tonight? And I said, I'm not. I booked. And at the time, then you would sign up for, like, open-minded. night's and it would be like once every like three weeks you get your name on a list it was so crazy because it was everybody trying to do it was really hot stand-up yeah and i said i'm not working for like three weeks so like i'm not going to work tonight and he's like you're an idiot he goes

if you want to do stand-up you got to be there the clubs every night and just try to get on and you know he says you don't know what'll happen and he was right because i went down to the club that night i didn't have a spot but i hung out and i ended up meeting who turned out to like to be my first agent so that you know it was like smart to kind of I'd go out there and just watch other comedians, watch people how they did it. Yeah. What was your material like in the beginning?

You know, and was when you're looking back on it, we were like, oh, man, that was horrendous. Yeah. Yes, it was just, it was terrible.

It would get me, but like my first time, thank God. And I didn't, I was very, like, I didn't want to stack the audience with like, most comedians would bring all their family and friends.

Yeah. You wouldn't get a true reading of how you would do. Yeah. I wouldn't do that. I said, First stand-up, I remember, it was July 26th, 1989 at the East Side Comedy Club on Long Island. I drank, I think like four Coors Lights in the parking lot before. And I just went in there.

I would not have my family come in and watch. And I just went in there. We recorded it on whatever it was, this crappy little camera. And I did great. I did, like, it wasn't really well. You know, it was like an out-of-the-body experience. Yeah. And I was so happy about it and we listened to it and this and that.

And I thought this is going to be easy. Standup is easy. I got invited like two nights later to come back and I did the same set. And when I tell you that I ate it so bad, like, like, I mean, every joke. And once you're off a little bit and you're nervous, you don't know how to, the timing, everything couldn't go. And, you know, the audience is they're like a dog. They sense that fear. Yes.

And I was so done. I couldn't get back on track Couldn't think what I was saying So nervous I could just literally I was hearing the lights The hum The lights

It was so quiet I ate it so bad And I'm just grateful that I didn't quit After that one Because that was one that I should I should have given it up Yeah Most people would have quit

Yeah Well I guess you got You gotta eat it I mean that's just part of the deal It's important And I ate it for a while Like I had good shows Thank God I had good shows

in between, keep me going. It's like golf, man. You know, you get up one good golf shot. It brings you back. No, it's so true. Golf is that, completely that sport. And for some reason, it always happens on 18. You know, it's like, you're playing horribly. And then on 18, like, I'm done. I'm done. I've played it all my life. And I'm done. And then you have an amazing hole. And I'm like, oh, that's, it's still there. Yep. It's still there. Yep. Yep. I'm back in. And that's the same way. It really is. Have you ever tried stand-up? No, you know, it's funny because I love to tell stories. I don't write jokes. I did a show with Bobby Lee for two years and he's because we were just joke around. It's like,

dude, you got to do stand-up. You got to do five minutes. I get you five minutes. I'm like, no way, man. Like, it's too scary. It's so scary to me. I wouldn't know what to do. It's so easy for you. Are you kidding? I just tell some stories, but I don't know what the hell You go up and you do it. You act like you're bringing someone else up. You're bringing them up and just tell one story. Right. And then you just expand it a little bit.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get your feeling, man. It looks, it does look, it does look fulfilling, you know. It is. And the eating part, you just have to take. And I guess there's something beautiful about that as well. There really is. Because you're in a club.

Everyone has eaten it. So it's not like, you know, it's like, there's a commiseration where it's like, oh, dude, this one time. Yeah. You know, maybe I will. I don't know. We'll see. It's a good bucket list.

So did you and Gary, or you and your siblings get along well growing up, you know, or was there infighting? What was the vibe? We were okay. The vibe was kind of normal. It wasn't like we were, we weren't buddy, buddy, though. You were not. You were three years older than me.

My sister's two years younger. We just kind of like, you know, we fought a lot in the house, you know, like any kids around, you know, grab my stuff. That's mine, this, that. But didn't, you know, we weren't buddy, buddy either. I remember I got good at sports because I played with like Gary's friends. I would play tackle football in the street. Like these crazy sports where I didn't have my friends to do it.

So these guys are three years older and I'm running the ball with them and they're throwing me. You know, so it's like I toughened up a lot with them, which was good. Was it competitive with you and Gary? Especially him being your older, you know, brother where all of a sudden you're coming up and bang, bang, bang. I got to say he there wasn't I'm sure there were times where it's like you know I always brought him on you know and I always hated it because I didn't want to give him like a spot on the show because you know I didn't want him to think like you know or anybody think like I'm just doing it because he's my brother yeah it was funny and I love funny yeah I played a ton of golf with Gary yeah it's it's like how do I do this without doing it but there this there can't not be I'm sure you know I don't know there's times where it's like you know he like yeah I remember this when I came out with Ray. When Ray had his show, I remember I had just got the King of Queens and I'd follow Ray on the red carpet. Like, I learned everything from Ray on how to do a sitcom.

Like, really, I watched because I knew, you know, we've been friends, you know, in the stand-up, you know, for so much. And then the fact that he got a show, I was like, first of all, I couldn't believe it because he's such a low, you know, energy guy. Totally. It was a different, like, sitcom guys were to me, like the big wacky. He, you know, like, Kramer coming into the thing. He can, you know, he's got, I'm like, this is death. It's not going to happen.

And then it did. And he was so good on his sitcom. And the way he threw things away, I was like, wow, I have to watch him. Yeah. You know, and learn from him because I'm going to be too big on camera. And I am, by the way. So, like, even in the King of Queens, when I see episodes now, I'm like, gee, throw it away, kids. Oh, what are you doing?

I'm like, gee, I wish I could. Go back and redo it. But, like, the first few years of with, you know, going with Ray, you know, even when our shows came out, we'd go to the same CBS, like, functions and things like that. And red carpet things was so rough because they knew him. And my show had just come out. So they're taking, like, you know, it's like the red carps, taking a thousand pictures of Ray. And it's kind of standing there.

And nothing's clicking. There's no cameras. No flashes. Nothing, man. Maybe, maybe a disposable. some of the disposable. I'm trying to get closer to him and they're like,

let's just get one of rape by him. It was tough, man. So, I mean, I'm sure Gary feels that sometimes, but he's so funny on his own. And it's like, I just want him to find his own lane. And it's hard. Of course. Yeah, dude.

I mean, look, you know, we've had so many siblings on. Yeah. And we've had a lot of celebrity siblings and their, you know, and their brothers or sisters, right? Right. And some of them are not even in the business.

So the question is moot. But a lot of them are, you know, and I always ask the question, is their jealousy? Is their envy? And they all say, oh, no, we support each other. And I'm like, bullshit. Because we all have that. And I admit that I have envy of my sister. And there's some jealousy there. My brother is fucking crushing right now. I'm like, eh, eh. You know, not to say that I don't support them or love them or want them to be amazing. But there is that feeling. The only person was Chad Lowe. We had Rob Lowe and Chad. And Chad's like, are you kidding me? Is that a real question? Of course. Look at my brother. Look at how hot, look at his career. Yeah, you know. Yeah. No, but Gary's, honestly, he has been the supportive part, which I'm always, whether he's biting his tongue and hating,

you know, there might be some of that there. I don't know. He's funny as hell, too. Yeah, and he's, honestly, I have to say, I don't think, like, if I would have found stand-up first, I don't think I would have taken him on my little brother and brought him to the clubs and showed him all the things that he did. You know, I definitely would have been, like, find your own thing, man.

I did that. September always feels like the start of something new, whether it's back to school, new projects, or just a fresh season. It's the perfect time to start dreaming about your next adventure. I love that feeling of possibility, thinking about where to go next, what kind of place will stay in, and how to make it feel like home. I'm already imagining the kind of Airbnb that would make the trip unforgettable, somewhere with charm character and a little a local flavor. If you're planning to be away this September, why not consider hosting your home on Airbnb while you're gone? Your home could be the highlight of someone else's trip, a cozy

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I might personally lose hope. This individual might lose the faith, but there's an institution that doesn't lose faith. and that's what I believe in. To bring you depth and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. There's not a single day that Paola and I don't call or text each other, sharing news and thoughts about what's happening in the country. This new podcast will be a way to make that ongoing intergenerational conversation public. Listen to The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos

as part of the MyCultura podcast network on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Ed. Everyone say, hello, Ed. Hello, Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself. My dad is a farmer and my mom is a cousin. So, like, it's not like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club?

I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. Well, 22nd of July 2015. A 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club?

A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is a tape-recorded statement. The person being interviewed is Krista Gail Pike. This is in regards to the death of Colleen Slimmer. She started going off on me, and I hit her. I just hit her and hit her and hit her and hit her.

On a cold January day in 1995, 18-year-old Krista Pike killed 19-year-old Colleen Slimmer in the woods of Knoxville, Tennessee. Since her conviction, Krista has been sitting on death row. The state has asked for an execution date for Krista. We let people languish in prison for decades, raising questions about who we consider fundamentally unrestorable. How does someone prove that they deserve to live? We are starting the recording now.

Please state your first and last name. Krista Pike. Listen to Unrestorable Season 2, Proof of Life, on the on. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I started trying to get pregnant about four years ago now. We were getting a little bit older, and it just kind of felt like the window could be closing. Bloomberg and IHeart Podcasts present. IVF disrupted, the kind body story, a podcast about a company that promised to revolutionize fertility care.

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So how did King of Queens come about? How did that, how did you get? Because I know you, I know you had a deal there, right? Yeah, I had it. It was through stand-up, I got a deal. And I got a, I got booked at the Montreal Comedy Festival. festival. Okay. Like 1996 or five, five or six, somewhere around then. And back then, stand-up was so hot that like all the, you know, anybody who was in TV and, you know, all the executives

from Hollywood would come out, go to Montreal. And I was, you know, been friends with Rogan forever. We've started with the same manager. And we would always go out and do the Montreal Comedy Festival together and get spots. And this is this one year that I was up there. And and he was kind of with me and just it he was he was the one telling me just get out of your shell you're at you know because i was like every other stand up and still into some degree where you know it's the kind of you know the sleeves rolled up and the jacket what's going on here you know you know and he's like dude you're not like that man he's like i want you to just snap go out there yeah don't be and i really learned from him that you know instead of like serving

the whole audience you know what you have on a platform you want to take just he would just do what he cared about and if the audience would have this you know feeling of like if if i don't know what he's doing it's not funny everybody else thinks it's funny like it was just he had such confidence that it was like that was it really powered through and like i didn't have it like i was i was i would get nervous and try to you know raise the volume or whatever it's like i wish i had that confidence and he kind of helped me with that a lot and i had a really good set in montreal a couple good sets and we did well enough that I got a

a development deal at NBC. That's that's like pretty amazing. It was awesome. It was, yeah, the fact that they were interested and while I was in Montreal again, this is when people, it was like the wild way, it was so crazy because deals were happening and they were

giving them like crazy and it's like, wow, we could hit it big. While I was in Montreal, they called me to audition for SNL and I was so excited about that. I flew back and um i didn't know i thought they were going to just like kind of give it to me mm-hmm they liked me yeah like i got it yeah like they saw my stand-up i didn't know why i go why am i flying back if they're going to give it because i'd love it i would love to have

done it uh but i had to audition and uh they said just do some of your characters and i had no characters i had stand-up that's all i did so when i tell you i did i remember marcy klein was there I did stand up in a, in a, in a room with nobody. It was just a microphone and myself, the cameras were going. I didn't see anything. And again, I ate it. I can't like so bad and had no idea, no characters, nothing, no reaction. Nobody laughing at any of my bits.

And. Oh. Yeah. Obviously, I didn't get it, which was the best thing. Yeah. How about that? did. Yeah.

I couldn't do, you know, anything else. Yeah. Yeah. And so then you got this deal. And was it your concept? Or did they bring you this concept?

No. Michael Whitehorn, it was the writer, the creator of the show, had the concept of like, he wanted to do like a classic honeymoon. It's like an updated version of the honeymoon. Yeah.

Yeah. And he had seen a stand-up tape of mine. And we met with him. And then we started, you know working on it together but it was his idea initially we went to nbc and mbc had shows like friends uh at that time uh they were doing the office cubicle comedy so they didn't want this one they felt this one was kind of like it was like kind of stupid and they didn't they didn't like they wanted me they didn't want me as a truck driver they literally said

that they said does he have to be a truck driver like a delivery packages can he be you know and then it was like well that's what this guy is you know it's they said well at least can he they literally said Can he be, like, go downstairs in the basement and, like, play chess with somebody, like, in London on the internet. This is when the internet was coming through, he was like, they were like, well, that's not this guy. And they're like, well, if he's not that guy, I guess, then he might not be it for us. And that's when we said, all right, we're done with it. And then thank God CBS Cold, and we did it there. Yeah.

Because of Ray's, I think, because of Ray being there and they knew, you know, I knew Ray. And I was able to write an episode about golf with Ray. yeah uh and beyond that and i think that gave him a little confidence that we could do yeah and then the casting process were you heavily involved in that as well yes yes because that's it i mean you guys had such stupid chemistry you know what i mean she was i wanted her right from the beginning lea you did you did yeah without i said we have to get her i just you know we just finally made it work it just yeah you know she was able to do it she came in she said she didn't want to do a sitcom but she

she agreed to a meeting and she came in and we just hit it off she was like she's just so crazy and then once you know once the success happened was it just kind of like oh my god I cannot believe that this is where it is or did you always have that belief that

now someday I'm going to be here you know no I definitely didn't have that you didn't have that it was like I thought like you know, good things are happening in my life. You know, I feel like I'm meant to do all this stuff. I didn't expect to be there. And even when I was there, when we first, you know,

first couple of years of having a show, you're always looking over your shoulder. Yeah, of course. Yeah. You think you were this, you know, this is going to happen? Yeah. I know. Where do I go?

I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. No, we had that with rules of engagement. It was always like with Spade and I was always kind of, I don't know, like are we, is this happening again? I have no idea. You don't know what it's going to end.

Right. Here it goes, all right, we got picked up. We'd get like picked up for like half. Yes. It's kind of like a slap in the face. It's like, you love you. Just not that much. Right.

Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. But, you know, as you progressed, how many seasons did you do of the show? We did nine. Yeah, I mean, it's still in syndication, right? After all these years. And by the way, it's doing better now than it did.

When we came out, again, it was. friends. It was Raymond. It was all these other shows that we weren't at like top ten. We weren't, you know, we were doing well. It was after, you know, we followed Cosby for a little bit and we got a good lead in and then Raymond came on. So we were in that little basket, little

hammock and it helped us. But we were never, you know, boom, the press didn't, they never talked about us. But the better, you know, we did much better in syndication than we did. Like now I'm hearing more about it than ever.

Dude, of course. I mean, who knows, King Queens could come on Netflix and all of a sudden have a billion-view resurgence. Right, right, right. It's crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Would you ever do another sitcom, you think, or are you done with that?

It's not that I would. I guess I would. I mean, I don't do anything. I really, it's just different. You know, it's just a different kind of, but I loved it. I loved it. Yeah. Well, the schedule, too, is so great, you know.

Oh. You know, and you got your family and, you know, it's just so, it's always so nice to sort of be here. Yes. It was really cool. And like, I did one after that called Kevin Can Wait, and it ate it after like two years. It was a fun one, but it was by my house on Long Island. It was like all my buddies were in it. You know, it was like a good group of people.

And, you know, it just felt like, this is so much fun, man. We were hanging out Friday nights. We would just, you know, shoot the show and then stick around. But yeah, you know, it's a fun atmosphere. It is. If something cool comes along, then maybe. Yes, yes. Yeah, I would definitely look into it.

Yeah, I would consider it. Would you? Would you? I mean, what do you think? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would. Again, I think there needs to be a resurgence of the sitcom. I want to get back to the race or even your show or cheers where you have incredible

incredible actors, incredible writers, playwrights. Yes. People were on Broadway, you know, moving the camera inside a little bit to have some coverage to do a sitcom that actually feels like something. You know what I mean? I think it would be so great if a network would take a chance on something like that, rather than going for sort

of the big canned laugh stuff. Exactly. Make it smart again. How fucking smart and amazing was Cheers. Oh, I love it. Oh, it was the best. It was just great amazing characters. They were dead depth. You know, so yes. I mean, I would love

to do some of the sitcom like that. You know, and if I could stay in of course it's the best you know um this was great man it's really fun talking to i really appreciate and when does when does guns up come out it comes out friday this friday and where can we watch i think it's i don't know theaters everywhere where's it i even know theaters and streaming theaters and streaming i don't know and then when who cares just go watch it go find it and then what about what about the special when's that specials coming along we're doing it now i don't know the you don't know the drop of it yet okay yeah all right cool

Well, it's good to talk to you, Kev. Good to see you. Hopefully I get to see him personally at some point, brother. You too, man. All right. Talk soon. All right, buddy. Thanks.

Later. Ah, he's the best. Such a cool guy. I haven't seen him in forever. He looks great. Even with that bicep, man, when he pulled his bicep out, I think I put a T to that bicept. No, it's bicep.

And he had torn it. He was still, like, yoked. You don't want to get into a scuffle with him. He will destroy. you. He's so strong and so fast and nimble. He will destroy you. So for all those who are listening

right now, do not pick a fight with Kevin James. You will get destroyed. Anyway, that was awesome. I love that guy. And I'm out. Peace to the gods. J-Quest, a boogeyman. I'm Jorge Ramos.

Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians, artists and activists to bring you death and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. The Moment is a space for the conversations we've been having us, father and daughter, for years. Listen to The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club answer a new podcast called wisecrack where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story does anyone know what show

they've come to see it's a story it's about the scariest night of my life this is wisecrack available now listen to wisecrack on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts on a cold january day in 1995 18-year-old Krista Pike killed 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in the woods of Knoxville, Tennessee. Since her conviction, Krista has been sitting on death row. How does someone prove that they deserve to live? We are starting the recording now. Please state your first and last name.

Krista Pike. Listen to Unrestorable Season 2, Proof of Life, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Introducing IVF Disrupted, the Kind Body Story, a podcast about a company that promised to revolutionize fertility care. It grew like a tech startup. While KindBody did help women start families, it also left behind a stream of disillusioned and angry patients. You think you're finally like in the right hands. You're just not. Listen to IVF Disrupted, the Kind Body Story, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. The murder of an 18-year-old girl in Graves County, Kentucky, went unsolved for years, until a local housewife, a journalist, and a handful of girls came forward with a story. America, y'all better work the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns. Listen to Graves County on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And to binge the entire season, add free, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.