Soder - 108: Before the Confetti with Rob Riggle | Soder Podcast | EP 106

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

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Hey, guys, this weekend, I am in Missouri. Friday, the 21st, I'm going to be at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Saturday, I'm going to be in St. Louis at the factory. December 5th, that's a Friday, Vancouver, Canada, I am going to be there. It's close to sold out, but we're at the Vogue Theater. Saturday, December 6th, Eugene Oregon, I know it's the Big Ten championship. I hope your Oregon Ducks are doing great. Off chance they're not, or the games earlier in the day,

Why don't you come to the McDonald Theater in Eugene, Oregon? December 13th, Royal Oak, Michigan, Royal Oak Theater. I'm coming back, baby. I'm very excited. It's the last show of the year. We're going to have a hell of a time. December 13th, Royal Oak, Michigan. DanSoter.com for tickets.

Don't futz around with those other websites. Go to DanSoter.com. Get your tickets from there, and I'll see you in Royal Oak. You're going to turn around and be a senator. You're going to turn around. and be like, I'm not with the skeletons in my closet. Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore.

It really, honestly, I think now we need to start looking like, you know how everyone tries to push John Stewart to run for president? Yeah. I think there is like a thing where we go, well, we've been watching you for 20 years. Yeah. So like, we know you. I think that is the new value that that Trump proves with politicians is if you know a guy a long time, it's less a politician and more your buddy running for office.

Possibly. You might be right on that. And I think you're, they always say like name recognition alone. Alone. Alone. And we are, America is built on brand named recognition. It's the thing we do better. You've been all over the world.

The thing we do better than anybody. We do a lot of stuff. Great. I think we do. Brand name. Come on. Branding. Marketing.

You can't even touch us. London, you're catching up. Yeah. Everybody's light years behind us. Maybe the Japanese are starting to get... I would say they do cooler branding, but they don't do it better than us. That's right.

We are... We went on volume and quality and quantity. You know what I think it was? Remember that old cartoon of like, let's all go to the lobby? Yes. I think that, in a long form way, made us think of like Coca-Cola as people and stuff.

We're like, no, they sing and dance and they go to the lobby. There is something... I don't know what to do. it is but there's something to what you're saying with regard to repetition and all this because like a sitcom right yeah you you watch friends for 10 years yeah and like we work in the business so we can obviously separate things for a lot of people like no those guys are my friends they feel connected to them as if they're a family but that's because you invite them into your house well what i love about you know i've been a fan of years for years and everything you've done

from you know the daily show on to you know obviously stepbrother and stuff like that. But what I love about you is that there is this goofiness that if you don't know you're playing a character, you probably seem like a wild human being. You know what I mean? Like, if they don't think of you as just Rob Wrigal, who's a man, just a guy, who's doing comedy. Right.

And I've heightened it for a reason, for comedic effect. People are like, well, I was going to, you know, I was going to ask you to say some comments, but I don't know if I can trust you. I'm like, well, why? I'm a professional. If anything... You think I'm going to scribe your event? If anything, I know how to navigate this.

You know, Colbert was saying that now that his show is getting canceled and he said, I might go back to the character. And you're like, I bet there will be a group of people who do not realize he's gone from a character to himself back to a character. No, that's the thing. I think that's the character he did on the Colbert show on Comedy Central. Yeah, the Colbert Report. I think people, I think there's a... I mean, this is going to sound very conceited.

I don't mean it to sound that way. But certain people have levels of comedy knowledge and comedy expertise. You can see the subtleties and the sarcasm. And we can see those things. Oh, my God. And it's a dial for us. It's like, oh, yeah, yeah. For some people, they're like, I totally agree with everything he just said.

They're very literal people. Well, there were. The more I meet these literal people, the more I'm just shocked because I'm always like, it's a bit. That's the whole. And then I get, I get, I have to remember. People don't realize we're doing bits. It's a bit.

It's a comedy bit. It's an element of feeling like the Twilight Zone. It is. Well, see, I grew up, and I still am a huge professional wrestling fan. And so there's this comedic k-fabe that happens where you kind of go, well, there are people, even in 2025, that believe that wrestling is real. They want that to be real. Some element of them wants it to be real, just like those people that watch soap operas.

Yeah. And they want the, they're like, no, Dr. Or, what are, yeah, Ramore. There are people, you know, when I was on billions,

people thought I was just like a finance, bro. They have no idea how stupid I am. They have no idea that mathematics is easily my biggest. You're not stupid at all. You're actually very savvy. But you're talking about finance.

But I'm just talking about they were like, finance, right? And you're like, oh, brother, I don't know how taxes work. I understand the idea of it, but I still don't know.

But that's what I mean. I don't know how to win at it. Yeah. I understand, I understand the concept. I understand why we do it, but I don't know how to win. I understand where it goes sometimes. Sometimes I don't, yeah. But there are, there are, that is like a very weird thing where like you're, you're going to be, you know, you're shaking hands and going to these balls.

Next thing you know, they're like, you just got sworn in. And you're like, how the hell did I end up here? I wish, I wish not to run, but I'm saying I wish public service wasn't so bad right now. I mean, it's, we need good leaders and our best leaders are not taking the job. Why would you? You'd become an instant pariah. Can I tell you what we need to do is we need to bring nerds back to politics? Okay.

Because do you remember I was a poor student. I liked drugs. And I remember the kids that always ran for student government, I trust it. even when I was young there was this feeling of like well if you want to do that shit go ahead there wasn't anything cool about it there was nothing cool about it and then you go that's what you need to do you need to dorkify it again so that it's like paperwork yeah I I think I want to when I look at anybody if I look at my doctor my dentist my representative I want to believe that that's all they do and all they care about they're not doing it as a side gig yeah they're not doing

to climb a ladder or to position. They're doing this because that's what they want to do and they love it. I don't want to have my teeth being worked on and hear her go. What's up, chat? Yeah, what we got going on in the chat. And then Shakira comes in to sing a new songs during a stream while I'm getting a root canal. I don't want that. The best dentist I ever had was here in New York City.

The best dentist, Paul Shear recommended him to me. Okay. I went to him, pain-free dentist. and he redid everything, but he loved, he loved talking about what he was going to do to my mouth. Oh my God.

And I was like, I'm down. I'm so down for this. Wait, what do you mean? He'd be like, like, like, he didn't have the look on it. He was like, I'm going to fuck. Yeah, that's what I was wondering. Yeah.

Because I'll tell you, tone really shifts that entire situation. You go from being like, that would be the most insidating. You go, don't touch my fucking teeth. And he goes, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to get in there. I'm going to, I saw your mouth.

on closed circuit TV out around the waiting room. I was watching you and I was like, I'm going to put something on those teeth. You're never going to forget. Mr. Riggle, you are going to go,

yeah, you are. No, don't do that to me. I was told you're pain free service. Oh, you don't even know. The pain,

I can't, yeah, I got to charge for that. As he's injecting, novocaine. So is he just did it well? A good dentist is. He did it well.

He, my lower jaw doesn't, take the Novakane that quickly or that well. Yeah. Like you can give me a couple shots up here. It's work all day. Yeah. Down here, it didn't, it never took.

And so they would give me a shot. They'd start working. I'd go, ah, you know, I'd say, stop. And then Dennis, I could see him roll their eyes and they go, okay, fine. And then they give me another one. And they go, that's two, you should be dead, you know. Yeah. And I would still feel.

So I keep complaining. And they'd be like, this is crazy. You know, you're being a baby. Basically. So I was like, maybe I am being a baby. This guy, he was like, how about now? I was like, I still feel it. How about now? Still feel it? He just kept, you know, until I was like, I got nothing. He's like, let's go to work. That's great. He goes, you don't even, I took your bottom jaw. That's the thing you don't even know. I'm holding it over here. Hello. Hello, idiot. I'm holding your jaw. That is. That's what you do. But no judgment either. Like he was like, we're going to go. I will keep doing this until you don't, until you're comfortable until you don't feel it. Good bedside manner is feeling they're like, you got a teammate. Yeah. Like, I'm just here to help you. The worst dentist I ever had was in New York City.

Oh. And it was in Queens, in Astoria. And the guy, in Astoria, you know, passed a certain part. It's like row homes, but they're also businesses. So you go to just this house, right? That's always interesting. And then I walked in. And I'll tell you what, it wasn't the house that bothered me.

It was very nice when you got inside. You realized that it was an office, an actual dental office. The guy came around the corner. way too spray tanned in like scrubs and just did he have jewelry he had a necklace okay he had a necklace i didn't look at the hands because there was gloves on it yeah but he was way too like uh new york he was two queens he was like hey don't he's like he's like he's like he's like talk you know in my mouth and he's like show you a fan of i'm like the porn runners and he's like nah you guys should run games not that good and then he didn't it felt like he just went like boop boop boop oh yeah you're good to go

and i don't know i don't know dentistry but that didn't feel like yeah they didn't feel right that felt like i went to him twice and then i was like i'll just wait my prince charming is out there it's like yeah yeah and you leave the car and they come back and they go yeah it's all done yeah like i i've been looking at it i feel like you guys he goes we're underneath working we're underneath they definitely he did a jiffy lube clean where he just was like i don't know it's good. This guy doesn't even know what a bicuspid is. I could do this all day.

I do this all day. I don't even actually look at their teeth. I've been wanted by the Gambino family since 87. If I'm being a truth be told, it's my brother that's a dentist. I'm not even a dentist. I just take his smocks. I come down here. I poke around a little bit.

I go back upstairs. Whatever. I got a sauce going. I got to go start. You get to go. Don't eat sweets. What are you a child? Then you leave and you go, it is good dental.

That's how? Just a New Yorker breaking your diet down. What are you fucking six? Stop eating candy. He goes, just stay. I got a sauce. He's stirring it. He asked me, how many times you brush your day?

You're like, huh? Now I have a great one. I have a great one in Midtown, and she's nice, but also it's like I was raised by a single mom, and it reminds me of the same energy. She goes, what, what, what?

And you're like, my tooth hurts. And she goes, okay. okay come here and then she goes there's something comforting for you it is yeah it's the energy it's the way that you like that the guy was like yeah I want to get in that fucking fuck yeah I don't know what

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Go buy Rob Regal's book today on Veterans Day. On Veterans Day. When you joined the Marines, was it right out of high school? No, I was a sophomore in college. Really? Yeah. My friend Tom did that at the University of Arizona.

Can I tell you something? Yeah. that's the that's a way that I always thought was like super patriotic because I've known tom since sixth grade pop Warner football and he was just like at university of Arizona and then he's like yeah I'm joining the Marines and I was like oh sure okay it's a bold choice you go like it's a bold choice yeah because you can't the first thing this is I'm talking about when Tom did this this was oh three okay oh yeah that's right when things were I go yeah like people he signed up at game time yes people don't realize i was i was 18 i graduated high school in

2001 so when september 11th happened that was like a lot of my friends that joined out of high school right we're like okay because a lot of them were like yeah what am i going to go to a parking garage in germany for six years and then they're like okay yeah okay things things change yeah it's game time yeah so when tom signed up it was i believe right before uh the the iraq invasion yeah right before the iraqi invasion i want to say it might have even been after yeah i think we invaded april of o three yeah iraq yes so that's what it was three yeah it was after that and then he spent time over there and he led a team i believe i don't know if it was marines or army i don't want to fuck it up tom i'm sorry i'll see when i come to chicago but it was uh it was one

of those things where you're like when you're in college and someone joins you go fuck all right yeah yeah yeah i matter of uh yeah there's there's a there's a lot of things, stories that I was hearing. And I'm like, wow, okay. Like the Pat Tillman. Yeah. You know, I mean, I went to University of Arizona and I think Pat Tillman is an American hero.

I hope the Sun Devils lose every game to ever play. But I think Pat Tillman is an American hero. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Oh, there it is. Dude, let's go. Let's go, let's go Arizona.

I spent a lot of money to go to school there, all on loans. Took me an HBO special in seven seasons of billions to pay off. I've not been to Arizona. but I have I mean Arizona University yeah but I've heard nothing but good things it was great I just just got to do a show in Tucson at the Rialto about a month ago and it was fantastic to go back there and I walked around school and it was like man those are children like you just go and you're like this is a giant daycare center I know it's I went to the university of Kansas and I go back home all right Jayhawk we had we had a rivalry with you in basketball when I was at school well heck yeah

because you guys were awesome and so is Arizona this is when you guys had uh Kirk Heinrich and Collison. Those guys, but we were down 20 and Kansas is a great basketball school. It's a good school. It's a good basketball school. You know, I think there's certain universities. Everybody's had their thing, right? Yeah.

And you're lucky, actually, because you actually have football and basketball. It's switched. It goes, it ebbs and flows. But you have a pretty consistent appearance. It always depends on who the football head coaches. But basketball at Arizona stays baseline pretty good. Pretty good. Yeah.

And I think there are certain places like Michigan has the big house in football, right? There's certain cathedrals to the sport. And I think Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas is definitely one of those cathedrals. It is a, I would put it up there with the Coliseum for USC, Notre Dame, Big House. I mean, there's so many legendary places for sports. You know, it's weird. College baseball's never gotten the run to get that kind of like. I always remember it as a kid watching it

Yeah You know in the summer Yeah And it would always be able to link in Nebraska Omaha Yeah they'd do the Nebraska The College World Series in Omaha And there was usually the same cast of characters

It would be Arizona was always be in it Always Your Oklahoma schools And then an SEC like an Alabama Or Florida State Florida State was great Yeah But it always

It never got the like push That basketball and college football got And it's America's pastime So I don't understand it I will say this I'll tell you a story so Alan Fieldhouse If you've never been I say go

Because if you're if you're a fan Of the sport of basketball Especially college basketball Well this is invented Yeah I think you got to go You got to treat yourself to a game there Yeah Because it is a special environment

For basketball So my girlfriend Kasha who's in the other room She's a professional golfer Okay She's from Poland Okay I went

Coach Self asked me to come back And host the Midnight Madness Practice right Which at KU's a big deal It's at Arizona at the McHale Center, it's a big deal. It's a big deal. I can imagine it's nuts and Duke. Midnight basketball means they can open for practice.

Yes, it's the first practice. Oh, you know what you do, though? The recruits come out and dunk and students get so crazy. Yeah. Dude, freshman and sophomore you're going to Midnight Madness. Midnight Madness. So we got 16,000 people in the field house. It's, you know, laser lights, smoke.

They do all the like, Kassus, Jayhaw. It's like that like stuff. Yeah. They're showing the videos. these videos, the highlight reels. Yeah, so it's electrified, right?

So I come out, I'm hyping to, you know, I'm getting going, it's, you know, it's everything you'd hope it to be,

right? Yeah. And I go sit down next to her and she kind of looks at me and she's, you know, dazed, you know,

and she goes, you do all this for amateur sports? That's so funny. And I had to go, oh, baby, let me explain how it works. Yeah.

Sure, they're called amateur sports. But in her mind, she was like, this is crazy. Like, you guys do this for,

College kids? Yeah, the college, college athletics, I think this is the only country where it's as, where it's like a huge business and thing and like culture. It's a huge culture. It's a culture, for sure. And you grew up in Kansas. I grew up in Colorado. When you grow up in the South Midwest, anywhere, you know what?

I hate to say this Northeast, anywhere but the Northeast. College football is much more important. It is. I came to New York and no one gave it. shit they're like yeah we got rutkus and you're like no no what about Saturday mornings waking up what about the tailgating what about the whole day the whole Saturday the day buzz it was it's like it all matters day drinking for college football and but also just college football like from the time I can remember being little waking up and seeing like a random now I grew up and we both grew up in big

12 yeah uh area so watching like a random Oklahoma state versus like Kansas state yeah being like like, I love this. But that's the thing. Like, I, I have great, great memories of going to Big 12 games. Yeah. Whether it was, you know, because I had friends when we drive down for Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Bedlam, you know, one of those games, right? Or whatever.

But if we went to KU, a KU game, you know, there's a tailgating element, you know, you go, you have a couple of Mary's, you're grilling some meats, you're eating, you're having a couple beers, time to go into the game. Our football wasn't that great. So by half time, we're out of there. Yeah, yeah. You know, but we, you know, you go over to, uh, to the wheel or to a bull, you know, to the, to a bar and you, you know, keep drinking and socializing. And just that, that afternoon autumn buzz.

Yeah. I mean, nothing better. I don't think there's much better. I hope I would say, I hope when I go to heaven, that's part of it. That's the feeling, the walk around feeling. That's a big assumption I'm getting at it. Yeah, walk around feeling is God goes, it's pretty nice, huh? It's day buzz.

Yeah, day buzz. How much you love on this. Yeah. And by the way, no sleepy afternoon. You like that smoky smell of burning leaves in the background? It's pretty cool. That's autumn. That's just for you.

Not a stroke. Oh, yeah. There are no strokes here. Have fun. There is, I remember even, not even going to games, but like being in college and waking up and a friend hurting from the night before and being like, hey, I got breakfast burritos and some beers. Oklahoma's playing Texas. And you go like, yes. Yes.

Yes. And then you find out an afternoon game. When I moved in New York, I had a friend from Colorado move out and move in with me. And he was like, where's the college football? And I was like, our apartment. And then we would just drink it on Saturdays. We would get, this, I wasn't getting spots yet. So I was like, if I wanted to go do spots, I'd go out and do a bar show and stuff.

So on Saturdays I'd go, let's just throw the whole Saturday away. They'd just like drink and watch college football clear into the night. I remember those days. I really do when you, when you, when you, you. Saturdays were just dedicated to watching football and having a couple beers, nursing the hangover from the night before. Maybe if you were really motivated,

you might go play some golf, maybe not. Great. But when I was in New York, I remember there was a sports bar up on the Upper East called Ship of Fools, and they had like 16, 20 televisions going. So you could catch games from all over the place. I'd go up there and just have some chicken fingers

and some beer. Yeah. find a nice little booth did that become cooler i'm assuming this is when you now when you moved here was for s andl no i i i moved here as a marine i was on active duty really yeah i worked i worked in midtown in the public affairs office no way yeah and i took my first stand-up class i didn't know how i just knew i wanted to do comedy sure i didn't even know how to begin i really knew nothing and you were stationed here and i was stationed down in north carolina and i was getting out and i was going to move to Chicago to study at Second City because I heard that's what you should do.

So I was like, okay, that's what I'll do. And then the Marines said, well, would you consider staying in? And I said, I didn't want to tell them what my dreams were because they would have probably been like, what the fuck. So I was like, you were the one. Yeah. Oh, no. Oh, you should have told us that much earlier.

We wouldn't have let you near half the stuff we let you around. No business. Yeah, you were around some dangerous equipment. I didn't know you had silly brain Exactly You got yuck somatic So I just said I've got some opportunities

In Chicago I'm going to pursue But thank you very much And they said well what would it take? I said well if you can give me to New York or Los Angeles Because to be honest with you I was going to move to Chicago And be a bartender and a waiter

And try to do comedy That's what my goal Yeah So they said well If they can get you to New York or L.A I said I would stay The next day they called my bluff I had orders to New York City

So I figured well I was a captain I might as well get paid as a captain. Great. And have, you know, moved to New York. Benefits, everything. So I would do three years more here as a captain of Marines during the eight to five, you know, in midtown. And then at night I'd go do comedy. So when I got up here, first thing I did, I went and found a sports bar, a ship of fools in my neighborhood.

There you go. And then they had a rugby team. That was the New York rugby club. So I ended up playing rugby with those guys. Because I knew no one when I moved up. Great way to get in there. I knew no one. I met a bunch of really nice guys and people.

So I, like, had friends pretty quick and was part of that group for a while. And then I realized, hey, I came up here to do comedy. That's what I... Sure. I came here to do comedy. So quite literally, on the way home from Ship of Fools to my apartment, I walked right by Comic Strip live up on the Upper East. And there was a little sign that said, classes.

So I went, I got to start somewhere. So I signed up for classes. And I took eight weeks of classes with... D.H. Sweeney, is that his name? Oh, no, D.H. Sweeney. I know, I know that name, but there was another woman teaching it when I moved here. Okay. But I know what you're talking about.

I know what class you're talking about in comic strip lot. I think D.H. was over it. Yeah. He was like, he's like, we do three jokes per minute here. Set up punch, set up punch, set up punch. Yeah, it became more of a, of, uh, when I moved here in, like, the a, um, if you sign up here, I can maybe get you spots on real shows. It wasn't like, it became more of like a, uh,

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So I went in and I took these classes and I hated the classes because I didn't realize how terrifying getting up on a stage was. Oh, and you had never done it at that point, never done like an open mic? Nothing. You know, and I was in the Marines. I'd flown planes. I'd deployed. I'd done real shit.

But this, I think being on stage terrified me on a level I didn't expect. Like real vulnerability, real fear. the kind of fear that when I finally got up to do my five minutes I didn't bring anybody I didn't you know I just I just you're supposed to be two people I didn't do fuck that I'm not bringing anybody

to see this no one seeing me do this exactly so I got up I did my five minutes and it was five minutes of jokes that I wrote that I hated I hated the jokes that I wrote I did not believe in them it was because I did his formula of three jokes per minute well I'm more of a storyteller Eddie Murphy delirious type

yeah you can't I like to tell stories and do characters within the stories and animate myself and heightened and that wasn't happening. It was three jokes per minute, so I'm right on. And that is a very old-timey, like, cat skills, borsch belt, like, you know what you got to do? You got to go out there and you got to talk to them. And what's funny is when that comes around in comedy as far as, like, even streamers

now will be like, we've noticed if you have three jokes a minute, but then you go, let me figure it out. Let me, and I think. That's what takes the time. And the repetitions is you have to find your voice. You have to figure out that doesn't work at all. This feels awful. And then you find ways that it doesn't feel awful or that it feels better or this works.

And now I see what they meant when they said this. So anyway, I got up. I did the five minutes. It was like a car accident because I was in shock. I really was in a state of shock. Someone with a flashlight. What's your name? I didn't hear.

I couldn't hear the crowd because the pulp the yeah the heartbeat the heartbeat in my ear the blood rush the I wanted to be off the stage the second I walked on but I knew I had to power through so it was it was like being in an accident I was in a state of shock was there a part of your Marine and this is just as someone that's not been in the armed services or whatever but like was there a part of your Marine like that you knew like all right my I'm having you know the fact that I got on the stage was all the Marine Corps got right foot left foot because mine was like just straight booze like I just drank I just drank a couple beers and I was like I want to yell some shit at you yeah like but I'm thinking in you know when you have

these tools that you've developed in the Marine Corps where you go like all right soldier that's your heartbeat and get it out of here I wish I had that level of skill okay all I the the Marines did provide me with you're not quitting yeah and you're not backing out like a pussy great so those two things got me on the stage big thing because let's To my own devices, I would have walked. Yeah, you're like, fuck this. I would have said, fuck this. And I said, it's not the right time, it doesn't feel right.

I would have come up with a thousand excuses. And you see people in comedy do that. And the Marine Amy was like, go up there. Yeah. Take your fucking medicine. Yeah. And let's just get it over with. Yeah.

And let's see what happens. Yeah. So I went up and I took my medicine. But I was never more petrified, never more in shock. So when I walked off the stage, here's the thing. I couldn't hear the audience. Sure. so I didn't even listen for a laugh like I knew I had five minutes to say and I'm going to say it and I'm going to get the F out of here yeah so I said my five minutes and I got the fuck out yeah on the way out guy goes hey whoa don't forget your tape and I didn't realize that they videotaped me yeah got that VHS baby I took the video tape I got back to my apartment I sat there and about two hours later my adrenaline had cooked off yeah and I was like okay I'm gonna watch this fucking thing see what happened I popped it in it wasn't as bad as I

thought. Now, it wasn't great. It fucking sucked. But it wasn't the level of hatred that I thought was out there. Yeah, you watch and you go, oh, that actually makes sense. There was a couple laughs. There was a couple laughs that had I let it breathe, it might have done okay. But I was like, I started talking and drowned out the laugh. Yeah, yeah. Got to get those three minutes in. Exactly. Got to get those three jokes in per minute. So, so I realized it wasn't that bad. But what I also realized was I hated that experience. I hated it so much that I thought I had made a big fucking mistake in my life. Is that the thing where it's like almost like in a sense like post nut clarity where you like do it and then you go like oh fuck I said I promised a lot of things and you're thinking yeah and you're

like I'm in New York now I transferred here. I quit flying I quit flying in the Marines to get on the ground I took a I quit my flight contract and I had my pilot's license in college and everything I quit flying so that I could become a ground officer so that I could pursue comedy. And then you do it and you go. And then I did it. And this was all sight unseen. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking.

I just had a dream, right? And then I did it and I realized I hate it with a, I mean, really hate it. Because I just, is there a panic that said to? Yes, a big panic. Like I can't believe I gave up flying and I can't believe I gave up this whole thing to do this thing that I really didn't look into.

I just had this dream in my heart that I wanted to do it. I felt like I belonged there. I felt like I should be doing it. So anyways, all sucked. Then I'm sitting there feeling sorry for myself and I had a conversation. Somebody, an old friend of mine, knew Dave Kekner. Yeah.

And said, I have this comedy friend. Do you want to talk to him? You know, he might talk to. He's had a lot of success. So I was like, well, he's not going to talk to me. And they go, yeah, yeah. So friends set it up. I called Dave.

I'm going to Dave, I'm a friend of friend. Yeah. And he was like, oh, yeah. you want to grab a coffee so i was like sure my god yeah so i went and had coffee with him and he goes okay so walk me through what's going on yeah so i was like oh this sucks i think i'm gonna be in the sky i could touch god and now i'm just like what the fuck i'm in the swamp with these clowns what the fuck yeah why did i do any of this he was like calm down yeah he's like you're right where you should be this is that this is natural you're not

you're not in crazy land yeah this is reasonable just like being a good dentist yeah You just want a teammate. Yeah. I got my hand in your mouth and you're okay. Hearing that was great. And then he goes, he goes, well, there's a lot of avenues here. He goes, have you thought about improv? And I go, yeah, but they don't have any in New York.

And at the time, they didn't. Oh, really? The only thing they had was Chicago City Limits, which is short form improv, like games and, you know, songs and something like that wasn't my thing at all. And he goes, I got some friends from Chicago who just moved here. And he goes, they. They're starting a school, and they do a show called ASCAT. They do a show every Sunday night. They call themselves the UCB, U-C-B, U-Sidicistis Brigade.

Go check them out. I think that might be more what you're looking for. So I went down and saw the ASCAT show. This is Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser. I laughed when you went, oh, there's no improv in New York. That's how, I went like, well, yeah, there's a shit ton of improv. There's UCB. Well, now there is, but back in 1990s.

Because the UCB got to New York in 96. And then they had that Comedy Central show. Right. But that didn't start until like 98, 99. Yeah. So that's when that show was going. That's when I learned about it. Yeah.

And I didn't know they had like a whole school and shit. That's the thing. Like I was so lucky. I was one of the first students they ever had. Really? Yeah. I mean, they had one class, I would say class, a head of me.

And then it was like my group. That's what. Which was like me, Paul Shear, Rob Heubel, Jason Manzoukis, Jack McBrere, you know, there's just great comedians. But that was kind of my class. And then there was a whole other group behind us that Zach Wood and all these guys. Imagine being the class before him. You go, it's pretty good people too.

You're like, fuck. That's like a stack. That's like the, what draft class is that? Like the 96 NBA draft class? There's like a draft class that's like Kobe Steve Nash. Yeah. There was also a football one like an 83 with all the quarterbacks. Oh, yeah.

That was, they did the 30 for 30. Cali and Marino, Elway to Marino. There you go. Jim Kelly, yeah. And the Chiefs took Blackledge anyway. Yeah, oh my God. And you know why? Because he won the national title that year.

You know my favorite part of that documentary is, is, because I'm a 49ers fan, is when they say the Colts called Bill Walsh. And they said, what about we trade you Elway for Montana? And Bill Walsh said, let me call you back. And then he calls him back a little bit later. He goes, I'm not done winning Super Bowl's with Joe yet. And then he hug up. He was like,

Guy, I love him. I thought I love to him because you can't fuck I tell you more. He got two more. That franchise, that franchise was run

so well. De Bartolo, I got to meet Eddie De Bartolo and I was with a friend and my friend didn't realize why I was so excited to meet Eddie de Bartolo and I was like,

he was the reason the 49ers were a dynasty. He was just in fantastic ownership. There's a reason that every single 49er that has gone to the Hall of Fame during that time has had Eddie D.

give the speech to go in there. I believe. Chiefs are, you know, the hunts. Yeah. Their good ownership is good. That's the thing. People always think it's the, the team on the field.

Of course it is. Absolutely. Absolutely. But it starts at the top. But the organization can make a big difference. You know, it's funny is Jed York is the, you know,

they're controlling partners of the 49ers now and he's like, kind of like, I think either my age or a little bit older, watching them turn into a good owner has been awesome. Yeah.

And you're like, I mean, you guys have gotten two Super Bowls Did you go to both those Super Bowls? I did. So did I. Yeah. I was on the other end of that. Sorry.

Did you go to the one where you lost to Philly? I did. Good. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. By the way. I just needed you to have no pain that I saw.

So the last three Super Bowls I've been blessed to get to go to. So the one 49ers, that was. So you went to Miami in 2020. I did not go see the Buccaneers. I think there was like 10 people that do. Yeah. I think it was because it was a lockdown time frame.

So didn't see that one. I was first year, COVID. Went to, I went to, uh, I went to the 49ers one. So you went to the one in Vegas? And I went to the Eagles one before that. The ones were you beat Eagles. Yeah. Went to that one.

Yeah. Um, and that one I enjoy, I enjoyed the ones we went, obviously because we won. But the eagle, I, for whatever reason, you know, I, I, I don't get like sweet tickets or. Yeah. That's, I think that's, you know, more like Rudd and Sadecas. Those guys get those tickets. You know, that's the first graduate class of UCB. Yeah.

Those ones are doing the way. You know, we got wriggle in it. I'm out there. I'll, like, I do a spot. I'll do, I'll turn tricks for Bud Light to get a couple tickets, right? Well, that's kind of what happens to me. They're like, would you be willing to stand over here and fart in a cup? We'll give you two tickets.

I'm like, done. God, dude, I got a fart locked and loaded. The Chiefs fandom, comedically wise, it's great. It's you, Rud, Keckner. Stone Street. Stone Street. Yeah. And Heidi Gardner.

Yeah. from MSL. Yeah. My buddy, Robert Alberino, who you know, worked at the Chiefs. Yes. And a big 49er guy. Well, he went Chiefs, 40, he went Eagles, Chiefs, 49ers back to the Chiefs. Yes.

And he's the best. Rob is the best. Love working with him. I'm going to see him when I do my show in Kansas City. I love his family. He's unbelievable. Him going to the Chiefs the year they beat the 49ers twice, knowing how much he enjoyed it because of how.

it ended with the 49ers was so tough to watch a friend get genuinely like you know what good for you yeah little justice yeah little justice yeah and then the second time i went i'm not as happy for you yeah cool it take it easy calm down okay you got enough trophies you got a lot of rings and then now he'll be like and i love rob every time i talk to me he's like we got to get you to a chief's game i'm good i'm good can i tell you so i was down in new Orleans for this last eagle's chief's debacle Yeah, a great Super Bowl A terrible Super Bowl The only time in the world

You'll ever hear me say flybirds fly So we go to it And truth be told There was a vibe I didn't like the vibe But I'm not I'm also very positive So I'm not giving in to the vibe

Sure I'm just like no no no You're willing it You're trying to will it away You try to will it Yeah Every person that's going to the Super Bowl That is a real fan

Yeah Not a corporate guy that got it because they have an AI company that gave $70 million to something. I'm talking about the fans that go there are all on edge in a way that is hard to explain. Right. Everyone's doing that. Everyone's going, if I take this step right, we'll win. If I take this step right, we'll win. You're like, truly everyone's doing that.

I would rather, and this sounds weird in a way, but I'll give me the loss at the wild card level. Yes. Don't let me get to the, don't let me almost taste the ring and then. take it away. That's the hardest, the hardest. I would say, you know, I went to the Vegas one and I was with Michael Chee because he's a 49ers fan. That was a very hard loss. It was. 2019. To me personally, I don't think I can feel a worse sports moment because I was there, but more importantly, I grew up with Mike McDaniel, who was the offensive coordinator, or he's the run game coordinator at the time of the 49ers. So my middle,

little school best friend is the run game coordinator of my favorite team. They lose in the Super Bowl, and then you go to that after party. And you're like, did you go to the after party after they lost? No, I retreated. You didn't go. You got to go. If you ever get the opportunity. I went to the Chiefs Hotel.

Okay. Because at Norlands, Eagles had a hotel. The Chiefs had a hotel. I went to the Chiefs Hotel. Okay. So at least there was some red and some safety around. Sure. Because the Eagles fans were consuming the quarter.

Yeah, that's what happened to me in Vegas with you guys. It's just red and yellow. My favorite was the day after Miami, I'm flying back to New York. And there's Chiefs fans in the TSA line. And I'm wearing my 49er hat. Because I'm not a fucking, I'm not scared. No, no. You keep wearing.

You don't take it off the next day. I was sitting there like this. Yeah, win or lose. Win or lose. I'm with you. I was sitting there with my 49er hat in the TSA. By the way, I didn't shed a layer when I walked into the French quarter that night. And, dude, this is the best.

This was the best. They're all, you know, all the chief fans. I mean, you can we want. Oh, my God. My mind was so fun. And then this. I waited my whole life for that Miami. It was 50 years.

Yeah. And I go, I told the way in the airport, I go, I hope you have to wait another 50. And then you guys have just been on a roll sense. But I was standing at that TSA long. And everyone's going. And one of the TSA agents, his old black dude is like telling him, he's like, y'all looked great last night,

y'all looked great. And then he sees me, he goes, I see you, big dog, like that. And he goes, I see you repping. And I went like that. He goes, stay strong, like that. And it got me home. Yeah.

That was all I needed. And I was like, I was just sitting there like, I fucking hate this. And everyone's like, oh, we're having, oh, fuck. So I was at the Norlands one. Yeah. And we were never in it. it, right?

Yeah, the Eagles blew you guys out. We were never, there was never a moment where I was like, here we go, here we go. Every other one you guys have been in has been a great game. We just, and all, you know, credit to the Eagles and their game playing and all this. We just were never in it. We weren't in the game. We just, there wasn't even a moment where like we got some momentum or we had a couple of play. We just weren't in it.

So, again, because I scrounge for tickets, we were sitting in an Eagles section. So I'm surrounded by Eagles fans. And they're amped up. I will just say some of my favorite people that I love more than family members I have, friends that I go back decades with people that I would die for. Fuck that fan base, man. That fan base, when you are going against them, you are just like, Steelers fans can get annoying.

Yeah. Fuck the Seahawks forever because I'm a 49ers fan. Something about Eagles fans is they want to fight you. Okay. They want to fight you. Philadelphia's, yes. Philadelphia's means attain a level of like,

yeah, fuck you, I'll throw something at you. And you're like, I don't want that right now. Yeah. I'm watching the game. Please let me,

I'm processing on my own here. So you're in the Eagles. Right. And now, let's go back a couple years when we, when we beat the Eagles in Phoenix. I was also surrounded by Eagles. Great.

The whole first half, they're riding. We're down, I think, 10 points at halftime. That was when Siriani was like... Yeah. So we're down 10 at half. You know, I go to get a beer. They're like, where you go, baby? Give me the hot...

Yeah, don't... You might want to not mess this next one. Yeah, they're just loving it. Talking that mad shit. By the end of the game, all... Everybody's gone. They all just vanished into the ether. That's what you got to do.

And so it was a really nice moment for me. Yeah, you can... Well, now cut to Norlands. And we're down there. We're never in the game. So it's just, it's a never. I never had a minute to cheer to be like, oh, right. Oh, you know, suck it.

No, no. It was a relentless barrage. Yeah. So I'm with my girlfriend. I think that's the only reason they didn't pour beers on my head or get fucking insane. Well, also you're Rob Wrigal. Well, I don't think that,

I think that made him more crazy. Yeah. Yeah. You're like, you're not got to say fucking Kobayashi eats cox. Doesn't feel like the kettle and wine mix you now, does it? I would hate that if they're just hitting you with lines. Shut the fuck out. And all I could do is sit because I had nothing to, I couldn't push back.

I'm all called Will Ferrell and tell him you're a dick. I was just like, and my team was just getting shalack. So I was like, oh, I have fucking, I had to eat that shit. Well, about, I think it was fourth quarter, 346. Yeah. And it wasn't getting a better. In fact, they're getting more gassed up. The heat's getting more intense.

So I just looked at my girlfriend. And I said, I go, I think we need to get a beer. So I turn around everybody and they're, you know, they're giving me the hot stroke, the double birds, you know, everything. And I go, I go, I need to get a beer and cool down some of these flames. Ha, ha, ha, ha. You know, they're like, that's right, motherfuckers. So, you know, I make nice and jokey joke.

And we make our way up the stairs, out the back, down the stairs, and all the way to the French corner. I did not turn around. I'm not looking back. Well, and it was the best choice I made all night. Getting out is. That is. So in Miami, the Super Bowl was in Miami, I was getting tickets through McDaniel, the whole

playoffs. I went to every, I went to the divisional game. I went to the NFC championship game, all in San Francisco. Nice. But he's the coach. They get access to tickets. Super Bowl, his wife calls me and she's like, she calls me and my friend Chad that we go to all the games.

And she was like, all of his games. You're on your own. Well, no, she went, here's the team price point. Yeah. And we were like, holy shit. It was something like 4,000. It was something where you're like. I was still working.

for Fox NFL. Oh, yeah. That was one of my last years at Fox NFL. So, and Fox had the Super Bowl that year. That's why I was able to. Great. That's what you need to find. Yeah. That's, for people that want to know how to get Super Bowl tickets, you need to find the way to go, you're like a sperm trying to get into an egg. You just got to go like, yeah, and then I mean, because at the time, Katie was still at ESPN and she was doing, she was doing stuff down in Miami for the whole week. That's right. So she's down there and she's like, And I was like, all right, well, I'm going to buy a flight. She had a hotel.

So all I had to do was buy a flight. And I'm like, well, I'm going to fly down there, maybe. And then she was like, well, sometimes there's these parties that ESPN does and you go to it. And the gift is tickets to the game. And I was like, great. And then she calls me and she's like, I got you. I got, we got two tickets. And I was like, how great is that call?

It was unbelievable. It was like, it felt like old timey where I was on the phone trying to get like a ticket. I need the first ride down to my end. I'm going tomorrow. Yes, he? Yeah, I'll take a train. Look at it. Oh, nonstop.

Express, as fast as possible. I'm loading my suitcase. I'm just throwing suits in a suitcase. But I wanted to get down there. I call McDaniel. I'm like, you know, I'm coming down. I got a ticket. My friend, Chad, we ended up, like, he spent money to get it.

He's like, all, if you're going, I'm going, fuck it. And he bit the bullet, bought a ticket. We all go down there. They're in the 49er section with the families. Katie didn't realize I was in the chief section. Oh. Oh, I've been there, friend. I get it.

That's what I mean. You're talking about it. Well, I had two 49ers fans behind me. Okay. That was our... A little conclave. It was like our backs. Yeah, yeah.

We're back to back on everybody. Former circle. Yeah, we were just like waiting around. Well, I don't know if you remember that game, but we were up. Yeah. Patrick Mahomes had never thrown a interception in the playoffs until that game. Yeah. Then Fred Warner picked him in the third quarter.

I got a little too excited. I stood up. and I was like, suck my fucking dick. Let's fucking Goddard's. I was like, Fred fucking Warner. Friend fucking Warner.

And I was just like going nuts. Oh my God. And then we were up. We're up like 20. I don't laugh because I've been there. I've been there. When you're so gassed up. Oh my God.

I just exploded. Yeah. I just exploded. It's visceral. It's visceral. Yeah. And they're like, and it's 2616.

Chiefs come back. I forget what it was. We were up. I forget what the exact score is, and you come back. That big bomb to Tariq Hill. Yeah, yeah, which is great. I have a story about that, which it was third and 14, and he hit Tyreek Hill on that route,

and it just opened it up. You guys took the lead, and then you scored that extra touch and I go up, and the energy went from me standing to, like, the Chiefs fans all going like, ah, and enveloping. And Katie's been, she's a big Patriots fan. She's from Massachusetts.

Patriots fans. She's been at Super Bowls where they've won. She's been at Super Bowls where they've lost. She was at the Philly one when they lost. She was at the Seattle. She was the Atlanta one when they won. She knows. She's been there.

She's my point person. And she's in plain clothes. She's a Pats fan. She's not wearing anything. She's wearing a leather jacket and jeans or whatever. It's pretty obvious 40-9ers are going to lose. And she just calmly says to me, she says, listen, best time to leave is right now.

You don't want to get hit with the confetti. That's it. And I went, what? And she goes, you don't want to get hit with the confetti. confetti yeah and we're walking out and as it happens it was like Indiana Jones we're like getting out of the temple and it's like the confetti is coming down and we just like you we just like yeah what we're just like look oh it's just like and i said the next year the next year or or two years later eagles chiefs in phoenix Shane gillis and big j oakerson burke chrycher got him tickets and they did a show

with them oh awesome so big jay's like i would love to see that show Big Jay's like, I'm going to the game. They're losing. You guys are going to win. And I text Jay, I said, just get out of there before the confetti. And then I saw him on Monday and he was like, I got out of there before the confetti. That's the only thing that matters. That's the key.

That's good advice. So it's funny about that Tyreek Hill play. McDaniel got us friends and family. We go to the Super Bowl party. Because, you know, a lot of people don't know this. Super Bowl is the teams have a party winner. lose. Yeah. They spend like $200,000 on these things and they have these like parties with and they usually have like a name musical act. Yeah. You know, big and big like somebody that's like

oh shit. So for ours we go, we get on the bus, everyone is silent. Yeah. You take a sad, quiet, almost like hungover bus ride. Yeah. To we were at the American Airlines arena. It was like this outdoor party or whatever. And then the team. shows up and they're sadder because they've just put their bodies on the line for this whole season. And then I see my fucking friend and he's crushed. And we're sitting there and Katie and I talk about this all the time because we remember it. We're sitting there eating tacos with Mike and Robert Sala, who's now back as our decordinate. And Robert Sala goes, you know on that player where Tyreek got that first down? We practiced that a couple times this week. He goes, we weren't

supposed to bite on the fade route. That's what opened up Tyreek. And I went, oh, I don't want to hear about the play. You know, you're like. But that and that kind of stuff, as you know, too, just from what we do, those little moments, even if you prep and they'll haunt you. That's what it just, you know. I bet that place still haunts him. I know if he's, when the plane's taxing for takeoff, even to this day, he's glancing out

the window and he's thinking, why do they bite on that fade on that? We fucking talked about it. And we had the safety. They think about, and that's, in coaches, it's all they think about. but I can still tell you plays from my high school football from my high school football that I'm like you know what I blew that we should have done we should have got that well the and the best part is is they're sad and we're eating

and then you just hear all right ladies and gentlemen keep it going for the Jabberwockies and they're just on the stage going like oh and it's all these NFL players so Katie and I stood for me we stayed for like maybe 20 minutes Chad stayed and got hammered I just really should The Jabberwockies is so funny. I mean, talk about a tough gig. To dance?

To the saddest people. The saddest people. Maybe in all the world at that moment. They were just at the precipice. Yeah. They were on the cusp of legendary. They just had to push open the gate to the promised land. All they had to do was just step forward.

All Jimmy G had to do was hit that long throw and then you guys are done. And we run out the clock. It was just that one. But dude, the next morning I wake up and it's just blur. Furry pictures and Chad's like, Little Wayne was here and it's like four in the morning and you're like, there's no way I was staying until four in the morning. Because they did, and that's what they should do is they should all get blind drunk and then wake up the next day and go, fuck, fuck.

But when you go to Super Bowls, that's the worst part of going as a fan. You said it earlier and you said it beautifully and it's absolutely right, which is there is this nervous energy and what it is is everybody, both sides, pregame, you're both so dangerously close to one of the best highs you'll ever experience or maybe one of the darkest lows you'll ever experience yeah and so it's terrifying it is because you ever and there's all these like big companies around and they're going like try this new bud light taco bell and you're going like fun fun like i remember chea got us tickets in the Vegas one yeah and marcello hernandez was there but marcello got tickets also through mbc but marcello was just going to vegas to go to the super

Bowl and party so me and chair like sitting there like uh-huh and he's like you guys try this he's like how great is this and you're like I remember I'm so fucking nervous right now I was at the chief's pre-game for all of them but the the last one sure in New Orleans and uh I saw some old friends I saw a couple friends from high school and things just like you know a lot of Kansas city folk were down there sure so I was chatting him up but I really wasn't hearing what they were saying it's like your first set it really was I was kind of like I'm like, oh, hey, just got to get in there. Yeah, I just got to get in there.

I want this over with, because I was also fighting the bad vibe I had. Yeah. You know, and I'm like, nope, nope, nope, no. No. I'm like, in my mind, I keep screaming no. I say, I mean, I've said it. I went on Rich Eisen's show and I said this and I meant it. I'm never going to a 49er Super Bowl again.

I'm 0 and 2. I've had my opportunity. Had they been one in one? Had we beaten you in overtime and won that game? Maybe. Yeah. Maybe. But I will never go as a 49er fan.

And I'm saying this, if you're a 49er fan and you have gone to both of those losses and maybe the Ravens loss, maybe you stay home. Yeah. Maybe you put that money towards a new TV. Well, and see what happens. Stay home and see what happens. Because what if you win? Because now you've got a new thing going.

And then now we've got a sixth ring. Exactly. Now we're back in it, baby. Exactly. Now we're back. Now it becomes the best Super Bowl party ever. This is what I'm saying. to all the coolers out there

realize you're a cooler stay the fuck home stay the fuck home know yourself man that's the first secret to success know yourself this is exactly why and that's what led you to UCB fuck a stand-up class

half the people teaching those classes suck ass at stand-up so why are you going to take a class from a guy that doesn't even know those who can't teach except an improv where they actually improv with you so you know if they can do it or not and then after I did all the improv

off, right? And that gave me, I learned so much, I grew through them. Then when I got on the Daily show, I shared an office of John Oliver. So John is a dedicated, dedicated stand-up. I mean, really a worksman. He's also coming from that UK style, which is, I'm going to write an hour in a year. Yeah. And I'll have a whole hour in a year. And I'll write on the stage. Yeah. He gets on the stage and writes. Yeah. John Oliver's, I did John Oliver's stand-up show on Comedy Central and like watching him do like six different sets. You're like, holy shit. Yeah, those guys are worksmen, right? They do the work.

So, John, I would make him come down to the UCB and do monologues for the Ascats show. Oh, yeah, because there's always a monologue that starts Ascats. And he'd never done that before, but he was smart enough and savvy enough and comedic enough to know how to tell stories. Sure. So he'd come down and be the monologist for the Askat show. Well, then he flipped it on me and said, now you've got to come do stand up with me. I got, dude, I tried it. I don't care about your excuses.

We're going. So we'd get done with work at five. We would literally go downstairs. We'd get a slice of pizza each. Sure. And then we'd get in a cab and we'd go hit microphones. Yeah. We'd go to the slipper room, the piano room.

Those are all great. Yeah. We'd go. Bowery Poetry Club. Everywhere. There was always a mic. There was always a mic. We could find.

Yeah. So we would go. And I was literally, I was like, I don't even know what to do. I don't have any material. He goes, just tell me one funny story. Can you tell me one funny story? So I was like, well, this happened today, you know, and I thought it was kind of fun.

I told him on the cab ride down. He goes, well, that's what you're going to do. Yeah. So I was like, shit. So we get up first place, and I just tell the story, it's three minutes. It got some laughs. Sure. And that was it.

I said, thanks. And I got off. We get back, we jump into another cab. We're off to the next place. And he goes, he goes, the story worked. He goes, it worked. I go, yeah, but it's just, it's a three minute at best story. And he goes, do you remember where they laughed?

I go, yeah. He goes, keep those. He goes, and then try to find a new plan. So literally, by the end of that first night, I probably had a minute and a half, maybe two minutes of material. That was actually like good. And I could, so there's two.

I just need 58 more minutes. Yeah. You know? Now just build a whole hour of it. And that's what I did. And that's what I did. I started building and building off of that by just adding these stories. And I got more,

and I had built up a lot more of stage conference. confidence. Oh, yeah. So UCB is like, my mom tried to teach me how to ride a bike when I was five years old. Single mom, ADD kid, that ain't going to work. Just didn't work. It just, it was oil and water. I didn't learn. But then my friend had a scooter. And I used to ride around on the scooter. And I unintentionally learned balance from the scooter. So one day we're at the park and I just pick my friend's bike up and start riding it. And I was like, oh, and that's what you do a stand-up. You just went and learned how to get balance on stage through UCB, and then you're like, oh, I can go up. And that's the thing I always say about people when they're like, where

should I move to do stand-up? The one thing that I was told that was true was New York City just provides so much stage time. And that, I think, is the most valuable thing for anybody in comedy. 100%. Because you're going to find your voice through that. I couldn't agree more. And I still think that to this day, I think exactly what you just said. And I believe it is true. And that's because I live in L.A. now. And, and I know the difference. Yeah, I mean, my friend, I've had friends move to L.A. and go, like, Nate Bargettze when he left here and moved to L.A., he goes, I'm going to do the same amount of sets. And I was like, not even close, man. And then he's stubborn. And like three months later, he goes, I can't. It's crazy. He's like everything's so far away from it. It's so far.

It's 30 minutes to get from gig to gig. And then, you know, the roster is usually pretty thick. But the benefit of that is you live in L.A. where you have space to yourself. Yes. You don't have a person shoved up your ass and sitting on your head everywhere you. go yeah that is there is drawbacks but the one of the benefits is is because everyone's so tight you can just fuck i always said if i ever built a new set sure i was going to come back here yeah and just get an air bnb or or a sublet yeah and just stay for three months and just cook with gas every night open mics just hit it hit it hit it hit it and right right right work work work and i really think in maybe even less but three months if i just worked every night

in New York, especially, I could get myself a 30 to 40 minutes set in that time frame that I'd be proud of. I'm not going to give up names, but I know a couple of comics that live other places that are planning on doing that soon because they just go the amount of stage time

and the varying feeling of audiences. It's not all the same audience. It's like different audiences. And that's another thing too. The older I get, the more I realize my references mean nothing to these people. Oh, yeah, you go. That's when you know you're old.

old. It cuts like a knife. Where you go with phone book? Yeah. Nothing? Nothing. A phone book is? Yellow pages.

Ah, fuck. Dude, Rob, it was, I was so glad you were able to come by and hang out. Thanks for having me. This is awesome. And I love watching you. I'm a fan of yours. So thanks for having me. Grit, spit, never quit.

A Marines Guide, Life and Comedy. Out now. Go buy it. Make this man in New York Times bestseller. How fucking cool would that be? Happy Veterans Day. This is Veterans Day. This is Veterans Day on the day.

Thank you for your service. Thank you. You know, as I said, it's cool as shit. I always think people that serve, those aren't the guys ever to get mad at. You can't get mad at the guys that serve. It's the people that give them the shitty orders

you can get mad at. I agree. But, man, I thank you for your service. Thanks for being hilarious. Thank you. Right back at you. Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm a big fan. So this was awesome.

Thanks so much, dude. I appreciate it. Thank you.