The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly - Dancing For Hitler with Jeremy Piven

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

Actor/comedian Jeremy Piven is back for part two of his interview and talks about the ten years it took to get his movie made. "The Performance" is based on an Arthur Miller story in which a Jewish tap dancer is recruited to prance before Hitler. | Jeremy has made the jump from acting to stand-up comedy and still gets ridiculed by other comedians. | He grew up acting with John Cusack in his family theatre company in Chicago at age eight. *To hear the full show to go www.siriusxm.com/bonfire to learn more! FOLLOW THE CREW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: @thebonfiresxm @louisjohnson @christinemevans @bigjayoakerson @robertkellylive @louwitzkee @jjbwolf Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of The Bonfire ad-free and a whole week early.  Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

and now the bonfire with big j o'kerson and robert kelly oh that's right everybody the judgment night soundtrack yeah famous anti-semit everlast featuring helmet well-documented anti-sum my god what a fucking i mean crazy time that you could do that as a joke and not get fired what was a joke he said he was doing like he said they were going full method he was going to everlast in daniel follow the same actor's code. Was he? Yes, he was. Dude, I was doing it. Sorry, Mr. Piven, I was deep in character.

Was your character? You know, that's a method. It's Methodist with you. Did you ever star David out in your character? How did he know you? Was your character? I don't believe he was Jewish in the... That's the weird thing. It wasn't sold as a Jewish character. You know. Ray. I don't remember even the last

name. He was like just a guy. Just a guy. There was no overt message ever saying that he's no reference being Jewish. You weren't doing the emotie before you ate something, right? Yeah, exactly. Davening like, you know, as a button

to every scene. Yeah, dude. No, I don't know what in God's name that was, but you know, it's funny because for the past 15 years, I've been working on this film, and that's a real number. Speaking of Jews, where I'm going to

tell you what the premise is and you're going to laugh in my face as if, because that's what Everyone did, and that's why it took me so long to get the money. But there was a short story in The New Yorker by Arthur Miller called The Performance. And it's about a Jewish tap dancer who lives in Brooklyn, and he not making it, you know, really great at what he does, but can't make a living. And he gets offered more money he's ever been offered to go to Berlin and then ultimately dance for Hitler. And it's funny, we were talking about, like, how much of yourself will you compromise in this game? and that this is the ultimate metaphor for that.

And my character is willing to risk it all and hide the fact that these Jewish take the money. You know what I mean? And it's the best thing I've ever done in my life. And I had to, you know, it took so long to get the money that I kept studying tap from a guy, a New York dude who was on Broadway all the time, this amazing tapper. And he had great patience with me.

And every year they said, no, I just getting better at Tapp. And I remember last year, my then agent said to me, this is a callback to what we were talking about earlier, they said, you're going to hate this. Don't be mad at me, but they're calling from dancing with the stars. No shit. And for me, you have to understand. For me, like Chappelle says, that's the white flag. For me to do that, you know, that would be immediately like, oh, man, that motherfucker gave up.

Are you sure? Times are tough. Yeah. Well, that was a famous. Are you sure he wasn't watching the male dancers in that show? It wasn't flag? Nothing? But do you remember Patrice?

The white, nothing? Okay. Patrice had a... Hot bomb in front of everybody. Wow. I thought you'd be proud of me that I didn't say the F word. We can fix that in post. No, this is live.

Oh, this is out there like that Cupid shit. Oh, shit. It's already out there. Patrice kind of famously turned down. I remember the Steinbergs came to him with, like, celebrity fit club and he was like hey can you not make me like a washup before i'm in anybody in hindsight you're already doing the thing where it's like the come down in hindsight it would have been the best thing for him it would have been enormous because he's dead yeah that sucks

it's been huge huge in his life probably but yeah but i understand like the the turning down or something like that um the performance i've seen the there's already a poster for it's like you like in a red suit sort of my wrong there's the right there it's the best reviews i've ever had in my life and um yeah and it's it's funny how like you know um once you guys know this is with your stand-up playing if you if you don't give up good things will happen and this is one of those things where like you know you can rail against oh man no one no one understands me i'm not or you can do all that shit all you want but the reality is you've got to make your own breaks and no one's coming to save you and you know everyone laughed at my

face about this and I just knew if I can get this made and by the way it addresses anti-Semitism in the in the best way full drama it's full dramatic um it is it is and there and there are funny parts and it's the dance sequences are you know larger than life and it's a little bit of everything and there's a bit of humor in it but yeah it's it's a dark twisted drama and Robert Carlisle from you know has been around forever is one of the best actors He's in the full Monty and everything else and train spotting. And so he plays this German character opposite me.

And there's this one scene between the two of us, and I just knew, if I can pull this scene off, this will say more about anti-Semitism and the absurdity of it or racism or whatever than any tweet, conversation, op-ed, TED talk you could do in your life. I was like, if I can just pull the scene off. And we got, I got the chills. we got really lucky and he's a great fucking actor and the moment happened where I have to reveal that I'm Jewish and like this moment is like I either hit this or none of it works and it's all for nothing and and we hit it and so now it hasn't come out yet we we did a little one week run for your consideration and you know I got these reviews and everyone all the big shots you know who predict these things were like I was on a a shortlist for the Oscars with Timothy Salome and blah blah. I mean, it's, the role is unbelievable. And so I

thought that if you do the work of your life and it's a miracle and you do this, that's enough. And everyone's like, no, bro, you need you need millions for an Oscar campaign. And I'm like, no, no, no, we're good, we're good.

And as you look for Minora that won the Oscar, they came out and said, look, we $20 million for our campaign You know what I mean? Yeah, this is documented. It's actually like politics. Between billboard and stuff like that. And you've got to get a screener to everyone. You know what I mean? And you have to go to the

parties. Oh, you have to meet all those people. I went to one of those parties when Mickey Rourke was in wrestling. Yeah, the wrestler. Yeah. And I went to one of those everybody thought I was Michael Chickles. And I swear to God, they were like, Mike, turn around. I was just waving at people. Bobby Kelly is Michael Chickles's greatest character. But I remember walking into these parties It was every stop

I walked right Dustin Hoffman Yeah Walking by me Lawrence Fishberg Everybody was at this fucking thing Yeah And I was like why are they They have to be

They have to be smoozing And you have to get the word out And I It's so funny that I played this character That was Hollywood R, you know gold And I All I've ever done in my life

Is show up, grind and get out And I You know we were talking about Smoosing Eve earlier, I never did it. You know what I mean? I just, and that's not, I'm not saying it wasn't a premeditated thing. I'm just trying to do the best I can.

And I usually had four-page monologue, so, you know, I was just, you know, in it. So, yeah, when it came time for the performance, you know, it didn't get nominated. It happens. And the movie hasn't come out yet. But it's one of these things where I can tell you when you see this movie. I mean, people, you know, we're living in times where there is a lot of anti-Semitism right now. And everyone's an expert on Gaza, but it's like, do we really know what's going on over there? It's a little nuanced.

Is it going to know what I mean? Are you afraid that people are going to go see you do this movie, right? And that's going to be a whole fan base that has no idea you do a stand-up, right? So those people are like, oh, my God, we've got to go see them. And then they're going to come and be like, oh, what the fuck is this? Like, you know what I mean? Is that movie, that angle on the movie going to get you a whole other fan base that's going to come see your stand-up and be like, This guy's fucking a stool.

You know, it's funny you said that because Craig Robinson, who is one of the funniest people on the planet, you know. He's amazing. And he came to one of my screenings. And, you know, growing up in the black community, I can tell you there's, and I mean that, it sounds like I'm doing a bit, that there is no more honest community. They will tell, you know, from doing, even if you dabble in the Chitlin circuit, by the way, I didn't come up with that name. I started it for years upon years. Okay. You know how tough that crowd is.

The singer of Everlast actually came up with it. No one is more honest than a black crowd. No one. You're either going to crush or they're going to destroy you. And Craig watched the performance and he came up to me, man. And he was the things he said to me and he said, you're going to not do stand up ever again now. I just saw that.

You know what I mean? So he thought, because when you see something that is moving, but the reality is, of stand-up and I love doing it and it's addictive and there's nothing better than thinking some new shit and going to different place though I gotta say that's almost my point like there's something about comedy that doesn't like allow you to like if I'm coming from just that like that I do I would love every time I've auditioned for acting stuff and everything it's always tends to be like a comedy thing somebody else's comedy and anything I've ever been

intrigued by that I've seen or gotten to read for was like super dramatic yet I don't see myself being able to disconnect from like the eye rolly of funny enough to like deliver a scene you know what you need to put into it when it's over when they yell cut to still have to like walk away you know give me a second to kind of get my shit together I feel like as soon as they yell cut I'd be like was that good

did I do good you know it's like it's hard like to immerse yourself like that it's so impressive well you know because I know the discipline you guys need and the reps that you need to be as good as you guys are and you have that in you, and I'm telling you, I won't do it now because it'll take me too long, but like we could do a power hour at some point, and I could tell you the different variables that will get you into the state where you're totally present. You know when you're in the zone on stage.

You're either in that moment totally present or you're not, and you have to be to do that type of crowdwork and whatever. But with acting, acting is a momentum sport. You need momentum. You need to get off your fucking self and be totally present in that fucking moment, And then you don't even know what the hell just happened. And then you got lucky and had some fucking magic and blah, blah, blah. But, like, I can tell you the ways to get into that because you can do it because you guys have also a comic said to me, when you go back to acting after doing all this standup, you're going to be a better actor.

And I was like, what? And man, was he right? Because the reality is you guys were up on stage in the moment getting those reps every night. So when you, and it made me a better actor. And so when you see the performance, it's like, so much of that was my stand-up. Because the reality with actors is you're sitting idle and you're waiting for the phone to ring. You know what I mean? And you get cold.

I have no rust on me because I'm just on the road. Kind of people, you're interacting. And also committing to bits and doing, you know, act outs and telling stories. That's performing. There's a different thing, though. Like a lot of guys hate it or say they hate it. I love being on a set. I love having a trailer.

I love being around, you know, the going in and, you know, waiting for your scene to be done and doing your stuff. And it's tedious, but there's something about it that I really enjoy. But it's, it's more pampered, it's less vicious, you know what I mean? Like, you go to a comedy club, you know what I mean? It's like, you know, there's some guy, hey, you mind if I sell my shirt? Oh, shit. Oh, yeah, go ahead, do you know what I mean? How many tickets?

Oh, we're doing good on this show. But, you know, the football team's in town. They also had a cheerleading competition. And there's five of the comics in town, and there's a balloon fest. Well, the thing that's so amazing to me is because I grew up on the stage doing plays, was actually born in New York and went to NYU, so I have all these incredible ties and love New York. But no one would ever talk to you before you get up and do a play.

You know, when you're doing Broadway or whatever, and everyone, like, gives you. But here at Standup, they're fucking fucking with you as you're getting on stage. They don't give a fuck. Yeah, it's wild. And that's one thing that was like, oh, shit, this is different. Standup is very lonely, too, if you're not a fucking animal. Oh, yeah.

Pretty much, it's this holy shit taking photos and thank you, good night, blah, blah, blah. And then you're in a hotel room. Yeah. And you just like yourself. That is the strangest part of all of it always. The transition from I was just some type of weird god to I'm just a dickhead alone. It's an emotional thing that probably more people should talk to a therapist about in stand-up. is that exact thing, that moment,

where you're like, what the fuck am I doing? You're like, I was just, there was a line of people like waiting to see me and wanted me to sign things and do us to, because now I'm in socks

to sign with her, I'm going to get a Snickers ice cream bar or this little pack of Nestle dibs and go eat it like a little fatso on my belly in my room while I watch YouTube videos. It's so not exactly. That's the duality of life,

not to get too pretentious. I use big words, by the way. I love it. You're going to fry Bobby's brain. I know. No, but like, I'm looking at one right now. I feel like. I'm a real pretentious.

I live that shit all the time because, you know, you know, we, we know from doing ads to get people to come to our shows, like, where the love is for us. And the love for me is New York. So, no one, people give it to you straight here. And if you suck, they're going to tell you suck. Yeah. And I walk down the street and the love that I get from people is really, it's amazing and it makes me feel incredible. and the reality is about Hollywood is it's brutal it's fucking brutal and other countries are a little more um loyal to those that you know they connect with you know um but with hollywood it's like okay

who's new who's we got the fresh shit yeah bro i know three emmies in a row shut the fuck up it's been a minute i think comedy is too like for the like the fame thing they're always looking for that the Hollywood is looking for what what's the next thing right but the good thing about stand-up is you can build up your own fan base and make a beautiful career and make great money and enjoy your life and and you're your own boss like when all that me too shit and all the you know the censored shit no you can't say this and that they were like you know are you worried about that I mean everybody I knew was like no that's actors actors have to worry about everything you have to worry about what you're saying what you're doing but comics

don't you know what's so interesting what you do I'm glad that you just said that because do I get a Piven for that? For sure, bro. That's a white Piven. That's a white Piven actually said he's glad I said some. No, no, I really am because you were being very honest there

and I'm glad you said it because if I said it, it would sound pretentious in the way that actors are intrinsically held to a different standard. And that's just a fact. The reality is if you're in the NFL, you could have done some crazy-ass shit. They're going to put you back on that field.

And if you prove yourself out there, then you win. it's all good but actors you know and i've lived through the shit man you know they hold us to this standard and and it's it's interesting and with comics you know it's it's a little bit different but you know uh it's fascinating because i don't know about you guys but when i see people filming me as as i'm up there it's a it does suck and you got it you got to shut it down because the reality is if they lift a bit out of context Oh, man.

You're fucked. Yeah. Yeah. And there's a microscope on you because you're an actor doing stand-up now, so they're going to look for the reason to, like, take a shot. That is interesting. But now you feel like, I mean, you've been doing it. Look, when you first started doing it, I was like, what?

You know what I mean? No, seriously, I'll be honest with you. Of course you were. I was like, because there's a lot of comment. A lot of actors at certain points were like, you know, go do this. You know what I mean? But you've been doing it long enough now. And you're, like you said, you're grinding it out.

You're paying you. your dues. You've been to that small club where you're like, I've got to sell tickets. You know what I mean? You're passing off flowers. You're doing all that grunt work that you have to do to actually become a good stand-up to build that fan base because they're not going to come back.

If you suck. You're not going back to that club. No, but also, you know, I come by it honestly in the way that, like, I do really respect the space you by occupying when you're up there no matter what you're doing and you've got to bring it and you got to work your ass off. And listen, I get, I get,

where you guys are coming from and one of the great things about getting older is like, I don't take anything personally that's one of the great things about getting older and the wisdom. I've had conversations and I'm not going to name who this comic was but I celebrated him. He was doing some acting and I know

he had no background in acting but I was like I saw your shit, you're fucking great and as I'm getting up on stage I hear him saying anyone thinks they can do stand up now and points to me and by the way. He's just a nice job. Yeah and I was just celebrating his acting Do you know what I mean?

And so, but my point to you is that to me is inspiring because now he has to sit and watch me simply because he was after me. Joe List is an asshole. I'm just going to say, he's a piece of shit. He's a narcissist, and I do a podcast, I don't like him. But here's the funniest thing about that, though, those lines. And I think, again, older and wiser, because I've been doing this now 28 years.

You've been doing 30 years now, Bobby. I know, it's nuts. How long? But like, now I'm forgetting. Come on, get me back, Bobby. It's crazy because I've been doing it for a long time, and you get older, wiser. Yes, wiser of getting people to, come on, Bobby, pot-in-head. Getting people to see you as a...

As you get older, you get some wisdom and you learn out to not take things personally. Not taking things personally, for sure. Things don't buggy as much. Oh, yes, things not bugging as much. When people, well, I said to take... I remember having that attitude of when, like, you know, I remember one time there was, like, a strike years. and you're not even like the original strike one for years back and it was like uh they said dach shepherd started doing stand-up comedy now it's something it was like oh and i remember

having that kind of like does anyone can just do stand-up comedy now but the reality is you get older and do it long enough and find your own lane too a lot of that's do with your own self like sure you know satisfaction in some way to go uh anybody can like it's a dumb statement anybody thinks it gets you stand-up he goes right but anybody can anybody can for a minute sure for a while and then it usually fades out you know you've been doing it how long you've been like four years now i've been doing it almost 10 years on the road but but like i've been i've been touring since 2017 right yeah um and the the thing is that's a long time dude well well to civilians to you guys you look at me like i'm a newbie but the reality is i'm a hybrid in the way that

the stage is my home and i've gotten notes you know um from from from From, I personally, because I, listen, one comic said to me, you know how I know you don't suck? I said, how? He goes, because everyone's silent about you. And if you suck, they would be fucking gloating. Oh, like, shit. Yeah, and that's the reality. That's the culture, and I get it.

You guys got to work so fucking hard. And another comic said, you'll never be a real comic. And I said, why? And she said, because you didn't have to go through what we went through. Now, I went through all. the trials and tribulations of an actor i i started at eight and broke through it 40 so i had 32 years of grinding so i understand the discipline and and i love it but i don't take any of this stuff personally i wouldn't when when i get shit on by by comics it's like fucking great come and see my

my stuff but i was getting these notes um to actors get stuff like that like when like a pitt davidson comes out just doing stand-up and blah and then gets like a bunch of acting things is there Does it go the other way where they're like this fucking guy thinks he's an actor now? Because it seems like no one ever gives shit that direction. No, that's my point. Well, actors can't. Comics, we're almost obliged to. You know what I mean?

We yap. We talk about each other. We trash other people. Actors, when you're, they do that very quietly being behind. You'll never know when an actor is talking shit about you. Look. Because you'll walk up and be like, oh, my God, we were just talking about you. Good to see you.

Not knowing they were just talking about what a piece of shit actor you are. You know what I mean? I mean, this kind of. of like correlates with I think where we're at in this culture right now, to be honest with you, because I think people are also dug in and defined by their opinions and their politics that when you have a conversation with someone, for me, if you're available to have your mind changed, then we're all good, we're golden. Are you listening to him, Paco?

But yeah, Paco, fucking, you know what I mean like the- Fucking Paco? Trying to get him to be a woman and it's not working. But my point is like, you know, when it's like, listen. I'm defined by my point of view and if I let in you're on the other team if I let some sort of logic come in I'm going to lose my identity

I'll lose my whole fucking identity and I think with comics when they look at me and they go this fucking dude but the reality is if you see my set and then you say that I'm all good but I've gotten notes I remember this comic was giving me notes I was like those are really interesting

notes did you see my set and he goes I didn't see your set but he was giving me notes. You know what I mean? So, and they were good notes, but they weren't, had nothing to do with what you said already? Nothing. What? So, and it's all, it's all, you know, I can't say who Russell Peters, but

he's like, does this appealing to seven billion Indians? Well, then maybe rewrite it. Yeah. Did you, do you feel that you, sorry. Oh, wow. Okay. Do you feel particularly that you broke through at 40 because, I mean, for me, there's like, you're in holy grail things.

For me, the Larry Sanders show is top of the mountain, especially now, as we were talking about the other day, that late night shows are 20th century model that don't seem to work anymore. Yes. And, but coming from Second City. Yes. And then getting the Larry Sanders show. Yeah.

That's huge. It was absolutely huge. And you're absolutely right. Gary Shanling is, it was. God rest of soul an absolute genius and it was my first job out of college No, sorry, Second City was my first real job But so, you know, getting that

And being able to witness that type of genius It was the Larry Sanders show is Was the first bit of original Series comedy on HBO And from that came soprano, Sexin City entourage, blah blah blah But that was so If you even look at it, any of the like top 10 from the 90s it was always

Seinfeld and Larry Sanders one and two whatever but being on that was and being surrounded by by that type of writing and insight was was an absolute gift so that was that was amazing no I didn't feel like a fresh face I just think the irony of like being 40 movies into the game being a working actor a journeyman actor which I still am but like getting that award was really funny to me

you know what i mean and none of it makes any sense how you're viewed that's nothing we don't we don't need to think about how we're viewed right that's why when i say to you when when i get shit on you know for for for for doing this lane it doesn't matter it's inspiring to me right because i want you to watch and and then if you then if you have notes great tell me because i just want to get better but once you extract that's how bobby feels i tell them look at the comments on reddit about you in that fucking cupid outfit and it'll be good it's fuel for you be fuel i will not okay yeah i mean we know that it's not healthy to look at what people say i think that one though you'll be surprised a positive it'll be yeah just give it like just read like

a hundred of them listen what people think of me is none of my business i told jay those were the the tooth movies that i well the larry sanders i just rewatched the william shatner speaker phone scene which i watch regularly bro those guys were so good literally as an actor as i was a kid when I did it. Jeffrey Tambor, Rip Torn, Shandling, those dudes were so funny that literally I'm in this scene and I've been on stage my whole life and literally all, there were times

where my only point of concentration was to not laugh because they were that fucking funny. You know, Jeffrey Tambor, you know, would just, you know, they say, how do you play comedy on camera? You played a little more serious than drama. And this motherfucker would dig in

and he was such a fully committed buffoon and it was all my I just didn't want to ruin a take because he's that was that good so it was an honor to be a part of that yeah for sure the other thing thank you for celebrating me well the other thing you did at the same time which I love is a gross point blank gross point blank the scene I identify with is you keep saying hey Jenny Slater because I was not getting the beautiful still having a crush on the beautiful girl and In high school, it's great scene. So I grew up since I was eight years old with Cusack, and so those were all my guys. And there was a girl named Jenny Stone that we all were in love with and couldn't get her attention. So I just changed your name a little bit and just would improvise. And everything I did in that movie was improvised. And all those 40 movies I did before Entras, it wasn't on the page.

That's just me improvising and they didn't yell cut and I just kind of kept going. and that's why they put me in, you know, any of these things, even like, yeah. And so it's funny because improvising, thinking on your feet obviously is crowdwork and comedy. So it all kind of informs, you know what I mean? So when people go, bro, you can't do stand-up. It's like, well, brother, I've been writing comedy on my feet on sets my whole life. I know it's a little different and bits, you know what I mean? but it's almost like, well, you were a, you know, a collegiate wrestler,

and how could you possibly be in the octagon? Well, that's skill set translate. Plus, you have a stage confidence is a huge thing. What's what we're saying? You have a building block already. Yeah, it takes a long time for you to get, like, a young comic, my advice is just get on stage. Because there's a certain point where you get on stage

and you're just confident enough to talk about what you want to talk about, and they get that. When you are more confident than them is when they feel that and then they're listening to you, which is a big part of comedy. So you already had that rolling in because you had that stage. You know, you know how to get up there and these people are there to see you. But is it like people were there to see you, you know, you've been on all these things. Has it changed over to these people know you just from stand-up?

Well, do they, oh, is it still all, but is it all? Here's what I'm hearing after my shows, and you guys are going to think that I'm making this shit up. but people come up to me and they go we didn't know you were this funny which to me is a backhanded compliment because it's like wow I've been you've been funny and so much stuff

I'm over 80 movies into my career I hear the same thing by the way every shot so to me it's a real shot in the arm because it's like because when you're up there it's all coming from me when I was playing Ari Gold

I would pitch all these jokes and the reality is Doug Ellen wrote a hell of a script and like you know so it was always like when do I pitch it once the right moment when will it best be received and you know it's really it's hard to get that in there and then so the freedom that you have when you're up there there's there's nothing like it it's so addictive so to hear people say that about my stand-up is it means a lot to me and also selfishly you know you guys know from doing from doing press on the road the worst question is so what can we expect from you Friday you know at the improv and you're like really what can you

fucking yeah how about some fucking jokes you what gay radio show are you doing hey guys listen I want to do it you came was it was it nerve-wracking to do like heavy dramatic roles coming from because it seems like everything was kind of drawn towards like comedy second city is all funny and stuff like when you were younger were you doing drama stuff yeah I mean that's got to be a lot of this will sound like I'm making this up, but I was doing Chekhov at eight years old. No, I swear to you. I swear to you. I don't believe you.

I don't. Okay. I think you're acting now. Will you, if you look at the Piven Theater website. You have a theater? Yeah. You have your own theater. Well, I grew up in the theater. Yeah, that's why. At eight years old, Kuzak and I switched, they needed a kid. Oh, I believe you, by the way. I was just, I was acting. Oh, okay. That was amazing. I was doing my acting.

Bro, that was. I believe you 100%. Michael Chicklese. I thought you were crossing. I thought you were crossing a line that was fucking thank you very much guys thank you very much this is my acting thank you by the way when i crossed my hands no but that yeah they but by the way i was butchering checkoff at eight years old that wasn't good oh you weren't nail oh no i sucked but i was up there doing it and so um one of the things that my parents would teach us when we because we were kids that we would do you know these checkoff or kurt vonigan or shakespeare we were butchering everything but then we would do improv scenes in

between, we would get suggestions from the audience as kids. You know what I mean? So we're doing basically like, you know, improv and crowdwork as kids. So like, there was no difference between comedy and drama. You commit to everything. And the reality is something is

tragic and then funny. So I didn't think there was any difference. So when you say, you know, were you intimidated? Yeah, I was a kid opposite to Nero and Heat and I had almost no lines but kept improvise. and, you know, made a little bit of a role for myself. By the way, that was a...

My favorite movie at all time. It was a great movie. And one of my... I shouldn't tell the story. Yeah, it's all right. You're not in the sequel then, sir. I was going to say, it's a sequel. There is a sequel.

There is a sequel. It's going to be, it's a prequel slash sequel, right? It's like both. It's going to go back and forth. I want to be in Ghost Town, too. I'm sitting there, getting ready to audition for Michael Mann, who obviously wrote and directed it. And, you know, Chicago, Jeremy, an actor and you're sitting there and after the first hour you know you start to go a little crazy

and hour two people get up and they're leaving and then you detect your agent yeah and then you go just leave and then i had this thought if if you if i stay here long enough i get to be in a scene with robert de nero so i stayed there for three hours and i watched i wish i could say this actor's name, but I saw an actor crack and he picked up the casting assistant and he threw him up against the fucking wall and at that moment the door

opened and it was the casting director and everyone else and you know, it was not a good look for him. Tom Sysmore. By the way Yeah. By the way, no no, unbelievable guess.

Give yourself a pivot. Yeah. Because no God rest his soul, but he was as eccentric as they come. So I walk in, and there's Michael Mann. You know, he's got the hardcore Chicago accent. Okay, you're here to do, Dr. Bob, go ahead. And it's like my moment, and I, you know, I did it. And he goes, you know, he's got his glasses down here.

And he goes, that was good. That was good. We got to do it again. And the castor-Rentger goes, he can do it. You saw him do it. He goes, well, I got to call Bob De Niro. And the castor-rears, because you don't got to call Bob. he's got two lines he just you know he just crushed it so he made me do it again and I did it

and ultimately you know if you don't lose your mind and you stay in it long enough you're going to live your dream yeah I know that sounds so like I'm doing a TED talk a modicum of talent too you do no no you stop real quick you did check off an ace I was butchering it yeah I was picking my nose and eating it so was I but then I got up on stage I'm 48, I'm still unfamiliar with Chekhov. He was in Star Trek. Oh, they put the thing in his ear and rat the con.

That is correct. Classic Chekhov. We have a question from the back of the room. What's up, Lou? Hey, hey, Black Lou over here? Black Blue. What's going on? What was your favorite monologue

from the show Entourage that Ari Gold did? Because there were so many great monologues in the series. Yeah, that's a great question. And on that note, you know, one of the reasons why we talked about The fact that I'm, you guys aren't great at schmoozing, I am a late bloomer to it. Because I had to be word perfect on those speeches, I had to approach the whole thing like a play.

So by the time I got to set, it was like I was in month three of a Broadway show. So I had been running these monologues for anyone who would listen. That's another secret to acting. It's like, you want to put yourself in the most uncomfortable position. you know you possibly can doing that scene so the by the time you're on set you're like fine

I've already done it for the most judgmental people in my kitchen playing along yeah and these people are buying in but I was in my kitchen doing it for people like you suck and so it's all good so I had to be you know word perfect

and to the point where then you can have fun and make it feel improvisational but I would say the breakthrough moment it was it was season one episode seven which was Ari's coming out party where it's a tracking shot all the way through Josh Weinstein's house

and I get to the bottom of and it's all one continuous take and then I have a four-page monologue and so you had to hit it from getting out of the car and crushing it and so that to me because it was the coming out moment and ironically now that I think about it I did kind of throw when the you know a couple little tiny improv zingers that like somehow made it through let's hug it out bitch was an improv little things that became catchphrases right but i think that moment because up until then you have to understand i had one scene in the pilot um i was thought of as you know a fringe player i took a 80% pay cut to do the show you know what i mean and then i i shouldn't tell you all this stuff but took a very interesting different type of contract where it was like you know

give me nothing if it does well yeah it's like no money no trailer no billing no nothing and then if you prove yourself then you win and that's kind of what happened that's great that was a great question black loo you're getting yourself a white piven for that one worth more than a black piven this month this month exclusively Jeremy piven is going to be at sony hall Yeah. Go down. Sony Hall in New York City, October 19th. After that, you can see him in Irvine, California, Addison, Texas.

The improvs? Both the improvs there? Yeah, why not? Why not? Those are both great clubs. Yeah, man. Make sure you check them out. Thank you so much for being here with us.

Thank you guys for happy. This was really fun. And I'd love to be your co-host. Please. Third Mike. Anytime. Honorary. What the fuck you have?

Yeah, yeah. I'm in. I'll take your spot. I want to be a Jewish tap dancer. Famous last words. You've always dreamed to be in a Jewish tap, bye.