The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table - Gad Elmaleh & Booker Estee Adoram

Episode Date: December 9, 2016

Gad Elmaleh & Booker Estee Adoram

You're listening to The Comedy Cellar, live from the table, on the Riotcast Network, riotcast.com. All right, good evening everybody, welcome to The Comedy Cellar Show here on Sirius XM Channel 99. My name is Noam Dwarman, I'm the owner of The Comedy Cellar, we're at the back table in The Comedy Cellar, and because this is a special day, I i'm gonna let and do the introductions today because uh... i'm sure he's gonna do it more justice then that i could have been well back from his uh... parisian to our eye a friend of the show he's been on before his cad and mother who has been gone now some uh... two months i think yeah

so we are glad to have him back. Thank you. Bringing his French touch. I haven't spoken English for three months. Okay, well, it'll come back to you. Yeah. It's like writing a poem. Gad, you missed.

And we also have Estee, the booker at the Comedy Cellar here. She was in Paris with Gad. Nobody knows exactly what's going on between them. An affair. That's an affair. That's an affair. Did Gad invite you to Paris, Esty, or did you just go? I went to business.

The French tabloids are all abuzz. Who is this new woman in Gad's life? Yeah. Right? Yeah, of course. Hello. Was there a lot of paparazzi action? Yeah, a lot of paparazzi for Esty. Yeah, for Esty running down the streets of Paris. Running away.

I just would like to first address the changes that have been made to the Comedy Cellar, Gad. Since you left, we have a... Can you, for the listeners, fill them in a little bit about Gad and who he is. That's a good idea. His resume. It's a wonderful idea. Yeah, I was going to ask you this.

I'm glad I thought of it. Gad is, you know, we say this, a lot of people come to America and claim to be big stars in their home countries

and we're always a little skeptical, but Gad Elmala. Jeff Leach is not a big star in England? No, I don't believe so. This is what you did

when you came to Paris. Well, I had, yes, and the internet unfortunately sunk my efforts. But, you know, you came to Paris. Well, I had... Yes. And the internet, unfortunately, sunk my efforts. But, you know, you can't get away with that anymore like you used to. But Gad really is

enormous. I mean, cannot walk the streets without being molested. And vice versa. In the European sense of the term, molest. Especially when you walk with Esty down the street. Esty, in the microphone.

There was a couple that wanted the picture with God and they had the two-year-old with them and they put the two-year-old down to take a picture. The two-year-old ran away. But they got the picture. No, they said, put the baby. They said, no, no, no, we take the picture.

Unbelievable. That should make you feel good. Well, Gad was not content to be a star in France because I guess he feels that America is the home of stand-up. And so he's come here to cast his lot with us Yankees and try his luck as a stand-up in America. He's a regular here at the Comedy Cellar. And from what I hear, he has audiences laughing heartily,

even though his English is not his first language. Voilà. That's a good resume. Yeah, thank you. And by the way, I want to point out, Gad, I don't know if you've noticed, when you were away, we had no kitchen when you left. Yeah. And we have a kitchen now.

We have a whole new menu. I think people who are listening right now are very interested and very passionate about the kitchen. They are because I've been ranting and raving about

where's the damn kitchen? But Dan, that's, I mean, that was your concern. That was, I mean, you've been,

I mean, honestly, you're my friend, but I try to have many conversations about so many different subjects with you,

and you always take me back and go back to the kitchen. It's like I think the Trump thing was not at that level for you. It's like the kitchen was something. Well, I can't do anything about the Trump thing, but with enough harassing, I did get that kitchen finished. Make the altar great again. I do want to bring up one thing. Maybe Gad doesn't feel it's important,

but why do you call the peel and eat shrimp peel and eat shrimp? We'll get more to it. It's peel and eat chicken. Chicken, I mean. Listen, don't ask me, because I'm aggravated about the kitchen. I'm aggravated about the menu.

I'm aggravated about the way the food's coming out. Nothing's going well. I don't think there's a such thing as peel and eat chicken. Well, you know, you can peel it or not, but don't tell me how to eat my chicken. What are you peeling? The chicken doesn't have a peel. Ben? There's skin on the chicken.

You can peel it if you want. What? But guys, let me ask you something about the table. What happened with the table now? There was a whole thing with the table, right? Oh, the re-whatever it's called. You're taking me too seriously. I was kind of being lighthearted about the table.

We'll get to the table. Okay. That didn't work out so good. You should explain the table thing. Well, the table, the reorganization. Well,

I mean, the table is that the table at the comedy cellar, which is reserved for the comedians where we all sit around and talk. And, uh, it's been, it's been, it's been moved a little bit. Not anymore. Now it's back.

Well, it was... Noam had moved it, and it was a little more cramped, and then Louis C.K. complained. Was that it? No. This is what happened. When we hired the people

to do their kitchen... Guys, I'm sorry. No, I'm going to interrupt. I need to tell to our listener about that table. Because when I first arrived here in New York City and the Cellar, I didn't dare to go to that table. Even though you can be a big...

Macher. Somewhere... You don't go to that table easily. That's a problem, right? You need to be accepted, right? What is the rule? Well, the rule is it's for comedy-seller comedians only can sit there. Okay.

Or chicks that comedy-seller comedians are trying to have sex with. Is the other rule. Maybe that's why. Because I brought many girls. That's why. It's the same rule. Every rule has a hot chick exception. I think throughout the world, in every context, there's a hot chick exception.

You really don't need to say it, Dan. Esty can't stand when some of these chippies hang out at the table. I think she can't stand it. I feel that energy when it happens. It's not a question of not can't stand it. It defeats the purpose. Because for you, it's a casual thing. Take them to another table and do whatever you want to do.

There's a room for our comics. I think Gad is trying to... And that's what it is. That's fair. That's fair, but sometimes the chick just sits down. I don't have the heart to tell her to beat it because I'm trying to get into her pants. Well, that's your problem.

Gad is trying to impart the vibe and the importance of the table in the industry and in the... and the importance of the table in the industry. People are afraid of the table. Gad, as big a star as he is, in France, comes to New York and is a virtual unknown. And felt that intimidation when he came in. That's it. No, I used to. Now that's it.

Well, now you're part of the family. So much so that you invited Estee to your house in Paris. An invitation that I've yet to receive and I've been to Paris several times. No, but listen, I swear I miss the cellar so much and I was, I mean, she saw me and I told her I was doing those shows for

Arena. She come to Paris, 12,000 people. I walk off the stage. I said to Estee, I want to go back to the cellar. I want to see it with the guys. I want to see Dan, I want to go back to the cellar. I want to sit with the guys. I want to see Dan. I want to see Noam. I want to see the comedians. I want to talk. They're all crazy. Play the Dumbach.

Play the Dumbach. You know, not making money, it's a good thing. Gets you humble. But Gad, you obviously replenished the coffers in France. I'm not going to get into your financial affairs. It's none of my business.

But if you saw a photo, you go online, you see these Instagram posts. These are stadiums that he's filling up. Yeah, I saw Esty show me the pictures. I took a picture of the... The Bercy, yeah. I refused to look at Esty's pictures, though. Oh, stop it. What do you mean?

I said Esty she started showing me pictures inside the museum I said Esty I don't want to see anything that I can see on a postcard Or on the internet I want to see pictures of people I know Or nothing at all I don't want to see And this is Louis XIV's chandelier And this is

I don't want to see these fucking pictures Esty Who can sit through these pictures? That's what you go to Paris for also. That's so funny. You're such a farmer. So uncultured.

They have no culture. You're a better man than I. I like vacation pictures when I see the people I know. I don't want to see a picture of the Eiffel Tower unless Gad is holding it by the tip of his...

That's a great picture. Gad is dangling the Eiffel Tower between his thumb and forefinger. That's a picture.. Gad is dangling the Eiffel Tower between his thumb and forefinger. That's a picture. That's a picture. The Eiffel Tower. Yeah, you don't want to see that.

We mentioned briefly with Gad's most recent tour, and it was a little something different. This is a kid in France. He's about 25. His name is Kev Adams. It's not his real name, obviously. Kev Adams is not a French name.

Isn't Kev his real name? His name is not Kev. No, Kevin Smadja. He's a Jew from Tunisia, Sephardic Jew. Well, he's about 25, and the kids love him, and he's a big star there. So Gad is on tour with him. It's like a cross. Wait a second.

Hold on a second. I'm sorry. When Kev was a very, very young kid, Yeah, yeah. He was a huge fan of God. Yeah. And actually, they closed the show with a video for Christmas or something.

For Christmas, yeah. It's a very moving... Yeah. Tell them this. Yeah. The whole story in that show, he was a big fan and then he ends up

doing the show with me. Anyway, to make a long story short, at the end of the show, we show this footage of Kev. He's like 10 years old and with the Christmas tree and the whole thing and it's him and he opens the presents, Christmas presents,

and he opens a cassette. A video cassette. A video cassette of my show. And it says Gad and then it's like wow I have

he was so happy you should see it it's amazing it's fantastic it's real but go back to you know fast forward

being a fan they're on tour together they did it's like a cross generational tour they do a lot of jokes about how Gad is you know the

I won't say old, but. Older. Older. Actually, Gad is younger than me, oddly enough. But in any case, he's. I find it weird because Gad is such a, he's so big and he's got a family. And I feel like I haven't done a whole lot in my life. Compared to Gad, you haven't.

Well, no, that's true. No, no, no, no, no. But I have to say, now that I'm listening to you, Dan. But I do have the uncle joke, which he doesn't have. The joke about the... No, no, you improved a lot with the radio thing. Now you seem very, very relaxed and comfortable. Well, I was good.

The last time, maybe I didn't have a good day. You caught me on one day. Of course, anybody can have an off day. You know, we all have off days, but I've been good for I think... Maybe because Harrison was here. You were a little... You know what it was? Harrison was here and I wanted to talk about him being

gay, but he wasn't into it and it was a weird thing. I was text messaging with Harrison today, by the way. Did you really? Yeah, I was trying to find a kid's magician for my daughter's birthday party. You thought of Harrison? No, he's a magician.

He's a magician. But the first thing Gad said to me, Gad and Sebastian, but Gad says to me, when is he going to come out? With Sebastian, you mean Gad's... Manager. The manager is your body guy. When is Harrison going to come? No, he was a...

It's like an American... That could happen only in America, but it happened in France. The guy who was a driver became... No, the guy who was a security guy then became a driver, then assistant, and then manager. Only in America, this thing... Sebastian's the scariest French guy you've ever seen. He really works hard for you.

Oh, yeah. He really, really does. He's a scary-looking dude, am I right? Yeah, yeah. He looks like a skin... He's a scary-looking dude, am I right? Yeah, yeah. He looks like a skin... Yeah, he's a scary-looking French guy. Skinhead. No, but he's very nice, very sweet.

And you know what I like? If you write him, immediately you get a response. You never get this in France from anyone. I love that. That's how I work. By the way, Gad, I pointed this out a couple weeks ago. You know, as comics, we often go on stage and say, where are you from? And I have jokes

about Europe, so I say, are there any Europeans in the house? Well, before you started coming, we got our fair share of Swedes and Danes, and they're still here. God bless them. But I've noticed in recent months, every night there's French people here. And I think either we've got foie gras on the menu, but I

didn't see it. It's peony. Peony foie gras on the menu, but I didn't see it. It's peony. Gad did a spit take. Or it's because Gad keeps posting shit on Instagram about the comedy cellar. No, the good thing would be that I tell them I was born in Morocco

and then you'll have couscous and foie gras. No, but that's true. I mean, that's true. I see more and more French people coming to the cellar. I don't know if it's because I posted a lot. I think it's got to be. I think it's because of Dan Natterman. You performed in France a lot.

I have done. They probably see your name and they come down to see you. He is the American ambassador of comedy. I am the American ambassador of comedy, but I don't have millions of Instagram followers as does Gad. And when he posts, I'm going to be the comedy seller, all his French fans see this, they come to New York, or the ones that already live

in New York, and they come here. I'm assuming Gad is putting money into your pocket. Can I tell you something about when French people are here with the... With all the respect. Respect. For my French fans, I like when there are no French in the audience.

I like it when it's only Americans and I want to earn those laughs and it's not easy. You don't like to go on stage and they go, before you, you know what I mean? You're not here to perform for French people, you're here to perform for Americans. That's a good conclusion. That makes sense. I think it's

smart, I think it was... I think you show you really speak English. Yes. But Gad is back. But he's saying something interesting. When they recognize him and they know he's famous, he gets a boost from that, which actually camouflages or is artificial.

He wants to know the unadulterated quality of his performance. But there's never a ton of French people here. It's usually, there's just maybe a couple of groups of French people. It's mostly American.

But what I like is when then I'm done, you know, I did my set, I come up here and I talk to some American girls and French people,

they ask me for pictures. You know, it's a good thing for the American girl that she can see. To see who she's dealing with. Yeah, it's a lot better than you having to tell her you're famous.

Yeah, because Gad doesn't say on stage when he does his act in English, he'll never say, nor should he, I don't think. But I think I should say it. Maybe he never says, I'm a big star in France, because it would sound pretentious. No, but maybe there's a way maybe to talk about that. But it is interesting because what

you're doing is very interesting and it is an interesting angle, the fact that you're big over there and you know, an unknown over here is interesting. And yet if he talks about being a star over there, it will sound pretentious. No many ideas? I'm sure he could find a way to put it out there

in a way that doesn't sound arrogant. If it's self-deprecating, like I got here and it's totally anonymous. Nobody talks to me. And I'm, I don't know, stopping people down the streets. I don't know. But it would be interesting. Other comics do talk about being famous, I think. Yeah.

Because people can relate. They know. They know they're famous. Yeah. Right. But if you talk about being famous and nobody knows you're famous somewhere on the planet, it's going to be awkward.

Yeah, I don't know. It's a difficult thing, and yet your story is an interesting one. You know, Trevor Noah has the same phenomenon. Exactly. He's so famous in South Africa, he doesn't talk about it. In his book, I was born a crime.

He's talking about all other stuff. In none of the interviews, he mentions what a big star he is there. Why? I don't know. That's funny. I went, I was on his show, and Trevor told me, oh, we have

a similar journey. You were born in North Africa. I was born in South Africa. You're very famous in your country. Then you came to America. You did this. You do stand-up. And I said, yeah, the only difference is I had to learn English.

Yeah, good point. Because, you know, they speak English over there. And that was the hardest part, you know. And it's not only the language. It's just the humor itself is different. I'm not sure. I mean, you can know the words, but the nuance is different. Yeah, humor travels, but language is different.

How did you make your entree to knowing Seinfeld and these other important American comedians? Did they know about you first? How did that happen? I think there's something natural when you're doing something and you are important. Important? No. In your own country, it becomes easier to meet.

Yeah, you get all the people at the upper echelon. It's like they're all in the executive lunchroom together. I know who's the number one comic in Italy. I know who's the number one comic in Italy. I know who's the number one comic in Germany. You do? Yeah, Michael Mettermeyer. I know Keiko Zalone in Italy. I know the Russians.

I know Israeli. Who's number one in Israel? I have no idea. Chaka Hassan? No, Guri Alfie. I mean, so I think it's kind of, you know, like ambassadors. They don't know each other, but they immediately connect, right? How did you meet Seinfeld then?

Did he come to one of your shows? You went to his show? No, no. At a party? No, because he directed a movie, animated movie called B-Movie, the B-Movie. Yeah. And Jeffrey Katzenberg, I mean, DreamWorks produced, and they asked me to do Jerry's voice in French.

Ah. So they came to Cannes. I was a big fan of Jerry, and I said, I want to meet with Jerry. So we met, and we became friends, and voila. And voila. And voila.

So you did the voice? You did the... Yeah, I did the voice. Yeah, I did the voice. Oh, I didn't know. Did you know voice? You did the... Yeah, I did the voice. Yeah, I did the voice. Oh, I didn't... Did you know that? No, I did not. I did the voice.

And now I'm doing another voice for an American movie, third time, the troisième épisode. Third episode. Third episode. Yeah, it's called Despicable Me. Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. God knows... My kids love that. God knows all the difficult words in English, but the simpler words he has to ask. Which character are you? How do you say important?

It's Gru. The main character. Gru. Oh, that's you? Yeah. In French. In France. It's Steve Carell in English.

Right. Yeah. So now I told them, you gave me three times this character. I want for the next one in the American version something in the American version. Absolutely. I don for the next one in the American version something in the American version. Absolutely. I don't want to be only the French guy.

You've got a tour now coming up in English. Yeah. A tour in Carnegie Hall February 11th. I'm going to be touring. I'm going to New Orleans. Never been before. I'm thinking about New Orleans. You are going to love it. I'm passionate with the music. Have been before i'm thinking about you're gonna love it yeah oh my god you know i'm passionate with the music have you been i'm sure yeah not a long time and i can't wait to go there never been to louisiana and many other uh places in

texas and oh it's good are you playing carnegie hall as part of the the new york comedy festival what is it no but you you're just you you you producing the show i mean i'm not producing the show but i'm i have my producers and yeah we're doing the show just uh yeah that must feel like a million dollars to to be playing carnegie hall that's the most prestigious thing you can do right incredible incredible amazing uh I'm very excited, very honored. And it's like the Olympia in Paris. It's like a legendary room, iconic. That's fantastic. Yeah.

Yeah, that's good. That's great. Congratulations. It's good. And would you expect the audience to be half American and half French people that live here? I just expect the room to be full. Well, we hope it is. It will be.

But we already sold 2,000 tickets. And it's, you know... How many does Carnegie Hall? Like 3,000? Almost. 2,700. So you're almost sold out already since February.

Yeah, it's almost... Wow. It's fun. It's great. That's very impressive. Merci. Merci. Toda Rabat.

I don't think that... Don't take this the wrong way, but who's opening for you at Carnegie Hall? I'm taking it the wrong way. No, yeah. Maybe Jerry. I don't know.

Really? Yeah. That would be great. Maybe Jerry. Maybe. You open for him? I need to see his new stuff. I'm not sure.

Not sure if he's up to snuff. I'm not sure. Well, how about him sing? I'm trying to get Dan some work. Who's trying to shoehorn me? Esty's telling me. No, no, no, no, no, no. He knows I'm kidding around.

Sort of. What's the matter, Esty? The guy's on the phone. Are you... I was checking my... Because this is my American phone, and I don't get many texts. I don't get anything, you know?

And in my... How do you say repertoire? Repertoire. No. So what is a repertoire? A repertoire. Do you have all your contacts? Yeah.

You would say my... My contact list. I'm going to say repertoire. Oh, okay. No, repertoire is in the music. My contact list. I'm going to say repertoire. Oh, okay. That's way better than contact list. No, repertoire is in the music. You have this song and this song. It's your repertoire, right?

And it's the same thing for your contact list? No. What's the contact list called? Repertoire. Oh, okay. Yeah, it's the same word. Oh, it's the same word. I didn't know that.

Well, that's one word I didn't know. By the way, also, when you left, that was before Trump got elected president. So what's the buzz over there in France regarding... The buzz is very... I mean, it's very interesting because it's like here.

People are very... They were very, very shocked, very devastated. They made videos on social media, post themselves crying. It was stupid. So I don't know. I thought I told you before I went back to Paris, he's going to be elected.

I don't know if you remember. I don't remember that. But everyone was in, how you say that, denial? Everyone was like, no, no, no. Anyway, I think it's very interesting to see the reaction of the American people. Of course, he said the most insane things you can say, and it was a little frightening.

But why America? I mean, America should be humble a little bit and say maybe we got problems maybe we can face what we have what kind of problem we have and stop saying no and the i think the worst is when i hear americans say this is not my country yeah what do you mean this is not your country anymore because some people voted in a democracy for someone you don't like that's your country this is not your country anymore because some people voted in a democracy for someone you don't like. That's your country. This is not my country.

I'm not from here. Well, it might be your country. You know, I mean, you're... No, I mean, I was comparing this. I was telling to... I was comparing the other day to someone who would go and get a blood test and they find a problem and he would go down the street and say,

this is not my body. It's not my blood. It's not my body. I have the same... Half of my blood is good. I mean, so get it fixed. Do something. I should mention, I do have a joke about that. By sheer coincidence.

Did you steal another one of Gad's jokes? No, I told you last week. No, I'm the one who's stealing Gad's jokes. I told you I had the joke about people every month that scream, not my visa bill and not my blood test results. No, really? Yeah, I do. I have that joke, the same joke. And we had the other one people every month that scream, not my visa bill and not my blood test results. No, really? Yeah, I do. I have that joke.

The same joke. And we had the other one with America great again. I had one before he's been elected. I know who's not opening for Gadd. All right. Carnegie Hall. Well, I won't do that joke with Carnegie Hall. When I show up and I do the jokes, you're going to be like, again?

Remember on last week's episode, I told you that joke? Yeah, I do remember. Actually, now that you mention it, I do remember. But that's interesting because we do talk about joke stealing and stuff, and it just goes to show that you can come up with very similar concepts. And Gad was out of the country, so I didn't see him and he didn't see me.

I spoke about the great again thing before he's been elected because I said they should put people in every embassies in Europe and tell people who want to move to America that it's not that great. You know, they're working now on it to bring it back great again, blah, blah, blah. So it was not the same joke. No, that's not the same joke. You know what is interesting? I'll tell you about the politics. So Europe looks at Trump and they can't believe the things that he says.

They're right. But then I don't think Europe understands that when we see them banning the burqa, banning a particular bathing suit at the beach for Muslim women, we look at that and say, oh, my God, what's the matter with him? If Trump had ever said that, there'd be protests in the street. You can't tell people, religious people. Most Americans don't really talk

about that. You're an informed American compared to most. But I'm saying, if a presidential candidate said, I want to ban the burqa, it would be probably worse reaction as anything Trump ever said. Yeah, it would be a hostile reaction. It would be considered to be racist.

Among those that were hostile to him anyway. Among those that love him, they'd probably be right on board. All right, but I'm saying that culturally it seems to make sense. Now Angela Merkel is, I mean, and she's as liberal as it gets, right? And she's proposing the same thing. And through the eyes of an American, that seems very right. Well, you haven't seen anything yet because the French version of

Trump, they call her the French version of Trump, Marine Le Pen, is probably going to be the next president of France. Do you think? I don't know, I read that somewhere. I might as well say it because if I say it and it comes true, everybody will think, wow, Dan predicted it, and if not, they'll forget I said it. That comes true, everybody will think, wow, Dan predicted it.

And if not, they'll forget I said it. That's true, by the way. Yeah, so why not just say, I'm telling you right now, mark my words, write this down. Marine Le Pen, not Jean-Marie Le Pen. By the way, Marine Le Pen has a niece, Marion Marichal Le Pen, that is fuckable. Yeah, she's hot. Yeah, that's the problem. That's the problem.

I'm sorry, Estee, if that... She's very attractive. Nothing fazes Estee at this point. And I would certainly... She's hurt at all. Gad cannot have sex with her because he has a reputation. And the tabloids would have a field day. I, on the other hand...

I was about to say that. Yeah. I, on the other hand... I'm sure she would be very excited to... Because, you know, with a Jew and... Yeah, you know with a Jew I think it's all I think she's a softie on the inside we'll find out Marie Le Pen is

Marie is her aunt she's like a nativist yeah I mean I've seen some interviews with her you know she doesn't come right out and say that this is a country for white French people, but she says that we have a certain culture that must be assimilated to, and that culture is, I don't know if she says a Christian culture. She's extreme, though.

Yeah, of course she's extreme. But, Dan, let me ask you this. Did you see any changes since Trump has been elected in your life in America? No, not that. When he got elected, the night he got elected, and I was talking about this on a previous episode, I felt very, very anxious. Really? I don't get it. I don't get that.

Because I thought that there would be hate crimes would explode. And also, look, the guy is unstable mentally. You know what? I don't think Gad knows this. Dan spends all day on white supremacist websites. Not all day. Is that true? He's fascinated by these white supremacy websites.

So he's distorted his whole mind about what's going to happen. Especially for someone who has anxiety to begin with. There's truth to what Noam is saying. I do spend some time on alt-right websites. Every day. They're flagging him left and right. They're going to think, you're going to have a no-fly list.

That being said, I think Noam underestimates the reaction of white America to political correctness and population shifts and demographic shifts. Yeah, I don't underestimate it. I feel it too. Oh, okay.

I was going to say, I think that strikes a chord, the nativist thing, just because you feel like the identity is a big issue. I just want to be one country. I don't care what color anybody is, what religion they are, but we need to feel like we need people to come here, want to be American. It bothered me when presidential candidates were campaigning in Spanish. It bothered me. Call me whatever you want.

It bothered me. I didn't like it either. That's what we've become. I didn't like it, but hopefully it'll all work out. Yeah, now you have a place in Tribeca, right? You bought it, you purchased a place. Now, is this to mean that you see your future in America, or are you going to be going back and forth?

No, I see my future in New York. I want to stay here. I feel good here. That's very strange. I feel at home, really, more than France, more than I don't know, Morocco where I was born, and I love to go

back to Morocco, but more than any place on the planet. I feel at home in New York City. Why? Really. I don't know. I don't know. I don't even want to know. Is it possible that when you're very famous it's difficult to feel at home just't even want to know. Is it possible that when you're very famous it's difficult to feel at home

just because it's always a stressful... Yeah, maybe. I like the anonymity. I like to just walk around and just stop anywhere I want and sit and have a coffee anywhere and talk to people. I like when

people ask me what do I do for a living. I like it because I realize I'm doing something good. But the only fly in that ointment is The what? I'm sorry, I used an expression that you might not be familiar with. The only problem with that is when you're trying to get a chick,

it's a little bit more difficult. Which is what Dan boils everything down to. I don't know how it affects his ability to get laid. I don't boil it down. It's a little bit more difficult. Which is what Dan boils everything down to. I don't know how it affects his ability to get laid. No, I don't boil it down. It's interesting, and it is... He doesn't need his fame. It is the only... What do you mean he doesn't need his fame?

Of course he needs his fame. No, he does not. Take a look at him. To get women, you mean? Yeah. He's an okay-looking guy. Okay-looking. Charming, charming, charming.

No, he's fine, but fame, obviously obviously is going to make it that much easier. Fame, money, fame. In Paris, he doesn't even have to make an effort. Nothing. The problem is that he gets... I don't even show up. He sends Sebastian out. He has a better read on people, women included, without them knowing that he's famous and rich.

Wow. How is that? That's interesting. But it's still more of a challenge. I think Gad, you would agree. Yeah, yeah. Of course. Yeah, yeah.

If they know you're famous, it's easier. Come on. It's easier. It's easier, but it's empty. Of course it's empty, but sometimes a good empty... I was about to say, women always say, oh,. It's easier, but it's empty. Of course it's empty, but sometimes a good empty... Women always say, oh yeah, you're right, it's empty. Like as a woman. A real strike against it.

There was a movie. I prefer empty. When I meet a guy, a man, and he is witty and smart and charming. And famous. I don't know. What happens when you meet Gad? I'm kidding. I met Gad on a professional level,

and that's how we are, and that's good. Guys, I have an idea. I have an idea. Okay, I'll let you finish. No, it's just you don't. I don't think you cash in on fame and money because then it's not the real thing. If you want to spend a night, that's fine.

But if you want a real relationship, it's a different thing. Well, absolutely. That's what I'm saying. Are you saying that Donald Trump were not Donald Trump, he couldn't get Melania at 60 years old? He couldn't. You had an idea, Gad. I had an idea.

We were talking with Esty about the cellar and traveling. Okay, here's the idea. I think we should organize a tour, and we should have what they do now, pop-ups, right? The pop-ups. The pop-ups. How do you say pop-up?

Pop-up. I'm very serious, guys. I think we should, because the cellar is not a place. It's a spirit. It's a philosophy. It's a way of doing comedy. It's people.

So this could be done outside of the cellar. And we could bring that to many cities and do a show with a bunch of comedians and the show and the podcast. And we do a pop-up like one night in Paris and one night in London and one night in, I don't know, in Israel and one night. And we would go there and do that.

I think it would be fantastic. I told you to do that, Noam. Actually, this is the third time somebody has made that suggestion to me. I think it's a good one. But you thought about it in Vegas. Now, he's suggesting Paris. Now, do you think people in Paris would come to the comedy? Yes.

Yes. For one night, every comedy fans, because they know the seller, they know. Yeah, of course. Of course. And who would come? The expats or Parisians that speak English reasonably well? Or both? Everyone who's interested.

Parisians who are big fans of comedy. I mean, who shows up? Wait, I have an idea. Okay. We say Gad is going to be there, and we sell out the Bersi. And then? Well, then what? No, I mean.

Bersi is not the one, no one else had the idea about taking it to European cities like that. But when I was thinking about trying to figure out how to do something, you know, I'm bored, I want to do something new.

What can we do? A couple of people said, why don't you, you know, I didn't even know that pop-ups were a thing. This guy, my friend Andy told me about these things.

Pop-ups were, and you can go into another city, whatever it is, you take over and you do a pop-up comedy and you can go into another city whatever it is you take over and you do a pop-up comedy set up for a week or two and then you go

and it's a great idea and what's easier to do pop-up than a comedy club because a comedy club is really just a spotlight and a microphone

yeah but we would do the same exact same stage we would do the same the sign not the sign

the wall it's nothing it's just it would be fantastic, really. Well, let's do it, Kat. Well, what venue would be appropriate in Paris for that sort of a thing? I don't know. I don't know. There are many places where we can do that.

I'm sure it's going to be, it could be great. And we do London also, and we do, yeah. What do you think? Liechtenstein? Liechtenstein? Liechtenstein? well obviously if somebody's paying me to go

I'm going I want to do Tel Aviv yeah of course yeah but you know Tel Aviv they're huge comedy fans somebody

somebody of course has to produce it but you said who's gonna come who's coming when Louis C.K. showed up

and and sold 2,000 tickets for one night? Comedy fans, French people, expats, American expats. Well, but people know Louis. I don't know if people know the comedy seller. What do you mean? Comedy fans, they know the comedy seller.

Do they? I mean, mostly, I think, thanks to you, they might know the comedy seller. No, no, no. They know through Louis' show and C'est une institution, you know. Did you know that? You're big in Paris? I didn't know that, but I assumed it. I assumed it.

No, but I had the idea because ST talked about Just for Laughs. Oh, yeah, Montreal will be obvious. Another place to do it. I know that on TripAdvisor, which is an important website, we were the number two attraction in New York City.

And that goes for tourists, so I figured, you know. What was number one? I don't remember. The village underground. Stand up New York. Yeah.

No, no, no. It wasn't, it wasn't the comedy. It wasn't the comedy. It wasn't a comedy thing. It was something else. Like Madame Tussauds. Hamilton.

Hamilton. Yeah, something like that. Yeah, Hamilton. Oh, yeah. It was something like that. Broadway Tussauds. Hamilton. Hamilton. Yeah, something like that. Yeah, Hamilton. Oh, yeah. It was something like that. Broadway, yeah. You mentioned that you feel at home in New York. Is there any reaction from your French fans?

I'm sure they might feel as though, in some sense, that you're kind of turning your back on them. You've left their country. You're performing in English. No, real fans, people who love my work, they understand, they're very supportive and they're like, oh, that's big, that's great and I hope you're going to succeed and blah blah. I mean, people who don't like you, they don't like you no matter what. And people that want to say, oh, now who do you think you are? You're doing now English, why? Why do you speak English on social media and why? You know, but fans, no, I mean, no, no.

Well, but the French have a particular kind of, many of them, insecurity with regard to English. Of course. Because they feel that, oh, French isn't good enough for you? I think Celine Dion had that problem. French used to be the language of the world, used to be the international language, and then at some point, English took over.

You know what? I heard it so many times that French don't like to speak English. They, you know, turn their noses up. My experience in this one week that I was, they'd say bonjour and I would say hi. And they switched to English right away. Yeah. They were very, very accepting.

Because she was only hanging out in very fancy places with dad with me I was with him only twice the whole week I was with Claudie yeah

yeah Claudie was yeah and I'm telling you I was very happy that I was shown wrong

but it wasn't fancy we went to attractions yeah we met some people you know in Versailles I was shown wrong, but it wasn't fancy. We went to attractions. We met some people, you know, in Versailles. No, you're right. Now they speak English. It's a lot more.

Very nice. I was in Paris in August, and I hadn't been there for probably seven years. And there was a huge difference, I thought. Yeah. Just in their openness. When is the last time you've been to Europe? My honeymoon. Six years ago. I thought just in their openness when is the last time you've been to Europe my honeymoon six years ago

seems like 15 years ago but it was it was five years ago six years ago I was in Nice and Genoa and Tuscany and all through

but those aren't in France well Nice is in France don't tell him he doesn't know no no we drove from from Nice and gone to the first Ventim from Nice and Cannes to Ventimiglia. Is that the first?

Ventimiglia. In Italy, right? Ventimiglia. And then from there up around Italy. Your fame, is it France or is it all over Europe? It's Europe now, as you saw, when Spanish people or German people. That's interesting. And that's what's interesting in Europe. Also, anyway,

they speak French, for example, Belgium. No, but like, even in Ireland, also, the kitchen here at the Comedy Cellar,

we have many West Africans. Let's get back to this pop-up Europe Comedy Cellar thing. We have Moroccans. I like the pop-up thing. I like the pop-up thing.

I want to pop up, what's the big city with the Arabic city with all the high school? Dubai. Dubai. I have friends in Dubai. I got a great name for the show. That'd be great. I got a great name for the show.

Hear me out. Peel and eat comedy. Shut up, Dan. I think it's a good idea. I think we should do it. Listen. But who's going to pay for it? He offered, didn't he? No, I'll pay for it. I didn't hear Gad say that he's going to pay for it? Didn't he offer it?

No, I'll pay for it. I didn't hear Gad say that he's going to write the check. I think we should have a sponsor with us. Do we see sponsors? Yeah, sponsor, sure. Like a brand or something, like pop up with, you know... Let's see if Montreal contacts me. Yeah, I think it's fair.

If they contact me, we can start with that. How about that? Yeah, I think it's very... If they contact me, we can start with that. How about that? Yeah, I believe in that. I mean, listen, I think it would be a lot of fun. Of course. To go around,

be in different cities. It's not very complicated. With a bunch of the comedians traveling, we'd have the time of our lives. That would be amazing. Poor SDB here,

booking the show. Somebody's got to watch the story. And Dan would be headlining every night. Dan would be opening for Harrison Greenbaum every night. Did you hear that? Somehow this got out from under us.

You see what I mean? I really love the idea. I'm desperate to find things to do to have some fun. Noam does sometimes get very excited about an idea. Right. And sometimes he very excited about an idea. Right. And sometimes he just sort of loses enthusiasm. Like the kitchen. The kitchen was the dumbest idea I've ever had.

Guys, maybe we can start this pop-up in festivals because it's going to be easier. Only comedy fans. We can go to Montreux, which is a big festival in Switzerland where they have a whole English speaking section we can do Just for Laughs in Australia Just for Laughs in Montreal obviously and they have in Vancouver and maybe you start with festival because it's easier you

drag you know comedy fans and it would be it would be amazing would be great well as I said obviously I have no problem with it but I'm not the one that's gonna underwrite it well it's it's got to pay for itself one way or another. Either a sponsor pays for it or we sell tickets, but we're not going to do it to go into debt. But I don't care if we make money. I don't care. But we need to...

I love it. The two people that have no problem with money don't care. Dan's like, who's paying me? That's right. We don't care because the genesis of the idea is not like, how can I make some more money? Yeah, no. Absolutely. We just need to pay the expenses.

Yeah, we need to pay the... The comedians. Comedians don't work very much, Dan. Planes and hotels. Well, comedians don't work very much depending if you give them a reason to go. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. No, but international flights...

I think it should be a perfectly viable commercial enterprise if we sell tickets. And I think we'd sell tickets. Of course. Yeah. Like anything else,

you know, you give a good product and it's... Yeah. I think Esty's idea at Montreal is a good idea. And the risk is not huge. Even, you know... Yeah. Even if it loses a little bit... All right, so it's done at Montreal is a good idea. And the risk is not huge.

Even if it loses a little bit, it won't be a bloody injury. I would love to do it, but when is the Montreal festival? I don't know if she wants to. It's July. Gad, can we? Well, Gad, somebody just sat down. She's not somebody. She's Virgilia.

Virgilia. Is that a French name? No, she's from Belgium. She's French-speaking? Of course. Gad comes all the way to America, and he's still macking on French chicks. What's the point of living here? I would tread carefully...

You don't know what you're doing. You're a French... Your name is Virgilia? Virgilia French speaking you see Esty what I'm telling you? never mind okay anyway

what else Dan, what else? no I want to talk about Virgilia but maybe it's too sensitive it is alright never mind do you edit this? No, I want to talk about Virginia, but maybe it's too sensitive. It is. All right, never mind. So I have a question for you. Do you guys, do you edit this, the whole? Oh, yeah, you want us to take something out? No, not at all.

I'm just, from time to time, otherwise, no. Usually, if I say something racist or something, we take it out, otherwise. Or if it's super long. How did you find this episode, Gad? This one? Yeah. Very, comparing to the first one, very easy, very... Relaxed.

Relaxed, very jet-lagged. Now, can I say something about Gad? Go ahead. I believe that Gad has musical talent... He does. Oh, yeah. ...on par with his comedic ability. And then in another life...

You're saying his music is that bad? Listen. In his show, there's a whole segment where he plays guitar, he sings, and by the way, Kev cannot carry a tune in the basket.

He's horrible. He's funny. He's adorable. He has no singing voice. And I kept saying to Claudio, listen to this, listen to this. Kind of like

Moody at my father's funeral. You know, Esty says that I'm inappropriate. That's not inappropriate. She's just stating facts. I gave you a compliment. She's saying she couldn't carry a tune in the basket. Not him. Kev.

Kev's like a Sundergat. I'm curious, Esty, in your mind, why was it okay for you to just throw Kev right under the bus, but I can't tease Modi? Because Modi is ours. But Kev is Gad's. Also, Kev. No, I mean, he's really funny. Modi? Kev.

Oh, Kev. So is Modi. Kev, but he really has an ability. You know what? Kev would be happy anyway to know that we're talking about him. Moe would too. In English at the cellar. That's it.

He's adorable. Of course. He has good timing and he's fun and he's energetic and whatever. But one thing he couldn't do is sing. Yeah, and who cares? He doesn't make his money singing. So she's not insulting. No, but I'm saying you're not saying anything.

No, no. I don't mean to. He's no, I'm funny. No. No, but I'm saying you're not saying anything. No, no. I don't mean to. He's no, I'm funny. No. No, I'm Dorman. I've noticed that comedians with a good ear for accents and languages and voices are quite often very musical. Oh, yeah. I was saying, Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live when she sang the Leonard Cohen she really sang it beautifully

as in she's not a singer and you see this over and over again a lot of talents run between she's very talented she's really really funny Charlie Chaplin was a musician yeah Charlie Chaplin wrote

the smile when your heart is breaking and you told me Chappelle he wrote that Chappelle He wrote that You told me Chappelle was Chappelle was playing Moonlight Sonata And some Thelonious Monk He taught himself on the piano Chappelle plays piano

By self-taught You know, he picks out melodies But he picks out complicated melodies Really? In two hands I mean, yeah, he's clearly musical I don't know how much time he spends on it But he's clearly musical I listen to Gre know how much time he spends on it, but he's clearly musical.

I listen to Greer Barnes sometimes when he goes into these musical... Well, we're all frustrated, because let's face it, there's nothing like music, baby. I mean, comedy, eh, it's okay. We make people laugh. But you crank out a song

that has a whole room just enraptured. Hard. Hard. And, you know, as far as I'm concerned, it's not comparable. Comedy hits, I mean, music hits on a visceral, primitive,

primitive is really the word, level. Yeah. Every culture has music. I don't know if every culture has stand-up comedy. No. Not every culture

has stand-up comedy. That's why I said, music is a fundamental need of human beings. I was surprised when you said that. You know, the stereotype of certain nationalities, they don't have sense of humor.

Germany. And when you said the comedian in Germany, that's what surprised me. Yeah, of course they have. Because you don't hear about a lot of German comics. But he's big. This one is big. Funny.

Comedy is becoming more and more universal. It started in the United States and I guess in the English-speaking world and now you see it in China they're doing it. And if it's in Germany, it's got to be everywhere, I guess, at this point. I think even in the Arab world, like Saudi Arabia. I was going to say in the Middle East.

I think even Saudi Arabia. I think every culture has, in the Middle East. I think even Saudi Arabia. I think every culture has jokes. Yeah, but stand up, Al-American. Yeah, well, Dubai, Russell Peters took the whole tour there. And they did the whole tour. They went to Jordan and Dubai and all the Arab countries. Okay, guys, you know what I'm going to do right now? I'm going to go and sit at the table over there and read my things.

Because, you know, when you go on stage, Dan, that's your first language. It's English. When I go on stage tonight, I haven't spoken English for three months. Well, you spoke English with Esty in Paris, didn't you? No, she spoke only French. But that was a broken French, my friend. You have no idea. What were your

speaking skills? Or was there not a lot of speaking going on, if you know what I mean? We're going to end it. I want to say something to Gad.

I have met, we all have, a lot of famous people. And I have never met anybody who handled, and I've told Essie many times, Essie,

it's not easy to be famous. She'll have some interchange with somebody and say, you got to understand, it must be quite difficult. I've never met anybody who handled it with such grace as you, such that when I see you, I'm not nervous to speak to you. You're not intimate. I'm sorry, guys. I don't have time.

No, no. No, that's not the reason. That's not the reason because I've met people who I didn't even know. No, no. No, that's not the reason. That's not the reason because I've met people who I didn't even know. They exude. They exude it. But when I'm seeing you sometimes, I'm nervous.

Especially when I got in here today. You looked very worried. We all are. Because our computer server is down and we have to have New Year's emails out. All right, let Gad go. That's really what it is.

Gad has to study and practice his elocution. Elocution. Thanks for having me. And remember, it's interesting, not interesting. Thanks for having me on the show. The French don't emphasize syllables, as you know. And I'm going to go and work on my English jokes.

All right, thank you for coming, Gad. Of course, you're always welcome. And don't forget the pop-up thing. I'm not going to forget. Okay. We're going to do it. All right. Thank you.

That's Gad Elmaleh, who will be at Carnegie Hall this February 11, 2017. Who's opening? We're coming. I know who's opening. Who's opening? Harrison Greenbaum? Maybe Jerry. I don't know.

That would be awesome. Okay. Well, Dan, we're okay to end. Got anything else to add? I would like to say that that was a pretty good episode. What do you think, Krista Montello? I thought it was a great episode. I thought it was great.

Gad's a gem. He's a very nice man, and also he brings a perspective that you certainly don't see every day. It was a good conversation, easygoing. Nice blue eyes. And now we have a new business venture for you to focus on. I thought the peel and eat shrimp would be, I mean, the peel and eat chicken would be, I was hoping it would be more of a discussion. Chefs, they want to be artists.

So I wanted pan fried chicken. For some reason, he wants to call it peel and eat chicken. Who am I to? No, the chicken is good. It's the name I have an issue with. I get it. I'm saying the name seems silly the name I have an issue with. I get it. I'm saying the name seems silly. No, today for the first time I had it.

In the mic, yeah. Today for the first time you had it. Delicious. Unbelievably good. Yeah, the chicken is what he made for me that I hired him. It was that chicken and the vegetable everything perfect.

The peel and eat. Yeah. Now I feel like I need to order it. And that's come out. What do we call it? The skin and pluck chick. It's come out well every time,

but the other items on the menu are having a hell of a time getting them right. Really? I think I need Gordon Ramsay to come in here

and do his reality scream and yell at me to get it right because it's not... How are we doing it for, Dan? The steak, I find, to be quite delicious and the burger.

The burgers are great. The burgers are great. The burgers are great, and I take full credit because nobody complained about the old burgers more than me. Everybody else was content to blow smoke up your ass and say the best burgers in town. I told you it's straight. I said, these burgers, we need to improve these burgers. I'm really just surprised at the lack of Middle Easterns. You really took a lot off. No, we're putting it back.

We're putting it back. Why would you be surprised? I just thought that would always stay as a staple. The problem with Middle Eastern food is that it's so inexpensive. You can't sell it for very much money. Right. Even if there's a high profit margin

on it, you still have to sell a thousand of them to make any money. So it really... It takes a lot of falafel balls to make a dollar. Yeah to make any money so it really it's really it takes a lot of falafel balls to make a dollar yeah but you need to have an add on falafel balls

for these salads or something that's an old saying it takes a lot of falafel balls to make a dollar that's what you need you need to do an add on like plus four dollars

for falafel plus five for chicken I cannot tell you how much I'm not interested in the restaurant business right now comedy is going great

we have three rooms they're sold out we have movie stars they're coming in and I'm not interested in the restaurant business right now. Comedy is going great. We have three rooms. They're sold out. We have movie stars. And I'm worried about falafel balls. What a glamorous... There's money... You're on the comedy side? You must be having an awesome life.

Yeah, the fucking falafel. I get it. I get it. But be part of the... We are now on a different level. I shouldn't be worried about falafel at my age. A man of my position should not be worried about falafel balls. Thank you, and a Godfather quote, Mr. Godfather quote.

But part of the secret sauce at the Comedy Cellar is the comics like to hang out here. And part of the reason the comics like to hang out here is to chow down. And the better the food, the better the hang. I told you what my idea was. We should have just left it with paninis, hired one cook to come every night and just cook for the comedians whatever they want. That's an interesting idea. Just whatever you want. Too late now.

That would be great. Great. I guess. Dan, what do you want, Dan? We have some leftover chicken from Louis C.K. Would you like it? I'm kidding. We can make it fresh for you, too.

All right. Okay. That's an interesting idea. But, you know, I think also if people come to the restaurant because the food is great, there's energy. And energy is also part of the secret formula. Dan, it all makes sense. I have two kids at home, and I like to stay home with my kids. And comedy makes that easy, and food makes that hard.

That's just the bottom line. But you said you're looking for new hills to climb. Well, climb Mount Chicken. That's not fun. It's not fun. Anyway. On that note. Did you see that on the switch? Different conversation. Moe, in the mic,

was flying to Australia. Yeah, we got to get Moe. That's Eric Trump. I actually saw it. I saw the clip and the interview with Mo afterwards. Yeah, I first heard about it from Will Silvins, but before he knew about it right away. Yeah, it's an amazing story.

What happened? Mo was on our show a couple weeks ago. He's our Palestinian comic. He was on a flight coach. And mysteriously, they upgraded him to first class. Lo and behold, he's sitting next to Eric Trump. Oh, God. And he said to Eric Trump, you know, am I going to have to leave the country?

And Eric said, no, I don't believe everything you read. You know, my dad's not going to do that. According to him, he conducted himself well. Who, Eric Trump? Yeah. What's he going to do? But I believe that... And Mo was very charming.

Mo's a great guy. Listen, Eric Trump won the lottery because he sat next to the world's most lovable Muslim. I thought you were going to say Palestinian. No, because most Muslims hate Trump. Who could blame them? But Mo's just a very sweet guy, and he was able to be friendly no matter what. I think we have another podcast to do. Yeah, we got to go.

But I'm sure that they put him in first class knowing as a way to fuck with Eric Trump. Yeah, to poke him. And he didn't bite. He was gracious, and this one was gracious. They said, they laughed, they had a good conversation. All right. Well, thank you very much, everybody. Good night.

Good night. Was it okay? Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.