The Commercial Break - TCB Infomercial: Leslie Jones

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

In this high-energy episode of The Commercial Break, Bryan and Krissy sit down with the unstoppable Leslie Jones, comedian, Emmy-nominated actress, and all-around force of nature. Leslie brings her trademark honesty, fire, and razor-sharp wit as the conversation jumps from her early days in stand-up to the unexpected turns of her career, including Saturday Night Live, blockbuster films, and her move into hosting and commentary. Leslie opens up about finding her comedic voice, navigating the industry with resilience and humor, and why authenticity remains her secret weapon. She shares behind-the-scenes stories that are equal parts hilarious and revealing, riffs with Bryan and Krissy like they’ve been friends for years, and drops genuine wisdom about creativity, confidence, and staying true to yourself even when the world tries to put you in a box. Leslie's New Special Leslie's Insta Leslie's Site To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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But change will ask you nicely once And then it will proceed It's like water up against a stagnant wall If you don't open it up That water becomes stagnant and stale and molding Because it can't flow You have to let the water flow You have to let the leaves turn brown

You have to progress That's what life is People are fighting so hard not to change, but change is good. Changes for the better. We're not for saying people we were back in the fucking Pilgrim days. We're not those people no more. And we need to grasp that and this is the only country who hasn't done that.

The next episode of the commercial break starts now. The 30 at the morning! Oh, yeah, cats and kittens, welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Greene and I'm entering this TCB infomercial Tuesday for the very very very very special guest indeed. No singular person has tickled our fancies quite as much as our guest today. Former Saturday Night Live. She's an alum of Saturday Night Live.

She's got a special on Showtime. She's been at the Aspen Comedy Festival just for laps in Montreal. She's won an primetime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress. She's a former Ghostbuster. Maybe she's a current Ghostbuster, not even sure. Maybe there'll be a two. Ladies and gentlemen, Leslie Jones is here today. And I will tell you, while Chrissy's not here for the intro, I will share with you that Chrissy and I absolutely lost our shit with Leslie Jones.

She was so fucking fantastic during this interview. We didn't even say hello to her. We just went right into the interviews, that kind of guest. Very few of these have happened. She came on the line. We said, hey, it's you, Leslie. And then what you're going to hear is pretty much the beginning all the way to the end. Usually there's a few minutes of banter and then we talk about, hey, listen, we're going to start the show now.

We're going to start the interview portion. Not with Leslie. So full of energy, so full of life, so full of wisdom as you will hear. It goes wild. It goes a million different places. So Leslie Jones, T.C.B Infomercial. All the links are in the show notes as they always are. A few, uh, let's call them, uh, I don't know.

A few little show notes that show notes for the show notes that you have here. Christy and I are making some big changes to the commercial break coming in 2026. And that includes more live commercial break, less recorded commercial break. We'll explain more about that later on in the week. But get yourself prepared because over the next couple of weeks, Chrissy and I are going to be changing the format of the show, changing the number of days that we put out podcast episodes, and increasing the number of days that we show.

live with you on places like Twitch and YouTube, possibly Instagram and TikTok, and kick. So pay attention to that. You want to follow us at the commercial break on Instagram if you don't already so that you can be plugged in to all the comings and goings. And we'll talk about it too here on the show. Nothing's wrong. Nothing happened? No one died?

Chrissy and I just feel like it's time to shake it up. As we have on many different occasions. You know, we used to do one episode a week of this show. One, God how I long for those days when we did one episode and we almost didn't get those episodes done. And then we went to two and then we went to three and then we got crazy and went to four. And we feel now it's time to pare it back a little bit and shift gears. The whole world is moving to video and live. And we are only six years behind the curve.

So we will start doing more of that and interacting with our guests. It's all about engagement, kids. We want to hear from you. We want you to hear from us. Okay, but it's not about us today. We'll talk about that tomorrow on tomorrow's episode. What it is about is Les Dog at Les Dog on Instagram. She's also on the face spaces.

I'm sure she's got a TikTok to all the links down in the show notes. She's got some live shows coming up January 16th and 17th. She'll be in Texas. She'll be in Highland, California. All of this. One person. one mega superstar in comedy actually I don't think there has been a singular

voice or person that has changed comedy I mean there are a few we can think about them right Eddie Murphy Steve Martin George Carlin I can go on and on Chris Rock and Leslie Jones she is a force of fucking nature

and if this interview doesn't prove that then you don't have a heartbeat So let me do this. Let me take a short break. And when I get back, I'm going to let you listen to you out there in the audience. Let you listen to me and Chrissy talking to Leslie Jones. And you'll see what a force of nature she really is. Right after these words.

Hey, it's Rachel, your new voice of God here on TCB. And just like you, I'm wondering just how much longer this podcast can continue. Let's all rejoice that another episode has made it to your ears. and I'll rejoice that my check is in the mail. Speak in a mail, get your free TCB sticker in the mail by going to TCB Podcast.com and visiting the contact us page. You can also find the entire commercial break library, audio and video, just in case you want to look at Chrissy,

at TCB Podcast.com. Want your voice to be on an episode of the show? Leave us a message at 212-4333-3-TCB. That's 212-433-3822. Tell us how much you love us, and we'll be sure to let the world know on a future episode. Or you can make fun of us. That'd be fine too.

We might not air that, but maybe. Oh, and if you're shy, that's okay. Just send a text. We'll respond. Now, I'm going to go check the mailbox for payment while you check out our sponsors. And then we'll return to this episode of the commercial break. Brian and Chrissy.

And we are honored to have you on our podcast. We are... Oh, stop it. Not honored. Yes, honored. Yeah, we've done a lot of these. But I would have to say that I think when your name appeared on the calendar, we were a bit more than excited.

Oh, man, can you, okay, can I ask a question before you start asking questions? Absolutely. What are you excited about with me? I find that when I meet people, they are like, and I'm like, what did I do to cause that? Can I share with you? Yeah. First of all, you have a very unique comedic voice and perspective, but I think what most makes me admire you is that this didn't happen for you at 20 years. old and I am not 20 years old. And so it gives me a target. And I say, well, if Leslie did it,

if Steve Martin did it, if this person and that person did it, then you can, it's never too late to see success. And I love that about you. I love that for you. I also love that you're fearlessly outspoken. And I think that that takes a lot of courage, especially when you have a lot of eyeballs, eyeballs pointed at you. And so all those things combined. You're funny. You're fucking funny. And then you did it.

You did it. But you didn't do it like, you know, at 16 years old. Like a lot of these. Yeah, but you know, so crazy. Age was never my thing. Age was never my thing. No. I didn't know I was old until I got the S&M because everybody was like, oh, she's so old.

She's old as hell. I don't know when she was old. She was old. God damn it. She's the oldest. person in his building. It was like, it was like, wait a minute, 47 is not fucking old. No, it's not.

Yeah. It's actually the beginning. People need to really slow the fucking shit down. The 20s is when you fuck up your life. The 30s when you clean that up. The 40s is when you start living from all the experience that you've experienced. That's so true. It's the beginning, not the end.

Yeah. I love this perspective. And it's one that we share because we have done that. It's, we have lived multiple lives. Yeah, 20s, we felt those. 30s, well, late 30s we were cleaning it up. Yes, and then 40s, you got your shit together, supposedly. You got your shit together, and now you're thinking about your future.

That's what life is supposed to be. I wish people would really grasp that because then we would have better singers, better designers, because people would take their time to really get a foundation for what it is they want to do. I could not be as funny and helpful to anyone if I hadn't experienced anything. That's what Jamie Fox told me. He was like, you're a baby. You ain't went through shit.

He was like, go out. Get your heartbroken. Break hearts. Get fired. Quit jobs. Go through fucking life. You cannot help no one if you ain't did shit. You can't give what you don't have inside of yourself.

So I wish people would know that you don't need to be successful at 25. Matter of fact, you're fucking. brain is not even developed until you're 25. Why everybody's smart, why everybody not as smart as the rental company, the rental car companies. They do not let you rent their car. It's true. So they must know something. Yes. They do. They know that you're right that your prefrontal frontal cortex hasn't even fully formed yet. So your ability to make decisions based on experience is zero, zero. The critical thinking in this country is so sad because, they didn't put a name to it, right?

So, you know, people can demonize names like they demonize woke, like they demonize D.E.I. Like, they demonize. And it's really sad because I hate these fucking trends and words that, these keywords that we get stuck to and not really looking at the surface. Right now, this country is on the surface. We're not digging at all. Yeah. Yes. Go.

You know? And I really understand life now at this point because I remember things. thinking back in the day I'm running away from being conscious and it was always there it was always roaming in the back like you know one day you're going to have to walk through this fucking door

if you're going to get better as a person as an artist as a giver you're going to have to walk through this conscious door you're not going to be able to be stupid like roaming through life like a shit happening you're going to fucking have to wake up one day because you are going to be speaking

for people so it's It's something for people to keep that part of their life open. And I think that's what's happening in our country now. I really believe COVID fucked us up. Yeah. For sure. I really do believe COVID fucked us up. And I feel like the system that we depended on wasn't as dependable as we thought.

And since we have so many different type of people, I think it's time to rebuild that shit. Yes. Yes. You know, Leslie, you just said something that I think was one of the most important, lessons I ever learned in my 30s, someone said to me, if it feels hard, you must lean into it because that is where the fucking knowledge is. Before, Brian, when it felt hard, you ran away or you hid, or you morphed into something else to avoid that pain. But if it feels hard, if it feels painful, you must lean into it like a samurai on a sword because that is where,

the knowledge is. Oh, and I'm telling you, when you do that, oh my God, there's a part of yourself that goes, bitch, you're the bad motherfucker. You're the bad motherfucker. Like, this is one thing that I want this country to really understand. Change is what you're scared of. Yeah. But change is a big part of life. And change don't give a fuck about you not wanting to change. Yes. Change is going to happen whether you want it to or not. Now, you can flow with it. it or you can stand up against the wall and get your ass beat. But change will ask you nicely once and then it will proceed. It's like water up against a stagnant wall. If you don't open it up, that water becomes stagnant and stale and molding because it can't flow. That's right. You have to

let the water flow. You have to let the leaves turn brown. You have to progress. That's what life is. people are fighting so hard not to change but change is good changes for the better yes we're not the same people we were back in the fucking pilgrim days we're not those people no more yes and we need to grasp that and this is the only country who hasn't done that yeah the only one we're the only one and i think that some people mistakenly got sold a bill of goods that that life was better at some fictitious point in the past, but it never was. It never was. It might have been for... It was always just developing.

Like, we all say, I know I say, the 80s was so fucking... We were just talking about this. The 80s was so fucking great. The 90s was great too. But we have to realize that time don't give a fuck about all that. Time is about Roman and like, that's when I talk to people, when I talk to people who say they believe in God, I said, the God you believe. believe in is this little box that you put them in. God had made a platypus. How dare you say that God's

not going to make a gay man? Yeah. How dare you say God's not going to make a transgender? Yes. When there's when there's when there's when there's Harry calipillars. Yes. Have you ever seen? Yes, I have. It's a scary fucking little piece of shit but yeah God made a calipus. He's not going to make a transgender. Yeah. Hello? Yeah. If you really roam the animals, most of the animals are gay. Did you know that? Yes. Did you know that? Yeah. I know. Did you know they're very rough with their partner, but they're very sweet and sensual with their gay partner. Yo, there's things that people don't understand that that's in life, that you have put God here and he's everywhere. Yeah.

This is the part. So stop this unloving bullshit because it's going to destroy all of us. We're slowly destroying ourselves. I saw this video, Leslie. I love this. I love what you're saying because I saw that. I know. Is this what the show is about?

Like, we're a fucking straight. It's what the show is about is whatever it's about. Whatever manifests is what this show is about. And I think anybody who listens to it for a long time will understand. It's kind of a little artsy-fartsy in that way. Whatever comes out on the canvas is what comes out on the canvas. I love what you're saying. I watched this series of social media posts the other day about a young lady who went,

she started, she put a fake baby crying in the background. Do you see this? I literally was just, because I'm going to be on the daily show again. And I was talking to the producer about maybe doing this piece. We're going to do another one. But I was like, how dare. Okay, so she did this thing, right? Yes.

It doesn't matter if it was fake or not. The response is what I'm looking at. So almost 10 churches, I think something said no. And then when they saw the post, they had the nerve to come after this girl. One church said, oh, she's a witch. Wait a minute. First of all, if I was in a church and my pastor got up into the pulpit and said that this woman was a witch, I'll be like, what the fuck? Yeah.

You ain't supposed to believe in. That's right. You're a Christian. I would walk the fuck out. I would walk the fuck out. Oh, this is the only social experiment on me. Of course you said that you piece of shit. Of course.

People. And you know what? Let me tell you. And in my book, I talk about this church. So when my brother died, I was all over the place. I was just looking for anything, right? And I started going to this church that was across the street from my house. It was called the church on the way.

I would never forget it because it's the church on the way to hell. So I was going to this church and I actually was enjoying it when the pastor that was there, I was enjoying it, right? And he left and other people. So I'm sitting there talking. And one day, because I was, like I said, born in my brother and I was dealing with this, Israeli guy, oh my God, he was so good in bed, but he was afraid. So I'm in there, I'm in church trying to pray to Jesus to take him out of my life. Like, Lord, please, Lord, please I don't want to like this man no more.

He's got the good dick, but get him out. He's got the good dick, McGee. You know, make him bad in bed or something. Make him up with him. You know, get me from him. So this guy's up there and he goes, and I catch him, he's talking about some senator or something that's trying to run in Texas. and he goes, I don't know about y'all, but I don't want no shim running my state.

What? What? I literally looked around because I was like waiting for everybody. Yeah. You know, he didn't say that. All of them was into it. And I saw this guy looking at me, right? He's just, and I'm listening to this man talk.

And all I'm thinking in my head was, Lord, why are you not setting him on fire? Yeah. That's crazy. Like, you can't say that. Yeah. Wait a minute. I know God does. It felt so bad and wrong.

And this guy at the end of the bitch was watching me the whole time, right? So when I got up in my head, I was like, oh, never coming back here. Yeah, right. This place, I can't even, like, I was, you know, raised in the church. And I started really questioning, like, what it, I can't. Is this what God is about? So I got ready to leave. The sermon was over.

I got ready to leave because I was going to leave anyway, but it was towards the end. This guy comes up to me that have been watching me. And he says, I think you need to understand what the Republicans believe in. We believe. And he wouldn't let go out my hand. He goes, we believe that we need to earn all of our money. We believe that if we earn our money, we shouldn't have to help nobody with that. We believe that if you need to be able to, if you're of great mind, you should be able to make your own money.

And I looked at him and I said, you're in a church right now saying that. And I said, it's Jesus of Republican? And then he gives me this Bible and I was like, I remember throwing that Bible in the garbage because I was like, I don't want nothing from me. Yeah. That's insane. And in my head, it really questioned everything that I thought about. I don't, I've had to really go, okay, am I separating this? Is this just them or is this the religion?

Does that make sense? Yes. So it took me on a journey of finding out what my spiritual shit is. Yes. You know? Because it's, and this is when these MAGA people are doing this, you, you, when I'm in Mithis and I'm watching the news, this is all they're being fed. All of it.

All the time. There's no one with right mind. They're telling them. Because my aunt said to me, she was like, well, you know, gay people, they're making that choice. And I was like, what are you talking about? She was like, they're choosing to be that way. And I said, I said, that doesn't make sense. I said, are you choosing to be straight?

She was like, no. I said, what? You was born like that. I said, so let me explain something to you. I said, in your Bible, it has homosexuality, but in the original text, it has sexual deviants. I said, you would fall under there. You have three babies, daddies. three children with three different fathers.

You are a sexual deviant. Yes. So stop this bullshit. Y'all use this word when you want to use it. You're not God and you're definitely not the abominator. And I don't think God wants you speaking for him. I get so incensed and I can tell you are too that, I mean, geez, I grew up going to Catholic school all my life.

and the one thing that I took away from my constant brow beating with the Bible and the sin and all this other stuff, the one thing that I took away, and I'm glad this is what I took away, is that Jesus Christ, if he existed, and I believe he might have, if he existed, his one purpose on this earth was to show us that all the answers are right inside, and it all starts and ends with love and treating, it's a mirror. You treat the world exactly how you intend to be treated. And if you do that well, everything's going to work out okay for you. Not everything's a happy ending, but everything will work out okay. You're doing good.

If you treat the world badly, it's going to be shine right back at you. The Bible is tens of thousands of words. And you can literally use any of the sentences any way you want. And by the way, the Bible has been changed. There's like 50,000 versions of the Bible all changed to suit whatever mood or attitude these people want. And it drives me fucking crazy. It drives me insane. I'll be like, you guys, okay, I get that this Bible was written back and, you know,

God came down and struck this the tablet. So, okay, okay. But you don't think that these narcissistic, chauvinous piece of shit men would change the verse. Yes. It's very easy to do that. Are you crazy? Yes. Like St. James, St. James had the Bible written.

Pieces of it was written by Shakespeare, a sexual deviant. Some of it was written by sexual deviants. Like this, I really tell my aunt all the time, I said, I think you guys take that book too literal sometimes. And I do believe that there's people who could study it and take it in the right way. But we do not know what the original text is. I have no idea. We have no idea.

And that's the thing that we need to understand that out of all of that, because I will tell you, like, what you just said, we're supposed to get the basis of that love to have a relationship with him on our home. That's right. And truly, I have, I feel like I have a relationship with him where he shows me what I need to know. Yeah. And I remember telling my aunt, I said, you know, I have a great relationship with God, and he definitely would not tell me something. You know, I believe that. You know, I believe that.

But I think that's spirituality. People take religious. People take religious. Yeah, religion and a relationship with God to me are two different things. Absolutely. Religion is man. Yes. You know? Religion is the dogma. It's the things. It's the things that whole weight us down into this worldly bullshit. It's preaching a Republican agenda from the pulpit. That is dogma. That is religion. Yes. Yes. I'm thinking about that. You know that movie, Ben Affleck did. with Matt Damon when they were angels. They came down. Oh, dogma.

The movie's called dogma. Yeah, the Kevin Smith movie. It was, I still think that movie is one of the best. It's brilliant. It's a brilliant movie. I know Chrissy is like, I'm enjoying. No, I've enjoyed it.

I came to talk about comedy. No, Brian and I talk about those all the time. We go off like this. We've been best friends for 20 years. And so this is, we've talked about this. Chrissy's like, where did we go wrong here, Brian? I've enjoyed it. I just wanted to ask her what kind of peaches you like.

But here's the thing, Leslie. No, but it's so true. All of this. Sometimes people come in our door, right? And comedy is what we talk to them about or their movie or whatever. And we can get to all that. But sometimes there is just the magic happens. And you get started with someone.

And it's just like anybody you would meet on the street. Sometimes you meet someone on the subway or having a coffee. And you're on the same wavelength. And you go, oh, holy shit, that person is here for a reason, talking about this for a reason, I should have my ears open. I feel like that's who society is. Society needs to have permission to do the things that they want. Like, I talk about men going to therapy all the time. Now it's just, now it's really blown up.

Love that because now men are actually going to that. Hopefully. And taking it fucking serious. but like I think we need to give permission to, like whenever I talk to 20-year-olds, I'd be like, hey, I'm giving you the permission now to be a fucking 20-man. I said, why do you have underwear on?

The fuck is happening. Like, why are you so? Yeah. In my 20s, I didn't even know who the president was. I was just like, y'all going to vote. I'm about to go. Exactly, David. I'm going to hit a key.

in the bathroom and have a couple of Moscow mules and forget my own name. Yes. Oh, it was like, give me another drink. Absolutely. Shit. And then really seriously, I think it was about 29. Let me, let me, because I can't really, all I remember is that I started doing comedy. I started doing comedy in 93 because 87 is when I started, but then I took a break after

I talked to Jamie. and I was like, let me go live life. And I did for six years. And then 93 is when I started. And I can't remember how old I was. Somebody had to do the math for me. I'm 58 now. And that was 1993.

So somebody had to do the math. Okay. 53, 1993. That's 30 years ago. You were 50, you were 30, no, you were 25. Yeah, that sounds right. Yeah, 25, 26 years old. Oh, I was so hot.

I know. It's so funny. You look and you're like, God, why was that? Oh, my. Why wasn't I just walking real naked everywhere? And you have no confidence. Yes. I know.

I didn't either. I was like, if I could, if I could go back to my, if I could quadum leap, I would quorum leap back to that time and go, bitch. Exactly. You are gorgeous. You don't even understand how gross you are. You need to fucking own it right now. I need you to own it right now. Because after I left, after I left my first boyfriend, I think I went into the.

scope of that, oh, that's going to be the only guy that ever really actually likes me because I'm very confident in my looks. I was tall. You know, I just, I just, you know, I didn't, I didn't think men really found me attractive. So if you start off with that low self-esteem plus desperation, you get yourself into you do. Yeah. So, yeah, if I can go back, I would tell myself, hey, bitch, hey bitch, stop. listening to the motherfuckers. I am you. I'm the future hope. Please get your ass with it. And please keep that fucking body. Keep that fucking body. Yeah. Yep. I love the quantum leap.

You know, sometimes. Sometimes I'll, I'll meditate and I'll actually talk to my younger self. I'll talk to it at certain points. I'll pick a point in the past and I'll say, hang tight, brother. Hang tight. This is a tough time, but you're going to get through it. Don't do anything stupid. Don't make any. Just stay still. Stay still. Or move forward. You know what I do sometimes? With my old self, I go, would my old self do this gig? Like, there will be some gigs that people will be like, yo, you should do it because this, this and this. And then I'll go, with my old self, and my old self would be like, hey, bitch, you're not tired.

Get your motherfucking ass up and make that fucking money. I always talk about how if I actually quadam leap back to my old self, and I start talking inspiration on telling her shit, my old self would have been like, okay, give me a close. Like, I think fight the old self. My own self would beat me up and ride. Give me all the racist, bitch. Take them all off. Jamie was a big... I know it's going to fit.

I love it. Jamie was a big inspiration for you, huh? You were, when you started, you were, or when you started in comedy shortly thereafter, you were opening gigs for Jamie? No, no. See, and this is so crazy. People just like, you know, they'll get, that information and just make it wonderful like they need to make it a story. But basically what

it was was that I won a contest in college. I was like, fuck that. I'm going to be a comedian. I flew back to L.A., my home girl who was, you know, just my home girl. She was like, I'm going to be your manager. You know how she did. And she got me this gig. She got me this gig at this place called The World in L.A. I think Magic Johnson owned it at the time. But a lot of basketball players and stuff went there anyway. They was having a comedy show there, this guy Speedy. was hosting it and I oh and Jamie Fox was the headline that night and I opened up and was fucking horrible. Blom like a motherfucker.

But I didn't really understand the scope of what I was supposed to do. So I stayed and I watched Jamie Fox and I was mesmerized because I was like, oh my God, he's performing like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. I was like, oh my God. He's got that energy. Yeah. And I remember grabbing my friend going, okay, this is what I want. This is what I want to do.

That is. That is it. Okay. So now I see what I got to do. I see what I got to do now. Just like, can we get, can we talk to him? So it wasn't, it was just that one time. So the story is, and which is true, I made.

I knew Speedy, I knew Speedy like big bitches and she was a big bitch and she's beautiful, right? So he, he, I said, go talk to him, get him, you know. And so she, you know, went to go hook up with him. him and we all went to fat burger afterwards. And to this day, I tell Jamie, I said, I know Wanda is me, you fucking asshole. And then at least that's, and seeing, that's how I felt about myself. And he was like, no. He was like, it's a mixture of a gang of women, but I was like, whatever. But he was like, I was trying to talk to him. Now, when I see that he wasn't taking my advances, I was like, fine. Because I was even like, yo, you know, you like me, whatever,

but he was like, you're a child, like you're 18. How are you? And I was like, 18 he was like yeah you're a fucking child like and then he was like you want to be a community ass like I want it so fucking bad and I was like and after seeing you I don't I like I want to like I see that it can be he was like yeah he said you actually have great stage person he said but you don't got shit to talk about he was like you haven't been through anything he was like just he's like just go live go live life he was like 18 years old he was like comedy will be here when you get back that is a brilliant yeah it's a brilliant mentor move. Well, two things I like in that story. Number one, you're a child. He wasn't going to be freaky, right? Number two, he was a gentleman. Number two, he said, probably, remember the Matrix, the movie? When Neo goes to the Oracle and the Oracle says, sorry, kid, you're not the one. And he goes, and he says, what did he say? And Neo goes, he said, I'm not the one. And then Lawrence Fishburn's character goes, no, he told you exactly what did, she told you exactly what you needed to hear in that moment. And that's like a Matrix moment. He told you. He told you.

told you exactly you ain't got shit to talk about so you bet you got to go live some life so you figure it out but there's something there and so come back and talk to me when you live some life right and that is a brilliant oracle moment and everybody has those but some people sometimes i don't think our eyes are open i don't think our eyes are open oh my god i was just because somebody else would have took that and said fuck him i'm going to go do what i'm going to do and i'm a comic but me it was more of like yeah because and this is real talk after that night I remember this I would never forget this I remember praying to God I was like Lord I want to be a comedian I was like if I'm not funny though just let me be in the business in some type of way like if I own a club or if I'm an agent or something I just I want to be part of this but I want to be funny I want to be funny so whatever it is that I got to do to be funny I'll do it And I remember, I remember getting the sense of, okay, it's still not going to be easy. And it fucking was not.

It was fucking not. But from the beginning, and I know this sounds kind of cocky, but from the time I touched that mic, I knew I had it. Even when I went back in 93 and performed for the first time, I knew I had it. I just had to figure it out. And I remember the club owner coming up to me going, yo, your ass got potential. You got potential. You fucking keep writing.

You keep writing and you keep coming. And you can come back here anytime you want to. And that lady was hardcore. She would tell you to your face, Sharon from the comedy act theater. She would look at you and go, you're not fucking funny. Don't come back to my boss from the club.

I'm not going to put no unfunny motherfuckers on my stage. But she looked at me and she's like, you got potential. And she was like, and that's not many women in here. You fucking just keep writing, keep writing. And that's all I. I was addicted to it at that point.

You knew from, and I think that. And you kept getting a couple signs here and there. Yeah. Telling you to keep going. But your ears were open. And that's the difference. Yeah. And Martin Lawrence.

Martin Lawrence. Martin Lawrence. I remember Martin Lawrence saw me in the comedy act. And this is a long time ago. He was, you's a funny big bitch. I remember him saying that. He was a funny big bitch. David Chappelle.

Day Chappelle hit up because I was fine. Like I said, I was fine as fuck back then. And I had long hair. And I remember Dave Chappelle. He was like, he was like you fine as fuck Dave I was like he was like he was like you fine as fuck he was like what's your name and I was like um I'm a comedian I don't fuck comedians if you trying to book me I can do that but step off good for you he was like he was like oh you a comedian and I was like yeah

and I went up and then when I came down he was like you need to go to New York oh really and him and Martin was like you need to go to New York and I was just like because I was I was really at that by that time I had been doing it for like three years months and I won a contest. I beat like big veterans. I had won this big contest. And everybody was like, yo, it's time for you to go to New York. It's time for you to go to New York. But I still didn't go because I was too scared. I was like scared to go. And plus I was like, I didn't know if I had money. It was just so many things. So I just fast forward for me a minute because I don't know the story. How do you get, I mean, now there's many years in between, say many years,

like a decade almost or two. And then all the sudden, you, not all the sudden, there are probably, you know, hundreds of gigs and ups and downs and, you know, misery and defeats and wins and losses and all this. But then how did you get Saturday Night Live? Like, how did you get on SNL? Tell that story. I love when you laugh before you say something,

because I know it's going to be good. Wow. Okay. So from what I know, this is after my brother passed away. And I started doing material that I didn't, I was a really in a I don't give a fuck mode. I can't explain it to you. I didn't, I just didn't give a fuck. I didn't give a fuck if I was funny.

I was ready to do my, my brother died. So I was like, I'm going to die soon. So let me, let me get this, let me get these jokes out, you know. So I started doing. this joke. Fernando, I just feel like it's going to go off. Look, is that 3%? If you need to take a second to plug it in, it's okay, Lousie. We got... No, it's plugged in. I just... It says it's charging. I know, but it has... I'm just scared. If we go off, it was...

Okay, I got it 10 to 4. It was the computer. It was a computer. Anyway, so I was, I was a... I was... yo, I'm telling you, them years after my brother passed away, I was a motherfucker. fucking samurai. And I was a mean samurai. I wasn't a good samurai. I was the one. I was coming in slashing all throats.

Like I didn't give a fuck. Like I wore these long cardigans. So whenever I would walk out the club, the wind were going to my cardigans. Like I was a fucking villain. I mean, I was a murderer on stage because I didn't give a fuck. I didn't give a fuck. And one night I was at the comedy store and I was performing the slag joke, the one I did the update about. It was actually a joke.

So I'm doing that joke, murdering. And my friend Owen Smith said that Chris Rock was standing in the door watching me. And he pulled out his phone and typed something down. And Owen, you know, he was like, yo, dude, what you type? And he was like, I got a list of comics to look out for. And I just put her on that list. So Owen was like, you got me on that list. And he said, I want you to see.

And he said Chris just turned around and walked out, right? So two days later, I get a call from Chris Rock. And I was like, first of all, how the fuck can get my number? I don't remember ever giving you my number, motherfucker. It's Chris Rock. Yeah, you can go hold of whatever. Yeah, I didn't give a fuck. I didn't give a fuck.

I swear I didn't give a fuck. I was like, what you won't? Like, what do you want? And he was like, hey, I talked to Lauren Michaels. I just had dinner with him. I told him about you. They're going to call you about it. audition for S&L and I went completely berserk on him.

I was like, why in the fuck would you do that? I was like, I'm not no motherfuckers sketch comic. I'm a real fucking comic. Why do you call me with this shit? I don't do that. I don't want to be on Saturday Night Live. That's not even a funny show. That show ain't fucking funny.

The motherfuckers are not funny on there. Okay. So what the fuck? Now, I will tell you this, during all of that time, what happened was they talked to Kenan and misquoted Kenan. Keenan said that if you come to SNL, you've got to be ready. And sometimes black female comics don't understand that you have to really be ready when you come here. And he was right.

So they misquoted him and said that black, he said black females are not funny, right? So that had got to me and they interviewed me and I said, I've never seen this motherfucker on nothing but Keenan, Keenan and Cal, who the fuck is this motherfucker? And I remember when I first met Keen, he was like, you went hard on me. I thought you said that. Like, and I remember, okay, I'm mixing it up because the stuff that I'm telling you about happened after. So we, it was a night, Russell Simmons had a room in this theater at the Universal Park.

And it was like a theater and he would have a show. And it packed. So that's the night that I found out. had said that. And I went on stage when I say murdered. You, y'all, y'all don't even understand that I was ripping souls out of fucking people's body and

putting it back in and just like that's how much I love. I love comedy so much because it's a thing. It's like it's you, you're never playing with the energy. Yeah. Oh, God. And you just stop, uh, zoom. You know, I'm just murdering. And then at the

end of my, I'm talking about people. Russell Simmons losing it. yo at the end of the fucking set i said and they said that black females are not funny and then i dropped the mic and walked off and let me tell you something i'm talking about roaring right okay so fast for and i went out to sell DVDs i went right outside and sold all my DVDs for like $20 each i remember anyway and it's so you know i've been through so many things. I had did Jeff Jam, got

three standing O's, but everybody was surrounded by Tiffany, which Tiffany was very funny, but she was what they wanted. Anyway, so, um, I'm going off on Chris and I was like, I don't do sketch comedy, so you need to call him and tell them that I'm not doing

that. So he was like, you're a fucking idiot. You're a fucking idiot, and you're fucking going. And then he hung up in my face. So I was like, all right. So I go, I had the nerve to call my manager at the time and say, man, Chris Rock just called me with some fucking bullshit,

talking about he wanted to go audition for SNL. And my manager was like, what? Your manager's like, are you fucking stupid? Are you fucking stupid? You're a fucking idiot. They were like, my friends, everybody was like, you've lost your guy in mind. You fucking got that.

I was like, I'm not doing that shit. I'm not scared. I mean. So the lady, called, right? Lindsay shook is at the time called my manager set up the audition, right? They're going to fly me out. Now, in my head, this is how cocky I am. I'm going out there to say, I'm not only am I going to make them want me. I'm going to say no. You are on fire. You're just on fire in this moment. And I had already been doing comedy.

20 years. This was, yeah, this was, yeah, this was 2000. the end of 2013, I remember because it was the Christmas show. And Justin Timberlake was the host. And I was cocky as fuck by that time. By that time, I'm like, you, no, I don't give a fuck, right? So I'll go out to the audition. Now they put us, you know, this is when they're looking for black females. So there's like 12 black females. I don't know none of them. Interesting. I ain't never seen none of y'all in no club. So y'all must be on that shit. Yeah. And they were so holly. would just, Amy God,

da, the, I was like, every time they would talk, I'd be like, uh, you know,

like, and they wasn't really respecting me, even though they know who I was. They already knew, I had already did all the shit. So they knew who I was. But they were,

and then I'm 47, so in their, in their mind, they're like, she, oh, she, they're not going to pick her.

But in my head, I'm like, bitch, I would run circles around all you hoes. all you hoes. So I remember it was me, LeKendra, and Ammer Ruffin.

And Amher Ruffin, okay. Yeah. And Amher Ruffin walked over to me when we was getting our bags and she was like, bitch, I know who you are. I fucking love you. Your motherfucking ass.

And we, we became butted right then. We were just like, she was like, can you see these pieces? And then LeKindra came over. We immediately bonded with LeKindra. So it was us three, right? So they take. us there. They, you know, we're checking the, we're, you know, the tree is up. We're fucking like,

in my head, I'm starting to, you're envisioning it now. Now you're like, okay. You know, because I didn't been to New York, I don't been to New York to perform, but not in this capacity. So I'm just like, this is crazy. I didn't even know they had a tree down here. This is insane. So we go and, you know, they're showing the stuff and then we had to have the audition. Now, I'm looking at these girls. I'm looking at these girls and I'm just like, there's no way they have to be funny. They have to be sketched. They have to be sketch girls because they're just very, they just didn't like her.

They weren't your brand. They weren't your name. But I don't want to give them a bad name. They were what their managers told them to be. Does that make sense? None of them was, I didn't even have makeup on. They came in. I think I had my lashes done.

I think I had my lashes done. You know how you can go get your lasses down. I had my lashes down, but I had no makeup on. And I had did my own hair. I had a pair of jeans on with a fucking t-shirt, what I used to perform in. I was there. I was literally, I did not realize how raw and green and just, I know when Lawrence saw me, he was like, ooh, this is a bright. Ooh, this is a, I want to, I want to chase him through it.

That's what he meant. So I hadn't met Keenan and none of them yet, right? So we get there to the audition and girls are going in and they're coming out looking like ghosts. I know this is a very tough fucking process. So I'm like, you know, in my head, I'm like, okay, okay, it's a hard room. That's all I'm thinking is a hard room. And then LeKindra went in. She came out.

She was like, yeah. Good for her. That shit was funny. And I was like, okay. And in my head, I was like, okay, now I'm starting to see that performers. If you're a real performer, you got it. Confidence. Then Amber went in and she came out.

She was like, you're going to kill it. And I was like, she gave you what you needed. So when I went in, I was like, I got to be different from everybody else. I had already been peeping how the place looked like a maids. It was just like if you ever been at S&L under the bleachers, it's like. a big city. It's like, it's crazy, right? So when Chris took me in, Chris came to the door and he said, hey, just go straight. You see the stage? Just go straight. And I was like, okay, I didn't go straight. Because I knew that they was right there by the bleachers. I went to the side. And Chris was like,

wait, wait, and then I went, Chris, don't think I see the stage anymore. He comes up and he's like, what are you doing? What the fuck are you doing? I told you to go straight. No, just go fucking straight. Just go straight. Oh, okay. Just straight.

Just straight. Just straight. Okay, straight. So then he goes and I go to the next side. So I was like, Chris, this is not. And you can hear them dying. All right. This is not working.

Go fuck. Chris came and he was like, are you fucking with me? What are you talking about, Chris? What are you talking about? Are you fucking with me? The stage is like there. And then he just started laughing. I was like, Chris, are you ready?

You can hear them dying, right? So I finally made my way to the stage. And they were sitting there back and I was like, hey, you guys, can you kind of move up? Because I don't really do an empty room. So kind of move up because I need the energy. And they got up and moved up. And I did my set. And I knew I ripped it because that's what I do.

I did a carpet. I said. set my setup to where it was me when I was little and then when I grew up. So I ended with the slave joke. All my jokes was just. Yeah. And all the day, you can't, you can't not laugh. If you're not laughing.

Oh, my God. I've got chills. When I came out, when I came out, I was like, when I came out, I was like, if I don't got it, I bet you that motherfucker invite me to be a writer or something. But then I was like, I don't want to be a fucking right. I want to be a castman. Right. Because by then, they know, you.

Yeah, the glitz and the grammar and the They made me want it. They made me want it. Right? So then, so then we fucking go get something to eat. We go get something to eat at this restaurant. We're all sitting at this long table. Oh, God, the conversations.

And I'm looking at the Kendra. I'm looking at the Kendra and at the yakkingness. Just like, oh, God, I'm too old for the shit. I don't like this shit. You know, I'm getting, you know, I was like, oh, God, this is going to end soon. Thank God. y'all get to go home tomorrow right so i get the text that says hey uh from jeff hey leslie we would like you to stay for the show so you can see how things were then i looked up in lecendra

i looked up in le kendra and le kendra looked up at me because she got the same text and then ammer looked at me because she got the same text all of us is at the end of the table we got that text right so we're like and then i said you know what I am fucking exhausted, you guys. This shit has been really mentally hard on me. So I'm just going to get my food to go and go back to the hotel. And then Amher was like, yeah, I got to call my husband. And then LeKindra was like, yeah, I need to call my man.

So make our stuff to go. We let some money and we fucking got out of there. And we went around the corner and we was like. And so we skipped all the way back. We did. And LaVern and Shirley. We was like, shut me out. We was just like, just so fucking happy.

So we go back to the hotel and we're in there. We eat not food, talking about everything. Oh, God, we're going to get to be just to Gemma, like, oh, my God, you know, we're just going crazy. And we hear slamming doors. What the fuck you mean? Yo, we hear it screaming in the hallways from the other girls. What the fuck are you talking about? I dare to, you can hear them screaming in the hallway.

And I went to go open the door and Amma was like I didn't open that door and the bitch is a killer. Right. So we stayed for the weekend and I'm telling you right now when I walked in there for that show and we're sitting there. When we walked in, it's me, LeKindra and Amber

we're walking in this way. Sashir and some other girl was so we all Lauren is diabolical. We all walk right here as soon as I laid eyes on us. Sashir, I was like, that's who they're going to pick. Sashir was beautiful.

She was beautiful. Like, her teeth, her skin, her smile. She was just, I would pick them. I was like, I looked at La Candra, and I said, LeCendra, that's who they're going to pick. She was like, you don't know? I said, LeCendra, look at this girl. Look how beautiful she is. She's fucking beautiful.

I was like, they're going to pick her. And she looks like she knows what she's doing. Like, she looks like what they want, you know? Like, you know, what they think they want. In my head, I was going, what they think they want. See, because they think that, you know, she's going to come and she's going to be, you know, a proper black woman, which Sashir is all class. But they wanted ghetto. And I love Sashir, but she can't really do ghetto.

And when I saw her, it was like this relief went off on me because I was like, you know what? I'm going to enjoy this show because they was a live band. It was a Christmas show. And I just enjoyed myself because I was like, whatever happens happens. And I knew that they weren't going to pick me. But then I went, I remember I had to fly to Indianapolis. And I remember my manager called me. He was like, yeah, I think they're going to.

I said, yeah, they're going to pick such year. And he was like, yeah, buddy, I'm sorry. And I was in Indianapolis. I had just had a bad experience with this gig. And I was like, okay, I'm 47. So what are we going to do? Are we going to use my, are we going to go and work with my aunt in the government? Or are we going to continue to do this shit?

you know so I went back to L.A. and it was raining. I remember it was a dark overcast and I was like, let me go get my nails done. Maybe that'll make me feel better. And I'm driving and this 2-1-2 number kept calling my phone. And I was like, that's them to tell me that they don't turn me down. You know what you fucking hear that shit.

And yeah, and then it kept ringing, the cab ring. And I was like, let me just pick it up. I picked it up and they was like, oh, Lauren, my sister James. And I was like, Lauren go from for Leslie. So I'm in the parking lot of the nail salon. and I said yes and he was like, Leslie, let's read, let's see. We love you and we love you and be a writer.

We want you to be a writer. And I was like, I was like, can I be honest with you? I'm like, I'm not a fucking writer. I'm in the front of the camera person. I'm not a writer. I'm not a behind. I ain't ever wrote. And he was like, he was like,

listenly, I know, I know, I know, I know what you are. That's a great impression. You're, you're what, you're something that I didn't know I needed. and I just come out, we'll figure it out. And I was like, all right, all right, cool. So then I hung up with him and then the writer called me Kendrick, the head of the writer. He was like, yeah, we're going to give you $10,000 to move on.

Oh, snap. Yo, when I hung up that phone, I jumped out the car and I was like, oh, God. And I got a girl. And I ran around the park. I'm screaming. I got SNL. And the security guard that I always talk to when I go there, he's, like, are you

okay? I got SNL. I got SNL. What is that? That is the best SNL's origin story we have heard and we have heard a few. Leslie, you are like, you remind me of so many people that I knew growing up, I mean, much funnier, but so many people that I knew growing up in Chicago, who gave me also, I think, the great gift of storytelling. You're so good at it. You're so good at weaving a tail and making

it funny and interesting and raising the stakes and getting us all excited about the next drop. And you're so good. But that story is legitimately the best S&L origin story I have heard. Maybe maybe the best that I've ever read. Oh, man. And you became, and then, I think S&L, I mean, S&L is when most people in mainstream America, right, probably connect with Leslie Jones. And you become like legendary. You're just like this legendary out of the, you're not everybody else on the cast. And you're right about that. There's like this little box that all these S&L people fit in of this improv characters.

And there's been other, you know, out-of-the-box characters before. But I just remember tuning in because of Leslie Jones. Yeah, exactly. Like that was a reason to tune. I've always loved S&L, but some seasons, you know, you could take it or you can leave it. But when Leslie was on, it was a reason to tune in. Tell me about, I love you so much. Thank you for sharing that story and putting a smile on our faces.

Tell me about this new special, Life Part 2. It's on Peacock. Yeah, yeah. It's Life Part 2 is basically what it means. Like, I'm at the second part of my life. and it's wonderful. I built a great, strong foundation for me to have a good time in this part of my life. That's so nice.

You know, and that's what I tell young people all the time. Stop rushing. Build the foundation. It takes a minute to build a strong foundation. And the materials don't, like, it's like a video game. Like when you go to certain levels, you only get certain materials. That's what life is like. You're not going to get this.

until you turn this. You're not going to get this until you turn this. So the materials that you need to build your foundation comes through you living life and walk in the trail of your destiny. Will you be my life coach? I know, right? Can we get on a WhatsApp group? Yeah, can we have a meeting once a week? Once a month, I'll take it. Just a WhatsApp meeting, you know? Oh, that's so funny. Oh, God, trust me, it's not always wonderful. Life isn't like. that. Of course. Yeah. You know, but that's what life is.

It's like learning how to deal with those moments too. It rains. It pours. And sometimes it's fucking sunshine. That's life. And live each part of it. Because when you get older, I swear to God,

you're going to be so mad at yourself for being upset at that moment. Don't waste no more time. And worrying, worrying don't shit for you. Worrying don't change the situation. It don't do nothing but make. you feel bad. So worrying just, stop with it. From your lips to God's ears. I remember being twisted

up on whatever, LSD mushroom sometime when I was a teenager. My childhood was a little rough. My parents always, I remember looking up and seeing that fucking moon. And I just remember thinking to myself, that moon ain't at all pretty without all that darkness behind it. You have that. And a life well lived is not all about the shits and giggles. It's about the real, pain that we experience and our ability to dust it off and get back up again and look at look at the moon one more time well i i wish i was your friend because i would have told you not only to look at the moon like that but to also know that there's going to be a day that you're going to be looking at that moon from somewhere else and it's going to be okay now you are my friend so there we're lezley jones new special

link down in the show notes this has been one of our favorite i think i can speak speak for both of us when I say this has been one of our favorite hours this season. Are you kidding me? I have loved every minute of this. Thank you so much for coming on. We're best friends for 30 years. She's 20 years. We ride. Sometimes she rides. Sometimes I ride. That's just the way it is. Well, I love you both. It was very, very fun to talk to you. Yes, of course. Come back. Leslie Jones, everybody. Thank you. We appreciate it. Thank you, Leslie.

That's so good. That's so good. We didn't even intro the episode. We just went straight into it. And it's going to be awesome. I can't wait to put it together. Thank you, Leslie. Wow. Rachel here. Well, Brian takes his old man bladder to the little boys' room. Let's Talk Turkey. TCB needs your help. If you love the show, do us all a favor and share. Sharing is caring. And we know you care. Don't you? Well, don't you? Ooh, that was some childhood trauma. you're in its ugly head. Do you want to be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at 212-433-3822, and you could be the next TCB disembodied voice. Ooh, what'd you do today? I was a disembodied voice. You know, that sounds more dangerous than it actually is. Find us on Insta at the commercial break. On the web at TCB Podcast.com and all the episodes on video are available

the same day at YouTube.com slash the commercial break. I'm going to go help Brian get back up the Stairs while you listen to the sponsors, and then we'll all meet back here and get back to this episode of the commercial break. I'll take a raise now. Bitches. Bye. No interview in the commercial break history has been quite like the Leslie Jones interview. I will remember it for the rest of my life, and I hope that she comes back and comes back soon. All right, all of the links are in the show notes in case you don't know how this goes yet. Part 2 is her news special. Check it out. Links in the show notes. And then she's got some live dates coming up. I think I heard her say something about Comedy Central. Huh? Huh? Leslie Jones Daily Show,

what are you talking about? All right. Everybody's settled down. Okay, as I mentioned at the beginning of the show, Chrissy and I will be radically changing the schedule of the commercial break coming up very soon. At the commercial break on Instagram. We will post about it. We will let you. you know we will talk about it here on the show don't worry we won't raw dog you we'll let you know we'll let you know but just get used to this idea less recorded commercial break on the podcast rs rs i'd and more live commercial break streaming via youtube kick twitch instagram tick to all the kids are doing and so we are going to jump on the bandwagon one decade after it started we like to make sure things are actually happening after our clubhouse

debacle where we spent where I spent six months on Clubhouse and it turned out to be an absolute shit show. I decided let me wait and see how it turns out. Let's wait and see how this YouTube thing turns out before we vest in it. Well guess what? Looks like things are going well for YouTube. So we're going to go over there and we're going to stream and we want you involved in the conversation. We are sick of sitting here by ourselves and not having you a part of the conversation and you can do that on kick on Twitch on YouTube on Instagram you can DM us you can chat live with us you can even turn on your camera and get involved yes we have that capability and we look forward to seeing your pretty faces you can phone in live

talk to us ask us questions we'll ask you questions we'll interview you instead of Leslie Jones okay 212 4333 TCB the phone is back it is working I am responding slash the commercial break. Make sure you turn on notifications so you're notified when we do go live and TCBpodcast.com. Always get a free sticker there. Okay, until next time, I will tell you that I love you. I will say best to you and I will tell you that until the next time we see you or hear you or stream with you, I will say I do say and I must say goodbye.