The Josh Innes Show - JIS Classic: Intern Zack Blows

Episode Date: October 20, 2022

The J&R Show had many memorable moments in it's brief run. We had many different interns and side characters that became part of the show. One of those characters was a lovely guy by the name of Intern Zack. Zack loved to play the Harmonica. On this day, Zack demonstrated his skills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All right, so how long have you been playing the harmonica, Zach? Since 2007. All right, so what made you take up the harmonica? You know, I've always wanted to play a musical instrument, and a harmonica is perfect for me because I can blow into it, make my own tunes, and improvise a little. Well, that's good. That's good. So you enjoy blowing? I'm actually jealous. You're jealous that he gets to blow into it? Oh, I've always harbored a secret desire to master the harmonica.

Really? I mean, I tried playing guitar, but it was really difficult for me, and harmonica just found perfect for me. Well, what is it that you enjoy about blowing into it? You know, I blow into it, I just make my own tunes in my head, and I just go along with it. That's good. There's no point to it.

That's all to it. I've heard such stories from other... I've heard of... Mostly women, though, I hear that from. So... Now, you're not going to go all Ernie Johnson on him, are you? What's that? You know, the intern abuse.

That was fake, Rich. How do you know? Because they do that a lot. They'll show him and they just show him screwing around. But wouldn't it have come out by now if that was fake? I didn't know that it came out that it was real. That looked damn real to me. That he was yelling at some intern?

Joe, what do you think? No, he wasn't yelling. Did you guys see what I'm talking about? Yeah, he was handing cue cards. Then he slammed like two or three of them to the ground. The intern threw his hands up in the air like, what do you want from me? And stormed off and then left Ernie shaking his head in disgust.

I don't know. I can't imagine that that's real, and then they decided it was a good idea to run with that. Well, I mean, they showed those guys. Come on. They don't tell those guys all the time when they're showing them. Sometimes Barkley's picking his nose. That's all well and good, but we need

to have Zach blow good. So what song are you going to blow for us? It's called Blues of Alex, Blues because Harmonica Blues, and Alex because he taught me how to play Harmonica. Wait, did you write this yourself? No, I just, it basically I named the song, yeah. So this is a riff, really? Basically me just blowing into it, making my own tunes, and it's basically i named the song yeah so this is just this is a riff really i mean

this is just basically me just blowing into it making my own tunes and it's the name of the song accompanying music you can do it i can just improvise with it well we'll get to that all right so do you ever like so do you hum when you blow into it um i just i take a deep breath and then i just blow into it i got. I go, and then I blow. Gotcha. See, that's how you breathe, Josh. Yeah. That is how you breathe.

That's how you do other things as well. Breathing 101. All right. So go ahead, ladies and gentlemen. What's the name of the song again? It's called Blues of Alex. Ladies and gentlemen, this is intern Zach with Blues of Alex. Very nice Good job

Good effort. Good effort. That was pretty good effort, I would think. So if you had to give anybody some examples, though, if someone wants to do that like you, what kind of examples would you give them on how to blow? That sounded like an old John Wayne western, by the way. That could be the new theme song for the show. See, that's what I love about the harmonica.

It just always brings a visual to mind. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, I got you. Okay. So we're going to have you do a little stuff that Rich wants you to do here in a second. Yes, I can't wait. But if you had, like, because we have people. I just got a text from someone that said, hey, I really want to learn how to play the harmonica.

What would the advice be? What's your advice on how to blow? I would just say go to the left right here. We're at number two. And you just take a huge breath. You breathe. You take this huge breath in, hold your breath, and then you just blow, and you just make your own tunes basically.

That's how I do it. I improvise on the harmonica. Do you read music? Not very well. Like I said, I just blow in this and make my own tunes. I don't know how to read music at all. That takes a lot of skill. You don't say.

So when you blow, though, does it have like an odd taste? That looks like a taste. Not really. It takes a lot of skill. You don't say. When you blow, though, does it have an odd taste? That looks like a taste. Not really. It doesn't really taste anything. Gotcha. Okay, understood. So what is it you want him to do, Rich? Well, I mean, like I said, I have an appreciation for the instrument and people who can work the instrument skillfully.

Yes. And I have a particular fondness for blues harmonica. So we've pulled a little classic bit of blues from actually the Blues Brothers. Oh, love that movie. And I think we've got a little bit of Belushi singing, and then it goes into sort of an instrumental part. So I just want you to kind of riff along with the instrumental part. I've got to tell you something.

I am on a mission from God. All right. Very nice. Let's hit it. No, no, not yet. Not yet. Okay. Sorry. I thought you you something. I am on a mission from God. All right. Very nice. Let's hit it. No, no, not yet. Not yet. Okay. Sorry.

I thought you said start. Let me know when to start. I'll cue you. And I was wondering if y'all could take a picture while we're playing. Shut up. Sure. Crank it up. Just play the damn harmonica.

All right. Get ready. Get ready. It's almost time. Here we go. Go for it. Sweet home, Chicago. Ladies and gentlemen, Zach Winter.

Woo-hoo! Yeah! Good job! Very nice. Good effort, man. Excellent. That is good effort there, buddy. Excellent.

Did try, did try. I think you tried harder than D. Wade and LeBron last night. Yeah, absolutely. They gave no effort last night. You know... Good effort! Good effort! Good effort! Good job!

I mean, you did it. That annoying kid. I was very nervous, too. It was like my heart was pounding. I was like, oh, I can do this. I can do this. Well, I really think, though, that you could possibly get a job blowing. I do.

I think that, you know. Appreciate that. The harmonica. Yes. Blowing the harmonica. Yes. So one more time, though, because I just got another message. The people love you, Zach. i don't know what i did all i did was blow into my own tunes you know

i think we can go take two on the blues brothers i don't know that that was a little difficult for me well that's good you jumped the gun that was that was the warm-up you jumped the gun now you won't speak or play the harmonica until i cue you, right? Yes, that's correct, Rich. All right, Joe. All right, fire off. Here we go. This is intern Zach. Take two. As intern Zach blows. Elwood could blow.

He could. Get ready now. You're feeling it, Zach. Improvise, Zach. Give it to me. Yeah. Yeah. Bring it down. Yeah! Yeah! Bring it down!

Yes! Bam! Woo! Zach Meyerson on harmonica, ladies and gentlemen. You cannot top that. Zach Meyerson blows, everybody. Blows very well, too. Yes, he does.

Excellent. All right, good job. Thank you. Well done. Quality segment. Good effort. Great job. Good effort, Zach. You did good, buddy.

I appreciate that, Josh. I enjoyed that. Yeah, it was a little difficult for me, but I did my best. We may do that again sometime. All right, let's do it. We have all summer. Yeah, we got until August 10th. We're going to be together for a few months here.

Yeah. Next time, we're going to have you play the beginning of That's What Friends Are For. Deal. Oh, a little What Friends Are For. Deal. Oh, a little Stevie Wonder? Yeah. Good effort, Zach. Good job, buddy. Excellent.

Good effort. I enjoyed that. Yeah, me too. Good effort.