The Three Questions with Andy Richter - Jimmy Pardo Returns

Episode Date: March 31, 2026

Comedian Jimmy Pardo returns to the show to discuss introducing Conan to podcasting, the anniversary of “Never Not Funny,” working with Andy on the “CONAN” set for years, and much more. Do you want to talk to Andy live on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Radio? Tell us your favorite dinner party story (about anything!) or ask a question - leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Listen to "The Andy Richter Call-In Show" every Wednesday at 1pm Pacific on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Channel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi, everybody. Welcome back to the three questions. I'm your host, Andy Richter. Today, I am talking to Jimmy Pardo. Jimmy is one of my favorite people in the world. He's a stand-up comedian and host of the Never Not Funny podcast, which is having its 20th anniversary. He was the longtime warm-up comedian for our TBS show, and you can also check out his Jimmy's Records and Tape series on YouTube. Here's my conversation with Jimmy Pardo. Oh, no, I just don't think that your eldest, for an Oscars.

You don't think I got a shot this year. No, no, no, no. It's too late. It's two days. It's two days now. Somebody might fall out. Jesse Buckley cannot make it. Jimmy Pardo, will you please?

Will you please say you were in Hamnet? Yes. No. No, no, no. I will not say that. You know, I'm doing like a TikTok live from the Oscars. What does that mean? It means, you know, it's a live feed on TikTok.

Are you going to be there? Yeah, yeah. I'm going to be there in a tuck. So you're going to talk to people? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just fucking around. Enjoy it. Although I did get.

And I know a lot of the people, because a lot of the people that are doing the social media stuff are from dancing with the stars. It's like the same people that did Dancing with the Stars social media. And I know they didn't, but like they generated like five pages of material just because ABC, they can't just, ABC doesn't want to say like, yeah, we're just going to let. Andy, Andy run around and fuck around and it'll be fine. They're like, they don't. Put that mic back on.

I'm listening to you. No, no, you put that bike back on. Oh, this can't be it. This is all, all of it is it. Talking about you and your thing? We think we didn't get you pissing? We heard squirt, drip, drip, squirt, drip, squirt, drip, squirt, drip, squirt, more drip, drip, drip, turning 60, drip, drip, drip.

No, but it was really my favorite part of the past. package was there was a fairly substantial paragraph about like if we if we do get conan here are some things that they can talk about oh so they got some ideas for you too for me and conan that's nice that we can talk all right again it's an if it's if you're not bothering your friend of 40 years it's always so awkward when he and i get together sir what's up uh nothing okay i was told this wasn't going to happen but all right okay i did that for the uh years ago i did it for the uh for GQ magazine. It was GQ's man of the year

at the Chateau Marmont. And they hired me to, after the red carpet, to basically be live, they taped them and then uploaded them immediately. I see. To GQ.com. But I'm not Andy Richter,

so a lot of people knew me, but a lot of people didn't know me. And some people were complete A-holes. Yeah. And some were great. Some had fun. Quentin Tarantino, I'll never,

I'll punch him in the face of everything. Oh, really? Was he a dick to you? Couldn't have been a bigger one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Couldn't have, I mean, made me feel small. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, there's no reason for that. So bad. He and Eli Roth, is that the director? They were together. And the two of them just made me feel small. And then, but then other people, Clint Eastwood, was a delight. Yeah, yeah. So, like, one of the biggest stars of all time, who might be nuts and talk to a chair. Yeah. But he was very, very kind. He thought that you, he thought that you were a beautiful. He thought of his real. Yeah. And I cite. piece of furniture. I'll talk to this ottoman. But he was, yeah. Not necessary.

Yeah, well, I mean, why, I always feel like, why be a dick? Just move. Like, you don't have to talk to, you don't have to take time to be a dick to somebody. No, but you could, I think, I mean, correct. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I mean, just, uh, also you're there. The whole premise at this thing is for publicity. Yes. You're literally there for publicity. It's a horseshit parade. Right. So get in on it. So do it.

Get your shoes dirty and be nice. Yeah. And by the way, we're not going to talk for 45 minutes. I'm going to say, what is this? You know, hey, you're here at the GQ Man of the Year party. Right, right. You know, joke, joke, joke. Right, right.

You'll say something. You'll say something. I'll say thank you. You'll say it. How many toes are you going to suck tonight? Is that a thing he's into? How many filthy dirty toes? Apparently.

He's a foot guy. Apparently. Yeah, yeah. No, apparently. I mean, even in that once upon a time in Hollywood, he had Margot, Robby's like dirty feet purposely on, yeah, like, like playing into it. And I think, yeah, I don't even think it's, I think it's what they call an open secret, like my personal life.

Which is, you're more into not feet, but you're more into footnotes, right? You're the big footnote guy. Oh, my God. If I, I just get into the back of big textbooks. You love addendums. Oh, man, I just can't stop. Oh, yeah. Appendix this.

Oh, yeah. Hey, let me ask you a question. Yes, please. And the answer is. Look, if you want to run this podcast, I will, I'll kiss you. I'll love it. No, and then we'll move on. And then we'll talk nothing.

Hey, if you get to talk to me, I hope they gave you some ideas. Okay. When you were on this stances with the Stars business. Yes. Was the doctor on the scene still Dr. Zernbinski? Or did he, as he moved on? I didn't have a doctor. I never, I never encountered a doc.

Good Lord. You had no medical attention? There was a physical therapist. But no, no, MD. No, I think, no, because I didn't require one. You know, I think like if you'd get sick and you need, you know. This guy was a, he gives me injections in my jaw. He's a pain management specialist.

Yeah, yeah. And he, the reason I know of this is that he, the first time I met him, he said, oh, do you know Nikki Glazer? And I said, yeah. And he goes, oh, I knew Nikki when she was on Dance with the Stars. I'm the Doctor at Dance With the Stars. And so I texted Nikki. And she goes, oh, that guy's the greatest.

And then now, apparently my health is secondary, too. How's Nikki doing? As he's shooting your jaw? Yeah. It's like, Nicky doing all right? How's Nikki? Oh, man, is she great? Nicky's great.

All right. Okay, you're going to three, two, sleep. Does he have to knock you out to do it? I don't want him to because I like to drive home from stuff like that. Yeah. But he feels more comfortable because the injection kind of goes in through your cheek. Yeah. And you can see the needle.

I said, I'll close my eyes. Right. And he's like, no, if you move even a little bit, it's a problem. Yeah, yeah. So whatever they do, whatever he wants. Yeah. I'll do. That injection stuff.

That's, yeah, I mean, you and I are about the same age. You're, you're, are you 59 now? 59. Yeah. I think I'm a month older than you. Something like that. Yeah, I'm October. Oh, I'm much older than July.

Oh, my God. Yeah. We got a big one this year. Yeah, I know. 6-0. I don't feel that bad about it. I don't feel that bad about it because, uh, I'm probably happy. than I've ever been in my entire life.

Yes. And, I mean, I do feel like, you know, I have a new hip now. Yeah, I know. You know. And I need a new knee and all that shit. How long was that? Recovery?

That wasn't, it was nothing. What does that mean? I say everyone, go get a new hip before you need one. Do it electively. How long did it take? I went in on January 9th. Happy New Year. And it was supposed to be the second,

but the damn doctor went on a ski trip. Where'd be? Oh, boy. Yeah, you know, wait a week now. I got to go on tour with the dancers, but yeah, that didn't matter. No, January 9th. And I could not, I was like, because you know when you'd ever have a surgical thing, it's like,

be here at 6 a.m. They're like, come in at 11, you'll be out by 3.30. For a new hip. A new hip. I went in at 11, I was out by 3.30. My son drove me home. I mean, I could have walked out of it. I could have driven myself because it was.

my right foot. But I mean, I still was a little bit loopy. I went under, I don't think it's like full anesthesia. They did propofol? I don't think so. I don't think so. No, Propheaval is the easy one. That's the... Oh, oh, I thought that was the heavy one because he killed Michael Jackson. That's because he over did it. Oh, okay. You got to have the right touch. Yeah, he didn't. He knew how to write songs. Yeah, yeah. But he did not know how to make himself comatose. It really wasn't good with the drip on Propapol. No, propofoil is the thing you want because you go on, you, it's like, literally three two, you're under, and then, hey, Mr. Richter, yeah, okay, you can go home. Yeah, yeah.

It was kind of like that. Wait for your hit. Yeah, yeah. It was kind of like that. I mean, it was definitely, it was like, what kind of music do you like? And I was like, oh, you know, any kind of old, you know, R&B stuff. And I can't, I think, I think he put on like an, like, R-E-S-B-C-T, and I maybe heard the first verse. And I was, yeah, yeah.

And then there's two incisions. I have about like a six or seven inch scar on the back. I'll show you later on my buttock. No, no, no. I want to show you. I have a lot of intricate tattoo art, too, I want to do this. It's all biblical. You love it.

It's all biblical. It's a good book. I got, yeah, I got God's ass is what they say. No, there's a big incision and then they move the muscles out of the, but there's also one at the top of my, like right on the hip bone. hip bone because that's where they anchored the robot that puts me back together perfectly. Isn't that something? It's unbelievable.

I had to go get an MRI just for the robot, which is just exact measurements of the angles of everything. And he does, you know, he saws off the top of my leg and jams in a titanium spike that has a knob on it that goes into the titanium socket that they put into my pelvis. But then to put me back together, it's like, take it away. robot and it just All right so then that's Jan 9

That's January 9th January 9th I get a walker delivered to me An actual walker and that doesn't feel great Well I mean but why not Because you know you have surgery I know but it's not like you're old

I know but still it's a fucking walker There is I mean you know yeah I get it But and I and I and I would not have said When they said we're gonna send you a walker I was like okay well when it came I was a little bit like, oh, fuck, this sucks. And then, but I honestly, I used it for one day.

That's it. It was, it was like cumbersome. And I, I had a cane, too, that I rarely used. I mostly just, you know, held on to things as I walked around the house. I like to see you as a cane guy. Just like that you just, you just adopt it. Right, right. And then people go, what's going on?

And you go, what? Yeah. I mean, it's also good in case a werewolf attacks if he's got a big silver handle on it. Any given moment. Well, not any given. During the day, I think you're okay. Yeah, you're fine during the day. Yeah, nighttime.

Yeah. Unless. Unless there's an eclipse. Oh, oh. We both just did a take to no camera. Uh-oh. So, yeah, and then, and then I was on tour about a month after that. I went out on tour.

Dancing. Dancing, yeah. You were dancing 30 days later. Yes. I mean, let's throw dancing in quotes. Yes, exactly. I know, I'm not doing. You were wonderful.

Yeah, and you know that. You know my wife and I were supporting. Thank you. We never voted. to be honest. Right, right. But we supported. Sure.

We voted for Danielle Fishel every week. That doesn't. Yeah. See, that count. Even when she was out. Support. We called. We're going to write in a name.

Yeah. She was the straw that broke a lot of camel people's backs. Camels back. Is that right? It was like when Danielle went home, people were like, why the fuck is that fat ass still in there? And Topanga went home. I'll tell you why.

And this is no disrespect to her because she did a great job, too. She's amazing. You were the every man, and it was a delight to see, I mean, this complimentary, just a guy trying hard and doing it. Thank you. Not failing. No, I felt I represented. Were you for a stare? No.

I felt I represented something approachable. You know what I mean? Like unattainable to people. And even as I did it and became more sort of like committed to like, because I'm, you know, week to week the first few weeks, I was like, I don't, am I going to fucking stick around? I don't know. Right. I mean, why would I? I'm not, I get the lowest scores.

You know, I'm not, I know I'm not that great. Right. And I get that it's fun, that I'm fun to watch. And I get that I know how to be on TV. Like that, that's also some. I've been on TV a long time, so I know how to be on TV. What shows have you been on? I'm not familiar with your work.

Oh, let's see. A lot of field pilots. Yeah. Yeah. I've been there. Yeah. I know that story. Can't you tell my loves it grows?

I'm going to contradict you and your quick healing. I am not a good recovery person. Yeah. Whenever I've had several procedures over the last three, four years. And you revel in them. What do you mean by that? You luxuriate in the suffering. Hate it.

Oh, okay. I hate it. Yeah, yeah. And I, but I show up, I show up sometimes unannounced on why am I still in pain. Yeah. I don't recover well. I had a bilateral hernia surgery. One month ago, today.

Yeah. And I have another follow up tomorrow because there's still some pain. Yeah. And I was told that it would all be gone within days. Right. And there's still pain. And as my wife said, you just don't recover well. And I don't.

Yeah, yeah. Which stinks. Right. I'd like to dance with stars. Right. I'd like to be on tour dancing. That would be horrible. I would like to go on that program for the exercise regime.

I think that's what I would like. That's a big reason why I did it. too is that I was like, because you look great. Thank you. Thank you. I, um, I knew I had become a little bit stuck, uh, physic, you know, like I wasn't exercising enough. I mean, I was, you know, I go on long walks and I got a little kid, you know, I have a six year old and, and I mean, I'm, it's not like I'm just sitting behind a desk or, you know, laying on the couch all day. I do, I am moving, but not enough. And I knew it wasn't enough. And I also my, I had to have been having issues with my leg from what ended up being the hip.

Right. It was, you know, numbness, tingling, pain. Oh. And it got into the point where, and I try not to ruin everybody else's day with my suffering. Then why now? Why when there's microphones? It's a podcast. I know, but I'm here.

I'm getting paid for it. You make a couple bucks. I get, I get a, I get a wheelbarrow full of nickels every time I, they pull it right up to my car. Depending how big that wheelbar runs, that might be okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are we still using the nickel

or is that gone like the penny? No, no, the nickels. The nickels. Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Who's on the nickel? That would be Thomas Jefferson. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, you were testing me. Dime, who's on the dime? That's FDR. A quarter, of course, is George Washington. But not looking like George Washington. Who does he look like? No, that's a very romantic version of George Washington on the quarter. Yeah.

That's to keep the question. or sexy because it is the sexiest coin. It's the most used. Yeah, yeah. It's because it's the exact size of most rectum's anuses, I mean. Thank you for your time. What? Are we done?

You're done. Half dollars is JFK, right? I don't know, is it? I haven't seen one in so long. I think you're right, though. And then the silver dollar was Eisenhower. Was Dwight D. I believe.

Although now there's a little blonde because I did, I went to a laundromat. I went to laundromats on tour to do my laundry and they give you a dollar coin that I think maybe is Sacaga Julia? I think so, yeah, yeah. And then I think, I believe. And it's kind of gold colored. Yeah, it's a good looking coin.

Yeah, yeah. I think of all the Richter shows, and again, this really should at some point start going towards me and a little bit about my life. Man, I would say the... But I mean, you've got to go with where the action is. Yeah, it's over here. No, that's so, okay, whatever.

You're over there. You're hovering around. I listen, you were about to butter me up. You've got a limb. I mean, I got a, we all have to pretend the hip didn't, the new hip didn't give you a limp. Yeah, yeah. I would say the PI program. Oh, yeah, I like, that was my favorite.

That's your best. That was my favorite, too. That was my favorite, too. That was the one that I was really, really disappointed that it didn't. I mean, I was always disappointed. You can't do these things as much as you can have a jaundiced eye and think, like, well, it's all very, you know, like, it's everything's a long shot and you can't get too attached to things. you can't be involved in something without falling in love with it a little bit and really starting to fantasize. Because then it's like you're getting into a relationship with this thing and you're not dealing with an open heart. You're protecting yourself and you're not going to do the best way.

I'm going to agree with you on this way. My very first job here in Los Angeles was I was hired to be on a, to do a pilot with Gary Coleman. And it was called Looking Up at the Nightly News. And the cast was all on the shorter side. I see. Which doesn't matter once you're behind a desk. Right. But let's ignore that aspect of it.

So I was hired to be the- Kyron in your height every time. It was so bizarre. Like we get this. It's news, but we're shorties. That's it. And we all know that he was short, but the rest of us could have, I mean, first of all, I don't know why I'm whining.

I got a job. Right. So it was my first job here. And, you know, I had not been on a set before. I mean, I went to see some tapings of shows, you know, but not backstage and all that. So, you know, I'm there and I do it. And I got to be honest, the show was just, eh. God rest of the soul.

Yeah, yeah. And but as you, and you know this well as I do, the producers and the, and the, it was going to be syndicated. The syndicators were all talking. We got a hit. This is a hit. This thing. is, oh my God, this is great. And then I would hear him go, and Jimmy's our standout.

And I will say this. I was. I was good. Okay. I've been on things where I'm not. Yeah, yeah. I was good on that. No, no, I know what you mean.

And I'm hearing all that. And I'm in my head, I'm going, did they not see the same show I did? Yeah, yeah. This thing's a six out of ten at best. Yeah. But they're talking. And then so they convinced me to then fall in love. Like you get invested in it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then start dreaming like, it's going to be syndic. Are you kidding me? It's good. Here we go. And then, of course, it didn't get picked up because it was ridiculous. Yeah. But it's hard not to fall into that dream of this will change my life. Yep.

And I can't be wrong. I'm the new guy in town. They know what the show business is. Yeah, yeah. They're producers. Right. They're syndicators. Yeah.

And also, it gets after a while and after repeated disappointments. You do, you know, I did have like, well, do I want to be a hopeful person or do I want to be a pessimistic person? And like, and I would rather be a hopeful person. Yes, I am, I am leaving myself open to more hurt. But I'll recover. It's not like real hurt. So hang on, yeah.

Because I know you very well. Yeah. Do you think you're a hopeful person out of the two choices? In the, I do think, I do think in the last. Do you want to go around the office and question people? Because I disagree. What are you guys? Do you guys think I'm a hopeful person?

Guys, lie if you have to. No. I don't think you're not hopeful. Yeah. No, you don't, I'm busting your balls. I know, I know. But no, but I mean, I also have, I can be a real bitch. All of us can.

I'm really good at it. So, you know. That part I've seen. Yeah, yeah. But no, I don't think. And I, again, I did, I probably was very cynical and pessimistic for a number of years of my life. But like I say, the last, I'm a much happier person than I used to. You are the happiest.

I've known you probably 30 years now. Yes. When did you move out here? You moved out here. I moved out here. I moved out here. Well, I mean, I was out here in dribs and drabs. Right, but officially.

But officially was 2000. Right. Okay. And then we started working together with the UCB when they opened, which would have been. I don't remember. That I'll never remember. So we've been friends minimum, it's 30 years. Yeah, yeah, 20.

Probably 20, yeah, minimum 25. This is without it the happiest I've ever seen. Oh, thank you. I mean, necessarily, you look good. Even when I walked in and I was like, that's a different answer. Oh, and that's nice. That's a, yeah. Yeah.

So it shows. Thank you. And I think it's all the hip. I think the hip was making you a horrible human being. Let me ask you this about the hip. Yes. Have you been golfing since? I have not.

And they said give it about six months. But you can go dancing. I can, yeah, because it's not. Well, first of all, it's, you know, it's just, I'm not, I'm not doing crazy jitterbugs. You know, like there's certainly when I was when I was, when I was on. on the show, and I knew I needed a hip replacement when, before we started. Oh, you did? It wasn't because of the show. I got hired in April. And June or July is when they said, oh, they figured out why my left leg was all fucked up

and had been fucked up for a year and had made it. So whenever I went to an amusement park with my family, I had like two or three hours. It was good. And then I was miserable. And that's what I was started to say is I didn't, I never would be like, I don't, you know, let's go to Knott's Berry Farm. And I was never inside. I'm like, oh, but I was like, okay, let's. But, you know, after three or four hours, it sucks, you know. I get it. And at times even kind of limping a little bit, which again, that does not feel good.

I mean, just in terms of it's like the walker. It's like, I don't want to have a fucking limp. Jason Chalemi, who runs the studio here one day at about that time, I was walking here and he said, are you limping? And I was like, fuck, yes, I probably am, you know. But I... And then you beat him up, right? No, no.

Because mind your business. No. Mind your business. He said it with love. He said it with love. You know what? Maybe I've got maybe one leg is shorter than the other. He didn't say faddy when he said, are you limping fatty?

Oh my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, that part I'm not all that upset about it. It's the limping part that upsets me. But yeah, but, but I knew it, there was dances, things that she would have me do. Right. That were grinding. Like I, you know, like a couple of like, it was sort of like anything that sort of would have where you flip your leg out sideways.

Because that's, that's what made them notice is that, you know, when you sit on it, say like on the tabletop with your legs down. Yeah. You know, with your knees at the edge of the table, then your legs down. And how you could pendulum your, the lower leg back and forth side to side. Yeah. Mine didn't do that at all. Pardon? It didn't do that all.

It just, it just was stuck. He would move it and it wouldn't, it wouldn't ding-dong. you know, like it should. And this was a doctor was going to give me surgery on something else to try and figure out what's going on. And he went like, let's get a hip x-ray. Yeah. And I literally next door, hip x-ray, hip doctor comes in and looks, it's on an iPad.

He picks up the iPad, picks it up. You need a new hip like that. It was just, yeah, didn't need to, you know. And then that and that's been what was, I don't have all the shit going on anymore, you know, good for you. my leg. So, so, but there was definitely things, dance things that I could not do. What about the can-can? Could you do that? Um, did you have to tap? Did you have to tap? No, there's no tapping. It's all, it's all forms of ball runs. That's right. And there are a set amount. Right.

That I, you know. How many do you, refresh my memory. You made seven weeks? No, I did nine out of the 11 weeks. So I was off by two. I made it by the, I'm not mad. It sounds like you're upset. No, no. Huh? I made it to the quarter. A tiny tin with your limb? quarter final. You want to come at me? Yep. Yep. I'm going to see. I'm going to see. Corey Feldman carried me around. He left early, didn't he? He did. He left early. Yeah. Yeah. He and Baron Davis, the basketball player, left. They were the first two to go. Yeah. Which I was really assuming I would be one of the first to go. That was totally my assumption.

But again, you, I felt it was a little bit of surprise because I thought the American people had a love of Corey Feldman. I think they embrace sad stories. And his seems to be, as much as he fights it, a pretty sad story. Yeah, yeah. And so I thought that America would go, well, he's kind of, he's not a bad dancer. Yeah. And let's keep him. But I know that there were the stories about how he wasn't showing up and other stuff,

but does the woman in Iowa voting know that? I don't know. I'm asking. I don't know. Apparently not. Or, you know, apparently she fell in love with me and was like, That's the guy from the Olson Twins movie. You were happy to see Feldman go.

That's what I'm hearing. No, no. No, that's everybody's saying it. No, not. Everybody's saying. Everybody's saying. That is such a Trump thing. Right. Everyone's saying it.

Everybody's saying it. Everybody's saying it. Here's this thing that I just figured out, by the way, recently, is I haven't seen it. He'll say that about whatever it is. I haven't seen it. Yeah, yeah. You're the fucking president. Also, you just talked.

Talked about it four hours ago. How the hell? Yeah, I haven't seen it, but I'll look into it. You just... Every time I'm around you and Trump is mentioned, I am remembered. Oh, yeah, yeah. Reminded of, it was within, I don't know. It was...

No, I mean, well, it was during baseball season. So he'd been in a while. Been in a while, we were in a Dodgers game. And just every, throughout the entire game, you would let it get to a low. And this is in 2016 And you would just go I'm just saying

Give him a chance Yeah Just give him a chance But he was already Such a fucking obvious disaster Just give him a chance Why is that so hard I'm gonna give him another six months

You know Let's see what he's doing He was so clearly The wrong human being I would be better And I'm an idiot Yeah yeah You know what I mean

Oh absolutely No I mean No I mean he Ah, the proof is in the fucking shit pie that's being served to us. I don't know. I say give him another year. Let's see what happens. Can't you tell my loves it grows?

Well, how are you? What are you up to these things? What do you mean by that? Is that on the paper? No. I didn't. Paper, what paper? How are you? How are you?

Well, I'm celebrating. You're never not funny. Celebrating 20 years. That's our big thing. Yes. It's my podcast. And that's why you're here. You wouldn't grace me with that.

Can I be very? honest. I would be here every week if you'd have me. Oh, all right. I was honored to be asked. Oh, great, great, good. I just, I'm not great at sending out, uh, promotional. Promotion. I'm not great at that. You know, even though, again, my show's been going 20 years, I still like, any, any room for me? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. Of course there's room for you. Yeah, yeah. A whole. So, you know, my son's off at college. So we're empty nesters. And so that's a little bit sad and depressing. Yeah. You know, there's only that he's our only child. Is he a freshman? He's a freshman. Yeah, yeah, okay. Yeah. So there's the newness to it too. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. But he's

close enough that if we, you know, if dad's feeling weepy, yeah, he can call him up and go, you want to have lunch with your dad? Yeah. But for the most part, I'm letting him be in college and live his life. Thank God. He comes back quite a bit because, you know, he's doing stand up now, my son. Why? Why would you let him do that? Well, I'll tell you, two reasons. Okay. Number one, I said about, he's majoring his screenwriting and filmmaking, and he's also

in comedy, you know, on campus, improv team and so on and so forth. And I'm like, anything else? You have any other interests? Don't go into this business. Yeah. But then he did stand up. It's a vampire going like, really, don't drink the blood. Right?

Don't do it. You don't want this. A couple of very good vampire impressions. Yes. He's, this is a, I'm a comedian talking, not a dad. Yeah. He's good at it. Oh, good.

He's really good at it. That's great. And he's been opening up, he's been doing some sets on shows with me on the road. Yeah, yeah. And I fact, we're going to Chicago soon and Indiana, and he's going to open for me. And he's, he's more joke-centric than I am. Right. I don't have any.

Right. But he has, that would involve homework. Yeah. That would involve preparation. And you, no, thank you. Boy, I get it. No, thank you. I get it.

You want me to host your game show? I'm in. Yeah, yeah. I get to just show up and read. Done. No, that's what I have stand-ups in here. And I'm just like, why would you just go just, it's all homework. They, and then you get done with your whatever hour, and then you've got more homework.

You've got to go right, right, right, right. I don't understand that, by the way. You know, I get a new hour every year. Why? Yeah, yeah. People like what you're doing now. Yeah. Nobody's asking you to change it.

Yeah. This weird thing that Louis C.K. started 12 years ago, whatever. You know, I do a new hour every year that every comic thinks they have to do that. Well, he also did some other things that you don't think you should do. So why do you think that you should follow that? Right, right. Maybe the guy's not the best with advice.

So, but yeah, but also, too, we, you and I come from a, just fuck around and it'll be fine. We'll get there and it'll be funny and people will enjoy it. Don't worry about it. Kind of background. Well, I didn't do I.O. or the annoyance, you know, with you guys. Right. You know, my feet were pretty much in that at the Roxy in Chicago where I would go up and just

improvise my set, you know, as an open micer. And so. But see, that's what I mean. I kind of come from that. You weren't, yeah, you were coming, you're coming from, let's get on stage, let's interact with the audience. And let's see what happens. Let's see what happens. Yeah, yeah.

And you know what? For many, many years, it was hit and miss. Yeah. It's never hit and miss anymore. And if it's miss, I make fun of it. Yeah, yeah. Who cares? Yeah.

You know, and the people coming know who they're coming to see. They're coming to see me and they understand what I'm going to do. Yeah. They don't want to hear my material because it's not great. Yeah. I'm, you know, I am what, you know, I'm this. Yeah. And my wife described it recently as it's almost like a one-man improv team.

Yeah. Where it's like I ask people, you know, I ask people. about their lives so that I can riff something. Right. I don't just go, you're a plumber, you'll ram a pipe up your eyes. You know, I'm not that guy. Write that down.

And that guy's name is Matt Rife. Now, here's the thing. There's bad crowdwork guys out there. Yeah. Which is infuriating to me as a guy that then goes, oh, you do a crowdwork like so and so and so and so. Oh, no, I do not. Yeah, yeah.

No, no, I do it cleverly and I care. Yeah, yeah. They go for the easy laugh because they're, you know, they're 24 years old or 27 years old. Yes. So and also, the other aspect of it that I don't know if people realize is that that can be put on social media and it doesn't, it doesn't, you know, like spoil their precious material. Like no one's hearing a joke that they've written. They're just hearing them fuck around.

And that they could put on social media all they want. And so, which is just to me, it's like, take it easy, guys. They're jokes. No, thank you. And so they, so they, you know. know, like Matt Wright has prepared material, but he's not going to put that on. Yeah. Well, he also doesn't put it on because it's not great.

Oh. Well, but I mean, I don't see. I don't even know that much about it. I mean, I'm sure you have. I know very little, but what little I know, I'm happy to apparently have an opinion about. Well, and then there's somebody, like somebody lately, uh, and I mean, he's having his moment is Chris Fleming. I don't know Chris Fleming. You don't know him?

I know who he is. He's seen the bill for. He's fantastic. You love him. He's wonderful. He's a wonderful person and just an amazing mind. But the amount of him standing on a stage with the microphone doing material, not interacting with the audience in any way, is so fucking like ballsy and macho compared to the other cowards that aren't putting out any of their material. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And he'll put out twice a week. He'll put out like two minutes. Really? Of just his rambling, silly nonsense. I got to do a deep dive. He's really, really funny. And you know what? Other people have told me to do that, and between you and me and these two fellows

and everybody listening, the people also, you've got to see him, I, you know, 100% trust the opinion. Right, right, I get you. But if you're saying so, yeah, yeah. You know, the pessimist that you are. Yes, yes, yes. I will. Now, he casts a wide net.

So, like, you know, I've seen him live and sometimes are better than others. Of course. Because it's like, he's taken a chance. He's discovery. Yeah. And I really do believe a lot of the things he's saying, he's just coming up with. Great. You know, and he's, and he has a, he has like the, you know, the people that are references,

reference people, like where they're just kind of referencing different things while they'll reference Shakespeare and then like a floor wax ad. And then, you know, he's all, it's just, he has an unbelievable encyclopedic. Whereas my references are all 80s bands. Exactly. It's all Night Ranger. Yes. Yeah, yeah.

You got a half-hour sister Christian hunk that... And a solid one. I got a Molly Hatchet chunk that it's killing lately. Very strong. I flirt with disasters, name of my new special. Did you know, you know Jeff Rossi, who's the executive producer here at Team Coco, was the road manager for Molly Hatch. I did know that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He said they used to cut lines of cocaine on the Ms. Pac-Man's that was on the bus. Is that right? One of those table top, Ms. Pac-B. Yeah, yeah. And it was mainly used for snorting cocaine. Yeah, I mean, it was a different time. It sure was.

Yeah, and I mean, you know, it was Molly Hatchet. You want them high on Coke. I'm not so sure where I stand on Mali Hatchet. I like about four songs. Yeah, yeah, no. You don't need to like Molley Hatchet that much. We've moved on as a country. I saw them open up for Triumph in 84.

Yeah. And I love Triumph. In fact, I'm flying back to Chicago to see them because I'm not sure they're going to make it to the West Coast. Why? Because of aging? They're doing an East Coast stint. Yeah, yeah. for lack of a better word.

And then we'll see how it goes. And my guess is that means how we're feeling. Yeah, yeah. Because they're 70. In their 70s, yeah, yeah, yeah. What's their big hit? I'm trying to place triumph. I guess magic power was probably the big hit.

I can't think of it. Got the magic power, the music. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. We're young. I got you. I'll just do the whole song. I get it.

No, no, that's all right. I love them. And I just, you know, because I have family in Chicago, it's like, well, I'll fly back and see that show and then see my dad and then go to Peoria. and hope people show up to watch me do my nonsense. Yeah. Nice. So I'm doing some touring to, you know, do a little bit of touring.

I do one night in the city. That's it. I zip in. I do one night. I do one show, sometimes too if it sells out. Yeah. And then I get on a plane or I drive to the next town. And I do one little group a month.

I do three days in a row. And then that's it. Yeah, yeah. And it's made me like doing stand-up again. Yes. I hated, I got to the point where I actually said, I'm going to retire because I couldn't take the Fridays and Saturdays anymore. I couldn't take, I hate to be this way. And this is not good for business.

I couldn't take people that didn't know who I was coming. And then to your, but like wondering, why is he, why is he talking about Night Ranger for 12 minutes? Right. Why are they laughing at it? Yeah, yeah. I didn't come to hear him talk about that. Yeah. And it is.

And also it is like, nothing against them. Like they don't know. they were coming, they're coming for just that transactional. Yep. I'm going to put some money out for drinks and then you're going to give me laughs. Yeah. And it's got to be, it's got to be like Sears and Robux laughs. 100%.

And again, I'm with you. I'm not blaming them. Yeah. I'm just saying I don't want to do that anymore. Yes, I don't blame you. I don't blame you. I mean, yeah, I mean, I told you, I think about like I was kind of, because I have friends like Tim Meadows and David Kekner who, you know, are purely improper.

We're purely kind of improv guys, but then kind of started to do stand-up just as like, hey, this is a way I can make some money and I enjoy it and stuff. And I started kind of like, oh, maybe I should try that. I was just like, no, I don't like this. I don't like, it all came down to, I've said this before. I don't like being on stage by myself. Is that right? I don't like being on stage by myself.

It's not, I mean, I can do it for different, you know, like there's a point in the dancing with the stars hosting because that's my thing. You know, I'm like Emma and I are sort of co-host, but there's like a couple things that I come out and do solo. I'm like, I'll do that for just a minute as part of a larger show. But it's like, I don't want to, I want there to be somebody because I'm not going to, somebody's going to say something. And it's like you said, there's a back and forth and there's discovery and there,

and you get something to riff off. Yeah. And I just, I'm by myself. It's just no fun. And I also like, like, I've always enjoyed the people on stage more than. the audience, you know, like I'm there for to have fun with the people on stage. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I, it's nice that there's an audience there to watch them, but like I don't, like, I've, again, having standups on here who were like, when I got that first

big laugh, it was, you know, it's like some kind of addict. And I'm just like, yeah, then the laughs are nice, but really, you know, like. Yeah. It was more fun to make Matt Walsh laugh, you know. What, 100%. You know what I mean? I mean, I would, you know, I cut my teeth doing that in Chicago. goes, you know, I would be, you know, a comics comic. Yeah, yeah. Where, you know, the audio, you know, there'd be, you know, 20 rows of silence. Yeah. And then you would just hear the comics.

In the back. You know, in the back, crack it up. Yeah. And I would go home. And I would go home probably. Yeah. Yeah. I did it.

Yeah. I would always say on the corner show if I made the cameraman laugh. Right. I was, I was doing something good. Bruce loved you. Bruce loved you. It would just, it would, because it's like, they hear me all the time. So if I can.

Right. Make them, you know, forget that they're. supposed to be working. Right. It's pretty great, you know. Yeah, yeah. I do want to ask about Never Not Funny because it really is like you are sort of like a podcast pioneer.

Yeah. Like when I came on your show, I didn't even know what that term meant. Nobody did. Your very own Conan O'Brien made fun of me. Yeah, yeah. When he came on the show, he came on, you know, a couple of years into it. And you came on before he did. Yes.

So you really didn't know what it was. Of course. Yes. But he would. I'm an easier book. Well, at the time, certainly because he had just taken over to The Tonight Show. Yeah, yeah. And, you know, I did not know him in New York.

I knew him day one of the Tonight Show when he hired me. So when I said, you wanted to my podcast, he very graciously said, yeah. He could have said, no, I'm hosting the Tonight Show. Sure. Yeah, yeah. But he came and he's like, what if we're just doing fake radio? And then every day he'd go, doing fake radio today, Jimmy. And how's the fake radio now, Conan? How's it going, pal?

You should burst in. Like when he's like interviewing, you know, I don't know, Guillermo del Toro or something. Like, how's fake radio? Doing the fake radio? And then I just get the crap kicked out of me. Somebody takes me down. Not that shulomi.

I think I could take them. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, I started to, it's 20 years ago. Yeah. Well, what was, well, how did you come up with the idea of doing? Here's how. Okay. I was doing a live, and you were part of this, too, at the UCB.

I was doing a live non-tenth. televised talk shows. Yes. And, you know, because, you know, that's, again, to our point, I liked doing that. I liked talking to guys like you and we would riff for 12 minutes and then you leave and then I riff with Matt Wals for 12 minutes. Yeah, yeah. Under the guys of my next guest.

Right, right. So it was my way of being able to do improv without, you know, being on ASCAT or whatever. Yeah, sure. And I loved it. Yeah. And so. And it's, I mean, and it's why those fucking things worked for a million years. Right.

Because, you know, yeah, it's too funny people talking. talking to each other or a funny person, an interesting person, you know, ideally. But yeah. Why not do that in front of people? If they're showing up. Yeah, yeah. And a young kid named Matt Belmap would come and watch that show. Yeah.

And he would come to, it turned out, he ended up, he went to a lot of comedy shows, but he seemed to always be coming to mine. And then he said to me, after one of the running your traps of Jimmy Parto was called. He was like, hey, any interesting things? turning this into a podcast. And I was like, I don't know what any of that means. Yeah, yeah. And he's like, well, you'll say, you listen to Ricky Jervais, right? And at the time I did, I won't listen to him now. But yeah, at the time I did that thing that he did with that guy that, like, traveled the world. Yeah, what was his name? It was him and Stephen Merchant.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it was funny. Yeah. And so he's, he said, that's, you know, I said, so something like that. And he goes, you know, our own version. And so that's why I did it. Yeah. This kid, Matt, who is now my co-host and producer of 20 years, you know, said, do you, I would like to produce a Jimmy Parto podcast. Are you interested? And then I said, yes, not really knowing what that meant. Yeah. And here we are 20 years later. Oh, wow. That's great. And I was in early and we had a, you know, we had a mixing board and we had microphones and we, because I wanted to do it right. Yes. You know, I grew up like you did in Chicago, idolizing Steve Dahl and Gary Meyer. Yeah. And John Records Landdecker and other.

you know, for Captain Whamlow. Yeah, they're all, these are all radio people. And Steve Dahl was kind of, I think for a while, Howard Stern's biggest competition. He was Howard Stern before Howard Stern in my opinion. A little bit, yeah, yeah. It's kind of the chronology is a little different, but yeah, because I remember once, because Howard won't really, I've never heard him talk about Steve Dahl very much. He talks about him a little bit.

Occasionally. And in a more, in a more gracious way now. Certainly. But I remember Don Buckwold, his agent was on once. And Don Buckwold said something about when they started syndicating. Like I think Howard might have gone to Philadelphia first. And Steve Dahl had already like gone to St. Louis and Milwaukee. And his agent said, well, we were seeing what Steve Dahl was doing in Chicago.

And we thought, let's try that. And they just moved really fast. Wow. And I don't think anybody ever said that again. And it's like, I don't know historian, but it was interesting. because I grew, yeah, every morning, wake up early. Wake up early. He came on at six.

My brother and I wake up and six. And then you'd have to go to school and you were bummed. Yeah, just put on the. They were, I mean, some of it wouldn't work today because it was just different times. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. They were my heroes.

I wanted to do something professional sounding like them. And a lot of podcasts at the time were guys using the microphone on their computer. Yeah. It didn't sound great. Right. Hours sounded great. So right away, we had some comments. fans and we had the tech nerd fans.

No shit. Who were like, hey, this sounds good. I can tell that's a sure SM 69 or whatever. So they liked us. And we and then somebody at Apple, a guy named Scott Simpson, liked us a lot and started featuring us right away. Like, hey, here's a new comedy podcast. Sounds great.

This guy's funny. And we blew up right away. Yeah. Because we sounded good. We gave these people a reason to support us. and but you're also funny too well thank you yeah yeah i'm not going to dismiss anything i right right right there were i love the word pioneer uh because a lot of people like to say you were the first and todd glass brilliant comedian taw glass said it very very funny that jimmy part of wasn't the first

but he was the first comic you had heard of uh that did a podcast yeah yeah and i like that uh and i like pioneer but also to do it successful you know yeah i'm sure there were plenty of people who tried to fly planes before the Wright brothers, and they crashed. Yeah. And that's why we don't know their names, you know? So it's like, you're fucking Orville Wright, you know, or Redenbocker. Well, I like popcorn. Who doesn't?

And suspenders. So I'm in. I'm very, I'm very grateful. And I appreciate you saying, and you're funny, because I, I very often forget that aspect of it. I know, it's easy, it's easy to diminish yourself. Yeah. You know, just, it's a fucking Midwestern disease, too, you know.

But how is it, how are you making money initially? Was it all ad sales? Oh, no. First two years, nothing. Yeah, really. You know, we, we just did the show. Yeah, yeah. And we had a couple.

But I mean, was there any kind of structure at that point for, to make money? Yeah. No. It was just put it out there for fun and hope. I mean, some did. And we put it out for fun. And then we jokingly set on the air once early on, maybe season, maybe the second year. Boy, it'd be great to have an advertiser.

And a company called Sexy Is, kind of an Adam and Eve competitor. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They reached out for us. Marital AIDS. Yes. They're called. And the guy. When we've left that phrase.

These are just for married people. If you're single, you can't shove shit up your ass if you're not married. Uh-oh. Oh, no. Oh, no. Hopefully nobody reads my diary. Well, they, that guy was a listener, the guy that one of the people that sexy is. Yeah, yeah.

And he said, I don't. don't even know what we would pay because it's so brand new. And to this, maybe they paid us a hundred bucks an episode or something. I don't remember. But it was something. But it was something. And we would then go, hey, what a sexy is? Use promo code parto, whatever. And it lasted maybe six months. Yeah. You know, and then nothing. And then we decided, this is the truth. Podcasting wasn't happening. Like it wasn't taking off. Yeah. And, you know, some people had one. Scott Arkhamen had one. Yeah. Marin, I don't even think merit had started yet. And Matt and I were like, why don't we, why don't we do a, like, what is now a Patreon thing.

Yeah. It wasn't that then. Yeah. Yeah. Why do we do a paywall sort of thing where we charge people to listen. And if it doesn't work, we stop. Yeah. We just stop because this thing isn't working anyway.

And if people want to listen to, it's great. Yeah. And they did. Now, people, we had a number in mind. I forget what it was, but it was like if X amount of people subscribe, this is a success. And how much was this subscription at the time? Oh, my God. Initially.

I, boy, oh boy, that's a great question. 10 bucks a month? Yeah, yeah. It wasn't much. Yeah. No, it had to be less than that because right now you can get five bucks a month. So, or six bucks a month. It had to be five bucks a month.

Yeah. And we, and some people were like, how dare you charge for a podcast? Are you out of your mind? Well, it was fun while it lasted. See you later. Yeah, yeah. And it happened. And then while we're behind this paywall, this pioneering show that everybody's talking about,

we're behind the paywall. The podcast comedy boom happened. And all of a sudden, Ackerman blows up and Merrin blows up. Yeah. And nobody's talking about me because I'm behind this paywall. Behind the paywall. And then eventually we came out from behind the paywall and our,

you know, we got a big audience again. Not as big as it would have been had we never been behind the paywall. Yeah. That said, while I was behind the paywall, I bought a house. Yes. So it all worked out. What are you going to do?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right? Yeah, you could have hindsight is. It's, I will also. say this, and you're instrumental in this, I got the job at the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Yeah, as the warm-up.

As the warm-up because of you. You were the person that said to them, you know, the person that could do anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour off the top of his head with the same sensibilities of the show is Jimmy Barrow. And I mean, this is early, the greatest compliment I've ever heard in my life.

Oh, great, thank you. And when Mike Sweeney passed that along to me, in my interview, I was like, oh, my God, I almost welled up because it was such a nice thing to say. And also a nice thing for him to pass on. And so I had started the podcast, and then you would recommend me for that job. I got the job.

And then I had this great full-time job. And so I was able to then, like, oh, the podcast can work if we make money or not. And then because I'm able to make a living over here. Yeah, yeah. But yet I am making a living with the podcast. So I was able to be freer with the podcast, not be so concerned about, I hope we don't offend anybody. Yeah, yeah.

Because I had this great job at the tonight show. And then I don't, we were off for a little while. Something happened. And then we were back on. On CBS, yeah, yeah. But it was, you know, you were instrumental into, and Conan, obviously, because he, you know, was the one that eventually hired me. Yeah. Instrumental in giving me the security of a regular paycheck in show business and, more importantly, being around really funny people.

Yeah. Every eff in day. Yes. Are you kidding? Are you kidding? There is an unbelievable power to that. That was what I would, people would go, oh, you got to go to work? I go, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. I get to go to my car, and the first person I see is Todd Levin, and I'm laughing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I see, you know, at the time, Josh Comers. Yeah. And then eventually I would see, you know, Conan. Yeah. And Mike Sweeney and Conan.

And we would, I would do nothing but laugh. It's just bits and laughter. Bits and leaven. It's just stupidity. Yeah. Grab assery. Yeah. And who doesn't want that?

Yeah. Oh, and by the way. you got to go on stage for eight to 20 minutes. Yeah. So, and then, then you can leave whenever you want. Yeah. Oh, no. That's what you're asking me to do that?

Who? Are you kidding me? I know, I know. And then, by the way, when I did leave, or before, I'm at my podcast having fun. Yeah. So I was, it was the greatest. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, yeah, they asked, because I had been in L.A., they were coming to L.A., you know, the entire operation was moving out here. And they, they asked. me like you know not not even like I was like had my had my feelers out into the scene or anything but they said like who would be good at warm up and I just said jimmy part of I didn't even say anybody else is so nice and I just said I said you should just get jimmy pardo I said because he fits the show and I had I had seen enough other warm up comics that made me furious yeah yeah yeah that are just so fucking, like, insulting.

And they're just, you know, and especially like during multi-camera sitcoms. It's just, and I'm, you know, and I was often in the position of working. I'm on the show. And we're trying to make the show. We're doing multiple takes. And then all of a sudden it's like, hey, everybody. It's just my back. I know.

I'm like, oh, my God, shut that fucking guy up. Jesus Christ. And also just let us relax. Yeah. Let us relax. Yeah. And, you know, make people laugh without like going, I know. You know, screaming at him and going like, they need you to scream and laugh at all times, which an audience will do.

They're there to help out. Right. But it's like, but then you get to a point where you get no, you have no, you know, it's crying wolf. It's like you get an audience that's all adrenalized, but they're not listening. 100%. So, yeah. So I just was like, yeah. Get Jimmy, you know.

And I was so happy, not surprised, but very happy that they, that it worked out. Because it was, it was so great to have you around. Oh, my God, I loved it. It was so great to have you here every day. And I did. And you fit in perfectly, you know, with everybody, with the crew and everybody, you know. You once said to me, and I don't even know if this is for air, but you once said to me, because I still was a little uptight, you know, new guy.

Yeah, yeah. Everybody knew each other from New York. Right. I was the new guy. And I still was a little, and you kind of, you put your hand on my shoulder once you go, you know, you can relax. Everybody here loves you. And it changed.

Oh, good. It changed the job. Yeah, yeah. Because I wasn't good at the job when I first had it. I wasn't a good warm-up. I was a funny guy. Yeah, yeah. But I had to learn, you know, the nuts and bolts of being a warm-up.

Right. And even though a warm-up for Conan is certainly different than a warm-up for a sitcom, like you say. Yeah, yeah. Or another talk show. Right. But I had to learn it. And luckily, they allowed me the space to learn how to do it because I still was being funny.

Yeah. But I still would be a little like, just a little tense. Like, I don't know anybody. There's anybody, you know, do people like me? Yeah. You know, again, Midwest comic thing. You know, people seem to be friendly, but I don't think maybe, maybe the second I leave, they go, that guy.

You know, and then you, you just, it was, I know, I know I'm giving you two compliments within three minutes, but you were saying what you said about it, to get the job, and then doing that, I just really appreciate it. Oh, no problem. You really appreciate it. I meant it, yeah. Yeah, of course. Yeah.

Also, well, also, too, because it's like, I know you're not, you know, being uptight, you're not going to do your best, you know? And I was just seeing that like, like, I mean, it wasn't like I was like, hey, party, you better be fucking funny. So you better relax. It was more like you're, you're missing enjoying this more than you should be. Yeah. Than you could be or that you are.

But again, I saw I was a little, you know, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, The job was new to me. Yeah, yeah. And yeah, but, you know, it ended up working out. Yeah. You know, I mean, I, you know, I probably was number one in line to get, you know, say, let's get this guy off the air. And then, you know, let's get back on cable.

Right. So, you know, mission accomplished. Yeah, you and, you and Leno were seen canoodling all over town. Do you know that I see him at Flappers? He's always in the, I do, I do every other month. I do a show at Flappers. Yes. And I do it in the small room.

called the Uhoo Room. And I love it for the reason that we just talked about is I just, number one, my son opens for me, which I love. And I usually try to bring some other young comedian with me so they can get some stage time. Yeah. And usually a woman, because I, that's important because yeah, bookers don't seem to be interested in them. Yeah. So I usually try to have a woman, and then I have my son open. And then I'm able to just in this Uhoo room, I don't care if I make a nickel. I don't care if it sells out and I make a ton of dough. I just get to improvise and maybe I'll land on something. Yeah, yeah.

Maybe I'll end so I can use again in the future. But if not, we had fun at the moment. Meanwhile, in the big room is Jay Leno. Yeah. And he's over there, and I spend most of my set making fun of Jay. You know, I think Jimmy Parto's in the other room. What about the car he has? Oh, my God.

We park right next to each other. Oh, my car is four wheels. So is his. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. He, yeah, he, I was, I was on the Dancing with the Stars tour and somebody, I don't know, he came up somehow in, because there's a Q&A kind of thing before the show, you know, people pay more money and they go to a Q&A and they get their picture taken with the cast. Yeah, yeah.

They got to ring every dollar out of these poor fucking J. Moaks. And so he came up and I was telling people like, if you live in Burbank, California, you will see Jay Leno driving. a fucking weird vehicle of some kind. You'll see the thing from shitty shitty, shitty bang, and you go, what the hell's that? Oh, and Jay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Key, we were doing a week of shows out in L.A. When we were doing late now with Conan O'Brien. Right. We did, like, in the studio next to him, a couple of times we worked in the studio next to him. And there were his parking spot. And it was fun to see what, because you did have some fucking awesome,

and he would drive something different every day. Awesome cool cars. Right. But like the first day I was there, I swear to you, it was, it looked like a hay rack, you know, like a cart that you load hay on to with a tufted leather couch that had blown out. So you see all like the stuffing coming out. And then a big boiler on it. On a hay rack. And he drove it there.

And that's when he drove there. And if I'm, I might be, I might be misremembering. but I think it had like a not a, it had like a directional handlebar. You know, like a one rod that came up that you turn, you know. Yes.

Like a, I mean, I don't even know, you know, like old golf carts used to. Yeah, it doesn't have a steering wheel. It just got kind of a rudder that you turn. Yeah. And I was just like, oh my God. That's hilarious. Yeah.

And just to see him because he is, there's no disguising your Jay Leno-ness. Oh, no. Like he's, Yeah. He's a very remarkable guy. And also, too, this is, and people are always amazingly this, the most beautiful eyes you have ever looked into. You're like Jay's eyes. The most gorgeous, almost like purple blue eyes. Just like absolutely arresting because it's, you know, it's Jay Leno and whatever. And then you, you know, you have to know, it's like,

holy shit. Your eyes are fucking, wow. Like gemstones. Yeah. Well, here's two things I'll say to that. Number one, I didn't see his eyes because when I did the night show with Jay Leno, I didn't have a great set, and he turned his back on me after the show. So I didn't see his eyes. Yeah, yeah. And B, the time that I met Jeff Foxworthy, I could not stop gazing into his eyes. Really?

Because same deal. It's like, you know, you know, if you use your old TV as a stand for your new TV, you might be a redneck. Which, by the way, is a beautiful joke. That's not bad. It's a gorgeous show. That's a gorgeous show. That's not my. No, I know, I know.

I know. And it's beautiful. I mean, those, you might be a redneck. It's like there were some pretty fucking good ones. Well, I think that one is up there with some of Dangerfields, great one-liners. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's like, well, okay, I'm going to meet this hillbilly who does comedy. And then he came into the room and goes, hey, how you doing?

I'm like, holy shit, I can't stop staring at you. Yeah, yeah. Beautiful eyes. Yeah, yeah. Oh, eyes of an angel, Jeff Foxx. Oh, men's eyes. I love staring. Men's eyes.

Dink, d'ink, d'ing, dink. That was a parody of these eyes. Yeah, I know. By the guess who. By the guess who? My pleasure. Oh, the kids love it. They don't.

What, uh, yeah. Never not funny of all the years. Like, what's, uh, like, are there, are there some, like, big, and I hate when people do this to me, but like, are there big, like, are there big nightmare moments where there any kind of disasters or, like, things that happen that were, you know, like. No real disasters. You know, we've had some guests call on the way of there and say they're not going to show up. Yeah, yeah.

The biggest one, and I'm bummed by this was a singer-s singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb. Oh, really? Jimmy Webb was, and we did a night recording for him. Yeah. And I was so excited. Yeah. Growing up, it's like, I love every song that Jimmy Webb's ever written. And it was like, I can't believe Jimmy Webb's going to come and do my show.

This is the greatest. And we're doing like some crazy 8.30 at night recording instead of our noon recording. And I remember it because I lived about 30 minutes south of our studio. And I was driving in going, why is traffic so horrible? is a nightmare. And I'm stuck in traffic and I'm even, I text the guys like, I'm going to be a little late. This is horrible. Yeah. So I get there and we're doing the show and then all of a sudden my phone rings and it's, it's Jimmy Webb. And he's saying, it's his wife saying, hey, we're in the car. We're on our way there. We've been coming from Santa Monica to get to Sherman Oaks.

Yeah. And we've already been to the car for an hour and 15 minutes. I guess we'll get there. And I went, okay, see you soon. And then hung out. I went, no, no, they were. asking for permission to not come. Did you call him back? I called him back immediately and I was on speaker phone and he goes, Jimmy, it's Jimmy Webb. And I said, Jimmy, don't come. I go, I was in that traffic. I know that you don't want. And he's like, oh my God, you're the best. You know what? Next time I'm in town, I'll do the show for sure. Right. Twelve years ago. So that would be the only. Yeah, but who's talking about Jimmy Webb now? His career is in the toilet. He's doing okay financially. He and his lady friend.

That was so disaster. Yeah. You know, I mean, that's not a disaster. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a, um, nobody's storming off in the middle of it. Did you ever make anybody mad? I did once. Did you really?

Yeah, I got mad. And I threw the microphone. I, I, uh, I wasn't being heard and it was driving. It just drove me nuts. Yeah. And so I, well, was it a touchy topic or no. No, something dumb and mundane. No, I just was, you know what it was?

I think we, I think it was we were recording the day after, it could have been the day after the Oscars or the Golden Globe or the Grammys. Yeah, yeah. And I just like, I wanted to talk about that and the two guys were just talking. Yeah. And they just weren't listening. And I, and I, and I, and then they would take a breath. And I would go, okay, so, so, so, Bob, trying to do my job as the host.

Yeah, yeah. And I just, I literally, I, I, I, I threw the microphone in between the two of them. And then took off my headphones. and said, went, God fucking damn it! And then went for a walk around the block. And was that behind the paywall? That, I don't remember, to be honest with you. You got to put that out for people.

It's been out. Yeah, yeah. And somebody made a T-shirt about it. And did they just keep going? No, they went, Matt said to the other guy, that's on you, man. Which is the biggest, like, didn't own any of it. That's hilarious. Yeah.

Way to go, asshole. You made Jimmy mad. And then I came back and, you know, we chit-chated and then we did the show. Right, right. But it was just, you know, so that would be it. There was that. Did anybody else ever walk off? No guest ever walked off.

Yeah. You know, they might have left unhappy. Biggest thrill bookings. Biggest thrill. Well, initially, Paul Riser. Oh, yeah. Because I had idolized Paul, you know, coming up. And then I opened for him.

a couple times back of the 90s. He was very, very nice and kind to me. And so when I did this, it was like, holy shit, I got Paul Reiser. Yeah. And also within the same, I think it was the very next week, Richard Lewis, who is without a doubt my hero. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, he's number one for Johnny Carson and Richard Lewis. Yeah. So when Richard said yes, I'm like, pardon me? Yeah. You know, and then during the pandemic, we were lucky enough to, you know, A, live in California. B, Tommy Shaw of Sticks, Kevin Cronin of REO, Speed Wagon,

and Jimmy Panko of Chicago all came on. Wow. And those are, you know, Chicago Sticks, REO, and Journey, they're my favorite bands. Yeah, yeah. So to have members of those bands on, you know, meant the world to me.

Yeah, yeah. So that would be it. And then I guess, I'd legally Conan. Yeah. I mean, I guess I, I mean. He's been back too, hasn't? Oh, he's on several times. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And, you know, the first time he did it was a thrill. you know, I mean, you know, you and I know him. Yeah. But at the end of the day, he's one of five of the biggest talk show hosts of all time. Yeah. And it's like, well, and he's our friend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's a weird thing.

Yeah. So for me to say having him on my show is a thrill, I mean it, but it's also weird because he's my. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. But, yeah, he's a guy. Yeah. So I guess, I mean, does that, those are all of them. And do you have any big plans for the anniversary? Well, we got the, we're doing a show at Flappers.

Uh-huh. We're doing an eight-hour show. Could be a nine-hour show. I forget how to do math. But it's going to stream live at never not funny.com. And when's that coming out? And that's on April 11th. Okay.

And it starts around either a three or four Pacific time. Okay. And then we'll go until all hours. Yeah. And then 20 guests for 20 years. Oh, nice. And you've done what shows like that in the past for us. Uh-huh.

And, yeah, because you do a benefit marathon. Yeah. And the benefit this year is we're raising money. We're going to be auctioning off science. posters for suicide awareness in honor of my brother-in-law, Andrew Canig, who has since passed away. Yes, yeah. And so we're going to be doing it in his honor because he was our original video producer. Oh, really? So he was a big part of our show. Actually, the whole reason that we started doing video. Yeah. And we were one of the first podcasts to do video. Yeah, I remember meeting him

there. Great guy. Yeah. Great guy. It's sad that he's gone, but we're going to, we're going to honor him with this show. Yeah, nice. Because again, part of the success of this wouldn't be there without him. And is this year, and this is your, so this is your fundraiser this year. Because you've done, didn't you do like 24 hours? We would do 12 to 15 hours. Yeah. For Smile Train. Right, right.

For Smile Train, which is a charity that helps cleft palate. That's correct. Correcting cleft palettes in third world. Yeah. And we've raised close to $2 million for that. Wow. Over the years. You're not a scumbag.

I'm okay. You know what I mean? I'm okay. Just that right there. It's pretty heartwarming at the end of those shows to go, You know, and let's see, you know, almost like Jerry Lewis, let's see the final tout. Yeah, yeah. And then to see, oh, we've raised $165,000.

Yeah. And for the fans to donate that much money. Right. It's so heartwarming. Yeah. And to know that we've done good. And I think it'll be successful this year, too, with these posters and to celebrate Andrew in more, you know, the 20 years. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

All right. Yeah. Well, tune in, people. Yeah. April 11. April 11. And, uh, Jimmyparto.com. Oh, Jimmy part of.

And what time does it start? Again, it's either three or four Pacific. Oh, boy. Where's your entourage to tell you this stuff? You stay in the car. That's what I said to them. And luckily, it's only 97 degrees outside today. Don't you open those windows.

How don't you dare? I don't want that heat getting in here. Oh, well, Jimmy Parto, I love you. Thank you so much for coming in. It's my honor. It's great to see you. And I'll be back next week with more of the three questions. Listen to Never Not Funny.

It's always funny. The three questions with Andy Richter is a team cocoa production. It is produced by Sean Doherty and engineered by Rich Garcia. Additional engineering support by Eduardo Perez and Joanna Samuel. Executive produced by Nick Leow, Adam Sacks, and Jeff Ross. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Battista, with assistance from Maddie Ogden. Research by Alyssa Graal. Don't forget to rate and review and subscribe to the three questions with Andy Richter

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