Michael Che: The Beauty and Chaos Behind SNL
00:02We both were in a position where we took over a beloved white man spot.Yo, one of the only things that kept me going at the Daily Show was seeing the hate that you were getting.You eat pig feet.And they're in the, like, they still look like that.Trevor Noah.Like this.You don't eat no damn pig feet.Yeah, y'all fucking with me.
00:24For real, for real.We wouldn't lie to you.With like a fork in the life?No.Bare hands.Bare knuckle fight.Because it's the bare knuckle.I'm telling you, if you got somebody in your life,
00:36and they want to use your bathroom,and you got you one of them.I'm in.She's going to feel like, this guy's nice.Yeah?He knows how to take care of something delicate.Yeah?Yeah, man.
00:50Absolutely, brother.As she's going to look at you different.For real, for real.For real, for real.Listen, I don't have one book in my house.I got a to-do.They think I'm smart.But we only had the car.
01:02There's an old Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen, as it's American say.I was going to say, you said that, like, no other black man I've ever made.What'd you call it a Hulk?My brain never feels more alive than being on a stage.There's nothing like you.Or killing and bombing.This is What Now with Trevor Noah.The most rock and roll times I've had in comedy like on the comedy like on the
01:34road have been with you.Really?There we go.That's not, I remember the first time I've met this guy.It was like a rock star had just arrived.It was a big deal.We were in Melbourne.Yeah.
01:48And I was doing good.I thought I was doing great until I found out what great was.And I remember being in the back of that some venue.It was like a rock venue.It was a beautiful venue.I was in the back.There was all these girls there.What?
02:02And, man, I remember.You see how you guys are.Don't act like you don't know, Trevor.No, he doesn't remember.I can...He remembers.I've brought this up to about 40 times.But I wish, you see.
02:13All these girls, all these beautiful girls standing in the back,and I'm trying to talk to each and everyone, and they were all entertained me, and then the lights went dark.The lights went dark.That motherfucker, Trevor Noah got on that stage.Oh man, they was giving me their ID.They thought I was the bouncer.It was over.It was over.
02:32I was like, oh, Lord.Lord, who is this guy?And the roar, the crowd, everybody was loud,was like, man, I got a lot to learn about this international scene.I was saying to Eugene, I was like,one of the greatest gifts and curses of success,especially at a moment in time,you know, you're talking about the 30 guitarist in one place,
02:53you do realize there was a moment where it was me,you, Hannibal Burris, Ronnie Chang,and I feel like I'm missing two or three other comedianswe were all just like in the same placeall at a festivalall like on a showcaseand everyone was saying the same thingabout the other comedian
03:12they were like yo do you knowyou know Michaelman Michael's gonna beyeah you know you do you know Hannibaloh Hannibal's gonnaand it was I didn't know anybodythey didn't know mewe didn't we didn't know
03:21and we were all just comedians on the roadperforming for a monthdo you know how it is at the festivalsI remember watchingI remember watching you and I was likehow is this guy so cleanhow he's so comfortableBecause you make comedy feel like Tai Chi.
03:38Yeah, it makes it look easy.What?Does that make sense?No, I've never heard that before.Yeah, you make comedy feel like Tai Chi.Effortless.So like, I watch you on stage and I'm like, damn, this guy, oh, I don't know you could fightlike that.
03:52Holy.I didn't know you could.You're just like, I'm like a boxer.I'm like, I think it's a different thing.I think it's like, I feel the opposite of that.I feel frantic and nervous.I feel like I'm a ball of like nerves.Yeah, but the way you perform,
04:11I'll never forget the first time I saw you.I'll never forget you.I'll never forget Hannah.Because it was, it was, I'm always grateful for itbecause it's always cool to be part of a cool moment.Does that make sense?It's always nice to be like,whatever festival we were at, whatever.
04:29One was in Canada.I don't remember the detail.Montreal?Man, we got, we got wasted that night.Montreal.You're weird.Michael was like,where are we going after the show?
04:37I was like,I'm going to my hotel room.He's like, man, what bullshit?You just killed.You're going to go in.Who said they're going to a hotel room?I was like, you know me.Michael was like, come on.
04:47No, I ran out.I ran out on Trevor a couple times.We was in New York a few times,but I ran into you a few timesand a few clubs and stuff.Trevor, don't let Trevor fool you.No, no.Can I tell you this story?
04:59Don't let Trevor fool me.Actually.Trevor be outside, yo.No, actually.I've never been so glad that you are here.You're going to explain someone.Yo, let me tell you the greatest, this is one of my greatest Michael Chase.You know, this whole episode can just be Michael Chase stories that I've got.
05:13Yo, one of my favorite Michael Chase stories.This is to show you how different we are in the world, right?So, Michael had, I'm trying to think, had you started at S?I'm not sure if you had started at SNL or not, but I know you had already blown up on the daily show.Okay.And everyone was like, so I'd known you from.stand-up. You join the daily show and people were like, there's this lightning bolts.Michael Charles, like, yeah, we know him from stand-up. I knew Michael. We had gone out in Montreal.
05:43We had too much fun. I was like, this is, I know, I love this guy. Love this guy. Love this guy.I love this guy. I love this guy. Right. Because when I saw Michael, I was like, okay, I'm livingmy life. So, one night in New York, one night in New York. You're so full of shit.One night in New York, we go out with friends, we go to the club. Now, this is something I have towork on. I will work on this in therapy. But like, I, you know how I am. I always treatmyself the way I always was,not the way that I currently may be.Yeah. So I'm in the
06:09club in general populationto do anything. Then whathappens is, then what happens isthe owner... He said generalpopulation. It is general population.The owner of the club... Luckily, he didn't saywith the civilians. The owner of the clubcomes and goes, yo,
06:25um,do you guys want to come into the VIPsection, whatever I was? So I'm like,I mean, I get, I don't know, but I, okay, II'm new in New York.So who's you guys?Me and a few random friends.I forget who it even was, right?
06:39Yes, yes.So we go to the VIP section.But now we're there for free.We have not paid for anything.We have no bottle service.We have none of the amenities of VIP.We're merely in VIP.Okay?
06:50This is, by the way, this is like the best club in New York.This is like the bomb.This is like the spot.And at its peak.At its peak.Yeah, at its peak.This was like, yeah.While we're there, I start getting into it.
07:02I'm like, yo, this is nice.I see why people do VIP.Yeah, yeah.This is a nice feeling.Yeah, what's there?What's going on?And what happens is the people who are in general pop,they now look at you.
07:14Oh, so they can see you?Yeah, that's the whole point of VAT.Oh, yeah, you're sitting on the couch and just the best?So people look at you like...Is it a curtain like business class?No, no, no, no, no, no.Sorry.So wait, wait, wait, so the...
07:29They got peanuts and everything, you know, it's awesome.They got live TV.So down there's penis,Up there's penis.It's just, no.They give you a blanket.It's amazing.It's going to blow your mind, bro.
07:43So everyone's looking.Everyone's like, I want to join.I want to be part of it.So then.Oh, fuck, Michael.Man, I'm talking about like we're like at our peak.Yeah.We're like, you know, you start feeling your stuff.
08:01The VIP starts getting into you.You know what I mean?Then somebody comes over and goes like, hey, these ladies would like to join your table.I'm like, oh, are you asking us?Oh, please, please, of course, please join.So they come stand there with now.Because some people just want to stand at a VIP table.This is a thing that happens.
08:19I didn't know this.They just stand there.Be part of the, yeah.I am in heaven.An hour goes by.Now, just to put in perspective, this is around like 10 p.m.See, this is just.your problem.
08:34Yes.First of all, you're there way too early.That's what I was about to say.You're already there way, way, way, way too early.Guys, that's a good to work.The next day.For a time, like, two o'clock, like, in those days.I don't know what it is now.
08:45So we get, we get, we get there right, around 10.I want to say midnight half-past 12,just when I'm feeling myself,the owner or somebody, like the manager actually,walks over,whispers something in our friend who like works sort of with sort of like it's like a promoter guy who soand he like whispers something to him and then he comes to a you know what if person's faces like changedyeah like you know so they're basically like this with you then someone goes they do that thing
09:18yeah yeah so the guy's like yo um they they say we got to we've got to move so I'm like oh whatmore ladies are coming to they're like no no noWe have to move out of the VIP.You got rejected.So I go, what do you mean we have to move out of the VIP?They go, yeah, somebody has purchased this table now.And so you guys have to leave.Is that person in the room?
09:44So I go, no, so I'm like.Because you could get revenge now.No, no.I'm like, I'm like, purchased.I'm like, yeah.So I'm like, wait, but we bought some drinks.They're like, no, no, no, no.They're like, you can take your drink.
10:00And you can go stand where you were.But the table is gone.So now pride obviously kicks in.So I'm like, wait, what if we want to buy the table?How much is it for a table?And the person was like, oh, it's going to be 10 grand for the table.Then I was like, I'll pick up my drinks.And you'll find me.
10:21And I leave.And this was, you know what, comedy couldn't have been more perfect in its timing.As I'm leaving.that as I'm leaving that sectionall of me and my boys being ushered out.What happened to the girls?Oh, no, no, they quickly saw all of the label.Yeah, yeah, they're part of the club.
10:37Yeah, they are.They are.So they have no affinity to you whatsoever.They basically like stop looking at us when this happened.Yeah, yeah, yeah.They come with the club.And we walk out and as we're walking outthe new owners of the table,
10:56the people who actually purchased it are walking in.And it's my.Michael Chey.Man.Guys, I've never been so embarrassed,happy, confused, excited.Excited all at the same time.Because on the one hand, I was like,
11:14oh, man, Michael is kicking me off this table.On the other hand, I was like,it's my friend Michael Jay!I was like, my friend Michael Cheek him by a table.On the other hand, I was like,yo, I guess I have to move for my friend Michael Chey.I was like, because I was like,I don't know what club dynamics are.
11:29We were in a comedy club, I'd be like, oh shit, Michael, can I hang with you?I was like, I don't know what the rules are.What are the rules?No, because he also walked in with a crew of people.I just, I don't know the rules.Oh, yeah?I don't know the rules.Wait, so when he walked in, was he like, yo, Trevor, where you go?
11:42No, no, I was saying?No, no, no, you were very kind.No, no.He was very, he was dope.Wait, did he say, yo, Trevor, where are you going?Yeah, when we were walking out.Then he turned and he's like, yo, he's like, yo, he's like, yo, this, he's like,yo, what are you doing?
11:53Yeah.Then I was like, oh, we were at the...Then he's like, why are you leaving?Then I was like, no, we're not leaving.We didn't pay for a table.And the table you just paid for is the table we were at.Then Michael just looked at me.And then he just started chuckling.
12:07But like...Like a mischievous joke.Dude, like, he just started chuckling at me.Well, because I knew it was like, literally,there's no reason that you should be in that position.Again, like you said, you don't use all your superpowers.So you was kind of like being...when you should have been like,
12:24I'm Trevor,motherfucker,no,no,what a waste of.No.No,and then Michael.
12:30Trevor's use of celebritysuperpower is likethe first hour of Hancock.Like,why are you drunk?Why are you sleeping?Go shave,where's food?
12:43Perfect.Jesus,almost spout.Is that,all right now,is that a comedy thingor is that just a use?Yeah,
12:48tell us more.Because I think a lot ofcomedians are very reluctantto be superstars.to be superstars and to be celebrities.And I think the ones that aren't reluctant are usually not that good.But for the most part, I think, I mean, obviously there's a difference.So, okay, I think part of it is the comedian.
13:09And this is something I've always loved about comedians is if you think of the best comedians in the world,the best comedy clubs in the world, the only thing that separates Dave Chappelle from a phenomenal comedian that nobody knows,is the fact that people know Dave Chappelle.And when you see Dave Chappelle in a comedy club,the respect, no, but I'm saying the respectthat he gives that comedian,you're right.Nobody would think he would give that comedian
13:38that level of respect.You're right.Dave will fan out over a comedianas if they're Davein a way where you go like,what is happening right now?Yeah, it's bonkers.You get what I'm saying?
13:49Like Louis C.K. would do it.You name it.Kevin Hart would do it.It doesn't matter how big a comedian is.If they're with another comedianin the club, they're with comedians in the club.Yeah.They'll look at you and they'll go, man, I just watch,
14:02yo, that shit was, where are you from?What's your, that line, that tag, that moment.It's this weird thing in comedy where your statusisn't only defined by how well we know youbecause we know that you're one moment away from beingthe most well known.Yeah.That moment can be anytime.
14:22Anytime.Yeah, and it's weird how much, like even as comedians,Because, like, if we played basketball, the amount of years we'd have to play basketball to play with LeBron or to play with, you know, Shaq or whoever is like 20, 30 years, you know, like maybe, you know, by the time you get to that level.But in comedy, we're all playing the same clubs and we're all in the same cities and we're all kind of running into each other.So you could be two, three, four years in and be amongst your hero.guys 30, 40 years in comedy.The greats, and they could watch your setand they could learn something from it
15:02or they could take something fromor they could compliment you for it.And you're like, I can't believeyou're even paid attention to me.You should be in another.It'd be like if Stevie Wonder just droppedinto some small bar and it's like,oh, you're an amazing singer.
15:15You're like, what?You know, it's the craziest thing in the world.Do you remember the first time that happened to you?There's got to be, I feel like every comedian has that momentor they remember a few instances.I've had a few moments where,I thought, like, great comedians didn't like me.Oh.
15:32And then not to be messy.It's not messy because I realized that they did.It just...I just didn't know.Like, sometimes I think, like...I'm sure you know, but sometimes, like...You could be doing comedy and people would be like,oh, man, you're good or I like your shit or whatever.
15:50And then also you could be doing comedyand, like, the room gets a little silent.And you're like...What I do?Yeah, yeah.Does everybody hate me?Like, you think they hate you, but they don't hate you.They might even be thinking about you.
16:02But you feel it.You feel something.And you're like, I don't, I guess they don't like me.But, you know, after, after, you know, it's like dogs in a dog park, you know, you sniffaround each other or you, you know, there's a little bit of, it's that kind of thing.It's just I'm trying to get familiar.I'm trying to understand what's going on.Because you could have hype.
16:21Like, I would have like hype or you, you know, you know, you know about hype, right?So like, there'll be time.where it seems like, you know, is this guy real?Oh, that's funny, but it's really funny.You really want to see, you're skeptical.The first thing you think is you're skeptical.And then after a while, you're like, okay, I do like, uh, yeah, I like you.And then it's, and then it's warm, but it starts off cold.
16:45It can.You never felt that way.No, I think you're 100% correct.That part I acknowledge.There's a, there's a skepticism, there's a suspicion, there's like a,And it's, yeah, I don't know what it is, but to your point,comedians will generally go, who?Yeah.
17:02Really?How come I've never heard of him?Where's this person from?Where did they come up from?What's their story?What's their vibe?What's their...But what I have found is very, very quickly...
17:12Like I told you, like Joe, Opio, our friend, this guy was fresh from Uganda.And the first time I saw this human being, I didn't know him.First time I saw him, he was giving Louis C.K.At the comedy seller, and Louis was listening.That's what blew my mind.So I was going, I don't know who this person is.I know Louis C.K.And Louis, can I give you a tag?
17:34Oh, so that joke, that you were...And I was like, what is happening?And Louie is like, oh, yeah, that's funny, man.Oh, Dad, that's a nice idea.And I was like, who is this person?But I was more surprised that Louis wasn't like going like, who are you?Louis is sort of an anomaly in that way.I remember being at SNL.
17:51And the only reason why I'm telling this,I don't like telling like SNL storiesbecause I'll explain later, but I've heard him tell this story.That's why I feel comfortable enough to say it.But he was hosting us enough for like maybe the third or fourth time.And I was maybe a second year writer.And I remember his monologue was too long, the part in the front, you know, like the stand-up part.It was about 12 minutes, and Lauren wanted it about eight minutes or something.
18:19And Louis, you know, Louis's Louis.He's at the height of his powers.He's like, I don't know.It's just bulletproof.Like, I've, you know, done this.So at dress rehearsal, we have a meeting where we have to, like, figure out time for the show.Right.And Lauren's like, we got to get that to eight minutes.
18:35And he's like, what if I don't want to?And he's like, well, then I realize you're not professional or some cold Lauren shit.So he's like, so Michael Che is going to go with you in your dressing room and listen to it again and just, you know, figure out where the cuts are.And I'm sitting there like, I'll do what?So I had to go in Louis C.K.'s dressing room and listen to his set.And see out where the cuts are.And find out where the cots.Me, I'm going to tell Louis, I think you, I don't think you need that joke.
19:06But he was so, I think he realized how awkward of a space that was for me.Okay, great, right, right, right.That he was like, he was cool about it.He was, like, asking me legitimately as a friend because he could have been like, get the fuck out of my dressing room.Yeah, like, and I would have been like, I totally understand.I feel the same way.Yeah, yeah.You figure it out on your own, Mr. Genius.
19:27But no, I'll never forget that.He was cool enough to be like, what do you think about this?So maybe I don't need that.Like, he was a pro.Like, he handled it great.And I always been thankful about that because he could have made that real awkward for me.But that's what I think the great comedians do.Yeah.
19:44And I mean, so here's what I mean, right?Because comedy is not a learned profession in aLike you don't go to school for itNobody has a PhD in comedyThey'll tryYeah, but I've heardI've seen some universities have like aI've never seen a comedian come out of that program
20:02They have programsYou can go study comedyBut I've never seen anybody come out of those programsDoes that make sense?YeahWowThat's a hard thing to teachThat's like learning porn
20:16It's like a little hard thing.The faculty for that.I studied my major in pole.Because the theory is one thingand understanding it is another thing.But it's like, yeah, there's the small,I feel like every discipline has thatwhere it relies on a little bit of creativity
20:39and unpredictability.So basketball has it.Like, you can learn how to play basketball,but Iverson does a thing where you're like,What is that?Yeah, it's feels.And then Kyrie Irving does a thing where you're like,well, what is that, though?
20:51That is, is that correct?I don't even know what that is.Comedy has that.Music has that.Right?I think a lot of it is because it's so much relies on your ears and eyes.It's really hard to teach someone how to listen and how to see.So like on stage, like there's three shows going on usually,
21:12about two or three shows going on.There's the show that you're doing.And then there's kind of a show you're why.There's that show that you're sort of like, all right, what am I going to hit them with?Okay, how would they respond to the show?You know, it's almost like a whole other voice.You're talking about you're talking about.I'm on autopilot for like five minutes, just trying to reassess how I'm going to land this last 20 minutes of the show.
21:32I'm trying to figure it out.And you can't, it's really hard to teach that.You kind of got to have almost a sixth sense for it, you know.It's a field thing.It's hard to tell someone how to do that.Like the basketball players, you're mentioning, I always feel like, I always feel like,like the guys that talentednever make great coaches
21:50because it's hard forAlan Iverson to teach you how to be Alan Iverson.But somebody that's likea gritty, scrappywhite guard, you know what I mean? That knowsall the fundamentals and all of the...Those guys are great coaches.They'll tell you exactly how to... They'll break it down into
22:06like steps. They know exactly how to do that.But the athletic guys, likehow do you teach Kobe to be Kobe?It's impossible.Before I forget, I want to know, like, where you were going to say,So why you were about to tell us why you don't like telling stories from SNL?Because SNL is such a vulnerable place for everybody.Like for us, we work there.
22:27We're there all the time.We're comfortable.And like people would ask, like, who's the worst and who's the best?And I'm like, it's really not fair to say who's, to judge somebody based on their time there.Because they're there for a week.It's scary.It's fast.There's no other show like it.
22:45So there's no way to prepare for it.so unless you just do it all the time.Right.So if somebody, if a star, if you're hosting SNLand you don't trust the table read,you don't think it's funny.Oh, damn, okay.You don't trust the rehearsals and the run-thrus.
23:04Like, you don't know the process,so why would you trust it?Especially if you don't do comedy at all.Especially if you don't do comedy at all.But also, if you do comedy, it's even worse.Actually, it's even worse if you do comedybecause you know how to make people laugh.know your type of funny.
23:17So if somebody's showing you something like, trust me, it's going to work and you don'tfind it funny, but you got to do it live on television, you're like, you're going to makeme look stupid.People are going to say, I'm not funny now.Now, if you're an ass leader doesn't matter.If you're an actor, you're like, oh, whatever, I just trust whoever's funny.But if you're Louis C.K., if you're a big comedy star and you're trusted, you'retrusting these scripts, it's scary.
23:41Yeah, so like a lot of times people are, they have a rough go, but it's not because they'rebad people is just because it's a scary, you know, situation.Yeah, I love that.So you're basically going, I want to protect their experience in the institution becauseI understand that it's not as simple as.Exactly.Yeah, okay.Exactly.
24:01So there's a lot of people that after the show, they're like, man, thank you so much.Or man, that was crazy.That was because you guys do this every week.Like, they're shocked by what the process is.It's not a natural process.But you see it enough that you're like, I can't.judge you for being a dick that Thursday.I would be sleep deprived.
24:21You know what I mean?Like you're like, I don't know.I get it.What's the process?What does it look like during the weekend till Saturday?So Monday, you meet the cast and the, as from a host perspective, for Monday, you'remeeting all these people.You're meeting all of the writers.
24:35You're meeting long.You're meeting everybody.You know, they're kind of showing you around.Tuesday, everybody pitches you ideas.Everybody's like telling me what they're actually working on.And then you go to dinner with a couple of cast members in Lorne.Wednesday is our table read.It's about, it's like a seven, eight hour day where we're just reading like 40 sketches.
24:57Damn.Some bad ones, some great ones, whatever.But that's when we pick the show.From picking the show Wednesday, Thursday, we're rewriting and we're rehearsing it and blocking it.Friday, you're doing pretapes, usually a daytime pre-tap and a nighttime pre-tap.And then in the middle of the day, you're doing more.blocking. So those are the sketchesthat we'll see that maybe will be like a music
25:19video or... Just the ones that are live in front of the audience.Yeah, yeah, okay, okay. Cool. Movie trailers,or that kind of thing, like the actual video stuff. Those happenon Friday. Those happen on Fridays. And thenSaturday, now mind you might, your last pre-tap might be four in amorning, three in the morning, two in the morning. It goes very late.By 11, 12 o'clock, you're doing another rehearsal, a run-through rehearsal.which is like fully dressed,
25:47then a dress rehearsal,and then the live show.So the blitzkrieg of that weekis like, you're going to be frantic.Yeah.And it's like you're planning,I always say like it feels like we're planningsomeone else's wedding every time
26:00because this is a very special day for them,but we're coming back.Yeah, you'll be back.But for them, this is their moment.This means everything.That's a great analogy, actually.I like that.So you're trying to make it as special as possible
26:12for them and as comfortable.And, you know,This could be a beautiful woman normally.You would know.But during her wedding, she's, what they call them, Zillah's Godfiel.Oh, yeah, bright Zilla.Yeah, yeah, Bright Zilla.They're not bad people.
26:27They just want this to work.You know what I mean?And I kind of understand the stress of that.So that's why I don't like to shit on people when they're shitty.I don't need you to shit on anyone.But this is, you know, I always go back and forth on like who's listening to us and not.And what's connected where and how algorithm.literally yesterday.
26:47This has never been on my feed.This has never come up.I don't understand why this popon my YouTubea video of you.Telling Kanye.Telling of Kanye.Did that come on my feet as well?
26:58How?Yo, you're lying.Literally today, for some reason,it's been coming up a lot lately.I don't know.I don't know.We didn't even speak about this.No, we didn't.
27:05You see, I didn't knowthat you saw it as well.Well, that's another.I see like that video,I don't know who taped that.I don't know where that came from.I never talked.about it, nobody ever mentioned it, and then all of a sudden, it's just everywhere.
27:18And I'm like, where, I would never said none of that stuff on a camera.Yeah, but that's what it felt.To me, you didn't see someone was filming.No, I did, I had no idea, and I've never seen anything from backstage.Yeah, SNL.Whatever.Yeah.And then I went back and watched like a documentary on that moment or like, I saw clips.
27:36I was like, what is happening?But that moment, I was like, damn, Michael Chey, like, this is behind, this is the shitthat you want to handle behind the scenes.and then all of a sudden it isin front of this themeyeah but how does it come out like seven yearsyeah why is it out now?I have no clue
27:51I don't knowno clue where who whatI have nopeople were telling me about itthat's how I found out about itbut I will saythe other part of thatthat I don't think is in that
28:02because I've never watchedthe documentaryit just feelsit just felt like a reallykind of shitty thingto just put out that waybut I meanI feel like if you're
28:10taping people at workyou should get some kind of consentforright?You can't just tape me in my raw stage.Damn.But I will say, though, the next time I saw him,you know, it was funny because...
28:26This is really funny.It was funny because I really didn't like Kanye after that.Like, I really didn't like him.I was, like, done with that guy.And I remember there was a mass shooting, Dayton, Ohio.And I was at Dave's house.He was doing a charity show.And he had, like, Stevie Wonder.
28:44He had all these people that he was bringing Kanye.And he was like, I'm picking up Kanye from the airport.I want you to...He goes, I want you to come with me to pick him up.We're going to bury the hatchet with this Kanye thing.You know how Dave is.Yeah, I know what Dave is.That's Dave.
29:01We're going to bury a hatchet.And I was like, he called me a slave.And he was like, I'll see you when I get back.I see you when I get back, Pam.I was like, I could never forgive that guy.He called me a fucking slave.But anyway, long story short, he did the Sunday service day.It was amazing.
29:25I mean, he's Kanye for a reason.Yeah, yeah, yeah.And Eddie Murphy hosted SNL.And everybody was there.Like, literally, I don't even know what I do that, but everybody.Remember that Black Panther premiere we went to with everybody?It was like that.It was like that.
29:42Everybody was black in Hollywood was there.in New York at the time.And Kanye was there.And I was working a lot on that.Ed Murphy Show was like a stressful show.And I was kind of, it was like probably like one of my first headwriter episodes.So I was like, one of the first episode.Yeah, it was like a lot going on.
30:00And I seen Kanye in a hallway.And he was walking with, you know, Kim and some big old entourage.He's coming out of the elevators.And he sees me from across.We've seen each other at the same time.I'm holding like two different scripts.He was like, I'm sorry.And I was like, what?
30:19And he came up.He was like, man, I owe you an apology, man.I was tripping.Like, he literally, like, genuinely, like, came up to me and said, I'm sorry.And I was like, it's all good, brother.Don't worry about it.And that was that.And I was like, I can't be mad at somebody that apologizes and acknowledges.
30:37After that, more things have happened.More things have happened.I'm sure he owes a lot more of apologies now.But for that specific thing, to me it was just like, as Kanye, as somebody that's Kanye,and as somebody that has that much going on in their mind and that much creativity and that much power and money and influence,to even take the time to apologize to anybody.Because if he didn't apologize, I'm still going to do my job.Like, you know what I mean?
31:08He doesn't have to apologize.So, like, to me, that meant a lot just in his humanity.Sometimes you could just see that humanity, no matter who you are.Like, if you can't say sorry in a certain situation, you know, you're really losing the plot.Yeah, for me with him, and I don't say this trying to diagnose him.I know he's spoken about bipolar and manic depression and all of those things.He always reminded me of my grandfather.Interesting.
31:33Like, that was 100% my grandfather.Did your grandfather make sneakers?Did he make amazing?Amazing Snickers.Oh, man.Comedians will be the death of me, bro.So,my grandfather,
31:54literally when he was diagnosed with his bipolar,he'd have a red pill and a blue pill.And he would have to choose one.No, man, you're lying now.No, it's 100%.And this is like before the Matrix.Not even like a, that's literally what they prescribed.He'd have a red pull and a blue pool
32:07and they were each and two different bottles.And so if he woke up like manic,blue pilland then if he woke up likesuper depressed red pilland it would get him to normalso we had like those types of experienceswith him all the time
32:23so even when Kanye would be like goingI kept saying to people I was like oneI don't understand why we all talkabout mental health and societybut then when somebody's showing usthe effects of a mental health issuewe're not now respondingbecause everyone would be like mental health
32:36mental health then I'm like yeah but here's somebodywho has said himselfand I'm going as well like yeah I agreehe doesn'ta mental health issue, why are we giving him more mics?Why are we, does that make sense?Oh, totally.Like if someone's having a breakdown, why are you putting a mic in their mouth?
32:50Why are you encouraging the breakdown?Why are you amplifying the breakdown, you know?For celebrity, it's different.You know, I think a lot of times, I mean, we could talk about this for hours, the mentalhealth thing in particular, maybe I'm cynical, but I do believe people don't like to have honestconversations about mental health because then you have to start forgiving a lot of people youdon't want to forgive.Yeah.
33:22And you have to start forgiving a lot of things that you want to hold on to that you feelwrong.And that thing, sometimes just not liking somebody is enough.You've personalized it so much, even if it's not a personal attack, but like you'veinternalized and personalized it so much that you don't want to.to give that up. You don't want to forgive Kanye for, or anybody. I don't want to keep usinghim, but like, you don't want to forgive people for having these episodes and what they saidthat hurt you because then that means your, you don't have the ammo for your cause,
34:00you know, whatever that may be. Yeah, but I think also people with mental health issues,with forgiving people with mental health issues, a slippery slope sometimes. Oh, yeah. If it's an artist,if it's someone that you love, someone that you care about in your family,you're like, yeah.But if it's a world leader that started a warand then they come out and say,but I also, I had mental issues, man.You know, when I started that war in 1954,
34:22yeah, it wasn't me.It wasn't, if I had medication, I probably wouldn't have done it.So we start thinking, are we going to forgive?If we want to forgive one person that we like and love and reverebecause they bring us art,would we forgive someone who's a villain in history as well?Well, my thing is if there's, when there's,when people ask for forgiveness or when there's like
34:43there's usually like a time I was going,I was having these episodes and when they're not having these episodes,I don't think that time is used smartly.Without naming names of anybody,I do think there are times,if you've had these sort of episodes where you have said really hurtful thingsor done some hurtful things or whatever,when you're better,
35:09maybe you should be at the forefront of educating peopleknow what went wrong with youso that we could understandand we can forgive and we could figure outokay the next time this happensif you're a...Yeah, how do we...If you're a werewolf.
35:25I understand what you didwhen the moon is out.But when the sun is out,you got some explaining this.That's how I feel sometimes.I feel like sometimes when the sun's,they're like, what?What are you talking about?
35:36I don't remember nothing.Yeah, Bruce Ben and the house.Yeah, but we do.Yeah, we remember what you did.We remember what happened.So I think, you know, if you want people to continue to support you and you want people to have sympathy for you, when the sun's out, you need to start explaining, okay, here's exactly what happened. Here's how I feel. And I appreciate you guys sticking with me through this because these guys are having these episodes. And I'm not, I don't know what I can't know what that's like because I don't have those conditions. I could imagine that it's really, really difficult.It's crazy because the way I understand it is, and again, I'm only using my grandfather'sexperience, but I know other people who have similar things.
36:20It is like Bruce Banner and the Hulk.You wake up going, what did I do?Wait, nah, that's not possible.It was really one of my favorite stories because no one got hurt or anything.My grandfather, at the time, he's like 80-something years old or whatever.He takes my mom's car.We only had the car.There's an old Volkswagen beetle Volkswagen, as Americans say.
36:43I was going to say, you said that like, no other black man I've ever made.What did you call it, a Hulk Hogan?How you said that?It's a Volkswagen.Yeah.Yeah, so with a Volkswagen.The Volkswagen.Yeah, the Volkswagen.
37:02Yeah, it's the car of the people.Yeah, folks.Yes, the car of the people.A folks wagon.That's what it means.That's what it means.I did not know that.Yeah.
37:09It's the Volkswagen.It was meant to be there, like, answer to like the Model T type in its time.It was like, how do we make a car that everyone can drive?That's super cheap.That's really efficient.What made it special was it also wasn't liquid cooled.It was oil cooled.So it was also good on the battlefield.
37:24Because when you're driving through like the desert.Yeah, but it also just meant like in terms of maintenance.It was easier.And also loved by the Nazis.I mean, yeah.I mean, now we have to like pause.Thanks, Eugene.So.
37:39You don't like.sponsors do, you know?I see this is an independentoperation.Move us out.Hey, guys, come on, man.So,so my grandfather,
37:52my mom would ask him to help with errands,you know,and the house and everything,so during the week.So my grandfather wakes up when he,manic, full on manic.And when he's manic,he was like,
37:59run out, he's like,he called me master.So he'd be like,master,master, let me tell you something,master.Oh, it was a race thing.So he was like,
38:07to me,like, he was like to,to me, you're white.But only when he was manic.When he was normal, he was like, no, you're my grandson.When he was manic, he was like, he called me master.It's tough.Crazy, crazy time.
38:19So he was like, master, let me tell you something, master.You know, so he grabs the car.My mom's like, yo, we need some bread and milk.So he said to mom, he's like, don't tell me what to do.You cannot tell me what I'm out.And it's like, we just need bread and milk, man.Just get some bread and milk.So he goes, he's like going to go to the shops.
38:34Drives this in the morning.I send him to store like that.Man.Hey, man.You know what?You know what it's like.I don't.No, no, no.
38:41Come on.Come on.Come on.We're not, Michael, we need shit done.Michael, we need shit done.Michael, that was irresponsible.Michael, we need shit done.Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
38:52Your personality is not determining your ability to do or not do something.Oh, man.Michael, let me tell you something.I don't know what I was like in the hood here.I don't know what I was like in the hood here.But where we're from, your disposition does not determine whether or not you're going to participate.Fair enough.Fair enough.
39:05We're like, yo, we know you're crazy.Go do some shit.Fair enough.I see a lot of crazy people in the supermarket.There you go.Somebody sent them.So, we were like, yeah, somebody sent them.Put on your bath, row.
39:16Get that milk.I got you.I got you.Yeah.You're talking to yourself?Go talk with this list in the grocery store.Remind yourself what to buy.Let's go.
39:25Let's keep it moving.Put an earpiece in.People take you on the phone.We'll be fine.So my grandfather goes, drives out.This is 7.38 a.m.7.8 a.m.We need this for breakfast.
39:38He drives off.Takes you with.No, he's gone by himself.Hour goes by, doesn't come back.Now we gotta leave school, everything.Yeah.So my mom, but she's working from home at that time.So anyway, it goes, I come back from school.
39:52My mom's flustered, like, what's wrong?She's like, your grandfather didn't come back.I'm like, guys, the shop is like a five-minute drive away.She's like, yeah, he didn't come back.You know, I shouldn't.And she's like, I shouldn't have said.I knew he was manic, but I thought it wasn't there.Anyway, he's gone.
40:04There's no cell phones.There's none of these things.He's just gone.We get a phone call.call on the house phone at like 8, 9 p.m. at night.Yo, is this the Noah resident?Mom's like, yeah.Oh, we have a man here.
40:17Temperance.Do you know?He's like, yeah, that's my father.I was like, oh, we found him.Now, to give you perspective in terms of, like, distance, if we lived in New York, we're gettingthis call from like, let me think, maybe like the other side of Connecticut, maybe even like.Albany.Yeah.
40:32No, no, Albany is a little too far.How many hours is Albany?Albany is Albany.I was like four hours, maybe?Yeah.No, we got a call from like a two-hour away kind of place.Yeah, yeah.We're like, what do you mean?
40:41They're like, yo, this man is here.We found him on the side of the road with this car and he had run out of gas.And yeah, and then he was just like sitting there.In the car?Yeah, just and we're like, yo, where are you from?And then he like slowly started speaking again.He's like, okay, here's a phone number.You can call, whatever?
41:00And then we were like, can you help?We'll come.And we went and picked him up.And then he's just there.And now, it's tough, but it's funny though as well, because he wasn't hurt.Nothing was, so we go there.We have to, like, catch taxis to go and get him.And not taxis, like, cool taxis.
41:15Like, buses.Like buses, essentially.We take a few buses to get to this place.We finally get there.We pick him up.And then the whole, now he's just sitting in the car like this.Because you have crashes.That's how it works.
41:28And this is the thing that always, like, got me with Kanye.I was like, people take for granted how in those episodes,one of the only things that helps youis the rock bottom.You have to lose everything.You have to crash out.You have to run out of gas on the side of the road.And then what happens is the episode subsides.
41:46But if you have $50 million...And less amount of gas in the car.You're going to drive forever.You're not going to stop.And that's what I mean.So it's this thing.So literally we're driving back nowand like he's in the car.
41:59And then he's like...And he's like, I'm sorry.I'm sorry, Trevor.I'm like, no, it's fine, great.And then Mom was like, it's not fine.The whole day.And then the story was, what happened was he drove to the store,got to the store to buy the bread and milk.
42:13Got the bread and milk.On the way back, he saw a beautiful woman at a bus stop.Like a 30-year-old type woman, pulls over at the bus stop,leans out the window, says to her, he's like, he goes,how can a beautiful woman like you be waiting for a bus?A beautiful woman should never be waiting for anything.Then he's like, where are you going?She's like, I'll tell you where I'm going.
42:34He's like, let me take you there.And because he's like 100 years old, he's not a threat or anything.She gets in the car with him.He drives her to where she's going, which is like an hour and a half away,gets, then drops her off.Then he's there.Then he's just like, where else are the beautiful women?You're like, drives around that whole neighborhood, drives.
42:51Then runs out of gas and then just sits in the car until his episode faded.And then we're there in the car.And then, yo, my mom was furious.She's like, you know, you don't know, I work hard.And remember the gas, that's the main thing for my mom.Like, you finish the tank of gas.We can't afford that.And on a beetle, that's very hard to do.
43:10And my mom is just like, yo, you know what you've done?What, what, what, what?He's like, what do you have to say for her?What do you have to say?And then he's like, she was so beautiful.I'm sorry.She's like, she was so beautiful.Yeah, bro.
43:23And I'm there.Dude, and I was like, this is the funniest shit ever.No, no.No, it was.That's a sweet story.It was funny, but.Yeah, but that explains why we never have rock and roll.moments with beautiful girls backstage.
43:36You're saying I'm bromantizing.No, dude, I just, I don't know.I think, I think, you know what it is for me?Here's what, here's what gets me sometimes in the world.And I think part of it comes from my comedy brain.I think you'll understand this and so will you.I find most comedians, most comedians, especially good comedians,have the ability to spot reality versus what people say reality is.
44:03and those incongruenciesoften throw us off so muchthat we're like, I can't ignore that.Man, I want to let this go,but these two things do not make sensein the same world, right?So in this whole world of it,I think what happened to me with the Kanye
44:22with the whole thing wasit just felt like,I would go, we live in a societywhere everyone talks about rehabilitation,no incarceration,let's get people, we don't want people in prisons,we want them rehabilitated,we want to figure this thing.
44:36But when it actually happens...Yeah, no understand.The thing everyone is saying is put them in jail,send them away, lock them up,don't let them come.Then I'm like, yo, but what...It seems like you want rehabilitationin a theoretical sense.
44:49But when you actually know a perpetrator,you're like, no, no, not them.Yeah, yeah.Then I'm like, okay, but then who?Where do we start the journey?And again, I'm not saying no accountability.Because people say, what about accountability?No, I'm not saying no accountability.
45:01But I would just like us to...practice the rehabilitation that we want on the theoretical side when there's an actual example for us.So can pets like dogs have mental health issues?I don't know.I'm not an expert in this.This is out of my field now, Eugene.Because I've seen when dogs turn on people and then, blah, blah, blah.I don't know if that's right.
45:19People like, yeah, yeah.Because the people that own the dogs are usually like he's never like this.Yes, that's true.Yeah, he's never, we don't know what happened.He's never like that time another chihuahua is being mauled there or another human being.Because you know there's your favoritesingerOh who? Chris Brown.
45:36Yes.That story was crazy but did you see that story?No.I didn't know this.Like apparently his dog bit hishousekeeper or something.His dog bit his housekeeper?Yeah.
45:46I was like damn.Chris Brown is just likeshit is just happening in these world, man.Man, it's hard to be a singer named Brown.I'm so good.And then and so the newsthe thing I read but againconfirmed or not
45:58you know you have totake everything with a grain of assault.But basically they were saying, I think they ruled, she sued him and they ruled that she was supposed to get $12 million for it.For a bit, my dog?It was a big dog and mental things and whatever.You know America.How are you going to act like you don't know America?It was a big dog.
46:18That's what it's a big dog.Then a judge ruled.Apparently the new ruling came out and a judge said, yo.$12 million?Yeah.A judge came out and said, this is exorbitious.This is crazy.You can't do that.
46:34It should be like $9 million.$9 million.I'm going to check this to confirm, but I'm pretty sure.Oh, my.Yeah, but here's my thing.Anything over $10,000 is absurd.No, no, no, no.You're more than that.
46:49Come on.A dog bite you, my dog?Yeah, but there's like dog bites and there's dog bites.Oh.Like, if your dog bites me and you're worth,like hundreds of millions.It hurts a lot.But also, does it depend on the type of dog that bit you?
47:10No, man.Oh, no, no.This just came out.Wow, damn, TMZ is on top of it, man.Chris Brown's former housekeeper accepts reduced $9.5 million payout in dog bite case.$9.5 million.It was $12.9 million.Yes, so what I'm saying is if, if, there's two issues here for me.
47:25That's crazy.So she's a housekeeper.She's at the house a lot keeping the house.So it means the dogs or the dog and her know each other?Absolutely.Because it wasn't a new dog.I'm assuming it wasn't.So this is not a regular house.
47:41What do you mean?I mean, that could be a dog that's like not in her wing.That's true.I'm sure she don't got like one housekeeper, you know, like she might do the guest bedroomsand the bathrooms and then the dog be in the dog mansion or whatever.Yeah, but the fact that the owner of the house is, the owner of the dog is comfortablewith a dog and the housekeeperand other guests in the house.
48:01But dogs are also like,here's the thing with a dogis like,if a dog gets surprised,it can do something.It's just like the breed of doghas a different...The dog bites you playing.
48:11Yeah, but I'm saying like a small dogcan bite you like thatand it won't change your life.But a big dog can also...That's what my second point was.Yeah.So depending on the size...So if the, if the bite was from a chihuahua
48:20or a poodle,yeah, then you've got a tougher case.For...If the dog didn't swallow nothing,you should be able to...If she got everything the dog bit, she still got the stuff.Maybe let's check there.What was the...
48:37The breed of dog?No, the breed and what was the damage on the lady?I think mostly psychological.If I give you $10 million.Former housekeeper, dog bite case, reduced ticket neutral, blah, blah, blah, blah.Yeah.$12.9 million.The judge felt there was insufficient evidence of nerve damage on other issues.
48:57Okay.To your point.to the what?Everything is still there.Everything is still there.Okay.If I give you $10 million for a dog bike,I want the leg.
49:07Give me the leg.Wait, so usually when dogs attack humans,they put the dogs down.I don't know.Is this true everywhere?Usually, I mean, if it's $10 million, yeah.Yeah.They have to put the dog down.
49:20You have to put the dog down.Don't dog advocate say that that's not fair to the dog?Yeah, because they should put the owner down.Damn, Eugene.I don't know if that's what they say, but...Yeah, your conclusion, me, dude.You keep right there with the same information.We all got.
49:36Who's the worst judge of character here?The dog owner or the dog?I don't know.What are you saying?We should kill the owner?Yeah, yeah.Do you have any pets?No.
49:46You don't like pets?Michael, here's my thing.If you pick a dangerous breed,right.You know that this breed is dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.You even know a breed is dangerous.When you're walking it,it looks like it's walking you.
49:57Yeah.Then you say, I'll take my chances at the restaurant,at the dog park with a dangerous breedthen whose fault is it when the breed behaveslike what it should behave likeyours who should be put down thennow but apparently like they say it was horrificit was horrific
50:13yeah wait so in that casehe has you're a judgeyeah he has a dangerous hot while a dripping of bloodfrom the from the leg of itand they say like the pictures were gruesome that's what I meanyes so here's a dog10 million dollarsno here's a dog here's you
50:28the owner of the dog who knew what the dogwas capable of.Yeah.Right?Sure.So who's guilty of behavingout of character here?The person.
50:38So who should be put down?Put down?I don't know how you're getting to put down.Why should he be put down?You're Jesus like, who are we killing?Who are we killing?Right.But like, why are we putting this man down?
50:51Because his dog.Who are we killing?Made a mistake.It made a mistake.Yeah.Guys, animals don't make mistakes.They don't?No.
51:00Okay.Animals are animals.You know, when an animal doesn't behave like that breed that it is,it's just helping you become more of an animal.Because, like, no, I don't know you don't understand where I'm coming from.At all.Because we're not, no, I'm saying the dog is saying that.Oh, oh.
51:13It's saying, so I'm not going to fight the hand that feeds me.I'm not going to make you look like a fool.So I'm just going to do it.Then one day the dog is like, but I am a dog, man.Then I'm going to behave like myself.Then the dog does what?It's like horses.When horses buck the rider?
51:26Yes, that's true.That can't happen.Yeah, you're like, what happened here?The horse is like, no, I don't want anyone on my back.I was having a bad day.Yes.It could just be a moment.Something hurts.
51:34Just a moment in time.So when animals behave, like, we want them to behave.Like, human have decency.Be polite to strangers touching their chins and petting their heads.We're like, yeah, come on, man.Don't be rough on people.Then the dog one day goes, today's the day.Enough is enough.
51:48I'm going to be the dog that I am and bites a person.Whose fault is that?No, see, I think it's a different thing.I think it's like a control, like a self-control thing.Like a dog is trying to control.control a lot of his instincts and impulses based on what we tell them is okay and not okay, right?Who are we to tell them?We own them.
52:09Have you seen what we do to each other?We own the dogs.So like, you said, all right, so like if we don't have to tell them, then we shouldn't be responsible for when, if we don't own the dogs and they're just my friends and I bring my buddy to the bar, he bites somebody, I got to be, I got to go to jail too.Yeah, you got to be put down.Don't go anywhere.Because we got more what now after this?That's why I'm hopeful for Mamdani.I am too.
52:34Like genuinely.He seems like of all the mayors, of all the people we've had,he seems like the one that sort of looks at New York from the lens of New Yorkers.And it's refreshing.I think that's what people really, really like about it.Is that he's like, everything that he wants to bring to the city is something that I believe he would enjoy about the city.You know, and it's sort of like, I don't think we've had anybody like that.It's like the theater of yours is built by artists.
53:05Oh, yeah, yeah, that's exactly it.Same kind of thing.Yeah, yeah.The arts are coming to the first thing you said that made sense today.No, wait, no, no, no.I mean that in the company, I mean that as a couple of me.You crazy as hell.In Peru.
53:34A lot of the dogs there just roam, they just roam in the streets.Oh, yeah, I love those.There's a lot of countries where nobody owns dogs.Yeah, yeah.The dogs just live there.Like chicken sometimes.Yo, it used to be like that in America.I haven't seen a stray dog in like, I don't know how long, like 20 years.
53:49I think now they put them in shelters, right?There used to be stray dogs all the time.You guys had that?Hell yeah.I never knew you had that.I never knew you had that.I never seen them.No, I didn't know that.
53:59I assumed it was just never a thing in this country.No, it definitely was a thing.I remember being a kid and you, you, you never knew.You see a stray dog and get chased or some shit.You grew up here, right?I grew up in Lower East Side Manhattan, yeah.And then I moved to Jersey City when I was a kid.And I moved back to Manhattan.
54:13I've been back before.Damn, so you've like seen New York.New York is like, yeah, I got a love affair.It feels like this is home.It's ruined traveling for me.Wait, why?Because after like a week or two, I'm like, I got to get back.Nothing compares.
54:30Nothing.Nothing.Do you hate non-New Yorkers?No, not like hate, but I mean like are you...They make the city the city.It's always been like, I don't know why, you know,a lot of people always complain about transplants and gentrification.Like, as has been happening in my entire life, bad places, getting nicer.
54:51Yeah, yeah.Also, when you're from New York, I'm from, you know, we're from, like, public houses.We're from, you know, I don't know money.So, like, I remember how dangerous New York was.and seeing certain elements of New York,seeing certain parts of New York nicerand more fit for families,I get the corporate shit and the gentrification
55:13and pricing people out sucks.I wish that there was a middle ground of affordable safety.It feels like we have to sacrifice one for the othertoo much in this country where if a place is nice,now nobody could afford to live here.But if we don't make it nice, then it's dangerous.And, you know, all of the places that poor people have to live,you have to worry about cuttings and muggings and nothing for the kids.
55:41And, you know, so it's, it's, we need to figure that out.And hopefully that's mayor, hopefully that's mayor.Yeah, that's by design.Oh, definitely.If I look at it, particularly in America, but in most places in the world,people aren't protected.Capital is protected, right?Right.
55:57So money gets protected, no matter where.it is. Right. So whenmoney is somewhere, policego, I have to respond to thatbecause not even the police man.I'm saying police the idea. Becausethe police chief is connected toa superintendent, connected to a, who is
56:13connected to that money. And that person goes,yo, your mayor, I'm theperson who helped your mayor get. So I'llcall your mayor and tell him that you guys aremaking, my capital is burningdown. You guys better do something about it.So there's a different incentivestructure. For sure. That just
56:29happens in that way.And when you get that far up, it's not even about, you're not even looking at people.You're just looking at numbers.No, you're not.You're looking at stats.Yeah, 100%.And a lot of times, poor people are the bruntary those stats, you know?That's why I'm hopeful for Mamdani.
56:45I am too.Like genuinely.He seems like of all the mayors, of all the people we've had, he seems like the one thatsort of looks at New York from the lens of New Yorkers.and it's refreshing.I think that's what people really, really like about it.Yeah.Is that he's like, everything that he wants to bring to the city is something that I believe he would enjoy about the city.
57:10You know, and it's sort of like, I don't think we've had anybody like that.It's like the theater of yours.It's built by artists.Oh, yeah.Yeah, that's exactly.Same kind of thing.Yeah, yeah.The artist is coming to the place.
57:21Man, that's the first thing you said that made sense today.No, wait.No, no, no, no.I mean that as a compliment.You're crazy as hell.That's the first thing you said.You know, it's interesting.So, like, my brothers, I got two brothers that was retired NYPD, right?
57:50Wow.Ain't that something?Older brothers, I'm assuming.Older brothers, yeah.I'm the youngest.And I remember my brother was telling me about how he washaving an argument. I won't say which brother to protect his reputation in his department.But I remember one of my brothers telling me, he was like, he was having an argument with this
58:08white guy that's also a cop. And not an argument, but just like a debate.Right. Okay, yeah, yeah. He's a debate. And he was like, I just don't understand. The whiteguy was saying. I just don't understand why, you know, when we go to the hood and these kids,we, we, why don't they just stay off the corners? Like, why? They know we're coming.You know, they know what we're trying to do, what we have to do.Why are they just always hanging out on the corners?What is the point?Like, why we moved them, they just end up on another corner.
58:40Yeah.And my brother's like, where are they going to go?Yeah.To their backyard.You know, like, you don't know.Go home.You don't know what's in that home.You don't know what situation, what living condition they have.
58:53You don't know how many people's in there.You don't know.I'm not saying that every situation is that.but you don't know.And he knows that because of the way we grew up.And when we grew up, you know, it was a crowded house.It was seven kids and, you know, cousins and three-bedroom apartment.Apartments crowded.
59:13You have to be outside.That's where you go.And when he said it, I kind of didn't even realize it.I was like, yeah, I remember how you said, just hang out at the bodega.And they would chase a thousand bodega and they would just go to another bodega or whatever it is.But it's like, that's where we went.That was us with spaza shops.Where was we going to go?
59:29You know, so it's like, I think that there's a different.I say I'll like to say, I think there's a difference between these are two cops,working New York City, one's from the city, one's just policing the city.And I think we've had a lot of mayors that look at it the way that guy is like,why don't you just do this?And then Ma'am Dani kind of feels like a mayor that understands why this kid is hanging outon the corner.So how can we put something healthy for him?
59:57to do that...Let's put lights on the tennis court.Let's do something.You know what I mean?That gives them a place to go and serves both needs so that this is a dope New York for eventhat kid, not just the people who have a lot of money and resources and access to pay forsafety.You shouldn't have to pay for fucking safety in this country.
01:00:17I mean, as much money as they take from us.I mean, trap, I know.This guy.I know.Every about December, January, you're looking at that check you got a right.And you're like, you've got to be fucking kidding.For what?Oh, man.
01:00:37I know, Trump.Oh, it's the worst day.It's the worst day.You know, you know, the funniest thing about is that I always say, I don't understand why people don't selfishly want neighborhoods to get better.Completely self-exempt.Completely selfishly.Forget altruism.I go.
01:00:57They're like,why should my tax dollars go to paying for some kids in Harlem to have a this or have?Then I'm like,I'll tell you why.Just selfishly,forget even acknowledging them as human beingsand what they should or shouldn't have.Forget that.
01:01:11You don't want them on the corner.You don't want them running through the street.You don't.So just selfishly,just selfishly provide amenities that change how people,You know when people like, oh, those kids are up to no good.There is no kid that is up to no good.Most kids are just up to the thing that they're afforded.
01:01:31That's it.Literally.You're just trying to burn this frigging energy.You just do what you do.And they don't, but that's the thing.They don't see us as kids.Oh, shit, that's true as well.Yeah, I ain't been a kid since I was maybe 11, 10 years old.
01:01:45Oh, shit.That's true as well.You know what I'm saying?They don't see us as kids.We threats.Your potential threat.The first time I was handcuffed.I was maybe 10.
01:01:57For real?First, never forget.We first moved to Jersey City.I never forget that.We moved to Jersey City.I had a video games, like a Sega Genesis or something like that.Oh, yeah, I remember those.And we went to go, you know, I didn't have that many video games.
01:02:11It was expensive.So we would rent the video games from the video store.Lock bus.They used to do that.Lock bus.This one was called Palmer Video.Oh, nice.It was like a smaller chain.
01:02:20And we was walking.We had to walk to the video store in Jersey City.We just moved there maybe like six months, and the cops rolled up on us, asked us for our ID.We didn't know what the fuck ID.You know what I'd be?You know what ID?No identification.Who's your parents?
01:02:39Handcuffed us, sat us on the floor, asked us who we are.And I never forget when they unhandcuffed us and let us go in our way, the cops.Never forget him.His name was Robocop.He said, that's not the real name.We called a Robocop because he was like a notorious dickhead.Right.Oh, so he was his nickname.
01:02:58There was his nickname Robocop.And anybody listening to this in Jersey City knows Robocococke.Yeah.But he said, as you're walking away.As he walking away, he said, welcome to the neighborhood.Because we told him we just moved here from New York.He'd never seen us before.He was just him getting to know us.
01:03:18I never forget that.But that's my point.And the weird thing is we didn't go home and say,you're not going to believe this mom.We thought that's just what you,that's what's supposed to happen.They're supposed to be a little threatened by us, I guess.Like that's, yeah, I guess, I guess we thugs.
01:03:35You know what I mean?Whatever it is, as a kid, you don't know.You don't know, you think you're grown.You don't know that you're a kid until you see a kid.You know what I mean?Like, I remember, like, what we used to do in the cityand, like, being, like, 30.And then you see, like, little kids playing around
01:03:50in the train.You're like, what are you doing out here?And he's like, oh, I used to do that.And they don't know that they kids.They just, because the world doesn't look at them like kids.So, I mean, I think that's kind of why they don't take care of us like they take care of kids, you know, because they don't see us as that.They don't see that this could happen.Even the most liberal, the most liberal of white people, when something happens for like a black kid, they're like, man, I have.
01:04:21friends. That could have happened to any of myson's friends.You know, they don't never say that could happen to meor that could happen to my kid. They don't look, they know it can't happento them in that way. It's an externalized idea ofwhat a kid could be at the, yeah, yeah, but I know what you mean.It's not a... No, yeah. It's not, no, this affects me.How did you get into comedy?
01:04:45Because like, brother cop,brother cop, Michael Chee comedian.I think, um,it was something that's like a fantasy as a kid,like when you're watching comedians,watching Carlin,watching Chris Rock,watching, you know,
01:05:04Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy,shit like that.You...May he rest.Don't worry, bro.Who in that list is a chord?It's okay.Watching those guys got Damon Wayne,
01:05:21was my guy.Oh, man.I love Damon Wayne to this day, man.And I think, like, you know, my family was like a big comedy house.Like, they love.We watch Hollywood Shuffle.We watch Living Color.We watch, I'm gonna get you sucker, Eddie Murphy Raw.
01:05:39Like, everything that was comedy.We watched it himself.Yeah.So I think like that power, my grandfather is a pastor.Okay.So, like, you know, that sort of holding court, you know, family gatherings, everybody's just snapping and going at it.And the people that were the funny ones were kind of the special ones.They were like, oh, wait till Jerome go.
01:06:02Wait till Uncle Nick.You know, there's all these people that was like super, super, my brother was really funny.And, you know, I had one of those families that would just snap all night.And so there was sort of a currency.I think, like, when you don't have a lot of money, something else is going to become your currency.You know, it's going to be.It has to be.It has to be. It could be funny. It could be sports. Some families are sports families.
01:06:27Some families are just food. Food, whatever it is. You know, some barbecue families.Like that was our currency. Was who was the funniest? Who could really get you? Who could make my grandmother laugh the hardest?You know what I mean? So, like, that was kind of always held a special place. And I think when I started to see HBO specials and Chris Rock and Carlin, like those guys.And I started to see it kind of put together, you know, in a smart way.I was like, oh, you could like kind of say what you think.You know, like your frustrations, for real.It doesn't have to just be Def Jam.It could be, you know, kind of pointed.
01:07:05And, you know, being in school, you're sort of like the smart aleck and the class clownand always asking questions and trying to challenge a teacher.Real shitty kid things.But it was making my brain sharp, you know.And I had a reputation for it.And I had buddies that were like, man, you should do it.And I never thought I could do it because I didn't know anybody that had done it.Yeah.
01:07:30So it was like, where do you even start?I didn't know anybody in show business.And then one day, I was just kind of like in between really bad jobs.What were you doing?What was your first job?My first job, I worked at a car dealership.As likeDoing what? Wait, doing what?
01:07:51Wait, doing what?It was like reception work kind of.I was like the guy calling in the checks.Okay, no, that's not bad.It was like $10 an hour kind of.Okay, no, no.Okay.I didn't have a license, so I couldn't sell cars.
01:08:07That's like most New Yorkers don't have a license.Yeah, I didn't have a license.I couldn't sell cars.You need a license.You know, you can't even do your driving test in Manhattan.What do you mean?How are you going to do that?You never see no.
01:08:18Drivers.Who do you have to do it?You can't do a driving test in Manhattan, bro?No men.Yo, the rules of driving do not apply to this island.Yeah, it's different.You can't teach a person.You can't even check if a person knows how to drive here.
01:08:29Because here, it's like everywhere else, the rules are,when a person is in the road, you can't enter the crosswalk,and you can't turn when a person is in the crosswalk,and you got to wait for the light to do this,and parking spots and this, and you can't use your horn,except if it's an immersion,and you check your blind spot and following distance.Speed harms.
01:08:47Everything.that is taught to you in Manhattan does not exist.So when you take your test, you've got to go to one of the other boroughsand then they'll take you to places where you can drive.And that's where you learn how to drive.Then they're like, all right, go good luck in Manhattan.Yeah.You can't, you can't.
01:09:04You can't.You never drove here?Is insurance more expensive living in Manhattan?I don't know.But I, but you can't.You just can't drive.You know, you're not, it's not, it's literally like being a taxi driver in a taxi rank in South Africa,like where everyone, everything all the time.
01:09:19Yeah, you go in the lights red.Oh, South Africa fucked up too.I went to Egypt and they were.Oh, Egypt.Yeah, yeah, Egypt.Yeah, Cairo.Yeah, they don't care, yo.Yeah, Cairo's fire, bro.
01:09:29The buses don't even stop.They just jump off and jump on.Yeah, no, no, Cairo was, I was like, yeah.Cairo's doing it.Yeah, they're crazy.Cairo's crazy.Wow.That's the craziest I ever seen.
01:09:39What made Cairo crazier for me was the fact that it was also fast-paced as well.So I've been to places that have crazy traffic, but it doesn't really move.Cairo, there's crazy traffic, and then the traffic moves together at like a high speed.And you're like, yo, guys, this is everyone cutting, flying, turning.You're like, yo, I don't know, driving here.You don't drive in New York.I've driven in New York.When I first came to New York, man, I'll never forget.
01:10:07You don't drive the kind of cars you want to drive in New York, though.I don't have any cars now.But when I was in, no, really, let me tell you what happened.This motherfucker is full of shitMy man, which cars do I have now?He doesn't.Yeah.Really?
01:10:19So let me tell you what happened.First got to New York.I had my cars in South Africa.No, I had my cars in South Africa.And then I was like, get to New York.And everyone's like, you don't drive in New York.So I was like, you don't drive in New York.That was it.
01:10:31Then Jerry Seinfeldt invites me to do comedians and cars.He's driving around.He's like, do you like cars?I actually do love cars.We start talking about cars.I was like, where do you have all your cars?He's like, oh, so I have them.I've got this special house building.
01:10:44elevator type thing.He goes, but I go drivingand he tells me about these roads.He's like, you should take carsand go drive there.So then what I did was,I started renting carsto go and drive out in the cats,
01:10:56not cat skills,but I guess cat skills adjacent,like Bear Mountain and those places.And then...A place called Bear Mountain.Yeah.With, I did bump into a bear.New York is a beautiful state.
01:11:07Yeah.You got to leave this block.I wish I had a rock and roll.You gotta leave this block.You gotta leave this block, man.That's a lot to see after him, brother.We can't keep seeing me on the corner, Eugene.Come on, man.
01:11:20You gotta go to a different Duane Reed, man.So, yeah, so I was driving.So you rent a car and then you go.So I'd rent a car and then I'd go out there and drive.A few things that got me one.It takes like an hour just to leave Manhattan to go to the place.That was too much for me.And then secondly, the place where I'd rent the car was in Manhattan
01:11:43and driving in Manhattan.So the first thing I rented when I got here,because off the Seinfeld is like,I should do this.I rented a Lamborghini.And then I was like,I'm going to drive through Times Squarewith my Lamborghini.
01:11:57Never before have I felt,you know, in most parts of the world,Lamborghini plus personequals ultimate levels of cool.Yeah, no.Next level.Come to New York,drive a Lamborghini or Ferrari
01:12:11or anything inside Manhattan,Times Square.Yeah.People look at youlike you wore a tank top on a rainy day.Yeah, yeah.Everyone looks at you like, what are you...I see Tracy Morgan does it all the time?
01:12:25Exactly.Tracy.That answers your question.That answers your question.Did you see, remember when Tracy's car got hit by an Uber?No.Tracy got hit by like a small little Nissan runaround type thing.Yo, Tracy, they hit this.
01:12:38Tracy is a wild boy.He just bought the Bugatti.He drove out of the dealership.I think it was his second Bugatti, drove out of the dealership.And then some random Uber driver just like, bam, hit Tracy Morgan in his in his Bugatti.I remember when Tracy first came home from like the accent, like from the hospital.And we first seen him.And it was like, Ruhlum was like, Tracy's back.
01:12:59Tracy's back.We didn't know if he was okay or not like how okay he was or whatever.We was just so thankful that he was alive.Like him and Artie.Yeah, him and Artie.We had seen Artie though.Oh, okay.Tracy.
01:13:11And I remember we were at the cellar andYou know, we were just talking like, man, oh, Tracy's okay.You know, like, man, I'm so happy.Everybody's, like, kind of like, happy but worried.Yeah.And I remember it was coming down the stairs in the Olive Treeand a white phantom Rose Royce was driving.And it's Tracy hanging out the window going,
01:13:33I can't spend this much money, trade.I was like, I guess Tracy's fine.A light fandom.I'd never get it.I can't spend this much money.It's like, all right.Man, he's been trying, but he can't.I used to bump into him all the time
01:13:56because the Bugatti place is a block awayfrom the daily show.And so I'd bump into himwhen he's like servicing his caror buying another car or, do you know what I mean?And Tracy's that guy, like I'd be walking out.And you'd just bump into a Tracy more in trafficin a Bugatti rolling down a win
01:14:13because I'm looking in the car.Like, damn, it's a Bugatti.Smooth criminal or something crazy.And then he just like lean out the window and just shout random things at the end.It would take me like two, three seconds to realize who it was.You know what I mean?Then he'd be like, how are you going to be walking when there's Bugatti's in the dealership?I'm like, oh, Tracy, come up.
01:14:31Tracy, bro.My sister was at a Knicks game and she, I was like, how was the game?She was like, I saw Tracy.He told me to tell you that he got you.Don't worry.And I was like, what is he talking about?I have no idea.I'm like, well, I don't know what he's talking about.
01:14:47He got you, man.I got you.Tell me my God got him.Oh, damn.No, man, I love that for him.I was just like, he's just like a ball of comedy.One of my favorite Tracy Morgan stories ever, it was Angelo Lozada told me this.May he rest in peace, man.
01:15:04Angelo.And apparently they were on the road.Man, we lost a lot of guys.Yeah, we did, man.We did.And Angelo was telling me the story.Tracy was with his crewin the car one.
01:15:14They're on the road touring.And one of his guys that's openingbut he's like his dude, he's like he looks down on himand they're all in the car togetherand this guy had his comedy joke bookbut like his life, you know how it is.If a comedian has that book, that's their life.Every joke, every idea is in that little book
01:15:32and they're sitting in the carand he's there and he's being doing his thingand Tracy's like, he's like, yo man,he's like, what you doing over there?And he's like, oh man, Tracy, come on, man,you know, I'm writing some stuff.for tonight.And then Tracy's like,
01:15:43let me see that.And he takes the book,opens the window,throws it out.And then,yo, this guy,apparently he was like,yo,
01:15:50what the phone?On the highway,he was like,yo,what's fucking.And then Tracy's like,man,if you funny,
01:15:54that shit gonna come frominside you, man.You can't be writingthat shit down.He's like,yo,yo, let me tell you something.If you funny,
01:16:01that shit gotta call.Yo,they said that guy almostcried.They're to hold him off Tracy.And Tracy wasprobably,you know what,
01:16:08this guy wants to kill him.And Tracy's likeMan, if you funny, that shit got come from inside.That's crazy.Oh, that's great.That's great.I heard Chris Rock used to do that.Somebody told me that he,
01:16:24what SNL writers used to always work at the,used to also work at the Chris Rock show.Yeah.And back then, they used to write on typewriters.Like, they had to write scripts out, you know.And he said Chris were, like, walking into the office,see, like, a sketch or whatever, like, on their desk.Nice sketch, nigga.
01:16:41And throw it out the,the window.Man, I love, you see stories like this.You're like, what the fuck?Stories like this.You got all over again.I love stories like this.Yeah.
01:16:52Because I feel, I don't know, I feel like there was a moment in comedy where, I mean,I obviously say this knowing that times are good, but like there was a moment in comedywhere it feels like comedy wasn't as big, comedy wasn't as popular, comedy didn't have as muchmoney.And so comedy was crazier.Yeah.Like sometimes when I see us as comedians now.I go, I think sometimes we take ourselves way too seriously.
01:17:14Just many godreels.Yeah, but we also take ourselves too seriously.Yeah.Like I see comedians now.I have to remind myself all the time.I go like, yo, do not forget you're a loser.You got bullied.You're an idiot.
01:17:27You're a clown.You're stupid.You're not cool.I have to remind myself of that because now comedy has like ascended in a way that like,now comedians are rock star.Now you walk out on stage.Now there's like a, and it's like no, but don't forget whatthis thing like is and was.
01:17:43Yeah.Yeah, you might be beloved and cool, but just don't forget that side of it.We started believing the adjectives, you know, like a lot of times.I do think there was a time when they started writing about comedy.That's what I mean.And the most romantic way.There you go.And now we all think we're brilliant and genius and all of this shit.
01:18:05And we're not.We're just funny at best.Like the best case scenarios were funny.It feels like comedy is going through our chefs went.through. Yes. Yeah, yeah, actually. Yes.It was about cooking delicious food that peoplelike. Damn, that's true.Chef's too. Then it became like
01:18:19a... Yeah. I don't cook.It's not about the food.I don't know why it came so like...Like the army, too. Like, what the fuck?Well, the chefs thing.Yeah. Yeah, chef!Like, I don't know. What is that?Like, what are you? Marines all of a sudden.
01:18:36Every time I watch the cooking showis some crying.I don't know why...You know who had... We had a foreign chef.You know who had a...We had her on the show.Asma Khan.We had Asma Khan on the show.
01:18:45She's one of the funniest, like, amazing chefs you've ever come across.She's a restaurant in London.And Asma's, she's like, she said it so succinctly and beauty.I was like, we asked that question, like, what do you think that is?And she was like, Trevor, can I tell you something?She's like, I just think that's white men trying to make the job look harder than it actually is.She's like, because for generations, women and women of color have.I've been doing what they're doing now without any fuss.
01:19:14Without shouting.She's like, we don't need to shout.We don't like to pump somebody's face into a wall.She's like, Trevor.That's hilarious.But they have to, because they're like, I have to show you how hard it is.Yeah, what is that?She's like, yo, bro.
01:19:26That's just performance.Machismo performance.That's crazy.She's like, yeah.Why are they crying?She said, it's a bunch of white guys who are trying to make it like, you know how hard this is?And she's like, yo, don't know this.Yeah, my mother, yo, though.
01:19:40I ain't going to lie.While cooking?Oh, jeez, yeah, definitely.Get out of this kitchen.Yeah, yeah, she was fucked.My mother's wild.Were you allowed in the kitchen when your mom was cooking?Yeah, yeah.
01:19:49Oh, really?That's our quality time.Oh, that's why you can cook.You can cook?Well.Nice.Eugene.Eugene cooked for me, and I'll be honest with you, I didn't know how to process what was happening.
01:20:01Really?No, can I tell you why?What you cook?Anything.Really?I didn't know how to process what was happening.I could cook.And it'd be like salmon and fetishing.
01:20:11No.What do you do?He picked the most white girl thing ever.Salmon and fettuccino.No, no, no.No, for real.Black girls cooked salmon and fettuccine.No, no, no.
01:20:23And he cooked and I was like, I didn't know how to, I didn't know what was happening.And he cooked my favorite thing.Really?He just surprised me one day.What's your favorite thing?What's your favorite thing?It's pig feet.That is the appropriate response, by the way.
01:20:39Perfect response.I don't know if he was making fun of me.No, no, no.Pig feet.For real pig feet?Yeah, like the trotters of a pig.That's bar none across every culture.You eat pig feet?
01:20:52Seishuanese pig feet.South African pig feet.Curry pig feet.He'll die.He can't eat that.He can't eat that.It's too much.It's a sensory overload for him.
01:21:01Oh, yeah, yeah.The chelotinous flip.Yeah, yeah.He grew up with McDonald's.Pig feet?Yeah, yeah.You eat pig feet.And they're in the, like, they still look like that.
01:21:10Travel Noah.Like this.You don't eat no damn pig feet.Yeah, y'all fucking with me.For real, for real.We wouldn't lie to you.With like a fork in a knife?No.
01:21:20Bare hands.Bear hands.Bear knuckle.Because the bare knuckle.I don't believe.No, you can't.I don't believe.It's like in a stew.
01:21:32Like a jar?No.So generally, generally it's in a stew, the one I like.But there's also a brazed version.Yeah.That's cooked over a flame.I'll take you one day.We'll go in New York.
01:21:42No, you won't.You're like, you're like, you're not doing big feet, maybe.You're for real?No, you know.You've never.No.But that's what I'm saying.You eat like, like, chitlins and too?
01:21:55So I don't think chitlins have as much flavor as they could.We do eat chitlins where we're from.But I think...Where are you from?For real.No, in South Africa.We eat like, but we call, like, it's our...We have a different thing.
01:22:06Malamogood.Tripe.Yeah, tripe.So it's like the intestines of an animal.I've seen tripe in, like, Chinese restaurants.Is that the same thing as?Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.But this version, because chitlins will be like certain parts.
01:22:17Everyone has a different idea, like, what they'll include of the insides of an animal.Yeah.But I think I've had chitlins everywhere in Atlanta.Everyone's like, you got to have chitlins.Love the texture and the vibe.I just think you can see that there were no Indians involved, is what I'm saying.There's no spice and flavor.Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:22:34You just need a little.You know, it's funny you say that because I didn't know how bland American food, not bland, but like, we don't.I've always been afraid of Indian foodbecause like it's just culturallyI think it's just very differentfrom American food.Americans are afraid of American food.Yes.
01:22:53When I introducedIndian food into the daily show's routineso the daily show would have likenormal catering every dayand then there'd be one dayyou remember a week where they would likeget food from a place.That's right.
01:23:05And generally they would get like an Italian sandwichlike pastrami and blahbut it would be like food from a place.And after like a place.And after like a bunch of rotations, one week, I was like,yo, why do we always get like those like big sandwiches?Yeah.And they were like, oh, we love it.
01:23:20I was like, wait, but we can get from anywhere.And they're like, yeah.And I was like, but you get from there.And they're like, yeah.And they say, wow, what would you want to get?I said, uh, we should do Indian food one week.And that week, the amount of complaints and like, no, man.No, but like people were really like, yeah, no, we can't.
01:23:38We saw that Indian foods on them.We can't, we can't, we can't.then, so we ordered, we had to order like a second meal for the people who couldn't,weren't going to do the Indian food.But then everyone ate the Indian food.And then people came up to me and they're like, oh, I didn't know that this is whatIndian food was.No, me neither.
01:23:54I was scared of it.I was scared of it.I don't know what it is.It's because like, it's like a, I don't know.I think a lot of times too, like a lot of Indian food, like it looks.It's like a lot of stewed shit, you know.So a lot of times you see.and you're like, I don't know, I can't identify the meat.
01:24:16I can't identify anything.You know what I mean?Like, I don't, I don't, the smell of the meat.It's brown, but it's sweat yellow.You're like, I don't know what's going on there.Born yellow.Yeah, like, what is this?Yeah.
01:24:29So it's like, it's just so unlike a hamburger and a hot dog.Oh, man.So when I tried it, it was, it was, my mind was blown because I, you know, you start to think,well, damn, how much have I been just missing out?Yeah.And then especially like African, African food or like Caribbean food.Now, Caribbean is maybe the best because it's African meets Indian.Yeah.
01:24:53See, but I could see the lineage is what I'm trying to say.So like when you start to like, oh, okay.So I think about like soul food.Yes.And then I think of, okay, what's the West Indian version of that or what's like the Nigerian version or whatever?Exactly.Then you're like, oh, I start to see that this is just our version of that with what we had.here.
01:25:13Exactly.You know what I'm saying?But it took me years to know that.But as a kid, I was like, no, sir.Give me pepper steak.You know what I mean?Chicken nuggets.It was like real, real bland stuff.
01:25:24There's an Indian spot that I think is like hacked to people, I guess, that really,really like Indian food.But like, that's their place, Jim Kana.Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.It's one of my favorite restaurants.I go there all the time I'm in London, I go there.And I don't know, maybe y'all know some shit better, but as you smile.I want to show, no.
01:25:43I want to show you how funny.Di Geeling Express.Jim Conner's my favorite spot.And just like next time you go there.I'll tell you, but I'll tell you next time you go.I want to show you like.No, no, Jim Conner's there.It's up there.
01:26:00London has some of the best Indian food in the world.I've heard that.I've heard that.But next time you must head up.I'm late.This is all within like the last seven years.You have become a, even in the time I've known you.you, I've watched you go from being a very, very insular person to, like, slowly, like,
01:26:17exploring outside of your comfort zone.Because...Badaise was another one.Badee.You need to leave the block more.Some wise man gave me that advice.Never look back.You don't...
01:26:32I deserve it.I deserve that.Man, I feel so stupid wiping my ass without water.I'm wasted so.So many years.So many years with a scratching booty.Brett loves bedaise.Yo, I got a bidet.
01:26:49I won't.I won't do it.I'll wait.I've never used a bidet.What?Brett was trying to convince me to use the bidet.Oh, my friend.New plumbing here at the bathroom.
01:26:57This is why you're angry.This is why you angry.Because I try to separate my hand from my ass?Let me tell you something, bro.Bade.And the technology, not just bidet, go Japanese bidet.What's the difference?Let me ask you a question.
01:27:12Yes, yes.If you got a little poop on your handand I gave you a piece of tissue to clean it off,what would you say?This is me right there.Would you say that that's sufficient for the day?No, obviously not.Okay.
01:27:31Now, why would it be, why would you not introduce water?Wait, and now I'll see pooping my hand.Wait, you see, my thing, my, fuck.anywhere.If you got poop anywhere on your bodyand I gave you a piece of tissue to clean it,would that be sufficient?Okay, but Michael, I would need...
01:27:50On the middle of your back.I'd need water and soap, right?So here's my thing.Do bidet squared out of soap as well?You would need a hose.No, you need a hose.It's literally...A hose.
01:28:01A hose.But no soap.You don't need soap.And then how do I dry my ass after that shower?So now, remember when I told you about Japanese bidetDo you remember this?Allow me to introduce you to the to-toe.That's right.
01:28:14You see what he's introducing me to instead of things that really matter.No, no, no, this matters.Trust me.It's going to change your life.Change your life, brother.Someone's blowing air up your ass.Yeah.My friend.
01:28:25Drizes.Oh, yeah, you bugging.My friend.Wait, wait, wait.Sometimes I use it when I don't even got a poop.I just go for a sprint.I go for a nice little sprint.I read a book.
01:28:38Isolate.IsolateisolateYou got toYou got itYou got it manOh my friendDude, you got it man
01:28:49Oh my friendYeah you're missing out on thatThat's what's your problemWait so it hitsSo it should soonYeahDo whateverAnd then it
01:28:56And then it driesAnd then you're out of thereYeah girlfriendAnd thenSo it sprays your assAnd then you're out of thereDo you have girlfriend?Does it get to the balls
01:29:07Do you date?Do you date?Do you go on dates?I like dates.You like dates?Yeah, the fruit.I'm telling you, if you got somebody in your life and they want to use your bathroom and you got three one of them.I'm in.
01:29:27She's going to be like, this guy's nice.Yeah?He knows how to take care of something delicate.Yeah?Yeah, man.Absolutely, brother.She's going to look at you different.For real, for real.
01:29:39For real, for real.Listen, I don't have one book in my house.I got a total.They think I'm smart.I'm telling you, I'm telling you.Change your life.Change your life, man.Oh, man.
01:29:55Beautiful.No, it's...Well, okay, okay.Not together, though, but...I didn't know we grew up so similar, though.Yeah.See, I honestly thought...I don't know why, but I don't know.
01:30:09thought like, like, oh man.See, I always think I just,maybe it's like a grass greener type thing.Like I thought, I thought you had like,you had a set out there.No.I ain't know.No, we, that's one of the things that I always felt,
01:30:25sometimes it would be in a sad way,but in a beautiful way as well.It was like the one thing that connected meto black people all over the world was I was like,we'll sound different because of our accents,we'll, like, but I can talk to,a guy who grew up in Brazil in the favelas,and I can tell him stories from South Africa in the hood,
01:30:44and he'll be like, wait, we did that.Ain't that something?And then I'll talk to a black person in New York,and they'll be like, we did that.And then I'll talk to it, it's this fast,it's what you said about the soul food.Everyone took the culture and whatever they had,and it was molded by the place they were in.
01:31:01But you can bring all the threads back,and you can connect all the moments.The same thing, you know, everyone will have a different word for it,but the barbecue, the brie,wherever people are cooking meat,and then people are roasting each other,and it's informal, and the grandmother's cooking.And the kids are all in the street,
01:31:18and you can't be in the house, you've got to be outside,but then you better get back in the house at the right time.And you know what I mean?It's like, oh, and you're playing,and it's like a, you've got to watch out for the carsat the right time.And all of this is a universal experience.See, this is deep because, like,
01:31:34I feel like as black Americans,just recent,One of the cool things about, like, the past 10, 15 years is seeing black Americans connect with Africans.Yeah.Connect with black people in other countries.Right.Because we thought a whole other thing.You know what I mean?
01:31:55Yeah, yeah, yeah.And I think I always liking it to, like, when your father got kids on the other side of town and, you know, their mother don't like you and your mother don't like them.All y'all know is what y'all like about each other.Yeah.But then you get older, you reconnect.And y'all start real, oh, that's my brother.Like, yeah, we got the same face.We kind of came from the same spot.
01:32:17Yeah.You still may have those hang-ups.Yeah.But you start to undo a lot of the bullshit you've been told.That's exactly it.And I think, like, you know, as kids for us, like African was like, that was like a bad.That was like a diss to say somebody.Yeah, booty scratcher.
01:32:35African booty scratcher.I remember when I saw that, it was like from a comedy, who said, was it Jamie who said it?It was funny, but I remember like, I remember going, wait, that's an insults.They would say that they'd be like, look at this African booty scratcher.And I was like, wait, why is that.That's why I be, you know, and that's the crazy thing too because it's like, as black people,like, I don't even really get mad too much about like when white people kind of grow up with these crazy prejudices and stereotypes for us.I can't be mad because we was taught the same shit.
01:33:06believe it too. You know what I'm saying? Like we believe a lot of the bullshit that they told us too.We learned from the same places. We watched the same movies. We watched the same show. We heard thesame disses. So a lot of the stuff that's kind of perpetuated as stereotypes, we participated in it.So we can't be that mad because we got tricked too, you know? And I think it's cool now to see thatthose lines are starting to sort of fade and we're starting to kind of see how much we got it.But that's what I like about your analogy, though, is I think for a long time, people made themistake of assuming because people shared the same dad, they were the same person.And it's like, no, Africans, even within Africa and then African Americans, like, there are so
01:33:53many differences in a good way, but then there are so many commonalities in a good way.So it's like, don't flatten the people and be like, we're all the same.It's like, no, we have a lot in common.And it's cool to bump into those things.And then we also have so many differences.It's also cool to bump into those things.So I think that's what I've enjoyed as the evolution of it is people going,oh, that's where we're, oh, okay, pig feet?
01:34:16Oh, yeah, I don't.Yeah, but that's where it's fly, though,because I could have this same conversation with somebody from Alabama.You know what I'm saying?Like, it ain't that far away.Yeah, yeah, right.It's like, you know, like, like, I joke about this,but it's true.
01:34:31If I have kids now, when they grow up, they're going to grow up.a lot more like white kids in the suburbs than me.And we just, they write from me.You know what I'm saying?So like 20,000 miles away or whatever the fuck, you know what I mean?Like in Africa or whatever, it's a lot can change.We could be the same exact person, but the dynamic of the environment that we're inmakes us completely different.
01:34:59It's one of my favorite jokes you've told, by the way.Like, you know when you hear a joke and it'll just make you chuckle whenever you feel like chuckling?was Michael says, he has a joke where he says,I just realized I grew up, you know, a certain way.And I'm just paraphrasing it.I grew up a certain way.And he's like, if I have a kid,my kid is going to live a much better life.
01:35:21They're going to be well-adjusted.They're going to be good.They're going to be good life.They're going to be a better person.And he's like, I don't want to see that.It's true, though.I don't know how to process that.I don't know how to process that.
01:35:38But it's real.To me, like, it's, um, the joke is kind of from an insecurity of, like, I'm bringingup a kid in this world, and in envy, yeah.But also, you're, you're the first generation.They're going to be sharper than me in ways that I couldn't even fathom, you know,like, the way I grew up, we was, we was beaten to submission, you know what I'm saying?Like, we was kind of taught, like, you either going to work or you're going to die, you know,that sort of thing.
01:36:09Yeah.It's a scary way.I don't know how to parent in a world where kids have everything.You know what I'm saying?Autonomy agency access.It's insane.Yeah.And the emotional intelligence of a well-adjusted kid will surpass an adult's way of thinking.
01:36:26Oh, we're dinosaurs.Any given times. Yeah.Like I've seen sometimes my daughter will just let me think what I want to think without having to fight me.Because she knows that it is what it is.And then she'll be like, okay.Then we'll just end there.Because, you know, in my world, you fight for your stake.Like you said, beat the person into submission.
01:36:44They'll just be like, okay.Then you'll come around and be like, yeah, but that was wrong.And I'm like, you are 15 or you're 12 or you're 13.You really can beat me logically because of how well-adjusted you are.Yeah.You realize that this is not going to make, because I mean, you've been on the journey.I wonder if, because I understand what you're saying as an insecurity and fear.Isn't there like a little spark of like maybe like joy that comes into your head going like,
01:37:08is there a little excitement that you have at the idea of them experiencing that?Like you are the person who is, just imagine this for a moment.I always think about this.To be the first of your generation, the first of not your generation,the first of your lineage to break out of something in a good way.Man, just think about that for a moment.Yeah, but it, you know, it also just makes me think of like,What's that, imposter syndrome kind of thing?
01:37:41Because, you know, I think, like, my grandmother,she's, like, washing floors with no headphones and shit.You know, like, that was her,and she's a better person than anybody's sitting here, you know what I mean?Right, right, right.Because I could do jokes, I get to learn what it's liketo have water shoot up your butt and after you poop, you know?She'll never know that joy.
01:38:03You know what I mean?Like, that kind of thing, like you...Is your grandson alive?No, she's gone.She died on COVID.Oh, yes, I remember this.I'm sorry, yes.No, no, it's not your fault.
01:38:13No, no, but I remember this.It's not your fault.No, I'm sorry for forgetting is what I'm saying.This is how I process things.No, but she, you know, she passed away.The reason I say I'm sorry as well is, again,because I flash back to one of my favorite lineswhere he said, I refuse to believe this shit happened
01:38:34because some Chinese nigger ate a bet.And I remember, I couldn't believe,I was so sad listening to the rest of the storyand you said that line.And I remember going,I don't know what's happening right now in my body.Yo, you were like, I refuse.You were like, it must be.
01:38:53You're like, I don't believe.You're like, I don't care about conspiracy theories.I'm not getting involved in politics.But I'm just letting you guys know.I refuse to believe that this, my world has collapsedbecause some nigger ate a bat.That's just a hard.That's a hard self in my household.
01:39:10So do you never think to yourself, though, that like,maybe I'm saying this because it's how I process things,I think of it as a culmination.Yeah.So I don't think of it as because I tell jokes or because I did this,I have this life.I go, man, my grandmother worked,my grandmother worked cleaning things and then working in a factory
01:39:33till her hands couldn't close anymore.Like my grandmother, like, when she passed to her hands were like basically like that, she couldn't like hold anything.Yeah.You know?She literally worked her hands down to the bone.Literally.But like, when I think of the moments that we got to share where at least she got to like see the family get better and she's, you know.A, she was appreciative of things that I took for granted.
01:40:01Yeah.She didn't care for them.And like, for instance, freedom was it.the biggest one for her.Yeah.Like, for real, for real.I would still talk about like,oh, what is it me?
01:40:11You know, the family,now you see we got a house that's bare.You know, we all used to sleep in one room.My grand is like, she's like, what?She's like, no, Trevor.I'm like, what do you most appreciate?She's like, we are free.She's just, oh, Trevor, you don't know what it was like.
01:40:25Then I'm like, what do you mean?I know it was bad.She's like, no, you don't know what it was like.She's like, oh, you can just walk now.You can just walk now.Yeah, like, and I was like,damn for her.she's really processing this from a different place.
01:40:40I'm looking at it sort of from an amenities and luxuries perspective.I'm like, look at what we can have.She's going, no, look at what we can be.She's like, you could just go to a school and read.And she's like, wow, you can walk in the streets now?And I was like, damn.So that's what she was grateful for.That's deep.
01:41:00I look at it sort of in the middle of that.Because I do think those two things are connected.I think like, first of all, I do deeply in my heart believe that black people are naturally socialist people because we're just community people.And our stake in the community, our standing in the community is kind of more important than anything.But I do think where money comes in is, I think it costs a lot of money to feel free for black people.black people in this country.For me in particular...Every way, I think.
01:41:38Yeah, I could only speak for myself, though.Like, I realize, I'm like, a lot of money, like, I probably, hopefully won't spend the moneythat I've made in my lifetime.Because I don't even want the stuff.I don't even really want.Like, how many cars do you want?How big of a house do you need?Like, it don't really cost a lot of money to be with me.
01:42:00I wear a lot of hoodies and sneakers from the 90s, you know what I'm saying?Like, shit ain't that expensive.And I do think, though, there's an amount of money where I feel like they won't treat me like they did.Damn.You know what I mean?Or I can go wherever I want, dressed how I want.And they'll say, oh, that's Michael.You can't get in here with, oh, no, I know.
01:42:26You come in and come on in.Like the freedom of just being able to live wherever I want or to eat wherever I want.or to wear what I wantor to not need permission,that's like what I need money for.Can I challenge you on one part of it,not to dismiss it?No, please.
01:42:48I think you're making a mistakeof conflating the moneywith the familiarity of fame.I would arguethat you would have exactlyall of these same thingswith fame.Because what fame does is
01:43:02fame bridges the gapof ignorance.Yeah.What fame does isit allows somebodyto see youapart from the collective,as you said
01:43:12in the beginningof our conversation,the numbers.So now with fame,you're not one of thoseblack kids on the corner.You're not some sketchy guywith a hoodie.
01:43:20You're not,it's like,yeah, there was this guy.Oh my God,it's Michael Chey!You see that thing?Like, you go from being a blurin a lineup
01:43:28to being a face.Sure.Does that make sense?I think that absolutely makes sense.The money thing,no,the reason I say isbecause, like, I think sometimes we conflate the money with the access
01:43:38or with the preference or with that.But it's like, no, to me it's like, oh,I've seen black people with money who sort of don't, like, have that still.But I think a lot of times that's why black people wear their money.Oh, definitely.I think that's when you see like a black guy that's not famous,he's got on 40 necklaces.Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.
01:44:01No, 100%.I think it's sort of a,A signaling of your promise.You don't have to use the baton officer.You know what I mean?It's that kind of thing.I make a lot of money.I'm okay.
01:44:15It's sort of this, it's sort of this signaling like you said.No, no, I completely agree with that.I think there's something to that.It's all.And, you know, again, I wish we lived in a world where everybody could just kind of experiencethat sort of freedom.it's not just because you have money.You know what I mean?
01:44:36Or not just because you're famous.I can't tell you how many times I've gone to a restaurant or a club or a bar or whatever.And, you know, they're like, no.And then someone runs down and say, we are so sorry.We didn't know.We didn't know what you were.Yeah, but I wouldn't feel comfortable there just because, you know,you want me there just because it's me.
01:44:56What about everybody else that looks like?Yeah.Now I know who's in there.You know what I'm saying?It ain't nobody that look like me.So this probably isn't something.the place for me. So it's, you know, it's that kind of thing where you, you know, there's thisinsecurity that nobody wants you here. You feel that way.
01:45:15Coming up on what now. The gift is the success. But because of the success, you don't get to seeeach other. There was a point where I was seeing this guy every week. That's right. Maybe twice aweek at least. And then you'd bump into each other in Australia. Oh, you're here in Australia. Oh,shit. You're in Canada. They'd be like, Michael's here. Michael's here? Yeah. Yeah. TheYou're like, well, I guess I'm getting drunk.And then it's like, well, Hannibal's here?I guess we're not waking up tomorrow.Then it became this thing.
01:45:41My favorite is like when it would overlap at like the cellar.You would just see like, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor.With the lineups, you just get, chay, chase, chase, chase.That's the best, man.You just like literally, sometimes it would align when we're just all in town.Man, it's amazing how time moves and how, you know, your experiences shape you.around the same timeyou were getting on to S&L
01:46:13was around the same timeI was getting on the daily showwas around the same timeMichael B. Jordan gotfantastic fourand it was so funnyI remember like these random conversationsone I had was with
01:46:33Michael and I said to himI think it was at a Metcalaone of those some eventit was not the right place to have this conferencebut I just said to him as like hey manhow are you dealing with thisI think because selfishly I wanted to knowI was like how are you
01:46:45I'm watching everyone say like thetorch can't be a black manlike how are you dealing with how are youand now when you look at it now you people would be likeMichael B. Joe no no one was saying thatnow he seems obvious and now he's entrenchedright now he's doing you can do anything he wantsliterally one of the few movie stars left in the world
01:47:03yeah but there was a time literallywhere people were just like the human torchIt was as simple as that.Human torch is not a black guy.Human torch.And I remember asking Michael, I said,yo, how do you feel?How are you dealing with this?
01:47:13And he said something that was really, really powerful.He said,I struggled with it.I doubt it.He says, and then one day I just went like,if not me, then who?And he was like, yeah, if not me, then who?You don't want it to be me,
01:47:31but then who?In all of these situations, if not me, then who?So instead of me constantly going,I don't belong here,it's like, okay, but then if not me, then who?someone's got to be in that spacesomeone's got to do stuffsomeone's got to
01:47:42that stuck with meand then the other onewas for usI mean it was a similar thingwe both were in a positionwhere we took overa beloved white man spotyo
01:47:53one of the only thingsthat kept me going at the daily showwas seeing the hatethat you were gettingI'm glad somebodygot some use out of itno you know whybecause like
01:48:04no I know exactly what you sayit made me realizeoh it's not personal TrevoryesYes, exactly.Because at first I was like, it's about me.Then I was like, no, it's not about you.Because they said like, oh, his accent, where he's from, he doesn't understand that he's this.
01:48:20They gave me a list.All of it.They gave me a full list.And I believed it.Genuinely believed it.Then I read people's articles, comments, tweets, posts about Michael.And then I went, wait, but he's none of those things.But then they found more things.
01:48:38They're like, oh, you know, how are you going to wear Jordans with a suit at the desk?And that's no respect for the, and look at the way he carries and those earrings.You're going to, does the SNL desk really need swag?And they put the swag in like the quotes.You know, it's like, is swag the right thing for the desk?And then they would always couch it with things.When Eddie Murphy came to SNL, you could argue that at that time, he wasn't.But is Michael Che really the poor?
01:49:06And it's just, it was such an interesting.And by the way, just to be clear on this,this wasn't coming from like, quote, unquote, like,the racists, if I can say it that way.You know, like the cliched racist,the way you always taught about them in America?No.It was from, like, the, like, liberal spaces and the think pieces.
01:49:24Yeah.And I remember being like, and I would read these of Michael Chey.And I was just like, I'm sorry to say it,but it really gave me like a bit of peacebecause I was just like, oh, okay.And I remember even talking to you about it.And I'd be like, yo, whenever I'd bump into you in the cell, I'd be like,yo, man, how you doing?
01:49:43How are you feeling about this shit?And we'd commiserate and we'd talk.And he'd be like, how are you doing?It's funny because you always thought I had a harder job.You're like, man, you're replacing John.Yeah.And I was like, no, but you're doing it.I remember one time I was like, I like confess how jealous I was of how much time you get
01:50:01on a subject to kind of dive in and do that.And he was like, I fucking love that you just get to do a joke.Like, move the fuck on.Like, literally, like, you get to kind of do that.That would be so much more fun.It's like a weird thing.Again, you're just like looking at, you know, on the other side of the fence.You're like, wow, that looks like the move.
01:50:20Yeah, but that thing, you don't understand how you being there helped me be there.And vice versa.Like, like, genuinely, genuinely, genuinely.On a Saturday, I'm not working.I'll get to sit and watch Michael Chee.And I'll be like, just like in my own little world, it would be me and Kibuka.And we were religiously on weekend up then.We'd watch that with you.
01:50:41And we were just like, damn, Michael's doing it.That's the dope part too.It's like, if we're both doing it, then you don't have to do all things and I don'thave to do all things.So the more of us doing it, being in our niche and our corners, we don't have to do everything.You don't have to be all things as well.Yeah.So it's like when you would cover something, the way you would cover it and the details, you don't
01:51:06detail you would go through every subject, I could do a slight joke now.You know what I mean?Yeah, I never thought of it.It's been done.You know what I mean?It's been covered.We can be punchy.You know what I mean?
01:51:16Or whatever the fuck, it could be different.And now you have both.So it's kind of dope.I never thought of it like that.Yeah.When there is one, they have to be everything.They have to be everything.And then you don't get to be like just you.
01:51:31Damn.Yeah.That's why I.Now, now I, now I can't.there are people I've seenwho cannot see any other possible realityother than you being at that desk.Yeah, yeah.
01:51:44Do you sometimes think abouthow crazy that is now,how you have become the defaults?No, in a beautiful way, though.Well, you gotta understand.It's different for mebecause I'm at that show all the timeand I've seen, I mean,
01:52:00I've seen Kate McKinnon leave.You know, you see stars, superstars leaveand motherfuckers that you can't.I can't imagine leaving, leaving.And so it's like, all right, it'll move on.It'll be something else.But I think...No, but what I mean, though, is...
01:52:18Imagine your trajectory and your journey.I wonder if you ever consider the fact that not for everyone,but for many outside, not speaking for SNL,because they're the ones who picked you,but you came in as the outsider, the not belonger,doesn't have the polish, doesn't have the this, doesn't have...And now I watch you, when you and like Colin do a joke swap, come on, man.Yeah.
01:52:43Like, you are so default now.Yeah.Do you ever think about how crazy that is?It is crazy when it's told to me.But to us, it's always like, you always just, I don't know, it's never sort of a sense of,yeah, we are the rock.You know what I mean?Like it's never going to feel like that.
01:53:04But when people say like, oh, that's the steady part.the show or when, you know, they kind of, we end up being like sort of an afterthought sometimes.Like sometimes we don't even get to rehearse because they spent so much time working onthe other stuff that they're like, oh yeah, and you guys just roll in.I'm like, we want to just roll in.We're the only ones that don't get to rehearse and we just got to kind of go out there.Like that happens.But that happens.
01:53:25That's strange.Okay.That's when it's like hard to understand.That's when you feel it.But it happens.Yeah, it's interesting.You are, but you still, you've still maintained your love of stand-up.Was that, is that, is that hard for you?
01:53:42Or do you have to make a conscious effort to go out and do stand-up?Or does stand-up pull you?Stand-up, I get the urge a lot, but trying to get this special done this year, like the past year,I've been doing it a lot more.And it's, you know, it's just something about to speed of stand-up, man.Like, my brain never feels more alive than being on a stage.There's nothing like it.Or killing and bombing.
01:54:13You know what I mean?Like, just sort of that whole thing.Just the whole thing of it.It's harder than it was when I was younger for some reason.I think it's because, you know, like when you're younger and you're doing stand-up,it's like, who cares?Like, this could work.This could not work, whatever.
01:54:37But like, at this point in your career, they got a babysitter.What did I say to you that day?They got the only job that gets exponentially harder.What did I say to you?They got the hair done.They got the hair done.They have is the only job that get exponentially harder.Yeah.
01:54:51It's a strange.Like, I watch musicians, the longer they go, the easier it gets.I'm not saying performing is easy.But now you have your catalog.You have two albums, three albums that.And the people already come in knowing you're going to do that album.And there's like a...Coming for that.
01:55:09Yeah, now the hard part is doing the show and putting on a great show.So I'm not minimizing it.Yes.But the curve is so different, I find.With comedy, it's easier in the beginning.Nobody knows you.Nobody expects anything.Nobody can surprise them.
01:55:24You can, you know?It's the best featuring was the sweetest part.Oh, my God.It was the...It was like a surprise.It was like literally, you was the toy in the Cracker Jack box.They bought the Cracker Jacks.He was the toy.
01:55:36And they're like, what a whistle?It was that.You was better than the deadline.You know, like, all you get all that shit, you had 15, 20 minutes, man, you smoke them.They can't believe you.You came out of nowhere.Now they're like, let's see what he got for an hour.And they compare you to you.
01:55:54They compare you.Man, that other thing you did.That was still your, that was way funnier.I mean, this was cool.This is cool.But, come on.Hey, man.do that thing about the thing.
01:56:06Yeah, brother.No, you're 100%.You're trying to top yourself.Yeah.It's tough, but it's, if it wasn't tough,would it be as exciting when it works?I don't think it's rewarding, man.You know what I mean?
01:56:22I don't think it's rewarding.When you nail it, ain't nothing like it.Ain't nothing like it, brother.Ooh.No, man, I'm glad.This has been great, man.This is so much fun.This is so much fun.
01:56:35You know, I think this is the first time we've ever done anything like this.Ever.Like, I've never even did the Daily Show.No.Never, never.We've never done anything.This is bonkers.Recorded anything.
01:56:47Yeah, but I was telling Eugene, though,genuinely, I look at you as one of my, like,it's just like, the people who possess a special place in my heart because I go where our journeybegan and how it began.Like, I know you as Michael Chey before you were like,the Michael Chey.And I was a fan of your comedybefore like everyone was a fan of the comedy.
01:57:08And literally saying this other week, yeah.And then the gift and the curse of it isyou, me, Hannibal, you know, Ronnie,all these people, then we don't get to see each other.Because ironically, the gift is the success.But because of the success, you don't get to see each other.There was a point where I was seeing this guy every week.That's right.
01:57:27Maybe twice a week at least.And then you'd bump into each other in Australia.Oh, you're here in Australia.Oh, shit, you're in Canada.They'd be like, Michael's here.Michael's here?Yeah.Then now you're like, well, I guess I'm getting drunk.
01:57:37And then it's like, well, Hannibal's here?I guess we're not waking up tomorrow.Then it became this thing.My favorite is like when it would overlap at like the cellar.You would just see like, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor, Trevor.On the lineups, you just say, cha, cha, chase, chase, check.That's the best, man.You just like literally sometimes it would align when we're just all in town working.
01:57:56Yeah, and you're all on the table.You're sitting there together.Yeah, man.And it just became like, like not even forced as the wrong way,but it became like forced community in a good way.So you go, oh shit, I'm going to spend the whole night with Michael Che.Yeah.He's going to jump on, come on.
01:58:10Then I'm going to go down and come up.Then we have to wait for the next show.And then we go down, come up.That's what I was saying to Estia is like,I'm both happy and sad that the seller has so many rooms.Yeah.Happy for them. Happy for comedy because more comedians can work.Happy for the audience because more people can see a show.
01:58:26But sad because we spend less time at that table.Ships in the night.We just passed them by.Yeah, yeah.Remember that time it was me, you and,Dave just at the cellar on stage for like an hour.That was fucking crazy.It would be like that.
01:58:41And nobody planned.Nobody called nobody.We just ended up there, you know?And it's just.Yeah, but what I don't like about, this is my pet peeve with Dave Chappelle.And I tell him this.Dave Chappelle refuses to accept the idea that I'm a fan of his comedy.He refuses that idea.
01:58:58Yeah.I, you know me.Yeah, yeah.I love watching stand-up comedy.I love this.Comedians where I go, if they say Michael Che is performing,and I can watch Michael Chee.You will.
01:59:07I'm going to perform.I'm going to watch Michael Chey.I'm not going to perform.Dave will go.Dave's in town.Yo, Dave's in town.You got to come.I'm going to come.
01:59:15And then I'm in the audience.And then Dave goes, yo, I heard Trevor.Trevor.Where's Trevor?You're like, I'm here to watch you, my friend.Yeah.Michael.No.
01:59:28Trevor.I'm like, Dave.Man, I just.I just came to watch you.And he's like, no, man, why don't you want to get on stay?I'm like, Dave, I know it's hard for you to maybe believe or accept.I do not only wish for stage time in life.Dave was a different kind of animal, man.
01:59:47Yeah, but I'm like, but I want to watch you.I want to watch you sitting in my chair and unable to participate in any way, shape, or form.But he just, Dave is like a kid who wants to play with all of his friends in his favorite thing.And that thing is comedy.And that's what I always tell him.is I go, thank you for always reminding me what comedy is and how it's supposed to be.I think it's like, it's like a sparring with him, you know, like to me.I never talked to him about it, but I do believe it keeps him sharp.
02:00:20Like, when he knows you got a fast blade, he knows you got a sharp blade,he wants to be on that stage with you, let's go.Yeah, he likes it.You know, like to him, it's like, it's like, um.Steel sharp and steel.Steel, sharp and steel, but it's like a jazz club, you know,where all of the best musicians are there.And let's see what everybody got.
02:00:42And let's answer each other.Let's see who's really quick.You know, like, I think it keeps him sharp.I think it's the most fun.And, you know, there's times where I'm like, I don't want to get on stage.I don't want to do this shit, man.Because he can do that all the time.Yeah.
02:00:58And I've got to remind myself, like, these are special.times, you know, we're not going to always be able to do this just because of the way timeworks.And I'm going to look back at every single one of those times and wish for them.So it's dope that he takes pictures of everything, like the way he documents.He's going to have a museum of comedy that no one can.He already does pretty much.You know what I mean?
02:01:24When it's done, we will all look and go, we are grateful that he memorialized all of us.Seriously.Like in ways that you just take for granted, man.Yeah, you can't take it for granted, and we do.But those nights, I remember, I'll never forget them.And yeah, I think it just, I think he just likes the,I think he just likes the sparring of it.Yeah, he does.
02:01:52He likes the gamesmanship.And it makes me like it too.You know, I like to do it on the road.You know, you just have some friends.Like, let's just go out there and just fuck around and see.Just see.Because something special might happen.Yeah, yeah, yeah, right, right.
02:02:04I don't like it at all.At all.No, I've told Dave, I'm like, no, man.I don't, I want to watch the show.That was fun, though.For you.When I'm watching a show, I'm watching a show.My brain has a very different, like, you know me.
02:02:21Man, when I'm going to do comedy,my brain has to be in a very different place.But when you're dropping in, like, let's say you're just working on it.I don't drop in.Nine and stuff?I don't drop in anywhere.Really?Yeah.
02:02:35Val and Liz and everyoneat the comedy said it will still say to me,you want to drop?I'm like, no, I don't want to drop in.I never want to drop in.I do not drop in.I never knew that.No, I will plan a show, book a show, do a show.
02:02:46I'm not just going to pop in.And this thing is so like,you see what you said abouthow you feel about comedy in the beginning?To me, dropping in would be likeI'm a boxer and then I just popin to a random placewhere they're having a fight
02:03:02and be like,yo, let me do two rounds.No.I have to warm up backstage.My body and my mindhave to be in a certain place.And I actually like that feeling.I like knowing that I'm going to box today.
02:03:13I don't just want to jump in the ringand just for a little bit.No, no, no, no.I don't want that.Don't do that to me.So I love just bumping into comedyand watching it.But I do not.
02:03:22I never want to jump on.He'll tell you.Never, never, never.Wow.I think so.Yeah, you want to jump on?No, I do not.Sometimes I like it just to feel, just to see that I need it, you know?
02:03:34Like if I go up there and I got nothing, it makes me want to write.And if I go up there and I got something, it makes me want to write.You know, like, it kind of like, it's my motivation to get a thing.It makes you feel something.You know what I mean?Yeah, it lets me know where I'm at.And then I'm like, all right, I got to get going.I'm on the road or I'm working so much in stand-up that I don't need that as a.
02:03:55So what do you start with?What do you mean?Like when you're on it, like, okay, I'm going to work on an hour.I'm working on an hour.I got some dates.What are you starting with?What's that first hour comprised of?So I always have multiple hours running concurrently in my head.
02:04:14That's what I always, always, always have.And then I think Eugene and I are similar in that like, if we haven't been on stage for a while,and you'll correct me from, we'll maybe like,go to something we just like know.Yeah. But then very quickly, it's back to generation mode.So it's like, okay, now it's all the stuff we don't know.Yeah.So what I'm trying to do is I get on stage and I go, do I feel funny?
02:04:40Do I don't?Do the things where you know they're funny and you like respect the audience?Yeah, jumpstart yourself.And then when I'm in that mode and I was like, blah, blah, blah, blah, it's like, okay, okay, I'm going now.Now I'll do everything.but I have I've always had concurrent hours in my headand then what happened is COVID created such a backlogthat I still haven't caught up.
02:05:03Wow.So what I do now isthere are some ideas that I'm like working onor pondering or thinking about where I still haven't like figured them outor the time isn't right or the so I I'll just be likeand then and then I think the zeitgeist matches you in a momentyou're like oh okay now it's time I can say thisand I can't put this out.
02:05:23Yeah, yeah, I call it the junkyard.I'll just have, like, just pieces in the junkyard,and it'll make sense.That's exactly it.I feel like a doc and back to the future.It's just got a bunch of pieces to shit.There you go.Yeah.
02:05:37That's exactly how I feel like it.That's how I feel about it.That's how I, that's what I enjoy.So I don't ever think of like, I'm trying to build this hour.Yeah.You know?Yeah.Because I'm like, what is this hour?
02:05:50What is this?It's like, no, no, no, no, no.Let me generate, let me generate, let me generate, let me generate.Every country, I'll do a different set, every place, every world, like.That's crazy.But that's how we've always genuinely, him and I are very similar in like our sort of comedy vibe and philosophy.That was one of the things that I noticed about like overseas, like when I would do those festivals, international festivals,I noticed like guys not from America.
02:06:22would have these sort of, like,they would launch into, like, stories.Yeah, yeah, yeah.And I just could not figure out how you could even do that.I think it's got a lot to do with the audiences are, like, willing to listen.I think, like, American audiences are usually, our attention span is, like,you got to be fast, you got to talk to them, you got to, like, you know what I mean?Like, you got to, like, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.
02:06:49Then you earn the right to tell a story.But, like, I would watch.I would watch a guy come out and he's starting a story.No laughs of 10 minutes.But the laugh that he gets after 10 minutes is huge because they were engaged.You know what I'm saying?They're much better sort of, I don't know, presenters in that way.But I feel like in New York, it's like you got to be funny 10 times in 10 minutes at least
02:07:15before you could even start thinking about telling a fucking story.You know what I mean?Like, are you kidding me?You're going to start with a story,nigga?We don't even know who you are.You know what I mean?Like, really?
02:07:27Like, it's just like,like, even for me, like,I'll be on stage for my audience.If I don't get a laugh in about three minutes,they like...Three minutes.Yeah, no, that's crazy to us.Three minutes.
02:07:40That's crazy.Three minutes.Yeah, that's crazy to us.No man.Three minutes.The first line preferably should be something.If five minutes,they'll give you three,
02:07:50They'll give you about five charm minutes.You could be charming, happy to be here.Let you get away with it, yeah.Yeah, but remember this, though.Three minutes.These guys had no space, no time.Like, think about how many people were doing comedy.Think of how big comedy has been.
02:08:06Think about we were the opposites.You guys were like, hey, we'll give you three minutes.I remember when I first came to America and then I was at the Laugh factory in L.A.Oh, L.A., yeah, yeah.Yeah, it was chocolate Sundays.And then they were like, all right, after many weeks, they're like, okay, you can go up.And I was like, okay, finally, I can go up.And then they're like, you're doing three.
02:08:28And I was like, what, three spots?And they're like, no, three minutes.Oh, yeah, yeah, it's at the Lujac.Then I was like, my friend, what do you, I was like, what do you say in three minutes?Yeah.They're like, well, you better, you better be funny.You got to be funny.And that was it.
02:08:41They're like, you got three minutes.Then I realized, no, because there's such a saturation of talent and potential, like, people are waiting,they're like, we don't have time to seeif you're good or funny or anything.But on our side of the world,there were so few comediansand comedy is such a like rare thingin that way
02:09:00that people were going,there's two comedians,this audience is expecting a one hour,one and a half hour show.Yeah.So can you do 45?And you're like,I just started last week.
02:09:15You remember this?100%.They'd be like,40.You're like, I just started last week.They're like, yeah, just do, man.Just keep going.And you'd be like, looking at your work.
02:09:25Like, yo, okay, I guess that's seven.What else?That's crazy.Remember, there will be times where they're like, yeah, just keep going.You're like, hit 45.You're trying to get off.We had the opposite of a light.I know there's comedians.
02:09:38We had people be like, go back.I know there's comedians now with like maybe five to 10 years experience.That's probably never done a full hour.No way.Easy.Yeah.Absolutely.In their life.
02:09:49In their life, they've never done a full hour.Hell yeah.Where are you going to do it?This is what I've been telling you.Yeah, no.Makes sense.Where are you going to do it?Yeah, I know.
02:10:02I always say, like, America taught me about jokes in a fantastic way.The two and a half, three years that I spent on the road here, you know, doing the flappers, comedy, you know, the random, the B clubs.I was never in an improv or any of those.I was always in the second-tier club in the.the city. Is that right?Yeah. I just never got into thetop clubs. So, I wouldalways like, let's say, like, Neil Brennan, I'd bump into
02:10:26he would be at the improv and then I would be atthe whatever, the hokey poke.And I was always thatguy at that club. The hokey poke.Yeah, it was always that kind of, you know,it was always that kind of name. And thenthat taught me like, okay,because when I first came to America,
02:10:43I came with our thing.I remember my first line, man.Chris Spencer. You know Chris Spencer.Of course.I'll never forget this, man.I go to the comedy store.I had another show tripping on Tuesdays.I think it was called.
02:10:57So I go there, they're like, okay, if you're going to go on, great.Get on stage.Don't tell me you greeted.Good evening.Ah, man.Greeted, my man.I greeted.Because where we were from a greet.
02:11:14Good evening.Greeted.All black audience.And every comedian who came.on before me, the band and the music would play, they would come on, they would like,yeah, yeah, come on, come on, I don't cut it, cut it, give me their shit back.What, man, what you all know?And then they'd go in and they start hitting it in the ear and they'd be funny.
02:11:31And then I came on, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-pah.And now I'm at the mic, waiting.I'm like, when is the music going to stop?I'm waiting.I'm just standing there at the microphone.These guys are probably like, yo, is he not going to acknowledge the music or anything?Da-da-da-ba-ba-ba.He's like, good evening.
02:11:46Yo, the crowd went.I don't know if there's an opposite, like, anti-silence.It wasn't just silence, it was like a vacuum.Yeah.Like, it sounds pretty good evening.Nobody responded.Then I went, good evening.And then I hear people like, yeah, good even, man.
02:12:02But like, what, are you making an announcement?Are you an officer?Yeah.And then I went and I started doing my thing, started doing.Silence and confusion filtered through the whole set.And then I was done.nobody hated menobody liked me
02:12:21it was just confusionit was just what was thisyeah what happened hereand Chris SpencerI'll never forgetcame up to me afterwardsand he was likehey man he's like
02:12:31where you fromI was like from South Africaand he's likeoh so for realI thought it was like a bitor satsi likeI thought you were likenigga from Brooklyn
02:12:37and you were putting on itI was like noI'm from South Africahe's like manand he's likeman you got you gotta knowhow we experienceyou're like
02:12:43Nick Nick Nick Nickhe was likegood eveninghe's likeAnd then Chris was just like, yo, you got to understand the time and the space and who the audiences and how we perceive you and what they expect of you.And he was one of my custodians I always think in life and he helped me.And as I would grow, I was like, oh, America had this thing of like, yo, come on, let's go.You get on stage.
02:13:04I would always be like offended because Americans used to come to South Africa and then they would get on stage, wouldn't greet.They just walk in and be like, give it up for Michael Cheya.And then the American would come on and just be like, so the other day I'm looking at my wife.My wife's in the kitchen.And I'm like, ah, ah, my man.Who's your wife?Who are you?Who is your family?
02:13:23You can't just start a story like that, my friend.My wife, no, my brother.No, good evening.So you don't see us.This guy just comes out and starts telling us about his thing.You guys ever notice how, ah, we noticed how you didn't greet us, my man.Don't worry about noticing.So then I learned that in America.
02:13:41But then when I went to those first Ireland, you know, doing shows in Dublin,doing shows in Scotland, all of that.They were almost like, comedians were like,Trevor, why?It feels like you're Russian.Like you're trying to like get to a joke.I was like, what do you mean?Then you can, you know,
02:13:56you can take a bit of time, explain the story a bit more.I was like, take a bit of time.They're like, yeah.Their comedy festivals,even the like opening sort of spotswas like 15 minutes.That's an opening spot.Yeah, a comedy, yeah.
02:14:12So I liked that, like,I always say Edinburgh taught me how to likeshare an idea with an audienceand think through itand Dublin taught mehow to think of a storyand its purposeand what I'm doing.
02:14:23America taught me about jokes.South Africa taught meabout like vibeand like the juice insideof something, the texture.It's like, no, it's not justabout what you're saying.It's like, yeah, man.
02:14:34Are you saying it?Like, you know what I mean?When are you saying it?There's things.So, yeah, so that thing is,have you done comedy in South Africa?Never.Never.
02:14:44Come on, Michael Chin.Still never been.You know, every time I talk to you, I feel like, we get to a point where you're like, you got to come to South, man.We've got to get you off the block, Michael.You're killing us, man.I got to go.They got to win read there.We're going to do it.
02:14:58We're going to do it.You always say that.But we've got to do it, though.Is this you a very busy man?But you have, what, three months off on a, how long is your break?Normally.We're done.Well, we got three months off in the summer.
02:15:09That's what I mean.Yeah.So it's three months?We're like June, July, August.Just one trip.Yeah.I would love to do.Just one.
02:15:15one trip.I would love to do it.The place is beautiful.So even if you hate the comedy, you'll love the place.I've only heard really, really cool things.You'll never look back.Word?Yo.
02:15:27Yo.For real, for real.I don't even think you understand.Our audiences are some of the best in the world.Yeah.The vibe that you'll feel in the room, like.Yeah.Yeah.
02:15:37I don't know.I'm so jealous of him.Yeah.I'm dying to go to South Africa.There's so many South African girls in my,algorithm on Instagrammy whole algorithmnow that's how I learn flags
02:15:54is my algorithmI learn flags like a motherfuckerSouth African flag ispopping on my just I'm telling youI'll show youI'll show you brothersome women out thereoh my God
02:16:12I'll go let's goI'm down.I'm saying yes.I'm saying yes.You know what?I'm just picturing Michael Jay on his phone.And he's just like, Grenada, Trinidad, South Africa.No, South Africa.
02:16:30Crazy.Just the idea that he's learning about the world.I didn't know.I started looking at the flags.I was like, yeah, this Dominican girl.Crazy.Oh, man.This Dominican girl crazy too.
02:16:41Oh, man.Oh, man.Yeah.I started looking at the flag.I look at the flags.This is dope, man.Michael Chey.Yo, thank you, brother.
02:16:51I can't believe it's been this long, Trevor.It's been too long.For real.We've got to make it less long.This was dope.What Now with Trevor Noah is produced by Day Zero productionsin partnership with Sirius XM.The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah,
02:17:06Sanaziamen, and Jess Hackle.Rebecca Chain is our producer.Our development researcher is Marcia Robiou.Music, mixing, and mastering.by Hannes Brown.Random other stuff by Ryan Hadith.Thank you so much for listening.Join me next week for another episode of What Now?
There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click any sentence in the transcript to leave one.