WTF with Marc Maron Podcast - Episode 1537 - Joe Mande

Episode Date: May 9, 2024

Joe Mande’s past appearances on WTF involve him being a sort of merry comic prankster, like back in the heyday of Twitter when he was trolling politicians and corporate brands on a daily basis. But in today’s polarized social environment, Joe and Marc talk about how tricky it is to be a modern day troublemaker. They also discuss their shared love of Michael Clayton, courtside basketball, and Joe’s hand in the making of the show Hacks. Sign up here for WTF+ to get the full show archives and weekly bonus material! https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 17th, I actually like this so much better than a motel. I bet the people who live here are really happy. witness how the strangers Hello? became the strangers. You have to get out of here. What the fuck are you doing?

Oh my god! Why are you doing this to us? Because you're here. The Strangers is Chapter 1. Only in theaters May 17th. This summer, one movie event will reign. It is our time. Apes hunt humans. That is wrong. Bend for your king. Never.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Only in theaters May 10. Tickets on sale now. Hey folks, you probably know that I've got some issues with food, but you should also know that my issues might not be your issues. And if you're looking to get your food issues under control, what works for me might not work for you. That's what's great about Noom.

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I'm mark Maron. This is my podcast Welcome to it. How's it going? How's it going out there today on the show? I talked to Joe Mandy Mandy's been here before I like Mandy a lot. It's a very bright guy very funny guy He was a writer on shows like parks and Recreation, The Kroll Show, The Good Place. He's currently on Hacks, where he's also a writer and producer. He is the guy at the hotel. He's also been on this show several times in the past. Episodes 142, 213, 832.

He's got some great stories that made it into our book, waiting for the punch. So it was a pleasure to have him back again. Tonight I'm in Munhall, Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Library Music Hall. Tomorrow I'll be in Cleveland, Ohio at Playhouse Square Saturday, Detroit, Michigan at the Royal Oak Music Theater. Then I'm back at Largo in LA Michigan at the Royal Oak Music Theater. Then I'm back at Largo in LA next Tuesday May 14th. I love Pittsburgh. I'm hoping that while I'm here that love remains. I don't know. I just think it's a beautiful city and every time I come I'm like this is a beautiful city. Look at these. This is a little area with the with the cobblestone street stuff and a few stores I like. It must be a great

city. It's be a great city. It's got a good coffee shop. And what is this place? Oh, I could live here. So these rescheduled dates, folks, I apologize. Santa Barbara, California, the Barrow Theater, that will now be on January 30th, 2025. San Luis Obispo, California at the Fremont.

That's now January 31st. Monterey, California at the Fremont. That's now January 31st. Monterey, California at the Golden State Theater, February 1st. Iowa City at the Engler Theater, February 13th. Des Moines, Iowa at Hoyt Sherman Place, February 14th. Kansas City, Missouri at the Midland Theater, February 15th. Asheville, North Carolina at the Orange Peel, February 20th. Nashville, Tennessee at the Polk Theater, February 21st. Louisville, Kentucky at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, February 22nd. Lexington, Kentucky at the Lexington Opera House,

February 23rd. Durham, North Carolina at the Carolina Theater, March 21st. Charlotte, North Carolina at the Knight Theater, March 22nd. Charleston, South Carolina at the Charleston Music Hall, March 23rd. For all ticket links, go to wtfpod.com.

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Anxiety is high, folks. I don't know what to tell you. I gotta go, you know, I'm gonna do these dates and then I'm gonna be up and down from Vancouver and I gotta get everything set up, got someone staying at the house, got to worry about the cats, I get very emotionally attached to the cats.

But the level of anxiety I have going into this job is overwhelming and it's hard for me to manage. So I'm digging around inside of myself. I'm trying to think, you know, why can't I just frame this anxiety as something that my mind is generating? Things will probably be okay.

I just have to take the steps necessary to make myself feel grounded and comfortable in the work I have to do. And even if that means spending time away from home, although I come back, I'm coming back, it's in the paperwork. I'm coming back every couple of weeks to do what I'm coming back every couple weeks to do what I gotta do, to do some podcasts, to regroup, to sort of spend some time with the cats, with Kit, and deal. But there's something about going away

that it is very hard for me, even when I'm just traveling for three or four days. Anytime I have to leave the little small circles of my patterns, my brain just fucking loses its mind and I'm thinking back on it. I'm trying to figure out what it is and I've always had it and it has something to do surprise with boundaryless parents. Surprise.

I know, look, I talk the psycho babble here and there, but there's no end to the seemingly deepening chasm, the rabbit hole. I don't want to say trauma in a big way, but just in terms of being sort of emotionally incapacitated, but also anxiety wise. A couple of times when I was younger, I went to a sleepaway camp. Not bragging, but I remember being dropped off by my parents, maybe by my mom, and just being physically ill and emotionally overwrought and crying and just unable to sort of even begin to adjust to this new thing this new place these new People a cabin not great bathroom situations

You know bunk beds, it's chilly out there, and I'm just like why why and I would be fucking Incapacitated for days. That's who I was I may not sound like this guy now or that guy now But that's the guy that lives inside of me just utter Separation anxiety I guess and that was I guess since I was a kid. And because of all that, you know, I live a life of, you know, working against that cognitively. I think I'm petrified of almost everything, many major change, but I have learned through doing comedy, through doing drugs, from doing any type of insane thing that I've done

or any type of risky thing that I've done, that if I don't put myself in the position, I'm not gonna function. I just have to overcome the fears in that moment and make the transition. Some therapist told me about this. He said that it's almost everything that I do on the spectrum of personal life is some sort of almost compulsive drive for what he called primal union.

Kind of sticks with me, man. Primal union. This is the idea that when you're born, you are sort of symbiotically, emotionally, spiritually, physically almost connected to your mother. And it's like it's a deep connection. You are an appendage and you remain an emotional appendage one way or the other. And depending on how your parent was, who the fuck knows what that means.

But if at some point your parent, your mom or whoever's in charge, doesn't release you on some level into a emotional space where you can sort of develop yourself, if there's panic, if there's worry, if there's a complete absorption of your emotional being by that parent and you never make that shift. They never say, they never put a boundary up and go like, you gotta take some hits. You gotta get up and go again. You gotta like, brush yourself off

and figure out how you're going to handle that. If they step into that process for too long, once you're released into the wild, you have no capacity for functioning emotionally because now you're just missing a part. And I guess I believe that, the idea that, hey man, after a certain age, no one's gonna come help you.

You're on your own pal. Hope you can take care of yourself. Can ya? Can ya? Did you know nearly 75% of people have subscriptions they've forgotten about? I'm one of them. Between streaming services and apps and random things

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I had a, I picked out some frames for my character and I had Dr. Kane, you know, make the glasses but he said I needed a checkup. I got the checkup and now like I got a prescription and I can't adjust to it. It makes me nauseous. I can't adjust to the new prescription. And now I've got to go back.

And this is with every time I've gotten a prescription for my glasses, I've had to get it redone at least once. What the fuck is, it's just, it never stops. And I gotta see, you know what I'm saying? I have to see, I'm not adjusting to being 60 well. I just want you to know that. And it's not, I feel fine, I'm working and everything else. But man, there's a weight to it.

There is a weight. There's an oncoming darkness to it on top of the oncoming darkness of everything else. But I've got a flashlight. And when I go back and get the lenses changed, I'll have glasses. So look, Joe Mandi, he's performing at Dynasty Typewriter in LA tomorrow.

That's Friday, May 10th as part of the Netflix is a Joke Festival. You can go to dynastytypewriter.com for tickets. Very funny guy. He's been here before. I see him socially sometimes. Always enjoy seeing Joe. This is me talking to Joe Mandy. On May 17th...

I actually like this so much better than a motel. I bet the people who live here are really happy. Witness how the strangers... Hello? Became the strangers. What the fuck are you doing? Why are you doing this to us? Because you're here.

Why are you doing this to us? Because you're here. The Stranger is Chapter 1, only in theaters May 17th. From fleet management, to flexible truck rentals, to technology solutions. At Enterprise Mobility, we help businesses find the right mobility solutions, so they can find new opportunities. Because if your business is on the road, we wanna make sure it's on the road to success. Enterprise Mobility, moving you moves the world.

What do you got another job or something? It's early. Yeah, I just wake up, man. Yeah. You want to light the candles? I wake up. I'm up early. Yeah. I don't sweep for shit.

But I do... No, I've got a sweet gig right now where I work three days a week on a show. What show? A Mindy Kaling, an untitled Mindy Kaling show about basketball. I don't know anything about basketball. I know a lot about basketball. You do?

Yeah. That's your thing? Yeah. I saw a picture of you and Malaney at courtside. Yes, courtside. That's the one rich guy thing I fully understand. Really? Now, who's rich guy?

Are you rich guy-ing it on that one or is it Malaney? No, no, no, neither of us. Those were Ari Emanuel's tickets, I believe. Oh. So we're just like two bums that got tickets through his agency. Who's with Ari? Is Malaney with that guy?

Yeah. I don't understand how all that stuff works. You guys are working at a much higher level. He's got tickets through his agency. Who's with Ari? That's, is Mulaney with that guy? Yeah. Oh, I don't understand how all that stuff works. You guys are working at a much higher level. I mean, I'm just a, I'm a barnacle on that, on that shit. But like, he knows that if there's court side seats, that I'm the first person to call, cause I- Does he go often?

I mean, he, I mean, I know he's got a hookup at Knicks games Yeah, when he's in New York, yeah, yeah, he's a basketball freak. I think he enjoys basketball, but I the experience of sitting courtside is so Amazing and special that I think even if you're not into basketball, it's like being on drugs, isn't it? Yeah It's well, it's just like this like you hear the players talking shit to each other Yeah, and you're right there with all the Giants. Yes. Yes, it's it's thrilling and you can feel the the floors bouncing shit Yeah, it's like going like even if you don't like sports. It's exciting. Yes. Yeah, just watch it. Just the sensory Yeah overload even like it's weird even like a baseball game. I'm not you know, you go sit in a stadium

Yeah, it's not the same but you feel nice, right? Right, but you're, you go sit in a stadium, it's not the same, but you feel nice. Right, right, but you're not like right there. No, but it's meditative. Yes. And where's basketball, I don't think so. No. And it's a very good position to be in for photographs. Oh yeah, yeah, that's a...

I saw a picture of you. Right, right, who's this bozo? Yeah. There's always a bozo with the main bozo. Yeah, exactly, yeah. Well, that the main bozo. Yeah, exactly. Well, that was funny. It was that they also always go in on the Jumbotron. These two men on your famous person.

I always poke my head in. I gotta get in there. Just for promo. Oh my God. So what, was that Michael Clayton thing yours originally? Yeah. Yeah those those yard signs Yeah, yeah, that's me. Well, I know because like I I think I've said that on my podcast. Yeah. Oh really like that exactly I've been I've been you know pushing Michael Clayton for a decade. Yeah, same It's it's it's my favorite movie of the 21st century. You think. You too? Yeah. I watch it all the time.

Me too. And I talk about it constantly. I talked about it with Clooney. I've talked about it. Like, who else have I talked about it? Did I, who directed that? Was that a Gilroy? Yeah.

Who was the Gilroy? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I can't get over that movie. I know. It's so well done. I think it's the best execution scene in any movie. Tom Wilkinson's performance in that as an over-educated, manic-depressive guy.

Who are you, Michael? What's that line? I'm not the enemy, then who are you? Then who are you? Yeah. People are fucking incomprehensible. Yes. That's the best.

So many quotables. I know. And when Tilda Swinton drops to her knees, that's insane. I mean, what an ending. I mean, I just, I don't know. Also, like, it is funny. I made those signs that it's a big part of my personality and I've had friends, like Rory Scoville was like,

I'm gonna watch this movie. And then like halfway through he texted me and he was like, so do you like this movie as a bit? You know, so some people just like don't fully don't like see the appeal. I can't even understand that. To me it was like one of the last grownup movies. Like it was of a time where like there was,

there's just movies, big movies with big stars are rarely made for adults. That's true. Yeah, the legal thriller has sort of gone by the wayside, unfortunately. Yeah, a lot of them have, but I don't know. I just, I can watch it. I'll just start it and watch the whole thing.

I don't give a shit. Every time. Me too. The brother, it's great, everybody's great. Oh my God, just thinking about it. The drugged up brother and then the cop brother, good family, New York, Clooney, the last scene in the cab, great. Yeah, we could spend the whole podcast talking about it.

I'm happy to do it. Like how many times a year do you watch it? Oh at least three times. Right, yeah me too. And I'm always happy to see it pop up. Me too, yeah well it's one of those movies that's like I feel the same way about like the Fugitive. There's certain movies that if it's just on TV

I'll watch it to the end. Yeah, Goodfellas, any of the Casino, I'll watch. Yeah, Casino Rules. Yeah, I'll watch it to the end. Yeah, Goodfellas, any of this, Casino, I'll watch. Yeah, I'll watch. Casino rules, yeah. Yeah, I watched Black Mass, like three or four times on the road recently, because it was on HBO. That's the- Johnny Depp, Whitey Bulger movie. Yes, yeah. Adam Scott's in that.

Oh yeah, he is, he plays the FBI guy. But, you know, Joel Edgerton, fucking insane. It's an insane movie. I need to see that. I don't know if I actually I Initially I was a little put off by this sort of Nosferatu nests of of depth and makeup as white bulger Well, I mean he like he's at a point now where they have to put makeup on him to look less Weird knows for us That's monstrous. Yes, no, less monstrous. Yes.

But over time, over watching it, it's, what's that guy's name who directed it? Scott Cooper, I think he did Pale Blue Eye and Hostiles, you know, with Christian Bale. But that movie, like they, you know, most of the time Boston accent horrendous. All of them nail it. Oh, that rules.

Yeah, the town is hard to watch. It's all over the place. No, they all nail it. And Edgerton's character is just insane as the sort of corrupt FBI guy, but thinking he's doing the right thing. And he's just so full. You gotta watch it.

Yeah, I will. I just watched it several times. I just pick it up and it became better and better. That's your like road movie? No, it was just on HBO. It just happened to be timing out when I get back to a room and I turn on the TV and I'm like, all right, I'm gonna watch it again.

And Jesse Plemons is in it. And that guy. He rules. Yeah, he's great. But what's that other guy's name? I interviewed him too. Barack Obama. Yes, he's great. But what's that other guy's name? I interviewed him too. Barack Obama. Yes, he's got a small part

and he does the accent really well. Oh good, yeah. No, Rory Cochran. Oh. Do you know that guy? Rory Cochran. Yeah, do you know that guy? No.

Dazed and confused. That's right, he was in Dazed and Confused. Oh, okay, then yes. He was the kid, the long-haired kid with the dollar bill. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, but he turned into a very peculiar older man. That rules. A very intense, scary dude.

The reason I'm talking about it is because I've never seen someone portray a mobster where I saw in their eyes in a real way that they had killed people. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anytime you see a mobster, you're like, all right, well, De Niro's doing a pretty good job.

Even Joe Pesci, when you watch him kill people, you kind of think he can kill people, but not quite. But this guy, I'm like, he can fucking kill people. Well, that's the thing is, even in that scene where he's like, am I a clown here to amuse you? Kicking Billy Bats? It's like, kind of. Like you kind of are like a little clown man. Like, I don't know.

But there's a moment there where he looks up with that, where he's fucking knifing the guy. Right, right, but it's still kind of funny. Sure, well he's hilarious. Yeah. That whole thing's hilarious. All right, so what I was talking to Brendan about We've seen the full arc of something like, you know, like remember when you're like the the guy the Twitter guy. Yes

Yes, yes. That was big. Yeah, big. I was Do you remember how important it was real rascal? Yeah, I actually, I've been doing a stand-up joke about that. That sort of like the peak of the internet for me was around that time. There were like no consequences. I was an absolute terrorist. You were like going after corporations and everybody. Corporations and politicians.

I used to just on a daily basis try to ruin Newt Gingrich's day. You know what I mean? And I know I did. Yeah, like you could sort of sense, it was less professionalized, you know? So people ran their own accounts. And if you could find someone who was older,

who had an account that clearly wasn't tech savvy, like yeah, I could ruin Newt Gingrich's day. It was important to me. Did you ever get validation on that? I mean, did he ever respond? No, I mean, it was just more like I was sending things to him constantly, and I wasn't getting blocked, but he didn't have a lot of followers. So I knew it wasn't getting like lost in a sea of comments.

Like who's writing the new game? Yeah. What was the best exchange where you really felt like you won something? What was the prize? The prize of engagement. The prize of engagement was sort of the arc of my interactions with LaCroix Sparkling Water.

That was, it was such a like perfect story. Was it epic? It was pretty epic where I, as a bit, just sort of started claiming I was their celebrity spokesperson. Yeah. And they sort of indulged and sent me a bunch of soda and gear, I had t-shirts, and they were, whoever their social media team was, was like in on the bit.

It was like allowing me to be their spokesperson. And then I did a show in Texas with Aziz, I believe, and I made some off-color joke about Ted Cruz. And by the time I got to the green room, there were people in the crowd who were so mad that they were, you know... Tweeting? Tweeting at LaCroix that,

how could this person be associated with your brand? And it got up to the, like, CEO level. And, like, a week later, I got a cease and desist letter from La Croix. Saying like I had to stop associating with their product. Because of Ted Cruz. Because of the, yes, the joke I made about Ted Cruz. What was that joke? I think we should repeat it.

Well, yeah, I would mean it was just sort of, I was riffing on stage and I made a joke about how, the joke was sort of like, I would pay anyone in the crowd $1,000 if they could fling a cum on Ted Cruz, like that scene in Silence of the Lambs. But then the joke wasn't about that. It was more like me trying to figure out logistically how I could Venmo money to a stranger.

And you know, it was just sort of breaking down the impossibility of that. Of getting someone a come for hire. Yeah, so that got sort of picked up and upset some people. It upset my mom. My mom was a federal judge at the time. And so she was like, you've gotta make a statement saying that you were joking.

And I was like, well, obviously I was joking. She's like, no, but if someone actually does it, you can get arrested for like inciting a... Come? A terrorist come attack. Really? Yeah, so then I was like, okay, mom. And so then I wrote a thing on my Twitter

that was like an apology, but I made sure to use the term fling come at Ted Cruz, like 30 times. And I don't think my mom thought that was like the best way to handle it. Yeah, I think it's difficult to have me as a son. Yeah, yeah. You made sure she saw it? Yeah, of course.

Yeah, of course. And I framed the I have to have the cease and desist letter in my house. Framed? Yeah, framed, of course. From La Croix. Yeah, with like the La Croix letterhead. Well, you know, it's good to be a shit starter. But like your mom's a federal judge where?

She was, she retired, so I think we're safe now. She was in Philly and then at the end there in Cleveland. Really? Yeah. How does, like, so you grew up in that? Well, no, she became a judge right after I graduated from college. She was a lawyer?

Yeah, both my parents were lawyers. I can't remember. I know we talked about it. How long were you in New Mexico? Until I was 11. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So not big memories. You ever go back?

No, I mean, yeah, I go back not a lot. Like every few years, I love it. I mean, it's weird. It's still like, it still feels like home to me, you know? Like just being like up in the mountains, and the sunsets, and the food, and all that. Do you remember, where was your house? Up near the tram.

Oh, so it was up there. Like, city of mountains, yeah. Oh, it was way down Northwest Valley. Right. We covered all this at some other point in time. I can't remember the last time you were on. Yeah, it's been a minute. It's a long time ago.

Yeah, I was actually talking to someone. I sort of- Everyone's grown up now. It's kind of weird. Yeah, I know. It is weird, it is weird. I. It's been a long time ago. Yeah, I was actually talking to someone. Everyone's grown up now. It's kind of weird. Yeah, I know, it is weird, it is weird. I feel like I'm like two years away from getting introduced at little shows as like a legend. The legend?

Yeah, yeah. They do that to me. Yeah, of course. I mean, I remember doing it to Todd Barry and making him so mad. You know, it's like. Yeah, I don't know how it sits with me. Mm.

You know, cause it feels like it's sort of just shy of dead. It feels like that, yeah, yeah, I know. Bobby Lee does it a lot to me. Oh does he? A legend, yeah. Right. I mean, I'm just, I'm still doing really good comedy. Right. So just bring me up,

Right. Fahim brought me up as a treat last night. Okay. That's, that's almost, you know, infantile or something. It's like, well, you know, sometimes guys stop by and I gotta, this is a real treat, That's almost infantile or something. He's like, you know, sometimes guys stop by and I gotta, this is a real treat and he brings you up, I'm like, a treat? I'm here every fucking night.

Yeah, I mean, and also I mean, like, I love your comedy. I don't know if it's like a treat. I think the initial, for those who know me, the initial few seconds of seeing me, that's a treat. And then it's just kind of a, hold on, rough ride. You sort of settle into that stool. Yeah, I did. Why stand up?

I don't sit too long on the 15 minute sets in the OR. I've been moving around a little bit more. I've been full of the beans lately, kind of old school. Kind of yelling, engaging, getting mad at audience members. Hell yeah, that's what it's all about these days. Those are clips, baby. Yeah, I don't, do you tape them all? No, no, although I wish I had like this nightmare weekend

in Phoenix. I know, I wanna talk to you about that. I wish I had taped the sets for like, the opposite of what clips do for people. Just be just like. I just feel like I can do crowd work. I'm good at it. Yeah. But like now I've made fun of it, of the clips.

I've made a clip making fun of the clips. Oh, I love that, yeah. But there's some part of me that's sort of like, why am I not just putting this shit up there? Right. What the fuck difference does it make? And it would probably sell tickets. Well, I love that, yeah. But there's some part of me that's sort of like, why am I not just putting this shit up there? Right. The fuck difference does it make? And it would probably sell tickets. Well, I know it would.

That's how it works now. But do I want those people that would come to my show braced on crowd work clips? I guarantee you, you would not. Yeah. I can say with certainty. I don't think I'd be getting grownups. No, well, no.

Cause they're not really watching TikTok, are they? They're not on TikTok, no. So, well, but what is your history with, you know, causing trouble on stage in a real way? I mean, I know we talked at Moshe's party briefly about the Phoenix thing. And I think I actually said, let's talk about it on the podcast, did I?

But I mean, with the Ted Cruz thing, it seems like you do it a lot. Yeah, I mean, I think everything's gotten so much more, even since the Ted Cruz thing, like so much more like hostile and polarized. It's crazy. Yeah, so like things are just charged in a way. Yeah.

Like I don't feel like I've changed at all, but just the effect these things have on people is just so much more intense than it used to be. And you don't, I go out, if I'm at the store or something, it's everybody, but if I'm performing, most of the time people are coming to see me. But you still go out and people don't necessarily know you.

Right, I mean it's like half and half. I'll do shows at rock clubs or that kind of thing. Those are my people. But yeah, but if I'm just like, I just shot a special two weekends ago, and so I was just working everywhere. Where? I shot in Minneapolis.

Where at? This place called the Parkway Theater. Is it good? Yeah, it's great. How many seats? It's, I would say 300 or so. That's good. Yeah, it feels like, I mean,

this is a very specific reference, but it's like Minneapolis Largo, if that makes sense. Sure, well, I mean, all of Minneapolis is Largo. Yeah, right. I mean, Minneapolis has been Largo for years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I shot a special there. I love Minneapolis.

Yes. I love Minneapolis. Yes. I love working there. There's such a savvy community because they've had theater there. And I think in no short, whatever that's saying is, Garrison Keillor, I think, did something to that town. Right, right. Not in a bad way.

No, no, no, but yeah, no, I grew up there. That's where I went after New Mexico. Oh, okay. So, I mean, I loved it. That's right. We talked about the Somal there. That's where I went after New Mexico. Oh, okay. So, I mean, I loved it. That's right. We talked about the Somalians. That's right. The four buildings, full of Somalians.

Uh-huh. But yeah, but they're just a theater town and a rock town. Right. All right, so how long is the special? Just a full hour? Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Feel good about it? I feel, yeah, I feel good. It was like a long time coming. I thought I should. I feel, yeah, I feel good. It was like a long time coming. I thought I was ready to shoot, I mean, I was ready to shoot something in 2020. Yeah. And I don't know if you heard what happened. Oh, everyone got sick.

Yeah, right. Yeah, I remember. Or so they claim. Yeah, no, so then I, you know, and then I had that like year of like, trying to remember how to do standup and then. Did you have that problem? I was just, you know, then I had that like year of like trying to remember how to do stand-up and then... Did you have that problem? I was just, you know, I had like this solid sort of hour ready to go and then like trying to like remember how to do it and then like feeling the like that, you know, that awful sort of acceptance that like, oh, a lot of this stuff isn't funny anymore,

it isn't gonna work and having to like kill those jokes off and start writing new stuff and yeah, yeah, so. I gotta go do it tomorrow. And I was doing it a lot. But now it's been like three, four weeks since I've done the whole hour and I don't even like the bits anymore. Yes, right, yeah, so I had that feeling for,

you know, some of those jokes were five years old by the time I shot it, so I'm like, I am happy to sort of cleanse myself of a lot of that material, but then, you know, I was really excited about the newer stuff too, so. What's funny, though, once you get on stage, with all the panic, if you've been doing it long enough, something happens. Yeah.

You're not gonna be like, oh no. Right, right. What happens now? So, what was the Phoenix thing? So, yeah, so I was preparing for this special taping, Right. What happens now? So what was the Phoenix thing? So yeah, so I was preparing for this special taping and... But this, where was it? Like...

This was a, what was it? House of Comedy. House of Comedy, yeah. I've never been to that place. Yeah. And it was not my typical show. Yeah. I would say it was probably like 70, 30,

like 30% of the people there were there. Just regular people. For me. And the rest were like people who go to House of Comedy. The House of Comedy. 70%. Yeah, yeah. My people were vastly outnumbered. Wow, all right. Yeah, and. Could you feel it?

Oh, right away. I mean, like, I have a joke sort of making fun of sheriffs, like the idea of sheriffs. Yeah. Just how it's like an antiquated... Oh, and they got Sheriff Joe there for years. Yes, right. And it normally, you know, it normally does well, and it was crickets, and then I, you know, vivid, you know,

I could just a piercing voice say, we respect the police here. And I was like, oh, no,, like it's gonna be a long night. You know? Yeah, right out the gate. And that, yeah, the first night I was just like really combative and... You were there for four shows?

Yeah, yeah. Oh, so you had to keep going back. Had to keep going back. Every show was 70, 30? Every show was a nightmare, yeah, yeah. Obviously had to keep going back. Had to keep going back. Every show was 70, 30. Every show was a nightmare, yeah, yeah. Hour. And my people really shrunk. They were scared.

They were. For me, they were scared for themselves, so they weren't helping in any way. And why would I expect them to? But yeah, no, it got really hostile. It got really like immediately violent. Every show? Every show, like a lot of threats, a lot of.

Like what? So after, you know, we respect the police. Yeah. What happens then? How do you hold it together? You're doing 50 minutes? Yeah. The bare minimum?

Yes, oh, I mean, like the second night, I had a thing on my phone set to 45 minutes. And then I, the last night, the last show, I literally walked off stage being like, thank you so much. And from the bottom of my heart, I really mean this. I hope you all get pulled over for DUIs tonight. You know? Oh my God.

Yeah, you know, the struggle. But it wasn't just like, Phoenix is special because it wasn't just like, oh, these people are conservatives. Cause I can deal with that. Right. I think, you like, Phoenix is special because it wasn't just like, oh, these people are conservatives because I can deal with that. I think, you know, there is- But they don't even exist anymore. They're just, most of them are monsters.

Well, these people were like, that's where like, I forgot that like, that's where like QAnon sort of bred. You know what I mean? That's where it festered. So like these were like QAnon people. These were like, you know, I said I was from LA. Aggressive election deniers.

Oh, the recounters. Yeah, they were the cyber ninjas. Yeah, and Sheriff Joe kind of set the standard years ago, that whole kind of outdoor jail business. Yes, right, exactly. It's always been like the Wild West out there in some version. But it's also weirdly balanced.

I mean, a lot of my first wife's family's from there, there's a lot of Jews there. There is sort of, they do, it's sort of a 50-50 state. And I was just like in the wrong part of Phoenix. In fact, there's one point where like, this guy was yelling at me, he says he's gonna beat me up or whatever. And I was like-

But what, he said like, I'm gonna kick your ass? Yeah, yeah. You're on stage. I'm on stage. No one's helping? No one's helping, and like, I'm going back and forth, you know, I'm like, well, if you can get your walker up here, you can try, you know what I mean? I'm like...

Is that getting laughs? Not, you'd be shocked how little laughs I was getting. And how like, no one was leaving. It really felt like, it was nightmarish, but at one point I was like, it is funny to me that like, I have a sense that most of the people in this room feel like their rights are being taken away in some form. And this country is going to hell.

And it's like, at the same time, you all live on golf courses. Like your life is like idyllic, you know? Like you live in a city that's in, like, like, humans shouldn't be able to live here, but for... There shouldn't even be water there. Yes, but for, like, the technology and the invention of air conditioning.

Yeah, but it's the same with all of it. Yeah, all the grievance people are just addicted to grievances, and they just sit there and let their computer generate grievances, and they don't even go outside. Or if they do, they're nice, it's fine. It's going to the Starbucks drive-through. Sure.

Yeah. No, it was a pretty- 45 minutes. 45 minutes of that. Were you able to, because I know that feeling. I've been in that place before. Were you like, OK, well, you'll like this one. Yes, yes, right.

Yes. Yes, right. Yes, you know and then I But they let you know I'd be like, well, you know, obviously I live in LA I work in Television. Yes, I would be like you're a pedophile You know, yeah crazy. I mean that is my fault for that was my only credit when I was introduced No, but it was like Well, that was my only credit when I was introduced. Uh, this next guy's a pedophile. No, but it was like, you know... That's full QAnon. It was full QAnon. I have a joke where,

very simple joke making fun of Nazis and how, like, Nazis have rebranded, so they're, uh, you know, Proud Boys or... Right, sure. Patriot Front. This is the joke. Proud Boys, Patriot Front, or St. Louis Cardinals fans. Like that's the joke. Right.

But like, I couldn't even get there because I said Proud Boys and people start cheering. For the Proud Boys. Come on. Oh my God, this was like. And then like, you know, then I, the whole night I was just stopping jokes

halfway through to be like, how did you end up here? Like how, why are you here? You can research who's performing. Right, right. And I was like, who does up here? Like how why are you here? You can research who's performing right right? And I was like who does well here right? It was just like blew my mind. You know they just came to watch the juice wet Yeah, or big yeah, or just like wait. There's a Jew here. What do we? Like the the clown over the tank and they're throwing softball honestly Yes, they're waiting. Yeah for you to snap. Absolutely.

Did you say you were a Jew? Yeah, yeah. How'd that go? No, yeah, I mean, I was going for it. The first night I was absolutely going for it. You're really sticking it to him? Yeah, yeah. Did you feel unsafe leaving the club?

Absolutely, I did, yeah. Because I have a joke, I have a joke about gun control that I thought people there would like because the joke is sort of, the joke is saying like, guns are so fun. Okay. Yeah. They're fun. Like I get, I understand gun ownership. Yeah. But just saying, I believe in gun control, I couldn't even like get to the joke.

Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I think at one point I did say like, can you heckle my punch lines? Instead of guns. You know what I mean? Can I do my setups at least with that? So you say, I believe in gun control andlines? Instead of this. You know what I mean? Can I do my setups at least with that? So you say, I believe in gun control, and they're like, boom! Yeah, yeah.

Fuck you! Yeah, yeah. And there was no way out and no one was leaving, because they didn't want to walk. They wanted, they want, yes, exactly. That was what was interesting. I was like, you can, I'm not, I don't walk crowd. You know what I mean?

Like, I feel like I'm pretty, like, I would hope I'm pretty entertaining and good at this. I don't like, I don't walk. You're diplomatic after a certain point. Yeah, yeah. Right? It was interesting though, that, cause the second night, I actually did sort of like,

it made me feel like a coward or something, but I did go through my set and just sort of removed the radioactive jokes. And it still didn't help. So it was like, oh, this is just like my vibe, my attitude. Were these full crowds? Yeah, yeah, for the most part, yeah. Wow.

Yeah. And they would, that's funny. This is your karmic return for trolling. Yes, it really was. It really was. And then you know what? Even when the shows weren't like, like QAnon, that sort of aggro QAnon vibe, the last show I did, there was a very vocal guy in the crowd

who clearly just only consumes comedy through TikTok because I started a couple of bits clearly just only consumes comedy through TikTok. Because I started a couple of bids and he would just out loud be like, this is weird. And he would like literally be like swiping at me to like go to the next joke. Like for real, just like this is weird. I don't like this. Yeah, swiping in the air.

Yeah, yeah. And I was like, I'm in charge here. You don't get to just dictate what's too weird for me to talk about. So you were just, it was just hands on the whole time. Yeah, yeah. For four shows. Four shows.

They wanted me for five. I was like, absolutely not. After you did some? No, I mean like originally. But I was like, I'm not gonna. No, I'm just curious, like because there is a point where if you can do crowd work, you know, the management's usually, what do you want us to do?

I'm like, I can usually handle it, but you'll get a sense probably if it gets out of control. Well, that was the thing, after the first show, I like was in the green room just like pacing because it was so crazy. And then they came in like that, you know, they were like, hey, how are you feeling? And I was like, bad.

And they were like, I was like, you gotta do something. And people were yelling that they're gonna like shoot me. And they were like, they were like, oh, you seem like you're having fun. You're really handling it well. And I was like, all right, well, just, you know. Did they ever step in? No, not once.

Because like that, that's tricky too. Yeah. Like, you know, they they ever step in? No, not once. Because like that's tricky too. Yeah. Like, you know, I don't. I mean, that's the thing is like, I don't even blame the club necessarily because like that audience, I don't know if it's always like this, but that audience was full of aggrieved boomers

who like imagining them getting kicked out of a club, just what would have happened to the show and to everyone around. Well, it would have been, that would have been the video. Yeah, yeah. You wouldn't, I mean, it's like these people in airports and on airplanes. I don't know what's happening.

I can't, my brain's lost its ability to sort of come up with whys as to why this happens. My brain's lost its ability to sort of come up with whys as to why this happens. But the aggrieved thing, like there's something, maybe it's from too much engagement with this information or whatever, but people don't realize what's reality anymore. Absolutely. And it's bizarre.

Right. They spend all their time just immersed in this, and then when they come out into the world, it's like a video game or something. I don't even know what their concept of it is. I mean, and like I tour pretty frequently and I'm all over the place, but that was the first time where I was like,

oh, I'm in a different world. And I was like, I'm not even sure this is just specific to Phoenix. I just don't perform in this world in whatever city I'm performing in. Like this is, it's so split, you know? Yeah, you can, you really felt it. Because we talk about that all the time,

that there's, these bubbles are real. But it's almost sort of like you were performing at a club in a bubble that was not your bubble. Yeah, yeah. Actually one woman, one of the best heckles I've ever got was I think they promoted this show saying I was like a writer actor for Parks and Rec. Yeah.

So this one woman stood up and screamed, Park and Rec was canceled and so should you be. And I was like, okay, first of all, love the syntax there, incredible. Secondly, was not canceled. Right. We made it. She stood up to say that. Yeah.

Oh my God. And then third, I was like, isn't like cancellation your whole thing? Like people shouldn't be canceled. You're against cancellation. It's all random. It's all bullshit. But you bullshit, but I was just like, it's just so funny to be,

to take the crown of First Amendment stuff. That world sort of has embraced that notion of like you should be able to say anything, but the moment you even poke at something they believe in, it was babies. They lose their mind. Yeah. They lose, they're such fucking babies.

It's hilarious. Yeah. But let's talk about safety because I, you know, I go through different levels of paranoia and I'm preaching to the choir usually, but like, because my grandiosity is inverted and paranoid, like I think like someone's gonna come out,

like I'm not that high on the roster of Jews to kill. But I just, I think I feel unsafe out there. Don't sell yourself short. But when I leave a club, you really realize like, I have no security, I'm alone. I know. I'm going to this hotel. The fucking guy who works at the hotel

could have been one of those people at that show. Yeah. And then actually that show in particular, my wife and I, we drove to Phoenix. So I was going into the parking lot with California plates and a big like Minnesota Timber Wolf sticker on the, it's like, oh yeah, I know who this guy is. You know?

Yeah. But I guess most of the time it's a lot of hot air and you kinda, it's a sport. I guess that's, I'm just thinking out loud, but now that they've made comedy a sport, the comics that represent that bubble, maybe they see it that way and maybe it's a little safer that way. Maybe if they just think that the game's over

and as you're walking in the parking lot, they're like, good game. Yeah, for sure. I mean, that weekend was an outlier, but even at some of the other clubs I've been performing at, the shows have been fun, but I do think people are empowered now, assuming that the comic is taping the set for clips

and assuming they're helping the show by sort of engaging and yelling. And you know, it's annoying because I'm not that kind of comic. I mean, it's not that I'm necessarily bad at crowd work, but it's not how I use my time on stage, you know? They've always thought they were helping. Yeah.

But now like- Now there's proof. Yeah, that they're part of it. And I guess generationally, you still get that, I think the younger people, right? Yeah, for the most part. I would say it's about like my age or younger, yeah. But usually when you,

cause when I play these kinds of states, I really pull my audience. Like I'm performing for people who are like, thank you for coming. Yes, for sure. We didn't, surrounded. They're surrounded. Yeah.

But you actually saw your people being surrounded by other people in the room. And then there's a strange, there's always a strange percentage of people who come see me who only know me from being on Modern Family. So they're fully confused. They're like, what is, who is,

why is he saying these things? He's saying, yeah, yeah. It's so odd that, yeah, cause I get that too. Like if people just know me from Glow, I'm like, I don't even know what that experience would be for them. Right, right.

But you can't complain cause they're there. They came to the thing. And they are excited to meet you. But they've had to sit through, you know, a ten minute bit where I'm talking about having sex with a gorilla or whatever. So it was like a strange experience for them, I'm sure. Who opens for you? Uh, you know, I have some, you know, sometimes on the road,

I'll get local people. But Keetra Long is very funny. Uh, Gavin Matz is hilarious. Yeah. Yeah. Rachel Colley is one of my favorite comics. She's an absolute nut. I don't know if I know her. Yeah, she's great.

I don't know the whole world of comics, I don't know. Yeah. I'm getting so fucking old, so weird. I feel you, man. Me too. It all of a sudden happened. How old are you? I just turned 40. Well, yeah, I know you're good.

Yeah, okay. I thought, you know, we're closer in age, everybody, man. Me too. And all of a sudden happened. How old are you? I just turned 40. Well, yeah, I know you're good. Yeah, okay. I thought we were closer in age, everybody, but I'm older. Well, I mean, I recollect that doing your podcast was like a huge break for me when I was in New York. Yeah. What, how, have you done it twice?

I've done it like a number of times. I mean, I did a lot of the live ones. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then someone was going through, a while ago someone told me that they had listened to the earlier ones. The IBS ones. But they were saying,

all you did was you would go on and you and Mark would mock Orthodox Jews. I guess there's like multiple episodes of us just ridiculing. And we didn't even know about the tunnels back then. People were talking about these tunnels and it already annoys me. Yeah, yeah.

Like I saw Tim Dillon, of course, talking about how he can't talk about the tunnels. Sure. But it's like my brain doesn't even focus on that. Why focus on, there is a type of kind of bottom feeding brain that knows where juice is. Yes. With, you know, sort of passing images or events. It's like, yeah, the Orthodox, the

chesinim are weirdos. Yes. I mean, but what's more interesting is are the ones that are trying to, you know, dig a tunnel to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Right. So they pray at the holiest point. This is a distraction. It's a real estate problem. Yes, right, at the holiest point. This is just a bunch of... This is a distraction.

It's a real estate problem. Yes, right, right, right, right. And yeah, but they are... It's one of those things where as a Jew, you're like, look, this doesn't make anybody look good. No. No, there's a lot of that going on right now, I would say. I would say this is a rough time for PR. I've talked to Jews, they're just sort of like, I wish they would just stop.

I wish the Jews would. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Yeah. Turn it down a notch, Jews. We don't have to pass, but we can quiet down. Yeah, this was during the Trump years, I was doing a joke that if, I was trying to think, who's the most famous Jew in America right now? I was like, I think it's Ivanka Trump.

That's not good. Well, it's him or, you know, Jeff Epstein. So it's bad. It's a bad time. Yeah. Chris Rock gave me a punch line that could kill so hard. Because I've been doing this joke about how I said, yeah, it's not a great time for Jews right now.

But has it ever been? Was there ever a time in history where Cause I've been doing this joke about how I said, it's not a great time for Jews right now, but has it ever been? Was there ever a time in history where a Jew said, wow, what an amazing time it is to be Jewish. I feel safe. Yeah, and then Brock gave me the punchline. Well, now I'm like, I'm wondering,

do I wanna burn that joke just now? We just burn the joke? No, you can do it. It'll still work. Yeah. I mean, yeah. How many people are gonna listen? I mean, they're gonna skip over this one.

Yeah, no, but yeah, that'd be, that's how everybody, that's all the biggest comics operate now, they test material on their massive podcasts and then do it on. Yeah, but like, I mean, I usually workshop stuff and it's so rare that it's so funny when someone gives you a tag. I mean, I'm always open to it, but I rarely use them.

Yeah. But I'm like, all right, I'll try that. Yeah, right. And then I'm like, oh, I guess that's why he's so big. Yeah, I guess I'll listen to Chris Rock. Yeah, yeah, Chris Rock. It's weird when you perform for those guys, when you know they're in the room in the OR,

in the Comedy Store, because he's just sitting back there, I'm like, all right. Because if I was younger, I would have been like, fuck. Rocks watching me, but now I'm like, I don't give a shit. Of course. Well, you're a legend. Yeah, finally.

I'm a legend, yeah. Yeah, Maren can still do it. Yeah, it's like upright, most of the show, yeah. Well, also legend has, you're not a star. Exactly, well it's like you're, right. Or you're, yeah, you're on the downside. You know, you're- Or you just never were huge, but like you have the respect. Right, right.

You got the respect, but not the fame. That's exactly right, yes. A legend. We all, we're all fame. That's exactly right, yes. A legend. We're all familiar. Yeah. Yeah. So how often do you tour Malini still? Just occasionally, yeah.

Yeah, I opened for him at the Madison Square Garden last year and- How was that for you? Oh, it was incredible. Yeah? Yeah, I mean, I'm not, I mean, this is gonna be a shocking sentence. I'm not really an arena act, but, uh...

I do a whole bit about that. But, um, I did, actually, there was a moment on stage at Madison Square Garden where I remember telling myself, you're psychotic, you're a psychopath. Because I, after the first joke landed, I was so comfortable, and it was like, I started riffing, making fun of the Knicks on stage, you know?

And it was like a dream of just like, on Madison, you know, on the floor of Madison Square Garden, making fun of the Knicks. Yeah. Like half the crowd booing, half the crowd loving it. And you loved it? And then like the security guards, and I got off stage like dapping me off

because they like thought the Knicks jokes were funny. Right. You know, but it was like, yeah, yeah, those shows can be You got a taste. You got a taste of the arena act. Yeah, yeah, and it's a taste of like, it is one of those things where it's like. It's like Burr and Philly.

Uh-huh. The game-changing set. Oh, so good. I listened to that. That's like my, that's my, uh. That's your prep. That's like another Michael Clayton. I listened to that like three times a year.

Just, yeah. Burr going off about a... You have one bridge, one bridge down. Yeah, no. So we did that. We did a weekend in Las Vegas. How are his crowds? They're great.

They're smart and willing to go into weird places. Yeah? Yeah, yeah, he is a great crowd. And are they your age? Yeah, yes, or younger. Yeah, yeah. But they all pack out? Yeah, yeah.

It's kind of interesting. I mean, like, shocking to have a fun, smart crowd in Vegas. Like a casino show in Vegas. Yeah, I'm doing like a whole story about not doing, like a casino show in Vegas. I'm doing like a whole story about not doing, about just not doing casinos, because I believe that even if my fans were in Vegas, for whatever reason, it wouldn't be choice.

It'd be like, well, we gotta go to Louisa's thing. Right, right. But if they saw my picture in the lobby, like the win, they'd be like, I don't know, you know, maybe we should wait till he comes to our town. We're having a good time. Yeah, right. Yeah. Yeah, why ruin it?

He's a lot, but you know, when he comes to where we live, yeah, I believe that's true, but maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. But they come. They come to Vegas. They come, yeah. And he's a big act. Yeah, and it was fight night too. What does that mean? It was like a big boxing night, so. He's a big act. Yeah, and it was fight night too.

What does that mean? It was like a big boxing night, so that's like a hard draw, I assume. Yeah. Yeah. So what's going on in terms of, so this special, what are you gonna do with it? Put it on YouTube?

I don't know. I just shot it, you just shot it? I just shot it. You self-financed it? Yeah, yeah. But you don't have no big plan? You know, we'll see where it goes. You're gonna try to sell it?

Cause like the YouTube thing, I can't do that. Because I just can't look at those numbers. Oh, yeah, right. I think if I were to do it, yeah, no, it would be unhealthy for me. It would be, I would be obsessing over numbers. Yeah. You'd be bothering people to push it would be unhealthy for me. It would be, I would be obsessing over numbers. Yeah. You'd be bothering people to push it.

Oh God, yeah. So that's a definite possibility. Yeah, no, but I don't know what the plan is. I just, I wanted to just make, you know, I'm in the editing stage right now. So I just want it to, I want it to get formed into a shape I'm proud of. Yeah, yeah.

And then we'll see. I don't know, these guys like Fahim, who kind of like have locked in, I guess they're even a little younger than you, right? A little bit, yeah. But they've locked into this new mode. It's like they don't even, it's not even about any kind of mainstream outlet.

Right. They're like, well, I'm doing these videos and I'm doing the YouTube and I'm pushing that. Yeah. And that's how I generate my following. Yeah, no, and I respect that. I've sort of accepted that it's a possibility, and I see that.

I see when it works, it really works, yeah. Yeah, but it takes a lot of work. It does. And also, I'm in an interesting spot where I don't have to tour nonstop to make a living. I spent half the year writing and doing that. What were you on before this Mindy thing? I'm in an interesting spot where I don't have to like tour nonstop to make a living. Like I spent half the year writing and doing that. What were you on before this Mindy thing?

Hacks. Did you finish the second season? We just finished shooting. They're shooting the third season right now. They're almost done. Oh, so I saw the second season. So this is the third season where, what's happening? She's on the road?

She, well well she has, end of season two she fired Ava, her assistant, or her joke writer, so it's like the two of them living sort of separate lives. Oh, this is season three? Yeah. And then they come together at the end? Well, I don't know.

Who can say? That would make sense. I haven't talked to her in a while, Hannah. She's doing all right, I guess. Yeah, she's doing great. Who can say? That would make sense. I haven't talked to her in a while. Hannah, she's doing all right, I guess. Yeah, she's doing great. They're shooting out there now? Yeah, I think this is literally the last week of shooting. Yeah, it was a production halted by multiple things,

including a strike. So I think technically this is- Two strikes and a disease? Yeah, basically. I think this is technically like day 450 or something. Oh my God. Do you have a, are you in it again? I am, yeah.

Same guy? Same guy, yeah, Ray from the casino. In Vegas, yeah. Oh, that's good. How many episodes are you in? I think I'm in like one or, well, yeah, one, but it's, you know, it's always fun. Hannah's hilarious.

Hannah's always telling the showrunners that she thinks I'm end game for Ava. Oh, really? I'm, I, we should end up together. Oh, that would be funny. And the, yeah, the showrunners are not indulging that. No, they're not gonna have it. They don't agree, yeah.

And when you are, are you on set a lot as a writer or no? You know, it's weird. I normally am for shows I work on. I love being on set, but yeah, we made this whole show through the pandemic. So there were like COVID protocols that made it almost impossible. So I really was only on set writing jokes and stuff

on the days I was acting. Right, but you were on set this time? I was on set a little bit, yeah. And do you guys punch up during the show, do all that? Yeah, I mean, that's the idea. I mean, that burden is on the three of the showrunners because they're really the only people on set. Well, I guess we did that on my show

where it'd just be like, it's not landing. And then like five guys come out, whoever, women and men, and they, how about this? How about that? I mean, yeah, my first real job like that was Parks and Rec, and I just remember my first episode, I was on set, and I'm just like a child eating snacks, because there's free snacks,

I just be like, this job rules. It's amazing. And then I just remember Amy coming up to me, and being like, this joke isn't working, write me a new joke. And then just, you know, real like feet to the fire moment of like, oh God, yeah. So like panicking, writing a couple of jokes and then like- Did it work? Yeah, it worked and we moved on.

But I was like, oh yeah, this is like a, this can be a scary job. Oh, that's hilarious. Yeah. And that's what happens. Yeah, that's the job. That was your baptism. Yes, totally, yeah. Yeah. Have you written any movies?

I wrote a couple scripts during the pandemic. Yeah, and? They're funny. I'm rewriting, I'm like, I'm punching. Oh, so nothing's going on with them? Well, they're like, yeah, I wrote one that I'm happy with that's a sort of character study of a... like a showrunner who becomes a podcaster.

Actually, I should have you read it. And the second one, I got more excited about, so I want to finish the second one before I show anyone the earlier one. Yeah, what's going on with all the podcasters? I don't know, yeah. It's your fault. It is it?

I'm still, I mean, I'm old school, we still do audio. Yeah. Everyone's just doing their own TV shows. Yes, yes, yes, that is really something. But I don't know who's watching what or why, and it really, it's sort of sad that it's become a joke. That, you know, like everybody's got a podcast. And it's kind of true.

And maybe that's my fault. Well, and I appreciate just coming in and talking. I'm not like really, I'm pre-promoting a special with no home. So I appreciate you, Mark. Well, I wanted to hear that Phoenix thing. Yeah. So fucking scary.

It was scary. And like, I don't blame the club. I blame the heat. I think the heat of Phoenix has like fried everyone's brains. But I just, the element of, you know, your fans being nervous, you're nervous. Yes. And you can't, and they're not, they're just gonna run.

Right. And there's, it's weird when you think about fan bases, where you like sort of like, my fans have my back. Not really. Yeah, my fans, no, no. Against people like packing concealed guns. I guess no one's got your back in that situation. No, no, no, no one has my back. And also that feeling of like,

when someone is removed from a club, then you feel that weird moment of emasculation. Yes, right. Like I couldn't handle it. Yeah. I needed mommy to take the mean guy out. Sometimes they do it without asking. I've had to stop that.

You know, like the other, it was a couple of weeks ago at the club, I'm doing these, talking about these different reactions to Israel and some girl almost like involuntarily goes, you know, free balehzah! And I looked at her and I'm like, okay, because they immediately jumped on her. I'm like, no, no, no, it's okay. Right. It's all right, she can have her opinions,

it's just not, I'm talking. Right, exactly. And you know, and she was like, but the weird thing about it was, it was almost as if she didn't have control over it. And then it was out. And I looked at her after I got off, because I dressed it and we balanced it out,

but she was like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Right, right. Well, it's a- It's a- It's an odd thing when people- Difficult subject. Well, that's a difficult subject, but a lot of times people who are heckling,

it's not that voluntary. Right. Like they, I've had people just answer me in conversation if I pose a rhetorical question, you know, and people are up close, they're like, oh, I know what that is. You know, I'm like, I'm not, what's happening? I normally have a problem with people

just being too enthusiastic or too, you know, just like they're just, you have to just, it's okay. I don't even like when they play me up with music. Uh-huh. Like I don't know, like when they bring me up and they play music, what are you doing? Right, right.

It's not necessary. What do they play for you? Whatever, but some clubs just do it. Yes. All of a sudden it's like Mark Maron, like, get out, bad out, and I'm like, come on. Yeah, that's not the vibe I'm going for. Well, no, you don't need it.

Yeah, right. So let me walk up there. All right, buddy, well, it was good talking to you. Great talking to you, thank you. We covered Michael Clayton, that was important. Yeah, and our, you know, rest in peace, Tom Wilkinson. Oh my God. What about music, you listen to anything good?

You know, I like this guy that Mexican OT, that's his name. Mexican OT? Yeah, yeah, I listen to a lot of uh, hip hop, rap music. Yeah, still? Yeah, of course. You grew up with it, that's your thing? Yeah, yeah. Um, Mexican OT?

That, well, it's that Mexican OT. That Mexican OT. Yeah. What's OT stand for? You know, that's a great question. Hmm. How many records does he have? I think just one. Yeah?

Yeah. All right. I'll check him out. Yeah, please do. Thanks, Joe. Yep. There you go. What a great guy.

Funny guy, great guest. He'll be at Dynasty Typewriter in LA tomorrow night. Get tickets at dynastytypewriter.com. Hang out for a minute, folks. Folks, May 6th through May 12th is Mental Health Week, a time to raise awareness about mental health that's centered on the healing power of compassion. And during Mental Health Week, CAMH needs your support to build a future where no one is left behind. CAMH is the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and they're hard at work creating better treatments and interventions for anyone experiencing addiction. Part of that work is about the understanding of

the brain and CAMH is transforming patient care by knocking down the barriers that keep people from getting help. Imagine how lonely it can feel to be facing mental illness or addiction on your own. You don't have to surrender to hopelessness because CAMH is conducting groundbreaking research to fight addiction and get people the help they need. In Canada we lose 20 people to drug overdose every single day. Right now you can partner with CAMH to help send those numbers in the other direction. Help change mental health care forever during Mental Health Week. Donate at camh.ca slash wtf to help CAMH treat addiction and build hope.

That's camh.ca slash wtf. On May 17th. I actually like this so much better than a motel. I bet the people who live here are really happy. Witness how the strangers... Hello? Became the strangers. What the fuck are you doing? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHHHHH SHHHHH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH up in a few weeks. I recorded it when I was in New York City and this week we posted for Full Mehran listeners my immediate thoughts after the interview as I was driving through

Brooklyn with my producer Brendan. I just get the feeling from him, you know, and even Malcolm to a degree that, and it's important for me to see it and hear it, is like they love the job, you know, even if it takes them away from their life or whatever. But once, you know, you talked a bit about his own sort of like, you know, what am I doing or whatever. But once they get on set, they're like, oh, this is where I live, you know, and all the other stuff is, you know, it's just part of that, you know, dealing with hotel time or trailer time or whatever. But it's still, they love it. Yeah. Yeah. And that Henry VIII movies no no slouch of a movie, man

This is the thing that he just is promoting. Yeah firebrand. Yeah, I mean so he he's I mean it's it's about though It's about what is their name Catherine? Yeah, yeah, but it's like, you know, it's about their relationship He's not a supporting role, right? but but it was funny because you know, we talked about, you know, like you didn't want to put on 200 pounds, huh? Because you know, he assumed the posture and there was a lot of heavy clothing. And there was probably a kind of like a-

Some padding. Yeah, something. But there is definitely a scene where they're fucking and I'm like, that's not Jude Law's ass. Like they brought in a fat ass. A stunt ass. A stunt ass. A fat stunt ass. How do you like to put that on your IMDB?

Stunt ass and firebrand. But he was very diplomatic about it. He said it was Henry's ass. Get bonus episodes twice a week on The Full Marin. Subscribe now by going to the link in the episode description or go to WTFPod.com and click on WTF Plus. And a reminder before we go, this podcast is hosted by A-Cast. I worked hard on this, Wick.

I got it for the most part. Yeah. Here we go. So So I'm gonna be a good boy. So So I'm gonna go with the blues. Boomer lives! Monkey and La Fonda! Cat angels everywhere! I only made one mistake on that one and then I fucked up the very ending when I said boomer lives and I forgot to say monkey and La Fonda. Alright.