Okay. Hi. Hi. What we thought would happen. I'm going. I'm Garrett Sutton, sitting in for Laura Kightlinger. The fuck is Laura? She is at work. Yeah, I know. So what episodes in We finally get rid of Laura? Yeah. It was an inside job. Yeah, but today we have a very special guest as a very special, very funny mystery. You and I were. So dug into. You know, I haven't seen you in a minute, but.
Nice to meet you. Yeah. This podcast is all about me and Laura becoming friends over a podcast, essentially, because that's how people operate in these in these times. So that's how I get to know you today as a guest sitting in for Laura. How are you? I'm good. How are you doing? It's a beautiful day in Hollywood. Yes, it's warmer than I thought it was. I know. I dressed in my. Yeah, for tonight. See, that's the thing.
I was just in New York and I overpacked, but I also had, like, I live like the marshmallow man or the mission. Like. Like I. Everything I wear is fluffy. Um, just barely. It just started getting cold enough for the non-locals to be bitchy and the locals to be like, This is nothing. but I love the. I don't. You're from. There? Yeah, from New York. Like, born and raised. No, I'm not born and raised. I moved here when I was, like 17 to Long Island. we're in Long Island Union. Okay?
We were just in. I don't even remember. I just played there with Margaret Cho, though. Oh, I watched Spy Huntington. Is that a place? Yeah. Yeah. There, yeah, yeah, yeah. Somewhere it was. There is one in, um. It had a, like, very small town ish feel, but also, like, this is where, like, young white couples go to get married, sort of a thing in the autumnal breeze. Yeah, I'm sure they have a flourishing summer wedding or spring wedding venue rotation. And yeah, you tour on track.
Do you like touring? I love touring. You do? Yeah. You sound like you don't. I'm torn. Uh huh. Because. Sorry. And then there's the middle road. Yeah. I'm not doing well enough to be, like, first class all the time. Sure. Then like to be staying in like that w all the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have to take the hotel that they give me. Mhm. And the hotels where you spend most of the time, the weekends at the hotel is mid. Uh huh. Yeah. And it depends on where the clubs are.
Try to get a good walk in city where you could walk around. Okay. But getting out there is good in some places. Just limit. People. Well, I don't know if they understand this, but there are some towns that are great places to play. But the club will put you in a whatever kind of level hotel. But sometimes the hotel is in like, maybe like sea of corporate buildings. Right? It'll just be like office buildings or warehouses or shipping things. So there's not even like, a corner store.
but yeah, okay. So when it's good, it's good, though. Yeah. When it's good, it's good. Like there's some cities I love going to like Chicago or back to New York or, this helium is in some good places. Mhm. even though it's not really a road. Get this before you. Yeah. Yeah. And they start dope ass drive there and on the way back I'll spend the night Sunday night. Mhm. Mhm. Take the Pacific Coast Highway. Yeah. I think that's a blessing. People forget the PCH is like a jewel.
leaned on it heavy in pandemic. Anytime I have a Ventura or whatever Jason show like Take the Long Way Home. It's it's nice to use California. It's a good yeah, I travel a lot I'm lucky enough to travel a bunch and I was just having this conversation today where it was like, I'm it's satanic, but I'm always happy when I get back to Los Angeles. Like, I'm always sort of happy that I live here. Now we live in a place where people come to vacation right here on our enjoy here. You. Right?
Yeah. Yeah. this year I had a show in Fresno. You know, Fresno, one of the most glamorous places. The people are great. It was cool town. Is this a cool spot, too? And then, uh, instead of driving home, which is like a three hour driver. Mhm. I was like, I'm just headed to the coast. Mhm. So I headed and it ended up on a one on one and just hugged the coast all the way back, came through Santa Barbara, stopped there and just listened to the radio
and just, just enjoyed myself. Mhm. Enjoyed the you know, just driving through the countryside all the way to coast and enjoy the coast. The back way to Ojai. Right. It'll take I forget what you go through but you end up in like Santa Paula and you get to go through like the farmland and it's beautiful. There's all Like Santa Clarita, like. All right, I'm sorry, I said inc. What's it called? Simi? Simi Valley. You go, like, through the back side of that. Yeah.
beautiful. And like, whenever it floods, it's like over, right? All those roads are shut down. But I love going back in there. There's an airport, like a really small airport that has a restaurant you can stop and and like you just watch the little biplanes take off and stuff. It's real sweet. And I was do it specifically did that. I was like going to take a bunch of photographs. I was feeling poetic.
And so my fucking airport sandwich, I'm watching everything happen, the sun setting and just watching this. And then it's like old couple and they're like grand kids or whatever. They are the only other table they come in and the father, the grandfather, old guy, tries to start a couple of side conversations with me. Right? And then invites me to join them. Why are like they just think it's correct. They just see this loser eating by himself.
And I told him no because I was like, That's going to take 2 seconds before they find out some flaming fagot. And there's you know what I mean? They maybe they don't want And it was just really wholesome cruising. I was trying to cut their losses, Do you know what I'm saying? Like, do them a favor. But I don't know. I would never I, I don't accept invitations from strangers. I think it's like I'll say, I just assumed they were MAGA, just given the the demographics of the.
Yeah. The, the odds of it. You'd be surprised. You know, we don't want to be judged, but sometimes we do. Oh, I'm so judgmental. It's a defense though, because you got to see it coming. I worked equally. I've done cruise ships. Have you ever done Santa Cruz? Have you been on a cruise ship ever in life? No, I don't think so. I've done. Is it appealing to you now? Yeah, but the check is good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, I'm doing. But I just haven't done it yet. Yeah, it's a thing. a culture.
you have to say like in like the workers quarters feature of sweet or. Whatever, you sort of have to be a diva and fight for a room with them, with a window. Yeah. That I learned the hard way. Yeah. They try to Titanic. It's very. Very real. Faster. They keep you in your class. But, um, because, because again, the room is very similar to in time. Especially if you're on a cruise and you're hiding from everybody, then you go out and you get your food.
You hopefully like, can gather a day's worth of food from the buffet. So yeah, it makes it great having a window shit like that. I think. You know, they had four rooms without windows go crazy. That's like, mean I paid to go to prison and. I'm like, ten days? It's insane. like county that stops in Cancun. Then you get the. Yeah, The destination is not. Not is rarely better. Do you know what I mean? Because you're. It's all the docks. Oh, yeah. I do want to talk about that.
You worked on Boondocks, right? I love that show. Oh, yeah? Yeah, It was fun show to work on. It's pretty genius, to be honest, and a character is just hilarious. And Regina King, she did. Huey and Riley's voice. Mm. It's a woman playing two kids and male in. Mhm. just two terms that they would use as a sentence structure. It was like, man, really it you know, being there helped my writing. Mm hmm. How so? when it came, I was just like, it just nailed culture. Mm hmm.
How to pronounce it and articulate it and still, like, make an intellectual. You. Yeah. Yeah. It's a beautiful show. Not just like, esthetically, but, like, it really does, like, draw you in. Yeah. Was animation anything you thought you'd be working in? You have a really diverse career. No, I didn't think about it. I think McGruder came to the club. I think that might have been. Might my second writing job and my third I can't remember.
But it was because I think he saw me at the comedy club and saw my standup music. If I. Your voice fits the voice of the show. Mm. That's why I never stop doing stuff. Mm hmm. And yeah, I I got one job that way. I could get other writing jobs by like, saying, and. I think people mistake that that might a benefit of. Was that in New York or was that in Los Angeles? that's the benefit of living in Los Angeles is that you never that's why I never throw a set away, Right?
Because you never know who's watching or whatever. Rando job could be life changing and things like that. Well, describe the moment you were feeling lazy about standup or maybe not going out as much as that. I feel like the first five years I moved to L.A., I really I slacked off standup or. Hmm, why? just not going up? Yeah, I wasn't going up. Just sometimes writing is exhausting. Sometimes, yeah. All day thinking of jokes, listening, paying attention and trying to jump into conversations.
you just more tired than you would think. You got to get up in the morning. Do you have no life, really, when you write down some shows? Hmm. Because just there I was alone trying to figure this brand new whole thing out, right? You're trying to get picked up for the back nine or whatever. Mm hmm. It's just like you just grind and it just takes a lot of energy. Go home, sleep, wake up, and just go back to work. Like you've worked on several shows.
Do you ever go through the thing with, like, a standup where you're like, Oh, I want to save that joke for me? Or do you give yourself to the project That's, taking of the most of your brain space. Yeah, I like to leave it open, so I just give it to him because I feel like we're all like, infinite. Well. Mm. Creativity. Unless you put a cap on it and it is what it is. Yeah. Now I'm open. I can always come up with something. Yeah.
If you believe in the writer's block, you're going to get the block. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel that too. I feel like people put the like it's a mental thing. because I feel like writing is scary because people always want to be funny, but they don't understand that the material comes everywhere all the time. Funny is everywhere. It's about the words You don't write now. It's just say about jazz. Sounded great. Yeah, yeah, that was about that was about jazz.
Is that that's not that's the notes that you don't play. I just sounds fucking lazy. But you can see I can shit on jazz all day. And so I watch them and play live. I'm like, You know what? Yeah, I hear they are, but this is getting me. a girl that likes jazz and she pissed me off? Uh huh. Because she just had an attitude about knowing jazz. Yeah, right. Just jazz. Some of our jazz people stink. Yeah. It is. Is it like that? Yeah. Especially in middle age. White men in jazz don't give me fuck.
And the worst, they ruin it. Jesus Christ. Help your okay, so you've done a lot but you started as a stand up or you were, like, trying to get into television or. What does the stand up in New York? Yeah, And then, but then I got a writing job. I did like some TV, like stand up on some TV show, and then I got a running job in L.A. So I just came out to do that in the show. Got canceled. Mm. Got canceled while I was on hiatus in New York. Wow. But I was like, Come on, go back.
I might be who you are. You know, anybody? Yeah, I was like, I just had a feeling, you know? Yeah, I can get more writing jobs. Was this the Keenen Ivory Wayans show? Yeah, which was so fucking good. And Can we talk? I always have to talk about it, But did you watch it? I'm 41. I'm older yet. Did you watch in Living Color? And to me, that was formative for a lot of reasons. But I like I'm still obsessed with that show and The Wayans as an empire. What was it like to work with them?
Did you did you get into any of the family dynamics? Did you know it was dope? It's just because you you know, there wasn't a lot of black representatives of, like, stand up for comedy. Mm hmm. Inside. But this was like, the main people. Mm hmm. So to be involved with anything with them, I didn't actually. I was watching it on. TV same, same time, you know? Yeah, we were told not to. My parents wouldn't let as well almost anything on Fox we couldn't watch but like.
But that was one of them because it was so adult. I m north Texas moms would ban MTV their shit like that. So they were like weirdly conservative. But I ate it up. I loved in living color. Yeah. you got into standup. How how old were you? Early twenties, Like 21. Were you a performer or anything? Or Burger King, right. Yeah. As a Burger King just show and just like, trying to figure life out and shit. But I did learn from a friend that worked there. That being funny was just a better experience.
Um, and that's how you make friends. You don't have the, the full context of anything. Mm hmm. I learned how to make things funny without having all the information. Mm hmm. You know. Like meeting a group of strangers and still making a group of strangers laugh. Essentially say you to have an inside conversation. Mm hmm. You just talking about cars of course. Something I don't know. Mm hmm.
But if I listened enough, I could come up with a punchline based on, like, a sentence that you guys said in reference to what you were talking about. Mm hmm. And that's what I learned at Burger King. Mm hmm. wasn't born here. You know what I mean? And I'm still like, learning football. American music. Mm hmm. I grew up in Jamaica, and music is different. The food is different. Sports that we like are different. And just like, everyday nuances, you know, everything's just different.
Yeah. And, uh, first thing you want to understand if then you can participate. But if you wait for that, it could take forever. Yeah. Learning how to be funny is a way to make people like you. Mm hmm. Acceptable. So Greg was just killer? Mm hmm. He fries? Yes. Murdering every day? Mm hmm. Putting the burgers in the grill. Check it out. As we all laugh. Yeah, let's make people laugh. So I took somebody's spot on the drive through one of my first. Yes. Around and joke around.
And this one stranger pulled around these head. Did you just take my water? Yeah. He's like, Man, you're funny, man. You do stand up. I never thought about standup, ever. Mm hmm. And it just resonated. And I was like, in that moment in my head, I was like, That's what I'm going to do for the rest of my life. Mm hmm. because for me, similarly, it was like. switch all of a sudden, Like, I've been living this weird life long, was like, Oh, yeah, that is what I'm going to do.
First of all, can you talk about the drive through when you took the person's order? Was it one of those hand-held microphones where you get to like it's malleable? Do you know what I mean? You can. Or was it a headset? I can't remember. Yeah. Because to me that the confidence comes from, like, the hands free of the headset where you can just like, you know, free form yourself. I mean, just a button that you just talk. Into a speaker. Speaker.
But yeah, yes, probably doing some shit that would be considered hacky. Sure. But, you know, you were you were learning to swim. But like, kitchen work. working in kitchens, right? I was a busboy in two different restaurants. Of the house. Yeah, Yeah, I just got. I just got yelled at. I was it. But that's where it's at oh yeah. lot of shit talking. You sort of have to defend yourself, but you have to keep it.
Like it's not like a real fight, but there's just a lot of energy while you're working a shift. There was no canceling back and you could murder some. Yeah. You a month and so. Yeah. Right, right. Yeah, yeah. Kitchens are kind of like the U.N., like the United Nations. You're not consumable. then you can't get a job in the kitchen. Yeah. You're unemployable, but you're living in New York. Is that when that moment happened?
And so you just because New York has a lot of places you can try standup like, I think that's the crazy place to start is in the city. Yeah. It wasn't exactly say I was in long Island, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So the other thing about Greg is Greg used to fire records at this spot called Tri County, which is like a flea market. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. And behind that place was a comedy club. There's a parking lot. Mm hmm.
Yeah. And it's just sitting by itself, so I knew where the comedy club was because Greg, who influenced me. Mm hmm. Through osmosis. Just trying to be funny. I would go with him to spend this whole check out the tri county every weekend, you know, cause he would want to get records. And then I just knew the comedy club was there. Mm hmm. But once that guy told me that over the drive through when he got to go. Mm hmm. Everything was in that wild. Was in like that. The Greg, the becoming funny.
You know where the open mic. And access to it. Where the fuck is Greg now? Do we know. he works for? Is it Home Depot? Oh, we do now. I love. Because. What is it? There's a speaker what's while he's on. That's great, because there's some old philosophy. It's like the relationship with the teacher is meant to be temporary. he was a colleague. Yeah, he was a colleague. I never like, you know, like, I'm getting the credit. And I told him, Yeah, but I do. Later. Mm hmm. I'm. I'm just a sponge.
I'm just learning. Yeah. Yeah. So you grew up in Jamaica. What was that like? Oh, I mean, it's a third world country, so we didn't have, like, house phones or. Yeah. Outhouse, bathroom and stuff like that. But it was. It was fun. Mm hmm. Like, the Jamaican dollar got devalued and things got bad, expensive and inflation. So then we moved to the U.S.. But before that, I was in England. Mm hmm. But my parents are Jamaican, so they want to move back to Jamaica. Mm hmm.
So we moved back there when I was married. That's crazy. We're in England. London. Damn, that's really cool. Yeah. So we have, you know. No, no, that's a good one. The first time I saw a man with an earring was in London. Oh, it was a remark. And it was at a Burger King at Heathrow Airport. I swear to Christ. I know that Burger King. Still, there. Are, like, a few. Oh, is it right? Okay. I was out of town when that happened. I mean, it shut down. Yeah, What happened?
I was home. I got that emergency. See, that's the thing they need to know is some of us are self-medicating. And that is a that sounds scary. when you were starting center. But like in the way that you told me like came into your life, were you already a fan of uh, of where you just, I mean television was an access to just funny people, but were there actual stand ups you admired at the time? Yeah, I was a fan of it, but put stand up in the category of like
you can't fake being funny. Mhm. To do this like the comics that I would see back then. Mhm. Funny. And as I just it was undeniable. Mhm. Yeah. You got to be talented to do this. I think you could fix anything and fake acting. Mhm. But in a comedy you have to be on point. But I was looking at some of the best people right now. Eddie Murphy. Mhm. And like you know, I was looking at the peaks of those people. Mhm. Obviously the park and Jamaicans are inherently funny. Do I think it's funny?
People are monkeys. Yeah. Jamaicans are very direct. Which is. Funny. Yeah, Have you performed in Jamaica. No. No actually. your headliner, you're just going cold. You need someone to, like, get the audience going. Yeah. Oh, is that right? We saw some German band there called Maneskin. You ever heard of them? I'm so old. I don't know anybody. But I was dragged to this show at the forum. Anyway, I met this dude. they're this huge band. It's their first world tour.
They're at the forum, but they had no opener. So it's like lights are on, everyone's just barely getting their seats. And It. Was one of those things. It's like you need someone to like warm up because none of us are ready for it. Yeah, we weren't like, in the mood I don't know, my favorite is Nina Simone, who would be like she had like the Lauryn Hill of it all, where she'd be like late, quote unquote, late to get on stage because she would perform when she thought the audience was ready.
What did Lauryn Hill say the other day when she was like. Oh, I don't know what? I love it, though. Like her responding to the crowd for being. Yes. she said she was not late because she does not care, but because she is doing God's work. That's rock and beautiful. I feel the exact same way. Have you seen her life? I have? Have you ever met her? Actually, I never met her. Mm. so when I was in New York, some friends of mine, we used to do everything together. Mm.
Yeah. And then there was one time they left me out of this thing, and I'm like, I'm cool. And then the Fuji albums drop. Mm hmm. And my friends are on it. Mm. Sketches in between. The sketches on that album were big yes. And I'm like, How come you only tell me about this? You tell me about everything. We did it. That's where they were. The way they were. That's. That's. They left us when they left me out. Wow. How does that. That's so burn? Because I always got a lot of opportunities.
Yeah, because of them anyway. Yeah, but I just think it's hilarious. And then later on and Wyclef did Carnival. Mm. they brought me in on that. Hmm. Carnival which wasn't as successful as a Fuji album. But when we were there, there was another guy just chilling on the couch and, know, talking like in between going in like a spare room slash Mm. Really big. I'm going to sneeze. I love a cliffhanger. So happening. Uh huh, uh huh.
After just hanging out in like a spot and making some sketches and shit, we walk in our street in town. One of the comics is like, that was Haitian Jack, who is a guy that to pocket. Shut Yeah. fuck up. the whole Haitian jack history. Like, I mean, you want whiskey in a room, but exactly like real New York. Yeah. Like killer. Killer. Yeah Like you don't know. It's so funny, man. You just don't know who. Exactly the company of. You know, location. Jack is like, if you go look at.
Uh huh. It's a lot of. Did you go back and ask for his autograph? What do you do? You run. Glad I didn't say anything. Because, yeah, I would have the wrong thing. If you're just like, well, clowning each other. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't, like. Go there with a serious history. who were some of the first people you came across in comedy? Were you like, Oh my God, is this my life? this is the moment that guy said it on the drive through. Yeah, I was like, This is mine.
But I mean, were there I mean, I don't know if you've ever met Eddie Murphy. People like that, but who were some of the first, like famous or huge comedians that you come across as in Edwards, the comedian? Do you know what I mean? Like, there are moments. That Ferrell or Marsha Warfield or. Let's talk. About Sinbad or because you could go to Governor's first home. MM. And they would let you come see shows on the weekend. Mm hmm.
So you're like a new comic, and you go on to see people who are on major TV. Mm. On the weekend, so, like, I would just see a lot of people from like the nineties that have TV shows and just see just like on a regular I even if I didn't talk to them, I was like in the room, watched the show. Hmm. I saw Kardashian. Wild at governors. At Jimmy's comedy. Wild. Yeah. Yeah, I saw some people. Yeah, What was the Sam Kinison experience like? Was it. Second hour?
So it wasn't as good as the first one was still funny holding him to his own standards. Right. you know, I didn't know he was going to die. Yeah, It's hard. Dan going to die because it's like they all look sweaty and disoriented On the verge. Yeah. We're down to a, Yeah, I don't even think people remember her from Night Court as raw as even though that's what put her on, you know, the map and stuff like that. She's still in business.
She did the Netflix thing last year and got a really good reception at the Greek I thought was amazing. but she just kills me. And I feel like she was the I mean, she's queer, but she doesn't talk a lot about it on stage. But there's like, she alludes to it. But I feel like she was so many firsts. And funny, too. Like, I just remember her killing. you know, she figured out who she should be as a comic and who she was as a comic. And she was just.
Is she killed? Yeah. If you look her up online, she has a zillion like, talk show appearances, not just her stand up spots, but she was a like a kind of a co-host or just on a lot of I mean, in the eighties and nineties, they're resilient talk shows. But she has so many of those appearances where they're just like kind of relying on her to be naturally funny. I love Marsha That. She was incredible. didn't balls as die? Yeah. That dude is like a couple. Yeah. Did you know him?
No, but I always liked him. And you know, back then you watch people on TV. Mm hmm. If they can survive the show, that made them kind of did better than a lot of people. Mm hmm. After that. But then you kind of just disappeared. Yeah. I didn't know. He just. He just died. That's like somebody back in the day. If he died, you'd figured you would hear about it. But time has changed so much. Thank you. You like. And sometimes when these people die that were big back then.
It was so huge back then. Mm hmm. People that are covering the media now is so young, they don't even know. They don't get Exactly. Ding, ding, ding, ding. Was better than die early. Yeah, people Who you entertain could, like, write. Like, an accurate obituary. That's a great point, because I feel like, I mean, nostalgia is like a thing for me, but, like, there are legends and firsts. We're all in media, but media hasn't existed for that long.
So there are these icons that are like leaving us in the in the blink of an eye. But it also, yeah. Like this person was more than. You have no idea how formative. Yes, I agree. And I just remember now they always talk about Michael Jackson. But the day he died right before he did, Farrah Fawcett did. And Ed McMahon. American culture. There's so many Simpsons punch lines. Yeah, punchlines that are all. Ed McMahon. That's funny. you're right.
I knew Farrah Fawcett died, but I didn't realize him around the time of my Ed McMahon, not to the time of Michael Jackson. So he definitely got it. Yeah, just gone. I mean, that's a bigger story. So but that's not the best comparison because Michael Jackson is huge. But like Tina Turner Yeah, a pretty good sendoff. But she was. I don't even think so. Yeah. Decent compared to everybody else. Yeah, he stepped. Mm. Mm hmm. Still an issue. But, like, she's a one name. She's. Like multi-generational.
Her story obviously is epic, but I agree. It was like this weird thing. Bob Barker is not my like, I don't think he's as comparable as Tina Turner, but as an American kind of institution. He was too old for people to register that, you know, that was so last century. People couldn't. It was like seeing someone in vaudeville died. He didn't know. If they were. Straight to the way you know. He like I'm. I thought he died of. No, like, a month ago. She was in there. Kicking. He had it.
Yeah, That old school where it's like, make your money. Have a great day job. Be done by 5 p.m.. Yeah. Retire, right? Yeah, retire. That's the way I don't get like when people are super, super rich and they try to keep going on, I'm like, Just fuck off. Why would you not like if you if you were on friends and you're getting like, get they get $20 million a year in residuals. I didn't know. I just learn. That and like, just what's just fuck off you. We don't need you anymore.
19 million. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What are you? Because, I mean, that's something Laura always really likes to talk about. Is there like, a moment in your career where you were like, I've made it. I have enough. I've done the not done everything I've wanted, but like. You've arrived or I'm still working to arrive. Yeah, but I'm disappointed in that and happy about that at the same time because I feel like I'm waiting for the moment when I am. No, I wouldn't be as funny. I know I arrived.
I wouldn't work. Hmm. And take pride in trying to still make it. Yeah. Yeah. That keeps my comedy at a certain level. Respected. Mm hmm. Is like, if the money matches, I feel like the level of my comedy. I know. Me. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally. Do you like writing for TV, or is it something where you're like, I wish I was on TV, or you can do both. I would like to do both. I feel like being on TV takes less time. Mm. In a writer's room. Yeah. So that's the advantage of it.
And you can that I could do stand up and people see me on TV will make them come out to see the stand up. Yeah. It feeds itself. like show business period. So. Mhm. Of show business. So I like. It. Was that something you said you like show business period. I've always been like obsessed with it but then kind of found myself in it a little bit. It was your path the same or you were always kind of interested in entertainment? I was always interested in just entertainment.
Did you perform ever before you tried standup or governors, but there was something in you that you appreciated? Yeah, I like my mother, always used to watch movies and watch them. Like what? Just grainy black and white old. Mm. And just anything. come home in the evening from work. You're doing some irony in the TV? Mm hmm. Watching it. And when I came here, used to watch all the late night talk shows. I was drawn to them. Mm. Before even thinking about doing standup or anything.
Just being, like, being entertained. Yeah. I never thought of even being in this world. Laurels As another question to were you like high school? What was your group? You ran around with friends we involved, like in school or. I knew some of the popular people, but I wasn't popular. Yeah. I. Like that designation. Yeah. Uh huh. You know, I had a Jamaican accent. Mm. Country. You know, I didn't have a hit star and shit like that, so. Yeah, actually. and that's what comedy really helped out
with was acclimating. Yeah. And that's what drove me to comedy or to being funny was like, this is a way to acclimate. Mhm. When you don't know everything, you don't have the full context of growing up in the country. At least if you're funny, people will hang with you. Yeah. You grew up where? In the city or where? In New York. Long Island. You Uniondale. And then. Did you ever live in the city? No, no, I live in Jersey City, in Brooklyn
a little bit. Mm. But I just was in the city once I got into my first New York City Club. Mhm. I was in the city every night. Right. Yeah. Yeah. That was everything. And is it just one of those intuitive things where you're like, I'm just going to trust my gut and follow this? Like pursuing standup because. Because it's one, it's one of the few things, at least in my life, where you get not the instant gratification of laughter, but like, one gig leads to the next.
You're daisy chaining this existence together, and before you know it, you've done something right. I don't know of other places that work like that, where it's like, No, it's not paycheck to paycheck, but it is just gig to gig. And for me, I was like half dissolute or I don't not that's the wrong word for it, but delusion or of like trusting it. There is an element of delusion, you know, because like to commit to something on the word of a stranger to a driver. window.
While you're wearing a paper crown of corduroy. Burger King, you know. But is a intuitive thing for a person who tells you this compliments you. And I'm like, don't even know if that was me. That's the part of me that happens when I shroom. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I jumped out. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we're going to do for the rest of all. Yes. All right. I put up a fight with this. Mm. I forgot what your question was. It's okay. We start talking about drugs, and I got distracted.
I mean. Like. Like. Yeah, I love psychedelics. Have you ever done, like, I Wasco or any stuff like that? I wasn't. I really want to you've never. I've never done it. I've talked to several friends who have and they've done it I don't know in lots of different places in country, some in California. Where have you gone for it? This really tropical place called Santa. Yeah, You do it outside. Yeah. Then right now. We're going to go Oh, no, no, no. Yeah. It sounded like a nice house.
My friend rented the house. And did it there. Yeah. Did you all have, like, a guide and stuff or. Okay. Okay. Okay. Sure. And is, uh. you know, first of all, you're doing ayahuasca. That means you're trying to get to a level of spirituality that makes you a better person. Mm hmm. But some people who have gone to South America, too, have done it. They act like you didn't really do it. You won't. Use date. And yes. Yeah. I Yeah, Also. And what's the drug all about?
But put us all on the same plane, so fuck off, nerd. Yeah, well, see Yeah, You're going to just throw up on Machu Picchu. So. Okay. Really, because I'm, I actually am genuinely interested in like psychedelics as a healer and all that kind of. How long after you have like, what do you call it? Like a session? What do you call a treatment? Uh. A weekend? Yeah, like my joint was, like, I think it was a Friday night. Mm. And after that, I found out people do it, like, over two nights.
Yeah. You, you, you do a a first dose, and then the next night you do a second, and I think you take more positive juice or whatever. You drink two doses in one night. Yeah. But I think people do tonight and then the next night two. The next night. Mm. And like you said, I've never done two. To date. Yeah. Was it fun. Yeah. Like it's, it's either special or. I don't know. What if there was one person. Mm. Was throwing up. Yes. Was a thing. They said it was. Correct.
For my research. Yes. Videos on line. Of people vomiting or. I've always wanted to do it I never got the opportunity. And opportunity came up years after I wanted to do it. Got it on my way to do it, as I should. I forgot everything I can't. Too. And the most important thing was like, Don't fight. Mm. And set some intentions. Okay. So then I was like, Oh, that's what I need to do. Mm hmm. Cause I was like, I'm on my way to do this. I'm exiting and like. Yeah, right. were your intentions?
My intention was I have a friend who got accidentally shot in the leg. Mm. So he died for, like, 5 minutes. Mm. But when he died, you know, he's floating above his body. Mm mm. Mm hmm. Wow. was going towards the light. Mm hmm. Talking to some beings and stuff like that. Wow. Then you got to go back. But he didn't want to go back, huh? You know, and then he's like, What about this? I don't want to stop feeling this love that I'm feeling from this life. Mm hmm. You know, with the direction
we go. Mm hmm. It's on Earth, you know? So you just got to pay attention. Mm hmm. And then every time I watch a near-death experience on YouTube, there's a bunch of them on YouTube. Yeah. And a lot of them are similar, you just hear that, like, you start feeling this peace and love, and nobody wants to come back. Mm hmm. And then so I was like, I want to feel the love that people feel when they die while I'm alive. Mm hmm. So that was my Did you ever listen to Coast to Coast?
Yeah. The AM radio show. I'm a. Me too. On the way. Exactly. Yeah, Because the hours are perfect. It's. I'm from, like midnight to 5 a.m.. And the whatever the talking about is. Yes, I think. He's dead. He died. He did I. Oh, no. I thought. Yeah. Shit. I know George is still on. But there's another dude who's like, taken over because George is old.
but one of the specials or one of the topics they had was a man who'd written a book about child near-death experience, and he'd interviewed all these kids who had whatever coded and everything. And I'll never forget this. They were saying all these insane, beautiful, poetic, beautiful things. Ah, Bell, I'm sorry. I'll remember, right? Yeah. I liked our bell, but one of the quotes the kids said was about, like, what does it feel like to die? The kids said, You die the life you live.
Shit. I was like, That is so a it's like a greeting card. It's a little too profound, Yeah. but it was like a right for a fucking five year old. Like, spit that shit out. I was like, I know that made me. Cry. I read. I have a friend whose mother said that they were going to McDonald's and he said something. I remember what it was. It was like very profound. And she was like, Where did you learn that? And he goes, You know, from my other life. And she's like, What do you mean, your other life?
He goes, The one that I had before this one. And he did. He didn't remember it. All my friends moms that yeah. I've watched the videos on YouTube of parents that have kids like that. Yeah, go investigate some of it. And some of it might be true. The last one I saw was this guy he was the author of Like Gone with the Wind or something. Yeah. Oh, shit. The little kid was dead. He died, and then he went to the air and that's how he. Wow. I, I'm buried on a it. Was like tapped into the thing.
I think I've told you this before. My friend Christy Reeves's mom had this. She had, like, a normal house. And then behind it was this insane, like, mansion you'd never see. Like, and in that house, it was all these old fuckin antiques. And one of them was like, you know, an old hotel. The key slots, right? The big armoire thing with, like, the different rooms. They had one of those, and her nephew was like two or three. He was on the spectrum. He didn't speak, as I understand, but he would go.
He'd make a beeline. As soon as he went to his grandma's house, he'd go straight for that thing and he would talk to it and he he would name names. And that was things he couldn't do in his day to day life. But it was like they that was like a conduit for the guests of the hotel. And that's who was like talking to him. Holy shit. See, like that kind of stuff, you're like, Oh, I don't believe in it. Shit I like. I the thing I say is like, I just don't know. I don't feel like it could be. Yeah.
I mean, like they say, like in Ireland, like you're not supposed to walk, you know, in fields at night because you could step on a fairy or a cylinder. Yeah, like that kind of shit. I'm like, I'm like, You know what? I don't believe in fairies or leprechauns, but I'm not going to fuck with my boyfriend's Hawaiian. You can't sing Night Munchers. You know about them? Oh, my God. And then they show up No. No. But if you look at. Oh, no, you're not supposed to.
Because it's for, like, non islanders, right? And invaders, essentially. And so when the sun goes down, their eyes glow. They're soldiers and they, they march like three feet above the ground. So they float. And you're supposed to if they're coming towards you use was to rip off all your clothes and you're supposed to bury like your face and body in the ground as and then they'll glide over you. Otherwise they take them with you. But yeah, they're there to like protect the lands essentially.
What's their deal against clothes. Because you're supposed to blend in with the ninja. All right. On the whole, because you're like. My white ass. Wouldn't look like anything. Yeah, Yeah. They see me more like. You, More or less. Yeah, exactly. Like if I wasn't aware. But it's not like the way I want it to be, right?
But like, when you go to, like, Louisiana or, like, anywhere in the South and, you know, there's a lot of Haitians and a lot of like, you know, voodoo and sanitary and shit like that and like, again, I don't want to believe it, but at the same time I'm like, I'm not going to fuck with it. Could you in New Orleans? Like, I could feel that shit, dude. I love it. Yeah, I loved it too, because Halloween was weeks ago and they still had all their stuff up.
I was like, I love this town, have you ever trip there? I've never been to new. What? How is that possible? I'm thinking. How have you never been to New Orleans, I can't believe you've never been to New Orleans. I can't. What? How is life not taking you there? No. I mean, is there a club in your car? Honestly, that's probably why I know we did. It was a theater show. We did. We? It's Margaret Cho. It's not my show. I keep saying we do. You know Margaret, have you ever. Met?
Hard to get in on the shows or whatever, but, yeah, like, really? Do you like to hang out at shows? I do my set, and I'm so nervous. I always run. I do that too, But I just trying to remember I saw her it was before the pandemic. It was in Seattle. What was our music festival? Only seven days out Bonnaroo. No, no, that's a bummer. Shoot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's where you. Performed at a music festival. Did it work? Yeah, Because you had a down here comedy.
Like, I was thinking. Mm. It was a great time for the festival. I like the music festivals. Yeah. So I go to one, perform at it and just have access to, like, VIP access to all the shows. Mm hmm. Can't be exactly. Well, you like music. you go see music? Yeah. Like I'll try to go to at least one music festival. Mm hmm. That's. That's the Coachella. Coachella. Bonnaroo. That's Bonnaroo. Yeah, was fine. Yeah. But good time. And it stays with you all year.
You have a good time? Yeah. You know you got trauma. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. You can have good time. Trauma? Mm hmm. You just feel like children. And the thought of all that fun just pops into you. Mm hmm. You can, right? Oh, shit. Yeah, That's beautiful. So I just, like, I always make sure I go to one. Yeah, but I have some fun in it. It'll just come out of nowhere, and I'll just play. Get the residuals. Yeah. Residual vibes. you listening to new music, or is it mainly older stuff?
Everything. Everything. Like what's, what's on your list right now? Here's the thing, because you are like Spotify or YouTube music. Mm hmm. Like when you listen, when you listen to the radio, they used to tell you after every song who that was. Mm hmm. Now, Yeah. I'm just listening. Mm Yeah, but there's nothing telling me. Yeah. You're reading the. Yeah. Mm hmm. I might go to a concert, Like one of these music festivals and be like, Oh, I listen to that song all the time.
Mm Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? It was like, Oh yeah, My music taxes. Yeah. That's been going on that I missed. See, I'm so old. I watched the Grammys just because the people who've died segment. Oh, damn. And then they sometimes they forget people. So they did a really long one this last time. Yeah. So long that I thought it was over and that they left off Christina B from Fleetwood Mac. Yeah, I was in my boyfriend and he didn't know any of the dead people.
And I was like, That is such bullshit. I was like, Everybody has their head of their fucking ass for Stevie Nicks and nobody gives a shit about Kristen. And then Bonnie Raitt comes on the screen. I was like, Oh, here it is. To the next level. Yeah, weeping because she nailed it. She had an encore. Think beautiful, sick fucking Now it is. Beautiful. I love Bonnie Raitt. She's the shit, dude. She plays the guitar. Just amazing. Yeah. Yeah. No, I would I'd tear up if she was gone.
She's what, her shot a I think are the last two people I need to see life Have you seen her like. Yeah, I feel like I've seen a lot, but I forgot. No. Like I have. Yeah. I think it was a performance that I didn't expect it and so but I can't you know, the answer is mostly no. Yeah. Are there people left on your list that you want to meet or like musician, like comics you want to meet or. Yeah, I really don't want to meet anybody.
Like, I'm not like the type of person that is like, Oh, there goes something. So let me go say hi. Mm hmm. I don't mind seeing them work tomorrow. Mm. But I don't have to meet her. Gotcha. What about, like, musicians? Are there bands you. Because I feel like I've seen everyone or they're dead. Musicians. Or I just jinx everybody when I say this. Scene, I seen a lot of people. When you go to, like, a music festival, like at least once a year, sometimes twice, you get bang for your buck.
It's like, yeah, it's like a coupon to all. People are really friendly at festivals. Yeah. And then the people who don't go there online spewing all this hate and I'm like, I'd rather be at the festival when everybody's at Christmas mode. Like, yeah, saved up to go to those events and to have fun. Their attention is set subconsciously. Consciously? Mm. You're running into people in their best. Mm hmm. Hmm. Hmm. I don't go. They just. I get it. Like, festival people look annoying. Yeah, I know.
But yeah. But then people be like, Oh. Like when I. Was a bomb would go off. Like, why would I stay home with you? Yeah, Yeah. You're fucking boring. Yeah. With people skipping and, you know, I'll be a part of that. And we're being hung over in a Taco Bell on a Sunday afternoon and seeing this group, they were probably like in their late twenties and they were playing some anime card game or whatever. This, these guys just in a corner and was one girl and I was like, It's fucking nerds.
And they were having so much fun. It's like, Damn dude, they're having fun. I was like, they that fucking rules. I love seeing that kind of shit. Nerds live in action. Yeah. Oh, just and just happy. Well, that was the thing. We. It's been a minute since I've been to. Okay, so we would go to festivals like that where you're kind of camped in. That changes the, the mentality a bit.
But then, like, Austin City Limits was where you kind of have a little bit People aren't not well intentioned, but they haven't set an intention or maybe they're just going to see something and leave. It's a little bit more of a disposable experience that tainted it. I miss being where we're all locked in. It's not even survival mode. It's like we made it. It's a little heavenly where it's like people, how can 92, 120,000 people really get along that well? There aren't incidents.
There's not like a you don't see drunk fights, Yeah, really? See that there one of the times I was an ACL was I learned to avoid this back when men wore those, like true religion jeans. You know, those are kind of big back. I just I, I would I would avoid any man who had like a pattern like on the back of his jeans or like a weird wash or anything. I was like that guy sucks. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's a good. Yeah. You a man with rhinestones?
Not like dancewear and rhinestones, but you know what I mean. But that's okay. Yeah. corn hoodie that I'm never taking off. Okay, so wait, are you hitting the road? What's going on? The strike is over. You can promote things. How was that for you? Stuff like a mini pandemic? Yeah. As a comic, I just had a bunch of road gigs, so I just did those, you know, the over. You sound happy. I mean, like I said, some of it was. I know, but staying in town is like, Mm.
So sometimes it's just staying in town as I really just doing, just staying in town. Yeah. Like there's Starbucks in other town. Yeah. Yeah. So I just go. Let's go hang out at a Starbucks in another town. Mm hmm. Get on a computer and edit some clips and do some shit, But yeah, I mean, gigs for the rest of the year. But I think next year, like from May on, I should have a bunch of stuff. Do you feel pressure to post crowd work clips and all that? I don't think it's pressure.
It's like I see what it's done for people. Mm hmm. I was like, Yeah, I want to expand my profile and have people come out to see me. So I'll do it. Yeah, yeah, I'll find some stuff and do it. Is that something you do? Do you talk to crowds generally speaking, when you're on stage? I used to when I first started, and I used to tell people because I had 20 minutes, but I have five. Mm mm. Mm hmm. But then I wanted to have material starting to be on TV shows.
so then I always mostly worked on material, but now it's, Oh, I'm going to dip back into my crowd works. Mm hmm. just. I have some material put online. Is. A skill I try not to shoot on because I'm so old school. I'm like, mean, like 60 years ago it was hacked, but that was 60 years ago. Like, we can't, like, operate in that Todd Barry The whole special called Great Work and it's fucking incredible. Yeah, yeah. Which I love. But she's and she's funny.
Yeah. I 100%. Yeah. But if you've ever waited tables or it's like I guess you talked about it like the Burger King thing, it's like you have to make your work fun with, especially with customers, right? Because sometimes the customer is not interesting and you're the one that makes it interesting. Maybe if not just for yourself, if only.
But I feel like if you've ever bartended or waited tables or had to chit chat with normal people and make them fun, that to me, that's of it's like a personal thing for me. I'm like, I'm done talking to customers, Yeah, yeah. Standup. I'm over Is there any comedians that you're really hyped on right now that you want to talk about or.
I think Burns Really good. Hmm. Keith Robinson had two strokes, so he's about to shoot, especially this amazing thing to I heard that his material is good because I've been in New York. Mm hmm. This episode had a call you know, we could say anything to each other. I told him I need him to take a dive on the special. and not kill. Yeah. That's great. But how it is, is just. There's a lot of funny people. Regular people I talked to every day. Comments in the comments section is a lot of fun.
Mm mm. Mm hmm. we like to sometimes a comedy talk to me that there's a limited amount of people who are funny so that you always work. Mm. Doesn't it? This is a lot of fun to do some of the things, obviously. Like, how did they fucking come up with this? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. This city's hilarious. So there's a lot of funny people, which is thank God. Yeah. But you're one of the funniest. Yeah, I agree. Thanks for being here. Yeah. Thank you so much. Thanks for doing so mean.
5 minutes from my house. Yeah, I'll. I'll try to do a more. We should have carpools. All right. Great job. All right. Bye.