Celebrity Jobber with Jeff Zito - Cedric the Entertainer

Summary

Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito

Episode: Cedric the Entertainer

Release Date: May 8, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Jeff Zito sits down with Cedric the Entertainer (Cedric Antonio Kyles) to explore his journey from humble beginnings in Missouri to becoming one of America’s most beloved comedians and actors. They delve into Cedric’s first jobs, family influences, the pivotal moments that shaped his career, and his latest projects, including his animated Netflix film "Swapped." Cedric reflects on what he might have become without his big break—and the importance of staying grounded and adaptable.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[03:08] Cedric’s Current Life & Birthday Weekend

• Cedric expresses gratitude for his career and recent birthday celebrations:
  • “All is good, man. Can't complain, man. Life is like. Life was busy, and that's a good thing.” (Cedric the Entertainer, 03:15)
  • Shared about opening night of his Broadway show attended by Michelle Obama:
    • “The opening was crazy. Former first lady Michelle Obama came to the show. It was crazy.” (Cedric, 03:36)

[04:25] Reflecting on Success & Humble Beginnings

• Cedric remarks on the surreal nature of his success, recalling his modest upbringing:
  • “When you're, like, little, you kind of imagine maybe the opportunity of being a star...but you don't see it really all kind of pan out.” (Cedric, 04:25)
  • He credits authentic relationships and “the degree of consistency” for his longevity.
  • Reveals his comic origin after leaving (but not officially quitting) State Farm:
    • “I never quit State Farm. The door open, you know, that's very professional of you, keeping the door open.” (Cedric, 05:22)

[05:55] Acting in Animation vs. Live Action

• Cedric discusses the challenges of voice acting for "Swapped":
  • “It's harder than what people think...you don't really get a chance to kind of, like, play off another actor.” (Cedric, 06:19)
  • He likens the process to using childhood imagination while playing with toys:
    • “Imagine you're playing with your toys...giving them voices and you're making up storylines.” (Cedric, 06:47)

[07:46] About the Film “Swapped”

• Cedric explains the plot and message of the animated film, in which he voices the father of Michael B. Jordan’s chipmunk character:
  • “We are used to living life small...I’m teaching him to be this, while he’s this young, rambunctious, creative...He ends up swapping with a bird...and realizes he was always enough.” (Cedric, 07:46)
  • Importance of authentic self-image in the social media age:
    • “Be yourself and enj and grow and be dynamic.” (Cedric, 09:02)

[10:35] Early Life & Family Background

• Cedric describes his upbringing in a single-parent, education-focused household in St. Louis:
  • “My mother was a school teacher. She taught elementary, 30 something years. Raised my younger sister...She’s actually a professor at Pepperdine University.” (Cedric, 11:16)
  • Despite his outgoing personality, his mother insisted on college and stability.

[11:32] From Corporate America to Comedy

• He entered comedy in his mid-to-late twenties, after stints at State Farm and as a substitute teacher:
  • “Right around in my late mid-20s, late 20s, I discovered I could do comedy and just started going for it.” (Cedric, 11:32)
  • Details chance encounter with Steve Harvey that changed his career:
    • Heads to Dallas, ends up on stage at a comedy club where Steve was headlining after an opener tanked. Steve put Cedric up, where he “killed,” leading to their partnership and “The Steve Harvey Show.”

[12:56] Cedric’s College and Intended Career Path

• Cedric majored in mass communications at Southeast Missouri State, intending to be a broadcaster:
  • “I was gonna do like kind of fun news like, you know, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight...But you never actually got a chance to go to work.” (Cedric, 12:56)
  • His job offer evaporated due to expansion before starting.

[13:41] Cedric’s First Job: Janitorial Service

• His first official job was with a janitorial service run by a church friend:
  • “Going into an office building at night...you got offices, you go around and you clean up...having the machine get loose from you and go spinning down the hallway.” (Cedric, 13:41)

[14:47] Family Support and Finding his Path

• Cedric’s mother was initially skeptical about his entertainment aspirations:
  • “It took some time...She kind of only understood, you know, point of order and business way, you know, doing it, you know, doing it the traditional way.” (Cedric, 14:47)
  • Telling her a successful joke—and making her laugh—won her over.

[15:54] Substitute Teaching

• After the broadcast job fell through, Cedric became a substitute teacher:
  • “I just substitute and would, you know, hang out with the kids. But I felt so close to the kids. I was only a few years ahead of them because I was at a high school...I just was weird.” (Cedric, 15:56)

[18:16] The Big Break: Chicago Comedy Competition

• Cedric’s pivotal moment was winning the Miller Genuine Draft comedy competition in Chicago:
  • “I had to make an address so that I can qualify...I won that year...I’m taking a picture with this big check. I won $3,000, which, again, at that time felt like the most money in the world.” (Cedric, 18:16)
  • Being featured in Jet and Ebony magazines brought national exposure and opened doors to bigger stages.

[19:59] On the Importance of “The Neighborhood”

• Discusses the hit show and its cultural relevance:
  • “If folks just really had an opportunity to know each other, get a chance to know each other, our differences aren’t so different...We were able to capture that with this show.” (Cedric, 20:23)
  • Eight seasons, growing audience through syndication.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On state of his career:
  “To have done it as long as I have with the degree of consistency that I have, I really feel really blessed.” (Cedric, 04:25)
• Leaving doors open:
  “I never quit State Farm. The door open, you know, that's very professional of you, keeping the door open.” (Cedric, 05:22)
• Imagination and voice acting:
  “Imagine you're playing with your toys...giving them voices and you're making up storylines...that’s pretty much how you have to do an animated movie.” (Cedric, 06:47)
• About childhood work ethic:
  “I'm from the Midwest, man, so shoveling snow and, and cutting grass...But I remember like my kind of very first job...was working at a janitorial service.” (Cedric, 13:41)
• On family and support:
  “I remember telling her a joke one time. I had written this joke and she laughed so hard, she went to the ground and that's when I knew...she kind of supported me and just kind of got behind me.” (Cedric, 14:47)
• On "The Neighborhood":
  “Our differences aren’t so different and the differences that are gives us an opportunity to grow and experience something new.” (Cedric, 20:23)
• Humorous aside on insurance:
  “Let me know if you need a claims adjustment. I can give you some advice.” (Cedric, 21:53)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:08] Cedric joins, birthday celebrations, running into Michelle Obama
• [04:25] Reflecting on his journey from St. Louis to celebrity
• [05:55] Challenges of voice acting vs. live action
• [07:46] Story and message of "Swapped"
• [10:35] Entering comedy after State Farm, family background
• [13:41] First job: Janitorial work
• [14:47] Convincing his mother to support his comedy career
• [15:56] Substitute teacher experiences
• [18:16] The big break: Winning the Chicago comedy contest
• [19:59] Cultural importance of "The Neighborhood"

---

Tone & Style

Cedric's signature humor and authenticity shine throughout, with Jeff Zito's laid-back but probing interview style helping to spotlight each stage of Cedric's career. The conversation is peppered with light jokes, heartwarming memories, and practical career wisdom—keeping it relatable for listeners at all stages of their own journeys.

---

Summary

This episode provides a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring look at the making of Cedric the Entertainer, from his beginnings as a janitor and a substitute teacher in Missouri, his strict-but-loving mother, and his perseverance in the face of setbacks—to his big break in Chicago and enduring success in comedy and television. Cedric shares behind-the-scenes glimpses into projects like "Swapped" and "The Neighborhood," illustrating that with imagination, resilience, and a little bit of luck, anyone can go from “jobber” to superstar.

---

Transcript

[Home Depot Announcer]

It's time to dig into doing with Spring Garden deals at the Home Depot. Save on plants like azaleas and hydrangeas to add a pop of color to your garden. Or grow a veggie garden and turn fresh harvests into feasts that bring everyone to the table. No matter your garden goals, the Home Depot has everything you need. Shop Spring garden deals for four days at the Home Depot now through May 10th.

[Michelle Akers (Voiceover)]

You don't change the game without asking big questions like what would you like the power to do? My answers motivated me to help lead the first U.S. women's national team and bring home two FIFA Women's World cup trophies, Bank of America champions, U.S. women's

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

soccer legend Michelle Akers, and everyone who

[Michelle Akers (Voiceover)]

dares to ask what would you like the power to do? Bank of America Proud to be the official bank of U S Soccer bank of America NA Member FDSE

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

hey, it's Jeff Zito. Thanks for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart. Wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe. Hit that subscribe button please. Would love a five star rating and if you could please leave a review. You want to go back in time? Check out past guests and episodes. You can do so [e-mail] closing in on 200 episodes. Almost four years. Pretty crazy. So again, thank you for listening and making this podcast successful as we are consistently in the top 10 of the Apple Podcast Music Interviews chart number six today, currently. And basically we take a deeper dive into celebrities lives before fame, you know, because everybody wasn't born famous. Although there there are a few. Cedric Antonio Kyles was not one of them. His father was an employee of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, his mother was a schoolteacher, and Cedric had a regular life before he became Cedric the Entertainer. How did it all happen? What was his big break? What's he up to these days? What was his first job? And he famously has a a job story. A working story that I can't wait to get into from BET's comic view, DEF Comedy Jam, the Steve Harvey Show, Barbershop, the Kings of Comedy and the Neighborhood. Not to mention his new movie on Netflix. Swapped Cedric Antonio Kyles, AKA Cedric the Entertainer is my guest this week on

[Podcast Announcer]

Celebrity Jobber, the Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, give a five star rating and leave a review. Check out all our past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you pod. What if these celebrities weren't famous? What would they have become. What was their first job? We're about to find out.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Jeff meets Cedric the Entertainer.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

There he is, man.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Jeff. What's up, dog?

[Host Jeff Zito]

Cedric, how's it going, man?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

All is good, man. Can't complain, man. Life is like. Life was busy, and that's a good thing.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

Happy belated to you.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Oh, yeah, man. Birthday celebration was good. Taurus season, baby. The Taurus season.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Yeah, I'm a Taurus myself. I got another couple weeks.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

What.

[Host Jeff Zito]

What did you do? Anything. Anything noteworthy?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Well, I mean, it was a big weekend, man. I mean, we. I. I did the birthday on Friday, and then we had the opening of the Broadway show Saturday night. A lot of friends and family in town. The. The opening was crazy. Former first lady Michelle Obama came to the show. It was crazy. So I. I would say I had one of the biggest bir.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Wow.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

So, I mean, just take yourself back

[Host Jeff Zito]

to growing up outside of St. Louis to right now bumping elbows with the former first lady, and you ever think about this, your journey, and like, you know, you were a regular guy a few years. Not a few years ago, but you

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

were a regular guy.

[Host Jeff Zito]

And here, here, Michelle Obama's coming to the debut. Your. Your Broadway, you know, you know, it

[Cedric the Entertainer]

is one of those things when you're, like, little, you kind of imagine maybe the opportunity of being a star and. Or, you know, being big, but you don't see it really all kind of pan out. And to be. To have done it as long as I have with the degree of consistency that I have, I really feel really blessed, you know, and so the relationships feel authentic. You know, I was able to meet the Obamas many years ago because I had, you know, the opportunity to introduce him when he was running. Running for it, I believe. So it's been. It's been one of these things where you recognize, like, man, I run into crazy circles. Never would have thought it, you know, but you feel really blessed, man, you know, to be entertaining people and still doing it at a high level. You know, this many years after starting, you know, from quitting State Farm to now, still out here, being able to do it, which I, you know, is a leave of absence. I never quit State Farm.

[Host Jeff Zito]

The door open, you know, that's very professional of you, keeping the door open, open.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

I'm gonna go and take somebody's guy's desk one day, just. He'll be like, what's going on? I'm like, bro, fake.

[Host Jeff Zito]

You're no longer needed. Out. Oh, God, that's awesome. I. I want to get to that later. But I. I was just watching the trailer to Swapped. And I mean, what they're doing today in animation blows my. If you even call it animation anymore. It blows my mind. But it as an actor is that challenging?

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

Like, because it's challenging enough to be

[Host Jeff Zito]

Calvin Butler, you know, you know, on the neighborhood, on tv, being a real guy, you're a character you're in. You know, you're not seeing your character. Like, is that. How challenging is that, being a voice in an animated movie?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, it's harder than what people think because you're right. You don't really get a chance to kind of, like, play off another actor. You don't really, you know, you don't know, like, their mood. So you have to listen to the director is the one who kind of really explains you what's going on right now. You know, this is where you are. This is what just happened. And now you kind of go back to your childhood imagination and start to visualize that. It's. The best way I could describe doing an animated movie is just imagine you're playing with your toys or your army men and you giving them voices and you're making up storylines and you're just kind of saying it in your head. And that's kind of pretty much how you have to do an animated movie. They give you a scenario and then you just start to play and just go back into that kind of childlike energy and really see if you can bring that character to life. And I think that's the best way to describe it. It's hard.

[Host Jeff Zito]

I think it's great.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Like I said, you don't have the other person there and, you know, to kind of bounce off of.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

Right? You're by yourself, right? You're recording all your lines.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Like, Tracy Morgan's not with you. That fish, he's not there. So you're just. You're doing you. And I think that's a great way to describe it to really kind of gets regular ham and eggers like. Like me to kind of understand what. What you're doing.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

He Tell me a little bit about

[Host Jeff Zito]

swap, by the way. It's. It's an Netflix now. Can you tell me a little bit about the movie?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Yeah. Swapped is. Is really a story of two creat. Michael B. Jordan is the lead character. He's a little, small chipmunk, if you will. You know, a little small animal. I play his father. We are used to living life small because we're these little small animals. The world is too big for us. We usually Try to stay out the way. We don't want to cause any problems. And I'm teaching him to be this while he's this young, rambunctious, you know, creative, want to experience life kind of personality. And so he ends up swapping with a bird and just so that he can fly and see the world bigger and then ultimately realizes that he was always enough. And I think that that's kind of the storyline behind it and what makes it a really cool visual to watch and the kind of experience that allows people to understand that, yes, you can want more out of life and at the same time, you don't have to give up who you are on the inside to do it. And I think that that's really great.

[Host Jeff Zito]

I think it's a good message. You know, kids that may be having a tough time growing up and wish they were something different or wish they were somebody different.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

I think it's a really good message

[Cedric the Entertainer]

and so, so relevant, especially in this day and age of watching people on Tick tock and on it and believing that, you know, these Instagram photos is somebody's real life and they want to be them. And you realize like, that's just all made up. Like, you know, be yourself and enj and grow and be dynamic. And I think that the kids will enjoy this space for that reason and families alike will enjoy this movie.

[Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Szeto

[Home Depot Announcer]

it's time to dig into doing with spring garden deals at the Home Depot. Save on plants like azaleas and hydrangeas to add a pop of color to your garden. Or grow a veggie garden and turn fresh harvest into feasts that bring everyone to the table. No matter your garden goals, the Home Depot has everything you need. Shop spring Garden deals for four days at the Home Depot now through May 10th,

[Capital One Announcer]

brought to you by the Capital One Savor card. With Savor, you earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores. That's unlimited cash back on ordering takeout from home or unlimited cash back on tickets to concerts. So grab a bite, grab a seat, and earn unlimited 3% cash back with the saver card. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com for details.

[Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

All right, so I want to get back to State Farm for a minute. So you never quit. You left the door open. And just hear me out for a second. Jake from State Farm.

[Host Jeff Zito]

This.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

This guy's got your gig. I mean, this is a no brainer

[Host Jeff Zito]

you know what I mean? Just think about that for a minute.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

This is a no brainer. This, this job belongs to Cedric the Entertainer.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Anyway, tell me a little bit about growing up right? Tell me a little bit about your life. You're, you're in because you got into this later in life. This wasn't like when did, when did comedy and show business, Cedric the Entertainer, when did that become real life to you?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, I was, I'm raised in a single parent household. My mother was a school teacher. She taught elementary, 30 something years. Raised my younger sister, My younger sister is a, she's actually a professor at Pepperdine University.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Beautiful.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

So we, we just kind of, you know, lived in this educational family. But I always had this fun, outgoing personality. I kind of knew that I could entertain when I was really young. But because my mother was a teacher, I had to go to college. I had to go and get a degr. So I worked at State Farm, I worked in corporate America. And then, you know, right around in my late mid-20s, late 2026s, I discovered I could do comedy and just started going for it. So, you know, and pretty early on, you know, loved it. Knew that this was my passion to be able to entertain people. And so luckily for me, I was able to set myself on the path and, and was really blessed with making really cool moves. Early on, landed the Steve Harvey Show. Cause I went to Dallas and was stuck and ran into Steve Harvey and ended up going to a comedy club where he was performing. Just so happened that the headliner wasn't doing well. He put me up. I went up and killed. He brought me back. We became friends and that led to me being on the Steve Harvey show. Us doing the Kings of Comedy together and still great friends to this day, man.

[Host Jeff Zito]

So you, you went to college, you went to Southeast Missouri State, you were a mass comm major. What'd you think you're gonna, what you think you're gonna be then?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

I was gonna be a broadcaster. I actually, you know, I was gonna do like kind of fun news like, you know, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight kind of stuff like that was the, that was a new, like during that time, the late 80s, that was fairly new. And, and so I actually got a job at a CBS affiliate to do the little fun stories and. But you never actually got a chance to go to work. The company had some expansion happen and my salary got wrapped up before I ever got to go to work. So that was crazy.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

So what about your very first job?

[Host Jeff Zito]

Can you take me to like, what Before State Farm, what were you as a kid? What was your first job growing up?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Oh, man, you know, I'm from the Midwest, man, so shoveling snow and, and cutting grass, you know, that was, you know, your kind of hustles. But I remember like my kind of very first job that I had was working at a janitorial service for a guy that went to church with us. And he had a big janitorial service where you clean buildings. Oh, man, that's your first time going into an office building at night. Like a big, you know, you know, 20 story building and you got offices. You go around and you clean up and you, you vacuum real quick and you empty all the trash cans and you do that and you just bounce around. And I just remember having to do the floors with the big, the big cleaner, you know?

[Host Jeff Zito]

Yeah.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, like putting way too much liquid on the ground, you know, needing this help, you know, having the machine get loose from you and go spinning down the hallway. Like all those, all those experiences, man. Was that first job.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Were your parents.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Excuse me.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Were your parents supportive of your dream to become an entertainer?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, it took some time. That's what I think is right. Kind of why I started late. My mother was a school teacher. She kind of only understood, you know, point of order and business way, you know, doing it, you know, doing it the traditional way. And so the fact that I wanted to do something different, I had to convince her. And so I remember telling her a joke one time. I had written this joke and she laughed so hard, she went to the ground and that's what I knew. I was like, okay, I can do this. She gets it. She came to watch me perform live and she was like, okay, you know, I think you can do it. And from that point, she kind of supported me and just kind of got behind me. I always did it smart, though. I never, like, I didn't quit my job right away. I worked and would do comedy at night and kind of build my career up and built my name up around the city and just kind of really took my time until I had a great, a great break, even point. And so I never like, just kind of quit where I needed to lean on her or anyway, I just, I just needed her support. And so that's how it worked out.

[Host Jeff Zito]

And you were also a substitute teacher for a minute, is that right?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Yeah.

[Host Jeff Zito]

How'd that work out?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, that kind of came from, like I say, when I didn't get the job, you know, doing the news, I had to come home and find something to do really quick. And, you know, because my mother was a school teacher, she knew the school systems and she knew that my college degree would allow me to be able to, like, get these jobs where I can go and substitute for the days. And if you like, they kind of keep you busy. And that's how I was able to live for the first few months after graduation is I just substitute and would, you know, hang out with the kids. But I felt so close to the kids. I was only a few years ahead of them because I was at a high school and I was like, man, this is kind of weird. Like, I just was weird.

[Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito.

[State Farm Announcer]

Finding ways to be financially savvy is a smart move. And knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want, like that dream home or new ride, is a great feeling. That's why the State Farm personal price plan can help you save when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal Personal price Plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[KFC Announcer]

Folks knew the colonel approved of his new Honey, Chili Crisp and Jalapeno Ranch sauces the moment he tasted them and said, that's right. No notes, just absolute silence. Turns out some flavors don't need explaining, they just need dipping. It's saucy season at KFC with new Honey, Chili Crisp and Jalapeno Ranch. Get dipping with a boneless bucket today.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Prices and participation vary.

[Podcast Announcer]

Celebrity Jobber.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Tell me about the the. Was there a big break? You're just mentioning the Steve Harvey story. And, and I'm thinking from the time that you're doing comedy for the very first time on stage, whether it was open mic night or whatever, there had to be this moment, this app, this moment that if it didn't happen to you, maybe, maybe we wouldn't be talking today. Is there that pivotal moment, that big break or that moment that changed your life? You tell us about that.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Yeah, I think for me, at the time, I was doing comedy in St. Louis. It's kind of like, you know, making a name for yourself locally. It's good. It feels good. You feel like you kind of got it right. And then there was a big comedy competition in Chicago that Miller Genuine Draft used to promote. And, you know, you would get, if you won, you would get like $3,000. This would be so much money nowadays, I don't know the equivalent but this was like in the late 80s and then. And you would be in a magazine, they would put you in the. You know, the Jet magazine and the Ebony magazine if you won this competition. And so I remember that I had to make him an address so that I can qualify for being a Chicago resident. And then I would have to drive up there every weekend to compete. And, you know, I did it because I wanted to be. You know, I wanted to be bigger than my local situation. And I won that year and that. And I would say it was one of those things that put me in the. Like I said, put me in a national magazine. I won this. I'm taking a picture with this big check. I won $3,000, which, again, at that time felt like the most money in the world. And it was one of those things that put me in the talks. You know, people like Bernie Mac were around and. And Adele Givens, and it was a lot of great comedians coming out of Chicago at that time, and it put me in the same talks with them. And. Which gave me. Was one of those things that really let you know you can do it on a national level.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Wow.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

Wow, Cedric.

[Host Jeff Zito]

I just wanted to touch real quick on the Neighborhood, and I Such a fan of it. I'm such a fan of Calvin Butler. I'm such a fan of all in the Family. Tell us why. Tell us why that show, which I didn't think could be made today. Tell us why that show is so important for people to watch. Why is that?

[Cedric the Entertainer]

You know, the show started at a very interesting time in our country when gentrification was all the talk. Everybody kind of felt like, you know, people are moving into. Moving into neighborhoods and bringing in the Whole Foods and moving folks out that lived there for generations. And, you know, this was kind of the idea of, like, where they were making the people adversarial. And we love the approach that if folks just really had an opportunity to know each other, get a chance to know each other, that our differences aren't so different and the differences that are gives us an opportunity to grow and experience something new. And we were able to capture that with this show. Man, tell so many great stories. The cast was amazing. And I think that that's what people really started to resonate with and love about the neighborhood. We started to get even more viewers, of course, syndication now, like, more and more people, like, finally, like, oh, man, this show is great. I just really kind of got on top of it because, you know, in the world of streaming, it was just so many opportunities to Watch different things. But now when, when we're on every night, right before you go to bed, you know, it's perfect. So really happy that people are discovering the show and that, you know, we had the opportunity to do eight seasons of it.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Huge. And I think it's important for people to watch today in this current climate. Swapped is on Netflix. Cedric the Entertainer, a pleasure. Man, I'm so glad he didn't quit State Farm. It's keeping the door open. Watch out.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Let me know if you need a claims adjustment. I can give you some advice.

[Host Jeff Zito]

Thanks, Said. Take care.

[Cedric the Entertainer]

Later.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

All right, so a lot going on over there. Really, really great conversation. Cedric the Entertainer grew up just outside of St. Louis. Single mother raised him. She was a school teacher. And he talked about his big break being doing local comedy around the St. Louis area, of making a name for himself locally. But there was a contest in Chicago that he really wanted to be a part of, but he had to live in Chicago. So he, he lied on the application about his address. He put down a Chicago address and he ended up winning. And it got him a lot of exposure in some national magazines. And he notes that experience from that contest winning $3,000, which he said felt like a lot of money at the time, the late 80s. He feels like it was that moment that really upped his profile, you know, in Cedric the Tainer went to college. He was mass communications major. He wanted to be a broadcaster. He wanted to do like fun news, Hollywood news. But after college, he went on to be a substitute teacher. And also the famous story, I guess the first time I ever heard this, but he was an insurance adjuster for State Farm. Now listen, you've got this guy Jake from State Farm and not trying to get, you know, push him out of the way for Cedric the Entertainer, but you got the perfect spokesperson here. Cedric never quit State Farm. He said he never formally quit. Left that door open just in case things didn't work out for him in comedy. So this could be the perfect opportunity for him to step back in to State Farm. He's the new Jake.

[Host Jeff Zito]

I don't know.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

I definitely think that idea has legs. Cedric said his first job, though, was with a janitorial service. Pretty crazy how his working life started out with working as a janitor. And now Cedric the Entertainer thought it was really interesting talking to Cedric about being in these animated films. You know, it's got to be hard enough acting, you know, being on camera, trying to be natural with some made up story, some made up character, but when it's animation. It's even more crazy. And there's nobody else in the other room. You're not playing off of somebody else. They're cartoons. They haven't really yet been created. So I thought it was really interesting how he explained he takes himself back to, to the days when he was like a child playing with his GI Joe guys, you know, and he, he

[Host Jeff Zito]

had to rely on his imagination and

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

that's kind of how he is able to lend his voice to these animated movies. I thought it was a really great explanation. I don't think Cedric the Entertainer is going to have to return to his job with State Farm as an insurance adjuster, but I definitely think there's room for him as a spokesperson. Sorry, Jake. You had a good run though, right?

[Host Jeff Zito]

There you go.

[Narrator/Host Jeff Zito]

Cedric the Entertainer on the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. Streaming now on Spotify, on iHeartRadio Apple Podcast. Wherever you listen to podcasts, we're streaming on all of them. If you want to go back in time, check out past guests and episodes. You can do [e-mail] plus you can follow on Instagram celebrity underscore, jobberpodcast, YouTube.com the @sign celebrity jobber and for video bonus content, check out substack.com celebrity jobber most celebrities are just one big break away from fame, and before they hit it big, they were, you know, pretty much just like you and I. Who knows, maybe your big break is right around the corner. Anyway, thanks again for listening to another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. And until next week, we'll see you then. I'm Jeff Zito.

[Capital One Announcer]

This message is brought to you by the Capital One Venture X Card. Venture X offers the premium benefits you expect, like a $300 annual Capital One travel credit for less than you expect. Elevate your earn with unlimited double miles on every purchase, bringing you one step closer to your next dream destination. Plus, enjoy access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide. The Capital One Venture X Card what's in your wallet? Terms apply. Lounge access is subject to change. See capitalone.com for details.

[Grainger Announcer]

This is the story of the One as a maintenance tech at a university, he knows ordering from multiple suppliers takes time away from keeping their arena up and running. That's why he counts on Granger to get everything he needs, from lighting and H Vac parts to plumbing supplies, all in one place. And with fast, dependable delivery, he's stocked and ready for the next tip off. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.