Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers

Episode: RICH EISEN Is On The (Fake) Board of Staten Island Tourism
Release Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Seth Meyers, Josh Meyers
Guest: Rich Eisen

Episode Overview

In this episode, Seth and Josh Meyers welcome legendary sportscaster and Staten Island native Rich Eisen to reminisce about his childhood, family trips (or lack thereof), New York memories, and the oddities of growing up with public school educators for parents. They discuss the weird world of sports allegiance, the Staten Island ferry, the lost glory of summer camp, Yankees vs. Mets loyalty, and the little family moments that end up defining you.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood & Sibling Dynamics

• Rich’s Staten Island Roots: Grew up in a tight-knit, working-class home; both parents were New York City public school educators.
• Sibling Rivalry and Smarts: Rich has one older brother, Jeff, who he describes as “way smarter” (19:00).
• Sports Allegiances: Rich turned away from the Mets and adopted the Yankees to separate from his brother's fandom (19:04–19:15).
  • “If he was rooting for the Mets and Jets, I would leave the Mets by the door side and root for the Yankees.” (19:04)

2. Family Sports Traditions and Nepotism

• Growing a Sports Fan: Despite his father’s indifference, Rich’s brother’s influence set him on his sports path (19:19–19:32).
• French Teacher Parents: Both hosts and Rich share the unique experience of having a French teacher as a parent; all admit to underwhelming language retention (20:30–21:10, 21:20–22:29).
  • "[My dad] would take his high school class on trips… and I'd ask for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when we were out. I just didn't have the palate, I didn’t have the mind for the language." – Rich (20:37)
• Nepotism in School Awards: Josh won French student awards via nepotism, got booed at the assembly (22:10–22:29).
  • "The tiebreaker was 100% nepotism." – Josh (21:58)

3. Sports Fandom—The Family Virus

• Long-Suffering Mothers: Seth recounts his mom blaming her sports heartbreak ("Aaron Boone, 2003") on the males in her family (23:25).
  • “‘You put this poison in me.’” – Seth, quoting his mother (23:25)
• Generational Team Choices: The Meyers and Eisen families have strong multi-generational allegiances, often dictated by fathers/grandfathers (28:39–29:50).
• Fandom Nuances: Seth allows his kids some freedom—just not Yankees, Giants, or Jets.

4. Staten Island, The Forgotten Borough

• Eisen: Fake Head of Tourism
  • "Staten Island, New York. The fifth and forgotten borough. The home of Wu Tang Clan." – Rich (10:52)
• Legend of the Ferry:
  • Rich and Seth marvel at the size (12:35–12:54).
  • Monkey business: Pete Davidson & Colin Jost’s purchase of a decommissioned ferry gets roasted (12:18–13:40).

5. Upbringing in a Teacher Household

• Modest Means: No lavish trips; summers were spent at camps where Rich’s father was a counselor (43:58–44:59).
• Camp Not a Sanctuary:
  • “My dad was my group leader for, like, the first two, three years.” – Rich (43:58)
  • Lack of camp friends: “I did not. I did not. It was really difficult for me…my wife really…had to tell me, go to therapy…” (45:17)
• Travel Opportunities: Most family trips piggybacked on his dad’s French-class excursions (45:11).

6. Memorable Childhood Trips and Moments

• Disney World (Classic 1970s):
  • Flew Eastern Airlines, stayed at the Polynesian, marveled at the monorail, wore a parka into the pool during a cold snap (45:00–47:58).
• Aging Grandparents & Wild Movie Nights:
  • Awkwardly watched “Dressed to Kill” (Angie Dickinson shower scene!) with his grandparents (49:51–51:13).

7. Parents, Pride & Technology

• Rich’s Dad, the Sportscaster’s Dad:
  • Distributed Rich Eisen trading cards to visitors, based on service quality (24:04–25:13).
• Elderly Parental TV Confusion: All commiserate about helping their parents adapt to YouTube TV, cable, and digital remotes (26:09–26:47).

8. Manhattan & Culture: The Family Field Trips

• Early Broadway Exposure:
  • Fiddler on the Roof, Zero Mostel—second row as a child (33:11–35:32).
  • “Truly one of my first memories of life.” – Rich (33:13)
• Ticket Stub Under Glass: Treasured mementos from all the Broadway shows, including a childhood autograph from Glenn Close (35:32).
• Garry Marshall Anecdote: Seth reminisces about Marshall blaming the Winter Garden Theatre for a flop—until "Cats" ran for 25 years (36:14–37:12).
• Meeting Tony Randall: Rich, post-jog in NYC, gets negged by an impeccably dressed Felix Unger (from The Odd Couple) about focusing on his recent parenthood, not just career praise (39:54–41:02).
  • “I would think you would congratulate me on my children.” – Tony Randall (40:59)

9. Parenting the Next Generation

• On Not Forcing Careers/Dreams: Unlike his grandfather’s hopes he’d become a rabbi, Rich isn’t foisting any plans on his kids (48:19–49:31).
• Traveling With Kids:
  • Italy wins as a “magical” family destination, especially Venice (54:13–55:14).
  • Kids get along…mostly, with typical sibling arguments (55:16–55:48).
  • Cherishing the rare moments of family harmony (“Pure bliss” over a calm breakfast: 55:44–55:52).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Naming Rights for Kids:
  “If we try for the girl…and we get the girl, you can name her… [But] my naming rights immediately got demoted to the middle name on the spot. But her middle name is Mattingly, after my favorite baseball player.”
  – Rich Eisen, on parent negotiations (08:40)

• On the Staten Island Ferry:
  “I don't recall ever having a warm, fuzzy memory taking the ferry, ever. Including my prom date vomiting off the starboard side…”
  – Rich Eisen (11:47)

• On the Influence of Sports:
  “If it wasn’t for my brother, the Rich Eisen Show every day would be about Judy Garland and show tunes… and it probably would not exist.”
  – Rich Eisen (19:19)

• On Family Fandom:
  “Sometimes my assistant, after the show, she’s like, ‘A friend of your dad’s is here.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, great.’ …And sometimes I’ll be like, ‘So how do you know my dad?’ He’s like, ‘I was in a bar wearing a Steelers hat, and he came over and started talking to me. And then he said, you were his son and if I ever wanted to go to the show, he could give me tickets.’”
  – Seth Meyers (25:21)

• On Childhood Broadway Experiences:
  “Zero Mostel singing If I Were a Rich Man…and I will never forget that. That is truly one of my first memories of life.”
  – Rich Eisen (33:13)

• Venice, Italy as an Unmatched Experience:
  "Venice truly is unlike any other city that you’ve ever been to. There’s nothing truly like it."
  – Rich Eisen (54:35)

• Speed Round: Dream Travel Companion:
  “The Griswolds.”
  – Rich Eisen (59:17)

• On the Grand Canyon:
  “I have not been to [the] Grand Canyon. …I have seen it from a plane…That canyon sure is grand from up here.”
  – Rich Eisen (60:29, 61:05)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:16 | Jets vs. Steelers fan divide; bridging NFL loyalties | | 08:05 | Parenting and the pressure of having a girl; naming their children | | 10:52 | Growing up on Staten Island; home of Wu-Tang Clan | | 12:18 | Pete Davidson & Colin Jost’s ferry purchase, ferry size shock | | 18:01 | Sibling rivalry; Eisen’s “smarter” older brother Jeff | | 20:30 | Fathers as (poorly) supportive sports fans | | 22:00 | Nepotism over French awards; school assembly booing | | 23:25 | Meyers mom’s sports heartbreak; “You put this poison in me.” | | 24:04 | Rich’s dad giving out his trading cards to servicemen | | 33:11 | Childhood Broadway memory: Fiddler on the Roof | | 35:32 | Saving playbills, meeting Glenn Close backstage | | 39:54 | Meeting Tony Randall | | 43:58 | Summer camps as default “vacation” | | 45:00 | Childhood trip to Disney World; parka in the pool | | 51:13 | Watching “Dressed to Kill” with grandparents; Angie Dickinson scene | | 54:13 | Family trips to Italy, love for Venice | | 55:44 | Cherishing peaceful moments between siblings | | 57:33 | Speed round: ideal vacation, dream travel companions, “pitch” for Staten Island | | 60:29 | Has Rich been to the Grand Canyon? (Nope—only from the plane) | | 61:22 | Rich’s upcoming NFL travel schedule |

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is light, self-deprecating, affectionate, occasionally nerdy about sports, and laced with family in-jokes. Rich Eisen fits in seamlessly, quipping about family lore (“My dad was not a sports guy…That’s why the Rich Eisen show would be about Judy Garland”) and game for Meyers-style ribbing. The episode moves fast but manages to savor little details—camp loneliness, ticket stubs, odd moments with aging parents and kids—that define family trips, even when the “trip” is just to a museum on Staten Island or a cold pool in Disney World.

Summary

This episode with Rich Eisen is a loving exploration of what happens when your family is rooted, not in luxury, but in public schools, working summers at camp, New York subway lines, and making the best of it all. Through jokes, wistfulness, and warm zingers, the Meyers and Eisen uncover what matters most: a few good memories, a decent pizza, and the chance that maybe, just maybe, someone will hand you your own trading card if you do a good job fixing the dishwasher.

Listen for:

• Brilliant banter about familial sports trauma
• Real talk about Staten Island and the ferry's unlikely fame
• Heartfelt memories of Broadway, New York, and why the best family vacation stories are the weird ones

Rich Eisen’s advice, in the end:
“Mix work and travel, if you can.” (62:22)