Fitzdog Radio: Jay Mohr (Episode 1124)
Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Greg Fitzsimmons
Guest: Jay Mohr
Episode Overview
In this riotous, candid, and gleefully meandering episode, Greg Fitzsimmons welcomes longtime friend, comedian, and multi-hyphenate Jay Mohr for a conversation spanning stand-up war stories, parenting pitfalls, neurodiversity, cancel culture, changing comedy audiences, intimacy and aging, masculinity, and modern controversies. The guys riff energetically, trade roast-style barbs, and reveal unexpected personal reflections, all in their signature, loose, honest style.
Key Topics & Insights
1. Hats, Midlife (or "Three-Fifths Life") Crisis, & Vulnerable Admissions
Timestamps: 01:05–08:45
- Greg opens the episode reflecting humorously on aging, updating his grooming routine, and making the most of time left:
- "I don't have a lot of time left, and I want to live it right. So I made love to my wife yesterday in the middle of the day on the couch in our living room..." (06:08)
- Light sexual comedy about marriage and the practicalities of Blue Chew, handled with his characteristic blend of honesty and oversharing.
2. Comedy Uniforms, Mafia Suits, & Generational Fashion
Timestamps: 09:12–10:14
- Jay and Greg riff on classic "comedy looks" and the overlap between South Boston, Jamaican, and Mafia tracksuit culture.
- Jay: "And the old mafia guys, too... And then all of a sudden, Gotti came along... They thought it was drawing attention. You don't draw attention to yourself." (09:32)
3. Parenting, High School Admissions, & Social IQ
Timestamps: 10:15–13:21
- Both comics lament the complexity of modern school admissions, contrast their children's laid-back attitudes, and stress the value of social intelligence over academic prowess.
- Jay (on his son's charisma): “That’s the kind of guy that’s... he’s a producer.” (12:00)
- Standout story: Jay’s son confidently introducing himself at a bowling alley, sparking pride.
4. AI and the Shifting Goalpost of Comedy
Timestamps: 13:21–14:39
- Commentary on how AI hasn’t yet cracked real comedy: “The words are right, but you can’t replicate soul. Comedy is a moving target.” (14:00 – Greg)
5. The "Vulnerability Era" of Stand-Up
Timestamps: 13:39–14:31
- Both reminisce on their tough NYC/Boston starts, observing that today’s comedy emphasizes vulnerability and personal backstory over brash bravado.
- Greg: “…Now it’s exactly the opposite. It’s, ‘How vulnerable can I be?’... That’s the new style of comedy.” (14:05)
6. Autism Representation: "Love on the Spectrum" and Best Buddies
Timestamps: 14:33–16:25
- Mutual admiration for "Love on the Spectrum," shining a light on neurodivergence with warmth and humor.
- Jay: “If you haven’t watched Love on the Spectrum, it’s like every episode is like the end of Rocky.” (18:27)
- Greg shares experiences with “Best Buddies,” relays enriching moments, and affirms the joy found in diverse social groups.
7. Comedy and Fundraisers: Including, Not Patronizing
Timestamps: 16:25–24:10
- Discussion of real inclusivity in comedy spaces, recalling a stand-up benefit where a comic with intellectual disabilities stole the show.
8. The Harsh Realities of Touring as a Comic
Timestamps: 24:45–27:28
- Greg expresses burnout over 10 straight weeks on the road, sharing stress from the green room and frustrations with distractions (like unauthorized taping).
- Greg: “There’s like an anger, there’s an alienation, there’s a loneliness… I was such a cunt in the green room…” (24:59)
9. The Disruption of Comedy by Influencers
Timestamps: 28:22–30:51
- Both vent about TikTokers and reality stars selling out club shows, crowding out veteran comedians: “You go, hey I can’t get booked at the Irvine Improv. Yeah, Tube Sock Tommy’s there from TikTok.”
- Serious concern over the effort to maintain comedy club quality when trends override talent.
10. Formulaic Comedy Tropes—"You Might Be..."
Timestamps: 31:08–33:11
- Jay and Greg send up hack ‘You might be a redneck if...’ routines, riffing on similar tropes for addiction, Irish background, and more, highlighting the productization of comedy.
11. Generational Family Patterns & Intimacy
Timestamps: 33:34–36:44, 61:19–63:28
- The hosts reflect on affection norms: Jay points out how physical vulnerability (hugs, pecks on the lips) with his son draws ridicule, even from Tom Brady online.
- They connect this with their distant or taciturn fathers, pondering the gifts and wounds inherited.
12. DNA, Ancestry, and Social Satire
Timestamps: 36:44–39:36
- Discussions ranging from ancestry tests (“I'm 199% Irish”—Greg, 37:57) to genealogy shows and racial legacies—delivered with irreverent, boundary-pushing jokes.
13. Cancel Culture, Woke Backlash, and Pronouns
Timestamps: 40:43–54:01
- Explores the “woke” culture wave, its pushes and overreaches, and resulting resentments:
- “The woke movement wanted shame and culpability and punishments… And it really backfired.” (53:29 – Greg)
- Nuanced, if provocative, riffing around pronoun usage and generational change, ending with a back-and-forth over linguistic logic versus cultural evolution.
14. Friendship Between Comics & Group Threads
Timestamps: 54:25–56:15
- War stories about group texts, comic etiquette, and the necessity of curating digital social circles.
15. Asian Stereotypes, Guessing Routines
Timestamps: 57:07–58:56
- Greg shares his onstage crowd game “Guess the Asian,” delving into cultural and physical cliches, with the duo equally self-deprecating and playful.
16. Sexuality, Marriage, & Shame
Timestamps: 59:16–63:39
- Frank, funny depictions of sex and aging; expressing gratitude (“Every time I just want to thank her at the end of it…”) and mutual stories of guilt and appreciation in long-term relationships:
- “That’s real intimacy, coexisting, closeness... If you look up the definition, the word ‘sex’ isn’t in there.” (61:23 – Jay)
17. The Process of Making Amends
Timestamps: 64:03–66:43
- Open, witty anecdotes about the 12-step process of making amends in recovery, with both exploring resistance, relief, and the unexpected (sometimes mercenary) responses from recipients.
18. The Insecurity and Unpredictability of a Comic’s Career
Timestamps: 67:08–67:47
- They joke about the financial volatility of being a comic versus “normal” jobs like realtors, underscoring how unpredictable showbiz incomes are.
19. Podcast & Guest Experiences
Timestamps: 68:42–70:45
- Greg and Jay dish on their best and worst podcast guests, laughing about those who freeze up, can’t riff, or derailed shows.
20. Medication, Mental Health, & Physical Comedy
Timestamps: 70:50–74:05
- Quick detour into antidepressant side effects, old war stories, and the absurdity of military history (“We sent a band out first... in bright red outfits in the snow”—Jay, 71:30).
21. Final Lightning Round: Arrests, Dreams, and Comic Rankings
Timestamps: 74:16–78:40
- Jay admits to a teenage DUI, they riff on TV/movie roles they wish they’d booked, and share more inside-baseball comedy gossip.
Notable Quotes & Highlights
- “The words [with AI] are right, but you can't replicate soul. Right?” —Greg Fitzsimmons, (13:36)
- “Now it's... 'How vulnerable can I be? How much of my backstory that's dysfunctional can I share?'" —Greg Fitzsimmons, (14:05)
- “That’s real intimacy, coexisting, closeness... If you look up the definition, the word ‘sex’ isn’t in there.” —Jay Mohr, (61:23)
- “There’s a lot of things I fall more on the right on than I used to, but gay sex on screen, I still have a very hard time... as much as I accept and embrace gay people.” —Greg Fitzsimmons, (51:07)
- "The business as we understand it is completely over." —Jay Mohr, (28:43)
- "People are really afraid of [making amends]. But it's always when you ... there's somebody, you get a knot in your stomach ... that's who's gonna be first." —Jay Mohr, (64:03)
- "He's not ramp-worthy." —Jay, roasting Keith Robinson’s post-stroke comedy comeback, (80:50)
- “Every atom in your body… you are making split second decisions about your volume. And who should I be looking at? ...It’s sorcery.” —Greg Fitzsimmons on working a tough crowd, (26:33)
Memorable Moments by Timestamp
- 12:46 — Jay's son breaking the ice at a bowling alley, making his dad proud.
- 21:54–22:24 — Greg catches a touchdown from Tom Brady at a Best Buddies charity game.
- 29:58–30:07 — Jay recalls improv clubs hosting pro wrestling and soap opera stars; lamenting “off brand” comedy bookings.
- 33:50 — Jay details hugging rituals; both reflect on family dynamics and generational change.
- 49:01–51:36 — Honest (and contentious) debate about gay representation on TV, generational tastes, and changing social mores.
- 64:27 — Jay recounts making amends to Barry Katz; “Did you bring your checkbook?”
- 74:45 — Jay admits to a teenage DUI, revealing a running theme of youthful misadventures.
Tone & Style
- Frank, loose, confessional: Both comedians are unfiltered and raw, openly touching on edgy and taboo topics alongside moments of real vulnerability.
- Quick-witted roast energy: Their rapport includes constant affectionate insults—"Dopey broads ruin everything," "You look like Christopher Robin,"—mirroring the club green room.
- Cultural & generational observations: From “making love to my wife at 1:15pm” to “the woke backlash,” the conversation bounces between zeitgeist and deep cuts.
- Just the right sincerity: Despite their jokes, there are genuine expressions of family pride, love, and professional kinship throughout.
For New Listeners
This episode delivers classic Fitzdog Radio: rapid-fire, unfiltered conversation filled with both belly laughs and big truths. If you want a window into how seasoned comics see their craft, families, and the world—and enjoy a little backstage gossip—this is a perfect listen.
Further Episodes & Plugs
- Jay Mohr’s Podcast: “Mohr Stories”—Greg promises to appear on a future installment.
- Greg’s Stand-Up Dates: (Austin Mothership, Irvine Improv, Philly Helium, and more)
- Support Best Buddies, and check out “Love on the Spectrum”
- Next Guest: Check out Greg’s upcoming podcast with Jim Norton and more NYC comedy legends.
End of summary