Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman Part 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends

Episode: Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman Part 2
Date: July 3, 2026
Host: Robert Smigel
Guests: Ellie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam (Megan’s Husband), Megan Knights, Frank Smiley, and others
Podcast Theme: Making real-life situations funnier—with pro comedy writers’ help

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Episode Overview

This episode continues the unique mission of "Humor Me": helping ordinary people humorize real-life situations. In this Part 2 installment, Robert Smigel welcomes back Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman, along with caller Megan Knights and her husband Adam, to follow up on Megan’s challenge—injecting humor into couples therapy and, more ambitiously, her standup debut on the live show "Kill Tony" in Austin, Texas.

The panel, including a rotating group of friends/comedy writers, not only brainstorms comedic material for Megan but also explores the anxiety, process, and relationship dynamics behind getting up on stage for the first time—all with the show’s signature warmth, irreverence, and support.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Concept: Making Couples Therapy Funnier (02:16–03:24)

• Callback: Megan, in couples therapy, feels less eloquent than her husband and wants to "win" therapy by being funnier.
• Ellie Kemper: “I love that—beating her husband at it.” (02:40)
• The group initially ponders how to punch up Megan’s presence in therapy, with Robert noting, “That is a sign that the marriage should end. Let’s write down five things you want...” (02:44)

2. Developing the Comedy Route—From Therapy to the Stage (03:32–05:57)

• Transitioning the solution from therapy jokes to performing standup at "Kill Tony" in Austin, since Megan lives nearby.
• Robert Smigel: “We write a monologue... that might have even more impact than doing it in couples therapy.” (03:24)
• Jokes about gambling apps and family involvement are exaggerated for comic effect.
• Ellie Kemper & Robert Smigel riff on ridiculous betting scenarios: betting on medical outcomes, children’s activities, and more, as a parody of relentless app-based gambling.
  • “You can do it with your kids in the comfort of your own home.” (05:21)

3. The Journey: Megan’s Reluctance & Process (14:02–24:45)

• Megan’s resistance to standup, and Robert’s comic recounting of trying to get her or Adam to perform.
• Adam’s Dynamic in the Relationship: Joking about being the “girl” in the relationship—more emotionally expressive, while Megan is the "emotionally distant" one.
  • “Well, she’s like a concrete worker in east Texas.” – Adam (19:15)
• Robert writes Adam a risqué country song titled “I’m the Girl,” poking fun at traditional gender roles and their relationship, but Adam declines to perform it for public consumption:
  • “Yes, I’m the girl in the relationship, but I swear I don’t suck d***...” (Song, 19:58–21:35)
• Persistence is ultimately what encourages Megan to face her standup fears.

4. Support and Marital Growth (24:49–28:29)

• Megan credits Adam’s support (even after a tense morning) for helping her backstage.
  • “He was great all day… except the morning.” – Megan (25:46)
  • “This is why we’re in therapy.” – Megan (26:07)
• Adam describes the breakthrough moment: “I heard the door slam upstairs, which is... she never slams doors. I should not argue.” (27:00)

5. The Standup Experience: Preparing, Performing, and Aftermath (32:42–46:55)

Joke Preparation

• Robert worked with multiple writers to offer Megan a selection of jokes (over 30).
• Megan chose material that wasn’t too aggressive/mean toward Adam; avoided certain jokes (e.g., about anatomy).
  • "She should have editorial approval." – Michael Koman (34:22)
  • “In the end, we picked about seven jokes because you only get 60 seconds at Kill Tony.” – Robert (34:30)

Live at "Kill Tony": Megan's Performance (34:45–36:07)

• Selected jokes included:
  • “Couples therapy is kind of like a threesome for people who hate sex.”
  • “I live in Texas where therapy is only okay if it’s to heal a bone or stop being gay.”
  • “My husband is an underemployed musician. Now I’m doing standup on a podcast. We are basically trying to Austin each other to death.”
  • “His standup show was like when we have sex—nobody came. And yet he still recorded it.”
• Megan is warmly received by the panel, handles crowd interaction, and lands her punchlines within the strict 60-second format.

Panel’s Feedback

• Tony Hinchcliffe (Host of Kill Tony): “Next time you do it, memorize your jokes... you’ll get looser, they’ll hit harder.” (41:08)
• Ellie Kemper: “The timing was great.” (36:03)
• The Humor Me team critiques and celebrates Megan’s poise and humor:
  • “You’re much funnier than any of the four of them.” – Ellie Kemper (42:12)
  • “I reject their criticisms and advice.” – Michael Koman (42:16)

Unexpected Perks

• Megan is recognized after the show, including a brief, star-struck exchange with Woody Harrelson in the green room.
  • “This guy came up to me and shook my hand and said... and I was like, oh shit, it was Woody.” – Megan (46:11)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Robert Smigel (on marital dynamics): “Megan is more like an emotionally distant, cold-hearted man.” (19:07)
• Robert, riffing on support: “In your lowest moments... it’s there for you.” (25:19)
• Adam: “I heard the door slam... I should not argue.” (27:00)
• On audience reaction: “It was cool to go out of the club afterwards and people were, like, recognizing me on the street.” – Megan (45:58)
• On the collaborative joke-writing:
  “Let’s read a couple of the jokes that they were hoping you would do...” – Robert (44:18)
  “No, I don’t have any ambitions to do standup. This is literally the only way my husband and I can be in the same room without him talking over me.”
• Frank Smiley (producer, as a joke): “We’re the only podcast whose producer is a sewer rat.” (23:50)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Recap of Previous Episode: 02:16–03:24
• Gambling App Parody Segment: 04:08–08:04
• Introducing Megan & Adam: 16:31–19:23
• "I’m the Girl" Comedy Song: 19:54–21:35
• Megan's Journey to the Stage: 23:07–24:49
• Day of Standup—Marital Support: 24:49–28:29
• Joke Preparation & Standup Logistics: 32:42–34:30
• Megan’s "Kill Tony" Standup Set: 34:45–36:07
• Aftermath/Feedback: 36:07–46:55
• Woody Harrelson cameo in green room: 46:05–46:35
• Closing/Music by Adam: 49:14–50:38

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode is playful, self-deprecating, supportive, and unfiltered:

• Jokes about therapy, gender roles, gambling, and Austin hipster culture abound.
• The hosts, guests, and writers display sincere warmth towards Megan—cheering her bravery while ribbing each other affectionately.
• Smigel’s comedic digressions, mock-ads, and character riffs keep the energy quick and offbeat.

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Takeaways

• Humor As a Tool for Growth: The podcast highlights how humor can soften difficult marital dynamics and encourage self-expression.
• Bravery and Support: Megan’s journey from avoidance to her first standup set is treated as both comedic fodder and an authentic personal milestone, made possible by comedic collaboration and marital support.
• The Therapeutic Power of Comedy: By reframing real struggles as comedy, the episode demonstrates the cathartic and communal good that comes from "punching up" everyday ordeals.

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Most Memorable Moment

“I feel like I can do anything now.”
– Megan Knights, after her standup debut (24:45)

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In sum:
This episode is a heartening and hilarious peek into how collaborative comedy writing, vulnerability, and healthy relationship dynamics can intersect—not only making life’s awkwardness funnier, but perhaps, a little bit easier.

Transcript

[Megan Knights]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Robert Smigel]

Holy smokes. This is big. You know the podcast? I do that. You heard right. Humor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Well, now you can see it. See it with your own eyes. Watch all your favorite podcasts. Full episodes from start to finish, free in the iHeart app. Hey, Jonas Las Culturistas Post Run High. All of them in the iHeart app for free. You've heard the voices. Now see the moments. I didn't write that. Iheartapp free.

[Chuck (Stuff You Should Know)]

Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff youf Should Know. And we're submitting our most science Y episodes for your peer review with our new Stuff youf Should Know. Doing science playlist out now. You wanna know about Occam's Razor? The simplest explanation is usually the right one. We got you covered. Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park. Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know. Doing science Playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robert Smigel]

It just came out. Jeremy, what did you just do? You just set yourself up for failure.

[MC Gin]

I've never heard you tell this story.

[Robert Smigel]

I've never told this story.

[MC Gin]

This must have been Tuck Deep, deep, deep in the Jeremy Lin file. My name is MC Gin. Excited to tell you about Laugh but not least. I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all, life is hard. Laugh harder. Listen and laugh. But not least with MC Gen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, here's the thing. I talked to composer Mark Shaiman.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

It's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging with the people that you're with. You know, Rob and I was always a great Hank.

[Alec Baldwin]

And director Morgan Neville.

[Morgan Neville]

Film school teaches you all the wrong things about making documentary. What do you want to say? Documentary is all about your ear. What do you hear? I feel like my job is listening really, really hard.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robert Smigel]

Previously on Humor Me.

[Megan Knights]

I just started couples therapy with my husband and you know, when we're in therapy, he expl feelings beautifully and he's Very eloquent. I freeze, and you help me write some material I can bring to therapy. I want to beat my husband at therapy. Hi.

[Robert Smigel]

I love the concept of winning a couple's therapy.

[Ellie Kemper]

I love that of beating. Beating her husband at it.

[Robert Smigel]

That is a sign that the marriage should end. Let's write down five things that you want, points that you'd like to make.

[Megan Knights]

I have an example. I fully intended to open up emotionally. Then my brain hit the Windows 95 shut down.

[Ellie Kemper]

Is this something you wrote?

[Megan Knights]

This is chat.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, chatgpt.

[Megan Knights]

It's a robot. It's not.

[Robert Smigel]

You know, I understand. I just like the vote of confidence that, like, while we're trying to do this, like, on the side.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You know. No, that's great. Oh, I got an idea.

[Ellie Kemper]

Okay.

[Robert Smigel]

You guys go to the Kill Tony show, and you get up on stage and tell jokes about your husband.

[Megan Knights]

Oh, my God.

[Robert Smigel]

We write a monologue. You know, I mean, that might have even more impact than doing it in couples therapy. I love that idea.

[Megan Knights]

That's an idea.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah. It is technically an idea.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Back to the bucket we go, everybody. Your next comedian goes by the name of Megan Knights, everyone.

[Robert Smigel]

Here we go. Humor me. I need some jokes to make me seem funny. Humor me. I have to wake up twice a night to pee. Ellie, I wanted to talk to you about this incredible new gambling app.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You love gambling apps, right?

[Ellie Kemper]

I love gambling apps.

[Robert Smigel]

I think it's, like, the greatest invention in the last 15 years is the gambling app.

[Ellie Kemper]

I don't think I would fight you on that. I think I.

[Robert Smigel]

Because, like, before that.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

How did you have to bet? I know you love sports betting.

[Ellie Kemper]

I loved sports betting. I always had to go down to the track in person.

[Robert Smigel]

What about if you wanted to bet on NFL football? I know you're a giant Carolina Panthers fan.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah. Then I had to go to Las Vegas. To Las Vegas.

[Robert Smigel]

Which was stressful for your marriage.

[Ellie Kemper]

Well, and I have two small kids, and it was. It was just a lot. It was stressful for the marriage. It was having to go and having to be physically absent. It was hard.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

And then you figured out that.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

I don't remember who told you that Atlantic City was also accessible.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, you don't know her. She's actually just a friend that I met through him, but through gambling. Through gambling. And when she gave me that tip, I was like, oh, this is an hour.

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

It's bus ride with just smelly old people.

[Ellie Kemper]

It made everything easier. And it. Having said that. Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

I remember this you took advantage and you started going like three days a week.

[Ellie Kemper]

Three days a week. But I would say at the height, it was five or six days a week. It was so easy.

[Robert Smigel]

Oh, my God.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Ellie Kemper]

Not as easy, though, as.

[Robert Smigel]

Oh, well, gambling apps.

[Megan Knights]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

In general. And the great thing about gambling apps is that you can do it with your kids in the comfort of your own home.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yes.

[Robert Smigel]

And you get all the glamour of doing it in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. Like when I watch a commercial with Jamie Foxx strutting around in a tuxedo in a casino like a peacock. I see Jamie Foxx or Ben Affleck and I'm like, I want that. And I run to my basement and I am transported.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yep.

[Robert Smigel]

In my basement, I can gamble on anything.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yep. Because you have your phone.

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

So I'm in my basement and then I bring my sons down and it's like, let's go.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

But here's the problem up to now.

[Ellie Kemper]

Huh. I know what you're going to say.

[Robert Smigel]

Most of the sports activity is at night.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

I know.

[Robert Smigel]

You know, in prime time.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

So what the fuck am I supposed to do in the daytime?

[Ellie Kemper]

No idea.

[Robert Smigel]

When I can't gamble.

[Ellie Kemper]

No.

[Robert Smigel]

But now with BET Kings, they have set up activities that you can make prop bets on in the daytime. Michael, have you heard about this?

[Michael Coleman]

No. That's. That's wonderful about it.

[Robert Smigel]

I'm surprised you didn't know about that.

[Ellie Kemper]

Surprised I've done it as a parenting event.

[Robert Smigel]

How do you not know about this? Your kids.

[Michael Coleman]

Are you able to bet on, like, Little League or kids soccer games?

[Robert Smigel]

This is not something that involves actual kids sports. There's a little bit of controversy over that because Requires kids to play sports. This is all about kids just having the fun of gambling.

[Ellie Kemper]

Right.

[Robert Smigel]

You know, the excitement of feeling like Jamie Foxx or Ben Affleck in a tuxedo in the middle of a Las Vegas casino in their own homes.

[Michael Coleman]

That is fantastic. I'm sure that gives kids a lot confidence or takes it away.

[Robert Smigel]

Right.

[Michael Coleman]

In a way that's really good.

[Ellie Kemper]

What are some examples that.

[Robert Smigel]

Oh, I'm Bet Kings. You can make prop bets on emergency rooms. You can bet on lumpectomies, kidney transplants.

[Ellie Kemper]

And what's great is that these things are happening. Sure, they're happening at night, but they're also happening at day. Appendectomies, trachea.

[Robert Smigel]

Like, will they hold or. Yeah, will they hold or is it benign? That's really popular. Benign or malignant? That's not ERS, that's CityMD. CityMD has partnered with.

[Ellie Kemper]

With Bet Kings.

[Robert Smigel]

With Bet Kings. Yes. Oh, yes.

[Ellie Kemper]

I didn't know that.

[Robert Smigel]

Yes.

[Frank Smiley]

Stitches.

[Robert Smigel]

Stitches, absolutely. How many stitches people are gonna. That's a very popular one.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Will.

[Robert Smigel]

Will the person with frostbite lose two fingers? You know, over unders. You can make prop bets and, you know, it's exciting. Like, you know, this makes life or death situations exciting to me.

[Michael Coleman]

That's wonderful. Cause like, imagine a night where like, your father goes to the hospital and you just be sitting with the anxiety. But this way.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah.

[Michael Coleman]

You take your mind off of it and there's a possibility of a. Of an upside.

[Robert Smigel]

That's true.

[Ellie Kemper]

But Michael, not only at night. They don't have to go at night, right?

[Robert Smigel]

No, but you have the opportunity to bet on it. And this way it's a win. Win.

[Megan Knights]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You know, or lose. Lose. But it's mostly a win win because either your father's going to be healthy or you're going to at least make some money off of.

[Michael Coleman]

No, that, to me, that really softens the blow, especially if he. If something terrible happened. That was really a long shot.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, yeah. And imagine if you make a huge bet. Imagine how glitzy you would have a funeral that would be the envy of the neighborhood for your father.

[Michael Coleman]

Or just to go into school the next day and everyone's congratulating you instead of giving you condolences.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, well. Or both. But I'm just imagining these funerals, you know, because I've heard of some people who've successfully bet on a loved one's passing and they actually were able to invite Lil Wayne to the funeral. They were able to hire Lil Wayne with the winnings. Yeah, with their winnings. Lil Wayne, he would do a rap version of. What's that thing? I'm not. I'm Jewish, so I don't know what.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, how great thou art.

[Robert Smigel]

Yes.

[Ellie Kemper]

Is that right?

[Michael Coleman]

I think you could probably bet thin on like Lil Wayne's entire set list. Oh, yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You're allowed to bet on every.

[Michael Coleman]

This is interesting. I always thought of Bet Kings with. I had a lot of respect for that company. But hearing this, it takes it up to a very different level.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah. And did you know that Bet Kings for your first bet, they give you a free $200 bet that they guarantee you will lose within a day.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

So that's great.

[Michael Coleman]

But you have that $200 up until you lose it any way you want.

[Robert Smigel]

You can lose it any way you want. You can lose it on an unlimited number of prop bets.

[Ellie Kemper]

So go to bet kings.com.

[Robert Smigel]

go to betkings.com and for our listeners, the promo code is Ellie Kemper is a compulsive gambler. 368-574-2978-6864. Oh, no, that's okay. Let me start it over. Yeah, Ellie Kemper is a compulsive gambler. 74139, 7864.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yes.

[Robert Smigel]

And Michael Coleman is 23796. That's. Ellie Kemper is a. No, I'm just gonna replay that.

[Megan Knights]

Yep.

[Robert Smigel]

Holy smokes, this is big. You know the podcast? I do that. You heard right. Humor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Well, now you can see it. See it with your own eyes. Watch all your favorite podcasts, full episodes from start to finish, free in the I Heart app. Hey, Jonas Las Culturistas post Run high. All of them in the iHeart app for free. You've heard the voices, now see the moments. I didn't write that I Heart app free.

[Michael Rappaport]

This is Michael Rapoport and my podcast, the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast is unlike any one you've ever heard. We're a variety show. And if you're looking for strong opinions, funny opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and whatever else catches my attention, then subscribe now. This kid Jafar Jackson is as good as Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. And it's as good as Timothee Shamalay as Bob Dylan. And I say that with love and respect for both of those actors. And I don't know how many Oscar nominations they give out. I don't know if it's 5, 6 for best actor. 150%. This kid, Jafar Jackson should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am rappaport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Robert Smigel]

I Am Rappaport podcast.

[Paul Verze]

Hey, guys, Paul Verze here, and I want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss the absolute, absolute best of things Davidson.

[Robert Smigel]

It's that and then there's everything else.

[Paul Verze]

He would just shout one line and it would murder.

[Robert Smigel]

Marie, lunch.

[Paul Verze]

Let's talk about the best moments that we had on the road. I would love a cocktail.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Dude.

[Robert Smigel]

Joker get last row, middle seat on a Southwest Airlines flight. Joe, how was your flight? It was great. The guy in Penn State, we were on the field and the player thought, Joe is His former coach. And he hugged him and hugged him, and Joe just went with it. The guy goes, what are you doing here, coach? And Joe just goes. And you walk in and it is bananas. I mean, it's a feast for the eyes. And I was like, it's like, it's not my thing either, but we're here.

[Paul Verze]

When in Rome, top athletes, chefs, musicians, everybody listen to Paul's best podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[MC Gin]

You said to me, yo, you know, keep at it. Cause you let me rap for you. It was magical for all of us.

[Robert Smigel]

Ah, we made it.

[Frank Smiley]

We made it.

[Paul Verze]

We can.

[MC Gin]

I'm like, we, you know, I'm like, I know these guys, but who are you? I'm MC Gin. And this is last but not least, I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. Like the co founder of Rough Riders, Darren D. Dean. Talking about as a kid, do you remember that we met even way before that?

[Chuck (Stuff You Should Know)]

Let me think.

[MC Gin]

Did you walk up to the gate? That was me, D. That was you?

[Morgan Neville]

That was me.

[MC Gin]

The day we found out that you and the whole crew was at Hip Factory. The mission was to get me to go to the gate, start freestyling, and see if I could get in the studio. I'm rapping and then suddenly I hear a voice.

[Robert Smigel]

Hey, open the gate.

[MC Gin]

Let him in. The gate slowly went. They all there watching this, and they watch me walk into there. And that is a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. Listen. And last but not least, with MC Gen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, got

[Robert Smigel]

a thing that needs to be funnier. Tell us about [e-mail] Humorme okay. Welcome back. It's been a couple of months, but Michael and Ellie chose to come back.

[Michael Coleman]

We're still together.

[Robert Smigel]

They're still together. Their marriage, this the show. And I'm going to credit the show.

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Robert Smigel]

Keeping you guys together for two more months.

[Alec Baldwin]

Thank you for that.

[Michael Coleman]

No, I was just luck that we happened to come in here.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, we did.

[Michael Coleman]

You said there might be a follow

[Ellie Kemper]

up and we said, well, we may as well try.

[Robert Smigel]

It worked out. It worked out. So, you know, so far we're one for two in terms of struggling couples.

[Megan Knights]

Thank you.

[Robert Smigel]

And now we're gonna see how Megan is doing.

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Now, this has been quite an odyssey, as you recall from 30 seconds ago when you were watching or listening. We tried many solutions with Megan. We offered her many options, and at one point, we connected the fact that she was in Austin, Texas, with the show. What the hell's the name of the show?

[Frank Smiley]

Kill Tony.

[Robert Smigel]

I'm old. We connected the fact that she lives in Austin with the fact that Kill Tony, the beloved podcast, is in Austin, Texas. And there was a moment where it just seemed like maybe it might be better because we're just trying to give her jokes anyway.

[Ellie Kemper]

Sure.

[Robert Smigel]

And it always seemed like, how's she going to shoehorn jokes into a. I

[Michael Coleman]

was concerned about that. She was going to. I was worried about that, so. But you thought you give her an opportunity to go on stage, did the

[Robert Smigel]

jokes on Kill Tony, and it'll be your way of expressing some of your feelings toward your husband at the same time in the form of jokes, and it'll be a potent way to do it and a great ending to a show. That's lowest priority to me, obviously, but she actually did it, so that's great.

[Michael Coleman]

I'm really impressed. I can't wait to see this. But I do think that this is so brave of Megan.

[Robert Smigel]

It's amazing. And I don't know, for those of you who watched the first half of this show, watching Megan, lovely woman, not the first thing you think of, she should be doing stand up. Most people.

[Ellie Kemper]

That doesn't occur to you, right? Most people.

[Robert Smigel]

Most people, but especially me. No offense. Let's bring out Megan.

[Ellie Kemper]

Is she.

[Robert Smigel]

Is she available?

[Megan Knights]

She's.

[Robert Smigel]

She's standing by in Austin, Texas, the home of Kill Tony. How you guys doing? There they are. There's Megan. And your husband's joining you. Adam. We finally get to see Adam.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

First man ever.

[Michael Coleman]

Hey, Adam.

[Ellie Kemper]

Hi, Adam.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yes.

[Ellie Kemper]

We've heard so much about you, and now it's great to meet you.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

It is, yeah, It's. It's good to be here.

[Robert Smigel]

Are you familiar with everything? Are you familiar with. Did Megan fill you in on the conversation or did you do all the talking? You ended up telling her what she said to Michael. Ellie and I.

[Alec Baldwin]

No.

[Robert Smigel]

This has been quite an odyssey since we decided at a certain point that it might be cool if Megan took a shot at stand up. And Megan didn't seem too hot on the idea when we first brought it up, but the second time we brought it up, she was even less interested. But then, Megan, correct me if I'm wrong, you told us that perhaps Adam would be interested in it.

[Megan Knights]

I threw him under the bus for sure.

[Robert Smigel]

So the next thing that happened, if you don't mind me bringing it up, Adam, is that I auditioned a song for Adam to do because I thought

[Michael Coleman]

you wrote a song.

[Robert Smigel]

I wrote a song for Adam. I wrote a song for Adam. That was his way of expressing his issues with Megan. The whole concept that Megan. Okay, so, Adam, you probably. Megan mentioned that you guys joke sometimes that, like, you're like the woman in the relationship because you want to connect all the time. You're the one who wants to express things and you want to. You're more the touchy feely of the two. Was. She was. She was this hyperbole? Well, all men are that kind of touchy feely. I'm talking about human connection. Touchy feely.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Which is, you know, most men are the ones who are emotionally distant. Right. The cliche. Anyway, Michael and I are a couple of softies. We're in your court. Wouldn't you agree?

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Yes.

[Ellie Kemper]

Very sensitive.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, we're sensitive, but also kind of

[Michael Coleman]

like, you know, needy.

[Robert Smigel]

Needy, yeah. Weepy.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yeah.

[Michael Coleman]

Explainy.

[Robert Smigel]

Explaining. Yeah, all that stuff.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Very explaining.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah. So. And Megan is more like an emotionally distant cold hearted man.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah, she's like a concrete worker in east Texas.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yes.

[Robert Smigel]

She's got the tattoos to prove it.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

So I wrote a song for you combining the fact that you guys have this dynamic with the parallel fact that you were a go go dancer that gave bar. And I sang it for you, and I think you thought it was funny, but you were like, my people. My people don't want me to do this. Is that okay if. Is it okay if I. Is it okay if I share the song with people?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Absolutely.

[Robert Smigel]

Okay. The name of the song is I'm the girl.

[Michael Coleman]

Okay.

[Robert Smigel]

Okay.

[Michael Coleman]

We're gonna hear it.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah. Just imagine that I can play a musical instrument and it would be guitar. There's a country song too, because he's a York. You do a lot of country singing. Well, she's emotionally distant Even though she takes a piss sitting down While I can do it standing up. And when we get into a jam Even though she has a clam I like to talk and she clams up. Yes, I'm the girl in the relationship But I swear I don't suck dick. I was a go go dancer at a gay, gay bar they said don't shave your hair and legs son and you'll go far. But that was many years ago For I could write this guitar. Cause I swear I don't suck dick. There's more.

[Michael Coleman]

This isn't a classic song. This is actually a new. A new song.

[Robert Smigel]

I'M just riffing. I don't even. Every time I do it, I can't remember the. The tune. Like something like this. So here's the bridge. Well, I'm the one who says I love you she says, can't you improvise? I clean the house and schedule sex despite the hog between my thighs I like to talk about my day I do the talking when we clash she says give me room to breathe Even though she's got a sweet tight gash it was for Kill Tony.

[Michael Coleman]

You're sure this isn't a George Strait song?

[Robert Smigel]

I've heard this. I'm sure it's the derivative.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah, well, that's exactly my Amarillo One morning.

[Robert Smigel]

So, you know, apologies to people who are sensitive about the word gash, but I was writing this for Kill Tony.

[Ellie Kemper]

Right.

[Robert Smigel]

Okay, here's big finish. Yes, I'm the girl in the relationship But I swear I don't eat cock Just because I used to dance and chill my hot hairy legs doesn't mean I want a dildo up my butt for getting pegged but if she wanted to I love her so she wouldn't have to beg But I swear I don't eat. I don't know why you didn't want to do that.

[Michael Coleman]

Well, maybe he's not confident in his singing voice.

[Robert Smigel]

Well, that's a very good point. No, he thought it would be bad for his reputation as a country, for his people.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Texas and all that.

[Ellie Kemper]

Anywhere else you would see it, but anyway, it was.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

It was.

[Robert Smigel]

I was trying to show. Yeah, exactly. He's trying to show your side of the story.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Your frustration with her.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah, Very frustrated.

[Robert Smigel]

Very frustrating. Okay, so that didn't fly. So then we went back to Megan and, you know, now we had her on her heels a little bit. Well, your husband wouldn't agree to this song. Now what are we going to do, Megan? We have a show to finish and your husband won't sing about how he doesn't suck dick.

[MC Gin]

I see.

[Megan Knights]

I see.

[Robert Smigel]

Or that he would agree to get pegged. My hands are tied, Megan. So Megan thought about it. You talked to friends, Right. And what convinced you to do this?

[Megan Knights]

Oh, gosh. It was a long period of just pure avoidance.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

And what broke it? What broke it?

[Megan Knights]

You know, I think it was the persistence that really, like, you know, similar to how he won me over. The persistence, really.

[Robert Smigel]

Wow, that's a good lesson.

[Michael Coleman]

I mean, lots changed since we recorded the first half of this.

[Robert Smigel]

You gotta do it.

[Michael Coleman]

We invaded Iran. I mean, the world changed. I can Understand?

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, my gosh.

[Michael Coleman]

All of a sudden, the values, like what seemed important back then has turned on its head.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah. Let's blame Trump for all this. Yeah, that's all. All you have to say is Trump.

[Ellie Kemper]

Sorry. Who is persisting this show?

[Robert Smigel]

Robert and. And his producer, Frank Smiley.

[Ellie Kemper]

That's great.

[Robert Smigel]

Megan, you gotta do it. Megan, you gotta do it again. As I brag about. We have. We're the only podcast whose producer is a. Is a sewer rat. A living sewer rat. And make it come on. It's gonna be funny. And if it's bad, it'll be even better.

[Michael Coleman]

I'm a professional stinker,

[Robert Smigel]

so. Which is actually true for the show. If you had bombed, that would have been funny in its own way. But we didn't want you to bomb. We wanted you to do well and feel good about it. And how do you feel having done it now?

[Megan Knights]

Yeah, I'm very glad that we're on the other side. That the lead up was the worst part, I bet. But afterwards, I mean, I feel like I can do anything now.

[Ellie Kemper]

That's amazing.

[Robert Smigel]

That's fantastic. Yeah, go ahead.

[Ellie Kemper]

How did you get into that? I mean, like, how did you even. What were you thinking before you went on stage? That has to be terrifying.

[Megan Knights]

It was, yeah. Lots of, like, you know, just pouring sweat. It's fine. And we had. Luckily, Adam was there with me, and he took me through, like, a little prior, like, backstage. We were sitting there, and he was like, just a little visualization of, like, we're grateful.

[Robert Smigel]

See, that's where the touchy feely helps when you see.

[Megan Knights]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Can make fun of the touchy feely all you want, but in your lowest moments. Yeah, it's there for you. It's there for you. And do you feel like. Is there any part of you that feels like this was a moment in your marriage that meant something that.

[Megan Knights]

Absolutely. Yeah. I think it was both, like, on a personal level, but also on a relational level. He was great all day and just.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Except the morning.

[Megan Knights]

The morning was a little rough.

[Robert Smigel]

What happened in the morning?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

You want me to talk about it?

[Frank Smiley]

Yeah.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

I kind of forget what happened, though.

[Megan Knights]

This is why we're in therapy.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

This is why I need your help. She was very nervous in the morning,

[MC Gin]

and

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

I think she did her. She was kind of a little snappy, and I was like, hey, I did my. Change my voice like that and everything. Hey, don't be snappy like that. I actually don't know if that's exactly what happened. Long and short. We had a little spat. And quickly I realized, oh, she's, like, really nervous.

[Robert Smigel]

So you have to be the. I don't want to say the adult in the relationship, because that's always condescending, but you have to take. You have to step back from your own feelings and think about what she's dealing with.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

This is exactly what happened when I heard the door slam upstairs, which is a never. She never slams doors.

[Frank Smiley]

Never.

[Robert Smigel]

So she's an avoidance person. Obviously.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah. That's when I knew. It literally shocked me into, like, oh, my wife just slammed the door. Never slams doors. I should not argue.

[Ellie Kemper]

Right.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

So I've been supported or brought the cat.

[Robert Smigel]

Nice.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hello.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

We're here to save you and help.

[Michael Coleman]

Nice.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Done.

[Michael Coleman]

Nice work.

[Robert Smigel]

That's the touchy feely.

[Michael Coleman]

But this is the genius of the humor Me podcast method. I mean, this is that they were in therapy together, and they were not getting their issues across to each other. And then you created a situation where he under. He forced. Adam was put in a position of offering empathy to Megan. That's the heightened situation.

[Robert Smigel]

Without telling how she felt, you actually went up there to just take a step back and listen and be her support.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Actually, like, be a man.

[Robert Smigel]

Maybe not. I didn't want to say that. I'm not gender stereotyping here, putting all those jokes aside, but. No, you're being a partner. Exactly.

[Ellie Kemper]

Yeah. You validated her nervousness. Of course. It made sense. She was nervous. You brought the cat. You brought her back to regulation from being dysregulated. It sounds fantastic.

[Robert Smigel]

And now she's giving you a hand job.

[Morgan Neville]

That's

[Michael Coleman]

no.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Robert.

[Michael Coleman]

She's masturbating the cat.

[Robert Smigel]

I'm sorry to be so presumptuous.

[Megan Knights]

Jeez.

[Michael Coleman]

Sorry.

[Robert Smigel]

Is that the cat's. Is that your impression of the cat's moans of pleasure?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

That's a catgasm catch.

[Frank Smiley]

He's like Michael Winslow.

[Robert Smigel]

Good stuff. Holy smokes, this is big. You know the podcast. I do that.

[Alec Baldwin]

You heard.

[Robert Smigel]

Right. Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends. Well, now you can see it. See it with your own eyes. Watch all your favorite podcasts, full episodes from start to finish, free in the iHeart app. Hey, Jonas. Las culturistas. Post Run High, all of them in the iHeart app for free. You've heard the voices. Now see the moments. I didn't write that iHeart app.

[Alec Baldwin]

Free.

[Michael Rappaport]

This is Michael Rapoport and my podcast, the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast is unlike any one you've ever heard. We're a variety show, and if you're looking for strong opinions, funny opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture and whatever else catches my attention. Then subscribe now. This kid Jafar Jackson is as good as Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. And it's as good as Timothee Shamalay as Bob Dylan. And I say that with love and respect for both of those actors. And I don't know how many Oscar nominations they give out. 5, 6 for best actor. 150%. This kid, Jafar Jackson should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I am rapaport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Robert Smigel]

I Am Rappaport podcast.

[Paul Verze]

Hey, guys, Paul Verze here, and I want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartra. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss the absolute best of things.

[Robert Smigel]

It's that and then there's everything else.

[Paul Verze]

He would just shout one line and it would murder.

[Robert Smigel]

Marie, lunch.

[Paul Verze]

Let's talk about the best moments that we had on the road. I would love a cocktail.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Dude.

[Robert Smigel]

Joker, get last row, middle seat on a Southwest Airlines flight. Joe, how was your flight? It was great. The guy in Penn State, we were on the field and the player thought Joe was his former coach, and he hugged him and hugged him and Joe just went with it. The guy goes, what are you doing here, coach? And Joe just goes. And you walk in and it is bananas. I mean, it's a feast for the eyes. And I was like, it's like. It's not my thing either, but we're here.

[Paul Verze]

When in Rome, top athletes, chefs, musicians, everybody. Listen to Paul's best podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hi, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, here's the thing, I'm speaking with more artists, policymakers and performers like composer Mark Shaiman.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Once you've established that you have the talent, it's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging out with the people that you're with. You know, Rob and I was always a great hang. We would sit in kibbutz for hours and then eventually get around to the music. That's what I mostly think of when I think of him, the time together.

[Alec Baldwin]

Laughing Lawyer Robbie Kaplan.

[Paul Verze]

The great gift of being a lawyer is the ability to actually change things in our society in a way that very few people can. You can really make a difference to causes in the United States, if you bring the right case at the right time.

[Alec Baldwin]

Marriage equality.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yeah.

[Paul Verze]

Windsor's the perfect example.

[Alec Baldwin]

Director Morgan Neville.

[Morgan Neville]

Film school teaches you all the wrong things about making documentary. What do you want to say? Documentary is all about your ear. What do you hear? I feel like my job is listening really, really hard.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robert Smigel]

All right, well, now we're. Let's, let's, let's get to. This was just Monday. This was just a couple of days ago. We actually have footage of the appearance. And this is amazing. So we weren't gonna, you know, have Megan go out there. Cause the whole point of this is we're supposed to provide jokes. It was supposed to be for couples therapy, but once we realized it was going to be for standup, I, like, called in the cavalry. I, Michael wrote some great jokes, but I had, like, four other writers. I think we submitted, like, 30 jokes to you. Actually.

[Alec Baldwin]

More.

[Robert Smigel]

I'm looking at the document.

[Ellie Kemper]

Did you rehearse them anyway?

[Robert Smigel]

Literally, like 40 jokes.

[Megan Knights]

And Megan, we did it in our living room a little bit, but just

[Ellie Kemper]

in front of him.

[Michael Coleman]

Well, I'm really curious. How did you decide which jokes to do? And. And how did.

[Robert Smigel]

I sort of, like, picked out, like, the 15 or so that I thought were most likely to do well, and then Megan from there had her preferences and she didn't want to do jokes. You know, what's interesting is, like, that some of the jokes were more about couples therapy in the relationship, but they were broad and they were like, you know, I don't think she wanted to really make fun of Adam in a way that would seem aggressive. Aggressive? Yeah, Like, I'll read. I'll read one of. Yeah, like that. Like, I am kind of in a lesbian relationship just with my husband. I don't know why he hates when I say that. For a guy, he has a pretty average dick, but for a chick, he has a giant. Now, that was a joke. Yeah, it might have done okay at Kill Tony, but she wasn't interested in, like, you know, doing small dick jokes or whatever.

[Michael Coleman]

You know, she should have editorial approval.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

So definitely a grower, not a shower.

[Robert Smigel]

That's not what this is about. This is about. And. But in the end of the day, we picked about seven jokes because you only get 60 seconds at kill Tony. Let's take a look at it.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Back to the bucket we go, everybody. Your next comedian goes by the name of Megan Knights, everyone.

[Robert Smigel]

Here we go. Megan you haven't changed your clothing same clothes since then.

[Megan Knights]

I just really wanted to marinate in it. My husband and I are going through couples therapy. It's kind of like a threesome for people who hate sex. It's weird for me. I live in Texas where therapy is only okay if it's to heal a bone or stop being gay. My husband thinks I work too hard. I'm a health and fitness coach. Looking at the people here in Texas, I'm obviously not working hard enough. My husband's an underemployed musician. Now I'm doing standup on a podcast. We're basically trying to austin each other to death. He's one of the few people who's been both a go go dancer in a gay club and a country western singer. Unless you count the guy that shows up at Lindsey Graham's house in different outfits. He actually tried organizing a stand up show once, but it was just like when we have sex. Nobody came.

[Robert Smigel]

That was a big one.

[Megan Knights]

And yet he still recorded it.

[Ellie Kemper]

Megan at night.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

57 seconds. That was Megan Knight. Night or night?

[Ellie Kemper]

The timing was great.

[Michael Coleman]

Yes. Your delivery was fantastic, Megan.

[Frank Smiley]

Thank you.

[Ellie Kemper]

That was your first time performing?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Oh.

[Robert Smigel]

Watch the next clip. This is a great moment.

[Ellie Kemper]

Really?

[Robert Smigel]

Tony asks, night or nights?

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

I guess it doesn't matter. Megan, welcome. How long you been doing stand up?

[Megan Knights]

Approximately 56 seconds.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

First set ever. I love it. Seems like you and your husband are going through it, huh? How long you been with this guy?

[Megan Knights]

About five years.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Okay. Where'd you meet?

[Megan Knights]

Facebook.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Okay. Wow. Five years, Facebook. All right. You guys are 70 years old or something?

[Frank Smiley]

Yes.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Amazing. What does he do for a living?

[Megan Knights]

He is a musician.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

And what do you do for a living?

[Megan Knights]

Health and fitness coach.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

That's right. Okay, you mentioned all that. Is he like, a good musician?

[Megan Knights]

He really is, yes.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

He's a vocalist for a famous band or something?

[Megan Knights]

Not. I mean, to me. Yes, to you?

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yes.

[Megan Knights]

Eventually, yes.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

You sure he's not struggling at all being a musician?

[Megan Knights]

I did say underemployed.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Wait, so. Yes. So you're the main provider in the relationship.

[Robert Smigel]

How can I humiliate Adam?

[Megan Knights]

Yeah. Equal.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Equal seems low. A low amount of money.

[Megan Knights]

He covers, he pays our rent, and I love it.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Where do you live?

[Megan Knights]

Here in Austin?

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Hell, yeah. For how long?

[Megan Knights]

About three years.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Okay. What made you want to start standup here tonight and just make fun of your husband as part of your therapy or something?

[Megan Knights]

Yeah, one of his goals for 2026 was to do stand up, so I had to beat him to it.

[Robert Smigel]

I love it. Wow.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

This is amazing. I've never seen anything quite like this before. Amazing. Megan, what's the fattest person you've ever had to pretend like you're going to make their life better? That showed up to you and was like, me want fitness and health.

[Megan Knights]

Oh, gosh. Like real talk?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Yeah.

[Megan Knights]

Probably 300. Okay.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

What were you able to do with. I didn't know you. Red band went to you. So proud of you for trying to get help. What were you able to do? Did they lose any weight or did they not show up on the third training session? I'm guessing I bet they do two.

[Megan Knights]

He ended up quitting and went on a glp.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Oh, I bet that's happening a lot lately. Is that messing up your business as a fitness trainer? Just fat people just injecting themselves in the neck with fat stuff.

[Robert Smigel]

Fat stuff.

[Megan Knights]

Honestly, no. Typically my clientele has like 30 pounds to lose and. Yeah, you still need the foundation.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

And what exactly do you tell them to do? Tell red ban. What exactly? How. How would you recommend red band losing £30? He's been on. I'm not kidding you. He's lost six pounds in two weeks. Is that right? Hold on. Hold applause. Let me tell you the diet he's on. This is true. I'm not kidding. I'm not joking. He's been exclusively only eating. This is how bad he was eating before. For the last two weeks, he's lost six pounds by only eating sandwiches. Everybody. He's on the sandwich diet and it's working. His body cannot believe the amount of health pumping through his veins.

[Robert Smigel]

My mentor Jared had a thing going that.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Megan, what kind of. What kind of food would you recommend for fat people? Listening. Is nutrition your thing too, or are you mostly just like pumping pink weights like that or something?

[Megan Knights]

No pink weights. Come on.

[Robert Smigel]

Well, and why do you think Austin.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

You're joking.

[Robert Smigel]

Like you think Austin's not healthy? Because I feel like Austin's like one of the healthiest cities ever. There's so much hiking and fitness here. And honestly, I think you insane.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

The side dishes here are white bread and pickles. You get for you pig because of all the vomiting and he doesn't have it.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Side of white bread and pickles. That's part of the main meal. You can't have a side of bread and pickles when your entree is bread and pickles.

[Robert Smigel]

Oh, Megan, I like your bangs. You have. You had, for a first time standup. You had very good jokes. All things can, like, seriously, it's. It's not an easy thing to do. You had, you had some good jokes. Just next time you do it, memorize your jokes, because you're not going to get out of your head or out of your own way if you're reading off of paper. And then also when you're new, it looks like you don't give a shit. I'm not saying I'm not, I don't mean that critically. I mean it constructively. Like, if you memorize your jokes, you'll get looser, they'll hit harder, and you're gonna, Obviously, a famous comedian, even better.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

But that's. People were seeing you glance at the paper. It's a big piece of paper, and you could have just, like, even written it on the inside of your wrist. I see some bad tattoos there. You could have just, you could have just etched him in. We would have thought it was part of your tattoo. And then it, like, looks, looks kind of normal. You could just give a little glance. You could have snuck it.

[Megan Knights]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

And, like, tell the punch lines to

[Michael Coleman]

the back of the room.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You know, you were kind of like, looking down, like, almost like you were.

[Morgan Neville]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

That's what killed Stephen Wright's career.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

How did it make you feel?

[Robert Smigel]

What was unexpected guy could have been something.

[Michael Coleman]

Why are they weighing in on this?

[Megan Knights]

Maybe a little, like, can't really see what they do.

[Michael Coleman]

Well, they, she just, she just killed madness.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Do you agree with. All right.

[Alec Baldwin]

So much.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

I know, I know. Same old joke every time. Goddamn time. I'm sorry.

[Megan Knights]

No, I had it all memorized. I just, you know, stay trite. I'm a blackout. Just forget everything.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

It happens. Well, your first time has officially happened. Here's a little joke book coming out. Oh, great. Catch a hard throw on my card, make it night.

[Robert Smigel]

Everybody was impressive.

[Paul Verze]

Yeah.

[Michael Coleman]

There you go.

[Ellie Kemper]

That was fantastic. You, you're much funnier than any of the four of them.

[Michael Coleman]

I, Yes, I, I, I reject their criticisms and advice. Frankly, I thought you were.

[Robert Smigel]

They're just trying to do what they're

[Megan Knights]

supposed, what they're supposed to do.

[Ellie Kemper]

You're right.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah.

[Alec Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

But they were better.

[Megan Knights]

Sorry.

[Michael Coleman]

No, I, I, I completely agree. Oh, my gosh. I mean, that was just so, so.

[Robert Smigel]

Tony was impressive.

[Ellie Kemper]

He was funny.

[Robert Smigel]

Tony was funny.

[Ellie Kemper]

Everyone was good.

[Robert Smigel]

Everyone in the world is good. Now we actually.

[Alec Baldwin]

Go ahead.

[Ellie Kemper]

No, no. I just passed that Dolly Parton billboard

[Megan Knights]

on the way here. Did you?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

What?

[Ellie Kemper]

Find the good in everyone.

[Frank Smiley]

So can I just.

[Robert Smigel]

That would be a good, like, you know, for like, one of those placemats where you go to restaurants and kids. That'd be a good one to add in besides the word search and find the good in this verse. That's just a picture of, you know, Jeanine Pirro.

[Alec Baldwin]

Good.

[Robert Smigel]

Did you watch the rest of the show?

[Megan Knights]

Yeah, we did. We went.

[Robert Smigel]

How did the other comedians do?

[Morgan Neville]

Were.

[Robert Smigel]

Were any of them getting ripped by the.

[Megan Knights]

For sure, yeah. Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

So how did Megan fare compared to most of those people up there?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Oh, there were two guys that bombed really bad. One of them, they didn't get the. He got like two jokes in, and they're like. And then the interview was like 10 seconds long. Oh, really?

[Frank Smiley]

He drove 17 hours.

[Robert Smigel]

Oh, no.

[Michael Rappaport]

What?

[Robert Smigel]

And did anybody get verbally abused by Tony and his crew?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Oh, yeah, this big fat joke. The big Latino guy from El Paso got ripped. He just. They tore everything. That tore him apart. Everything was about his weight.

[Michael Coleman]

My favorite part is when you could just tell that no matter what these guys, what position they're in when they're hosting a podcast, that they can't really be comfortable around a beautiful woman.

[Robert Smigel]

Exactly, Exactly.

[Michael Coleman]

Of these guys sitting on the panel, there was just this stray comic. I like your bangs.

[Paul Verze]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

He's, like, afraid to. You know, like, 10 years ago, they would have been over the top hit on you in a comedic way. And you're right, it was totally disarming. And they were afraid to do that because of, you know, all that's happened. Just out of respect for some of the. A lot of writers worked hard. So just out of respect, I'm gonna read a couple of the jokes that they. That they were hoping you would do in the interview. One was, let's see. Yeah. No, I don't have any ambitions to do a stand up. This is literally the only way my husband and I can be in the same room without him talking over me. That was pretty good joke. Pretty good Adam joke. And then I know I'm not a comedian. The only time I ever made our therapist laugh is when I asked if he takes insurance. Did you write that?

[Michael Coleman]

I. I may have. I don't remember, but I. I do think that's a great joke. I'm gonna say I didn't write it so I can compliment the joke.

[Robert Smigel]

I'm pretty sure Michael wrote that one. Oh, and there was a good slam for Tony, which was, tony, did you know you could get therapy without the words testosterone replacement in front of it? It's a good Tony Hinchcliffe slam.

[Megan Knights]

I was waiting to be able to use that one, but there wasn't a.

[Robert Smigel]

No, you're Right. No, there wasn't. The only one I thought you might have been able to fit in was when he asked you, what do you do? Yes, I'm a health and fitness coach. And then to the judges, to those lumps on the. On the panel, I'd ask if any of you guys have. Have a health and fitness coach. But I have eyes.

[Megan Knights]

Ah, Dan. That would have been a good.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, that would have killed. That would have killed.

[Megan Knights]

It was cool to, like, go out of the club afterwards and people were, like, recognizing me on the street. Wait a minute.

[Robert Smigel]

Frank told me that you were. That there was like, some kind of wrap party and that Woody Harrelson was there.

[Megan Knights]

Yeah, we were after the show. We were in the green room, like, and people were just like, filing in. And this guy came up to me and shook my hand and said, like, a job. And I, like, looked at it and I was like, oh, shit, it was Woody.

[Ellie Kemper]

Oh, my gosh. This was at the venue?

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yes.

[Frank Smiley]

It was like a South Park Austin parody. You know, he was there smoking pot. You know, that's such a cool, like,

[Michael Coleman]

topper of the evening.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah, that's awesome. To have a celebrity be the low status person. Hey, I'm a fan.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Yeah.

[Michael Coleman]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Very cool. Well, congratulations. When you said it made you feel like you could do anything, that just makes us feel amazing to hear you say that.

[Michael Coleman]

Well, to me, the big success story is that that morning that Adam was. You're right.

[Ellie Kemper]

Good point.

[Frank Smiley]

Can I just say that? So I was. I was there with Megan and Adam.

[Robert Smigel]

We don't have a camera on you today.

[Frank Smiley]

It's okay. It's all right.

[Robert Smigel]

All right.

[Frank Smiley]

You don't want to see my face.

[Robert Smigel]

Anyway, what we'll do is we'll cut to a still of a sewer rat. Your audio is good, right?

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Okay, so we'll cut.

[Frank Smiley]

Megan and. And Adam the night before, and then the day. The night just before she went on and she was going. She would excuse herself to go to the bathroom. And all I could think about because she was so nervous is that it's probably a window in that bathroom and she's just gonna sneak out. I was a nervous wreck. I really did think, yeah, she was gonna run off.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

Because that would be bad for the podcast. We wanted to go up there and bomb.

[Megan Knights]

That's why you came. You're like, I gotta make sure she actually goes.

[Michael Rappaport]

That is exactly why I came.

[Frank Smiley]

And I enjoyed your company. You guys were great.

[Michael Coleman]

Oh, good producing, Frank.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Thank you.

[Ellie Kemper]

Great producing.

[Robert Smigel]

Frank is outstanding. And I recommend to anybody Starting a podcast or any kind of show. Hire a cartoon sewer rat.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

He's like Splinter from Ninja Turtles.

[Alec Baldwin]

Well, they can.

[Paul Verze]

They can.

[Michael Coleman]

They can access. Their access to great celebrities is enormous because he can literally compress his bones to get underneath door frames so he can talk to people like Matthew McConaughey that, you know, other producers would have to throw the head and knock at the door. Yeah.

[Frank Smiley]

The only setback is I carry the hint of virus.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Were you on that ship?

[Robert Smigel]

All right, well, congratulations, and let's stay in touch if you do anything else. Honestly.

[Frank Smiley]

Yeah.

[Robert Smigel]

You guys are great, and we're just so happy to have met you and had a good time. And.

[Frank Smiley]

Can we play his music before as a. Just a little traction only.

[Robert Smigel]

Is it bad?

[Frank Smiley]

No, it's actually.

[Robert Smigel]

It's really bad.

[Frank Smiley]

It's actually good. Adam is talented.

[Robert Smigel]

Yeah.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

Roll out.

[Michael Coleman]

Got a song about cheese you got here.

[Robert Smigel]

Let's roll out. Let's roll out with Adam's music.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

Yes.

[Robert Smigel]

Let's hear it. Chains R. Oh, I know that song.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

But I'll stand my ground, man.

[Michael Coleman]

Nice voice.

[Robert Smigel]

In the stock tower the tables turn and they'll find out I'm the devil

[Michael Coleman]

and he's the P.R.

[Robert Smigel]

i took the devil down to the basement where the shadows had the light I made him face his darkest demons I made the devil cry

[Michael Coleman]

Made the

[Robert Smigel]

devil face his demons Made the devil faces demons.

[Tony Hinchcliffe]

That's a great.

[Robert Smigel]

I'll do the credits over that song.

[Frank Smiley]

Song.

[Ellie Kemper]

That's such a good song.

[Robert Smigel]

And you're not gonna make us pay for this, right?

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

I actually wrote this song about a sewer rat,

[Robert Smigel]

but I'm the girl in the relationship.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

Lara, don't suck.

[Robert Smigel]

All right, thanks, guys.

[Michael Coleman]

It's so nice to meet you guys.

[Ellie Kemper]

Great meeting you.

[Robert Smigel]

Thank you.

[Adam (Megan's Husband)]

We love you guys.

[Michael Coleman]

Thank you.

[Robert Smigel]

We love you guys.

[Chuck (Stuff You Should Know)]

Love you.

[Robert Smigel]

Love you guys. A lot of love, Frank. Nobody's bad. Everybody's good. Dolly Parton.

[Ellie Kemper]

Dolly Parton.

[Robert Smigel]

Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends is a production of I Heart Media and Big Money Players, created by Michelle Sack Smigel, who executive produces with her loving husband, Robert. Produced by Frank Stinky Smiley, executive producer for I Heart, Jana Cagle. Video producer Daniel Goodman. Additional material by David Cyrus, Amanda Melson and Josh Comas. Additional art by Judge Bachman. Edited by Robert Ash. Humor Me theme song composed and sung by Tay Zonday. Don't forget to subscribe and follow to get new episodes of Humor Me each week. And while you're there, rate and review the show. That is, if you liked it, if you Didn't. This conversation never happened. And we'll see you next week. Holy smokes, this is big. You know the podcast? I do that. You heard right. Humor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Well, now you can see it. See it with your own eyes. Watch all your favorite podcasts. Full episodes from start to finish, free in the iHeart app. Hey, Jonas Las Culturistas Post Run High. All of them in the iHeart app for free. You've heard the voices. Now see the moments. I didn't write that I heart app free.

[Chuck (Stuff You Should Know)]

Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff youf Should Know. And we're submitting our most science Y episodes for your peer review with our new Stuff youf Should Know. Doing Science playlist out now. You want to know about Occam's Razor? The simplest explanation is usually the right one. We got you covered. Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park. Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know. Doing science Playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, here's the thing, I talk to composer Marc Shaiman.

[Rob (Friend of Robert Smigel)]

It's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging out with the people that you're with. You know, Rob and I was always a great hang.

[Alec Baldwin]

And director Morgan Neville.

[Morgan Neville]

Film school teaches you all the wrong things about making documentary. What do you want to say? Documentary is all about your ear. What do you hear? I feel like my job is listening really, really hard.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robert Smigel]

It just came out. Jeremy, what did you just do? You just set yourself up for failure.

[MC Gin]

I've never heard you tell this story.

[Robert Smigel]

I've never told this story.

[MC Gin]

This must have been tucked deep, deep into Jeremy Lin file. My name is Mc Gin. Excited to tell you about Laugh but not least. I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor. When it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all life is hard. Laugh harder. Listen and laugh but not least with McGin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Megan Knights]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.