Michelle Rauch

Summary

Joy Podcast Episode Summary: Craig Ferguson Interviews Melissa Rauch

Podcast Information

• Title: Joy, a Podcast
• Host: Craig Ferguson
• Guest: Melissa Rauch
• Release Date: December 3, 2024

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of "Joy," Craig Ferguson engages in a candid and insightful conversation with renowned actress Melissa Rauch. Best known for her role as Bernadette on "The Big Bang Theory" and her recent venture into the revival of "Night Court," Rauch shares her journey through the entertainment industry, personal anecdotes, and reflections on joy amidst life's challenges.

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Early Career and Breakthrough in Acting

Melissa Rauch opens up about her early days in acting, emphasizing the struggles and perseverance required to break into the industry. She recounts the pivotal moment that led to her landing a role on "The Big Bang Theory."

Melissa Rauch [03:26]: "I auditioned like 9,000 times to be a victim on Law and Order and I never, never got cast."

Craig relates by sharing his own experiences of breaking into television, highlighting the unpredictable nature of auditions and casting opportunities.

Craig Ferguson [38:43]: "I ended up doing [The Drew Carey Show] for one show. It was for one show. And then I did six years, eight years, nine years on it."

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Childhood and Personal Stories

Rauch delves into her upbringing in the suburbs of New Jersey, painting a vivid picture of her supportive yet non-industry-involved family. She shares a poignant story about her childhood dog, Lucky, illustrating the deep emotional bonds that shaped her sense of joy and connection.

Melissa Rauch [29:46]: "Lucky was truly my best friend. I would talk to him as a seven, eight-year-old and tell him things that I didn't tell anyone."

Craig complements her narrative by reflecting on his own family dynamics and the influence of pets in his life.

Craig Ferguson [31:32]: "Lucky was everything in your family. That dog never left."

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Transition to "Night Court" and Creative Ventures

The conversation transitions to Rauch's role in the revival of "Night Court," where she discusses the creative process and the collaborative efforts involved in reviving a beloved show. She highlights the challenges and rewards of working with the original cast and crew, particularly actor John Larroquette.

Melissa Rauch [07:05]: "Growing up, it was one of those shows I remember sitting and watching with my parents..."

Craig praises Rauch's adaptability and commitment to her craft, drawing parallels to his own experiences in late-night television.

Craig Ferguson [45:49]: "I couldn't have. To a nicer person."

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The Role of Stand-Up Comedy and Personal Growth

Both Ferguson and Rauch explore the significance of stand-up comedy in their careers, discussing how humor acts as a coping mechanism for life's hardships. Rauch reflects on her early attempts at stand-up, revealing vulnerabilities that eventually informed her comedic style.

Melissa Rauch [16:34]: "I was always a kid that felt other growing up. And I think that was very much where my comedy came from."

Craig shares his perspective on the dark undercurrents often present in comedic performances, emphasizing the balance between personal experiences and humor.

Craig Ferguson [24:01]: "Perhaps it's just interesting. Perhaps if you've just got an interesting story, it makes you funny because I don't know very many funny people who are not interesting."

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Parenting and Its Impact on Joy

A significant portion of the discussion centers around parenthood, with both hosts elaborating on how children have reshaped their perceptions of joy and fulfillment. Rauch speaks candidly about the emotional transformation she experienced after becoming a parent, contrasting it with her earlier fears and uncertainties.

Melissa Rauch [26:00]: "There's also a special joy in that too."

Craig concurs, sharing his amazement at the profound changes parenthood brings, which often surpass initial expectations of happiness.

Craig Ferguson [27:58]: "The happiness that I have from being a parent, it's otherworldly and I love it."

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Collaborative Writing and Relationship Dynamics

Rauch discusses her collaborative relationship with her husband, who is also her writing partner. They explore how their mutual love for comedy and writing strengthens their bond, blending personal life with professional creativity.

Melissa Rauch [54:37]: "He's a producer on it with me. He's not in the writer's room. But we always work together."

Craig reflects on his own collaborative experiences, illustrating the importance of shared humor and creativity in maintaining strong relationships.

Craig Ferguson [56:35]: "It's truly the basis of our relationship, both as a writing team, but the basis of our love was me hysterical laughing over something you're saying."

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Insights on Hosting and Interviewing

Towards the end of the episode, Ferguson shares his passion for hosting and interviewing, inspired by his experiences and the genuine connections he seeks to build with his guests. Rauch appreciates Ferguson's authentic approach to conversations, which fosters an environment of trust and openness.

Melissa Rauch [50:58]: "You should do an interview show, though, because you're good at it."

Craig emphasizes the importance of interviewing people you genuinely like, ensuring engaging and meaningful dialogues.

Craig Ferguson [51:15]: "Only interviewing people you like. That's, I mean, it's...it really makes a difference because I think you can."

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Conclusion and Mutual Appreciation

The episode concludes with heartfelt appreciation between Ferguson and Rauch. They express mutual admiration for each other's work and confirm their enduring friendship and professional respect. The conversation wraps up on a lighthearted note, with both expressing excitement about future collaborations and the joys of their respective careers.

Melissa Rauch [59:55]: "I'm so excited."

Craig Ferguson [60:18]: "It's lovely to talk to you."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Melissa Rauch [03:26]: "I auditioned like 9,000 times to be a victim on Law and Order and I never, never got cast."
2. Craig Ferguson [38:43]: "I ended up doing [The Drew Carey Show] for one show. It was for one show. And then I did six years, eight years, nine years on it."
3. Melissa Rauch [29:46]: "Lucky was truly my best friend. I would talk to him as a seven, eight-year-old and tell him things that I didn't tell anyone."
4. Craig Ferguson [24:01]: "Perhaps it's just interesting. Perhaps if you've just got an interesting story, it makes you funny because I don't know very many funny people who are not interesting."
5. Melissa Rauch [54:37]: "He's a producer on it with me. He's not in the writer's room. But we always work together."
6. Craig Ferguson [56:35]: "It's truly the basis of our relationship, both as a writing team, but the basis of our love was me hysterical laughing over something you're saying."
7. Melissa Rauch [59:55]: "I'm so excited."
8. Craig Ferguson [60:18]: "It's lovely to talk to you."

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Conclusion

This episode of "Joy" offers a profound exploration of personal and professional growth, the essence of joy in everyday life, and the intricate balance between career aspirations and personal happiness. Through authentic storytelling and mutual respect, Craig Ferguson and Melissa Rauch provide listeners with valuable insights into finding joy amidst life's complexities.

Transcript

[Melissa Rauch]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan Partisan. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe margarita?

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm thirsty.

[Melissa Rauch]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow.

[Craig Ferguson]

Beginning to feel more seasonal in here already.

[Melissa Rauch]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Craig Ferguson]

Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay. It's better over here.

[Melissa Rauch]

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[Craig Ferguson]

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[Melissa Rauch]

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[Craig Ferguson]

And trade in service on Go 5G.

[Melissa Rauch]

Next and credit required.

[Craig Ferguson]

Contact us before canc entire account to.

[Melissa Rauch]

Continue bill credits or credit stop and balance and required finance agreement is due. Hi everyone, it's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda caught me from the Today show. Nobody does the holidays like today. From festive performances and great gift ideas to tips for the perfect holiday feast, join us every morning on NBC and make today your home for the holidays.

[Craig Ferguson]

The Craig Ferguson Pants on Fire tour is on sale now. It's a new show, it's new material, but I'm afraid it's still only me, Craig Ferguson on my own, standing on a stage telling comedy words. Come and see me. Buy tickets, bring your loved ones or don't come and see me. Don't buy tickets and don't bring your loved ones. I'm not your dad. You come or don't come, but you should at least know it's happening. And it is. The tour kicks off late September and goes through the end of the year and beyond. Tickets are available@the craigfergusonshow.com tour they're available at the craigfergusonshow dot com tour or at your local outlet in your region. My name is Craig Ferguson. The name of this podcast is Joy. I talk to interesting people about what brings them happiness. I don't know if you know this about me, but a few years ago I used to do a late night show and one of my favorite guests on that show was an actress who was just breaking through as I was doing the show, and she became a big star in a show called the Big Bang Theory. And she was just fabulous. And she still is. Please welcome the lovely Melissa Rauch, everybody. Melissa. Yes. Do you. Are you doing a podcast yet?

[Melissa Rauch]

My own podcast.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yes.

[Melissa Rauch]

No, I'm not. I'm not.

[Craig Ferguson]

I think you. I think you have to. I think, I think you. Yes. I've always thought, well, you're very chatty, you're very personable, you're nice, you deserve money, but clearly don't need it because you're on a sitcom again.

[Melissa Rauch]

But I would like to. I. I'm glad you said this. Maybe this is the inspiration I need to start it. But if I do, can I TM it at the end and say that Craig Ferguson told me to do this and everything?

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, I think you probably can. Does TM mean take money? Yeah, that's it. Tall Man, Tiddly Maniac. I.

[Melissa Rauch]

All the above. All the above.

[Craig Ferguson]

All the above. You look very well. I'm glad to see you look very well. I wasn't worried about you in any way, but I was. I haven't seen you for a long time. I've seen you since I did late night.

[Melissa Rauch]

It's been a very long time. Do you know that you were my very first late night show ever?

[Craig Ferguson]

Is that good?

[Melissa Rauch]

It's wonderful. It was such a wonderful experience. I love doing that show so much.

[Craig Ferguson]

But I was nervous. At what point toward. Well, you know what I loved. I love doing it. See, this is why you should have a podcast, because you're asking me things. I. Well, let me tell you about my career. I love doing it. And then I got bored with it and then when I decided I was going to leave, I loved doing it again.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, interesting. Because there was an image in sight.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. The last two years I did it. Well, you know this because you're an actor, right. If you, you're still an actor, when you do a job as an actor or any kind of performer, it's like a, it's not forever job. You do it and then you're done and you move on. To another show.

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, right.

[Craig Ferguson]

And late night, unless you jump, you know, it's kind of like the Supreme Court. You're there, you know, you've got. You've got to recuse yourself from labor. Right.

[Melissa Rauch]

So then once you knew it was ending, was it a savor every moment feeling of this is going to be ending at some point. And I see it ending. So I want to hold on to the memories while they're here.

[Craig Ferguson]

A little bit like that and a little more like, I don't give a shit now they can't fire me.

[Melissa Rauch]

Okay. Yeah, that was nice.

[Craig Ferguson]

That was a lot of fun. There was such freedom in that. And there was about 18 months of that when I thought, well, fuck it, what are they going to do? They're going to get rid of me. I'm done now anyway. And it really felt good. When were you first on. Do you remember?

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, goodness, that's a good question. I mean, it must have been maybe like around 2011ish, 12ish, something like that.

[Craig Ferguson]

It was about halfway through the run. Were you doing Big Bang Theory at the time? I think, I think that was it, right.

[Melissa Rauch]

It was the first late night talk show I did for Big Bang. And oh my gosh, I remember going to the Century City Mall to get an outfit for it and practicing how I was going to sit in the dressing room and just so, like, if I sat down, I wouldn't show my business on, like the chair. And.

[Craig Ferguson]

Well, that's important. I mean, that is important.

[Melissa Rauch]

But you were so kind and you put me at ease right away. And I just, I love that show so much and I love talking to you so much that.

[Craig Ferguson]

See, that makes me very happy because that was the idea. I always thought if you host the show, you should maybe host the show. Like you host a party, like, make sure everybody's got nibbles and dip and let them have a nice time. And it was so cocaine in the bedrooms if. If you can avoid it. So listen, tell me this because, I mean, I'm interested in you doing Night Court because you do Night Court again, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

Do a Night Court. Yes.

[Craig Ferguson]

And what I am fascinated by, first of all, I really like Night Court and I really like Larroquette. Isn't he great? Isn't he like a special human being?

[Melissa Rauch]

So, so special. Do you know him personally?

[Craig Ferguson]

I do, yeah, I do. He was actually a very early guest on Late Night and he was on quite a lot and then he stopped being on for a while. I don't know why, but I wasn't you know, in charge of any of that, but. And then he was back on later. I don't know. But he was always a favorite guest for me because he is very funny and very. Just a real gentleman, you know what I mean? It's like I loved him, but I remember that show. Was that the 80s, that show?

[Melissa Rauch]

Mm, yeah. Mid 90s. And it was always a favorite of mine. Growing up, it was one of those shows I remember sitting and watching with my parents and a lot went over my head and there was a lot like, cover your ears to things that I didn't understand. And they. I mean, they got away with so much, but there was something very special about it. The comedy was very irreverent in a way that was unlike anything else on at the time. And I was always such a huge fan of.

[Craig Ferguson]

It was. Right, right. Yeah, it was a real. It had a very kind of. It had a kind of like a different kind of anarchic vibe a little bit. It was naughty. It was quite a naughty show.

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah. And John describes it as. I mean, it was essentially vaudeville in so many ways. But the. And John just obviously was such a standout and getting to work with him has just been nothing short of a dream come true. It's.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, I know. He's. I've never heard a bad word about him. I've not got one myself. He's a lovely man. He. He and I share a kind of similar early story as well, which is, you know, he was a little back in the day as well, I think, but not for a long time. A long, long time. So did you grow up in your family? Aren't show business here, are they?

[Melissa Rauch]

They're not. I grew up in Jersey, suburbs of Jersey. Father is an accountant and worked as a legal secretary. And then she was home with my brother and I for a lot of my childhood, but very much a small town upbringing. But my parents were so wildly supportive of me choosing this career for a family that didn't have anything to do with it. We were always a very, like, musical family. My grandfather was a music teacher and my mom. My parents, like, loved going to shows and they loved the arts, but they had no real connection to anything there.

[Craig Ferguson]

Was always fascinated by. I'm fascinated by that because I just had a conversation today for another episode of the podcast with Richard Kind, who, you know, who is he? Lovely, lovely man.

[Melissa Rauch]

Love him. Just got to work with him last week.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, he did? Was he on Night Court?

[Melissa Rauch]

He was on Night Court. He's. He came to join us in the second season, and he comes back in the third season. He's amazing. I love that.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, if he turns up for one episode, he'll be there for a season. A bit like you in the Big Bang Theory, actually. You. You come in for an episode and boom, that's it. But he. He was telling me the same thing about. He got into show business as well. His family were very supportive, but they knew nothing about show business. And I wonder if that's why your family can be supportive, because they don't know how dreadful it is.

[Melissa Rauch]

That is so true. I actually remember calling my mother from the back of the sports bar I was working at after, you know, years of auditioning. And my parents were. I mean, they really were so great. They came to every one of my, you know, community theater shows growing up. And my father, I remember saying to me, there's no job security in anything, so just do what you love. And I had been out of work and just, you know, trying to get work in New York City and doing standup, but doing theater and, like, Laundromats, and I was working at this sports bar as my bread and butter, and I was so beaten down, and I called my mom from the pay phone in the back of the restaurant, sobbing and saying, why did you let me follow my dreams? This is terrible parenting. You never should have done this. I'm never going to work. I have nothing to fall back on because I majored in theater with a minor in musical theater. So there's literally. Which.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, that's. That's doubling down.

[Melissa Rauch]

I'm doubling down. I had nothing, and I was so freaked out. And she was sort of laughing and just saying, just keep going. Just keep going. It'll be okay.

[Craig Ferguson]

You must have been pretty young when you were doing that, because, I mean, you were pretty young when you broke through, weren't you?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, I mean, I got big. I was 29 when I got.

[Craig Ferguson]

Richard and I were talking about, that's the time we have to break through. Yeah, I'm not kidding. Between, like, 29 and 33. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen about that. Interestingly, that's the way it was for me, really.

[Melissa Rauch]

Now, what was your first. First gig? How old were you?

[Craig Ferguson]

Well, I got sober when I was 29, so that. That made a bit of a difference. But also between then and then going to, like, I was a fallen down. I was falling down drunk when I was 29, and by the time I was 32, 33, I was on the Drew Carey show. And I know it's crazy, it was like a huge difference. But I remember thinking at that time, how long so you'd been out of college? I guess what, six, seven years? Something like that?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, I was in New York, I went to college in New York City and I was doing stand up pretty much the whole time I was in college, much to the chagrin of my conservatory teachers. Like we're doing Shakespeare during the day, you should not be doing standup at night. And so I was doing that and then trying to get work after college. And I started writing this one woman show right when I graduated college because I was just trying to create work for myself because there really was just nothing. I auditioned like 9,000 times to be a victim on Law and Order and I never, never got cast. There was hardly anything shooting there. So I started writing this play for myself with my now husband. And it was so self righteous and boring. When I still have some. It was awful. It was just about that phase where you're graduating college and you're like trying to individually.

[Craig Ferguson]

I like to see that one woman show.

[Melissa Rauch]

One day I'll put it.

[Craig Ferguson]

I like to see it, I'll get.

[Melissa Rauch]

A black box and do it so bad. And. And then we saw Jenna Bush speaking on TV at the Republican convention. We were like flipping channels and we saw it and she was about the same age as me and she, we read that she was going to be teaching public school and she was talking with her sister and she had this one joke at the convention and she killed and she like turned to her sister and was like. And she just had, she was like very like, she nailed this joke. I was like, that's a really interesting dynamic that she had up there, like of her sort of enjoying getting this laugh. And so we ended up combining my story with hers of she's meeting and at the time she was in the press for getting some DUIs. And so we thought like, oh yeah.

[Craig Ferguson]

That'S right, I remember that.

[Melissa Rauch]

What if we combine, combined this coming of age story for her while also skewering the Bush presidency with the story I was writing for myself, which was like individuating from your parents and trying to become adult. An adult. And so we wrote it that it was the night before she was gonna start teaching and she needs to become this adult in one night. And so we did this show, it's called the Miseducation of Jenna Bush. And I did it in New York at the New York Comedy Fest, the New York Fringe Festival. And then that was sort of what got me out to la. We ended up doing it in LA and at the Aspen Comedy Festival and then sold a pilot about it to cbs. But it really was what got me out of waiting tables at the time. I was still doing that aside, but that helped get me out to la.

[Craig Ferguson]

It's interesting. Talk to me a little bit about standup, because I actually didn't know you'd done standup. And I think that's quite interesting because you were one of the people that could really hang in late night. Right. And everyone that could hang has some kind of. I think it's a kind of darkness, I think, to be able to riff and be that way. Stand up. I think maybe not now because it's such an aspirational thing for young people because of TikTok and stuff, but. But it has a kind of darkness. Do you have that darkness? Do you think you have that?

[Melissa Rauch]

That's interesting. I think we all do in a way, and it just depends on how much you want to tap into it. But I definitely think I was always a kid that felt other growing up. And I think that was very much where my comedy came from in the fact that I was a kid who. I was an indoor cat. I couldn't really do sports. I always. I was a weird kid. And there's like video of me at like seven doing stand up. Stand up at this beauty pageant. I should have not. I shouldn't have been in a beauty pageant. There's. You look at pictures of me as a kid. This was not something I should have been doing.

[Craig Ferguson]

But I. I don't know. I don't know if anyone should be in a beauty pageant, to be honest. But that's probably a different thing. But why you were doing stand up at a kid's beauty pageant?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah. Cause I got a pamphlet in the mail for this. It was like the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in New Jersey. And I was like. They said that there was a.

[Craig Ferguson]

That's terrifying.

[Melissa Rauch]

It was terrifying.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

But they had a talent portion. And I was like. I was obsessed with stand up. I was watching Star Search and I was like, this is amazing, but there's no place to do it. So I thought if I could get into this talent competition, I could do stand up. And I begged my mom and she said if I saved up half the money, then I could do it. And I mean, I was toothless. Like, I wore a dress that I wore my cousin's wedding. And I mean, I couldn't wait to get to the Talent park. Because it was a lot of like, hi, I'm Melissa Rauch from Marlboro, New Jersey, and I'm seven years old and I couldn't do that, like, with all the, like toddler and tiara type kids. But I got to the talent portion. I was so stoked that I did my tight five, I guess it was. But it was mostly impressions, like, so weird. And that's what I would do for show and tell. And everything was just like, I need to work on my comedy. And so it was just weirdness. It was just a lot of.

[Craig Ferguson]

Were you bullied? Did the other kids pick up on the weirdness?

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, yes, yes. I mean, once in a while I get up. Because I was also doing impressions that weren't. It wasn't the right demo. I was doing like Don Knotts from Three's Company. Yeah, it doesn't kill with the second grade crowd. So, yeah, I was picked on a lot also because of my. There was a lot of picking on me because my height.

[Craig Ferguson]

Were you very. Because you're still quite little, aren't you?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, I never hit five feet, so I'm tiny. But then I sort of realized that if I made fun of myself first, then that would help. My mother told me it was not the greatest advice, but she said if anyone calls you short, say that your mother accidentally put you in the dryer and shrunk you. Which she was really trying to help me do a bit. But I know it just made me weirder.

[Craig Ferguson]

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[Melissa Rauch]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the partisan Bartesian. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita?

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm thirsty.

[Melissa Rauch]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Craig Ferguson]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Melissa Rauch]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian craftsman every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Craig Ferguson]

Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay. For many of us, the holiday season means more travel, more shopping, more time online, and more of your personal information in more places you can't control. It only takes one innocent mistake, even if it's not your mistake, to expose you to identity theft. Not to worry. Lifelock monitors hundreds of millions of data points every second and alerts you to threats you could miss by yourself. Even if you keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements. If your identity is stolen, your own US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed. The last thing you want to do this holiday season is face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or other financial losses from identity theft all alone. Gift yourself the peace of mind that comes with Lifelock and spend more time doing more of the holiday things you love. Visit lifelock.com iheart and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% [e-mail] iheart LifeLock for the threats you can't control. Do you know it's funny? It's such an odd thing when people good naturedly, and in that case, your mother, but people good naturedly suggest things that they think would be funny for you to say. I mean, I. I don't know how to tell you that this is not funny at all and I can't, can't make it funny. Did you ever try. I tried getting Chatgpt to write me some comedy. Have you ever tried that?

[Melissa Rauch]

No. Tell me. Do it really?

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, it's really reassuring because what, what you do is I said, write me a short monologue in the style of Craig Ferguson and it wrote me this monologue. And it was, it was either I'm delusional about how good I am or I really suck or something. But that, that was awful. It was awful. And I was like, oh, good. So that's something that I can't do. Not yet. I just don't think it can write comedy. Wow.

[Melissa Rauch]

Okay. I want to do it. That's. And did it do like monologue?

[Craig Ferguson]

Well, it wrote, it wrote a weird little thing about giraffes, about like, aren't giraffes dumb looking and stuff? And I'm like, I do not think giraffes are dumb looking. I like giraffes. I mean, I always think about them that much. But when I do think about them, I'm like, wow, the magnificent giraffes sweeping across the Serengeti. I don't think, look at these dumb assholes. That's crazy. Who would not like giraffes? So I, So I guess in a way it inspired me to do a pro giraffe piece of stand up comedy, which I've been, I guess, want to do for some time and didn't know it.

[Melissa Rauch]

Okay.

[Craig Ferguson]

But it's, I like this, it's, it's just this, it's a source of inspiration, which I think that's what, you know, I keep going back to this darkness is where comedy is born thing for myself and I think that it's. It perhaps isn't darkness. Perhaps it's just interesting. Perhaps if you've just got an interesting story, it makes you funny because I don't know very many funny people who are not interesting.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's very true. That is, that's. I think that's very, very true. And I think, you know, whenever I think about, you know, parenting or things that my parents did or things they told me, I'm actually, I'm grateful for any missteps because. And they were wonderful, wonderful parents. But I gotta say, the people know who had like picture perfect childhoods. Kind of boring.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, a little bit. A little bit. Yeah. You don't want to peak in high school. That would be bad.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's true.

[Craig Ferguson]

I think also, you know, look, there's nothing wrong with peaking in high school. Just in case anyone who peaked in high school is like, wait, I peaked in high school and now my life is great. I'm like, okay, that you didn't peak in high school, but I feel like you have kids of your own now, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

They do, yeah.

[Craig Ferguson]

Didn't it like, for me, when my kids were born, it's like everything, like a complete 180. Everything I thought about, everything changed. Not that day, because it took a few months before I started to realize the enormous change that was occurring within me.

[Melissa Rauch]

It's the perspective shift. I know it's cliche, but it's unbelievable. I actually did a apology tour to all of my friends with kids after I had kids. For any time I said I was tired or busy, I felt so bad that that version of me just didn't. I thought I got it, but, yeah, I needed to go back. Like, oh, I didn't realize.

[Craig Ferguson]

I remember talking to someone who was about to have his first kid and, you know, his wife was about to have his first kid, and he was telling me about how good a parent he was going to be and how he's going to do it and stuff. And I didn't say this to him at the time, but I remember thinking at the time, and I still think, like, you'll never be as good a parent as you are the last three or four months before your first kid is born. That's when you're really great. Yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

So good.

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm just gonna be so cool about things, and it's gonna be fine. And like, what are you doing? Oh, my God. Get to bed.

[Melissa Rauch]

You can.

[Craig Ferguson]

Still very young, though, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, there are. Yeah. I got little ones and. But I. It is. It's a hard explosion. There's really nothing like it. I don't. The. The happiness that I have from being a parent, it's. It's otherworldly and I love it. I knew I'd like it, but I didn't think that I would love it this much.

[Craig Ferguson]

It's kind of interesting as well, because first of all, I will tell you this. All the great philosophers didn't have children.

[Melissa Rauch]

Really? I didn't know that.

[Craig Ferguson]

I don't know if that's true, but I'm spreading that as a rumor. It sounds true that all the great philosophers. I think it's true. I think it's partially true, probably. But the other thing is that. Because who has time for that shit? Once you have a kid, it's like, oh, I'm thinking about life and the universe. You can think about that, but you have kids, you don't think about life in the universe. And the other thing is, you're like, oh, my God, don't put your finger at that thing. And then and then the other part of it, you know, when they say, and I. Maybe this will annoy some people, but, you know, it's a risk you have to take. Sometimes when people say, my. My dogs are my kids, you know, or my cats are my kids, you go, you know, I have dogs and I have a cat. And they're not kids. They're not.

[Melissa Rauch]

They.

[Craig Ferguson]

You can love them, but they're not kids. It's a different game. Different. Don't you have dogs?

[Melissa Rauch]

I don't. I had a dog growing up that was my family's everything. But I haven't got a dog since. Eventually I'll get one. My people said at my wedding that they had never heard people talk about a dead dog more than at my, like, oh.

[Craig Ferguson]

Because interesting.

[Melissa Rauch]

You know, the comedian Jessica Sinclair, she always says that. She's like, I've never heard someone reference a dead dog more than when I'm around your family. This dog was my childhood dog, Lucky. We got him when I was 6 and then lived until I was about 22. And yeah, so we had German Shepherd, Husky.

[Craig Ferguson]

I have German Shepherds.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, greatest.

[Craig Ferguson]

They're very clever.

[Melissa Rauch]

They're very clever. Poor Lucky's last words that Lucky heard on this earth were, lucky had testicular cancer and that's how he ended up passing. And so he had. I'm going to go here with you, Craig. I'm sorry. But he had very large testicles at the end and it was very uncomfortable for him. And as we're all putting him to sleep, it was my mom and my dad, my now husband, my brother. We're all around him and telling him how much we love him. And we're hugging him and my mom in all her Jersey ways as we're putting him down, she goes, we love you, Lucky. No more big balls, Lucky. No more big balls. And that was it. And that was lights out for Lucky. That was the last thing that Lucky heard.

[Craig Ferguson]

It's beautiful and sad and lovely and, you know, my dogs don't have testiculars. We get them.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's smart. Smart. We should have done it. And you have how many dogs?

[Craig Ferguson]

I have two at the moment. Yeah. Which is actually a low count for me right now. I have one German shepherd and a Jack Russell.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh. Oh. Do they get along?

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, sort of. As well as the Irish and the Germans can get along. It's high impact comedy. It's like an episode, a canine wipeout every day. But they're not my kids and it's an interesting thing. So I guess why is Lucky. Such an important figure in your family.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's interesting.

[Craig Ferguson]

When you first mentioned Lucky, you said the dog who was everything in my family.

[Melissa Rauch]

It's true. I mean, when I talk about feeling other like that dog was truly my best friend. I would talk to that dog as a, you know, seven, eight year old and tell him things that I didn't tell anyone, would sleep with me. I mean, and he just brought. He was astray. He literally like found our family. Walked up to my house in a snowstorm and my father had no plans of getting a dog. My, my mom loved animals, but my father had no, no any experience with animals. And this dog walked, walked up. We were. My brother and I were shoveling the driveway in a huge snowstorm and this port, he had icicles hanging from his stomach. And my mom said we should bring him into the garage and we called the local police, see if anyone lost him. And he just, he showed up at our house and my father said, it's gonna be very cold tonight. Let's bring him inside and set up some blankets for him in the basement. And that, that was it. And he just stayed with us.

[Craig Ferguson]

But he, he never left.

[Melissa Rauch]

He never left and just brought so much joy. Did community theater with us, played Sandy and Annie. He was just the greatest, the greatest dog. If my brother was like wrestling with me and like tackling on the floor, he would like pull my brother off me. It was, he was just, he was so great. Great.

[Craig Ferguson]

I feel like you grew up in a wholesome movie from the 1950s. Is that accurate or not?

[Melissa Rauch]

I mean, if, like with a Jersey twist, it was very, you know, lots of hanging at the mall. Mall.

[Craig Ferguson]

The mall.

[Melissa Rauch]

The mall. My accent was. I mean, I almost got kicked out of acting school for that accent.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, my, my accent was pretty broad when I was a kid. It wasn't Jersey, but I had an accent. It was something. So tell me this then. You're waiting tables and you've got this highly marketable theater with backup musical theater qualifications. How did the big bang thing come about then? Was that your big break was the big bang thing, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

It was, I guess I moved to New York. I'm from New York about four years prior. So when I first moved out to la, it was just a lot of driving around, crying in my car.

[Craig Ferguson]

And yeah, everybody does that.

[Melissa Rauch]

So much crying in the car.

[Craig Ferguson]

A lot of crying driving in your car. Let me assure you, you can do it. Even if you've got a late night TV show as well.

[Melissa Rauch]

The drive, cry. It's fun. It's fun. It feels just like a real scream chamber.

[Craig Ferguson]

And yeah, I did scream chamber as well. Did you do screaming in the car as well?

[Melissa Rauch]

It's fine fun. And it was just a lot of, like, a couple pilots that didn't go. A show that I did a handful of episodes of that never aired. And I was really. I mean, I was at the unemployment office the week that I got Big Bang. It was just this guest star part that I auditioned for, and the show was already doing well. And I was. I was so excited because it was a show that my parents really liked. And I called them and said, I have this audition. And actually, I had gone a really long time without any auditions. And I'm not good at being a squeaky wheel or advocating or, like, doing the thing that you're supposed to do where you, you know, check in with your agents and say, like, hey, what's happening?

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

Because I just. I just. The rejection on top of the rejection just always felt terrible. And I just didn't want to bother people when I wasn't making anyone money, which is not a way to live. But I was. I was really broke. We were having trouble paying our rent, and I got up the nerve to call my agent and say, I haven't had any auditions in a while. Is there anything that you think I'd be right for? And I don't know, had I not made that phone call, if I would have gotten the Big Bang audition.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, really?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah. Because that audition came in that night, and I really don't think that it would have happened otherwise. Which has been a lesson for me when I don't want to speak for something.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. Particularly I think, in Hollywood. I mean, people who say how great they are, people believe them. It's weird. It's like, hey, I'm great. You go, oh, he's great. How'd you know? He told me. He told me how great he is.

[Melissa Rauch]

He must be then.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. I say to people now, I'm a world record breaker and stuff. They're like, oh, congratulations.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, I'm going to start doing that. That's good.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, that's right. You're doing fine. You don't have to do anything. Yeah, I've got. I've said to people like, yeah, my. My podcast, they won the Oscar for best podcast. People just go, wow, that is big news. Thank you. My wife changed her name on the airline thing, so she's now Lady Megan Ferguson as well. And they're like, oh, your majesty, and all that kind of stuff.

[Melissa Rauch]

For real. You can.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah. But it doesn't. Fucking text.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's great.

[Craig Ferguson]

Still illegal.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's fantastic.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

I will believe someone if they tell me then. That sounds correct.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

And there's.

[Craig Ferguson]

So you push your agent and.

[Melissa Rauch]

Yes. And I got the audition that night. I remember I was at dinner with friends, my best girlfriends, and we were sitting there and I was. We were all commiserating of how hard it was, like being out of work. And this audition came in, I was so excited and I ran home to work on it. And I remember going into that audition so nervous and putting such pressure on myself because we were so, so broke. And I was just terrified that I was going to have to pack it in and do something else because it was starting to get. Starting to get to that time where I would go back to New Jersey and like my parents, friends and everyone would say, like, when are you gonna try something else? And I. That audition was everything. And I remember I got the call back for it and being they had narrowed it down to I guess like four or five of us and I. That whole drive home just praying that it was gonna like, please have this happen. I got a call. I remember as I was coming up to my apartment that. That I got the part and I thought. I thought it was going to be a one week thing and which I was thrilled about just to get red money. So the fact that it ended up being what it was was just amazing. A dream.

[Craig Ferguson]

A dream that's kind of in a sort of slightly less dramatic way. It's almost exactly what happened to me with the Drew Carey show in the 90s.

[Melissa Rauch]

Really.

[Craig Ferguson]

I had 27 cents in my bank account when I got that job. And you know, I don't know if you know this, but you need a dollar to take out 27 cents from your bank account. So I couldn't even get my 20 cents.

[Melissa Rauch]

No.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. I was flat broke.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh my gosh.

[Craig Ferguson]

And also I was on a work visa. You know that. So I was on a six month visa. If I didn't get something, if I didn't click into something, it was get out, you know, so the stakes were high. And I remember the same feeling from the audition. Like I actually didn't even audition for that part. I auditioned for another part on a different show and I didn't get that part, but they gave me the part on the Drew Carey show.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh my gosh.

[Craig Ferguson]

I know, it's crazy.

[Melissa Rauch]

How long between auditions did that happen? When you auditioned for the other one and then you got the Two Carey.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, it was fast. Like.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, really?

[Craig Ferguson]

Actually what it was is I don't. You might even know this guy. Do you know Tony Sapovida?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yes, Tony.

[Craig Ferguson]

Tony. He's the greatest guy, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, Tony was so much.

[Craig Ferguson]

He's awesome, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

He's my.

[Craig Ferguson]

Listen, I owe everything to Tony. I owe everything to Tony Sepulveda. What happened was Tony was casting. He was casting at Warner Brothers, right. And that's where the Drew Carey show was made. And they were in their first season and there was some clerical mix up. And I was pulled into audition for the part of the Hispanic photographer on a Brooke Shields show called Suddenly Susan. And I like, you know, I riffed my way through the audition, but everybody knew, like I knew the minute I saw everybody else, I'm in the wrong place. And I, you know, I did the audition and we were dicking around and having a laugh and everybody knew I wasn't going to get that part. But when I left, Tony followed me out of the room and said, hey, obviously you know, this is not the part for you. And I went, I know, thanks for seeing me anyway. And he. And he said, no, no, no. They're looking for. They're looking for a guy on the Drew Carey show. Can you do an English accent? And I said, cecil George, yes, I can. And I. And I did. And we. I got the. I got it for one. Get one show. It was for one show. And then I did six years, eight years, nine years on it.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, my goodness. That's amazing. I didn't know that.

[Craig Ferguson]

That's Hollywood stories though, right? You've got the same one. It's like they do happen.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's incredible. And I love that it's Tony. He is just gem of gems. My very first meeting with anyone in Hollywood was Tony. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the partisans Bartesian. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off, so how about a Cosmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita?

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm thirsty.

[Melissa Rauch]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Craig Ferguson]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Melissa Rauch]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Craig Ferguson]

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[Melissa Rauch]

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[Craig Ferguson]

All on America's largest 5G network.

[Melissa Rauch]

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[Craig Ferguson]

And trade and service on go 5G.

[Melissa Rauch]

Next and credit required.

[Craig Ferguson]

Contact us before canceling entire account.

[Melissa Rauch]

To continue bill credits. Your credit stop and balance and required finance agreement is due. Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford, and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but, like, I never liked being told, oh, wow, you look so good for your age. Like, why even bother saying that? Why don't you just say you look great at any age, Every age. That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful Beauty. Beautiful skin at every age. Learn [e-mail].

[Craig Ferguson]

It'S interesting because he's so pivotal in a lot of people's careers, and he's very. Every time I tell him that story, I. Every time I see him, I haven't seen him for years and years, but every time I see him, I always thank him and he's like, no, no, I had nothing to do with it. And I'm like, you had everything.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, he's on our set every week at Night Court. He's.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, will you please tell him I've never forgotten what he did for me. Never.

[Melissa Rauch]

I sure will. I love that guy. He's just instant happiness when you're around him.

[Craig Ferguson]

Does he do the casting for that?

[Melissa Rauch]

He's still at Warner Brothers. Yep.

[Craig Ferguson]

All right, so, you know, if you guys need. And, like, would you, you know, would you. Oh, you kidding me? I get a chance. We work with you and Larroquette. Sure. I can be Larroquette's drunk brother from Scotland. Anything you need.

[Melissa Rauch]

I'm totally taking you up on this. This is going to happen.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, my God. I would do it in a heartbeat. You kidding me? In a heartbeat? Yeah, it would oh, my gosh. It would be a riot. And I'm very reasonably priced. You know, scale plus 10 is just fine. It'll be fine that.

[Melissa Rauch]

I am so excited about this. I would. It would be so great.

[Craig Ferguson]

I haven't done a sitcom in years. That would be funny.

[Melissa Rauch]

Did you love doing it?

[Craig Ferguson]

I did. Do you guys still do it with, like, a studio audience?

[Melissa Rauch]

We do.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, man. That is the greatest life. That is the greatest life.

[Melissa Rauch]

Wonderful. There's nothing like a tape night.

[Craig Ferguson]

It.

[Melissa Rauch]

The electricity. That is fabulous. It's so fun.

[Craig Ferguson]

I did it for years and years and years and years, and I never get tired of it. It was amazing. So are you Tuesday or Friday?

[Melissa Rauch]

We're Friday nights. And we started very differently because we started. We were developing this all through the pandemic. So when we shot our pilot, it was. I mean, we were really just coming out of COVID so we couldn't have a full audience. Everyone was just. It was socially dis. It looked like a hospital waiting room. Everyone was masked and socially distanced, like, six feet away from each other. But now we get to have a full audience, and it's. We even have plexiglass up at one point because of COVID rules. But now it's. I mean, it's great. We have a full audience every Friday night, and it's so special.

[Craig Ferguson]

And, of course, it's such a lovely way to make television. I'm sad that it's not done so much. I mean, it's such a cool, cool thing to do. But I guess it fell out of favor.

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah. You know, and I. I really. I don't know why, because, like you said, it's such a fun way to make television. The. The comedy rhythms that you get in front of a live audience. Yeah, there's. There's just truly nothing like it. And I agree. It's such a relationship between the actors in the audience, and you find things just in their laughter, just in the moments where you're holding for their laughs. There's just wonderful little moments. As you're writing that down.

[Craig Ferguson]

I know exactly what you mean. Like, I remember when I started in late night, because I'd come off all these years on the Drew Carey show, and when I started in late night and they were getting me to read these jokes, like, you know, hey, guys, have you seen the playoffs? And stuff. And I'm like, I don't even fucking. I don't even know what I'm talking about. I don't even know really what a playoff is. And they said, let Me just talk a little bit. And it changed. The whole vibe of that show changed when I was allowed to just mess around with the audience and the camera, because when they're looking at the monitors, because the audience all look at the monitors like it's on tv, and then. But they can also see you dicking around, so they get some kind of weird participatory enjoyment out of it. It's a very odd, special thing that I don't think exists for any other audience. TV audience gets a very weird experience.

[Melissa Rauch]

It's so true. You know, I just had this very distinct memory of waiting in the dressing room to do your show and watching you do that monologue. And just the brilliance of it and watching you. I truly remember. I remember, like, them working my hair, makeup, and all of it, just watching you on that screen, because it was so. There was talk about electricity. Just the relationship you had with them was so. It was so special, and it was just such a nuanced, genius monologue that you would do on that show. And I just. I just. As you were talking about it, I.

[Craig Ferguson]

Think that what it is with performers, and you've got this. People who can hang have got this. People that, like, that's how I describe it. People can hang you. People can do it. Larroquette's got this.

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah.

[Craig Ferguson]

If there's sometimes that. Richard Kind has this. Some performers that you see on a stage or you see in a movie or any kind of performance, I think it's the same as certain sportsmen, like, or sportswomen, same as athletes who, like, I used to take. There's a Scottish soccer player called Kenny Dal Gleish and Ken Dogleesh, when I was a kid, was the greatest soccer player in the world. And every time he got the ball, it wasn't necessarily going to score a goal, but fucking something was going to happen. And I feel that about certain performers, that every time they're there, something's going to happen. You know, it might not be great, but you're going to watch. And I think that, to me, is the essence of the whole. The whole gig. That's why I'm fascinated and kind of delighted to know that you did stand up, because I always thought of you of someone who had that. I kind of have a bit of a rule about that on the show, to be honest, that it kind of. When I'm talking to performers, and it is mostly performers I talk to, they have to be people who I think can hang.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, I love that. I love doing that about your show. So much because I remember doing the, you know, the pre interviews and talking about what the style of the show was, and I remember them saying, just really have a conversation, because that's what Craigs likes to do. Like, we could talk about the things that you're gonna talk about, but just go with the conversation. And it was such a relief that it didn't feel like going on. And I'm gonna tell. You're gonna ask me a question. I'm gonna tell my story, and I have to tell it exactly how I told it. The brain. It was truly like, a lot of the times we would just end up talking about whatever happened in that moment, and it was so nice. And it's also why I loved watching the show so much, because they were genuine, real conversations.

[Craig Ferguson]

Well, I think what was. What I was lucky in as well, is the sense that I had been on a lot of talk shows as a guest, you know, as an actor, and I was like, I had to do that very thing, you know, where they would say, oh, tell that story the way you told it. And I was like, but I've already told it. Why would I tell it again? And. And it got a little weird. It always felt a little false to me, and I never loved that aspect of the whole game. You should do an interview show, though, because you're good at it.

[Melissa Rauch]

Thank you for saying that. I also like you. That's true.

[Craig Ferguson]

You should. What?

[Melissa Rauch]

I also like you. You're easy to talk to. But what happens if you get someone who's done.

[Craig Ferguson]

That's a real trick as well. Only interviewing people you like. That's. I mean, it's. It really makes a difference because I think you can.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, my God. If someone's a dud, I don't know that I could. I think I'd freeze up and do a lot of. So tell me more.

[Craig Ferguson]

Well, that's why I started doing things like, hey, you want to smell my finger? And all that kind of stuff. I like nothing to say. But if you say to someone, hey, you want to do an awkward pause or smell my finger or talk to the robot, it kind of people. I, you know, something will happen. I don't know if it's going to be good, but something will happen.

[Melissa Rauch]

Where did the awkward pause that was so fun. It was just such a genius, genius move. Where did that come from? That I think.

[Craig Ferguson]

I think it came from. It came from exactly what you're talking about originally. Is it talking to people who just. That's kind of what they were into sometimes People would come on the show and I'd like, why are you doing a talk show? Why would you come on a talk show if you don't want to talk? It doesn't make any sense to me. But I think sometimes actors of a particular type and it would use. And musicians as well, it feel, they feel like they're going to be fine and then they get out there and they kind of freeze and. And I don't think there's any malevolence in it. I think it's. I honestly think it's nerves and shyness sometimes and they just like shut down. And that's why it's interesting because when you talk about doing stand up and then doing your one woman show and then seeing someone doing a joke and going, aha. And finding something that's such. That's it. That's the thing. I think that's the thing. Now you write with your husband, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

I do, yeah.

[Craig Ferguson]

And are you guys always been always written together?

[Melissa Rauch]

We have. We met in college and we were friends. We were writing partners through college and. But we didn't, we didn't start dating until right before we graduated college. But it was very much. That's how that was the basis of our relationship was we would go and write comedy sketches together, most of which never saw the light of day, but we just both connected over this love of comedy and love of writing.

[Craig Ferguson]

Do you make each other laugh? Is that the gig, right?

[Melissa Rauch]

Yeah, yeah, it's. Yeah, that he made me laugh harder than anyone that I had ever, ever known. I remember my roommates at the time, I was just dating such jerks and guys that just weren't right for me. And like, we've never seen you so happy. You're. Every time you're with him, you're hysterical laughing. And it's still it. There's. And I gotta say, and watching he makes me laugh so much. But then also getting to see my kids when they laugh at something, there's also a special joy in that too.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah. Oh my God. Making children laugh, it's fabulous. I don't know if I'm quite ready to be a children's entertainer, but I don't think I'm qualified. But I think I'd scare them.

[Melissa Rauch]

I think I'd scare children.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Melissa Rauch]

I'm not, I.

[Craig Ferguson]

It's interesting because when you talk about, you know, writing with your husband, I do still. Do you still write together? See, right on. I do.

[Melissa Rauch]

He's a producer on it with me. He's not in the writer's room. But we. We always work together. And we wrote the first movie that we ever produced, the bronze that we did years ago, which I think, gosh, it's like about 10 years ago now. That was our first feature we wrote together. And we've always sort of used our writing together as a way to create roles for me that I wouldn't necessarily totally be.

[Craig Ferguson]

Yeah, I get it. I mean, I ended up writing stuff with my. We've been married for years and years and years, and we. I ended up just listening to stuff she was saying and saying, you know, that. That stand up. And she'd be like, no, it's not. And I'm like, it is, it is. Stand up. She. She made an observation once about this is to me, I think, why. I think she's a really good writer and why all it takes is for someone else to go, wait, you. You are a really good writer. She said, I can prove the existence of God. I went, all right, tell me, prove the existence of God. And she said, seek freedon Roy. I said, what do you mean, Siegfried and Roy? She said, well, look, the chances. If you're a young, gay Austrian line tamer growing up and saying, I am a young, gay Austrian lion tamer, there's no one in the world for me. I'm doomed to be so lonely. And you bump into another gay Austrian lion tamer, I am also a gay Austrian line tamer and I find you attractive. The odds of that happening without a God and intelligent design of the universe are impossible. I was like, that's a piece of stand up. And I did. Yeah, I made it and I used it and I. And it's gone. But it was a thing. And I think that's part of the chemistry of being a couple, you know, is that if you make each other.

[Melissa Rauch]

Laugh, don't you think 1,000%, absolutely. There's. It's truly the basis of our relationship, both as a writing team, but the basis of our love was me hysterical laughing over something you're saying, like, yeah, like, oh, that's. That's what I want for the rest of my life. I want to feel that happiness. Because obviously, you know, like the joy.

[Craig Ferguson]

That'S the laughter, you know. Yeah, it is. And then you laugh so much you end up with children. Then you're just tired and you never write any philosophy ever again.

[Melissa Rauch]

No philosophy. Does your wife, was she starting in comedy or she just. You just noticed that she was.

[Craig Ferguson]

She's an art dealer. She's. I mean, she writes. She. She's Actually a very good writer, but she. I mean. But no, she had. Was not in any way drawn into that world. She's. She's a blue bloody Yankee. She got nothing to do with show folk.

[Melissa Rauch]

Show folk like that, but she can make you laugh. And that's.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, my God. Fuck. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like no one else can. Maybe Josh Robert Thompson, but he's not my type. Josh is the guy who did Jeff Peterson, the robot on the show.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, he's so funny.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, my God. You talk about an improvisational genius. My God.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, it's so funny. And when did that. Did the robot start? At the beginning. Was that part of our.

[Craig Ferguson]

No, we were about five years in before we started.

[Melissa Rauch]

So funny.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, my God. That fucking robot. I mean, I still weep with laughter. I can just be on the. Have a conversation with Josh on the phone, and he can have me weeping with laughter. I don't know what it is. Just some people just. Boom.

[Melissa Rauch]

Did you know him before the show?

[Craig Ferguson]

No, no. He came in to do bits on the show. He was a friend of one of the writers who had seen him do some bits and pieces, and he came in to do, I think it was an impression of Arnold Schwarzenegger or something. And he just. You get. You know, it's one of these Hollywood things. It's like you meet a guy who meets a guy who knows a thing, who does a. And that's how it always works. You know, it's like when people in Hollywood say, my agent doesn't get me any work. You go, yeah. They don't. They don't do that. They charge you money and they turn up and hand you a small bottle of water and tell you how gifted you are. But that's only after you get the job. It's so funny. Melissa, it's such a joy to see you again. I'm so happy that you're killing it with this Night Court thing. Oh, congratulations. It's just lovely. I couldn't have. To a nicer person.

[Melissa Rauch]

Thank you so much. I'm so. I was so, so excited to talk to you. Truly. I just have the best memories of talking to you on the show. And you really.

[Craig Ferguson]

You were great.

[Melissa Rauch]

It was such an amazing. Such an amazing training for me for that to be my first talk show. Say, okay, this sets the bar. This is how you have. You're just amazing, and I'm so happy to get to talk to you, and I'm going to hold you to this if I really. We get more Night Court episodes I want. I would Love, love, yeah.

[Craig Ferguson]

100%. Put me in the pitch for the next season.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, my gosh.

[Craig Ferguson]

Craig Ferguson will work for scale. Yeah, I'll do it. I in a fucking heartbeat. I'd do it for sure.

[Melissa Rauch]

Oh, my God, I'm so excited.

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm not kidding. And this is legally binding because now we run a podcast saying that makes it legally thing.

[Melissa Rauch]

That's going to be our trailer if we get a season work. Craig Ferguson comes in and works for scale.

[Craig Ferguson]

Works for scale. That's the story.

[Melissa Rauch]

But I'm so excited.

[Craig Ferguson]

The thing nobody knows is Craig Ferguson always works for scale. All right, take care of yourself. It's lovely to talk to you.

[Melissa Rauch]

You're wonderful, Craig. Thank you so much for talking to me.

[Craig Ferguson]

Oh, my God. Thanks for being on. It's lovely to see you.

[Melissa Rauch]

You too. Take care. Bye. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Bartesian.

[Craig Ferguson]

Bartesian.

[Melissa Rauch]

It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites, too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita?

[Craig Ferguson]

I'm thirsty.

[Melissa Rauch]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Craig Ferguson]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Melissa Rauch]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Craig Ferguson]

Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartisian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off. Any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.

[Melissa Rauch]

This podcast is supported by BetterHelp, offering licensed therapists you can connect with via video phone or chat. Here's BetterHelp head of clinical operations, hes Yoo Jo discussing who can benefit from therapy. I think a lot of people think that you're supposed to be going to therapy once you're, like, having panic attacks every day. But before you get to that point, I think once you start even noticing that you feel a little bit off and you can't maintain this harmony that you once had in relationships, that could be a sign that maybe you want to go talk to somebody. There's always a benefit in talking to someone. Because we can all benefit from improved insight about ourselves and who we are and how we behave with other people. So if you're human, that's like a good indicator that you could benefit from talking to somebody. Find out if therapy is right for you. Visit betterhelp.com today. That's betterhelp.com it's beginning to sound a lot like the holidays.

[Craig Ferguson]

The Roku Channel, your home for free.

[Melissa Rauch]

And premium TV is giving you access.

[Craig Ferguson]

To holiday music and genre base stations.

[Melissa Rauch]

From Iheart, all for free.

[Craig Ferguson]

Find the soundtrack of the season with channels like Iheart, Christmas and North Pole Radio.

[Melissa Rauch]

The Roku Channel is available on all.

[Craig Ferguson]

Roku devices, Web, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs, and the Roku mobile app on iOS and Android devices. So stream what you love and turn up the cheer with iheartradio on the Roku Channel. Happy streaming.