
The hilarious Leanne Morgan joins Kelly to chat about all things Emmys, hernias, testosterone shots, and meeting Lorne Michaels. She shares how her husband Chuck Morgan deals with the fame, how the two met, and why it wasn’t love at first sight for her! Leanne reflects on her early dating life, what the one joke her husband isn’t ok with, and the craziest diets she's ever tried. Plus, she dishes on her hit Netflix show LEANNE and shares what it's like working with Tim Daly.
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Everywhere I go, they go, oh, my gosh, I'm married to Chuck. Oh, my gosh. We love Chuck. Everybody loves Chuck.
A
Be careful, Chuck, because that's how we got Mark to co host the talk show. Somebody going to cue me or do I cue myself? Cue yourself. Okay. Not. Yeah, let's roll. I am an established woman and I did not move to the Upper east side like George Jefferson and Wheezy because Mark and I are George and Wheezy. There they go. Every time the foghorn. Every time the construction happens. It's true. Let me tell you. We did not move to the elegant of Upper east side from boogie down SoHo. Okay? Boogie down SoHo, which you know. And back in the day, SoHo, not SoHo now, which is a mall. I mean, we lived in soho when it was soho, okay? And we moved on up to the east side to a deluxe apartment in sky, okay? And guess what? Weed smoking is going on 247 in this construction zone. This house is going to crumble like a house of cards. Because everything has been. Everything has been installed by people who are baked out of their mind. I walk out first thing in the morning to go to my job, okay? Ironically, now in soho, I go to the car and guess what happens? I get a contact high from walking across.
C
You said it when I walked in. You were getting one.
A
Did you?
C
I didn't smell it at first. But then you went out as soon as I went out there, it was, woof.
B
We smelled it. We smelled it walking in. It was insane.
A
I was like, guys, welcome to the pot zone. I'm an established woman. I'm an established woman. I did not move uptown for this shit.
C
When did you start? I'm an established woman. Because I do love you. Don't bust it out very often, but
A
when you start, it's. I owe it to Andy Cohen. Andy Cohen. Andy Cohen had a date. Andy Cohen had a date with this guy that goes. He walks in and he goes. He goes. He goes, do you have a roommate? And he goes, no, I'm established.
C
It's so good so. Because it really says it all. It's like, I've been through it and I don't need to deal with this shit.
A
I don't need to deal with this shit.
B
Brilliant.
A
I've busted my ass for like, I'm an established 37 years in this business.
C
It's also a good title of your next book, Established Woman.
A
I'm an established woman.
B
So let's get started.
A
Today's guest is a comedian who went from selling jewelry at home parties to selling out arenas, all while talking about everything relatable, from low rise genes to the glories of menopause. In the last few years, she's gone from a comedy gem to a full blown superstar. Jen, this has never happened to me. You know what I mean? You booked her. I booked her. I sure did. She and Oprah. My talent lies. My talent lies in booking. Do you understand? That's where my talent lies. I should be a booker and I should be in network programming because Lord knows they need all the help they can get. Anyway, Leanne Morgan has been crisscrossing the country on her just getting started tour. Her book, what in the World? Became a New York Times bestseller. And her new show on Netflix, Leanne, is a huge hit. Was just renewed for season two. Season two. Let me say it many times. She's a grandma, a wife, a mom. She's hilarious. I can't wait to talk to her. You actually don't have to wait because she's ready right now. Is it happening?
B
Thank you.
A
Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh, Becky, look at her butt. Look at her butt. Becky, look at. I don't know why I said that. I don't know what made me say that.
B
You doll.
A
I gotta tell you something, Leanne. I was working out with my trainer today. I was working it all out. And just so you know, I got it all out of my system, so I'm not gonna ask you anything remotely controversial. I got it all out of my system.
B
Oh, good.
A
Yeah. But I was working out with my trainer.
B
Did you do burpees?
A
I did a lot of burpees. I'm still. I'm burping from the burpees. I get acid reflux from them.
B
I get acid reflux.
A
Horrible. They're horrible.
B
I think burpees gave me a hernia. I'm not kidding. I think lifting heavy and doing CrossFit when I was doing jerking cleaning and I was trying to show off gave me a hernia. But I'm okay. I got a mesh. I'm okay.
A
Oh, you got the mesh.
B
I got a mission here.
A
Tell me about that because I have a double hernia. I was born with one and then I got another one when I was, you know, I'm not sure which pregnancy caused it. One of those kids. One of the ingrates.
B
I tell you what happened to me. I was all right, Kelly. I'm so big that I was doing the local Dancing with the Stars for Children's Hospital in East Tennessee. That's how good my career was going.
A
Now listen, that sounds like something to me.
B
It was, yeah. It wasn't that one on ABC or whatever. Dancing with the Stars on. It was our local to raise money for Children's Hospital. And my girls were 14 and 16 and Charlie was in college. He had gone off to college. They had begged me to do it. And I thought that before and I thought, I'm not in good enough shape and I don't look good in one of these outfits. And then finally they kept begging me and I thought, this is for little children. It can't be about me. So I did it. And you will not believe the local news. People take this so seriously. And it is. They will cut your throat out. And people were doing, like, spying on what kind of dance you were going to do. And it was crazy. Okay? That boy, that big old boy who was a doll. We were going to do the Cha cha to Earth, Wind and Fire. September.
A
I like that. Uh huh.
B
And we practiced every night. And then I begged for money during the day. All right? It was stressful. He popped like we. He did something. And I had been doing CrossFit and all that. He did something. I could feel something pop, but I didn't know what it was. The next morning I woke up and it was a fist. It looked like a fist coming out between, like right up under my breast. And it was. It had poked. I don't know what the medical Thing it had pushed through and they had to do emergency surgery and put a mesh in. Like, it wasn't the kind you could just pop in. So you needed it. Yeah, I had to. I couldn't breathe. And then the local broadcaster, who I love, and we have made up and he has asked for my forgiveness, Russell, said, I know what you're doing, Leanne. I know what you're doing. Like, I was trying to get sympathy votes and money, but. And I go. I was in the parking lot and I go, look, Russell, I had a hernia match put in.
A
It's like the kid. It's like, from Alien. It's like when. When that hernia protrudes through and it comes through. Diet. Diet. If you have a diastasis. Diastasis. Jan, what is the pronunciation? Diastasis. Diastasis recti. Recti, yes. Huh. So that's what. When you have babies, you know, your abdominal wall sort of separates a little. And that's how. That's how it gets through there. That's how it gets through.
B
I had three, and I had one C section and then two V bags, two vaginals after the C section.
A
You managed to do it.
B
Somebody gave that to me, which I could. I guess I could have died, but I was up in the mountains and somebody. And I made it, y'.
A
All.
B
I'm okay, thanks.
A
God, you look great, by the way you look. I've got to tell you something. You're one of these women. Oh, I forgot to tell you my trainer story. Anyway, my trainer. Back to my trainer. I told her I was interviewing you today, and she said that your comedy is the only thing that gets her through sort of the day to day. She goes, don't get offended, but I want to. I'm going to block everyone else but Leigh Ann. So I can only see Leigh Ann content, because that's the only thing that makes me smile or laugh or is remotely relatable.
B
Oh, that doll. Well, will you ask her if she can train me like little Kelly Ripa?
A
Yeah.
B
And that I can look like your arms and your little body.
A
Well, the arms. I've got to tell you something. I've been working out with her for 17 years now, but the arms didn't come. And I'm gonna say it. I'm just gonna say it. The arms didn't really show up. And I've always worked out. I've always been the same sort of strength, but I started taking testosterone with my hormone replacement, testosterone shots. And that's when my arm muscle showed up. And people are like, what exercise are you doing? And I'm like, testosterone shots.
B
I take a cream in my inner thigh in the morning. But that may. I may need to get the shot.
A
Do the shot. Do the shot. Do the shot.
B
How often do you get a shot
A
so you're supposed to do it? It depends on how your body metabolizes. I do it every two to three weeks. I can feel it when it's almost done because I go right back to feeling like I have mono. I want to crawl in bed and sleep all day.
B
Okay, I'm going to consult my physician. Does it make you want to do it with that darling mark? Or is it his teeth? His teeth are not.
A
It makes you want to do. It does make you. It restores your. It restores that.
B
Yeah. I need that.
A
Yeah. So I have to ask you, how were the Emmys? I would think you walk into the Emmys and you are the hottest thing at the Emmys. Am I right? People are crawling over each other to get to you.
B
I wouldn't say that, but. But I. I would say a few did. A few did. I felt good there. I was overwhelmed because that was my first big do. And I looked out in that audience and saw Steve Martin. Martin short, Katherine o'. Hara. I mean, everybody I've ever loved in my life. Cause I am a tv. I have loved TV and felt it was magical. Movies and television are magical to me, and it has been all my life.
A
Nobody understands, unless you're our age, that TV raised us. Like my mom. She would never hire a babysitter ever. But she would plop us down in front of the TV so she could get things done. You know what I mean? Like, the TV was our. That was the babysitter. You sat in front of the TV and you didn't move.
B
Yeah. And I tell people all the time, I almost didn't finish kindergarten because I will be 60 next month.
A
Is that true?
B
It's landing hard, but I'm glad I'm alive. Okay. But my little mama, when this was before the law changed that you had to go to kindergarten and you had to go to kindergarten at 5. You had to be after 5, your birthday. They sent me at 4, and I needed a nap so bad. And she knew that. And she said, I kind of regret sending you. She goes. She said, is your tummy hurting? I go, yeah, it's hurting. And she'd say, well, let's stay home and watch Hollywood Squares and Magic Game. So I stayed home with her, and she said, you're Smarter than all those people anyway. And I would sit, which she always blew smoke up my butt. But I would sit and watch television with her and had a ball. Like, I loved Pauline.
A
Oh, my God.
B
I didn't have a lick of sense over, you know, comedians, comedic actors. All of television was magical to me, though. And so when I went to the Emmy, I mean, I still just. My heart beats out of my body when I go to a movie theater, when I. So when I see people, I'm one of those people that I am amazed by.
A
Who were you the most starstruck by at the Emmys?
B
I got to meet Lorne Michaels, and I was pretty excited about Lorne Michaels because I've been a huge SNL fan. And you know what he said to me? And I want to host someday, he said to me, and I was scared to death. He had bodyguards around him. Everybody was around him. And he said, come here. My wife is your biggest fan. And held my hands and walked me across the room. I thought, these mamas and these wives are keeping me in business.
A
Well, his wife is no shrinking violet. She's a smart lady, and he listens to her. So you'll be hosting SNL very soon. Very, very soon.
B
Well, I fell in love with her. She was darling. Darling and beautiful.
A
Yeah, they're. They're a great couple. I hosted SNL once, and I've got to tell you, Leanne, it was. And I host a live TV show every day, but it was the scariest experience of my life. I was terrified. I felt like I was outmatched, outclassed, out of my league. And. And my mouth. I had cotton mouth the entire time. And they asked me before I went out there, they go, do you want to rub some Vaseline on your teeth before you go out? And I said, no, thank you. Because I had never. I had never. I didn't. I was like, why? That's disgusting. No, thank you. And I went out there and I did the entire monologue with my teeth stuck like this. Stuck and trying to find moisture in my mouth. It's like a nightmare. You can Google it, give it a goo. And you'll vomit.
B
You'll vomit when you look out, okay? And I know. I feel that, and I receive that from you. And the minute I say that, if it does ever. If they ever call me, I will have explosive diarrhea, and they'll have to put me in a hospital. A monologue. I mean, what am I thinking? Because it would be terrifying. I know that.
A
It's. It's so scary. But they are such a hardworking group there, and they. Their whole job, all they want. And this was my experience. And I was there with. You know, it was Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey and Horatio Sands and Amy Poehler. Amy Poehler played me while I was there playing Angelina Jolie, and my prosthetic lips started falling off. It was wild. I mean, the whole thing, it was just their job. All they want, those young actors, is to lift you up and make you a superstar in that moment. And they work their asses off. Nobody understands how hard they work to make your experience good.
B
Oh, my gosh.
A
So you should do it. You're definitely gonna get the call. I mean, there's no doubt about that.
B
Oh, my darling. Well, I hope I get to.
A
When you go to the Emmys, like, what was your routine? Like?
B
Chuck Morgan went with me.
A
What did Chuck say? Like, is Chuck or is he, like, into it?
B
He's into it.
A
Okay, good.
B
And I. We have only gone to. He went to the Country Music People's Choice Awards with me. And I just, like, introduced it. Jelly roll. And we went on the red carpet, and Chuck held onto his jacket and looked like he was posing for Gunsmoke. I didn't know how to stand. I did this like a nut. We looked like nuts. I said, chuck, you look like some old cowboy on Lonesome Dove. We gotta put your hands down. I mean, we need help. Somebody needs to coach us.
A
I never know what to do with my hands. Ever, ever. My hands, literally, it's like Ricky Bobby, you know, it's like Will Ferrell. My hands are literally like this the whole time. But now my hands look old, so I tend to hide them behind my back. So now I look like I'm in the military.
B
But this was the first big. I mean, I went through that red carpet with Gayle King, Variety magazine, you know, E. Entertainment. I never done anything like that. And Chuck Morgan and I were a 2ft taller than everybody. We looked like giants. I thought, are we the biggest people here?
A
People don't realize how little actors are. They're little. Once in a while, like, there's you, there's Charlize Theron, there's kj Kristin, your co star.
B
Yes.
A
You're the only tall people in the business. Everybody. Everybody else is tiny.
B
Pedro Pascal. The reason why that took me back, that little thing, it was all people in black. And then here was little Pedro Pascal in some white breeches and a white jacket. And it just caught my eye. And he was darling. Darling, but little. I could have held him like a baby. But I know now how it is. My stylist, who I'm in love with, and she's brilliant, and it's changed my life. She was there at the crack of dawn every day, fitting, making sure, then going back to her tailor. You know, they come in. I had wonderful hairdressers and makeup artists. My baby didn't go. She wanted off to do something in New York. So I got somebody else. But I love them.
A
So do you trusted the somebody else?
B
Yeah. My PR people got me this darling man who. Who. Who stood in a football stance the whole time and squatted. And I said, that's why he was cute in his pants. But everybody was, you know, Chuck, Maggie, my middle child, said, mom, does dad know finally how hard you work and how hard this business is? I think I said, I think so. By that last Emmy party, which was Nate Morganzi's party at the Chateau Marmont, La Dee Da. By the end of that, Chuck said, I'm so hungry, and my feet are swelling and I've got to get out of here. And he looked like dead in his eyes. And I go, okay. I mean, because I had been there all night, and we were, you know, in those little seats, and they set those filler people around us, so we were all constantly having to get up, sit down so that when the cameras, you know, I just never done all that. But it was exciting, and I had a ball. But it was a lot of work.
A
It's a lot of work. Nobody understands how much work that is. And it's like the hair, the makeup, but that's how it is. And it's like exhaust. It's exhausting.
B
Well, she got little Christian Siriano to make me a dress, and then she got another dress, the blue dress, and I loved it. And thank the Lord. I mean, everything. You know, the one that Christian Siriano, she brought it to into la, and then it went back and forth about tuck and do and tuck and do and all that.
A
Right.
B
She came at night, in the morning. She worked like a mule. I mean, we were. And I almost want to go, it's okay. No, I don't worry about it. I don't.
A
But.
B
But I felt beautiful. All that felt wonderful.
A
You looked.
B
Thank you.
A
Yeah.
B
Thank you, my darling. And Chuck Morgan had suits. He's not used to people giving him things. Annabelle said, these are yours. They want you to have them. He went, what? You know, he's just not used to all.
A
He's got more like. He's got, like, a Plethora of, like, a plethora of fashion.
B
Yeah, he got. Oh, yeah, they gave him a tuxedo. And because he said to me, I've got a tux. Before we went to the Emmy's, I went, no, you don't.
A
Right.
B
No, you don't.
A
Right.
B
This is not, you know, something that you wore, you know, you've had for 10. No, you don't chug. You don't have the shoes. You don't have any of it.
A
So he got new everything.
B
He got new everything. And she said, I'll have it to clean and sent to you. And he's just not used to people making over him. And I'm not used to it either. But lately I've had people dote over me.
A
It's great, isn't it?
B
It's wonderful. But I'm afraid I'm going to be like, I maybe shouldn't say it. You know how Mariah Carey can't walk across the floor?
A
She was just on our show yesterday. Funny you should mention it.
B
I know. I've seen it on things. And I thought, am I getting, like, Mariah Carey, where I'm going to have to have men walk me? Place my baby, who you know is my makeup artist and travels with me. She goes, yeah, you have become an invalid. People doing. And then she drives me everywhere. When I was shooting the series out in la, she drove me. She cooked for me. I fed these children. I cooked every meal.
A
It's fine. It is. It is your turn. Guess what it's they can do for you once in a while. I keep waiting. I keep waiting. God love them. I love them more than anything. But I keep waiting for mine to do something for me. Something, anything. A glass of water. So you're lucky. At least she's there.
B
She's there and she tends to me. She resents it, but she tends to me. And she says, I'm your caregiver and I didn't sign up for that.
A
She's not dating anyone, is she?
B
She wants to so bad. Wants a man and says, I need the touch of a man. And it's real hard when I'm just with my mom all the time. She and my other daughter, Maggie have rented an apartment in New York because Maggie's working for the New York Food Bank. She's in nonprofit, and she got a job with the New York Food Bank. Loves it. And so Tess said, I'll pay half the rent I want to come to when I'm not touring with mom so that I can flirt and she wants a man. They're looking. Both of them love me. And they're 27 and 29, honey. And they want a bunch of babies. And they would prefer Tess. The nonprofit one doesn't care anything about material things. Does not care. Tess Morgan. The baby is very bougie. She would like someone with a 401k, possibly a trust fund. She said to hang out at the steakhouses on Thursday nights.
A
Yeah, I would say, oh, yo, a little bar. And you. And you love your daughter in law.
B
I love her.
A
I bet you'd be a great mother in law.
B
I hope I am. When I buy the girls something, I always make sure Mary has it too.
A
Oh, that's cool.
B
You know, like, I'll send her a link and go, hey, you need any pants this fall? But she's precious. She fits right in with us. And at first, I was jealous of her. I'll just be honest. I had a whole bit about it, and it wasn't her. Personally, I just could not believe that somebody was gonna come in and take my boy, because that's my boy, right? And he came home from college to visit and said, I have met the one I'm gonna marry. I love her. And you've got a horrible look on your forehead. I just thought it was me and you. And I know that's twisted, but I've been so in love with him. You know that first one.
A
I know my follower.
B
Oh, my Lord.
A
So I want to get into if you weren't in Leanne's original group of friends who were, like, selling jewelry and Tupperware to each other, right? If you weren't in that original circle, then you probably, like me, discovered Leanne on Instagram. Somehow she popped into your algorithm, and I clicked on her. And everything you said was my life. As it was unfolding, you were telling me my life, and I was like. And it was hilarious. And also I felt seen. And I'm assuming that is your fan base, which has developed Albert, as you know, into comedy specials and her own series. But what do you think is the most relatable part of your comedy? There are so many things you say that I'm like, yeah, this part. And I would send it to Mark. Like, if you don't listen to me, listen to Leanne.
B
I've had more men say to me, I get it now. That bit about looking over and there's stain coming off of her, or she's crying because Tanya didn't invite her to the Weight Watchers meeting. I've had more Men say to me, it finally dawned on me that, okay, maybe this is true. Or that women say, oh, my husband finally. You know what I hate though, is that. And it's, you know, there's a plan of everything but my early material. You having these three babies. When I was having babies when I first started in comedy clubs, I was talking about breastfeeding, hemorrhoids, plucking hairs out of weird places. Chuck Morgan didn't hear these babies crying. And I plotted his death. I mean, I wish I had that material. And I kept thinking all those years that, you know, I couldn't get arrested. And then it was like material about them being in middle school, which they, you know, then they told me to shut my mouth. But I wish that I had found that audience back then because all that material was relatable because I was just living what you were living, right? She was living, you know, and I just, I kept thinking, where are my, you know, because I couldn't get, I couldn't sell tickets. Nobody cared.
A
It's such a shame. Back in the day when you were using that pump that went wah, wah, wah.
B
Like that would have been great to have.
A
Leanne I had, and I'm sure you had it too, because by the time I had the second baby, I had an electric pump that went, you know, it was like. But the first pump was a hand pump. So I would put it on here and I would hand milk myself. And then sometimes I would get tired and Mark would come in there and just because he was just tired of like, he was like, oh my God, you know, we gotta get this done. We gotta go to work. You gotta, you gotta get some more milk out of there. Did you have a hand pump?
B
I had, I tried that, but I never was a good pumper. But I had to borrow my sister in law's pump and I put it. It was the kind that you put on and you put your finger over this hole and it just grabbed on and it did not do that. And it hurt so bad. Yeah, horrible, horrible. And so I just never did it. And. And then I dreamed of the women that had the too big thing that you plug in and it milksh you. I never had any of those girls
A
now are in hair and makeup. They've got this pump on. You can't hear it, you can't see it. It's under their shirt. It's doing double, double duty. It's pumping both at the same time. They are the child. Like, I want to give birth now. I want to go back in time and do it now. Because now is where they've started thinking about how does this affect women? The Genesis GV70 is built to thrill. A thrilling yet elegant design always makes driving the GV 7070 an exciting adventure. It's powerful athletic stance screams performance and turns heads. Command the road and experience a class leading standard 300 horsepower. Plus. Discover the different dynamic drive modes for all different terrains. Choose between the different terrain modes for whatever road conditions you may encounter. The Genesis GV70's award winning technology and performance lets you drive with comfort and drive with confidence. It's an exciting SUV with intuitive tech that can make your ride smooth even when the road isn't. And its blind spot cameras allow you to see what's next to you. Its performance is measured not only in power, but in how it makes you feel. The Genesis GV70 learn more at genesis.com and feel the GV70 this month on Acorn TV's murder mystery may you have to check out yout're Killing Me with the absolutely iconic Brooke Shields Brooks stars as a mystery novelist who teams up with a young true crime podcaster played by Amalia Williamson to solve small town murders. The dynamic between them is so fun that you get this classic whodunit with a little edge and really witty banter. Watch. You're Killing Me now streaming on Acorn tv. Learn more at Acorn tv. Stream all episodes of youf're Killing Me only on Acorn tv.
B
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A
like he's becoming a star too.
B
Yes, he does.
A
Yeah.
B
And on my second Netflix special, which will drop November 4th, Chuck Morgan walks out and does his arms out like here I am. That's how he walked out. And they got it and put it in the special. Yes. And there have been times, and not now because I've got a merch company that travels around there like ghosts in the night. I never see them, but when it was first me having to schlep around and sell merch goes, I'm going to go out there and Sell it. Because he's a salesman. And my numbers would always go up. But he would say, I've taken several pictures with people. They love me even more than they do you, Leanne. But he is a big, silent type, you know, pissed somebody left the garage door open. Kind dad. And everywhere I go, they go, oh, my gosh, I'm married to Chuck. Oh, my gosh. We love Chuck. Everybody loves Chuck.
A
Be careful, Chuck. Because that's how we got Mark to co host the talk show. Mark would come in once in a while to fill in, you know, and everybody loved Mark because Mark is. Sounds like Chuck. Mark is the. You know, he's the dad that if the. If the bicycle's in the driveway, he's gonna drive the car over it.
B
And let me tell you that, you know, it's in my act all the time, but he still wants to have sex with me all the time. And I have got the shingles right now. This is the third time I've had the shingles. I've had the vaccine, but I don't think it's gonna get as bad because I've had the vaccine. And I swear to you, he grabbed my breast last night. And I said, can I please just get over the shingles?
A
Can't you tell him it's sexually transmitted?
B
I probably should say, you're gonna get the shingles, Chuck. But he tried to touch me when I'd be in the hospital after I would have a baby. And I'm like, what? But, you know, a lot of people's husbands are like that. I think they relate to that. They relate to Chuck Morgan being so frugal. He has had me on a tight budget all of my life, and I. You know, and now, I mean, I kind of have some power, but I still try to, you know, biblically make him the man of the house because I don't want him to feel emasculated.
A
After I had the third baby, Leanne, I was in with my OB gyn, and she goes, you know the routine. Nothing in your vagina for six weeks. And I go. She goes, how much time do you want? And I go, I don't know, Like. I don't know. Like, four months. Sounds amazing. Four months. So she comes, she peeks her head out, and Mark's in the waiting room. And, you know, he's already got the date, like, pre circled on the calendar. And she goes, well, Mark, you know the routine. Nothing in the vagina for 16 weeks. And he goes, what? 16 weeks? He goes, no, it's six weeks. She goes, no, this time. Third C section. That's 16 weeks this time. And he went home and he scratched out the number on the calendar and he circled the 16 week mark like a monster. And I prayed for him to get a movie in another country, please. How'd you meet him?
B
I had gone back to school to finish my undergraduate. That took me nine years on and off. Because I'm fun. I tell everybody but Chuck Morgan. I had quit. It is in my book. I was married before Chuck Morgan. I was married for like two or three years and. And I got divorced at 23, which sounds like somebody in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, but that's what happened. And I had low self esteem. Let's just say that I was lost and had low self esteem. And I got. I went back to school and Chuck Morgan, while I was working at a restaurant, because there was this restaurant at the University of Tennessee where everybody, it was, stayed on a wait all day long. You can make a lot of. And I was standing at the wall waiting for my table to get seated. And Chuck Morgan comes through the new training and he's 6 foot 4 and he looked like a praying mantis. He said, don't tell people that. But he did. He had gotten out of, you know, he had had a four year and was in a fraternity, gained a bunch of weight, drinking beer and eating whatever. And then. And then I went and worked two years, started got to running and looked tiny, skinny and like a praying mantis. Anyway, he goes back to MBA school. He comes through that thing and I go, you're tall as a tree. And he goes, sorry. And I thought, another butthole's coming to work at Grady. And I thought, he's not fond. And so, you know, I was fun and I talked to everybody and I smoked cigarettes behind the dumpster with all the cool people that waited tables and got put in jail on the cooking line, you know, that would get in jail and I'd like to hear their jail stories. And Chuck Morgan, I think, fell in love with me the minute that I sat that I just looked at him and he started like standing next to me, would never say a word to me. Then we had a manager's meeting where they. A shift meeting where they talked about, you know, with a shift. And I was eating a baked potato with sour cream and butter and maybe some cheese, maybe some bacon. And he said, you don't need all that fat on your. That's too much fat on your baked potato. And I thought, he is such a butthole why is he even sitting next to me? And he had cottage cheese on his with a little A1. I think because he wanted low fat baked potato. And I thought, I'm not attracted to him. So then he fell in love. Somewhere in those two things, he started sending me gifts. We would be walking, you know, doing, filling the ketchup. And some girl got a new dooney and broke. And I was like, oh my gosh, I love your dooney. And Burke, the next day he would have me a dooney and bourke wrapped up with a big bow.
A
That is so nice. He pays attention.
B
Yeah, he pays attention. Uh huh. And I said, I remember going through. And we were all doing dishes or whatever and I said, oh, Bonnie Raitt's new cd. I love this Bonnie Raitt. You know, she was winning everything. And Bonnie Raitt's CD was on my doorstep of my apartment. Victoria's Secret robe. Like, you know, I would just talk to somebody and I go, oh, you got a robe. And I think that they're so nice. Victoria's Secret robe and a big bow with a big, you know, and started wooing me. Would not talk, did not talk. He still doesn't talk. But he's a good gift giver. But he started, oh, and y', all, I would have like a table, like, or I would have a test. And he would say, I'll work your shift and I'll give you the money. Like, I'll do everything like. And he would do my. All my, like, women's bathrooms, you know, look like Vietnam.
A
People don't understand how disgusting they are.
B
Just people just spray and do and oh, and he would go and clean my. If that was my shift work for the, you know, my work for the shift. He would clean up my bathrooms without me knowing it. And they'd say, chuck did it like. And so he and I had come out of a divorce of something really bad and really, you know, bad. And so I, I didn't even want anybody. I was like, I don't need a man.
A
And I to come from like a dark marriage and then meet this man who is thoughtful and kind and listens to you and pays attention and is selfless. Doesn't even seem possible.
B
I know. And I. And just wanted to take care of me and wanted to protect me and all of that. And then, and you know, I pushed
A
back
B
and then I gave in and I thought everything was going wonderful. He graduated from MBA school and was freaked out because the first Iraq war had started and nobody could get a job the economy was down, and he. He is very much a provider and puts all of his identity in work. And he freaked out and broke up with me just one day, said, this is over. And I grieved. And he lived above me. I could hear him coming in late at night. I was working with him at the restaurant. It really hurt me. I went and worked at another restaurant, and he moved out, went to Beam Station, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and bought a business. And then, you know, everybody at the bank was, you know, 50 years old, and so he missed me because there was nobody up there in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain.
A
Okay, so he breaks up with you now. Are you like me? When Mark broke up with me, right before we got married, I decided that I would make his life hell by totally ignoring him. We were still. We were working together, you know, we worked together in a soap opera. So we had to see each other
B
in my day, my darling.
A
But I decided to ignore him completely, like he was dead, like a ghost, like he never existed. Did you make Chuck earn you back the hard way?
B
No, honey. I was pitiful. No, you were smarter than me. I did date. I started dating other people, and he would. And he did say to me, like, in some. He goes, I heard you're dating people you shouldn't be dating. And I. And so he was. Must have been trying to come back every once in a while. And I was dating a guy that was an artist who had long hair and looked like my sister and had a bicycle. Didn't own a car, had a bicycle. He was cute, but I. And very passionate kind of person, and, you know, open and free. He was an artist. And I wasn't used to that because Chuck Morgan was at an MBA and all that. So this artist had a bicycle that had a sticker on it that said, burn fat, not oil. And I had a Toyota Corolla. And he was riding with me in the car, this artist, and said, if we get married, I would love to stay at home and take care of the children and you can be the breadwinner. And I said, it's over. So then in all of my jobs, I would have two or three jobs trying to finish my degree. And I started working at Lancome behind the counter in the mall. And Chuck Morgan starts sniffing around again. And I had been to Fort Lauderdale and had gotten a tan on spring break.
A
Yes.
B
And he saw me behind the Lancome counter and said, can I buy you a pair of tennis shoes? And I said, I don't know, maybe. And then he went and bought me a pair of tennis shoes and that was it. I mean, we were back together. But yeah, I don't think that I did anything right, Kelly. I did not. My sister could play games, was a player. My middle child, Maggie, is a player.
A
Oh, that's amazing.
B
I was not a. I didn't know how to navigate. I dated people you wouldn't wipe your feet on. I mean, I was an idiot. And then, yes, I could have. And I think I smoked so many cigarettes that, like, people that were in med school wanted to date me. But then I smelled bad. I just, you know, I should have. I should have known better. But anyway, Chuck Morgan. Yep. Came back. And begging. Yeah. And begged. And I went back with him and I should have made him suffer, but I.
A
You should have made him suffer. You should have made him suffer. But that's what your comedy is for. Now you can punish him through your words.
B
Yes. And I do.
A
Yeah.
B
And people say all the time, does he ever get mad at you? And I go, no, he wants me to tell stuff. But he did say to me early on.
A
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B
He wants me to tell stuff. But he did say to me early on I had a bit. I had breastfed three children looked like, you know, they were concave. My surgeon said they are concave. I couldn't keep a bra. My bra would end up under my neck at church when I'd get up and sing a hymn. So I wanted to get breast augmentation. You know, that was the thing back then. They were pitiful. Like two M&M's hanging on a piece of skin.
A
Like what I have, that's what I have.
B
And see, but that looks so nice on your body on today.
A
No, it's like very National Geographic.
B
Oh, my darn. But it looks good in clothes, though. Kelly and I now know that that's not, you know, these big old things that my mama called them, those big old blowed up things. But I got these breasts done. One of the first bits I ever did in stand up. I said I wanted to get my breasts done, but it's been a bad mobile home year. Morgan said to me, don't you ever say that I can't provide for you. I can write a check today for your breast. He goes, I have always taken care of you and you will never do without anything. And it really hurt him. And I was like, it's just a Joke. So I always knew never to talk about anything. But because he has been a wonderful provider, there wasn't anything else I could say.
A
So that was the only kind of. That was the one thing that you can't joke about.
B
Yeah. He said, don't ever say that again because I've always taken care of you.
A
We just had this weight loss doctor on our show and some of your material about Weight Watchers and diet culture and all of that stuff kills me. What's the craziest diet that you've tried?
B
I have a good friend who went on some crazy diet where you ate like these big chocolate tums, like chalky Tums. I don't know what they were called, but she ate those three times a day. I do remember I was gonna say I know what dry mouth is. Cause I took phentermine for a while to lose weight and I would go and do a gig and I was supposed to do 45 minutes and I would talk so fast that I would get through with my material in like 20 minutes. And then I'd pull stuff out of my butthole. Had done like yours did at snl and it stuck on your gums, so I had to quit. And plus, I think it was giving me cavities. But my mama and my sister really were the ones that did diets all the time. And I would just sit there and watch them. And they had one where they did. I think Dolly Parton had done it. It was three eggs in the morning, three bananas at lunch and three hot dogs at night. And they ate that and were weak and wanted to fight. And then we did take Dexatrim as a family and everybody just fought and our heads itched and we were just so angry. But, you know, we all took Dexatrim. Everybody took some greens.
A
Yeah, I ate boxes of those snackwells. Oh, yeah, you ate snack. You were a snack.
B
Oh, I love the snack oil.
A
And then. And then Jan, also, you were the big tasty delight.
B
Yes.
A
They had this non fat fake ice cream in New York that when I joined live, all these like, I was like so excited to work there because I joined this tribe. And I noticed, you know, I came from the soap opera world where everybody was like much older than me. You know, it was like in my mind at the time, a 50 year old was like Tutankhamun. You know what I mean? I couldn't believe these elderly people. And then I played a teenager. And so when I got to live, it was all a bunch of girls my age. And they were like it was big diet culture over at Live, but they would like sit around with their tubs of tasty D and they would just be slurping down this tasty. And I was like, guys, I don't think that works. I don't think that that cannot be good for you. Yeah.
B
Or those potato chips.
A
Those ones. Oh, the ones with Elestra that made you poop. Oh, you remember that?
B
Yes, yes. And I've always had trouble pooping, so that helped me. That was a good.
A
Those were great. But did you do Weight Watchers or no?
B
Oh, I've done Weight Watchers a million times and I still have the app and I never look at it. I'm paying for an app I'm not looking at, but yes, I've done. And Oprah, I was on her podcast and we talked about it and she said when they put all that stuff at zero and said, you can have all this corn, she said, you get zero corn, zero chicken breast, eggs. She said, I think something's wrong. She said, I was on the bottom, bored. And I thought, how is anybody gonna lose weight eating all this corn stuff? Cuz everything had gone to free.
A
Yeah, right.
B
Free points used to be just cabbage.
C
Grapes went to zero.
A
Albert used to say to me, what is it called? BLT.
C
Oh yeah, BLT. Do you remember the BLTs?
B
Okay, remind me.
A
Watchers had this thing about BLTs, bites, licks and tastes. Zero points. So if Albert, Albert would walk around with his bites, licks and tastes and. And he's like, I'm still at zero points. And I'm like, you just bit, licked and tasted your way through a buffet. I just watched you eat 9,000 calories.
C
Zero points. It's a BLT.
B
I remember somebody told a story about that tomatoes. They had been free and they were gonna put tomatoes as like two points. And everybody just went crazy and was so angry. And this woman said, let me tell you, nobody here has gotten fat on tomatoes because everybody was freaked out. But I've been to meetings when they said there is fat free chocolate chip mint ice cream at the Walgreens off the Harriman exit. And I mean, people get up and start getting to the parking lot to go. It is one of the funniest things to me is a Weight Watchers meeting. I had a ball. I got got material out of them and I loved them, but I never, I was never successful.
C
And the subtle things too were always great. Like what the person's reaction when you get on the scale and that dance of like, oh, well, it's up. It's okay.
B
I used to flirt with the little elderly man that took your money and got you to wait. And I would say, what was that little thing's name? I would say, it's been a bandwagon.
C
Ways you make so many excuses.
B
And he was going, honey, just don't wait. I thought, what am I doing here? I manipulate my own. Like, I tried to do everything I could to not do it right. Yeah, it was crazy. And then I go to those meetings and try to. I don't, like, cheat my way out of. It was just crazy.
A
I think those meetings, it's not really about the weight loss or even the diet plan. I think it's just a sense of community. I took up mahjong because my husband started golfing. So he. I'm a golf widow, so I joined a mahjong club. And it's such a nice community of people, and they're so sweet. And, you know, if you had asked me six months ago, kelly, are you going to learn to play mahjong? I would tell you you were crazy. You know, And. And I do it because it's a sense of community. And I think that's what Weight Watchers is. I think that's why you went, albert,
B
did you ever see anybody's nipples? Because women would go in there and wait with practically no clothes on because
C
she took everything off a flip flop.
B
And you would see people's panties, their nipples fully undress.
C
Fully.
A
I like the way Leigh Ann, which, by the way, congratulations. Was just renewed for a second season.
B
Thank you, my darling.
A
I like the way Leigh Ann. Ann's character has separated from her husband after 33 years in the show. Because that's how you. That's how you get your fantasy life out. Am I right?
B
Oh, yeah. Do you get to cast your boyfriend Tim Daly? You talking about a doll? A doll.
A
Yep.
B
And sweet and fun and beautiful. I mean, walked on that set. We all couldn't get our breath. And then. And we would tell him how beautiful he was. And then we thought, are we sexually harassing little Tim Daley? And then brought us all Cosmic Crisp apples from Erewhon, which probably cost $400 for all hair and makeup people. And I. And for me and Kristen. And we were like, did you get your Tim Daly apple? I mean, we were all just like, honey. You know, Elvis had walked in. We all ate his apple and stared at each other and said, can you believe it? He bought us an apple.
A
I mean, so it's biblical. It's Like Adam and Eve's Leone.
B
I met her. And, you know, he's married, too, and that beauty. And she said, you can have him. I go, we all want him to be our boyfriend. She goes, you can have him. But she said, he does not know how pretty he is. Like, women are always staring at him and think of him as a heartthrob. And he does not say it. And I don't think he does.
A
Yeah. Let me tell you something. That's Haileone. She knows how to land a husband. Tim Daly. I mean, good lord.
B
I know.
A
She's a good girl. She's. She's a good actress, too. Oh, she's phenomenal.
B
I loved her in Spanglish.
A
Yes.
B
Oh, my gosh. I think she's so funny. And Cloris Leachman. Do you remember Cloris Leachman in those scenes? I love that movie.
A
Leachman was the best. She was the best. And she was like yourself, an amazing talk show guests. Amazing. Like, you have her on the talk show and everybody just feels like they're having a better day because of the whole experience. Oh, you should teach a class in how to give good guests. Give good guests. Yes. Thank you so much for joining our podcast. I really appreciate it, honey.
B
Thank you.
A
Listen, listen.
B
What a thrill.
A
Don't forget to check out Leanne on Netflix, renewed for 18 its second season. It is such a phenomenal show, and you make everything better. We're all in a good mood now because of you. And we came in here in a bad mood. We did. We came in in a bad mood. You turned it around for us.
B
Oh, thank you. Thank you, my darling.
A
Thank you, everybody.
B
I can't wait to see y' all again.
A
We can't wait.
B
Okay, bye. Bye. Bye. Thank y'. All.
A
Let's talk off camera with Kelly Ripa is a production of Malojo productions. From Malojo, our team is Kelly Ripa, Mar Consuelos, Albert Bianchini, Jan Chile, Seth Bronquist, Roz Therian, Devin Schneider, Michael Halperin, Juliet Desch, and team radio Andy. Lisa Mantineo, Scott Marlowe, Jake Goetz.
B
The sprite berry blast is here. A crispy blue sprite with a dollop of cold foam. It's very, very good. One of many new drinks now at McDonald's.
D
What would you like the power to do?
B
Don't worry.
A
You got this. Whoa.
D
Hear that?
A
I did it.
D
That's the sound of you helping your child find confidence that lasts a lifetime. Bank of America invites kids 6 to 18 to join golf with us. For limited time, sign them up for a free one year membership, giving them access to discounted tea times at thousands of courses as we champion the next generation. Who dares to ask what would you like the power to do? Restrictions apply. Activation required. CBFA.com call with us for complete details.
Episode: Leanne Morgan: Listen Up, Y’all (Re-Release)
Date: May 20, 2026
Host: Kelly Ripa
Guest: Leanne Morgan
This episode of "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa" features comedian Leanne Morgan, renowned for her relatable humor on topics like motherhood, aging, relationships, and the ups and downs of everyday life. The conversation is unfiltered and intimate, filled with belly laughs and honest takes on everything from menopause and marriage to show business and parenting. Kelly and Leanne share personal anecdotes, swap hilarious stories, and dive deep into the experiences that make Leanne’s comedy resonate with millions.
This episode is a celebration of women at midlife—funny, authentic, a little vulnerable, and very, very real. Kelly and Leanne riff on everything from the absurdities of motherhood to the rituals of fame, turning insecurities and daily frustrations into comedy gold. Their chemistry is warm and witty, with frequent laugh-out-loud asides and just enough irreverence to keep things honest.
For those who haven't listened:
You’ll come away not only laughing but feeling seen, whether you’re an “established woman” yourself, a comedy fan, or just someone who’s survived awkward family dinners, dubious diet plans, or a burpee. Leanne’s voice rings especially true for anyone who has ever juggled parenthood, body changes, or a marriage that’s about as predictable as a box of SnackWells.