Comedy Saved Me-"Laughing Through Life's Loudest Moments with Jim Florentine."

Summary

Podcast Title: Takin' a Walk
Episode Title: Comedy Saved Me - "Laughing Through Life's Loudest Moments with Jim Florentine"
Host: Lynne Hoffman
Guest: Jim Florentine
Release Date: July 7, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of "Takin' a Walk", hosted by Lynne Hoffman, the spotlight shines on the world of comedy and its profound impact on personal healing. Lynne welcomes Jim Florentine, a seasoned comedian known for his outrageous prank calls on The Howard Stern Show and his hilarious contributions to Crank Yankers. This in-depth conversation delves into Jim's journey, exploring how comedy has served as both a creative outlet and a lifeline through life's toughest moments.

Jim Florentine's Early Life and Radio Career

Jim begins by sharing his early aspirations and the foundation of his career in radio. Growing up in a large Catholic family in New Jersey, Jim describes his environment as a "big community" where "we were just pulling pranks on each other" ([06:26]). This upbringing instilled in him a sharp sense of humor and the ability to develop "tough skin" while interacting with neighborhood kids.

At Brookdale Community College, Jim honed his skills in communications, interning at WCNJ in Hazlet, New Jersey. By 21, he became the morning DJ for the station—a role he humorously describes as "torture" due to the early hours ([07:40]). Despite the challenges, Jim enjoyed the opportunity to engage with listeners, even if the station's limited range meant only a few miles could catch his show.

Transition to Comedy

Jim's transition from radio to stand-up comedy was driven by a need for creative expression beyond the constraints of his DJ role. "They would tell me, 'You can't say this. You can't say that,'" Jim explains ([04:29]). Seeking an outlet, he attended an amateur night where his first performance was met with only one laugh. However, that single laugh provided a "buzz" that ignited his passion for comedy. "I just dropped everything else and just went for it," he recalls ([05:35]).

Experiences with Performing and Opening for Metal Bands

Jim's versatility as a performer is evident in his unique experiences opening for heavy metal bands like Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Hired by Jägermeister, Jim delivered multiple short sets between concerts, a challenging yet exhilarating endeavor. "By the time Slayer was coming out, they were just chanting Slayer, Slayer, Slayer over my set," Jim shares ([10:14]). Despite the tough crowd, he embraced the challenge, treating each performance as an opportunity to push his limits and refine his craft.

Prank Calls and Howard Stern Show

One of the highlights of Jim's career was his foray into prank calling, which ultimately led to his appearance on The Howard Stern Show. Initially, Jim recorded prank calls to telemarketers, intending to entertain local audiences by selling his compilations. Surprisingly, when he submitted these recordings to Howard Stern's producer, they were met with enthusiasm instead of dismissal ([12:49]). Within a month, Jim became a regular on Crank Yankers, significantly boosting his career and gaining him nationwide recognition.

Memorable Experiences with Prank Calls

Jim recounts several memorable and humorous incidents from his prank-calling days. One notable story involves a prank call where he pretended to threaten a telemarketer with violence: "I just blurted, 'I'm going to smother her with a pillow,'" leading to police intervention ([14:18]). This incident resulted in a ticket for disorderly conduct and a tense courtroom experience where Jim had to explain his actions. These stories highlight both the humor and the potential consequences of prank calling.

The Therapeutic Power of Comedy

A central theme of the conversation is the therapeutic role of comedy. Jim emphasizes how laughter can serve as an essential coping mechanism for both the comedian and the audience. "People tell me after a show, 'Thanks, I appreciate it. It was a great show. I needed this,'" he states ([24:22]). Jim shares anecdotes of audiences comprising cancer patients and individuals grappling with personal struggles, underscoring comedy's ability to provide relief and foster resilience.

Jim also reflects on the adrenaline rush that comes from making people laugh, describing it as a mutual exchange of energy between performer and audience. "It's a great adrenaline rush," he says, highlighting the deep connection that can be formed through humor ([24:22]).

Connecting with the Audience

Jim discusses the nuances of reading and adapting to an audience's mood during performances. He likens the role of a comedian to that of a quarterback, needing to make split-second decisions based on the crowd's reception. "You have to feel that in the audience," Jim explains ([25:27]). This ability to adapt is crucial, as not every joke resonates with every audience, and recognizing when to pivot can make or break a performance.

Challenges and Lessons

Throughout his career, Jim has faced various challenges, from dealing with unresponsive audiences to navigating the repercussions of his prank calls. However, these experiences have taught him resilience and the importance of staying true to his comedic voice. "You can't go, 'I'm just going to go up there. This is easy,'" Jim advises ([25:27]). Instead, he emphasizes the necessity of constant engagement and adaptability to connect with diverse audiences.

Defining Moments and Career Milestones

Jim identifies key moments that have shaped his career, particularly his discovery by Howard Stern and subsequent rise to prominence through Crank Yankers. "When he [Howard Stern] said, 'Jim's gonna be in Pittsburgh at the Improv this weekend,' I would sell out five shows automatically with that one plug," Jim recalls ([27:30]). This significant endorsement marked a turning point, propelling him into the national spotlight and opening doors to myriad opportunities in comedy.

Future Projects and Legacy

Looking ahead, Jim expresses a commitment to continue his stand-up career as long as he finds joy in it. With a 14-year-old son showing interest in comedy, Jim hopes to inspire the next generation, blending his professional passion with personal fulfillment. "He loves being at the shows and all that stuff," Jim shares ([35:27]). He also highlights the timeless nature of comedy, stating, "You can always still be funny. You can make fun of the way you look, how old you are, whatever it is" ([35:27]).

Jim's latest comedy special, "You Can't Please Them All," available on Amazon Prime, exemplifies his enduring appeal and dedication to his craft. He encourages aspiring comedians to embrace vulnerability and resilience, offering sage advice on navigating the highs and lows of performing.

Conclusion

This episode of "Takin' a Walk" offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Jim Florentine, showcasing how comedy transcends mere entertainment to become a vital tool for healing and connection. Through shared experiences and heartfelt reflections, Jim underscores the enduring power of laughter to transform lives and bridge divides. Listeners are left with a deeper appreciation for the intricate dance between comedian and audience, and the profound impact that humor can have on both personal and collective well-being.

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Notable Quotes

• [06:26] Jim Florentine: "We were just pulling pranks on each other and just, you know, you had to have tough skin hanging out in the neighborhood with all the neighborhood kids."

• [04:29] Jim Florentine: "I have to get an outlet where I could just go up on stage."

• [10:14] Jim Florentine: "Slayer not coming out for another 10 minutes. I'm not wasting any of their time."

• [24:22] Jim Florentine: "People tell me after a show, 'Thanks, I appreciate it. It was a great show. I needed this.'"

• [25:27] Jim Florentine: "You have to feel that in the audience."

• [35:27] Jim Florentine: "Just continue doing a stand up. That's one thing. It doesn't matter how old you get, what you look like, you can always still be funny."

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Additional Information

For those interested in exploring Jim Florentine's work further, his latest comedy special "You Can't Please Them All" is available on Amazon Prime. Upcoming tour dates and performances can be found on his website: jimflorentine.com.

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Listen to the full episode of "Takin' a Walk" on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

Transcript

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Life, all in stunning hd.

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So don't wait. Be sure to watch las culturistas on [e-mail] lasculturistas Ding dong. Las culturistas calling from YouTube.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebony, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebony, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Proud Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Unknown Host]

The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and better than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila. And we're the hosts of the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much and women have quiet, quietly listen. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your truck. Listen to the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast.

[Matt Rogers]

Our iHeartradio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas, September 19th and 20th. On your feet, streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Adams, Ed Sheeran, Fade Glorilla, Jelly Roll, John Fogarty, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McRae, the Offspring, Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com get your tickets today AXS.com so what happened to Chappaquiddick?

[Lynne Hoffman]

Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

[Bowen Yang]

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Jim Florentine]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Bowen Yang]

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Jim Florentine]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Comedy saved me.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. Cause I grew up a family of seven. Catholic, you know, so just, you know, I just think the whole. The whole Ball bus. You know, we're just pulling pranks on each other and just, you know, you had to have tough skin hanging out in the neighborhood with all the neighborhood kids. And it was one big, like, big community and stuff. And that's just the way I was raised, is just being like a wise ass.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm Lynne Hoffman, the host of the Comedy Saved Me podcast, the podcast that explores the world of comedy, the masters behind the work, and the true power of comedy in our life. Now, if you like this podcast, you might like another one called Music Saved Me that I host as well. And you can find that wherever you get your podcasts today. My special guest is a true original. His name is Jim Florentine, and Jim is known for his outrageous prank calls on the Howard Stern show and his hilarious work on one of my favorite shows, Crank Yankers. But beyond all the laughs, Jim's journey is a testament to how comedy can be a really creative outlet and a lifeline for many of us. From his early days as a radio DJ to becoming a stand up comic, Jim has used humor to tackle life's challenges. Jim shares stories of his career, talks about the therapeutic power of comedy, and reveals how his unique blend of humor has helped him through very tough times. Jim Florentine, welcome to Comedy Saved Me. It's great to see you.

[Unknown Guest]

It's great to see you, Lynn. Wow, what an introduction.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm like, damn, I left out movies, television, all that. I mean, you've done it all pretty much.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I got lucky here and there.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I don't think so, but we can discuss that. Let's start with what inspired you to pursue a career in comedy and how did your early experience shape your, dare I say, sarcastic style?

[Unknown Guest]

You know, I always, I was always a music guy. I was always into music, and all my friends were in bands growing up, and that's what I wanted, to be a rock star. I just didn't have the talent. I tried, I went for singing lessons. I tried to play guitar. I was a lefty. All my friends like, well, if you could play righty, I could teach you. I'm like, I can't play righty. So I. And I was like, I want to be on stage because I just love that whole thing. And then when I saw, you know, like, Andrew Dice Clay, Sam Kinison, and all of a sudden comedians started like, kind of like rock stars. And I was always, I always into comedy. I used to watch Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield and stuff. And then I just went to an amateur night one night. I was doing radio, and they would tell me, oh, you can't say this. You can't say that. You know, just due to weather and the time and bring up the next song. So I said I got to get an outlet where I could just go up on stage. So I went up one night, and the first night I didn't do well, But I knew I got, like, one laugh, and I felt that energy from that laugh, that buzz, and I'm like, man, it was amazing. I'm like, this is. I've never felt something like that before. I'm like, this is what I want to do. And I just dropped everything else and just went for it.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Now, that's amazing to me because that was actually one of my questions for you later in this interview was, are comedians like rock stars? But you sort of answer that. Is it the vibe from the audience you get or give. Get back and forth?

[Unknown Guest]

I don't know if we're really rock stars. I mean, you know, rock stars get all the girls. The comedians don't.

[Lynne Hoffman]

True.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, rock stars, they could be, like, in a cover band down the street, you know, playing this little bar, and they can get girls. The comedian, you know, girls always, I want a guy that laughs, makes me laugh. And then you make them laugh for an hour, and they come up to you go, hi. You were great. Here's my husband. I'm like that. Thanks.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, my gosh. Well, I read that you grew up in a very strict Catholic family. Did that have any influence on your sense of humor and comedic perspective? I suspect yes.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, because I grew up a family of seven Catholic, you know, so just, you know, I just think the whole. The whole ball busting, you know, with that's. We're just pulling pranks on each other and just, you know, you had to have tough skin hanging out in the neighborhood with all the neighborhood kids. And it was one big, like, big community and stuff. And that's just the way I was raised, is just being, like, a wise ass.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Where were you raised?

[Unknown Guest]

In New Jersey.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, and is that where you were in radio as well?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Give him a shout out. Come on.

[Unknown Guest]

There was. I don't even know if it's around. It was WCNJ In Hazlett, New Jersey. It was a 100 watt station, basically. I mean, you know, I. Why What I did, I went to this community college, Brookdale Community College, and they had a good communications program. So I was. I was interning on the radio there. I had a little radio show there. I was interning at the station in, In Keyport. And then they went up higher. Me, they let me. At night, they would let me play after like 6 o'. Clock. It was an open format. So they let me have like three hour heavy metal show where I just bring in my albums and play whatever. I brought two of my friends with me. We do it, they go, look, we can't pay. I'm like, that's. I don't care. That's fine.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And then they like my voice and stuff. And then I wound up being the morning guy for about a year at like 21 years old.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You wait, you did mornings at 21? So most comedians aren't up early in the morning. So that must have been.

[Unknown Guest]

It was. I wasn't even doing comedy at that point. Yeah, but, yeah, I know it was a 6, 6am to 9am So I had to go to bed at like 8:30 at night. It torture. But I liked it, you know, And I, I was like, I can't believe I'm the morning guy at this, you know. It was 100 watts. So if you pulled out of the station, went like a half mile down the road, you couldn't get it.

[Lynne Hoffman]

No, that's good though. It's. It really. I, I came from a background of radio as well up. Up in Boston, as a matter of fact. Bringing that back to the DJ stuff. You said you weren't a comedian yet. What made you transition into the world of comedy from radio? And not only that, did you need someone to affirm besides that one person who laughed first night you went up at stand Up. I mean that that's a big deal to get up in front of an audience and try to make them laugh.

[Unknown Guest]

Absolutely. And I was always afraid of public speaking. Even if I had to really do something in high school or college, I had to go out and talk. I was petrified. Maybe I wouldn't even go to school that day. And the DJ can hide behind the mic. And I was also a dj, like at a rock club. And I had my own DJ business where I DJ weddings, so. But you weren't really on the. There was really hardly any public speaking with that. But then when I was on the radio and they were like, no, you got 30 seconds to get to the next song. Don't even crack a joke. People don't want to hear jokes. And I'm like, I gotta be creative somehow. So I started writing stuff down, like topical stuff. And I go, I should go up on stage and do this stuff. And then the radio stuff was Just too many restrictions, you know, I went from playing heavy metal at night to like, it was an ao, AOR station, I guess.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Adult oriented rock.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. So it was like I was playing, like, you know, Bill Collins solo stuff. I'm like, I don't want to play.

[Lynne Hoffman]

This stuff, especially if you were big and heavy metal. I was also a rock chick in the 80s as well, so I totally. I think we loved all the same bands. In fact, I read that when you were doing this early comedy, you were opening up for heavy metal bands. What was that like? Because you're opening up for Slayer in front of an audience that's there to see a rock show.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, well, that was later on. Yeah. What? It was when that metal show was on the air, so.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, okay, that makes sense.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, it was later on. But no, it was Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. Oh, awesome. I was doing arenas. Open them Forum.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Wow.

[Unknown Guest]

So I had to do like three five minute sets between each band because Jagermeister hired me. It was like a Jagermeister tour. So I promote Jagermeister and then I do jokes, but I had to do three different sets in front of an arena.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Arena.

[Unknown Guest]

Arena. Yeah, it was. I know. And I was like, man, I go, you know what? I want to do it as a challenge, you know, because I was like, I see if I could pull this off. But it was crazy because at the first set, you know, there's hardly anybody in the venue, said it was great. You know, there's probably a couple thousand. They listen. The second set, they're like, okay, all right. And then by the third set, by the time Slayer's coming out, they don't want any party. You're like, all right, enough, dude. You know. You know when you go to a local show, you go to a concert and the local DJ goes on stage and does all these announcements.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, I was always a drunk guy or the high guy in the audience go, shut up already. Come on, we're going to miss a song. We don't care. So I know I'm that guy in the audience going, man, they don't want to hear this stuff.

[Lynne Hoffman]

No, I totally agree with you. You're always showing up like, okay, who has number 26 under their seat? You won the prize in the raffle before you came in the show. And no one's listening at all.

[Unknown Guest]

Nobody. And by the time Slayer was on, they were just chanting Slayer, Slayer, Slayer over my set. And I said, listen, I got to do five minutes here. So Slayer not coming out for another 10 minutes. I'm not wasting any of their time. I'm not taking away a song by me being up here. So I don't want you to think that. So if you don't like it, go to the bathroom, go get a beer. I got five minutes and do some quick jokes, and we're getting out of here. Too bad. So I tried to do it like that, and it was tough, you know, but I did it for a month. But I just. I wanted to challenge myself with that.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's pretty cool. I mean, that's quite a big challenge. Now, going back to your radio career, prank calls led to appearances on the Howard Stern show, and eventually that show I mentioned up front, Crank Yankers. That was on Comedy Central, right?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah, it was on Comedy Central, yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Can you share some memorable experiences from that time? Just as a radio brethren here, we used to do something called Nutcrackers with one of my favorite radio hosts of all time, John Lander, up in Boston, years ago. And we got in a lot of trouble. So I can only imagine the stories that you have to tell about phony phone calls.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, well, you know, I originally started doing it where I was messing with telemarketers. They would call my house and I would just see how long I keep on the phone. Because I was, you know, I didn't have a day job. I was just working at night doing comedy. So I didn't have to go to work till like 8 o' clock at night. So I'm like, let me just see how long and keep them on. And then I started recording them. And I put. I just made up a CD of them. Like, I produced it myself. I brought it to a local place I made up. I figured I'd get my name out there with some prank calls after a show. I could hand them out or sell them. And then I gave it to the Howard Stern Show. I knew the producer over there, Gary Della Bate. He goes, all right, man, if it's funny, well, he'll play it.

[Unknown Host]

It.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm like, yeah, right, whatever. He ain't gonna play it. You know, he's just being nice. And next day, he started playing all the telemarketer calls. He's like, oh, my God, this is amazing. And. And within, like a month, there's. All of a sudden there's a show called Crank Anchors where they look up for guys to do prank calls. So they hurt Jimmy Kimmel. Adam Corolla was their show. They used to listen to Howard Cern out in la. They heard this good calls, they go, they tracked me down. Like we've got this guy on the show. So it was crazy. Like it all happened within like a month.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Isn't it amazing how that all comes full circle now that we could never do that again? No, because you have to let people know that you're about to prank them.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, it depends on the radio. Yes, you have to, but not in real life. First of all, it's got to be like a one party consent state. So as long as one person know to record in a conversation, you could do it. So we went to Nevada, or they would do them in California, New York. That's a record because we knew what they were recording them. But with a prank call and outgoing, you have to get permission afterwards to air to call. So if someone has to call back, hey, would you just prank you? People would get mad. No, I'm not doing that. Like, come on, we'll call you back in a couple of days. Let's think about it. And then they would probably, most of the time they would sign off on the release.

[Lynne Hoffman]

They were amazing. I had, I had CDs. I listened to them relentlessly. They were just so fun. I mean, did you ever get in trouble? Yeah, I mean, can you give us one experience? Experience that you.

[Unknown Guest]

All right, so one, it was a, you know, the telemarketer stuff. This woman called me trying to sell me a credit card or she wanted to transfer some money into my. I forget what it was, but it was some kind of scam. But she had my address right in front of me. So she's like, maybe, you know, you, you need some money, you know, maybe something. I go, yeah. I go, I just hit this old lady with my car and I got to pay her medical bills. I just make up stuff.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And then I'm going through all this stuff. I go, I just visited the hospital and, you know, this and that. And then finally she's like, okay, so give me a bank account number so I could transfer the money. So now I have to get out of the call. I'm not giving my. So I just go, I just blurted. So I go, you know, I'm just going to go to the hospital where she's at. I'm going to go smother with a pillow and put her out of misery and then call me back in like an hour. And she's like, oh my God, I'm gonna go, yeah, call me back in an hour. Because I had to get out of not giving away. So next thing I know, a Half hour later, got two detectives at my door because she had my address in front of me. So she thought that something that she believed.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, yes.

[Unknown Guest]

So she called the local police in my town, and they go out, you know, you made a prank call. You're pretending you. You're gonna go down to hospital again. I go, look, it was just a joke. I. I showed him. I go, look, I have a record off to my phone. I gotta work on this show called Crank Anchors. I go, we just make prank calls. And he's just staring at me. I'm gon your id. And I look. He goes at the time, because you're 37 years old. That's what you do all day. Like, they were scolding me. I'm like, yeah, I'm sorry.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It was a little juvenile. I love it. That's pretty scary stuff, though, when you think about it. You know, you're just trying to entertain people, and then you realize, oh, I've kind of crossed a line here.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, I crossed it way more about three weeks later, if you want to hear that story.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, yeah, please, bring it.

[Unknown Guest]

So they just said, hey, listen, if you do the pranks, just don't threaten anyone. We don't want to come back here to your house. I go, yeah, I promise. And I realized. I go, yeah, I probably went over the line with that. Cut to a few weeks later. I don't know why I came up with that idea where I had my friend over. And when the. When the telemarketer call, I pretend I've given my girlfriend a home abortion.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, no, no.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't know. You know, you think that I. I wouldn't think. And that we had a vacuum going on and she's screaming in the background. I know, it's horrible. I'm going to hell for it. So the woman's like, what's going on? I told. I go, my friends just give my girlfri a home abortion. I'm just trying to save a few dollars. So just keep going. Don't worry about it. I know they're loud, but it'll be all right. She got. She was on the phone for, like, three minutes. I was horrified and hung up. Oh, my God. So we started laughing about it. My girlfriend's like, you going to hell? Like, I go, yeah, I know, whatever. So I leave the house. We go get coffee or something like that. I come back like a half hour later, my door is busted in, broken down. The cops came to my house because she had my address, too. They thought someone was Upstairs in my apartment, bleeding. So they kicked the door down, kick the door in to go upstairs and see. So I come back, all my neighbors are out outside in the street, but in front of my house, I go, what's going on? They go to cops. We're here. Ems, ambulance. I go, for what? I go, I don't know. They came because of some prank call or something. I'm like, oh, man. So I. Yeah, I know.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Did you get arrested?

[Unknown Guest]

No. I went. I made the mistake of going down the police station because I wanted to tell him. And it was the same two cops. When I walked in, they go, what is wrong with you? I go, look, man. They go, we just told you. I go, I know. I wasn't thinking. He goes, so they had, like, ambulance, EMS workers, cops, they spread down there because they didn't know.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Wow.

[Unknown Guest]

And I got a ticket for disorderly conduct, and I had to go to court, and I got fined, and the judge yelled at me in front of everybody. It was a packed courtroom. I remember that. He goes, you did a prank call where you pretended you were giving your girlfriend a home abortion. You had a vacuum going on background, and you thought, that's funny. And you work for Comedy Central. Is that why they pass off as funny? I don't know what I was thinking. I'm biting my lip because I wanted to laugh like a child.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I was gonna say, how did you not laugh?

[Unknown Guest]

Because I. You know, and the judge is scolding and the whole courtroom is packed and just hearing people going, oh, like, what a. What a jerk. What an evil guy like that. I'm like, whatever. He find me. He's like, don't ever do it again. And I had to do, like, the walk of shame through the whole court. Like, walk right through the aisle. Everyone just staring at me like they want to stone me to.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You did a perp walk and your girlfriend says, you're going to hell. But she participated.

[Unknown Guest]

She participated.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It's so funny. We never got close to that, but we did do one where someone was dumpster diving for his kids science project, and they had to back up the truck, and he was stuck in there, and he called, I'm gonna get dumped. And then the cops were calling from Florida. Wait, they were looking at all the dumpsters to find where the person was dumped. But the sound effects we were playing, nobody was dump. I feel your pain on that, too, but super, super fun stuff.

[Unknown Guest]

We'll be right back with more of the comedy Save Me podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

So what happened to Chappaquiddick well, it really depends on who you talk to.

[Bowen Yang]

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Jim Florentine]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Lynne Hoffman]

There's a famous headline, I think in the New York Daily News, it's Teddy escaped Blonde drowns. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you the story really became about ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will Ted become president?

[Bowen Yang]

Kappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control.

[Jim Florentine]

And he's not the only Kennedy to survive a scandal.

[Bowen Yang]

The Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse? Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Jim Florentine]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Welcome to Pretty Private with ebony, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebony and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perception of and give you new insight on the people around you. On Pretty Private, we'll explore the untold experiences of women of color who faced it all. Childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health struggles and more. And found the strength to make it to the other side. My dad was shot and killed in his house.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes, he was a drug dealer.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Yes, he was a confidential informant. But he wasn't shot on a street corner. He wasn't shot in the middle of a drug deal.

[Lynne Hoffman]

He was shot in his house, unarmed.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Pretty Private isn't just a podcast. It's your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect podcast network. Tune in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite show.

[Dan Bush]

Both what happens when we come face to face with death?

[Unknown Guest]

My truck was blown up by a 20 pound anti tank mine.

[Lynne Hoffman]

My parachute did not deploy.

[Unknown Guest]

I was kidnapped by a drug cartel.

[Jim Florentine]

I just remember everything getting dark.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm dying.

[Dan Bush]

When we step beyond the edge of.

[Lynne Hoffman]

What we know, to open our consciousness to something more than just what's in that western box.

[Dan Bush]

And we turn.

[Bowen Yang]

I clinically died.

[Unknown Guest]

The heart stopped beating, which I was dead for 11.5 minutes.

[Dan Bush]

My name is Dan Bush. My mission is simple. To find, explore and share these stories.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm not a victim. I'm a survivor.

[Unknown Guest]

You're strongest when you're the most vulnerable.

[Dan Bush]

To remind us what it means to be alive. Not just that I was the guy that cut his arm off, but I'm the guy who was smiling when he cut his arm off. Alive Again, a podcast about the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and what it means to truly live. Listen to Alive again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm Erin Welsh, an ecologist and epidemiologist.

[Jim Florentine]

And I'm Erin Ahman Updike, also an epidemiologist.

[Lynne Hoffman]

On our show, this podcast, Will Kill youl, we cover everything from the biology of deadly diseases to the weird history behind them all with a healthy dose of humor.

[Jim Florentine]

Like the time we made a surprising discovery about scabies. When you look at pictures of especially these particular mites, they look more like tardigrades, like water bears, than they do, too.

[Unknown Guest]

I absolutely do.

[Jim Florentine]

Yeah, they're kind of cute.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Or when we used a classic movie.

[Jim Florentine]

Reference to explain allergy tests, an allergist will inject teeny, tiny amounts of the thing that they're allergic to underneath their skin.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It's just like iocane powder in the Princess Bride, but it works.

[Jim Florentine]

And our COVID 19 series was even added to the CDC museum archives. So need I say more?

[Lynne Hoffman]

New episodes drop every Tuesday on the exactly right network.

[Jim Florentine]

Listen to. This podcast will kill you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lynne Hoffman]

We are telling our scientists today we have disdain for your expertise. And then you have China as an exception saying, actually, we're gonna invest a trillion dollars in new science.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Yeah, you heard that right. While the US Is cutting billions from science and public health, China is making historic investments. That means here in the U.S. fewer breakthroughs, slower medical advances, and a serious risk of falling behind globally.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I don't think anything about that is efficient. I think that it is actually profoundly inefficient.

[Ebony K. Williams]

As she would know, Chelsea Clinton is using her expertise in public health to break down what these cuts really mean and why protecting science isn't just smart policy, it's a necessity. This week on Dope Labs, we're putting it all under the microscope with Chelsea Clinton diving into what's at stake for science, medicine, and our future. Listen to Dope labs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Guest]

Welcome back to the Comedy Saved Me podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Do you think that comedy serves as a therapeutic outlet, you know, for both the comedians and the audiences that they're performing to?

[Unknown Guest]

I think so. A lot of people Tell me after a show. Thanks, I appreciate it. It was a great show. I needed this. I got some stuff going on in my life. I just need to come out and laugh. You know, people that are, you know, got a. You know, was sick, you know, people had a lot of cancer patients, you know, come out. Like, I just need to get out of the house and laugh for an hour and a half, forget all. Whatever's going on. So I really think it is. And for a comic, for me to make the people laugh, too. It's a great adrenaline rush, you know, it really is, you know, and I love that too. Just making people, making people laugh.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I was going to ask you that question right after, but, but, but following it up. When you walk out on a stage, do you feel that comedians are, in a way, empathic empaths because, you know, you sort of vibe off the audience. Can you tell if you've got to change the audience's mind or if they're going to be receptive right away? Can you feel that in the audience?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. Well, one good thing about comedy is you can't mail it in because every set is different, every night is different. You could do. I could do a show at 8 o' clock and they're amazing. I could have filmed it for a Netflix special. And then the next show, an hour and a half later, they're staring at me with the same exact jokes. So you always. So I love that about it, where I just can't go, okay, I'm just going to go up there. This is easy. It's never easy. And I love that because sometimes you have to figure it out. All of a sudden it's not working, so you have to feel, okay, this crowd's really not going for this kind of material, so let me switch it up. You're always thinking up there, which I like. You're almost like a quarterback at the line before the play calls. You're looking, okay, maybe I have to change the play here and stuff. So I love that about it. Sometimes you just don't connect with the audience. They're just not buying it. They're not into it, and there's nothing you could do. You could try, but so, so you have those nights. I just chalk it up as a bad day at work. Everyone has a bad day at work. So for me, that was a bad day at work.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Well, speaking of that, when you have a bad day, who makes you laugh?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I think if I'm having a down day, I don't necessarily have to put on comedy. Maybe I'll just watch something that's dumb, like some kind of. Like a Netflix here, just to zone out. Mindless, Mindless. Or I'll watch sports. Just mindless. Cause sports is really mindless. Especially if you're not really cheering for the other team. Or, like, watch Sports center, like Sports Highlights or something like that. Just something really dumb. I just. Before, I always had it for years. I had to go to bed. I had to have the TV on. I just. For some reason, I couldn't sleep without it. And I'd always put, like, Sports center on because it's just dumb sports highlights where I don't get into. I can't watch a movie. I'm like, oh, my God, what's going to happen next? I still have that adrenaline stuff. So I just. Just. The dumbest, the better. So if I'm going through a bad day, not necessarily comedy, but I'll put on some kind of series and watch.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's cool. Well, what. What would you say would be the defining moments for your career? Both both positive and negative and. And how have they shaped you today as a comedian?

[Unknown Guest]

Well, just. Howard Stern discovered me through those prank calls and then have me on the show.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, since like 2001. Jacket a joke man Martling, he was one of the sidekicks on the show. He left the show, and they had an open chair now for. And they're all. He started having all these young and unknown comics come in and sit in on the show. And it was just perfect timing with all of that. And I was one of those guys that would sit in, and he would have me on the show as a regular. This is when he was on regular radio. He had 20 million people listening. You know, I was doing all the clubs. No one really knew who I was. And then all of a sudden he say, jim's gonna be in Pittsburgh at the Improv this weekend. I would sell out five shows autom just from him with that one plug, just like that. So that took my career off. Then I got the crank anchors from being on Stern and everything else helped through that show because it was so big and massive at that time.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Are you addicted to making people laugh or the good that it creates? Would you say.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't. You know, it's weird with comics. You know, usually the guy that tries to be the life of the party, he's a terrible comedian. The guy who sits back and it's kind of sarcastic and quiet, doesn't need to, you know, have the whole room, you know, with the attention Put the lampshade on his head. That guy, that guy's not going to be funny. But the other, but the other comics just sit back and observe and watch. That's how they come up with their stuff. So I don't need to be funny all the time. Sometimes I do, you know, like I coach my kids rec basketball team and you know, all the guys, he's like, dad, don't crack any inappropriate jokes. I go, no, I'm not. And when I have his parent teacher meeting, I go, I'm not going to do that. I know when I have to and why. One of the moms goes, I never knew you're a comedian because you're never really that funny. I go, yeah, because I'm hanging out. We're watching our kids, you know, play basketball. We're talking about this, the referee and that shot or whatever. I go, I don't need to command the whole room here. When I'm on stage, that's the only time I need to.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Do you think laughter is the best medicine?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I mean, it is for a lot of people yet really, you know, it gets people in a better mood, you know. Absolutely. It definitely does. And there's nothing like a live comedy show because you never know what happens at a live show. You can watch it on tv. It's not the same fact. It's almost like watching a concert on tv.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes.

[Unknown Guest]

When you're there, it's special. And when you're in a people come to show go, this is my first comedy show. I used to watch on tv. It was amazing just being in the room because the tension with. And you saying that it's picking on the crowd and working the crowd and this guy and that. I go, yeah, because you never know on a live show what's going to happen.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Why do you think comedians are? Why? I've interviewed quite a few in my lifetime and I've noticed the one thing that always surprises me is how down to earth all comedians are. Do you think it's the line of work or do you think it's how hard you work versus, you know, actors, musicians? It seems like comedians are the hardest working people in show business.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. And I, you know, I guess maybe if you get to a certain point, your ego gets in the way. But we just know like we're just every day we think that this, at some point we're not going to have a career anymore. Something's going to happen. So we always had that fear. I do, you know, and I think a lot of comics do so, and we're not flashy, you know, actors. That's a whole other thing with the ego and the narcissism and stuff like that. I mean, I guess some of the comics, but you know, general, we're just happy that we're making a living. We're making people laugh and we get, we're our own boss, which is huge. We can dress the way we want, say whatever we want, and we don't have a boss to listen to.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It's pretty awesome. This is one of those questions that I just always love to hear the answer to. If you had your choice, living or dead, who would you love to headline with and what would that show be or look like if you could perform with anyone?

[Unknown Guest]

Rodney Dangerfield, he never gets like, like his catchphrase. He never gets respect. Like, a lot of people don't say he was an influence on him. Like, when they talk about comedy, comedians always go, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, they never put Rodney in there. To me, Rodney was a huge influence.

[Lynne Hoffman]

He's amazing.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, I just love to set up puns, set up quick, quick one liners. I love that. Just self deprecating. And I would have, you know, I met him a couple times. Obviously I never did a show with them, but I would have loved to do, to do shows with Rodney.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I would have loved to have seen.

[Unknown Guest]

That and just watch him and watch him every night. Like if I was on tour with him and just watch him every night, it would be amazing.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Do you, do you find that people come up to you and say, hey, Jim, meet my friend so and so. Go ahead, be funny, say something funny.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

How does that work?

[Unknown Guest]

I just, I'm like, look, man, I'm not at work.

[Lynne Hoffman]

And then they laugh because you're sarcastic when you're funny too, right?

[Unknown Guest]

I just go, yeah. I go, you know, okay. It's not, I hate when people do this. When I have like family members or people that know me. Hey, you know, introducing me to strange people. Hey. And he's a comedian. I'm like, you don't have to say that. I go, please. I go, I didn't say, hey, he's, he does construction when I introduce you. Yeah, hey, he's a lawyer, you know, so why did you. Don't. I go, leave that out.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's a good way to do it. That's, that's pretty cool. That's creative, right?

[Unknown Guest]

Because what then what happens is. Oh, really? Comedian. Oh, you know, so, you know, you write your own jokes. Where do you Perform. He's just. It's a million dumb questions and it's like, I'm not at work. Right. I don't want to answer these when I'm at a party. Where do you get your material from? I go, I get it from you. Because you're bothering me and you'll be in my act.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Tune in tomorrow.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, I could see I could. I'm sure, like a doctor goes to a party, I'm sure he's like, hey, doc. Oh, you're a doctor. I got a lump right here. Is this anything to worry about? Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Does this look infectious?

[Unknown Guest]

Right. Or a dentist. Is this the root canal? You think I'm missing a cap here? You know, so I guess they get that too. But it's so true. I always tell people if I'm in a plane, they go, what do you do for a living? Because you tell me you're comic, you're talking to that person for two hours. Right?

[Lynne Hoffman]

Right.

[Unknown Guest]

So I just go, yeah, I. I do landscaping. So there's no. They're not going to ask anything about landscaping. Yeah, I cut lawns, I mow lawns, I do landscape. And no one's going to go, really? What kind of mower do you have?

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's great. I never even thought of that. When anyone asked me, I would always say, I sell shoes.

[Unknown Guest]

That's a good one too.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Because no one cares about that either.

[Unknown Guest]

No one's going to be like, really? What kind of shoes? I just work at a store, whatever the shoes they want, but the landscape. And nobody's ever going to, I don't even say, own the business. Oh. Because then they go, you own the business. How does that work? I go, no, I just work for a guy.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah. Yeah. Even better. What is my last question for you? What? I mean, you've done it really? All movies, television, voiceovers, you're a comedian. What does it feel like when you really connect with an audience or even just a one on one? When you've really made somebody's day and you can really tell that they're having a great day because of your comedy? How does that feel to you?

[Unknown Guest]

It's amazing. It's the best feeling in the world. It's like I. It's equivalent to having an orgasm.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Really.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. That you can connect with a crowd and they like you. And then also if, like new jokes work, like if you have new material, you just can't wait to get on stage and do. And if it works, it's an unbelievable feeling. And any comic will tell you the same thing. Like, oh, my God, I can't believe. Because you can come up with 10 ideas, 10 jokes, and maybe four are going to work, six are just not going to work. You have to try them in front of that crowd. But once they do work. Yeah, it's an. It's unbelievable. It's the best feeling in the world.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I. I told you that was the last question, but I had one more. Is that okay?

[Unknown Guest]

That's all right.

[Lynne Hoffman]

All right.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, sure.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Upcoming projects and themes that inspire you right now. Personally, how do you see yourself moving forward from here?

[Unknown Guest]

You know, I don't. You know, I think as a comic you could just keep working until, you know, there's no set age. So I'm just going to keep doing it until I feel like I don't want to do it anymore. But, you know, you don't have to retire at certain age or any of that stuff. So I still love doing it, who know, some point. But, you know, my son's now, he's 14, so he'll come to a lot of my shows. He's getting into comedy, just not on stage, but watching. He loves all the comics and stuff. He loves being at the shows and all that. So it's good that he could see that.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That must make me feel so proud.

[Unknown Guest]

It's great. Yeah, that he could. He's like, oh, man, next time you go to Austin, I want to go to Joe Rogan's club with you. I go, yeah, no problem. You know, stuff like that. So it's great that I could show him that, you know, so. But yeah, just continue doing a stand up. That's one thing. It doesn't matter how old you get, what you look like, you can always still be funny. You can make fun of the way you look, how old you are, whatever it is. And as long as you can connect with an audience, you could do it forever.

[Lynne Hoffman]

And is laughing at yourself pretty much the price of admission? You have to be able to laugh at yourself.

[Unknown Guest]

Absolutely. Yeah. Like if someone comes back with something funny in the crowd, like if you're picking up and the guy says something back to you go, yeah, that's a good one. You got me. I get it, you know, so, yeah, you got to laugh at yourself too. A lot of comedians are sensitive to, you know, they don't like to get critiqued. But that's just the way it is. You don't, you know, I don't worry about that. Like, people don't like my stuff. I understand it. You're not going to Appeal everybody. As soon as you try to appeal to everyone, you're just, you're never going to make it. You're just going to be middle of the road trying to make everybody happy. Just everyone's not going to get your comedy no matter what kind of comedy you do. And don't take a personally if four to 10 people don't get it. Just focus, focus on the six that do. That's the way I always looked at it.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Great advice, really. And great advice for anyone doing anything in general, really. Not just comedy. Right, right.

[Unknown Guest]

And even bands, you know, if, you know, of course some people aren't going to like that music, so they're not going to get it. Like people always ask me, you know, what do you think about these new bands, you know, or even like a Taylor Swift? I go, I'm not supposed to like that. So I can't. You know what I mean? That's not even on my radar. I'm not a teenage girl, so I'm not gonna, you know, or even like Kendrick Lamar at the super bowl halftime show. I go, I'm not supposed to like that. So my understands that and likes that side of stuff. So I can't trash it because it's not for me.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That makes sense. That makes sense. Well, it's been such a pleasure getting to catch up with you and talk with you and where can people find your latest travel so that they can catch you besides television, where you're going to be performing? Do you have a website?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I got a website. Jim florentine.com. all my tour dates are on there. My latest comedy special is you can't please them all. It's on Amazon Prime. You can see it up there.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Jim Florentine, thank you for giving us all your healing gift of comedy. It was again, great chatting with you and I hope that I get to see you again soon. And I'm sure I'm going to see you on TV very soon.

[Unknown Guest]

I appreciate that. Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Readers, Katies, publicists, finalists, and of course, Kyle's. Listen up. The time has come. You've asked and we've answered the call. Las Culturistas is getting our own YouTube channel. You heard that, right. Check out full episodes, iconic interviews, visual bits and culture moments that'll change your life. We could not be more excited to launch the channel with the announcement of our culture award nominations. So don't wait. Be sure to watch las culturistas on [e-mail] lasculturistas.

[Jim Florentine]

Welcome to Pretty Private with.

[Ebony K. Williams]

Ebony, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebony, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Unknown Host]

The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and badder than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila, and we're the hosts of the Good Moms Badge Choices podcast brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much and women have quietly listened, and all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe. Listen to the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast.

[Matt Rogers]

Our iHeartRadio music festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas, Vegas, September 19th and 20th, streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Adams, Ed Sheeran, Fade Glorilla, Jelly Roll, Sean Fogarty, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McCray, the Offspring, Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com get your tickets today AXS.com.

[Lynne Hoffman]

So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

[Bowen Yang]

There are many versions of what happened in 19 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Jim Florentine]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Bowen Yang]

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Jim Florentine]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Unknown Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.