JEFF GARLIN Talks Curb Your Enthusiasm, Epstein, Photography

Summary

The Adam Friedland Show Episode: JEFF GARLIN Talks Curb Your Enthusiasm, Epstein, Photography Date: February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

Adam Friedland welcomes legendary comedian and actor Jeff Garlin to discuss his storied career, with a major focus on his work in Curb Your Enthusiasm, stories from the comedy world, his forthcoming photography book, and their shared surreal experience at a celebrity roast-gone-awry. The episode is a mix of comedy, behind-the-scenes insights, and deeply personal anecdotes, capturing both men’s signature irreverent style and warmth.

The episode also features a notable comedic segment involving a dramatic reading of "Jeffrey Epstein emails" (satirical, not real), and plenty of candid conversation about comedy legends, improvisation, and Garlin’s photographic ventures. The tone is loose, playful, and at times darkly hilarious.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm: Behind-the-Scenes and Creative Process

• Major Revelations: Adam drops the “major story” that the show is entirely improvised and shot without a script ([03:11]).
  • Jeff Garlin: “We do not rehearse… We want it fresh, and if that does happen, it’s gone by the second take.” ([45:14])
  • On the process: Jeff explains how he comes in with no idea what scene they’re doing, receives just an outline, and everything is improvised together with the cast. ([45:58])
  • On his dynamic with Larry: “He’s one of my closest friends… Being with Larry is just normal, you know? …I make him laugh hard, which thrills me to no end.” ([40:49])
• Memorable Moments: Jeff shares stories about improvising on set, like feeding Bruce Springsteen the “floor fucker” line ([49:21]).
  • Jeff: “Bruce says that line, cut. The place explodes… And then when Larry and Susie did interviews, they said Bruce came up with it. I called them both… So now in my book…I’m going to mention it everywhere.” ([49:49])
• Editing the Show: Larry David watches every single take. Garlin contrasts this with his own more efficient style when directing. ([47:46])

2. Comedy World Stories and Influences

• Legendary Encounters: Garlin shares stories of everyone from Jerry Lewis to Eddie Murphy, Catherine O’Hara, Bob Einstein, and Richard Lewis.
  • On Eddie Murphy: “There wasn’t one time that he didn’t say his [quip] first, and there wasn’t one time that what he said wasn’t a million times funnier than what I was going to say… It was remarkable to see his mind work that fast.” ([16:00])
  • On stand-up influences: “From the time I was a little kid, I tried to make my parents laugh… I loved comedy my whole life…My favorite comic: Bill Cosby.” ([54:53])
• Friendships and Mentors: Reflections on working with and learning from Richard Lewis, Bob Einstein, and others.
  • On Richard Lewis: “He profoundly changed my life comedically…Taught me things in every level.” ([66:20])
  • On Bob Einstein: “Bob would… call Susie and do the same thing. And also he knew so many great jokes…” ([59:27])

3. Roast Night Gone Wrong: The Epstein Joke

• Story of a Wild Celebrity Roast: Adam and Jeff recount meeting at a confusing charity event that became a roast for Richard Kind, with Jeff Ross as “roastmaster general.” ([10:10])
• Adam delivers a risky Epstein joke that kills the energy in the room:
  • Adam: “And then I was like, and Jeff Epstein’s here. Where the hell have you been? Right? And it dies. It goes silent.” ([13:19])
  • Jeff: “That makes the joke even funnier… You tell Richard I said, ‘Go fuck…’” ([13:43])
• Atmosphere and Aftermath: Both men reflect on the absurdity and taboo of certain topics in comedy circles, with Garlin defending Adam's risk-taking.

4. The Satirical Jeffrey Epstein Email Skit

• Reading Theatrical "Emails": Adam and Jeff do a mock reading of satirical fictional email exchanges between Garlin and Jeffrey Epstein, lampooning scandal culture and the absurdity of public association ([21:00]–[27:38]).
  • Garlin riffing as himself: “Improvisational comedy is an all-in thing… Better than drugs or sex… You are embarking on a journey that will fundamentally change you…” ([23:00])
  • The exchange escalates into surreal territory, involving jokes about child actors, Muslim names, and absurd misunderstandings, maintaining a tone of dark, deadpan humor.
  • Adam: “I don’t know why everyone’s laughing. This is disgusting stuff.” ([25:30])
• Meta-Humor: The segment is intentionally over-the-top, poking fun at both celebrity scandal culture and “leak” hysteria.

5. Comedy, Fame, and Audience Relationships

• On playing “Jeff Greene” and being recognized: “It makes me happy…Anyone who comes up to me, they like the show.” ([53:40])
• On iconography: “If I see Michael Imperioli, I’m like, Christopher…If I’m feeling remotely iconic, I appreciate that because I’m a big not believing the hype.” ([06:04])
• Comedy Philosophy: “I love comedians. I love comedy. I despise bad comedy.” ([56:50])

6. Sobriety and Personal Struggles

• Garlin opens up: Discusses struggles with food, mental health, and addiction. Credits Richard Lewis for helping him seek help, marking four years of sobriety ([65:35]).
  • “I had gone away to rehab for mental health and also abusing alcohol and weed. I drank to get drunk…food is what I bottomed out on.” ([64:11])

7. Photography Book: ‘Best Seat in the House’

• Book Details: Jeff describes his forthcoming photo book, out in September, featuring candid portraits of comedians and celebrities from sets, with accompanying essays ([66:22]).
  • “All my shots on set are environmental…there has to be a boom in the shot or something…because then I’m treading on the set photographer’s place. …I’m not setting up anything. It’s all in the moment. I love using natural light. I don’t crop. It’s just a very specific way I shoot.” ([68:10])
  • On favorite photos: Margot Robbie, John Mulaney, Jeff Tweedy, and many Curb cast and crew.
• Jeff takes some photos of Adam as the episode ends ([69:19]).

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the set of Curb

  • Jeff Garlin: “We do not rehearse…We just want it fresh. And if that does happen, it’s gone by the second take.” ([45:14])
  • “I have no idea when I arrive to set what I’m going to be shooting.” ([45:58])

• On Eddie Murphy

  • “You’re just looking like, okay, you’re Babe Ruth and I’m on the all-star team…” ([16:00])

• On fame and audience recognition

  • “If someone comes up to me, they like the show…and I took a picture with him happily. I gave him a pack of baseball cards…” ([54:07])

• On the infamous roast joke

  • Adam: “And Jeff Epstein’s here. Where the hell have you been? Right? And it dies. It goes silent.” ([13:19])

• On Richard Lewis as mentor

  • “He profoundly changed my life comedically. Taught me things in every level…Heroes, mentors, close friends. I was really grateful to have that.” ([66:20])

• Roasting French Comedy, with Garlin

  • Adam: “The French are the least funny people on Earth, so it’s not even that good of a compliment.”
  • Jeff: “There’s not a lot of great French comedies…well, Jacques Tati…” ([07:45])

• On Larry David “bailing” on stand-up sets

  • “He’d start, he’d look in the crowd and go: ‘Eh, not tonight.’ And walk off the stage.” ([34:41])

• On improvising lines on Curb

  • “I try and do something different every take, unless Jeff Schaefer says to me, we don’t have this, will you do this?” ([47:11])

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Important Timestamps

• 01:33: Quick fake story of meeting Larry David at a “Gentle Lovemaking seminar”
• 03:11: Adam breaks the “major story” — Curb is fully improvised
• 10:10–13:50: Story of meeting at the Richard Kind roast, dead Epstein joke
• 21:00–27:38: Satirical “Jeffrey Epstein email skit”
• 34:02: Origins of Garlin and Larry David’s friendship
• 45:14–47:44: In-depth walkthrough of how Curb is improvised and produced
• 49:21–51:15: Garlin tells the Bruce Springsteen “floor fucker” story
• 54:53: Discussing comedy heroes, stand-up origins
• 59:27–63:49: Reflections on Bob Einstein and Richard Lewis
• 64:11–65:35: Garlin’s personal struggles and sobriety
• 66:22–69:00: Details of Garlin's photography book, environmental approach to portraits

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Tone and Style

The conversation is highly irreverent, fast-paced, and studded with comedic asides. Both Adam and Jeff frequently riff off each other, segueing into bits and returning to candid, personal discussion seamlessly. Much of the humor is dark, meta, or deeply “inside both comedy and Curb Your Enthusiasm culture.” Despite the absurdity and controversy in parts, the rapport is genuine, and the admiration for the craft of comedy and the friendship between the principals is unmistakable.

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Summary prepared for listeners new and returning, for whom the spirit of “Best Seat in the House” is alive in both Garlin’s stories and images.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Larry David and I. Gentle Lovemaking seminar.

[A]

Really? Really. He was teaching.

[B]

We were the TAs.

[A]

Did you ever get tenure in university?

[B]

You're really funny.

[A]

You're funny guy.

[B]

Because I don't think people are funny.

[A]

You're a fucking piece of.

[B]

That's what you are. I'm a hot piece of ass and you're up front. Where are you going with this?

[A]

Nothing. I don't know. I was just going with it.

[B]

I don't like that direction.

[A]

Hello and welcome to the Adam Friedland Show. I'm Adam Friedland. My guest this. Oh, hey, babe. Sorry. My guest this week is legendary comedian and actor Jeff Garland, whose new photo booth. My guest this week is legendary comedian and actor Jeff Garland, whose new photo booth. But my guest this week is legendary comedian and actor Jeff Garland, whose new photo book releases later this year. If you're a fan of Jeff's acting and stand up comedy, you're gonna love his photos. Now, this one is one of the rare interviews where we actually break a Pretty major story during our conversation. I don't want to spoil it quite yet, but. Help.

[B]

Am I making too much noise?

[A]

No, that's fine. Don't wait. Welcome home. How was your day? I know that was your surprise. Yeah, I'll just come out and say it. I'll just come out and say it. Apparently, and I can't believe I'm really saying this, Curb your enthusiasm is entirely improvised and it's shot without a script, so how in the hell do you make that stuff up? How in the hell do they make that stuff up? Fascinating. Please enjoy my conversation. Jeff Garland. Okay, sorry, I'm at home today. I have Covid. It's a blizzard. We had a blizzard in New York. Our next guest is a legendary American comedian. His new book, best seat in the house. It's a book of photography and essays, comes out in September. Everyone, please give it up for Jeff Garland.

[B]

Nothing like a delightful smack. And there's 600 people here. That's what they don't know when they

[A]

hear that we got the fattest tourists from Times Square. We went to the M M store and yeah, we put a sign up that says M and M store on the door. Look how confused they are.

[B]

I once I was in New York number of years ago, this is when I wasn't living here because I lived here a long time ago. And then I live here now with la, but. But we're visiting and we're not yokels in Times Square. I think we're going to a show. And I went into that M and M store and the sugar free chocolates and stuff, and I go, this is great. And of course, the second we sat down for the show, I'm Baron Von Diarrhea.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Oh, it goes that fast?

[A]

You crapped your pants? What were you seeing?

[B]

No, I did not crap my pants.

[A]

So you're at lame.

[B]

I went on stage and crapped in the middle of the stage. That's how you see broad.

[A]

You crapped your. Your pants on stage?

[B]

No, I went to the bathroom. What the.

[A]

But what? You're in the middle of a scene.

[B]

I'm not in the middle. I'm not performing. I'm watching. I'm fine. Although we did that. Richard Lewis had had diarrhea in the scene and was so funny.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. He's on stage. You hear the grrr?

[A]

He fought through it.

[B]

No, it's. It's fake.

[A]

It's fake acting. Oh, okay.

[B]

Yeah. And sound effects.

[A]

Wait, so you're telling me that that show is fake?

[B]

That's Real to me.

[A]

It's so real.

[B]

Well, that's me.

[A]

I mean, like, you play a legendary character, and, like, for me, it's kind of still hard. I mean, we met, like, like a month or two ago, but, like, it's still hard to not imagine that Susie, like, wants to cut your dick off. Like, I just.

[B]

Like, it's because I just left her and I'm sitting down.

[A]

Yeah. And, like, you're like, you know, thank

[B]

God she's one of my best friends.

[A]

But, like, it's so three dimensional. Like, if. If I say if I see Michael Imperioli, I'm like, Christopher.

[B]

You know, like. Right. No, I get it. I actually appreciate that. If I'm feeling remotely iconic, I appreciate that because I'm a big. Not believing the hype. Like, people would come up to me and say, I'm a legend. And I did not know how to react to that because that's the last thing I am in my mind. And now I've just said, thank you. Like, I learned that a very famous comedian, I once told him how much I loved him and what a great effect he had on me. And he looked at me and said, why? And I went, oh, who was it? I'm not gonna tell you.

[A]

Just say why?

[B]

Because I still love him.

[A]

You're being dicking me a little bit. Like, oh, yeah.

[B]

No, here's.

[A]

No, you're doing a thing where a

[B]

lot of people might love.

[A]

Who's Jerry Lewis?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

It was Jerry Lewis, actually.

[B]

I spent time with Jerry Lewis and had fun.

[A]

Oh, really? He wasn't a dickhead.

[B]

No.

[A]

Apparently he's the biggest dickhead in the world.

[B]

No, you know what it is? I don't know what his mental illness could have been, but he is a complicated guy.

[A]

Yeah, I know.

[B]

You know, he. Chevy Chase is similar that way. They're compl. I wouldn't say they're evil or horrible people. They just relate to the world and they, you know, Jerry Lewis. You name any Taylor Swift, okay, Jerry Lewis. Martin and Lewis. There's a great picture of Martin and Lewis in the Times Square area. And they're outside of a window looking down, and there are people everywhere. Like, New Year's Eve everywhere. They were that popular. Like, they were. To say they were huge is very much appropriate.

[A]

The French love Jerry Lewis.

[B]

They do. But also. Well, here's the thing about Jerry Lewis

[A]

also, the French are the least funny people on earth. So it's like. It's not even that good of a compliment.

[B]

Yeah, there's Not a lot of great French comedies. There have been some. Well, Jacques Tati, it wasn't.

[A]

But it's not. Lol, bro. It's not. Borat. Didn't. Jerry tried to bring over that French guy to America to break, to have a crossover. It's God El Maled or something.

[B]

Oh, didn't win an Academy Award. Oh, no.

[A]

He was the biggest comic in France. And everyone was like, what the fuck

[B]

is this French guy talking about? No, he actually is a very funny man. And we had a falling. We never had an original thing. Ira Glass asked myself, Colin Quinn, and somebody else to.

[A]

Who's the other person?

[B]

I don't remember. But to listen to his set, that they gave us a copy of his set because they were talking about him learning the thing, learning English, trying to do it for both. And I gave my thoughts, and I was not mean. I just gave. And the one constructive thought that I'll explain a second, was that he did two Starbucks jokes, like, in there. And my reply was, do you really care about Starbucks? Is that an area that needs to be examined? And that's what I said. So the next time I see him, which was at the Comedy Cellar, and I was looking forward to meeting him, not thinking that I said anything wrong because I said all this stuff, you know, Colin did, too. And I walk off stage and I go, hey, how you doing? He goes, you think you know everything.

[A]

Shut up, you Frenchie.

[B]

Oh, no. But the point is, what are you

[A]

coming over to this, talking about Starbucks?

[B]

Sometimes great restaurant. Sometimes people in their lives are not remotely enlightened. And so he was at that point where he was fragile and ego. He might still be that way, I don't know. However, a few years later at the Comedy Store, we. We totally made amends and hit it off, and we're good.

[A]

He should have apologized to you.

[B]

I don't look that way.

[A]

Because if it weren't for us, he'd be speaking German, that's for sure. I don't know. Sorry, guys.

[B]

That's so awesome. Do you have any idea how funny that is? That is so awesome.

[A]

If it weren't for us, dude, they'd be speaking fucking. Yeah, in Vichy.

[B]

French Furman.

[A]

We're gonna cut that. Anyway, guys, can we talk about when we met each other?

[B]

Please do.

[A]

It was the most insane night of my life, and I've never talked about it.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

And I'm afraid even to talk about it now.

[B]

Why?

[A]

I bet you had that charity benefit thing that.

[B]

Richard.

[A]

Richard Kind.

[B]

Honorary Richard Kind. What was it for The.

[A]

I don't know what it was for.

[B]

No, it was for, like, the Creative Coalition. Yeah. It sounds like they go to Washington

[A]

for what I'm about to say.

[B]

Yeah, no, you can say what you want because I'm not a fan. I'm not part of the creative.

[A]

Jeff and I walk up to each other, we're like, do you know what the fuck this is? And both of us were like, where the fuck are we right now? I was told an hour prior to going, I was invited to co host a charity event with Richard Kind. I was like, that sounds nice.

[B]

By the way. That was the thing that fucked up the whole night, the term co host, because everyone who went up to do either a set or talk about Richard, they labeled as a co host. Jeff Ross was the host.

[A]

He was the roast master general. Exactly. So I was told 45 minutes before that it was a roast hosted by the roastmaster General himself, Jeffrey Ross, who's one of the. One of the people I respect most in life. And I was like, I don't. So I. I farted out a roast set. I was like, are you going to do roast? Did you know this was a roast?

[B]

You're like, no, it wasn't a roast.

[A]

It was a roast.

[B]

No, it wasn't.

[A]

You left early because you're a celebrity.

[B]

Yeah, I was one of the first three or four people who came up, and it wasn't a roast.

[A]

So I went up after you, and I was like, guys, I don't know. My. I wrote some nasty joke. I didn't know this was going to be a roast. And Jeff Ross, you know, and they were like, say the joke. Like one of the old people say the joke. And so I was like, a lot of people, you know, Richard Kine changed his name when he got to Hollywood. Like, Jon Stewart used to be named John Leibowitz and Richard Kyne used to be named. And I was like, zalman the Rapist. And it got a pop. And I was like, wow, by the

[B]

way, I was there for that.

[A]

That was. That was not bad.

[B]

Walking out. No, no, not bad. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

That got a big pop from the.

[B]

No, that was legitimately crazy funny from the.

[A]

You know, the. For the protocols of the Elders of Zion. Like, they loved it. And then I was like, don't worry, it's a family name. It was. It was changed from Rapowitz at Ellis island and his grand. And there, his grandfather, Moshe Rapist, he was the founder of the creative artist Age. And there have been rapists throughout the industry ever Since. And when I said rapists throughout the industry, dead. That bombed. What's going on with this crowd? So I get through the whatever, the crap that I forwarded out, and then the last joke, I was like, oh, you know, I'm like, this is safe. This is like. And the last joke is like, oh, I guess it's a roast. I should go around the dais and crap all over you guys. I was like, jeff Garland's here. I mean, this is behind your back. I apologize, but he's here, Give it up for him. And I was like, hey, you fat. You know, Susie, whatever. Haha. And then Jeff Ross is here. And I'm like, we all know what you did, you know, And I don't know why I didn't have anything. And then I was like, and Jeff Epstein's here. Where the hell have you been? Right? And it dies. It goes silent.

[B]

You told me that on the phone.

[A]

The air leaves the room. And I was like, what? I thought it was safe. I thought it was like, it's in the news. And then I was like, did you guys know him? And Richard gets on the mic, he's like, adam, I think it's cause he's dead. And I was like, I didn't mean to.

[B]

Well, by the way, Richard, hold on. Fuck him for that. What I mean by that is to say that sincerely, that's what makes the joke even funnier.

[A]

Obviously. Makes it funnier.

[B]

Yeah. I'm sorry that you had to deal with that.

[A]

No, it's not sorry. It was the most insane moment of my life. And then I'm like, I'm sorry.

[B]

You tell Richard I said, go fuck this.

[A]

Guys, guys, his body's barely cold. I didn't mean to offend. Speak ill of noted pedophilic sex traffickers.

[B]

Did he say it like this? He's dead. He's dead. He's dead. And I was like, I loved him, but I never took a photo with him and I never got in a plane. I want him here. Go on.

[A]

My friend Ari, who's talking to all these old people at the table, having a great schmoozing, having a great night. This guy next to him looks like this, and he turns to him, he's like, I knew Jeffrey Epstein. And I was like, oh, my God, they all did. They all knew Jeffrey Epstein.

[B]

I didn't know he was a real guy, island, all that shit.

[A]

It's a real guy.

[B]

But I just thought of a thing for Richard. Can you imagine Richard going about to. He's dead. My memories I knew Jeffrey Epstein. I would never take a picture. I once took a train with him. That's pretty good. Yeah, it was pretty good. Is this actually a positive look, leaning back like this?

[A]

Yeah, I think so.

[B]

It's like you're in my living room and I have a lot of Eames furniture.

[A]

Yeah, it's a relaxed show.

[B]

There's a great scene maybe in the Nutty professor. He goes to the dean, and the dean's chair, you can't help but slide. And he's trying to stay in the chair while he talks to the dean. Perfection in the Jerry Lewis one. Yeah, Jerry Lewis one. By the way, in terms of the Eddie Murphy one, in my opinion, as a comedian, to. That is the greatest acting performance I've ever seen. Oh, the clubs, Howie was forget like, that's why the academics, they never respect comedy. Only one is one ever in Annie Hall. Throw that all aside. This guy, what he did in that, you can't name an actor who could pull that off. You can't.

[A]

You were with him on Daddy Dacre.

[B]

Yeah, I worked with him. Daddy Dacre.

[A]

Tell us about Eddie.

[B]

I'll tell you something. First off, very generous. Good guy. Great guy. We came up with the same comedians, like older comedians. So Eddie and I would dedicate takes to these comedians that no one would know except us.

[A]

Shecky Green.

[B]

No, the Sheck. He's known, but no one would know him. No. Here's the thing about Eddie. This is the thing that knocked me off my feet. I gave you the background, though. When something happens on a set, like if you knock something over, it'd be funny. And let's say I'm just a dramatic actor and something gets knocked over, you'll have a quip. You'll have a quip. It's just. You're the comedy guy. You will have a quip. So I'm on the set and I think I'm quick, do not get me wrong. And so something would happen. I think of what I'm gonna. This is microseconds. Think of what I'm gonna say. Go to say it. There wasn't one time that he didn't say his first, and there wasn't one time that what he said wasn't a million times funnier than what I was going to say. So you're just looking like, okay, you're Babe Ruth and I'm on the all star team, you know, so it was remarkable to see his mind work that fast. Yeah, he's.

[A]

He's a good guy.

[B]

Yeah. I loved working with him. And then also he's just. He's just. He literally is comedic genius for what he does. There's, you know, I don't throw that around, you know.

[A]

Why is he around as much? I mean, he was the biggest star in the world probably in the 1980s, right?

[B]

Like, no, not the world. Because black leads in films didn't really score that well in international, but certainly in the United States.

[A]

Oh, they didn't like it when a black eye was.

[B]

Well, no, I don't say they as like all of them, every country. But it didn't score like it did in America.

[A]

So you're saying America is the least racist country in the world?

[B]

No, I'm saying there's a lot of Portuguese visiting here currently,

[A]

so.

[B]

Yeah, but he was the most famous person in the United States. I would say, you know, number one hit record.

[A]

Party all the Time.

[B]

Yeah, Party all the Time. And also his albums of a Stand up, you know, soul the Time, his specials. He was the first guy to perform in like the equivalent of Madison Square Garden, you know, he was the first one because prior to that, I remember seeing George Carlin, 3,000 people. Rodney Dangerfield, 3,000 people, all the comics, even Richard Pryor wanted his great first album. Well, first he had older party albums. I'm doing this, but they're amazing too. But he performed it at the Long Beach arena. That holds like 2,400. So even Eddie took that to an arena. Now guys like Kevin Hart are selling arenas. No, stadiums.

[A]

Shane is doing the Eagles stadium.

[B]

Right. Well, that's where whatchamacallit performed too.

[A]

Who, the Eagles?

[B]

No, Kevin Hart is from Philadelphia.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[B]

No, I'm saying. So that's where it is now. Yeah.

[A]

You know, would you go to Philadelphia, like if you had. If they said you sold out stadium.

[B]

Give me a scenario. Like, play it out. I want to hear if I. I

[A]

mean, like they say, listen, you sold out Lincoln Financial Field, you're gonna make $5 million from the show. But you have to go to like that disgusting gross monster with those monster Philadelphia, you know, Would you do it? Is it worth it, you think?

[B]

What the fuck are you talking about?

[A]

Those awful. There's. There's just sub human. Just.

[B]

You're not getting to the point of who you're talking about. Is it what a subhuman person, just, you know, those disgusting women.

[A]

Oh, why don't you try our disgusting sandwich? Yeah, we have a racist sandwich.

[B]

The steak sandwich.

[A]

Yeah. Every place you go, there's a disgusting sandwich.

[B]

In Philadelphia.

[A]

No, on the road. Like Caleb and I were talking about this every city you go to, it's like, what should we eat here? And the Uber driver tells you a disgusting sandwich. Like in Pittsburgh, they're like, we have our own disgusting sandwich.

[B]

You didn't use those words.

[A]

Well, they don't say disgusting, but it sounds revolt. It's like a throw up.

[B]

You didn't try it.

[A]

It's throw up. It's baby diaper.

[B]

You didn't try the sandwich.

[A]

Yeah, of course I tried it. Yeah, I got the T shirt.

[B]

And by the way, I know you liked it. Yeah. Yeah. Because no one says that about sandwiches.

[A]

So you're thinking Rochester is good garbage. The garbage plate. I mean, at least you're honest about. It's macaroni salad. It's like a chopped cheese filling macaroni salad. What else? It could be either two cheeseburgers or two hot dogs. Red hot dogs.

[B]

Can I ask a question? Yeah. People watch this. Yeah. Why? This is insane.

[A]

Why?

[B]

Charlie, that tuna salad, was it chicken of the sea? Oh, what was it? Was it. You know, and then when I had that orange juice, was it from a concentrate or did you shake the tongue?

[A]

I didn't want to do this.

[B]

Or was it one of those juice stands? I don't remember. I sound like Larry doing that.

[A]

Okay, I didn't want to do this,

[B]

but I don't care what you asked me or talking about.

[A]

Listen, we booked you before. Obviously the horrific leaks of the Jeffrey Epstein emails came out and so I had to. It's my journalistic duty to. I'm not a journalist, but you know, I had to search your name and I just want you to account for what we found.

[B]

Please do.

[A]

I think what we could do is I'm going to read the Jeffrey Epstein emails and you could read your own emails. And then it's. I'm shocked. It was shocking. What I.

[B]

So you want to do some sort of play acting?

[A]

Play acting? No, this is from the Real Pet.

[B]

This is redacted.

[A]

It's what your.

[B]

Oh, this is awesome. Awesome. Who did this? Did you do this? No, this is the redaction. This is awesome, man. All right. This is great. Do you. Do you.

[A]

So I'm Jeffrey Epstein and then you could read your own emails?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's weird. When you guys heard his voice, were you surprised?

[B]

Who.

[A]

His voice is like, can you.

[B]

Yeah, his voice is about Jeffrey Epstein.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He's like, what if I told you

[A]

I went to bed with the Google?

[B]

I truly.

[A]

He looks like kind of macho with

[B]

all the Names this last time and this, that and finding out this guy a scumbag. I don't give a shit. So I'm not even. Hey, I subscribe. New York Times, Wall Street Journal, all these things on my phone. Read them once a week tops. Yeah, because if something interesting were to happen and we're at dinner, you might bring it up and I'll go, oh. And then when you bring it up, then I do my due diligence to read about it. But in general I go through my days trying to rise above the noise.

[A]

Well that makes sense because of your longtime correspondence and best.

[B]

Alright, let's do it.

[A]

Okay, so this is from Jeffrey Epstein to Jeff Garland.

[B]

It's me, Jeff.

[A]

No, no, I'm reading the Jeffrey Epstein parts. Jeff, it's me, Jeff. Lol. Still can't get over how funny it is that we have the same name. Was watching an episode of Curb the other day. Felt inspired. Comedy has this ability, even for a short while, to make the world forget about their problems. I was wondering if you have any recommendations on introductory improv courses. Seems fun. Second City comedy sports. I've heard good things. I don't feel comfortable being associated with the UCB theater after reading about their history of sexual abuse. Sick stuff. The COVID up too heartbreaking. I'm leaning towards comedy sports because it has the funniest name best Jeffrey Epstein. Okay, now your response.

[B]

Okay. Hey Jeff. Jeff here. Ha. Brother, the name thing gets me every time.

[A]

Yeah, that's funny.

[B]

It's the gift that keeps on giving. Glad you asked about improv. I think this is a great idea, but I want you to listen to me very carefully. Improvisational comedy is an all in thing. This isn't some hobby that you can half ass. You're gonna work your ass off night after night, you're gonna be pushed to your limit and at the end of the day, it's all worth it. The rush is irreplaceable. Better than drugs or sex. I know a lot of people have lost their minds chasing the dragon. You are embarking on a journey that will fundamentally change you as you little wordy your email. But let's keep going because truly Jeff, nothing comes close. You were one of the funniest people I ever met in my life. The funniest. And I know Eddie Murphy from when I was in daddy daycare. Love, love Jeff. P.S. i've never said this to you before, but I consider you to be my absolute best friend in the world. I'd like to assure you that any secret you share go to the grave.

[A]

Okay, then. This is the monster Jeffrey Epstein's response. Hey, Jeff, it's me, Mohammed. Just kidding. It's Jeffrey Epstein. What I wouldn't give to see your face reading that. Haha. No, of course my name is still Jeff. First off, thanks for the sage advice. I swear to you, Jeff, I will take improvisational comedy very seriously. Anywho, Stephen Hawking seems to have taken a shine to your daughter, Sammy. He asked me to reach out and negotiate a price. A couple questions.

[B]

Really funny.

[A]

A couple questions. What's her take on this Palestine nonsense? What's it like when you have sex with her? And is. Is there any world where Susie isn't going to be a total bitch about this? Then here's your response to the noted monster and pervert sex trafficker.

[B]

Oh, dear God. This is wrong, brother. You fucking got my ass. I literally went into a cold sweat thinking some Muslim named Mohammed somehow got my email. I don't know how to say this, but bro, I think you misunderstand. That's not actually my daughter lll. That's a child actress that got to play my daughter. I'm what's called an actor. We pretend to be other people. Sissy isn't my wife. She's a Jewish woman pretending to be a wife. I can put you in touch with her parents. Her dad is a class act and her mother is out of the picture.

[A]

I don't know why everyone's laughing. This is disgusting stuff. So the monster responds. Just putting it out there. If you wanted to change your name to Mohammed, I'd do it too. Reacting. That blows my fucking mind. Dude. Did you invent acting or is there other ones?

[B]

It would be pretty awkward if we did that. Lol. Muhammad actually happens to be the name of the first Muslim guy. Bro, you need to get out more. This is crazy. Everyone on the show is an actor, you numbskull. Wait till the guys find out about this one. Chomsky's gonna piss his pants.

[A]

Okay, so then the. So then the.

[B]

By the way, seeing names like that on the list are awesome.

[A]

It's awesome. Stephen Hawking's the best one.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So then the monster responds. Lol, bro. Let's convince Dersh that we changed our names to Muhammad. So anyway, so you mean to tell me that Kobe Bryant from the Lakers is an actor? Also, what about President George W. Bush? What the hell is even going on? What about Ashton Kutcher? Am I being punked? Your response?

[B]

All jokes aside, I wasn't too hot on my name for the longest Time. I often think about changing it. That was until I met you. I love being Jeff with you. Oh, brother. I'll try and ask you your questions one by one. Kobe Bush. Not actors. Kutchner is an actor, but not on the show Punked. Okay, Jeff, I have to say something because I love you. Hearing that you don't know what actors are worries me. I see that you're a man with deep dedication to his passions. I see that your work demands all of you. Jeffrey Edward Epstein, you're a man on the island, but you're also on. There's a whole world outside of that beautiful paradise you built for yourself on the little St. James. I don't want you to look back on your life with regrets, wishing you got out of your comfort zone a little more. I don't want life to pass you by. And then that's what I think that the improv classes will be for you. A great help. Yeah. Yeah. I love you. Please. Never.

[A]

All right, so this is shocking Revelation. What were you thinking?

[B]

Did you write this?

[A]

No. These are from the Department of Justice.

[B]

Pam Bondi, whatever these are. This is perfect. This is sublime.

[A]

You want to keep it? I mean, it's all over the Internet

[B]

anyway, but you can have it. No, I'd love to keep it. This is so good.

[A]

You can have both copies.

[B]

No, I'm not going to redo a

[A]

reading you won for. Sorry. Okay, Adam, here. I'd just like to thank our members for supporting us here on YouTube. You guys make the show possible. You keep the lights on. We couldn't do it without you. Members get access, as always, to all of our episodes early. And if you join at the second or third tiers, you get your name in the credits of this fine program. If you'd like to join the Freedland Family foundation, you could do so by clicking the join button at the top of your page here on YouTube or by clicking the link in the description. You could also support us on Patreon if you prefer. The link for that is also in the description. Thanks a lot again.

[B]

Thanks.

[A]

I'm going on the road, folks. Helium Comedy Club, Portland, Oregon. March 27th to the 29th. Side Splitters, Tampa, April 17th to the 18th. San Francisco, California. Cobbs Comedy Club, May 29th to the 30th. And of course, I'll be at the Netflix is a joke festival at the Region Theater in Los Angeles, California on May 9th. There's a link in the description for tickets, and we'll be adding more shows for cities later this year. So stay tuned. AdamFriedland show and Rest in peace to the one and only Robert Duvall. This was the copy from last week, but we're going to leave that in anyway. And Jesse Jackson and everyone, anyone else who died. I think you know that midday slump when your focus just dips. This is my little fix for that. It's super refreshing. You just pop it in, crack the capsule and boom. Instant flavor hit. That's kind of like my secret weapon for staying sharp when I'm working or filming. And you can even get it delivered on a subscription basis so you never run out. But yeah, this one's been in my routine lately. Lucy Co knows what's up. 100% pure nicotine. Always tobacco free. Lucy breakers are nicotine pouches with an extra little surprise. Each pouch holds a capsule that can be broken open to release extra flavor and hydration. What's my favorite flavor? The minty one. What's my favorite strength? The strongest one they have. And when do I use it? All damn day. Lucy is the only one that gives you long lasting flavor when you need it. So get 20% off your first order when you buy online with the code TAFS. And if you don't want to wait, head to Lucy Co stores to find Lucy near you and grab it today. And here comes the fine print. Lucy products are only for adults of legal age and every order is age verified. This product contains nicotine and nicotine is an addictive chemical. When hair starts to thin, confidence can too. And that's why HIMS makes it simple to feel like yourself again. With access to personalized care that fits your life. Tired of trying to figure out what actually works for hair loss? Through hims, you can get access to clear solutions, expert guidance, and an online process that takes the confusion out of care. You've got places to be sitting in a waiting room for hair loss treatment isn't one of them. HIMS makes expert care accessible to your schedule. So so you can skip the line and focus on feeling like yourself again. HIMS offers convenient access to a range of prescription hair loss treatments with ingredients that work, including chews, oral medication, serums and sprays. Dr. Trusted ingredients like finasteride, minoxidil can stop further hair loss and regrow hair in as little as three to six months. You shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself again. Hims brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatment plans that put your goals first. No hidden fees, no surprise cost, just real personalized care on your schedule. Think of HIMS as your digital front door that gets you back to your old self with simple 100% online access to trusted treatments for real health concerns all in one place. For simple online access to personalized and affordable care for hair loss, weight loss and more, visit hims.com tafs that's himss.com tafs for your free online visit hims.com tafS Featured products include compounded drug products which the FDA does not approve or verify for safety, effectiveness or quality. Prescription required. See website for full details, restrictions and important safety information. Individual results may vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Tracking expenses can make one feel bad about past spending. It happens to me all the time. But Monarch keeps you focused on planning ahead and hitting real financial milestones. Monarch gives you a complete picture. Budgets, debt, payoff timelines, savings goals, net worth so you can make decisions that actually move the needle. Unlike most other personal finance apps, Monarch is made to make you proactive, not reactive. And that's what I've been talking to you guys at the office about. Proactive Monarch helped users save over $200 per month on average after joining. 8 out of 10 members feel more in control of their finances with monarch. And eight out of 10 members say monarch gives them a clearer picture of where their money's going. I wonder if it's the same eight. So set yourself up for financial success in 2026 with Monarch. The all in one tool that makes proactive money management simple all year long. Use the code TAFS monarch.com for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first [e-mail] with code TAFS. And we thank Monarch sincerely for sponsoring this episode. You took a chance on a bright eyed kid from Las Vegas, Nevada. No one saw any potential in me. You guys.

[B]

How'd you guys meet Larry David and I? Gentle lovemaking seminar.

[A]

Really? Really. He was teaching.

[B]

We were the TAs.

[A]

You're the teacher's assistants?

[B]

Yeah, both of us. And we actually clamored for our teachers attention.

[A]

Did you ever get tenure in fuck University?

[B]

No, we were a teacher's assistant. Really? Our teacher was tenured.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Who was that? Mary Kay Letourneau?

[B]

No, we met here in New York City. We were both doing stand up comedy. And is it in the 80s? Yeah, late 80s. We were acquaintances and one of my favorite things is when he would come in to do a set at Catch a Rising Star and one of two things would happen. One would be he's gonna do the funniest material. That's gonna kill you. He's gonna kill you. No, that's not it. Because comedians would laugh. We all went in the room. But the more likely one was this. He'd start. He'd look in the crowd and go, eh, not tonight. And walk off the stage.

[A]

Yeah, I heard he used to just bail on sets.

[B]

Bail on sets. I saw him do it, and it was awesome. Oh, what are you looking at your watch for? Ah, fuck this. And he would be gone. I swear, this is 100% true. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Because he had a contempt for the audience.

[B]

And then years later, I was performing in Chicago and he was coming through town to go to see Comiskey park before it was torn down. Really? We had a nice conversation then. This is all we knew of each other. And then in la, we talked a couple times. You ran into each other. But I never got to audition for Seinfeld, which, when I told him that, he was pissed off. But I find that hilarious.

[A]

I mean, everyone was on the show.

[B]

Show, yes.

[A]

Yeah, it's kind of offensive. I knew everyone in comedy.

[B]

Almost every guest actor who was remotely comedic, I did know. Anyhow, so years later, we were at lunch, and he was asking me about the comedy scene, and he said, hbo really wants me to do something. And I said, well, I've got the perfect idea for you. And I had been on the road with Jon Stewart and Dennis Leary, helping to develop their specials, their HBO specials. And it was really fun and, you know, developing all that. And I said to him, I go, you know, you could do a special about you making a special. And at the end, you don't even have to do a special. And that's the whole special. And he. I love that. And he went and talked to his wife. We're gonna do it. And I was thinking of only directing it. I didn't even think about being in it. That wasn't. I wanted to direct it. And we had lunch the next day, was excited, talking about, I want you to play my manager. It was as simple as that, you know. And then he said to me, and you'll be no directing. You'll be an executive producer. It's better. Trust me. And I didn't know this at the time, and it is a much higher stature. So that's how it started. And that was my relationship leading to then. Oh, I left out one part, which is an interesting part, I think. So Larry was writing at Castle Rock, the company that produced Seinfeld. I was writing With a guy named Alan Zweibel. Same suite of office. There are three offices in the suite. Zweibel. He co created its Garry Shanley show. And he also wrote for Gilda Radner on SNL all her bits. Roseanne, Roseanna, Dana. He wrote all her bits. So he's very funny, very accomplished, very kind man. So. And Billy Crystal was in the other office. So that's it.

[A]

I'm sorry.

[B]

So I would go. I would go into. He was very nice to me. We go into. I'd walk into Larry's office and I don't know if it was he or I who did it first. Started singing the Codfish bowl by Shirley Temple. And we realized that both our kids, same age, were both watching the Best of Shirley Temple. It was a very popular tape thing then. And I knew all the songs and so did so we'd sing Shirley Temple songs. That got us closer. It really did. And we'd laugh. And Larry came into Alan. My office's Alan's office where I was at. He said, you want to go to lunch? And Alan couldn't go. And I went. And then the conversation I told you about happened in a kookaroo across the street from Nate Niles in Beverly Hills. And by the way, when you tell your idea to a comedic genius. Oh, fuck. Yeah. So I am surprised because we were doing what we thought was funny. But Larry, I mean, I look upon all the episodes. Not a clunker in the bunch. Every one of them, you know, it was shocking to me. But we didn't think we were gonna be a hit. And also, the other side of the coin is. And I'm not gonna name a comic to mess with them, but I could have told it to another comedian. If I had told that to somebody else, we wouldn't be here talking about my great idea. Oh, no, no.

[A]

You told me it was the perfect.

[B]

It was. Well, that's how things happen sometimes. And you know, the lightning hits a tree, you know, or whatever.

[A]

It is the basic premise of a guy who has ostensibly a billion dollars, yet the entire world, when they look at him, just sees him as bald and annoying. That the money has done nothing to earn the result.

[B]

No one.

[A]

It's a show that's another God's not

[B]

based on a core of reality.

[A]

Well, yeah, I know he's like the co creator of Seinfeld, but to everyone he's an ugly Jewish bald guy.

[B]

He's not the guy on the show that he's on.

[A]

Right, exactly.

[B]

So right now in real life, it's

[A]

an incredible premise for, like, a comedy.

[B]

Larry is truly iconic. Yeah, truly iconic. And. But if you get to the core of where he was at then, which is actually now, but he lived in the Palisades, which is near the beach. It's, well, burnt down. What the fuck am I talking about? Do you know that the customer, the DP and the editor all lost their homes?

[A]

It's terrible.

[B]

From Curb youb Enthusiasm and those three people, those key. Yeah, key departments. But, sorry, no, but he would lay. We would talk about this. He never had to use air conditioning in his house because the breeze would come in from the ocean. You see the ocean. And he would lay on a hammock in his backyard, and he would tell me what he would think about and that all he did was ruminate. He was filled with anxiety. So he's got all this money, beautiful house there, and he would lay in there and be the guy that you see on Curb youb Enthusiasm. So that's based at the core, a real thing.

[A]

So much of the two of you guys as a comedy duo is just at restaurants, right? The two of you.

[B]

Like, we've been in our share of restaurants.

[A]

You just like. Just kind of like him presenting you with a sociopathic idea. And you'd be like, larry, that's a great idea.

[B]

Right? Yeah, that happens a lot.

[A]

Is the dynamic of your friendship, like, it feels real to me. Is that the dynamic of, like.

[B]

Yeah, he's one of my closest friends. I feel being with Larry like I would being with my kids. It's just normal, you know? It's not like I'm sitting with Larry David, which many people would feel that way. So when I'm with him, we talk about everything. I make him laugh hard, which thrills me to no end. Like, that is like.

[A]

Yeah, it feels amazing.

[B]

Oh, it's like you. I have his number. Like, Zach Galifianakis, for me, just has my number. He can make me laugh. The wind changes directly.

[A]

He's the funniest guy.

[B]

Yeah. And so I do that for Larry, and it just kind of. And he'll laugh hard, too, at my nonsense and non sequiturs, all of it. But, man, oh, man, I got some serious shit going down. He's gonna be one of the people I call to tell me.

[A]

Does he pick up?

[B]

He does. Like this. Like he's Shelly Berman in a scout.

[A]

Hello?

[B]

Hello, Jeff?

[A]

He'll pick up if you call.

[B]

What are you talking about?

[A]

Caleb, Is it okay if I. Yeah.

[B]

What's going. What is. What is this? Caleb.

[A]

This is Caleb. He works on the show.

[B]

I think he's blocking my camera.

[A]

It's fine. You're gonna feel bad about saying that in a minute. There's. He's. Larry Davis is like the biggest hero in life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And.

[B]

Oh, but that's not cancerous. No, no, that's a sidebar. You have beautiful hair on the side. If you were Larry David, you could grow that. Harriet. If you had curly hair, the Larry David look.

[A]

So what say we don't have much time. Okay? And.

[B]

But he's. He's healthy.

[A]

No, no, you don't know that. Can we call him? Can we. Can Caleb just say hello real quick?

[B]

No, I mean, this ain't the Make a Wish foundation, pal. Get the fuck out of here. Who is. How are you interrupting me with a fake cancer story? Because he's Brian.

[A]

I didn't see, but I was thinking

[B]

when you took off your head. Hold on. I was thinking when you took off your hat. That episode where the head shaving.

[A]

You're gonna feel so bad when he dies of cancer tomorrow.

[B]

I have dear, dear friends. I don't know if I believe them, who state just to, like, give me this, that they've never seen the show, and I love it. That corrects, by the way, Semites. I don't care.

[A]

Anti Semites, probably.

[B]

Well, the point, though, is that I go to him for all of it. He's like a big brother to me, to be honest with you. We're very close friends, but he. I look up to him as a person, as a friend.

[A]

Sounds like. Because you won't even help Caleb out with his cancer, it could save him.

[B]

Are you gonna stay on that?

[A]

I'm sorry, dude. I just thought it was a good trick, and it didn't work at all. Because he saw your side of the side of the side of your ball. Right. You could have shaved his head.

[B]

Say, my bad. That's awesome. I don't understand that. My mistake is much better.

[A]

My bad.

[B]

Yeah, that sounds like it was invented at a place for mentally challenged people. Like, they play basketball and one of the kids would go, my bad. And then one of the people who worked there said, oh, I like that, and spread it from there. But it started with a mentally challenged person. My mistake is really not saving you much time. I mean, costing you any time.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, my bad.

[B]

My bad. That's stupid shit.

[A]

Tell me about, like, how the show, like, the set was run and how it was structured. Like, there's.

[B]

It was different for me than everybody else, so I'LL give you my observation of what's going on and what I was doing. So I get there, let's say seven in the morning. We're gonna start shooting at eight. Okay. And, you know, I go through makeup, put on usually a suit, and then I mosey my way to craft service and see all the people, all the departments, say hello to everybody. And then you get on set where, let's say it's in my house, my character's house, lights are all set up like this and everything's ready to go. And you see the DP talking with the director, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And we don't rehearse. We move so the camera can know kind of where we're going. We do not rehearse. And actors will come on and they'll start doing the scene. We go, no, no, no, no, no. We will do it when we do it. We're not going to do this.

[A]

Is he one of the reactions to be authentic?

[B]

Maybe always, yes. And we also don't want people trying to be funny or have written things and prepared. We just want it fresh. And if that does happen, it's gone by the second take.

[A]

Does someone pitch lines, though? Is like Larry pitching lines?

[B]

Well, no, there's only three. Well, there's Carol Leifer among some other people. There's some excellent writers and they do come up with great ideas. It's not joke driven the show. So it's not like lines this, that. But for me, in that situation, here's how far I go. I will literally, Jeff Schaefer, the executive producer director, will come over to me and go, what are we doing? I have no idea when I arrive to set what I'm going to be shooting.

[A]

That's so fast.

[B]

And he tells me, you know, he points it out and I go, great. And then we start the scene. We do that now after every take. I don't. I used to be in this all the time. The executive producers are Jeff Schaefer, myself and Larry. If it's a scene I'm in, we go have a creative discussion about what's working, what can be done like this. Don't like this. If I'm not in the scene, I stay at video. I used to go, we have that meeting or be. You know, I don't do that anymore. Now if I see something, I go tell Larry and Jeff, like on the monitor. If it's a scene I'm not in. But that's how it works. We just redo it until we have what we have.

[A]

What's your favorite thing you've ever. Just off the top of the dome.

[B]

Just the one I remember just improvising was Larry talking about washing dishes in hot water, that he had special hands. And I started screaming at him, they didn't have special hands. That argument is brilliant. Because you're Larry David and you happen to like wearing women's panties. That is in the outline. So I'm just. That's Larry David's. You know, me doing it. So much fun. And I try and do something different every take. Unless Jeff Schaefer says to me, we don't have this. Will you do this?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Larry's even said to me. There was one scene he and I are riding on an airplane. And I chose to. I made it. It was a clear choice. I made that. I'm sitting like this in my seat next to Larry, and he says, what are you doing? I go, we're gonna take off. He goes, you got a book? No. He's asking me different things. Well, what are you doing? I go, just sit here. He said to me, don't do that again. Don't. Did a bunch of other stuff. What I did was in the episode

[A]

is Larry in the edit.

[B]

Larry in the edit. Larry watches every single take. Every single take. Which, like, if I direct a movie or something, I'm editing while I'm on set, and I know if I got it. And I don't need to see 400 different things. The only thing that surprises you in editing is when you steal a shot. Like, it's someone's reaction. They're wearing the same clothes, but from another scene. But you use it in the scene. You know, I mean, that they're not in. It's beautiful. That's. That's the time you use it editing. But so Bruce Springsteen, who, by the way, was everything I dreamt he would be. Everything. I was very nervous to meet him. What a guy. Fantastic. And we had. We had a great time that day. So we're shooting a scene. Susie's standing in the kitchen. Bruce and I are sitting across from each other at my table in my house. Larry's at the head. And standing behind Larry is Bruce's assistant, who, in this scene, we come to find out used to be a woman. And he. Oh, Larry.

[A]

Yeah, Larry.

[B]

He says that Larry dated him when he was a woman. And of course, the horror on Larry's face is just. That's one of my favorite looks that he's ever given on the show. He's given great ones. And the guy goes, and the guy gives a piece of information where Larry used to love fucking on the floor. That was his thing. So we film it a couple times, and then I lean over to Bruce and I go. Because I had it like this, I'm recreating. I said, take a beat and then say, larry, I never thought of you as a floor fucker. Or wait till the end. Because Jeff Schaefer is so great. He doesn't yell cut right away. He lets it live for a second to see if someone, you know. So Bruce says that line, cut. The place explodes, floor fucker. The ceiling went up and down for him. Say, I never thought of you as a floor fucker. What am I supposed to do? At that moment, I came up with it. I thought of it. So I didn't do that.

[A]

You're gonna think this bastard Springsteen.

[B]

So. So six months later, whatever. When it was premiering, eight months later, when Larry and Susie, I'll just point out those two did interviews, they said Bruce came up with it. And I called them both after they were driving insane. That was fine. But after I called both of them and they were very apologetic. Why don't you tell us? I'm like, why am I gonna tell you? That's just so stupid. So now in my book that you're gonna mention. I've mentioned it. There's. I'm going to mention it everywhere. So now I'm doing my own. Because that line. That is my tide for my two lines that I fed somebody that are the best lines. What was the other one? The other one was jb, myself and Larry are at a table and JB is talking all about the big Johnson community. Who's welcome? You know, the thing. And I whispered to jb, next take, I'm gonna tell Larry to ask you who is in charge of the big Johnson ritty. And then the answer that I told him to say was Horse Cock Williams. And he told it. Everybody laughed. And again, what am I supposed to do? That was mine.

[A]

So I would just whisper loudly.

[B]

Yeah. So people hear it louder. No, because I don't want Larry. The thing about it, also, Larry's saying

[A]

that Bruce Springsteen came up with that on tv. Was. He was with you? For sure.

[B]

But by the way, Bruce Springsteen, he gets enough credit for his songs.

[A]

That's what I'm saying.

[B]

That's on the comedy. He was great, by the way. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Wait, so do you. You miss making the show? Because.

[B]

Terribly.

[A]

Because what you say. You describing it like, just saying there's a loose concept. They're like We'll. We'll, like, hit. Well, the red light will go on. We'll. We'll do it.

[B]

You know, we will just do it. Because the album.

[A]

Your friends having fun.

[B]

Well, yes, but the outline is so good and so specific that if I'm just true to the outline, certainly I'll go off because I've gone somewhere and we've used that sometimes, but it's all there. So if you're present in the scene and you know you're part in the scene. There are a lot of scenes with me in it where bunch of people are talking and I'm not saying a word. Yeah, because it almost feels like you're competing to get the thing out. And I'm just sitting there going, the best thing for my character to do is just not say shit.

[A]

But seeing Jeff's just sitting there not saying shit is like. That's what. There's. It's. That's a good choice.

[B]

People know it's intelligent.

[A]

It's the right choice.

[B]

Yeah, it is the right choice.

[A]

But see myself out of this one.

[B]

Yeah, but. But the point is, Larry David said to me one day we were shooting Season three, probably, he goes, you're never gonna have this much fun in a set ever again in your life. You never been on show this funny. Yeah. And I said, that is 100% correct.

[A]

Do you conceive of it as being the greatest sitcom of all time? A lot of people say that.

[B]

No, but top 10, easy.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, Honeymooners, Mary Tyler Moore, Full House. Full House. The fact that you gave a great fake reaction to that, to my fake naming it.

[A]

I mean, all in the Family. All in the Family.

[B]

All in the Family.

[A]

Have you ever seen Keeping Up Appearances?

[B]

What was that?

[A]

The British.

[B]

I've seen a lot of British shows. One of my favorite.

[A]

Hyacinth. No, it's about this. This woman that's like, whatever me and my family used to watch on PBS on the weekends.

[B]

By the way, that's how I discovered Monty Python. Watched all the English shows, and years later, easily in my top, my personal top five is Toast of London.

[A]

If someone's seeing Jeff Green, you walk around the world, people like, if I see Sarah Jessica Parker, I'm seeing Carrie Bradshaw. You know, you play such a. Like a iconic. Something that's so culturally ubiquitous.

[B]

I am. You'd think I'd go. But when that happens, or people come up to me, anyone who comes up

[A]

to me, they like the show.

[B]

Yeah. Cause they. I had a guy, a Swedish guy, like 6, 5 wearing a sweater. I don't know where he came from. You know, he talked about how much he loved the show, all the stuff. And I took a picture with him happily. I gave him a pack of baseball cards. I'm apt to do that. I carry packs sometimes.

[A]

You're a funny guy.

[B]

Well, I might be too, but you're really funny. You're funny guy. Because I don't think people are funny.

[A]

You're a funny piece of ass. That's what you are.

[B]

I'm a hot piece of ass and you're a funny. Where are you going with this?

[A]

Nothing. I don't know. I was just going with it.

[B]

I don't like that direction.

[A]

Why would you. If it's open just like I did. Stupid. It would be stupid if we. If you. If we had sex.

[B]

No, no, you would use the word we. It would be you having sex and having forced me.

[A]

But it's we having sex.

[B]

Just like Richard Kynes original name, that's what you'd be.

[A]

Zalman the Rapist. Wait, so you. I want to talk to you about stand up.

[B]

Like I'll talk about stand up for hours.

[A]

Okay, so like.

[B]

So I've been doing this for 43 years.

[A]

So you did you like watch on late night television. You're like that.

[B]

This is the thing you want.

[A]

Who is your hero?

[B]

From the time I was a little kid, I tried to make my parents laugh. I was always the funniest kid in school. I would sneak up late to watch Johnny Carson to see the comedians. If I knew a comedian was on. I loved comedy. My first album was a Cheech and Chong album, Big Bamboo. I remember, you know, I didn't know it was rolling paper type thing for the COVID But I love comedy my whole life. So you tell me. Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, my favorite comic.

[A]

That's a great comic.

[B]

Give me credit, by the way. That's what broke my heart about it is like you're an iconic.

[A]

He was so good at comic.

[B]

He really was. But it's. You know what I did one night at the Comedy Store? I went up and I gave away all my Bill Cosby albums after all that shit happened. Really? Yeah. People took and they're original rapists.

[A]

Probably took them, right?

[B]

Do you have them? Just molesters.

[A]

Molesters. There's a big difference. There should be different.

[B]

The point is you say high school, man. In high school, I would watch everything, all of it. I remember seeing Eddie for the first time. Showtime's the big laugh off. This would have been 1980 or so.

[A]

He was probably 18 or something.

[B]

Very young when I started.

[A]

You like Steve Martin and Andy Kaufman?

[B]

Love Andy Kaufman. Oh, my God. You understand, Those guys are just like. I had lunch once with Milton Berle.

[A]

Apparently, like, to his knee.

[B]

No. Yeah, apparently. That's. That's what I hear. That's what I hear, too. I know every guy. You don't know that about Richard Cotton. Richard Cottage. I was at the Friars Club and I had lunch with him. Oma. I've had lunch with Sid Caesar. I got to work with an amazing array. Shelly Berman. I've worked with people that I. In my mind, when I'm doing a scene with them, I'm going, oh, my God, this is amazing.

[A]

Yeah, it's incredible.

[B]

It takes me out of the scene kind of. But I love comedians. I love comedy. I despise bad comedy. You started at 20, so SCTV. My God, the fact I worked with Catherine O' Hara on. Not only worked with her on Curb, supposedly had sex with her. And we recorded those sounds.

[A]

It was real sex.

[B]

No, no. We recorded those sounds in a laundry room. But it was so embarrassing. Here I am with. Truly a hero of Mine, and we're making sex sounds, and she's saying, fuck me, fat boy and all that.

[A]

I thought of her as my mom because of Home Alone.

[B]

Home Alone. But yeah. A movie I've never seen.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yes. Just surprised. I auditioned for it, for the Daniel Stern part, and I knew I didn't try because I'm gonna be honest. I read that script that I went, this sucks. Yeah. And I'm not gonna try.

[A]

The amount of violence.

[B]

100% true.

[A]

The amount of violence enacted by a child on adult men in that. It's baffling. It's actually. It's crazy.

[B]

Well, it's an absurd. John. John. John Hughes. John Hughes. Yeah. But there is a bit of absurdism in all his movies. People falling a certain way and, you know, it's there, but so it's kind of. Can be cartoonish, the violence in that, you know, I don't know if that's better or worse.

[A]

It inspired me to beat on my parents.

[B]

What are you talking about?

[A]

I don't know. I'm having a great time.

[B]

What?

[A]

Your point. No, your point was about. Your point was about Catherine making sex noises.

[B]

Oh, Catherine. And then having a scene with the dinner table. We're making sexual faces at one another. I mean, to me, what the fuck, man?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm devastated that we lost her. She's always been great to me. Even before we worked together. And she is a fucking hero and it kills me.

[A]

She's a genius.

[B]

Genius, genius. No, it is.

[A]

She's one of the.

[B]

Yes, I know. Madeline Kahn. Yeah. Catherine o'. Hare.

[A]

Can you tell us a little bit about Bob Einstein and Richard?

[B]

Sure, I'd be happy.

[A]

I mean, Bob Einstein is one of.

[B]

From what I hear, you can ask me about stand up comedy. That's what it was.

[A]

Well, we're going in a million directions. We'll get there.

[B]

Okay. If we do, let's do Bob Einstein first. Bob Einstein was one of my closest friends. Bob would. After we're done filming a scene, you'd be driving home, the phone would ring and it'd be Bob going, wasn't that great? That was so great. Wasn't it so much fun? And this is not. This is like, that's it. He would call Susie and do the same thing. And also he knew so many great jokes. They just tell you at lunch.

[A]

The episode where he tells Jerry the.

[B]

Oh, you want to hear a secret about that episode? What we filmed was maybe twice as long.

[A]

Super Dave, man.

[B]

Yeah, it was Super Dave.

[A]

Marty is also just the funniest character because like Larry just like literally just has no respect for this human being whatsoever.

[B]

Yeah, no, it's.

[A]

He despises him.

[B]

He always comes up with ideas. It was a joy to be around him. He and his wife were very close with my wife and I. My ex wife and I that. See again, you lose. In my photography book, which we'll get to. You go through it. I think half the people that I took pictures of are dead.

[A]

Don't take a picture of me.

[B]

Oh, you did? No one young is dead. It's like people who died of old age, what have you. And so Bob, he was great. And he also told me this one story about Redd Fox he was producing because Bob in the day was a producer of variety shows. Dick Van Dyke, all these variety shows. And he was the executive producer of the Red Fox show they're about to shoot. Nobody can find Red. Okay. And Bob goes to go. I'll go to his dressing room. And he goes to his dressing room. What? Red, are you in there? What? Red, are you in there? What? He opens the door and he's sitting in the makeup chair, leaning back, and the makeup lady is sitting on his face. And Red Fox says, and this is true because Bob told me this is the best. This is the punch. Red Fox says to Bob, bob, we gotta do the show. And Red's response was, can't a Man, relax. Is that not so? He had a million stories like that. So he would tell those stories. And also, you know, he was out of the show. He had pneumonia and he was getting better. And then he said, I'll be back in about two weeks. In two weeks, he was dead from cancer. They found it was. And so that really ripped us all apart. And at lunch sometimes we would walk away, like, overwhelmed. And we all knew why. Whoever one of us walked away, it had a profound effect on their show. And Vince Vaughn coming on as Funkhouser's cousin or whatever it was, was fantastic. Totally different than Bob, obviously, but Vince was a joy to work with. And then as far as Richard's concerned, that's also one of my closest friends, Richard. I used to tour with Richard. We go on the road together. We'd be on the road, and when I'd be on stage, he'd stay in the car because he was afraid he'd put something in his head off what I would say. Robin Williams had the same thing where it would just fly in there and then, like, come out a year later, you know, And I need more water. Can I have a normal water? I don't want to pick this shit up anymore.

[A]

I'll pour it for you.

[B]

All right. He's going to pour it for me. It'll be fine. So Richard, obviously, one of my comedy heroes, did things like he was, to me, he was kind of like, sure, there was Lenny Bruce, who was a great influence on Richard, and Richard Pryor, Richard Lewis influence. But he might have been the first alternative comedian. He'd lay on his notes on a piano and go into things and grab his hair. He was unlike anyone else. And I was on him, all of him. To be on the road with him and be close with him. He. His. His best acting on the show was the last year. Yeah, it was sad seeing he really couldn't move around. He was in bad health. A lot of scenes he did sitting down, actually, most of them. But he did great work. His last.

[A]

It's kind of beautiful that he, like, meant something to.

[B]

Yes. And we didn't have to deal with him dying because we were done. Unlike Bob, who we had a lot going on that season. Story wise and our friend wise.

[A]

Ironically, also, everyone in Marty's family dies on that show. Like his father.

[B]

The. The mother. Yeah, the three wood.

[A]

The mother. Yeah. Just like him. Larry stealing the flowers from the roadside memorial.

[B]

Of course.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, That's a great one.

[A]

So then ironically, yeah, Marty also.

[B]

Yeah, he did that. I have so many more stories I could tell. But Richard.

[A]

Yeah, go ahead.

[B]

Not only did it have a profound effect on me, 17 years ago, he took me to an AA meeting. And the reason he took me was because I had trouble with food. And I thought that was gonna be the answer. There were gigantic rock stars. And what were their names? He and I were the only comedians. There were some famous actors. But when I say gigantic rocks. So I'm in this room, everyone's talking about their alcoholism. And I started talking about my food. I felt embarrassed, but also the way it went around. I turned to the guy behind me and I go, this ain't for me. Didn't go back until 13 years later. I went back in and Richard originally took me. I just had a nervous breakdown and was suicidal. So I was really down health wise and everything. And I had gone away to rehab for mental health and also abusing alcohol and weed. Drank a lot of beer. I drank to get drunk. I smoked weed both to escape. And I didn't do them as a habit. I did them when I felt self medicating. Self medicating. But still, food is what I bottomed out on. Food. So someone took me to the meeting. And I will celebrate my sobriety date. February 4th. Four years for being.

[A]

Congratulations.

[B]

Thank you, pal. And the guy, I said, this ain't for me, not even realizing it because he told me the story. He's my sponsor. So I globbed onto this guy. He said, yeah, I'll sponsor you like three weeks in. He went, do you remember me? And I go, no. He tells me that story. So I think that that is, you know, one of those universe things that full circle around and. Yeah, so it's. He profoundly changed my life comedically. Taught me things in every level. He taught me. He just, you know, I learned from. You say mentor. Yeah, those were mentors to me. Heroes, mentors, close friends. I was really grateful to have that.

[A]

I do want you to mention your photography book.

[B]

And the name of my book is Best. The Best Seat in the House. I forgot the sub thing. It's funny, actually, like, pictures I've taken of people that nobody asked for. Just like something stupid. But it's really. It's a. It's a good quip. Anyhow, it's pictures of me. No, I'm in one shot, which is me and Amir for my intro to the Book. But I'm not in the pictures. It's pictures I took during Curb Susie, Larry, you know, jb and pictures from. I was in this movie Babylon Got Pictures of Brad Pitt. My favorite picture in the book is one I took of Margot Robbie. I've got musicians. Jeff Tweedy. I've got an amazing shot of. These are all people that I'm working with when I take these pictures. John Mulaney. I have an action shot of John Mulaney. You think of John Mulaney as just sort of. I've got one that if you see the picture, you go. You think he's more like Sam Kinison when you see the picture. Oh, he's screaming. He looks like he's screaming. I don't know what he's doing, but I got that. I got all sorts of comedians, heroes of mine, and they're all the shots from set. But all my shots on set are environmental. In other words, there has to be a boom in the shot or something, because then I'm treading on the set photographer's place. So I show people in a scene, like Larry in a scene, but there's all the stuff around it.

[A]

What happened that day? Is that what you're saying?

[B]

I'll talk about Maybe. Yes. I go into moments of a great one of Richard Kind. That's a great story. Another time. But it's all these essays I write for every one of the pictures as

[A]

a means of documenting your career. It's a really neat way to do it.

[B]

It is kind of a neat way to do it. Although, like I said, I'm not in the shot. I am in two of the shots. Reflection. There's one of Jeff Ross in a window. I'm in the reflection, which, when I took the picture, I did not notice. And one of Jennifer

[A]

Aniston.

[B]

No. You know, she talks like this.

[A]

Coolidge.

[B]

Jennifer Coolidge. I've known her since the 80s. Anyhow, she's getting her makeup put on in a thing, and I take a shot of her. Did not notice that I was in the mirror. I don't want to take a picture if I have anything to do with it. But those are in there. But no intent. And it's not. It's really all about these beautiful people, funny people that I've known and work with.

[A]

Through your point of view.

[B]

From my point of view, it's kind of cool. And they're all. The set shots are environmental. The portraits are all environmental. Nobody. I'm not setting up anything. It's all in the moment. I love using natural light. I don't crop. It's just a very specific way I shoot. Actually, I want to take a picture of you right now, to end the show.

[A]

I was going to ask.

[B]

Yeah, no, no, that's why I'm. I think with these lights of four, it should be four. Let me just see something here. It might be blown out. Let me go to. Hold on. Let me go to five.

[A]

How do I look?

[B]

Oh, very beautiful. But you don't have to. Even the fact that you're posing is hilarious. You're very funny, dude. All right, let me see if I. Oh, they're great. They're great.

[A]

Jeff Carlin, everyone. Thank you so much, Sam.