The Breakfast Club: GARY OWEN in the Trap! | 85 South Show Podcast (January 18, 2026)

Episode Overview

This lively episode of The Breakfast Club, featuring special guest comedian Gary Owen alongside the 85 South Show crew (primarily Grady and Nav Green), is a hilarious, candid journey through Gary’s unique career as a white comedian in Black comedy spaces, his personal ups and downs, and the broader comedy circuit. From stories about the dangers of Oakland crowd work to honest confessions about divorce, the episode blends heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud banter. The crew discusses comic rivalry, crowd dynamics, loyalty to sports teams, and the art of working both “Black” and “white” comedy rooms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy, Community, and Career

• Roots of Stand-up: Gary shares that his comic journey began in the Navy, elaborating on his early desire to be a comedian but uncertainty about how to get started. The military provided the initial audience and support ("And I knew I wanted to be a comedian. I just didn't know how you did it by yourself." – Gary, 09:03).
• Host of Comic View: Gary reflects on his time hosting Comic View, describing how it transitioned from a contest to an open showcase and produced a season with future superstars (Epps, Katt Williams, Monique, D. Ray, etc.). The show solidified his role in Black comedy spaces (33:33–36:58).

2. Navigating Race and Authenticity in Comedy

• Embracing Black Audiences: Gary honestly talks about performing at Black comedy nights in LA and how he adapted his material for broader appeal as his audience diversified. He jokes about dancing to Destiny’s Child to win over Black female fans and “not be a threat” to the men (32:13–33:18).
• Haters on Both Sides: Gary admits to catching flak from both Black and white comedians for his cross-cultural work, recounting a specific instance where Joe DeRosa criticized him on a podcast (49:11). “He does the black shit. And it's offensive...like, yo, where did this come from? I don't think I've ever met this man in my life.”

3. Showbiz Anecdotes and Comic Camaraderie

• Oakland ‘Hella’ Joke Incident (15:45–16:55): Gary describes a moment when Carlos “took” his opening joke at a DeMarcus Cousins special, forcing him to improvise on the spot. It became a lesson in live adaptability, “You figured it out real time? – Grady, 16:24 | Yeah.” – Gary
• Meeting Richard Pryor (42:10–44:07): Gary emotionally recounts meeting Pryor at the Comedy Store in LA, where Pryor told him, “You're funny. Don't ever change.” Years later, he learned Pryor gave the same advice to other up-and-comers, prompting a reflection on the legacy of comic encouragement.

4. Personal Struggles and Resilience

• Divorce and Family: Gary gets real about his divorce and the difficulties in rebuilding his relationship with his kids (27:06–28:09). He emphasizes never “lashing out” at the kids’ mother online, and reveals the sting (and healing) of public perception versus real relationships: “The Internet is not real life...But the first show in Baltimore...it was nothing but love...the hardcore fans...just. And you guys know on the Internet, people be dragging you, but you never see in real life.” (29:16–29:48)
• Opener Betrayal: Gary shares a story of an opener betraying him during his divorce – both telling his ex-wife about Gary’s relationships and also sleeping with the same woman (25:10–26:41). “I didn’t kill him. I killed his career.”

5. Sports Loyalty and Regional Pride

• Football Fandom: A running bit involves Gary defending his loyalty to the Cincinnati Bengals, despite years of mediocrity, and sparring with Grady over other teams (21:53–22:43).
• Oakland and Bay Area Humor: Gary and the crew joke about the intensity of discussing Bay Area teams, including the dangers of joking about Raiders fans (20:36–21:15).

6. Comedy Club Realities

• Audience Dynamics: The discussion exposes differences between Black and white comedy club audiences, Gary noting that while his crowd might argue over “paper straws,” Grady’s may “turn arguments into fights” (51:20–51:58).
• Matinee Shows and Aging: Gary jokes about preferring 4PM shows as he’s gotten older, reflecting on the changing realities for long-standing comics (31:04–31:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On career beginnings:
  • “And I knew I wanted to be a comedian. I just didn't know how you did it by yourself.” — Gary Owen (09:03)
• On realness vs. the Internet:
  • “The Internet is not real life...people be dragging you, but you never see in real life.” — Gary Owen (29:16–29:48)
• On loyalty to his team despite hardships:
  • “Being a Bengals, you hella loyal.” — Gary Owen (22:18)
• On Black and white rooms:
  • “Let me find out you a secret agent. You got a whole other group here on the white side.” — Grady to Gary (31:50)
• On betrayal:
  • “Not only did he tell on me, he was...sleeping with this girl behind my back...So not only did he tell on me...I killed his career.” — Gary Owen (25:41–26:41)
• On comic rivalry:
  • “There was one guy named Joe Derosa...He goes, ‘that Gary Owen, you know, he does the black shit. And it's offensive.’...I don't think I've ever met this man in my life.” — Gary Owen (49:11)
• On advice from Richard Pryor:
  • “He whispered in my ear, he goes, ‘you're funny. Don't ever change.’” — Gary Owen (43:10)
• On comic diversity:
  • “When I came out the Desi's Child, the women loved it, and I was not a threat to the men anymore.” — Gary Owen (33:20)
• On crowd work and social media:
  • “Sometimes it looks like crowd work, but it's really not...things just happen, you know, on stage. Your audience fights. Mine just argues over straws.” — Gary Owen (51:10–51:24)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:52–04:45] Dave Chappelle’s Yellow Springs and Ohio music heritage
• [09:03–10:51] Early comedy roots in the Military and Mississippi/Oxford stories
• [13:26–14:34] Gary’s ‘fake beefs’ and content, Netflix brick walls
• [15:45–16:55] The Oakland “hella” joke incident, real-time joke rescue
• [21:53–22:43] Football loyalty banter (Bengals/Super Bowl)
• [25:10–26:41] Comedic betrayal — the opener story
• [27:06–29:48] Divorce, family relationships, and social media perception
• [31:04–31:27] Aging comics, matinee shows vs. midnight crowds
• [33:33–36:58] Comic View stories and legendary lineups
• [42:10–44:07] Meeting Richard Pryor and comic lineage
• [49:11] Gary calls out Joe DeRosa for calling him offensive
• [51:10–52:09] Differences in audience behavior and Gary’s crowd work style
• [53:04–53:39] Being the ‘only white on-air personality’ at BET

Tone & Show Style

The episode is rich in genuine camaraderie and quick wit, balancing wild stories with honest self-reflection. There’s friendly ribbing between Gary and the hosts, with plenty of Atlanta flavor, down-to-earth humor, and an open acknowledgment of racial realities in comedy.

Final Shout-Out: Closing & Gifts

Grady gifts Gary a 85 South Show sweatsuit, Gary promises to wear it on his next appearance, and the show ends with playful jabs about traffic, punctuality, and loyalty—an apt reflection of the supportive yet chaotic brotherhood that defines the 85 South universe.

For Fans:
This episode is a must-listen for fans of unfiltered comedy, real comedian life stories, and anyone who loves the vibrant overlap between Black and white comedy cultures. Whether you’re here for the laughs or the behind-the-scenes stories, this episode delivers both in spades.