The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Danny Ricker
Episode Date: April 22, 2025
Guests: Danny Ricker (Co-Executive Producer & Head Writer, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Author of "Wow, You Look Terrible")
Hosts: Brian Green & Chris Joy Hoadley

Episode Overview

This Infomercial Tuesday episode welcomes Danny Ricker, Emmy-nominated co-executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, to talk about the chaos and artistry behind late-night TV, his journey from TV-watching intern to head writer, and—most importantly—his new comedic parenting book, “Wow, You Look Terrible.” The hosts riff on modern parenting challenges, the strange perils of screen time for kids, and the inevitability of generational change, all with their trademark irreverence and self-deprecation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Behind the Scenes: Making Jimmy Kimmel Live!

• Daily Chaos & Creative Process
  • The show is built daily from scratch, starting at 6 a.m. for a 4:30 p.m. taping. There’s constant chaos and last-minute decision-making, but “it gets done every day by hook or by crook” thanks to a dedicated team. (10:10)
  • Jimmy Kimmel is unusually hands-on, acting as “the showrunner” and performing “a ton of writing and producing;” he’s “probably a little too involved,” but that’s why the show works. (11:08)
• How Content Gets Chosen
  • The writing staff prepares a “menu” of ideas: some topical, some evergreen, some unrelated to news, so Kimmel can assemble the best “collection of stuff” for the day.
  • “We just try to prepare for all possible scenarios.” – Danny Ricker (12:20)

Navigating the Comic/Political Line

• Late-Night’s Shift Toward Politics
  • The show never made a formal decision to go political: “We try to be a mirror to what’s going on.”
  • “I think over the last 10, 15 years, our country has started talking about different things and we’ve just kind of gone along with it.” – Danny Ricker (15:04)
• The Role of Catharsis & Comedy During Hard Times
  • More than news delivery, late-night comedy is about processing the day’s events together:

    “I still see those late-night talk show hosts as kind of a beacon… where you can look on the other side of the screen and say things are gonna be okay.”
    (16:08, Brian Green)

Danny’s Journey: From TV Watcher to EP

• Starting at the Bottom
  • Danny began as a “TV watcher” intern—literally watching hours of reality TV and talk shows to find possible clips and monologue material.

    “It was weirdly kind of like a sales job… you gotta get stuff on the show.”
    (19:17, Danny Ricker)

  • “That time feels longer than the 15 years I’ve been a writer.”
    (20:41)
• Being Mentored and Promoted From Within
  • Praises Kimmel and the team for being supportive, nurturing talent, and promoting from within—even when the entry job was just “watching Dr. Phil for a living!” (22:10)
  • His parents were thrilled, especially being SoCal natives and long-time fans of Jimmy Kimmel. (23:50)

Parenting, Technology, and "Wow, You Look Terrible"

(Book Discussion Begins ~25:11)

Why Write a Parenting Book?

• The book was Jimmy Kimmel’s idea after years of liking Danny’s daily non-topical, kid-related observations.
• Originally envisioned as a “page-a-day” observations book; evolved into comedic essays themed around the impracticality of parenting for “very practical people.”

  “My faux premise… is how to parent less and then get your life back.” – Danny Ricker (27:40)

• It became half-practical, half-hilarious:

  “Not everything is bullshit in here…” (27:31)

The Modern Parenting Struggle: Overcomplication & Chaos

• Parents are under increasing pressure to “do everything,” from daily bathing rituals to elaborate holiday magic; Danny urges cutting “self-imposed ridiculousness.”
• “You don’t have to live up to every expectation that’s out there… you really overcomplicate a situation that was going to be complicated from the beginning.” – Brian Green (32:04)

The Importance of Letting Go – and Letting Kids Try

• Referencing The Anxious Generation and the “blown by wind” metaphor (33:36–34:35), Danny praises giving age-appropriate independence:

  “There are safe ways to give kids a little independence… when my daughter got a short grocery list and came back, she had the biggest smile on her face.” – Danny Ricker (34:24)

• Builds confidence and is “infectious” for kids.

Notable Quotes on Parenting (and Lies)

• On “white lies” for peace:

  “I think it’s totally fine to lie to kids… they lie to us about everything.” – Danny Ricker (40:16)

• On holiday magic:

  “I have a whole chapter in the book where I recommend we just get rid of all of them—not because we're lying to the kids, but just because they’re a huge pain in the ass.” (41:37)

• On resilience:

  "What doesn’t kill them will make them stronger. It’s the things we go through that make us more resilient, not less.” – Brian Green (51:20)

Modern Parenting and Screen Time

• Both hosts and Danny swap confessions about fighting with their kids over iPads, TV, and cell phones:
  • Early experiments with iPad access led to realization of addiction and later “total ban except for travel or special uses.”
  • “When they had unlimited access, they always wanted it. When you take it away, after a week, they forget it.” – Brian Green (49:20)
• Danny likens handing out screens to handing out cigarettes—kids lack impulse control, and even adults struggle (51:20).
• Danny’s approach: keep old cell phones for FaceTime with family, but “it’s not your phone!” and “no games, just communication.”
• All agree: Try to delay and limit as much as is practical; be aware of the psychological effects.

Memorable Moments & Standout Quotes

• On Late Night TV “Wait, you’re telling me you have an intern whose job is literally to watch Tila Tequila and The View all day?” – Brian Green (19:04)
• On Parenting Chaos

  “Parenting is the most impractical process, like, ever… I used to be a person, now I’m my kids’ service animal.” – Danny Ricker (27:29)

• On Parental Lies and Santa Claus
  • When Danny’s daughter cracked the Santa code:

    “I know you’re Santa. You didn’t give me the water knock, you got me the bike because the bike is cheaper.” (44:38)

• On Generational Change

  “I never remember a time where my dad sat on the floor and played with me for two hours, and I have a fantastic father… It’s just a difference in generational stuff.” – Danny Ricker (33:36)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:00–01:11 – Cold open banter; parenting and letting kids develop independence.
• 09:22 – Danny Ricker joins; intro to late night & Kimmel process.
• 14:06 – Discussing political humor and “going there” in late night.
• 18:40 – Danny’s start as a TV watcher/intern.
• 25:07 – Transition to parenting, book conception, and why write “Wow, You Look Terrible”.
• 27:29–34:00 – Book’s philosophy; embracing chaos, practical shortcuts, the self-imposed stress of modern expectations.
• 34:35–39:32 – Independence, confidence, and building resilience in kids.
• 39:38–44:33 – The fine art of “little white lies”; Santa, Tooth Fairy debates.
• 46:40–51:20 – Cell phones, screen addiction, the struggle to parent intentionally with tech.
• 53:09–53:48 – Final thoughts on the book, Ricker’s accidental good advice.

Overall Tone and Style

Casual, sardonic, improvisational—full of affectionate complaints about the absurdity of both parenting and show business. Ricker matches the hosts’ self-deprecating energy and irreverent humor, keeping things relatable even as he describes the insanity of producing one of the last great network talk shows and parenting in the digital age. There’s a recurring insistence that “whatever works for your family is fine,” blended with a sharp eye for why and how we overthink it all.

Where To Find More

• Book: “Wow, You Look Terrible,” by Danny Ricker — On sale now, links in show notes.
• Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live!, weeknights on ABC.
• TCB Socials: @thecommercialbreak on Instagram, tcbpodcast on TikTok, full video episodes on YouTube.com/thecommercialbreak.
• Danny Ricker: dannyricker.com, social handles in show notes.

For Listeners

If you’re a parent, thinking of being a parent, or even just enjoy hearing comedians commiserate about the chaos of life, this episode delivers sharp truths, practical advice, and plenty of cathartic laughs—without taking itself too seriously.