The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Gianmarco Soresi
Air Date: May 24, 2024
Hosts: Brian Greene, Chrissy Hoadley
Guest: Gianmarco Soresi
Episode Overview
On this edition of the TCB Infomercial, comedian Gianmarco Soresi joins Brian and Chrissy for an irreverent, wide-ranging conversation that effortlessly blends improv, personal confession, and observational comedy. Broadcasting from the "frozen tundra of Canada," Gianmarco riffs on life as a touring comic, therapy for men, mall seals, and the underwhelming state of Super Bowl commercials. Interlaced with stories of family weirdness, weed mishaps, and podcasting oddities, this episode perfectly captures the Commercial Break’s signature blend of chaotic, hilarious, and unfiltered banter.
Key Points, Discussions, and Memorable Moments
1. Touring in (Very) Cold Canada & Mall Seals
- [04:43] Gianmarco calls in from Edmonton, performing at a comedy club inside North America’s second-biggest mall.
- “They have seals. They have a seal show. …I don’t think any of these seals grew up next to a Spencer’s Gifts and that’s going to be tough for them.” – Gianmarco Soresi [05:02, 21:43]
- The crew speculates on the existence of indoor tunnels in Canadian cities, leading to a detour about urban legends and the Hasidic community in NYC.
2. Dental Hygienist Dilemmas
- [06:28] Chrissy and Brian complain about chatty hygienists who show dog photos during cleanings, while Gianmarco shares his experience at a Chinatown dental office:
- “When they lecture me about, you know, what I should be doing, I don't follow. So, you know, I don't feel bad.” – Gianmarco Soresi [07:23]
- “My hygienist likes to show me pictures of her dog while she’s cleaning my teeth and then wants me to react. …Honestly, I don’t care.” – Brian Greene [08:08]
3. Men and Therapy, and Societal Hang-Ups
- [09:33] Gianmarco expands on his comedic take that men often substitute therapy with activities like running:
- “You wouldn’t tell someone with diabetes to run it off, because you need both feet.” – Gianmarco Soresi [00:36, callback at 09:44]
- Culturally, therapy is stigmatized, and suppression may be harnessed for nefarious purposes:
- “I really do believe that some of the propaganda against therapy is simply that, no, we need you to be pent up so we can direct that frustration towards a very specific cause…like storming the Capitol.” – Gianmarco Soresi [10:25]
4. Prostate Health & Masturbation Jokes
- TCB’s signature “21 EPM” (ejaculations per month) bit:
- “For a second, I thought it was per minute, and I was like, whoa, I gotta go, guys, I’m behind.” – Gianmarco Soresi [12:01]
5. Family Fables: Italian-Jewish Identity, Divorce & Absurdity
- Gianmarco riffs on his Italian-sounding name, revealing he’s “much more Jewish,” and recounts being deceived about his ancestry and learning Italian (just “rosetta”):
- “My name feels like a lie sometimes.” – Gianmarco Soresi [12:15]
- [13:31] Discusses his parents’ various marriages, therapy paid for by parents, and the relatable absurdity of childhood myths and family chaos:
- “It was very funny in the beginning when my parents would pay for me to go tell a stranger what pieces of shit they were, 24/7.” – Gianmarco Soresi [17:13]
6. Weed Culture: Dispensaries, Gummies & Gym Felons
- [21:50] The group discusses legal weed in Canada and New York’s messy dispensary rollout, including the phenomenon of ex-con-run fitness studios branching into weed commerce:
- “If my fitness instructor killed somebody, I’ll pay extra. That’s the kind of motivation that I need.” – Gianmarco Soresi [22:50]
- The dangers of unevenly mixed edibles:
- “Sometimes I be like...I eat half, I don’t feel anything, and then I have the other half and I’m fucking dead.” – Gianmarco Soresi [24:14]
7. Podcasting, Press, and Bizarre Encounters
- Gianmarco and the hosts trade Podcast Magazine war stories, with Brian & Chrissy revealing their experience with a would-be journalist who attempted to arrange a threesome during their interview:
- “If anyone wants to feature your podcast in anything, you should go...They probably want to fuck. There’s no way this is anything to do with the podcast.” – Gianmarco Soresi [28:59]
- On "the downside" of being featured in Podcast Magazine:
- “No, no, the joke was, I fucked for it. That was the joke.” – Gianmarco Soresi [31:01]
8. The Pressure and Toll of Stand-Up Touring
- [31:42] Gianmarco honestly details the grind of touring—delays, exhaustion, and the emotional burden of not disappointing fans:
- “You really get the intensity of how many people’s nights you’re going to fuck up if you’re not good...You have to meet this moment.” – Gianmarco Soresi [31:42]
- “I get why comedians die on the road, because...You just gotta push through feeling like shit and you’re in a shitty hotel." – Gianmarco Soresi [34:29]
9. The Joy in Creation and Feedback
- [35:36] Touching on why stand-up is “noble,” Gianmarco shares:
- “The feeling that brings me the most joy is like, you do a new joke and it kind of works...I need a real back and forth for me to make art…That’s the best part.” – Gianmarco Soresi [35:36]
10. Super Bowl Commercials: Celeb Overload & Lack of Creativity
- The trio bemoans Super Bowl ad decline:
- "So many of these commercials, the turn was new celebrity, and then the second turn was a third celebrity." – Gianmarco Soresi [40:25]
- “We’ve gotten rid of the shame of doing commercials that we need to bring back.” – Gianmarco Soresi [41:20]
- "If you are in a trailer that is airing, then I don't want to see you in a commercial right next to it." – Gianmarco Soresi [41:41]
11. Pop Culture: Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby—How Fandoms Shift
- On the size and ferocity of the Swiftie fanbase:
- “Taylor Swift is more famous than Michael Jackson ever was. And I was like, well, to find that out, she’s going to have to molest some kids...There’s loving someone and then there’s loving someone despite the allegations. Let’s see Taylor shake that one off.” – Gianmarco Soresi [37:54]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 04:43 | Gianmarco’s Edmonton mall gig & indoor seals | | 06:28 | Dental hygienist banter | | 09:33 | Men & therapy, stigma, and society’s motives | | 12:01 | Prostate health & masturbation jokes | | 13:31 | Family myths, Italian-Jewish identity | | 21:50 | Canada/NYC weed, ex-con fitness/weed hybrids | | 24:14 | Uneven weed edibles, accidental panic attacks | | 28:59 | Podcast Magazine’s weird side | | 31:42 | The grind & pressure of touring comedians | | 35:36 | Why live feedback drives stand-up | | 39:19 | Super Bowl ads: celebrity overload | | 37:54 | Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, and fandoms |
Notable Quotes
-
On therapy for men:
“You wouldn’t tell someone with diabetes to run it off, because you need both feet.” – Gianmarco Soresi [00:36]
“I really do believe that...the propaganda against therapy is simply that, no, we need you to be pent up so we can direct that frustration towards a very specific cause.” – Gianmarco Soresi [10:25] -
On the reality of showbiz touring:
“You really get the intensity of how many people’s nights you’re going to fuck up if you’re not good...You have to meet this moment.” – Gianmarco Soresi [31:42]
“I get why comedians die on the road...You just gotta push through feeling like shit and you’re in a shitty hotel.” – Gianmarco Soresi [34:29] -
On weed gummies:
“I eat half, I don’t feel anything, and then I have the other half and I’m fucking dead.” – Gianmarco Soresi [24:14] -
On Podcast Magazine:
“If anyone wants to feature your podcast in anything...They probably want to fuck. There’s no way this is anything to do with the podcast.” – Gianmarco Soresi [28:59] -
On Super Bowl commercials:
“So many of these commercials, the turn was new celebrity, and then the second turn was a third celebrity.” – Gianmarco Soresi [40:25]
Episode Tone & Structure
Authentically irreverent, chaotic, and self-aware, mirroring the hosts’ comedic banter with their guest. The conversation jumps rapidly between topics—therapy, weed, podcasting, pop culture—embracing the “variety” vibe while remaining insightful and sharply funny. Gianmarco Soresi’s quick wit and storytelling mesh perfectly with TCB’s offbeat and reactive style.
Additional Resources
-
Gianmarco Soresi Tour Dates & Podcast:
gianmarcosoresi.com
Podcast: The Downside -
The Commercial Break Podcast:
tcbpodcast.com
@thecommercialbreak (Instagram), @cbpodcast (TikTok)
Summary prepared in the spirit of TCB: Chaotic, hilarious, and “just FINE” for everyone who loves an off-the-rails deep dive into comedy, culture, and the human condition. Wah-bam!!