The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Leslie Jones

Podcast: The Commercial Break
Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Brian Green, Chrissy Hoadley
Guest: Leslie Jones

Overview

This episode of The Commercial Break features an energetic, wisdom-packed, and often hilarious interview with comedian, actress, and former SNL cast member Leslie Jones. Hosts Bryan Green and Chrissy Hoadley dive into Leslie’s late-blooming comedic career, her unfiltered thoughts on change and resilience, spirituality, her journey to SNL, and advice for navigating life, all in classic TCB off-the-rails, vibe-heavy style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Change – Life Philosophy

• Leslie emphasizes how resisting change stunts personal and societal growth. Using vivid metaphors, she frames change as essential—“like water up against a stagnant wall.”
  • [02:07 & 16:18] Leslie Jones:
    “Change will ask you nicely once, and then it will proceed. It’s like water up against a stagnant wall. If you don’t open it up, that wall becomes… water becomes stagnant and stale and moldy because it can’t flow.”
• She asserts that the U.S. struggles more than other countries to embrace change, especially regarding social progress.
  • “We’re not the same people we were back in the fucking pilgrim days… This is the only country who hasn’t done that.” [17:09]

2. Late Bloomer Success & Age

• Leslie and the hosts riff on how fulfillment and mastery often come much later in life.
  • [11:01] Brian Green:
    "You have a very unique comedic voice... This didn’t happen for you at 20 years old. And I am not 20 years old. So it gives me, like, target."
  • [12:15] Leslie Jones:
    “47 is not fucking old. It’s actually the beginning.”
  • Leslie breaks down the “decades of life”:
    • 20s: “when you fuck up your life”
    • 30s: “when you clean that up”
    • 40s: “when you start living from all the experience” [12:17]

3. Authenticity, Critical Thinking & Spiritual Independence

• Leslie rails against societal surface-level trends, urging deeper exploration and individual thought.
  • “Critical thinking in this country is so sad… this country is on the surface. We’re not digging at all.” [14:04]
• She distinguishes between religion (dogma) and spirituality (personal relationship).
  • “Religion…and a relationship with God, to me, are two different things.” [27:25]
  • Memorable analogy: “God made a platypus. How dare you say God’s not gonna make a gay man… Or a transgender… When there’s hairy caterpillars!” [17:55-18:16]

4. Society, Church, and Hypocrisy

• Leslie shares a biting, personal story about encountering hypocrisy in church—mixing laughter and outrage—that critiques performative faith and prejudice:
  • [21:05-23:45] Leslie Jones:
    “I started going to this church that was across the street from my house… called the Church on the Way. I would never forget it, because it’s the Church on the way to hell.”
  • Anecdote about being condescended to and given a Bible by someone spewing “Republican Jesus” beliefs.
  • “I remember throwing that Bible in the garbage, because I was like, I don’t want nothing from you.”

5. Advice for Young People & Confidence

• Leslie impresses the importance of letting young people live, make mistakes, and not rush adulthood or success.
  • “I’m giving you the permission now to be a fucking 20 year old… Why do you have underwear on?... When I was in my 20s, I didn’t even know who the president was.” [29:29]
• She reflects on self-esteem and body image in her 20s, wishing she could go back and tell herself:
  • “You are gorgeous. You don’t even understand how gorgeous you are. You need to own it right now.” [30:57]

6. Leslie’s Journey to Comedy & SNL

• Leslie credits Jamie Foxx as a key figure in her early journey. Jamie advised her to live life before pursuing comedy seriously.
  • [34:15] Leslie Jones:
    “He was like, you want to be a comedian?... But you don’t got to talk about. You haven’t been through anything. Just go live life. Comedy will be here when you get back.”
• She details her SNL audition saga with humor and swagger—fighting imposter syndrome, defying industry ageism, and ultimately being noticed by Chris Rock.
  • “One night, I was at The Comedy Store, and I was performing the slave joke… My friend Owen Smith said that Chris Rock was standing in the door watching me... Chris says, ‘I just put her on [my list of comics] to look out for.’” [41:01]
  • Chris Rock connects her with SNL, despite her initial reluctance:
    [42:32] “I don’t do sketch comedy, so you need to call him and tell him... I’m not doing that…”
  • The audition: Leslie uses her stage command, even ordering SNL brass to “move up” for energy. She brings down the house, then bonds with Amber Ruffin during the process. [50:24]
  • Eventually, SNL offers her a writing spot, which she hilariously recounts hearing in a nail salon parking lot:
    “When I hung up that phone, I jumped out the car and I was like... SNL! [58:04]

7. Legacy, Foundation and Life’s Second Act

• Promoting her special Life Part 2, Leslie speaks on why building a solid life foundation matters, regardless of the timeline:
  • “Stop rushing, build the foundation… The materials that you need to build your foundation comes through living life and walking the trail of your destiny.” [59:58]
• Offers wisdom for worry-warts:
  • “Don’t waste no more time in worrying. Worrying don’t do for you. Worrying don’t change the situation.” [61:00]

Notable Quotes

(with timestamps and attribution)

• Leslie Jones [16:18]:
  “Change will ask you nicely once, and then it will proceed. It’s like water up against a stagnant wall...”
• Leslie Jones [12:15]:
  “47 is not fucking old. It’s actually the beginning. People need to really slow the fucking shit down. The 20s is when you fuck up your life. The 30s, when you clean that up. The 40s is when you start living from all the experience that you’ve experienced.”
• Leslie Jones [34:15]:
  “Jamie Foxx…was like, you want to be a comedian?…You haven’t been through anything. Just go live life. Comedy will be here when you get back.”
• Leslie Jones [17:55]:
  “When I talk to people who say they believe in God. I said, the God you believe in is this little box that you put them in. God made a platypus. How dare you say God’s not gonna make a gay man.”
• Leslie Jones [27:25]:
  “Religion and a relationship with God, to me, are two different things.”
• Brian Green [58:59]:
  “That is the best SNL origin story we have heard. And we have heard a few.”
• Leslie Jones [59:58]:
  “Life Part 2 is basically what it means. Like, I’m at the second part of my life, and it’s wonderful. It’s. I built a great, strong foundation for me to have a good time in this part of my life.”

Timestamps & Structurally Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Content | Key Points | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:07 | (Preview with Leslie) on Change | Metaphor of water/change; setting episode’s introspective tone | | 10:29 | Interview begins with Leslie Jones | Leslie asks why they’re excited to have her on | | 12:15 | Age, life stages, success in later life | The arc of 20s, 30s, 40s explained, Jamie Foxx advice | | 14:04 | Critical thinking and societal surface-level thinking | On trends, “woke”, DEI, and lack of deeper understanding | | 17:09-18:16 | Spirituality, God, diversity in nature and people | “God made a platypus…” | | 21:05-23:45 | Church hypocrisy anecdote | Church stories; condescending parishioner, rejecting a Bible| | 29:29 | Advice for 20-somethings, self-worth, body confidence | Leslie and Chrissy reflect on 20s, confidence, self-image | | 34:15 | Jamie Foxx, living life before comedy | The “go live life” moment | | 41:01 | Chris Rock discovers Leslie | The Comedy Store “slave joke”, getting on Chris’ radar | | 46:59 | SNL audition process and mindset | Her competitive fire, sizing up competition, attitude | | 51:34 | SNL audition performance | Commanding the audition room, memorable improv moment | | 57:04 | Getting the SNL offer | Hearing from Lorne Michaels, nailing the gig | | 59:58 | Promoting “Life Part 2” on Peacock, life lessons | Foundation, patience, second act of life | | 61:00 | Final wisdom on worry, resilience | “Worrying don’t do for you…” | | 62:39 | The hosts reflect and wrap up | Appreciation, friendship, gratitude |

Memorable Moments

• Leslie’s “Church on the way to hell” story about religious hypocrisy [21:05]
• Leslie clowning herself and the other SNL auditioners:
  “I didn’t even have makeup on. They came in… I had a pair of jeans on with a fucking T shirt. What I usually perform in. I was there. I did not realize how raw… I know when Lorne saw me, he was like, oh, this is a bright. Oh, this is a… I wanna chisel through that.” [48:58]
• The mutual fandom between Leslie and Amber Ruffin, their supportive bond during auditions [47:49]
• Her phone call in the nail salon parking lot where she learns she’s gotten SNL [57:04]

Tone & Takeaways

• Leslie Jones is unfiltered, honest, brash, heartfelt, and funny—a mix of hard-won wisdom and riotous storytelling. Her life perspective champions slow growth, authenticity, embracing change, and the value of lived experience over youthful perfection.
• The episode isn’t just comedy or showbiz talk—it’s a masterclass in resilience, confidence, and self-acceptance, peppered with laughter and hard truths.
• For those who want both entertainment and inspiration, this conversation is a highlight of TCB’s chaotic, meaningful, friend-in-the-room style.

Leslie Jones’ special “Life Part 2” is available on Peacock.
Links and live show dates in the show notes.