The Commercial Break — TCB Infomercial: Maz Jobrani

Date: August 27, 2024
Hosts: Bryan Green, Krissy Hoadley
Guest: Maz Jobrani

Episode Overview

This episode of The Commercial Break’s “Infomercial” Tuesday series features renowned stand-up comedian and actor Maz Jobrani. The hosts, Bryan and Krissy, blend their signature loose, self-aware improv style with a candid interview about Maz’s comedy career, the evolution of standup in the age of social media, his experiences as an Iranian-American comic, and his takes on crowd work, political humor, and staying creative. The conversation is packed with laughs, personal anecdotes, and reflections on the wild ride of content creation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Being Bald Brothers & Self-Deprecating Humor

• 00:00–01:00 Maz and Bryan kick things off joking about being bald, with Maz humorously lamenting the hope that shampoo will somehow spur new hair growth.
  • Quote: “I still shampoo... in the hopes that every time, the new shampoo just grows a little. Just one. I swear, I go like this and I come out, ‘I think it’s growing!’”—Maz Jobrani [00:21]

The Changing Game of Social Media for Comedians

• 01:02–01:32 Maz reflects on how stand-up exposure has shrunk from hour-long HBO specials to 3-second TikToks.
  • Quote: “Now they say you gotta take 3 seconds of the 1 minute you put on TikTok. People discover you, career things up. And I said to my son, ‘Three seconds? All I can say is, hello, goodbye.’ And my son goes, ‘That’s perfect.’”—Maz Jobrani [01:23]

How Bryan Met Maz & Clubhouse/Fireside Origins

• 01:43–10:46 Bryan tells a story about meeting Maz at an exclusive dinner during the heyday of Clubhouse and later the audio platform Fireside, backed by Mark Cuban. Discussion includes:
  • The fleeting hype cycle of social audio platforms.
  • How Bryan became “Podcaster Semi-Superstar” thanks to Maz mentioning his name on stage.
  • Fireside pitch meetings, Mark Cuban’s involvement, and the podcast industry’s flavor-of-the-month vibe.

Olympics Viewing & Camera Work Riffs

• 12:20–15:44 Maz and the hosts riff on the current Olympics, marveling at events like speed climbing, synchronized swimming, and the split-screen camera shots.
  • Quote: “I played badminton, and I don’t remember us being that aggressive. Ping pong, too—that’s crazy!”—Maz Jobrani [13:06]
  • Maz jokes about club camera work never being able to match Olympic production value.

The Life of a Touring Comic – Joys & Strains

• 16:22–18:49 Maz describes the nuances of constant touring—the rush of being on stage, but the toll of being away from family.
  • He points out the unpredictability of audiences, but the joy in crowd work and organic, conversational performances.
  • Quote: “The actual act of being on stage is fantastic. Being away from home, being away from your routine, all that stuff…gets old the longer you do it.”—Maz Jobrani [16:51]

Handling Hecklers & Political Material

• 19:31–21:57 Maz talks about his shift from reacting confrontationally to hecklers, especially during the Trump presidency, to a Tai Chi-style, non-combative approach.
  • Amusing story about a heckler walking out with his bottle of Evian.
  • Quote: “So in that one you’re talking about where the guy got up and left...first of all, who takes their bottle of water when they leave?”—Maz Jobrani [21:57]

Pioneering as an Iranian-American Comic

• 22:00–25:01 Maz discusses being one of the first, and later most successful, Iranian-American comedians; mentions now seeing a new generation (“handful of us”) on the scene.
  • Reflects on what it’s like to be an inspiration—as younger comedians now approach him recalling watching his sets as kids.
  • Quote: “When I first started, there was no other Iranian American comedians…now there’s, you know, a handful of us. It’s nice.”—Maz Jobrani [22:17]

Maz’s Acting Career & West Wing Anecdotes

• 26:04–32:39 Bryan recalls discovering Maz in “The West Wing” and asks about his transition from acting to comedy.
  • Maz details starting with musical theater, acting to pay the bills, and the surreal experience of working with Martin Sheen and John Spencer on set.
  • Quote: “I got to play the Saudi ambassador…with Martin Sheen and John Spencer. You believed he was the character he was. Is he actually a chief of staff?”—Maz Jobrani [30:38]

Social Media’s Ever-Changing Landscape & Creator Fatigue

• 33:34–37:13 Maz expands on the absurd evolution of content requirements, from HBO hours to TikTok three-second bursts, and how algorithms keep creators on a hamster wheel of trends.
  • Hosts commiserate about rides on Clubhouse, Fireside, and the perpetual search for “the next big thing.”
  • Quote: “Are they real views or what’s going on? I was like, screw it, I’m just gonna stick with what I know.”—Maz Jobrani [35:28]

Physicality & Music in Stand-Up

• 38:41–41:10 Maz and Bryan compare the musicality and physical performance of different comics.
  • Maz opens his shows with a dance to pump up the crowd, and sometimes finds his own stage movement “nervous energy.”
  • Quote: “I find I’m doing a lot of hip thrusts lately and it makes the punchline funnier. I don’t know why.”—Maz Jobrani [39:48]

Building and Retiring Hours – The Challenge for Comics

• 41:12–43:10 Maz details having produced seven hours of stand-up (with “Axis of Evil” as first), and the challenge of always tossing out a tight hour to start over.
  • Quote: “I’m jealous of musicians…they write a song, everybody wants to keep hearing that same song. You write a joke, nobody wants to hear that joke again.”—Maz Jobrani [42:16]

Political Polarization & Comedy’s Fine Line

• 46:25–55:39 Extended discussion about how political divisiveness has changed audiences, especially since 2015/2016.
  • Maz comments on the impossibility of making Trump jokes without splitting the room, preferring a “we’re here to laugh together” approach.
  • Offers international perspective: in America (unlike dictatorships), we should be able to make fun of our leaders.
  • Quote: “If you hear a joke and it’s actually funny, you should laugh. You shouldn’t be so offended…it’s not your grandmother, that leader doesn’t care about you the way you think.”—Maz Jobrani [54:10]

Maz’s Approach to Family, Tech, and Sanity

• 44:04–45:21 Maz relates his strict household phone policy and tech boundaries for kids. Recounts his own phone addiction and how “the phone doesn’t control you, you control the phone.”

Closing Thoughts: Gratitude, Touring, & Identity

• 55:39–56:25 Maz is gracious, reiterates tour dates and the correct pronunciation of his name.
  • Quote: “You will hear some stuff that might be left leaning. You’re going to hear some stuff…not politically correct…ultimately, I want everyone to come and laugh together.”—Maz Jobrani [53:10]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “You look fucking great, man. Show that head… these guys shampoo. Fuck you… I still shampoo, in the hopes… I think it’s growing!” — Maz Jobrani [00:21]
• “Now they say you got to take 3 seconds of the 1 minute you put on TikTok… All I can say is, hello, goodbye. And my son goes, ‘That’s perfect.’” — Maz Jobrani [01:23]
• “Clubhouse had an addictive quality to it… This is the room that’s going to bring all the listeners… and there’d be like 12 people in the room, all high on something, talking nonsense.” — Bryan Green [04:03]
• “The act of being on stage is fantastic…being away from home…gets old the longer you do it.” — Maz Jobrani [16:51]
• “I gave up on the confrontational [with hecklers]… I said, I’m gonna tai chi these people.” — Maz Jobrani [19:31]
• “As comedians, we try to stay young of mind… you don’t realize how young some people are until they remind you… It’s flattering, but also a reminder you’re getting older… If you have a project, get it done now.”—Maz Jobrani [25:01]
• “It used to be people would complain about only a handful of gatekeepers. Now there’s a million places where you can be seen and found… But these apps also have their own hamster wheel.”—Maz Jobrani [34:07]
• “I’m jealous of musicians… They write a song, everybody wants to keep hearing that same song. You write a joke, nobody wants to hear that joke again.”—Maz Jobrani [42:16]
• “The beauty of this country is that the late night talk show hosts can make fun of leaders. We should be able to make fun of our leaders… in some people’s minds, they are sacred. I will continue to make fun of those leaders whenever I want to.”—Maz Jobrani [55:39]

Important Segment Timestamps (Approximate)

• [00:00–01:32] Opening banter on baldness & the shrinking attention span of audiences
• [01:43–10:46] Bryan shares story of meeting Maz; Clubhouse/Fireside podcast ecosystem
• [12:20–15:44] Olympics obsessions and production quality commentary
• [16:22–18:49 / 19:31–21:57] Touring, crowd work, and handling hecklers
• [22:00–25:01] Maz’s legacy and impact as a pioneering Iranian-American comic
• [26:04–32:39] Maz’s acting career, West Wing story, artistic journey
• [33:34–37:13] Social media’s shifting demands on comedians
• [38:41–41:10] Dance, movement, and physical comedy
• [41:12–43:10] Constructing and discarding hours of material; the comic’s challenge
• [46:25–55:39] Changing audiences, polarization, and comedy’s cultural role

Podcast Vibe & Final Words

True to the “Cheesecake Factory of comedy podcasts” description, the episode is a freewheeling, irreverent deep-dive where banter, honesty, and laughter rule. Maz is engaging, humble, and generous with behind-the-scenes stories. The hosts create a laid-back space for real talk about showbiz, family, and the world’s madness.

Maz’s new special, Birds and Bees, is streaming free on YouTube, and he continues to tour extensively into 2025.

For full show notes, tour links, and social media, visit: MazJobrani.com

Birds and Bees special: Available here (YouTube — free)