Podcast Summary: The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Sam Morril

Release Date: August 13, 2024
Guests: Sam Morril (comedian)
Hosts: Bryan Green & Kristen Joy Hoadley

Episode Overview

This episode of The Commercial Break features comedian Sam Morril, renowned for his sharp crowd work, morning show pranks, and authentic, no-holds-barred standup. The discussion centers on Sam’s new Amazon special "You've Changed," his experience with absurd gigs and press appearances, the evolution of his comedic voice, and behind-the-scenes insights into the comedy grind. Lively banter, irreverent anecdotes, and unfiltered industry perspectives dominate the episode’s tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy Specials & the Challenge of Originality

• Host Bryan introduces Sam’s special ("You've Changed" on Amazon) praising its honesty and lack of ‘clickbait’ intent.
• Hosts reflect on how some comedians provoke for attention, but Sam’s work is “…just what he finds funny.” (01:37)
• Sam explains the craft:
  • “My crowd’s usually pretty good. They kind of know what they’re in for.” (15:18)
  • He strives to push boundaries, but not simply to shock: “Some people might call it edgy…I don’t call it edgy. It’s just comedy.” (13:48)

2. Infamous Morning Show Pranks

• The trio discuss Sam’s viral history of pranking morning talk shows with deadpan, inappropriate gags.
  • Sam: “It’s almost better when it’s a live show…but it’s on Zoom, so [my touring partner] had to just try to pretend to escape behind me.” (10:06)
• Sam shares types of TV bookers who inadvertently enable his bits:
  • “...the producer who hates their boss…Bad at their job, does no research, or just a fan.” (11:43)
• Memorable prank: A friend posed as a 'sex gimp’ on live TV, resulting in angry calls from program producers and Sam’s own publicist.
  • “Missy, you’ll never be on Good Morning Durham ever again.” (13:06)
• Sam draws a parallel between pranking talk shows and poking fun at his own family, especially his “very proper” mother. (11:11)

3. Industry Frustrations: Movie Reboots and Hollywood Cycles

• Candid conversation about unoriginal movie sequels and reboots, using "Twisters" and "Dick Tracy" as examples.
  • Sam: “They’re so uncreative they’re remaking bad movies.” (07:25)
• Amusing tangent on Glenn Powell’s sudden celebrity:
  • “If anyone’s an industry plant, it’s Glenn Powell…CIA was like, ‘He’s handsome, talented, we can control this.’” (08:45)

4. Handling Tough Crowds & Corporate Gigs

• Sam recounts a disastrous corporate event featuring athletes like Gronk, where audience members heckled, ignored the act, or just wanted free drinks.
  • “It was a good, like, 15, maybe 20 minutes to start laughing…just a knife fight.” (16:49)
• On the process:
  • “You just keep building momentum. After each little laugh, the next joke’s gonna get a bigger laugh…” (16:49)
• The catharsis: “They wanted me to hang after – I’m like, you think I want to hang with you fucking assholes?” (18:05)

5. Crafting an Authentic Standup Persona

• Discussion on “finding your voice” on stage; Sam credits lower-energy comics and musicians like Leonard Cohen as inspiration for his relaxed delivery.
  • “My natural energy is how I speak…maybe I can just speak in my natural energy.” (20:57)
• Contrasts with ‘desperate’ comics who try too hard to please the crowd.

6. Balancing Personal Life and Material

• Sam details the delicate path of joking about personal relationships:
  • “Occasionally I have a new joke about her that…she gets annoyed at first. I play it to her with the laughs.” (32:10)
  • Anecdotes about his girlfriend’s “talkativeness” and earlier breakups yielding comedy gold:
    • “I had a whole breakup set on Conan…She was pissed, but it was a good set.” (35:12)
• Honest reflection on generational differences and oversharing in comedy:
  • “Are we not the worst generation ever?...Grandparents served in wars, took so much to the grave, and I’m like, ‘I had a bad day…’” (35:42)

7. Career Challenges and Evolution

• Musings about the grind and unpredictability of standup, being one’s own boss, and how writing a new hour becomes ever more difficult:
  • “To do that [a new 45 mins] repeatedly, year after year...is one of the most difficult things in entertainment.” (43:12)
• Touches on writing for TV/movies:
  • “I’d like to write movies and TV…but they’re hard to make now…Standup is the primary focus.” (45:48)

8. Mentorship and Paying It Forward

• Sam credits David Attell, Gary Gulman, Amy Schumer, and others with support early on—but emphasizes the need to capitalize on help:
  • “You have to parlay that into something. Can’t just be like, cool, I got help.” (49:13)

9. The Role of Social Media & Touring

• The hosts and Sam chat about the double-edge of social media: direct fan connection vs. pressure for endless new material.
  • “Billy Joel can play the same one new song in 40 years…[comics are] expected to have a new act every year.” (41:33)
• Sam details upcoming tour stops (Miami Improv, Baltimore, Euro tour), casino gigs, and the hazards of performing in places like Myrtle Beach and Reno.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sam Morril (on morning show pranks):
  • "I call the Uber as I’m going onto [the show]…I need a car waiting for me. It feels like a bank robbery.” (12:46)
• On standup gigs:
  • “Jews are just not built for the desert. I wake up like the hangover and the throat...” (27:06)
  • (on Myrtle Beach gigs) “Can you fix the urinal cake in the bathroom?” “Hey, I’m the headliner for the weekend.” (29:22)
• On personal life as comedy fodder:
  • “I've never dated a woman who talks this much in my life...I have to not listen sometimes when you speak because I would never have my own thoughts.” (32:25)
• On joke-writing pressure:
  • “You have to kind of be on yourself. Like, dude, write the joke…I'm a bad employee and a bad boss.” (44:10)
• On the generational divide:
  • “Parents didn’t love their kids back then, and we turned out so much better than you did.” (36:16)
• On interior decorators:
  • “This person sends me the first invoice…400 an hour. That’s twice what therapy is. No one’s committed suicide over not having a decorator.” (37:31)
• Host Bryan Green (on Glenn Powell):
  • “My wife loves Glen Powell...I have to issue an apology to Glen Powell...where did he come from?” (08:35)
• Sam Morril:
  • “Standup is the primary focus, always will be. I love stand up so much.” (46:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–05:48| Show warmup, intro to Sam Morril, Amazon special plug| | 06:45 | Sam joins; riffing on movie reboots & Glenn Powell | | 09:45 | Deep-dive into Sam’s morning show pranks (“Sex Gimp”)| | 13:43 | Discussion of “You’ve Changed” standup special | | 16:49 | Handling brutal corporate gigs & tough crowds | | 20:57 | Finding authentic stage presence | | 32:10 | Relationship material & pushback from partners | | 35:42 | On generational differences, oversharing, parenting | | 37:31 | Hilarious story: mom pushes $400/hr interior decorator| | 41:33 | Tour schedule expectations; pressure for new material| | 43:12 | The grind: writing 45 new minutes repeatedly | | 48:34 | Influences, mentors & “parlaying help” | | 50:19 | Podcasting/business grind parallels | | 51:34 | Wrap-up; social media importance, Sam’s plugs |

Style and Vibe

• Tone: Irreverent, self-aware, with a heavy dose of playful sarcasm and mutual ribbing between hosts and guest. The conversation is conversational and casual, frequently shifting to hilarious tangents.
• Language: Candid, at times blue, but fundamentally rooted in comedy’s raw, relatable banter.
• Vibe: Listeners feel as though they’re eavesdropping on old friends swapping industry war stories—undercut with comedic roast energy and mutual respect.

Bottom Line (For Those Who Missed It)

This episode is an unfiltered journey into the mind and methods of Sam Morril—a standup who prizes authenticity and sharp wit over cheap provocation. From avoiding desperate stage energy to lampooning local news, navigating brutal corporate crowds, and processing family pressures, Sam and the hosts expose the grit (and fun) behind great comedy. The result is not just an ad for his new special, but a celebration of comedic resilience, mischief, and the strange love/hate relationships with showbiz institutions and loved ones alike.

For more:

• Watch Sam Morril’s special “You’ve Changed” on Amazon Prime
• Find his prank supercut on YouTube
• Follow The Commercial Break and Sam Morril on social media for more content and upcoming live shows

End of Summary