TCB Infomercial: Tim Baltz

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Tim Baltz (04/01/25)

Episode Overview

In this Tuesday “TCB Infomercial” installment, Bryan Green and Krissy Hoadley welcome Tim Baltz, comedian and actor known for his roles in “The Righteous Gemstones,” “Shrink,” and “Deli Boys.” The episode focuses on Tim’s journey through TV comedy, the dynamics and ensemble magic of McBride’s HBO universe, the rollercoaster world of streaming TV, behind-the-scenes stories from his projects, and his improv roots. The hosts and Tim dig into industry changes, the joys of being part of a comedy family, and the emotional quirks of being a Chicagoan and a lifelong Cubs fan.

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1. Guest Introduction & Quick Banter

Timestamps: 00:01-03:25

• The episode kicks off with dog chat, telepathic dog communication (Tim: “You’re a good boy and I’m a good boy. We’re both good boys” – 00:23), and quick rapport among the hosts and guest.
• Bryan and Krissy introduce Tim’s TV resume: “Righteous Gemstones” (HBO), a guest spot on “Better Call Saul,” “Shrink” (now on Peacock), and “Deli Boys” (Hulu).

Notable Quotes:

• Tim, on dogs: “I like to, when I see a dog, I try to communicate telepathically and let it know that I’m okay. In my head, I just say, you’re a good boy and I’m a good boy.” (00:15)
• Bryan on the industry: “Little appearance, big impact. Yeah, Better Call Saul!” (02:18)

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2. TV Talk: Tim Baltz's Recent Work

Timestamps: 03:25–11:20

• “Deli Boys”: Overview of the premise and Tim’s role as an investigator.
• “Righteous Gemstones”: Bryan compares the McBride shows to the 80s/90s Christopher Guest improvisational ensemble movies, lauding their unpredictability and scene-stealing cast.
• “Shrink” and web comedy “Bajillion Dollar Properties” get nods for their satire and industry relevance.

Quotes:

• Bryan on “Righteous Gemstones”: “It’s so funny and so well done it reminds me of the gut-busting movies. It’s so prescient!” (04:31)
• Krissy: “We’ve done so many of those preachers. The preacher features.” (04:38)
• Tim, on the ensemble: “They took on that ensemble style and gave everyone ownership over their parts. They trusted everyone. If the syntax feels weird, change it.” (00:55, restated at 20:41)

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3. Chicago Roots & Comedy

Timestamps: 05:22–09:22

• Discussion on Chicago’s unique mix of big city energy, “midwestern niceness,” diversity, and brutal winters.
• The importance of Chicago as a comedy and improv launchpad for Tim and the hosts.
• Anecdotes about early radio days: “You were ahead of your time!” Krissy tells Bryan (09:41).

Memorable Moment:

• Bryan on Chicago identity: “When you’re a Chicago kid…you’ll always be a Chicago kid…If you’ve ever been to Chicago, it’s just one of the coolest fucking places on earth.” (06:03)

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4. “Righteous Gemstones” and the Power of Ensemble Comedy

Timestamps: 11:53–21:40

4a. Inside the Set Experience

• Tim describes the magic of being cast in the McBride-verse: “I was a huge fan…what makes McBride’s and their team’s comedy so enduring…is that they cast…where the ensembles always feel perfect.” (14:59)
• Bryan highlights: all the cast members are “scene stealers,” which makes the show electric and sharp.

4b. Location and Camaraderie

• Charleston’s foodie culture and how location affects ensemble chemistry; living like “summer camp” with Edie Patterson and Cassidy Freeman (18:29).
• “It was like a beach mansion…riding our bikes to dinner…not what I’m used to at an Airbnb in Wilmington.” (18:30)

4c. The Ensemble Approach

• Tim: They gave all actors “ownership” and encouraged improvisation for authentic, razor-sharp performances.
• “They trusted everyone…if the syntax feels weird…change it. Say it how you think the character would say it.” (20:41)

Quotes:

• Tim: “I think anybody would…where you show up and they’re like, ‘what do you got?’...then you feel like your decision making is part of the process.” (24:48)
• Bryan on direction: “You hear the stories…people like James Cameron…‘my way or the highway’…and then there’s very collaborative directors and writers…” (25:10)

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5. The Streaming TV Rollercoaster

Timestamps: 33:46–42:15

• Tim shares the origin of “Shrink” as a web series, the long journey through multiple platforms, and the frustration with shows being “orphaned” as streaming services come and go.
• Bryan and Tim discuss the disruptive streaming era: beloved shows vanish, rise of short-lived series, and challenges in discovering new content.
• “Disruption is just the shell game…they sold it as an improvement, but it made access worse.” (39:11, Tim)
• Reflection on streamers returning to cable-style bundling and advertising: “It’s so funny…now they’re going back to dropping episodes week after week, just like cable.” (40:38, Bryan)

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6. Show-by-Show Spotlight

6a. “Deli Boys”

Timestamps: 26:49–31:48

• Tim: “It’s like Guy Ritchie meets Succession…family drama driving the story, heart, comedy, violence, intrigue.” (28:33)
• Highlights importance of South Asian leads, representation, and a welcoming, grateful vibe on set.

6b. “Shrink”

Timestamps: 33:46–37:48

• Based on a true story: A med graduate starting his therapy hours in his parents’ garage, while half a million in debt.
• “A character like that…decides to defer his student loans by starting to do clinical therapy…but you have to do 2000 hours of free therapy.” (34:53)
• Tim’s pride in indie TV’s early web festivals and the battle to find a streaming home.

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7. Navigating the Industry: Frustrations and Joys

Timestamps: 38:20–45:50

• Conversation about the uneasy future of streaming, lack of long-running show stability, and Bryan’s complaint: “Some of these television shows that are fan favorites…they never get a chance to wrap up storylines, they just go away.” (38:20)
• Tim reflects on setbacks post-“Shrink,” being “heartbroken,” and finding fulfillment joining “Righteous Gemstones” (44:19).

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8. Behind the Scenes & Acting Challenges

Timestamps: 45:50–51:41

• Tim describes the physical challenges of “Gemstones”: “Season one I get hit in the face with a steak, tased, beat up, fall off a fence, season two baptized, get shot, season three ninja star in my head, fight a naked guy, this season: pole dance.” (45:50)
• Hilarious pole dancing training anecdotes: “Your body is built for pole!” (46:43, Tanya Crisper via Tim); Tim’s quick upside-down progress and injury (“I went too hard on the pole...” 47:33). Krissy commiserates: “They are so hard, seriously.” (46:07)

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9. Working With Comedy Legends & Improv Roots

Timestamps: 47:41–54:34

• Edie Patterson: “...the two of you, just the back and forth... it makes me slick.” (47:57, Krissy)
• John Goodman’s professionalism: “It’s like watching a marble statue starting to move... every take was flawless.” (49:38, Tim)
• On improv background: Tim’s recurring characters, the benefit of improv in TV (“flexible and versatile”), and loving every cast member on the show.

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10. Tim’s Podcast & Ongoing Projects

Timestamps: 52:54–54:34

• Tim plugs his podcast: “Hey Randy” on the Comedy Bang Bang Patreon, an advice/call-in show based on his CBB character Randy Snuts; “small but mighty fan base.”
• Tim’s excitement to discuss his hometown (“Joliet”), Chicago sports, and everyday life.

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11. Wrap-Up: Chicago, Cubs, and Emotional Superstitions

Timestamps: 54:49–57:16

• Bryan tells Tim’s Cubs superstition story: He stood at the same table all night in an LA bar during Game 7 of the World Series, because moving could jinx the Cubs (as demanded by superstitious fans): “I can’t move. I gotta stand at this bar table for four and a half hours while the Cubs win the World Series. And they did, and we all cried.” (56:18)

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12. Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 57:17–End

• The hosts express admiration for Tim, wish for another season of Gemstones, and praise the comfort of great, rewatch-worthy TV.
• Bryan promises links to Tim’s work: “Righteous Gemstones” (Max), “Deli Boys” (Hulu), “Shrink” (Peacock), “Hey Randy” podcast (Patreon).
• Light closing banter: “Best to you out there in the podcast universe. Thanks Tim for showing up today. Until next time…goodbye.” (59:46)

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Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• On Ensemble Comedy:
  “You show up and they’re like, ‘what do you got?’…your decision making is part of the process.” – Tim (24:48)

• On the Streaming Era: “Disruption is just the shell game…they sold it as if it was this thing that was going to improve upon a product and it didn’t; it actually made access to the product worse.” – Tim (39:11)

• On John Goodman:
  “It’s like watching a marble statue starting to move…everything is perfect. Every take was flawless.” – Tim (49:38)

• On “Deli Boys”:
  “It’s Guy Ritchie meets Succession…It has a lot of heart, along with the comedy and the violence and the gore…” – Tim (28:33)

• On Pole Dancing:
  “With all due respect, your body is built for pole.” (46:43, Tanya Crisper via Tim)

• On Improv & Chicago:
  “Comedy Bang Bang is my flavor of hot sauce.” – Bryan (51:42)
  “When you’re a Chicago kid…you’ll always be a Chicago kid.” – Bryan (06:03)

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Key Timestamps (for content reference)

• 00:15 Tim’s telepathic dog communication
• 04:31 Bryan compares “Gemstones” to Christopher Guest movies
• 14:59 Tim on the casting magic of McBride & co.
• 18:29 Tim on the “beach mansion” living w/ Edie & Cassidy
• 20:41 Tim on ensemble ownership/creative freedom
• 28:33 Tim summarizes “Deli Boys”
• 34:53 Tim on the premise of “Shrink”
• 39:11 Tim on streaming disruption
• 45:50 Tim lists his physical comedy challenges in “Gemstones”
• 46:43 Tanya Crisper: “Your body is built for pole.”
• 49:38 Tim on John Goodman
• 51:42 Bryan, on improv and “Comedy Bang Bang”
• 56:18 Tim’s Cubs superstition & World Series win

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Tone: Chaotic, self-deprecating, irreverent yet warm; casual banter with thoughtful industry insight; full of detours and laughter.

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For New Listeners:
This episode is a candid, funny, and insightful look at comedy on-screen and behind-the-scenes, seen through the eyes of a multi-talented improv actor whose career zigzags through some of TV’s sharpest new shows. Expect heartfelt laughs, honest industry talk, and a deep love of Chicago and comfort TV.

Transcript

[Chrissy]

No, no, I, I love dogs, but no, I just walk them.

[Brian Green]

Oh, okay.

[Chrissy]

But he has a dog. Oh, who's gorgeous.

[Tim Baltz]

Dogs love me. They come up to me.

[Chrissy]

Well, that's great.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah.

[Chrissy]

Dogs have a good sense of people personalities.

[Tim Baltz]

I like to, I like when I see a dog, I like to try to communicate telepathically with it and let it know that I'm okay.

[Chrissy]

How do you do that?

[Tim Baltz]

Well, in my head I just say like, you know, you're a good boy and I'm a good boy. What?

[Chrissy]

You say I'm a good boy.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. Well, I am. I'm a good boy.

[Chrissy]

Yeah. But why do you need to tell a dog that?

[Tim Baltz]

Cause I want the dog to believe that I'm a good boy too. We're both good boys. We're gonna get along. You know, On this episode of the commercial break, it fit really quickly. And I think that another interesting thing because, you know, Eastbound was really centered around Danny's character and then vice principals was a two hander with him and Walton Goggins. And this all of a sudden is their take on an ensemble show. And they did kind of prove that they could move up. I don't know if you would call that an evolution, but it's just different style. And they took on that ensemble style and they gave everyone. This was key. They gave everyone ownership over their parts.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

And they trusted everyone. Like, I'm not going to come in and change everything, but if the syntax feel weird in my mouth, they're like, change it. Say it how you think the character would say it. You know. The next episode of the commercial break starts now.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, boy. Oh, yeah. Cats and kittens, welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Green. This is my dear friend and the co host of this show, Kristen Joy Odley. Best to you, Chris.

[Chrissy]

Best to you, Brian.

[Brian Green]

Best to you out there in the podcast universe. Thanks for joining us on a DCB infomercial Tuesday. Coming at you with our, our new best friend who I'm sure we just become buddy buddy with everybody. Chrissy. I know, I love Jim Boltz is here and if you don't know that name, you know that face, you know that guy, he's been, he's been in some, some rather like prestigious television shows. The Righteous Gemstones.

[Chrissy]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

And its fourth season, in its fourth season and its final season, Better Call Saul. He was it made a guest appearance that was great. I just rewatched it last night. It's a little appearance, but he made a big impact. Little appearance, Big impact. Yeah, Better Call Saul. He now has Shrink, which is available, I believe, on Peacock and Deli Boys, which is getting really good reviews on Hulu. I haven't seen it, but I look forward to watching it.

[Chrissy]

Yeah, I've started watching it. It's good. He plays a great. He plays a great character.

[Brian Green]

Oh, he does. What's his character in the show?

[Chrissy]

He's like the. He's like the investigator, but he also stormed the capitol or something. It's funny, like I said, I'm in the first, like, I've watched, like, the first two.

[Brian Green]

Oh, really? Okay. I'm interested to see this show. Isn't this about, like, a group of, like, gas station guys who turn into a gang or something like that?

[Tim Baltz]

No.

[Chrissy]

Well, it's.

[Tim Baltz]

Are.

[Brian Green]

They own a deli.

[Chrissy]

Two sons who have. Their father kind of kept them shielded, but he had a big conglomerate, big.

[Brian Green]

You know, organized crime.

[Chrissy]

He did, yeah. They didn't know that. I just thought he owned delis.

[Brian Green]

Okay, there's the Deli Boys. Yeah, I read like, a summary of it.

[Chrissy]

He dies and then now they're kind of brought into the fold.

[Brian Green]

Very fascinating, Auntie. Very good. All right, well, Tim is in that. He plays. What is the name of his character on Righteous Gemstones? It is bj. Oh, yeah, that's right. He is the husband of.

[Tim Baltz]

What's her name?

[Chrissy]

Ellie Patterson is her.

[Brian Green]

That's right.

[Chrissy]

Her actress name. And I can't remember.

[Brian Green]

B.J. barnes. He's B.J. barnes on the show. That's hilarious. He is so good in this show. Everybody is great in this show. They are all just scene stealers. It's hard. Chrissy and I were talking beforehand and we made the. We came to the conclusion that Righteous Gemstones and that whole line of Danny McBride, you know, ensemble cast stuff is similar to the 80s and 90s when Christopher Guest was knocking it out of the park on every single improv movie that he did. And yeah, you know, Christopher Guest, all those movies, I think are like 95% improv. They have a bullet point and they're trying to get there, but the rest is improv. And I know Danny has scripts, but it's so funny and so good and so well done that it reminds me of the gut busting movies.

[Chrissy]

Oh, yeah, the parodies.

[Brian Green]

The parodies. Yes. It's so good. And Righteous Gemstones is so on point. It's so prescient.

[Chrissy]

We've done so many of those preachers. The preacher features. Yes.

[Brian Green]

It's hard to preach on a full dick.

[Chrissy]

That's right. Carl.

[Brian Green]

Good old Carl. I was watching some videos of Carl the other day. Oh, yeah, Carl's back on the scene. He is, yeah. But he's like a reformed man now. He believes in Jesus, but not without all the. But without all the pomp and circumstance, and I don't believe any of it. It's just another way for him to try and make money. I'm sure. I'm sure there's a money grab somewhere here. It's the year of our Lord, the money grab. That's what it is. Everyone's trying to fuck everybody else over so we can all make an extra buck because the end of the world is right around the corner, and we all want to live a little bit of luxury before we die. That's. That's how I feel. That's how I feel.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

You know, so anyway, so Tim's here. He's also from Joliet, Illinois, which is in near Chicago and very close to my hometown. So I feel like we're already friends in some way. Chicago is this weird place. There's a line in West Wing where the president is talking to his chief of staff and says something about Chicago, and the chief of staff goes. Or the president goes. Chicago is one of those weird places that everybody who has ever been there is from Chicago, and they love Chicago, but they don't live there currently.

[Chrissy]

Right.

[Brian Green]

It's so true. It's so true. Well, you spend a winter in Chicago and see how it goes down with you.

[Chrissy]

It's a bonding thing.

[Brian Green]

It's a bonding thing. When you're a Chicago kid. You're a Chicago kid. You'll always be a Chicago kid. I even. I have friends who lived there for college years or right after college, they took a job or whatever. And it's like they claim they're from. Even though they got there when they were 20 and left when they were 22, they claim they're from Chicago for the rest of your life. Because if you've ever been to Chicago, it's just one of the coolest fucking places on earth.

[Chrissy]

I have been.

[Brian Green]

It really is.

[Chrissy]

I love it.

[Brian Green]

It is like New York without the sharp elbows. It is, in a lot of ways, water.

[Chrissy]

Part of it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, it's on the water. It's a big city. It's got a lot of personality. There are a lot of flavors of human beings that live there. Irish, Polish, all. Everything. You know, it's all there. It's a big melting pot, and it's got almost a little bit of Southern hospitality. Like people aren't going to, like, say hi to you when you're walking down the street, but if you get into a conversation with them, they're going to be very nice.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Because that's just how Chicago is. Chicago, we're nice people.

[Chrissy]

It's Midwest, right?

[Brian Green]

That's right. We all suffered the same winter. So let us be nice to each other now that we can actually go outdoors. And if you don't think Chicago's cold in the winter, go to Chicago in the winter. It's fucking cold, man. It's fucking cold. Anyway, so Tim from Chicago, then he moved to la and he's. What else has he done? He's been in so many episodes of Comedy Bang Bang, which is.

[Tim Baltz]

He's got.

[Chrissy]

And we talked about Shrink.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, he's been in. He's. He. He wrote, produced, and I think directed some of the episodes of Shrink when he was in Chicago. He wrote that and then he moved off to la. Better call Salt. Veep. He was in Veep. He was in Parks and Recreation. He's in Drunk History. He's in a web comedy that's called Bajillion Dollar Properties, which I watched an episode of. It's really funny. It's kind of mocking those Million Dollar Mansion. Whatever. Those shows are the most. Those ridiculous shows. You know those real estate agents that are on those shows, they are like Certified Millionaire. Those people are celebrities, number one. Number two, they're certified millionaires. Number three, they get a lot of press coverage. Those people who are in those television shows, especially that one that's on Bravo.

[Chrissy]

The Million Dollar listing.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, the Million Dollar Listing. They're like certified celebrities.

[Chrissy]

I would guess so.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. And that's seems to be like it's too much for one per. Like you can be. Have a job where you make a couple million dollars a year or you can be a D list celebrity, but you can't have both. And if the Real Housewives of Atlanta has taught us anything, it's that you can't have both. You can't be rich and somewhat famous. You have to be one or the other. Because all of those women in the Real Housewives of Atlanta are one or the other. I'm telling you that right now, they're not both. So.

[Chrissy]

Except Candy.

[Brian Green]

Except Candy. What is Candy? Both rich and famous. Oh, yeah, she's rich.

[Chrissy]

Oh, yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

What does she do?

[Chrissy]

Oh, God. Well, she was in, you know, all the. The girl. The. She's done a lot with music. She's huge in the music industry.

[Brian Green]

Oh, she is, for one.

[Chrissy]

Yeah. And Then for.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, okay. Yeah, you're right.

[Chrissy]

Businesses. Candy. What? Candy Burris? Yeah, Candy Burris.

[Brian Green]

Kandi Burris. Yeah. She used to come up to the.

[Chrissy]

She's got, like, a sex toy line. She's got a lot of different. She's acting. She does, like, movie stuff and.

[Brian Green]

Oh.

[Chrissy]

So, yeah, she's big.

[Brian Green]

Okay, so Candy's out there. Kandy used to come up to the studio.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

And remember there was a studio next to the studio. There was, like, an actual music studio next to the studio called 12 Music or something like that. She would always be in there. There'd be a lot of celebrities would go in and out of that. The real studio. And then there was the fake studio where we were doing an Internet radio show. To no one. To no one.

[Chrissy]

You were ahead of your time.

[Brian Green]

Yes. I remember the first day. The first day we, like, actually broadcast, we had, like, 1300 people on the stream. And I was so excited. I'm like, this is gonna go straight to the moon. And every day we lost 100 people. Every day we lost 100 people for 13 days in a row till we had no one. I mean, sometimes I would look on that stream and it would say, two. And I'd realize that there were two people downstairs watching the stream to make sure that it was on. And I was like, well, I guess tomorrow I could come in late.

[Chrissy]

My friend Kimmy did the show with you.

[Tim Baltz]

She did.

[Brian Green]

Kimmy and Ali did it for a while. I mean, like, on occasion, you'd have a couple hundred people that would be watching, but it wasn't very often that that would happen. And most of the time it was in the tens or maybe a hundred people. But then there was sometimes where. Like on a Monday where it would just be nobody. Nobody. I'm talking about scam. Call FM in case you got go. You'll have to. You have to listen to every episode of the commercial break to know what I'm talking about. So get started right now, please. Go ahead. There's a lady on the telephone that's saying she's going through the entire catalog of the commercial break, and I'm like, that's going to take you five years. And that's if you listen to them back to back. I don't know how you're going to do that. Do you have kids or a job? Because that's not going to work. It's just not going to work. Okay. Anyway, Tim Baltz is here with us. Why don't we do this? Let's. Let's take a Short break. And when we get back, through the magic of telepodcasting, Chrissy, we are going to have Tim right here on this big screen in front of us so that we can talk to him and interrupt him every five seconds, according to most people on the Internet. How's that?

[Chrissy]

That sounds good.

[Brian Green]

All right, we'll take a break. We'll be back with Tim.

[Rachel]

Let me do something Brian has never done.

[Brian Green]

Be brief.

[Rachel]

Follow us on Instagram at the commercial break, text or call us 212-4333, tcb. That's 212-433-3822. Visit our website tcbpodcast.com for video and your free sticker. Then watch all the [e-mail] thecommercial break and finally share the show. It's the best gift you could give a few aging podcasters. See, Brian, that really wasn't that difficult, now, was it? You're welcome.

[Brian Green]

Tim's here with us now. Tim, thanks so much for joining us today. You are in the middle of a whirlwind of ui. There's an embarrassment of television with Tim Boltz in it because you've got Deli Boys, you've got Righteous Gemstones, Deli Boys getting great reviews. Righteous Gemstones. You have to have your head in a hole not to know what a funny, fantastic show that is. Chrissy and I were. Were, you know, making comparisons is how human beings sometimes get through life. And we were saying that we feel like Righteous Gemstones is like the Christopher Guest of our time. Like Righteous Gemstones. And that crew doing such great comedic work is like the Christopher Guest of our time. You guys are just a group of human beings that are so funny.

[Tim Baltz]

Are you?

[Chrissy]

I don't see how you don't laugh.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Chrissy]

Every time you get on set, I mean, just looking at everybody, you know.

[Tim Baltz]

The days are like, you know, 14, 15 hours long. So you get the laughs out, like, pretty early with your first second cup of coffee. And then, like, when the work starts, your. Your. You know that if you laugh, it adds time to the day. So, yeah, something can be funny, but eventually, like, your brain gets hardwired to be like, yeah, that's good. But if you ruin that take, that's 10 more minutes, you know. Good point. But, yeah, that's. I mean, that's very nice. You. Those guys, I was a huge fan of McBride and Jody Hill and David Gordon Green and the whole Roughhouse production team going into this and had obviously, like, a lot of people devoured. He spouted down and I'D actually auditioned for vice principals and hadn't gotten another.

[Brian Green]

Great show by Danny McBride.

[Tim Baltz]

Fantastic show. And, like, I mean, I think when I first got an iPad, the first thing that I. The first movie that I bought was Foot Fist Way. And I was like, oh, this is great. Like, I haven't seen. This is, like, the one thing of theirs that I haven't seen. And it was the start of all of it, you know, And I'm watching it on the plane. You know, I'm like. I'm, like, halfway back in economy watching it on the plane. I'm like, huge tits are on the screen. And I'm like, well, wait a minute. So I felt very honored because I think as a huge fan of comedy, too, and this is not something where I'm like, you know, hey, compliment me for being part of this. But I really felt like I love. You know, I've watched a ton of comedy. I've devoured, like, British comedy. My mom's from France. I watched a ton of, like, French and European comedies and things like that, and anything that I could get my hands on. And I think that, you know, a lot of mainstream stuff, it relies on casting stars, and that's always been the case. But I think what makes McBride's and their team's comedy so enduring and funny and why it stands out is that they cast in a way where the ensembles just always feel perfect. You know, there's no one sticking out where you're like, that person's really good. And I really know them, and I've been following their career. But what are they doing in this?

[Brian Green]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

They never do that. And even when they do cast names, they're. They're perfectly cast. And so just getting cast in it, I thought, like, wow, it's an honor that they think that I would fit into a world like that. And. And, you know, I got. I mean, from the second that I auditioned, I got to test. When I did the HBO test, I got to test with Edie Patterson. And the way that we were improvising, I'm like, this is gonna be a great show.

[Brian Green]

This is great. You know, I think you're right about something in these shows, specifically this line, this lineage of shows with Danny McBride. Obviously, Danny is a showstopper. He's a scene stealer, but there are no scene stealers in the ensemble. They're all scene stealers. You guys are all doing these nuggets where it's like, that is so fucking funny. And you're right about this. Sometimes in the comedic ensemble, there's one standout, like, oh, Steve Carell's really good in that movie, you know, and 40 year old virgin. Then there's a couple other throwaway lines. But in this ensemble, specifically, so many seasons, so good, everybody is comedically on point. And I think that's what makes the show so brilliant, much like a Christopher Guest movie, is that everybody is stealing the scenes. And I think that's a testament to the writers and a testament to you and the team who are gelling so well. And I. Yeah, again, I don't know how you. I know that it takes an extra. It'll get an extra 10 minutes. I don't know how you don't just giggle your way through it. I mean.

[Tim Baltz]

I mean. I mean, there are a lot of. There are a lot of days where we do. I'm not. I'm not going to lie. Like, I filmed in Charleston. We filmed in Charleston, South Carolina. Yeah. And.

[Chrissy]

Yeah, not far from us.

[Tim Baltz]

No, not far at all. I mean, it's. It's a gorgeous town. And, you know, it's. The food and hospitality scene down there is unparalleled. It really is kind of shocking how high the bar is for restaurants.

[Chrissy]

It's a great scene.

[Brian Green]

Oh, man. Yeah. It's one of the first, I think, foodie towns. It really puts the Southeast on the map. And if you. I mean, Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the country for so many reasons. It's quaint, but it's large enough that you've got everything. The food scene is there. It's one of the most visually appealing cities in the country.

[Chrissy]

In the history.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, in the history. Does HBO give you a nice mansion on the island over there? What's the scene for? How do they. Do they hook you up with a nice condo on Rainbow Road? What goes on?

[Tim Baltz]

You know, it was. It was fascinating because we were, you know, we filmed the pilot there in 2018, and then we came back in 2019 to start season one. And so we saw so much growth while we were there. I remember in 2018 being like, this is kind of a sleepy town. Like, you can get. If you're in Mount Pleasant, you know, you're zooming off to Sullivan's island or Iop or whatever. And it doesn't take long. You know, it's like eight minutes. And then by the time we were finishing last year, there's massive traffic jams. You know, you're like, you get on Ben Coleman. I mean, this is all for the locals, but you get On Ben Coleman, you're like, where the. Are all these people going? Where do they come from? And the locals have two attitudes about it. You know, they're like. They're like, ah, it's terrible. It's changed. It's gotten so busy. And then the others are like, this is a sign of a thriving city, and we love it. And it helps, you know, prop up so many businesses. The first season, though, I actually lived with Edie Patterson and Cassidy Freeman on Solitary island in kind of a beach mansion.

[Chrissy]

How fun.

[Tim Baltz]

And it was like summer camp the whole season. We were riding our bikes to dinner. I mean, it was really like the. The type of experience. Like, I'm on location right now in Wilmington. I'm in an Airbnb. And, you know, no offense to this Airbnb, but it ain't what we were used to in Charleston.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, that. It's not. It's not the same vibe. Wilmington and Charleston. Not the same vibe. Wilmington. Beautiful in its own way.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, I love it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, yeah, you. I love that idea. I love the idea that you're, like, at Sullivan's island filming what will become one of the best comedy television series of generation. That's just that. And I think probably I got to imagine. And we have so many comedians on this show, and obviously you're a comedian, a comedic actor, but we don't talk to many actors, like, proper.

[Tim Baltz]

Right.

[Brian Green]

People who are doing these big shows. That must lend to the vibe on set. When it feels like we're in a nice place, we're having fun, we're riding our bikes to work, we're going out to dinner with each other. There must be something magical that's happening in on and offset. And that must lend to what hap. What you see on the screen. That vibe, I would imagine.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, absolutely. There was synergy from day one, too. From the first time we did the table read. You're looking around and it was like a rogues gallery. You know, John Goodman's here, you know. Yeah. And, like, Adam Devine's here and Edie's here, and Cassidy has been working since she was like, 19, you know, and Skyler Jasondo has been working since he was, like, seven. It was really Greg Allen Martin. I mean, he was. Yeah, he was on. He was on Baywatch. Like, that's true. Yeah. Yes. And the amount of, like, small world connections that we had between us, it. It fit really quickly. And I think that was another interesting thing because, you know, Eastbound was really centered around Danny's character, and then vice principals was a two hander with him and Walton Goggins. And then this all of a sudden is their take on an ensemble show. And they did kind of prove that they could move up. I don't know if you would call that an evolution, but it's just different style. And they took on that ensemble style and they gave everyone. This was key. They gave everyone ownership over their parts.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

And they trusted everyone. Like, I'm not going to come in and change everything, but if the syntax feels weird in my mouth, they're like, change it. Say it how you think the character would say it, you know, or if, you know, we got the script, then do this take for you guys, you know? You know, say whatever you want on this one or you can go off. Feel free to go off page or whatever. So we would always kind of find new things through that process. And also it just empowers you to own the character. And. And then you're seeing everyone else do it and you think, okay, well, everybody really knows who they are. And the truth is, like in most seasons of a show, you're halfway through and you're like, is it good? Are we doing it? Because you're figuring it out, especially in the first season. And that one was just razor sharp from the beginning. Everyone knew who they were, what their role was. And you had a sense that something special was happening from the pilot.

[Brian Green]

Have you worked with directors or on shows or in whatever it is where the directors, the writers, the producers really have an iron grip over their vision? And it's like, I hear, I hear it in my head this way. You need to play it this way. And then you get to righteous gemstones and they say you own the character. And if it doesn't feel right to you, then I want to hear what you have to say, or I want to, I want to hear how you would interpret what's on the page. Is there, does it feel better one way or the other? Just depend on the situation. Do you like that as an actor for someone to tell you, this is how it is and I envision it this way and this is my vision, I want you to follow it. And then the, you know, you're having the opposite experience. What feels better to you or just depends on the situation?

[Tim Baltz]

I mean, that's a great question because you really do. That's a, that's a spectrum. Those two things are on either side. You know, I've had, I've come in as. The toughest thing to do is come in as a guest star during the the filming of a season, whether it's the first one or later.

[Brian Green]

Better Call Saul.

[Tim Baltz]

Well, yeah. Well, that one, yeah. That's like the best. That's the best audition I ever got. I literally got an audition that said, please prepare a voice for a talking toilet. And I was like, what? And then when I did the audition, they literally like, I did the audition as the character and then they're like, can you please step off camera and do the toilet? And I was like, okay. So I like step off camera. And I'm like, gosh, you're so big. Give it to me, Chandler. And they're, they're all laughing and it's just a blank wall that they're recording and laughing. That. But that one was. I think when casting is doing its job and you feel like they have and you're walking into a situation where they all think you're the right person for the job, then you don't really have those. When you walk into a situation and you feel like two of the executive producers want me there and the director and another executive producer don't want me there. That's the tricky part. That's the part where you're like, I can feel that they're fighting and their visions are not aligned and I'm gonna get squeezed by this. Disagree.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

You know you're gonna get pulled. Yeah, yeah. And, and I, in those situations, like if I can feel a director, I'm not giving a director something. I'll just be like, give me a line read like, I, I don't, I'm not precious about that. It's gonna make everyone's job easier. Just tell me how you want it to say. Because I came in with a vision, I got cast and it now it's not working. So let's problem solve problem and figure it out. So it's probably. I do like it when I do like the other side a little bit more. I think anybody would where you show up and they're like, what do you got? Whatever you do, it's going to be great. And then we'll tweak it and we'll get it there. Because then you feel like your decision making is part of the process. And, and I've seen that on the, you know, because the show shrink, which is on peacock it. I was one of the co creators and I wrote on the season and was one of the eps and was the lead actor and when someone would come in making a strong choice, you have this relief. You're like, oh, thank God.

[Brian Green]

Thank God. They don't have a choice.

[Tim Baltz]

We don't have to mold them in the moment because time is money. So when they would make a choice, be like, okay, great. They're like, 95% there. This is going to be fine. And that feels good. It makes everyone feel safe. So if you're casting and you know that this person already made the choice, then they're showing up and you have way less to worry about.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. It's like they're moving in a direction so I don't have to babysit them. And they're giving color to this character that I created. And maybe, you know, I don't know because I've never been on a set, but, you know, I know you hear the stories that there are people like James Cameron, who it's my way or it's the highway, and I don't give a shit, and he's not tactful about it. And then there's very collaborative, you know, directors and writers who say, I see it this way, but I hired you for the part, and so you tell me how you see it.

[Tim Baltz]

I love that, you know, I want to be in the next Avatar, so I love that I want to be on Avatar.

[Brian Green]

You just want those points on the back end. That's what you want or whatever.

[Tim Baltz]

Absolutely. Are you kidding? Avatar, back end. Yes.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

That's amazing that that guy has just had a string. I mean, just a run, like, run.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Everything he does turns to a billion dollar.

[Tim Baltz]

I saw this on Instagram the other day. There was this post that was like, his wife watched Avatar, Air and Fire, or whatever it's called, and cried for four hours afterwards. You're like, come on, she needs medication. What are you talking about?

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Tim Baltz]

You're crying about something else.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. You're crying about.

[Tim Baltz]

You're not crying about the music.

[Brian Green]

Billion dollar opportunity. Well, she hasn't done too bad herself either, so. So tell me about the deli Boys, because. So Shrink. Critically acclaimed. Righteous Gender Stones. Critically acclaimed. Very funny. And then our deli boys is getting great reviews also. So tell us about deli boys, because this just. This just dropped along with righteous gemstones also. Yeah, what, like two.

[Tim Baltz]

Less than two weeks ago or something? Yeah, they dropped three days apart, which is. Which is rare. Like, those things line up so rarely. I think the last time it happened, for me, this episode of Chicago PD and Veep came out like, this is amazing. Yeah, the. The Deli boys was shot in Chicago and cheated for Philadelphia. So for me, it was like a homecoming. I got to come back and There was a lot of crew that had worked on Shrink that was working on Deli Boys, and I hadn't seen them in, like, eight or nine years.

[Chrissy]

Oh, nice.

[Tim Baltz]

That was really lovely. Yeah, Some people from the camera department and art department and. And wardrobe, and it was really special because Shrink was the thing that moved me out to LA back in 2014, and I never thought I'd live in LA, but we sold a show from Chicago, which is super rare, and then just had to go. So Deli Boys got to come back and spend time with family and friends. And the cast was amazing. It was another one of those things you walk in and you don't know what the vibe is, and you're a little hesitant. You know, you're like, I don't know what it is. I'm coming as a guest star for six episodes. That's. That's a long time if the vibe is bad. And the vibe was immaculate. It was incredible. Asfali Sagar, Shaik Porna Jaggernath and Brian George. Like, the whole cast, they were just phenomenal. Ali Ruddy was my scene partner, and she crushed it. And we had a great time and it flew by. That's the other thing that was like season one of Gemstones. It just flew by. And the next thing you know, you're.

[Brian Green]

Like, man, give our audience. Give our audience a flavor of what Deli Boys is about. For those who haven't seen it.

[Tim Baltz]

So I saw this in one of the reviews, which I thought was a great way to describe it. They said it was Guy Ritchie meets Succession.

[Brian Green]

I'm about that all day long. Guy Ritchie meets Succession.

[Tim Baltz]

There were so many people. I think it dropped on like a Thursday or a Friday. And there were so many people that by that first weekend, they had binged the whole thing, or they said, I watched everything until two days, so it's very bingeable. I watched personally, I watched the whole thing in two days. And I have a lot of friends that are like, oh, it kind of feels like Coen Brothers. But when they. They came to me with it, they said Gemstones was a comp for them because it lives in this world of, you know, it's a family drama. Like, that's the conflict that's driving the story. It has a lot of heart, along with the comedy and the violence and the gore and. And there's a lot of kind of like suspense and intrigue. And I. I was just really, really impressed. It was. The executive producers were Jenny Connor, Norris Silver, Michelle Nader, and they were incredible.

[Brian Green]

I Mean, Nora Silver's Nora is legendary.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. And Jenny Connor did Girls on HBO and a ton of other things. And they're. They're. I mean, really, like all of them are kind of like. It was again, like a rogues gallery. And the cool thing about the cast is, you know, a lot of these people you've seen work for a long time, but they've never had a cast. That's all the leads are South Asian, you know, Indian, Pakistani, and they all now are like the leads of the show as opposed to the side characters. And so the vibe on set was just. Everyone was so grateful. And we would go film and you'd see the South Asian community come out, like extras or whatever, and they're like, everyone. I mean, my heart was just bursting seeing how appreciative and excited everybody was. And it was cool to be part of something really special. And then I got to meet Chris Elliott and work with him for a day.

[Brian Green]

Oh, really?

[Tim Baltz]

That blew my fucking mind. He's in the last episode or the second to last episode. Really? Yeah. And he. This was crazy.

[Brian Green]

How did. How did. How is he getting involved?

[Tim Baltz]

So the Bear films in Chicago?

[Brian Green]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

His daughter, Abby Elliott is on the bear. She plays the sister. And he was there. He and his wife were there babysitting. And Jenny Connor had reached out to me. She was like, hey, you know everybody in Chicago. So, like, can you recommend some people that would be good for, you know, this part or that part, or, like, who do you know? So I'm sending her, like, you know, reams of paper with, like, different. I love every. I love everybody there. And I'm like, this person would be great. That person would be great. And then she said, okay, well, for this one part, hold off. I think we got someone. I was like, oh, okay, all right. And then she comes back, she's like, it was Chris Elliott. He's here babysitting. And he really had been like, since COVID he had kind of like just taken a break and been like, on grandpa duty and chilling in Maine. And he is one of my all time heroes. So I spent an entire day just kind of like teetering behind him and then being like, so. So on Letterman.

[Brian Green]

He is brilliant. He's a genius. And you haven't seen much of him lately. And so that's crazy that he just pops out of the woodwork. Hey, I'm babysitting. Yeah, I don't mind coming in and doing a day worth of work.

[Tim Baltz]

I'm sure you've had this too. Like, you you ever meet someone and you're like, you've been a fan for so long, they're, like, ubiquitous in your brain.

[Chrissy]

Yes, yes.

[Tim Baltz]

And then you meet them and you're like, it's them. And they're doing their thing, like, right.

[Brian Green]

Here, right in front of me. Yes.

[Tim Baltz]

He was doing. He was doing, like, Chris Elliott stuff right in front of me, and we had a take, and they. I think Jenny Connor was directing that episode, and she's like, you know, you guys say whatever you want. Like, you guys just go wild. Okay. I know. I trust that you'll get the scene. And then I, like, really kind of stuck to the script and came back and she's like, you okay? You didn't really improvise. I was like, I'm just stunned.

[Brian Green]

It's Chris Elliott. It's Chris Elliot.

[Tim Baltz]

Sorry, I'll shake it off. But, like, I had one paper. Yeah, yeah. Jaw on the floor.

[Brian Green]

We have those moments all the time here because. And, you know, it's a. It can be a little bit surreal. You know, they say there's like an old saying that never meet your heroes, right? Because they may not be what you. They're all. They're never going to be what you see on TV or whatever. That's the charact that they're playing, or that's the. The jokey part of them on stage. But so many times I've found that when the person is sitting in front of us and we're kind of, you know, fanboying or fangirling or we're really. We really like their work, that they end up being so much cooler than we ever thought they would be. And, you know, we've met so many of our heroes already here, but 90% of the time, I have to say, I find myself engaged in just like a normal man's conversation. Normal person's conversation with them, and I'm like, wow, they really are cool on. Outside of their character or outside of whatever they're doing they're doing on stage. You had. I want to talk to you about. Shrink a little bit, because this show, critically acclaimed. How did you come up with the idea? And it's streaming on Peacock right now. Is that right?

[Chrissy]

It just came out on Peacock, right?

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, yeah, I think it was. I mean, it bounced around. It was on Hulu for. For a little while. It was. It was on the NBC app. It was originally on ciso, but we. We originally made it A Friend and I as an improvised web series in, like, 2011. And then there was this thing that used to happen called the New York Television Festival. This is right when like kind of indie TV is exploding. You know, end of the 2000s, early 2010s, the kind of tech behind, you know, the production of stuff had been so democratized that you could get footage, you could get the gear together and you could film your own stuff and it could look pretty good, you know, and I didn't really have any experience in that. And the co creator Ted, he had a friend who was, who had gone through medical school and then he hadn't matched with a university hospital. So like when you graduate medical school, you have to match with a university hospital and that's where you go do your residency.

[Brian Green]

Residency.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, yeah. And he didn't. So he was half a million dollars in debt and he was living in his parents basement. And so our, the genesis of the show is that a character like that.

[Brian Green]

Is.

[Tim Baltz]

He decides to defer his student loans by starting to do clinical therapy. But for clinical therapy you have to register 2000 hours of free therapy. Like you have to administer those sessions.

[Brian Green]

2000 hours.

[Tim Baltz]

2000 hours. And then, then you can start getting paid. But while you're doing that you defer the half a million dollars in debt. So this character that happens to him and his basically like, you know, his parents co signed on his loan so they need it to happen. And he's doing these sessions out of his parents garage. Yeah. And he finds a therapist to supervise his hours. And it's the story of like him kind of trying to get better and he's doing all these unconventional things and he's trying to do therapy outside of the garage, which is with his patients, which is unethical.

[Chrissy]

Right.

[Tim Baltz]

But it was great. And it was this thing that organically developed and we turned it into a pilot in 2012 and we took it to New York Television Festival and we ended up winning best comedy and critics award. Gene Damanian Productions picked it up and helped us develop it. And we pitched it in 2013 and we sold it to this place called Pivot, which doesn't exist anymore. And then it sat in development for two and a half years there, which was very frustrating. Then they gave it back and then I was working on this other show, Bajillion Dollar Properties on CISO and.

[Brian Green]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

So then they, they, they knew who I was and so we went in there and we're like, well look, we have this thing and we had made a pilot and the pilot was really good. And so it was this calling card that kept Kind of like people would pass it around in these indie circles. And because we were like a Vimeo staff pick, I mean, it picked up like all the awards that you could on that little circuit.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, sure.

[Tim Baltz]

And we sold it to them. And then the next thing we knew, we were writing it. We wrote eight episode season and came out Chicago. We filmed it and then it came out and. And then like two months after it came out, we found out that all of CISO was going away. So we're like, what though? And they had just ordered a season two. That was the tough part.

[Brian Green]

Oh my God.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. But that, that also is like, that's. That was kind of like a. The canary in the coal mine, so to speak, of the streaming age, you know? Yes. That now people are seeing that happen all the time. You'll see an entire series just get disappeared even though it was a fan favorite. You'll see entire movies never get released even though they're, you know, $50 million for some tax write off and.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

And you don't own the licensing. So right now we're just thrilled that it's on Peacock and people can see it. And it was, I mean, people were like, but you know, when it was orphaned, when it wasn't on any platforms, people would reach out and be like, hey, just so you know, like people pirated it and it's over here now. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Wow, that must be an amazing feeling and an amazingly frustrating feeling. Right? It's like, wow, this. I know I have a good product and it just can't find a home that will run with it in the way that it needs to be run with. And Chrissy and I have talked about this all the time. We've talked about this. Just with so many people who have come on the show. I have this feeling, this, like, I know this is kind of contrarian, but my feeling is that in some ways the streamers and OTT broke something that wasn't necessary. Broke something that necessarily didn't need to be broken.

[Tim Baltz]

Right.

[Brian Green]

And that these, some of these television shows that are fantastic fan favorites, no doubt, they're getting. You can't find them or three and done, they're three and out. Because the streamers, that's not where the new subscribers lie. They don't lie in season number four. They lie in the brand new season, the brand new television show that gets all the PR and that brings people in the door. By season number four. It's an established audience that's already here paying us a subscribers fee. Why are we going to Spend money on it. And that is, that's terrible for us as the viewers. And sometimes, you know, I forgot who was saying this to us, but somebody, somebody who was just here said, you know, sometimes I feel like the networks or the television show or the writers and producers owe it to people to wrap up some of these storylines and they never get a chance to do that. They just go away.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, I mean, it's. That's disruption. Right. Disruption is just the shell game. And they sold it to us as if it was this thing that was going to improve upon a product and it didn't. It actually made the product, the access to the product worse, right?

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Tim Baltz]

And what's funny is that the success of a lot of these streaming platforms is like the bedrock of a lot of these things are, where can I find the long running show that I want as a comfort watch? Where is Cheers streaming? Where is Seinfeld streaming? Whereas Friends streaming? Where's Parks and Rec streaming? Right. Where's Abbott elementary streaming? Like these are the things that we keep coming back to as foundational, which previous networks used to have in syndication and now they're just moving it around trying to keep everyone from subscribing over here or keep everyone subscribing here and then like canceling this one, but then resubscribing because of other stuff. So it's built in this way that forces you to kind of spend way more than you did when you had a cable package and a few simple add ons. And the future is most likely a bundling of a few different services together. Yeah, conglomerates that are going to come together and then instead of buying one cable package, you'll have to buy three because it'll be Disney, espn, blah blah, blah. It'll be NBC Universal and like, you know, Warner or something like that. Yeah, they're going to start merging out of necessity.

[Brian Green]

They're already doing it. They're already doing it. So the, so the model that they took and disrupted and broke in a million pieces is now coming back to the model that we always had. There are television, there are ads running again in the streamers. Now we don't have whole seasons dropping at the same time. They're dropping week after week. The streamers figured out that doesn't work. So let's now go back to every week, every Thursday at 9 o' clock we'll drop this new episode. And now it's so funny because I have cable, but on my cable I watch net the flicks through my cable. It's just Another television channel. It's just another television channel and one that has a ton of money to pour into content. But there's. It's. There's so much content that the Discovery is really difficult. And unless somebody tells me about it or I have time to, you know, bounce around. We found this for you, which I never do, then I don't get to see the new things that are deep in that platform. So it's. It. It's an embarrassment of riches in one way. And in one way, it's just so thin, it's so hard to find, that I can understand the incredible frustration when you have such a great television show like Shrink, and you're like, oh, my gosh, this could be four or five, ten seasons long in syndication, and we could make such a great product over and over again, and then it just gets stuck bouncing around everywhere. That's where it must be kind of a blessing to be with a company or a studio like hbo, because it's, you know. You know, you're the. In. The Right to stem Zones is obviously a breakout hit for them, but you know that they're. You're going to get the proper promotion and the proper platforming and the proper discovery, at least in that universe, that it's got a chance. Right? It's got a chance to go the distance.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. And after. After Shrink, like, that happened and CISO went under, I was like, I need a job. And do you know who Jordan Klepper is? He's on the Day.

[Brian Green]

I do. Yeah, of course.

[Tim Baltz]

So Jordan. Jordan had the show called the Opposition, which was on right after the Daily show for, like, a year.

[Brian Green]

Oh, yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

It was kind of like Colbert Report, but updated for, like, the Infowars era, you know?

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

And. And he was. He was like, he's looking for correspondence, and they reached out to me, and I had. That's called field work. When the correspondents go out into the field and man on the street stuff, and. Yeah, yeah. And those. That's notoriously, like, really difficult. But I needed a job, so I auditioned and I wrote a character that was kind of like his little brother kind of antagonizing him because he was my first improv coach in Chicago, and I always. Jordan, yeah, he was. And I. I always kind of had that. That rapport with him, you know, where I'm like, kind of annoying him, and he's like, all right, all right. And so I wrote that into the character, and it worked. And they flew me out, and I tested and it went great. So they're like, okay, you're hired. So then I had to do field work. And it was in 2017. 18. Oh, my God. So I'm going to, like, CPAC and Roy Moore rallies and Steve Bannon speeches.

[Brian Green]

And wearing a bulletproof vest.

[Tim Baltz]

I mean, almost. I was wearing. Well, I was wearing, like, a American flag T shirt that I got.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

Store. Which was better than a bulletproof vest. Sure. And. And that was. That was a really, really tough job. I loved everyone that worked there, but it was really kind of soul sucking because you're seeing these people that are. They're so. You know, they're sucked into this cult.

[Chrissy]

Brainwashed.

[Tim Baltz]

Brainwashed. It's right when, like, QAnon is coming out. We were on the ground when it first came out, being like, so what do you think? You know, when people are like, yeah, it's real. It was really dark.

[Brian Green]

And then you notice QAnon went away. Did anybody notice that? QAnon just went away. QAnon was gonna save the world and the big reveal and the whole world is gonna change, and it just went away. Just went away.

[Tim Baltz]

And that experience, too, where it was hard to draw an audience from that because everyone was kind of in denial at the time. So I went from shrink to that, and then I landed on Gemstones and hbo and my reps had been like, are you gonna. You want to pitch something else? You want to get another show out there? And I was so heartbroken from the shrink stuff that, to be honest, I was like, no, this is good. Like, I'm. Yeah, I feel really blessed and lucky to be in the. This company of people. They're all top notch in what they do, you know, literally, like, some of the best in the business and whatever roles they. They fill and how they're perceived by the industry and with Roughhouse, that's just. I mean, they. They're visionaries. They really are some of the most underrated people, at least of the 21st century. And it was. It was such a gift to just come in and be like, what do you need me to do? I'll, like. I mean. And that character BJ runs through brick walls with those guys. We were jokingly. I was. When we were doing press, someone had asked about season one. I get hit in the face with a stake. I get tased. I think I get beat up. I fall off. I fall off like a fence. That's right. Season two, I have, like, the baptism. I. I get. I get shot. Season three, I get a ninja star in my head. I have to fight a Naked guy. This season, I had to learn how to pole dance.

[Brian Green]

And you took this seriously? I. I read an article where you, like, went to class for like two and a half hours a day.

[Chrissy]

That's a poor strange. I've tried those classes before. They're hard.

[Tim Baltz]

No joke. Chrissy, testify to this. Testify to this.

[Chrissy]

Yes, they are so hard. Seriously.

[Brian Green]

I don't doubt it.

[Tim Baltz]

It's. It's very.

[Chrissy]

It takes a lot of strength. Arm strength, leg. I mean, all of it.

[Tim Baltz]

I was. I was really lucky that the person that they just coincidentally picked happened to be like, it was the closest pole studio to production headquarters. And they were like, oh, this one? Yeah, the woman running it, Tanya Crisper, bless her heart. She is the president of the US Aerial Federation. So basically, if pole. If Ariel. If aerial sports gotten into the Olympics, she would be the Olympic coach.

[Brian Green]

Wow.

[Tim Baltz]

And she was training me and I came in and I'm like, look, I'm not very flexible, you know, I'm like, I don't know about my.

[Brian Green]

I'm a fish out of water.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. And the first routine, which is in episode two, which is out now, I. I was supposed to get upside down, and I was like, right, there's no way. And. And she's like, with all due respect, I think you're gonna do this entire routine by yourself. I designed it so that you could do it. And I'm like, like, there's no way. She's like, don't take this the wrong way. Your body is built for pull.

[Chrissy]

I love it.

[Tim Baltz]

And she was. She was right. By the fourth session, I got upside down. And by the fifth session, I did the entire routine and we're there high fiving each other, being like.

[Chrissy]

It'S inspiring me to go back to these classes because I quit after like two.

[Tim Baltz]

It's hard. Well, you gotta pace yourself. I went too hard on the pole and I hurt my shoulder and my elbow.

[Chrissy]

Too hard on the pole.

[Tim Baltz]

I went too hard on the damn pole.

[Chrissy]

It's so fantastic.

[Brian Green]

You are the kind of the punching bag of that, but it's so goofy and lovable and absurd in some ways. I love the character. I think it's great. There aren't too many characters that I don't love, and you're working with some of the best. I mean, you got Danny McBride and Edie Patterson. Edie Patterson.

[Chrissy]

The two of you just. I mean, it. Just the back and forth and what she says. What did she say the other day? I mean, I'm watching it, you know, I'm. It Makes me slick.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah.

[Chrissy]

And then like all that, it's just learning the writing.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, the writing is so quick and like witty. But I have to ask, who's you like John working with John Goodman. We were just talking about before you came on, we were like, wow, just sitting in the same room with John Goodman. I mean, ever since Roseanne, I think we've all thought of him as our best friend. It's like he played that character so welcoming to inviting to the. The audience. It felt like that's your dad, your uncle, your best friend, your bud, however you saw it at the time. And he parlayed that into a career of epic proportions. And he's like, in my mind, he's 10ft tall. He's a legend.

[Tim Baltz]

Oh, yeah, yeah, he really is. And you know, being from Illinois, like that was Roseanne. You know, Roseanne was.

[Brian Green]

Roseanne was our homegirl. Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

That house, like I knew I did an episode of the Conners a few years ago and being in that on the studio lot and in that set and seeing the living room like this is. It was surreal because that house was so many of my friends houses.

[Brian Green]

Yes, mine too.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. And yeah, I think very blessed with that set. Like, Adam Devine felt like someone that I had gone to high school with pretty instantly. Tony Cavallaro I knew since 2012 when we did Montreal just for laughs together. Edie, like, it was. It was super easy from the get go with Edie. And that was. That made the job so fun and fulfilling. And with Jon, you're. I always said it's like. It's like watching a marble statue starting to move where like everything.

[Brian Green]

That's a good way to put it.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah, everything is perfect. Like, every take I would be like, huh? There is flawless. But it was interesting in its own way. And I would learn so much from watching him that very quickly, season one, I was like, okay. Jody Hill would say this. He. After a good take, he'd be like, I was just watching a movie.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Tim Baltz]

Like, he had no notes. That was his way of saying, like, no notes. He was like, I was just watching the movie, guys. And with John, quickly, I had to be like, I can't watch the movie from inside the scene. I got to get over the fact that it's Jon and I gotta appreciate the fact that he is an incredible professional. We had a scene together in season two and off camera, he's trying to get better. That, I think was the thing that I was most impressed by.

[Chrissy]

Yeah, he's still working at it.

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. Like, he's. We did his coverage first and then turned around and did mine, and he's still working the scene from his side of the camera. And, like, he had to. You know, sometimes you have to cheat where, like, you're in a space and so, you know, the camera's on you, and then it turns around on the other person, and you have to be, like, this close to the camera, and so you're doing your scene. And I remember John had to be, like, right here, and he's still emoting and giving the scene his all and, like, you know, contemplating and giving me what I need for the scene. Yeah, like, you've been doing this that long, and you're still that generous with your scene partner, which is professionalism. But still, there are a lot of people that don't do that.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, they phone. They phone it in because, you know, it's not. The attention is not on me. You know, you do your thing and I'll. I'll say the line. So at least you have some.

[Tim Baltz]

Some background, endless respect for him.

[Brian Green]

You know, I think. I think you're on a run here, kid.

[Tim Baltz]

I think you're on a run here. And.

[Brian Green]

And I gotta say, I mean, I know there's. There. You know, this is 45 minutes that we're talking to you. We could go on and on.

[Chrissy]

Oh, yeah.

[Brian Green]

Comedy Bang Bang. You. That is my flavor of hot sauce. What was it, Maurice? Flat bottom? All these characters you play, I just love it because the commercial break is a lot that way. You know, we do these sketches at the beginning of the show, and Comedy Bang Bang has some similar ilk doing it a lot longer than we have and much better. But, you know, some of these characters that you play, I just love it. And your roots are in improv. I think that's probably served you well inside of some of these television shows because you have the ability to be really flexible and versatile. It shows. You're really good. You're all scene stealers. But there are some scenes where it's just clear that, you know, your character has taken. Taken the cake. You've got the Deli Boys.

[Tim Baltz]

I'm excited.

[Chrissy]

So excited.

[Brian Green]

Deli Boys is on Hulu, right?

[Chrissy]

It is on Hulu. On Hulu.

[Brian Green]

And you've got Righteous Gemstones on Max. And then you've got Peacock.

[Tim Baltz]

You have shrink.

[Brian Green]

Comedy Bang Bang lives forever on the RSS feed. So you can go listen to that podcast. It's, I think, one of the first places we did some advertising for our show to. To grow the show. Early on, when we weren't. When no one was gonna listen to the show anyway, even if they heard it. But Comedy Bang Bang was one of those first places.

[Tim Baltz]

That's great. We also have. My wife and I and a few friends have a podcast on the Comedy Bang Bang Patreon.

[Brian Green]

Oh, really?

[Tim Baltz]

That's called hey Randy. It's based on Randy Snuts, who's one of the long running characters that I've done on Comedy Bang Bang. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's a call and advice show. And we have like our, our, our. Our small but mighty fan base calls in with anything duplicitous and scandalous happening in their lives. And. And the. It's just a hometown crew of friends and, and the little drama that's part of their lives. And it's kind of based on like the people that I grew up with and Joliet and.

[Chrissy]

Oh, that's great.

[Brian Green]

I want to talk to you about Joliet. I want to talk about Oak Force. I want to talk to you about the Cubs and the Bears and the Blackhawks and all the, you know, and if you like the White Sox, you're from Indiana. But hey, That's what my dad used to say to My grandpa used to say it to us. And then my dad carried on the tradition. He says, you're from Chicago, son. So you like the Bulls, the Bears, the Blackhawks and the Cubs. And if you ever like the White Sox, move to Indiana.

[Tim Baltz]

And I.

[Brian Green]

But we'll forgive the White Sox fans. We'll forgive the White. They have a long storied history themselves. It's just, you know, Comiskey and Wrigley, two different places. So Tim Baltz. I'm going to put the links in all the show notes. I'll put a link to the Patre. Where you can go listen to. It's on Patreon, you said?

[Tim Baltz]

Yeah. The comedy CBD World. The comedy Bang Bang Patreon.

[Brian Green]

Okay, I'll make sure I find a link. I'll put it on there. I'm gonna put a link to all three of the network television shows that Tim has now got out there in the universe.

[Chrissy]

Congratulations.

[Brian Green]

And congratulations on all your success. We wish that you come back so we can dig deeper into the universe of Tim. I feel like 45 minutes, we're just scratching the surface, but really, I'd love to be.

[Tim Baltz]

I'd love to be back.

[Brian Green]

Okay, well, I know, I know your people, so your people are my people. So we'll call them and we'll get this all hooked up.

[Tim Baltz]

Awesome.

[Brian Green]

Tim. Tim Baltz. Thank you very much, my friend. We really appreciate it.

[Tim Baltz]

You're all the best. Thank you.

[Rachel]

Hey, it's Rachel, your new voice of God here on tcb. And just like you, I'm wondering just how much longer this podcast can continue. Let's all rejoice that another episode has made it to your ears. And I'll rejoice that my check is in the mail. Speaking of mail, get your free TCB sticker in the mail by going to tcbpodcast.com and visiting the Contact us page. You can also find the entire commercial break library audio and video, just in case you want to look at [e-mail] Want your voice to be on an episode of the show? Leave us a message at 212-4333, TCB. That's 212433, 3822. Tell us how much you love us and we'll be sure to let the world know on a future episode. Or you could make fun of us. That'd be fine, too. We might not air that, but maybe. Oh, and if you're shy, that's okay. Just send a text. We'll respond. Now I'm gonna go check the mailbox for payment while you check out our sponsors. And then we'll return to this episode of the commercial break.

[Brian Green]

I'm gonna tell a story that Tim didn't tell recorded, but I'm gonna tell the story. I'm gonna relay the story. So Tim and I were commiserating about being long suffering Cubs fans before we got on to the actual recording. And he was like, oh, well, at least we have 2016 when the Cubs won the World Series. And I said, yeah, you know, and I. Every time someone says cubs won the World Series, I have to tell them that I almost went if I had $10,000 in my pocket. And he was explaining that he was going to go. He was there in Chicago around that time, but he got flown out to la or for whatever reason, he goes to a bar on game seven when they won, and he's standing by himself at a table and someone hits a home run in the first inning. Which really is an indication things are going well for the Cubs, essentially. And because Cubs fans are so fucking superstitious, there were other Cubs fans in that same bar who were like, you cannot move from that table because you're. That. It's. It's so superstitious that if anything changes, then maybe the Cubs are going to Lose. And that's how it goes when you're a Cubs fan. So they made him stand there the entire night watching the game, and they would bring him food and water and drinks and stuff like that. And he had friends at tables in the corner, and they were like, come on, man. And he's like, I can't move. I can't move. I got to stand right here at this bar table for four and a half hours while the Cubs win the World Series. And they did, and we all cried. And Tim Baltz is awesome. What a good guy.

[Chrissy]

Thanks to Tim.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, I enjoyed it. I like Tim.

[Chrissy]

Oh, God, love Tim.

[Brian Green]

I wish there was gonna be another season of Righteous Gemstones, but, you know, we got four. That's better than most.

[Chrissy]

I'm go back and start re watching them, which I think is the mark of a great show.

[Brian Green]

Yes, I agree.

[Chrissy]

If you go back and rewatch what.

[Brian Green]

You'Ve already watched, I totally agree with you. There are shows that I rewatch over and over and over again. Kath and Kim, the West Wing, Benny Dorm. Benny Dorm is the most terrible show you've ever seen in your entire life, by the way. I rewatch it at night. It's like comfort food. It's like, this is so bad. I know I'll fall asleep to it. Why not? Sometimes I'll go to sleep on, like, episode one, and then I'll wake up.

[Chrissy]

And it's on 12, and the next.

[Brian Green]

Day it's on 13. Yeah. I was like, wow, that played for 13 hours. And I wonder why my phone's always dead in the morning. All right, Tim Baltz. I'm gonna put all of the impertinent details, links to the righteous gemstones, links to his Hulu show, Deli Boys, and links to the Peacock, a critically acclaimed show shrink. Go watch it. Who knows? Maybe they'll raise that from the dead and give them another season or something like that. Yeah, they should. And Comedy Bang Bang. He's got his own podcast, behind the Paywall. I'll give you a link. Comedy Bang Bang is great, by the way, if you like the commercial. Commercial break. It's like a much better version of the commercial break. They do all, mostly all improv, and it's, like, really funny. And Reggie Watts is often on Comedy Bang Bang. So go listen to some of our friends over at Comedy Bang Bang. Okay. For us, as far as we're concerned, you can go to our website, tcbpodcast.com all the audio, all the video right there at one location in case you need to catch up on, you know, 713 episodes of the commercial break. Feel free to go to the website. It's all there. You can also get your free TCB swag by going to the contact us button. Hit the drop down menu. I want my free sticker. Give us your address and we'll send you one at the commercial break on Instagram. Please follow us TCB podcast on TikTok I don't even know what to say about TikTok. Just don't even bother. YouTube.com the commercial break for all you Dr. Phil fans out there, you can catch all of our episodes the same day. Usually that they air here on the audio feed. They will be dropped on the YouTube feed also. 212-4333 tcb 212433, 3822 questions, comments? Concerns? Content? Ideas? Leave us a voicemail when I put you on the next show. All right Chrissy, that's all I can do for now.

[Chrissy]

I think so.

[Brian Green]

I'll tell you that I love you.

[Chrissy]

I love you.

[Brian Green]

Best to you. Best you out there in the podcast universe. Thanks Tim for showing up today. Until next time we will say, we do say and we must say goodbye.

[Tim Baltz]

I.