218: We're Here to Chat Vol 5: The Last Boomer

Summary

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We're Here to Help - Episode 218:

"We're Here to Chat Vol 5: The Last Boomer"

Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson & Gareth Reynolds
Guests/Regulars: Steve Berg, Eric Edelstein
Podcast Network: Headgum

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Overview

Episode 218 of We're Here to Help is a freewheeling, laughter-filled group chat among Jake, Gareth, Steve, and Eric, all veteran friends with an affinity for “dumb bits,” regular self-roasting, and sincere but badly qualified advice. With no callers this week, the episode is a loose collection of genuinely funny personal stories, tongue-in-cheek generational debates, food rituals, tales of New York misadventure, memorials for eccentric Hollywood figures, and, most notably, Eric's epic, cliffhangered quest to finally attend “Vandy Camp” at Dick Van Dyke’s house. Behind all the goofing is a surprising warmth, a strong sense of camaraderie, and the occasional wise, if roundabout, life lesson.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Morning Rituals & Steve’s “Two-a-Days”

[03:19]

• Steve recounts his intense, positive morning: multiple workouts (“like I’m training for the Olympics”) to preempt his weekend eating, followed by chaos trying to steer boomer parents to a restaurant (“they flagged a stranger to give them directions. I’m like, no, don’t follow a stranger!”)
• Eric jokes that boomers need iPhone classes, as navigating with a smartphone remains elusive for older generations.

  “We need to start doing iPhone classes for Boomers.” – Eric Edelstein [05:02]

• Group riff on generational differences, sparking the “last boomer” thread.

2. Steve’s Food Philosophy & Motivation to Exercise

[08:31]

• Steve reveals he works out intensely ahead of “pizza Saturdays”:

  “I’m not a casual pizza eater.” – Steve Berg [08:54]

• Jake and Gareth commiserate; exercise is just a means to guilt-free indulgence.
• Steve’s “binging qualities” candidly discussed, but with self-aware, comedic acceptance.

3. Jake’s Lost-Phone New York Adventure

[10:11]

• Jake recounts a frantic story of losing his phone before an early-morning flight, getting locked out of all his accounts, and embarking on a near-feral quest through Brooklyn to recover it.

  “I just started chasing down things that look like production vans.” – Jake Johnson [13:00]

• After a string of lucky breaks (all doors miraculously unlocked), Jake reunites with his phone, befriends a deli worker, and ends up cruising on an e-scooter.
• Eric draws a parallel to boomer tech mishaps, crowning Jake “The Last Boomer.”

  “I want on my stone to say the last Boomer.” – Jake Johnson [11:51]

• The other guys liken Jake’s adventure to a wizard turning a dog into a man:

  “This is like if a wizard turned a dog into a man.” – Gareth Reynolds [13:12]

4. The White Horse Tavern, Meeting Jeffrey Owens, and New York Vibes

[16:14]

• Jake and Eric share a heartwarming and awkward brush with Cosby Show actor Jeffrey Owens, who was working at the White Horse Tavern.
• Eric inadvertently spirals into Bob Dylan conspiracies, causing Owens to look at Jake for reassurance.

  “I was explaining this...and kind of watching his eyes glaze over and become slightly worried about me. He gave Jake a look like, it’s so sweet you’re helping your friend.” – Eric Edelstein [17:44]

• They contrast the reception of eccentric anecdotes in NY vs. LA––New Yorkers fear unfiltered weirdness; LA is more receptive.

5. Hotel Bath Hacks, Steve’s Calendar, and The Power of Just Words

[26:23]

• Eric is evangelical about requesting a bath in every hotel, using Epsom salts, and enjoying small luxuries.
• Steve, meanwhile, is the focus of an upcoming “Steve Berg Hunk Calendar,” and listeners are invited to vote for final images (we-need-to-pick.com/stevecalendar).
• Group calls out each other on saying “just words.”

  “Those are just words, Steve.” – Gareth Reynolds [25:30]

6. Grievance Segment (“Grandpa’s Grievance Corner”)

[35:36]

• Jake challenges the group to air real grievances with one another. Nobody has substantive issues, underlining their genuine affection and lack of drama.
• Instead, they playfully expose text thread insincerities—like Eric feigning enthusiasm about Steve’s “Apple Jack Festival” for the sake of the group chat.
• Classic exchange:

  “Those are just words. Just two words.” – Jake Johnson [42:08]
  “My grievance is with this grievance.” – Gareth Reynolds [40:53]

7. Food, Folksiness, and Pickled Goods

[44:03]

• Steve’s report from the Apple Jack Festival includes spending almost $300 on jarred pickles and candied apples, bemoaning the perishability and his own “folksiness.”
• Eric is erotically moved by the mention of pickled quail eggs.
• Steve’s vibe inspires:

  “We need a new Will Rogers. It’s my friend Steve.” – Eric Edelstein [45:46]

8. Vandy Camp (Dick Van Dyke Obsession)

[46:33], [61:36]

• Eric details his fixation with attending any event featuring Dick Van Dyke, narrating missed opportunities and the supporting fandom that’s grown around the saga.
• The group openly muses about the podcast’s responsibility for Dick Van Dyke virality in recent weeks, and they issue a heartfelt, unironic open invitation to Dick to come on the show:

  “If we have what you’re saying, that kind of reach...let’s have this end with you and me asking that man questions about his glorious career and thanking him for 100 years on planet Earth, making the world better.” – Jake Johnson [51:15]

• Eric gives a moving, theatrical 60-second plea for Dick Van Dyke to appear on the pod (“pilot episode of Legends”).

  “We just want to sit at the feet of a master and listen to you talk and give us some kind of wisdom for a world that is in great need of it.” – Eric Edelstein [53:43]

• Steve riffs as Dick’s suspicious, out-of-touch friend; Gareth piles on with wordplay.
• The episode ends with a massive tease: Eric did finally go to Vandy Camp – Dick Van Dyke’s house! Details are left as a cliffhanger, with a promise of a follow-up episode and audience poll for how it should be released.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Why do I have to listen to excellence?” – Jake Johnson, ribbing Steve Berg for not listening to podcast episodes [02:30]
• “I’m not a casual pizza eater.” – Steve Berg [08:54]
• “You are missing a Gareth and a Jake in here.” – Jake Johnson on Steve getting too much positive food feedback in Omaha [07:31]
• “These are just words. Just two words.” – Jake Johnson (about text thread insincerities) [42:08]
• “This is like if a wizard turned a dog into a man.” – Gareth Reynolds (on Jake’s lost phone adventure) [13:12]
• “I want on my [grave]stone to say ‘The Last Boomer.’” – Jake Johnson [11:51]
• “We need a new Will Rogers. It’s my friend Steve.” – Eric Edelstein [45:46]
• “We just want to sit at the feet of a master and listen to you talk and give us some kind of wisdom for a world that is in great need of it.” – Eric Edelstein’s plea to Dick Van Dyke [53:43]
• “You are tip of the spear, baby.” – Jake Johnson, on Eric’s hardcore fandom [74:45]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:19] Steve’s intense morning & parents, genesis for “Last Boomer” discussion
• [08:54] Steve’s pizza ritual
• [10:11] Jake’s lost phone/boomer moment
• [11:51] Jake claims “The Last Boomer” title
• [16:14] White Horse Tavern + awkward conspiracy tangent
• [25:30] “Those are just words, Steve.”
• [35:36] Grievance segment
• [44:03] Steve’s folksy Apple Jack/pickled goods story
• [46:33] Vandy Camp/Dick Van Dyke segment (continues throughout episode)
• [53:43] Eric’s earnest plea to Dick Van Dyke
• [61:36] Vandy Camp: THE EPIC CLIFFHANGER

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Flow & Feel

The language is loose, rapid-fire, and joyfully extemporaneous, marked by playful ribbing, improvisational riffing, and genuine affection. Self-deprecation abounds, with food, aging, and anxiety recurring as comedic motifs. The tone alternates between absurdly silly bits and striking moments of sincerity, especially regarding honoring beloved figures and friendships.

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Closing & Cliffhanger

The episode delivers a massive “stay tuned” ending: Eric finally attended Vandy Camp at Dick Van Dyke’s house—an event so surreal and fanatical it demands its own forthcoming episode, with the hosts inviting listeners to decide its fate via comment section. In classic fashion, the group’s emotional investment in—and self-skewering about—the event and their fandom is both hilarious and surprisingly touching.

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For New Listeners

If you love stories of friendship, food, showbiz weirdness, retro obsession, and off-the-rails jokes, you’ll feel instantly at home. The group’s unqualified but heartfelt advice is here; so is a deep, old-school bond and a contagious willingness to embrace life’s oddities.

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Listen for: Generational mishaps, hotel bath hacks, behind-the-scenes acting shenanigans, and a saga involving the world’s most beloved nonagenarian.

Coming soon: Vandy Camp – The Finale. Vote for how you want to hear it!

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Transcript

[Eric Edelstein]

This is a headgun podcast.

[Steve Berg]

Morning, Zoe.

[Jake Johnson]

Got donuts.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

[Steve Berg]

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T Mobile commercial like you teach me.

[Jake Johnson]

So, Dana.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Jake Johnson]

Wow, impressive.

[Steve Berg]

Let me T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because.

[Jake Johnson]

They'Ve got the best network.

[Eric Edelstein]

Nice.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jeffrey.

[Eric Edelstein]

You heard them.

[Steve Berg]

T Mobile is the best place to get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.

[Eric Edelstein]

Us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Jake Johnson]

So what are we having for launch?

[Eric Edelstein]

Dude, my work here is done. With 24 monthly bill credits on experience.

[Jake Johnson]

Beyond for well qualified customers, plus tax and $35 device connection charge credits ended balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro256GB $1099.99 and new line minimum $100 plus a month plan with auto pay, plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oaklo test intelligence data 1H 2025 visit t mobile.com and we are back with the stars of Weird Here to ch. We're here with the gentlemen. We're doing another chat. Ladies and gentlemen, we premiered Weird here to chat. And we're here to speak. We're here to help. And the numbers speak for themselves. You people loved it.

[Steve Berg]

What a great thing to hear.

[Jake Johnson]

We.

[Steve Berg]

We sure like doing it.

[Eric Edelstein]

It wasn't let you down. If there's a reason we didn't talk to you or Gareth after we did it, we're a little scared. We just don't want to let you down.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, you listen to us discussing.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, yeah, come on now. When I'm talked about, I want to hear.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Look at Berg's face.

[Steve Berg]

How did you hear. How did you hear them discuss it, Eric?

[Eric Edelstein]

It's on the Patreon and then also on the intro to the Weird. Here to help.

[Jake Johnson]

We did on the show.

[Eric Edelstein]

On the actual show. I did listen to our actual show. Stephen, you've just been busted. That you did. And I couldn't love you more for it. Couldn't love you more for it, buddy. I wish I had that level of lack of ego. Okay.

[Jake Johnson]

Or just confidence. Steve's like, why do I have to listen to excellence?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I listen to everything. And I, I.

[Jake Johnson]

He's the kind of guy who doesn't even taste the sauce as he's cooking it Even though it tastes good, it's good.

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, it does taste good. That man has taught me to make a red sauce. And it has changed.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Steve had the look on his face of that somehow missed my files.

[Steve Berg]

Very clean.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Not sure what happened.

[Steve Berg]

Organized and collated.

[Jake Johnson]

Just to get us started, we all sat down. Gareth and I have been recording. We've had some bangers today, have we not?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, there's some great stuff. Some great stuff.

[Jake Johnson]

We are all doing our setup with Natalie. Natalie's the boss. She's running through things. And Steve said as he sat down, boy, have I had a morning this morning.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, I mean, and maybe my inflection was. Had a negative connotation, but it's been all positive. I've been able to squeeze in a lot Jake, which, you know, I like, woke up. No breakfast, two cups of coffee, do a 45 minute peloton, do a 30 minute weight training peloton class.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Steve Berg]

Look like I'm training for the Olympics, because I know weekend's coming up and I'm gonna go big food wise. So, you know, then I had to hurry up and meet my parents in South O. And they got lost on the way to this restaurant and my dad pulled like flag some guy to ask for directions because they refused to learn how to use their map thing. And then the guy is like, follow me, I'll take you to the restaurant. And I can hear this happening. I'm like going, no, don't follow a stranger. Anyways, that all happens. It goes, well, I barely make it to the Mexican grocery store because I'm having people over for the Nebraska tomorrow. And I'm making chicken tinga tacos.

[Eric Edelstein]

What are you making, Steve? What are you making?

[Steve Berg]

Chicken tinga tacos. Some traditional yellow rice with peas and carrots in it, obviously black bean, a pinto bean. And I'm gonna do some just tostada fixings. It's kind of a, you know, make your own taco buffet. You know, buddy, I wish I was there. I'm whipping up margaritas, cold beers in a cooler. You know, this is just hot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If only everyone could see his fingers. Yeah, he's doing real like, kind of.

[Steve Berg]

Let me get my pen.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, God, Baldinger's back.

[Steve Berg]

So. But yeah, no, and then, you know, skit, you know, just kind of like skidded in here like the Dukes of Hazzard. Fed my cats, got here little sweat on the brow right in time for to chat with my buddies.

[Eric Edelstein]

Steve, you bring up a point. I think we need to start doing iPhone classes for Boomers.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

Because they were raised with. Yeah. His parents had to get a guide, like the Oregon Trail to lunch.

[Jake Johnson]

I thought you were good.

[Eric Edelstein]

No. Well, you are. We are the last boomers, guys. Here we sit. That's why the numbers are good, I think. Seriously, like my parents, bless their hearts. My dad was in a huge bridge truck tournament yesterday against a Jeopardy. Champion, and he answered the phone. He's like, eric, I can't talk right now. And I've told mom and dad, you don't have to answer the phone. And my mom. Eric, I'm sorry we weren't there. I was with Terry and Deborah, and I'm like, mom, you don't have to tell me why you didn't answer the phone. It's all great. There's a midwifing, I think, with our baby boomer hero friends and parents and loved ones that we kind of got to help with these phones.

[Steve Berg]

The. They don't want to learn those. What I'm convinced of.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, it's a great call. That's. Here we sit. We went from Vietnam to Wall street and now. Shit, Jake.

[Steve Berg]

Vietnam to Wall Street. Oh, I'm excited to hear how Jake's gonna respond to this.

[Jake Johnson]

Go ahead.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I could. I, I. We all are. But it's. I'll say a couple things very quickly that you guys. There's a renewed energy to you two. I think since we validated the.

[Jake Johnson]

And confidence.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Confidence and validation of. Of you two.

[Eric Edelstein]

Steve.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Steve has always had it. Maybe it's blind. Who knows? But Eric, this is blind. But this is. You've been validated, and we now feel you. Boy, it feels like you boys are driving a little bit more. Nobody's mad at it. But I will say the takeaway from what Berg has gone through to be that older people need iPhone training, which is a lovely sentiment. Is not anywhere near the neighborhood of what I was reacting to.

[Eric Edelstein]

I was your reaction. Gr.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll start my first one. So many S's in what he said that I was in S heaven. I just went to. I just went to lisp town, and boy, was I loving my stay. But also the level of things that he's doing, the specificity he's saying tiga tacos and tinga tinga, whatever it is. We're letting that fly.

[Jake Johnson]

The way he also moves now that he's an Omaha chef is so different with food where he's getting fingers. You're surrounded by too many people complimenting you.

[Steve Berg]

Well, I'm bringing my big city knowledge to the Midwest.

[Eric Edelstein]

See Jake, Just a bunch of people.

[Jake Johnson]

Going like, wow, these are great nachos he's got. You are missing a Gareth and a Jake in here.

[Steve Berg]

I mean, like, the reality is there are. I have them in all friend groups. I mean, there's plenty. There's plenty of critics in my life.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I believe this is your first calendar and I believe that. That you do not. That is not fair to what Jake.

[Jake Johnson]

And I do question in terms of the calendar. So we just found out that Steve Berg worked out twice. And I will say this about you. You are a very athletic guy and you do have very good cardio.

[Steve Berg]

Thank you.

[Jake Johnson]

So you are a guy who always works out.

[Steve Berg]

I like to eat.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, we all do.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah. I mean, that's the only one.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What a great response to that.

[Jake Johnson]

Real quick. It's a perfect response. I totally get it. A peloton and a weight class. That's different for you. You're not a two in one day guy.

[Steve Berg]

No.

[Jake Johnson]

Did something about the calendar inspire a change?

[Steve Berg]

No, I. It. Well, I don't know. It definitely didn't. This is a. I've been on this regime for a little while, and on Fridays, I like to go as hard as I possibly can because I usually do a pizza Saturday. And I'm not a casual pizza eater. Like, I can't have like, oh, I'll have like a piece or two guys. By the way, it's like how I.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Title machine right now.

[Jake Johnson]

Also one month in the calendar. You know, we're talking about Steve Berg quotes. One of them has to be, I'm not a casual pizza eater.

[Steve Berg]

Well, unfortunately, like, I have some binging qualities which probably aren't great, but, like, you know, I'm not a guy who's like, I'll have a beer with dinner. No, I need like, you know, eight to nine, anywhere to 25 beers.

[Jake Johnson]

But with like, you know, I think we're all similar on this.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah. Right. So, like a pizza, I like to eat a large abundance of it. So that means I gotta go, I gotta pull a two a day on Friday.

[Jake Johnson]

Also, the two a day is in preparation for your Saturday pizza eating. That's exactly nothing to do with the calendar. I hear that. Yeah, I believe that 100%. Yeah.

[Steve Berg]

You and I have always been similar on the motivation to exercise. You love eating just as much as I do.

[Jake Johnson]

I do. I adore it. It's my. It's my favorite. I went out with Beck Bennett. The great Beck Bennett. Jesse, I gotta deal with my New York.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sorry.

[Jake Johnson]

You do?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, I think they're trying to kick hold on cheek.

[Steve Berg]

I want to hear about this New York situation, though.

[Jake Johnson]

I just told it in the intro. It was as insane of a story as it gets. And it was. What Natalie says is I was making a lot of bad decisions.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, I gotta hear this now.

[Jake Johnson]

I don't think I was making. I left my phone at work when I was being dropped off.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

And I went to a hotel and I wasn't paying attention where transpo was taking me. So it was about 7:38 at night. I got dropped off production, had half a scene left. I get to my hotel. I have no phone. I have a plane ride in the morning right after. Oh, so. And I tried to log on to my computer, but I couldn't get on because it sent a code to my phone. Oh, no. So that panic led to a crazy series of events that Natalie disagreed with the premise. She said, crazy, crazy decisions. And I think leave the hotel, get out.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

Go out to the wild where you don't know where you are when you don't know.

[Jake Johnson]

Don't you tired in the tent. Get out amongst the animals. See if you can catch them with your hands.

[Eric Edelstein]

You had no idea where to go. He also picked a random studio that he thought maybe was the right one. It was not the right studio.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He just an epic.

[Jake Johnson]

Then. Then what happened in your point of view, Natalie? Then you wandered around for a while.

[Eric Edelstein]

Wandered just like hoping for the best.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't even know.

[Eric Edelstein]

Ran into some random guys.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He just ran.

[Jake Johnson]

Tried to get them to talk on their walkies.

[Eric Edelstein]

They said no. So I don't know. Recap. Seven minutes ago, I was mocked for saying, we need iPhone glasses for boomers by Jake Johnson. Yeah. The last Boomer.

[Jake Johnson]

Thank you.

[Eric Edelstein]

Whatever this is because you're giving me mana.

[Jake Johnson]

I will take.

[Eric Edelstein]

Are you kidding?

[Jake Johnson]

I will take as a title. And I want on my gravestone, and this is now real. And you three guys are responsible for it. And I mean this. When my dad died, he said, put me in Wrigley. And it was my job. I'm telling you, you. You three guys, you know how much I love you. And I'm holding to this for real. I want on my stone to say the last Boomer. I mean, my God, I'll you tell.

[Steve Berg]

Chiseled that myself.

[Jake Johnson]

Where somebody sees it, obviously at 80 years and goes like, boomer. And they go, oh, it's a generation. When did I think that Generation ended? About 18 years before he was born, I guess he was the last.

[Gareth Reynolds]

How old was this guy?

[Jake Johnson]

I don't know, but he was the. That's crazy. He was the last boomer.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, you're. You're like, one of the guys that was, like, still fighting for Japan in the early 60s. Where's my phone? Where's my iPhone? I gotta go to our studio. Going to walk around Bushwick till I find somebody that knows where I am.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You just ran.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, my God.

[Steve Berg]

Did you end up getting the phone?

[Jake Johnson]

I got it, man. By.

[Eric Edelstein]

How did you get it?

[Jake Johnson]

So I just started chasing down things that look like production vans.

[Steve Berg]

Most of this behavior, dangerous vehicle to chase down is a van, by the way.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is like if a wizard turned a dog into a man. Yeah, he just ran and chased cars till he found his phone.

[Jake Johnson]

And then by literally, I got there, my whole production was gone. But somehow the studio was left unlocked. So I got into the stages. My dressing room was on, like, the third floor. Every floor had a locked door. They were all unlocked. Then I get to my dressing room, which should have been closed and locked wide open.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, wow.

[Jake Johnson]

And my phone is sitting right on the table. Wow. And then I wanted to get. You know, a. A woman helped me at a hotel earlier. This will be after that intro, so the audience will have known it, but I wanted to get her a bottle of alcohol as a thank you because she was very helpful. And I ended up going into a bodega. They didn't have what I needed. The guy recognized me and gave me his delivery scooter. The electric scooters.

[Eric Edelstein]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jake Johnson]

And, hey, Natalie, will you send the photos? Will you put them on the zoom? And so then I get on this guy. He teaches me how to use it. I start zipping around Brooklyn on one of these delivery scooters, going, 15, 20. And then I get back, he wants a pick. I want a pick. So I jump behind the counter where he's making the sandwiches, and we asked some random people online to take photos of us.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, my God. You're like Crocodile Dundee when he went to New York and he was such. You're a fish out of water everywhere. I mean, you could put him in a small town in the US you could put him.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, my God.

[Steve Berg]

Look at that.

[Eric Edelstein]

Look at this. Wearing the pod hat, seeing the deli.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Meats, by the way, Natalie said he didn't look that sweaty. He does look sweaty.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm dripping, Gareth.

[Eric Edelstein]

That's also kind of his baseline.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Look at the duct tape.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, that's a nice dipping around.

[Eric Edelstein]

This guy could be your cousin, too, Jake.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's that?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, this guy could Be your cousin, too.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

His. His last line as I was walking out of the deli was, hey, man, let's go to the club. And I said, you got it, man. And then he said, I'll see you soon. You bring the ladies. And I said, no problem, man. I'll see you really soon. And I walked out and started cracking up and thought that was about as weird as a three hours as I've had in a decade.

[Eric Edelstein]

Wow. Bless your heart. Long may you run, King.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The Last Boomer.

[Eric Edelstein]

Because I've gotten reports of Jake Johnson sightings around Bushwick. Be like, I saw your buddy Jake. And then there's a podcast, because they're waiting for me to, oh, go up and say hi. Which will not come for me with anyone where I'm like, just acknowledge him in the wild, give a nod and move on. Let him exist as he is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Let a professor.

[Eric Edelstein]

This is awesome for the King.

[Jake Johnson]

True boomer walking around.

[Eric Edelstein]

Boomer. He's the last Vietnam. He won Wall street here. He said.

[Jake Johnson]

Speaking of, Eric and I had a New York adventure together.

[Eric Edelstein]

We sure did.

[Jake Johnson]

We went to the White Horse Tavern.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mm.

[Jake Johnson]

And who did we see again?

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, man, I got so excited. We walked in, and a true hero was there. As the guy sitting people was the great and incredible brilliant actor Jeffrey Owens.

[Steve Berg]

Don't know you.

[Eric Edelstein]

He's in everything but. Steve, let me just drop one word on you from the Cosby Show. Eldon. Oh, Eldon from the Cosby Show. And this guy really grabbed my heart because I've always been a fan, but during COVID or something, somebody posted a picture of working at Trader Joe.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right, right.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

And he was like, yeah, he is the quintessential New York actor, where he could probably come out here, have coasted by in commercials, but he wants to do stage work. And he was like, yeah, I. I have to work at Trader Joe's sometimes and work other day jobs. I also will get on my high horse about how our residuals have fallen off. But he happened to be there working at the White Horse Tavern, and I was. Had never been there. Jake knew it, walked me through the history of Dylan Thomas.

[Jake Johnson]

And what did you say to him about the conspiracies that changed the vibe? Do you remember?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Here we go.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Will you walk everybody through what happened? He was really friendly.

[Eric Edelstein]

I'd really rather not.

[Jake Johnson]

He gave us a book about the history of the Tavern. We had all. He and I worked together on Minx, so we were talking. Eric was on Minx, so we were having, like, really Nice moments. I said, like, I just wanted Eric to see this place. You know, Dylan Thomas, that's where he sat. He goes, there's a great history here. And then, eric, do you mind jumping in here, babe?

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, we were moving. We were moving and moving so much so I thought he'd like to know about the turn that old Bob Dylan has done lately. On his latest album, he says, I'll be at the Dark Horse Tavern on Armageddon street, basically saying that there's this surge of evil, and as the good comes, there must be a parallel. And I was sitting there explaining this to Eldon from the Cosby show and kind of watching his eyes glaze over and become slightly worried about me. We don't worry about it. And he kind of gave a tap and gave Jake a look like, it's so sweet you're helping your friend. He's clearly got some issues out of Steve.

[Jake Johnson]

Out of nowhere, the guy's like, yeah, this is the history that goes, man, that's an incredible book.

[Eric Edelstein]

Do you know about the dark history that Bob Dylan has revealed about this place, man?

[Jake Johnson]

Do you know the conspiracy? I'm looking at him like, how do you go from 0 to 100 miles an hour?

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, Bob Dylan's rough and rowdy ways is a vision into the future. Not be pretty. We may not like it, but I. I believe it's prophecy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, but some people didn't, like, articulate.

[Eric Edelstein]

It well at that moment.

[Jake Johnson]

But then at that moment, Eric's really cooking with gas. So he leaves me with a laugh. The waitress comes, gives us our salad, and just doing, like, here you guys go. And Eric does a thing that Eric does at restaurants that he knows I love, but I'll never get. And you know how he does this. But even if you're at, like, a short order, nothing place, he always wants to compliment the food and tell the waitresses what he likes about it and what he does specifically. So the woman comes and then starts to leave, and Eric goes like, wait. She turns around, he goes, I'm putting the hot peppers on the salad. And she goes, okay. I just thought, why, King?

[Steve Berg]

What's happening?

[Eric Edelstein]

It's also a New York thing. I'm realizing New Yorkers don't need to hear this stuff from me. They really don't care. They're slightly confused by it. Louisiana. Things move so slowly. Like, all right, I can deal with this wacko and his. In his anecdotals, I think you're right, but it's different. New York. Things are moving so quickly. It's more like, why am I a friend? But they're slightly afraid of me because of the size and crazy eyes. So they'll kind of give a look out of just self preservation.

[Jake Johnson]

You're also glossier because there's a lot of walking, so there's an energy.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, I'm sweating, I'm schwizzing.

[Steve Berg]

It's humid though.

[Eric Edelstein]

It is so humid in New York.

[Jake Johnson]

Is a little scarier.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You look like after his Friday preparation for his weekend binge.

[Jake Johnson]

But Eric in la, it does sound a little bit like, man, do you know the theory of this? And they'll go like, I didn't know that about the doors. And he's right. The wake up will be like, that was great. Eric in New York, the same thing. They're looking around like, how bad is this going to get?

[Eric Edelstein]

There's. How medicated is this guy? Did he escape from somewhere? Was he at the place they had Woody Guthrie cooped up in? Like, what's really going on? But la, they're open to hearing that Jim Morrison's dad was on the Gulf of Tonkin and helped start the Vietnam War. Fascinating thing.

[Steve Berg]

Southern California, ground zero for weird ideas though, you know, like it makes sense.

[Jake Johnson]

Define open to.

[Steve Berg]

Yes.

[Eric Edelstein]

Scared of.

[Steve Berg]

Scared of willing to listen at a self preservation.

[Eric Edelstein]

Amen. Thank you, friends.

[Jake Johnson]

What's going on with you? Gr. What's with all the movie?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I. They just told me that the ma. I'm the maid's last room. So she's like waiting for me to leave the room. So I'm gonna sneak out of here while we're doing this and go downstairs and finish.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay. Interesting.

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, no. So are you checking out or do you. Do you want the maid to clean?

[Gareth Reynolds]

What. What happened is I basically needed a hotel and a fan of the show was like, I work at a hotel, a Hampton Inn. And she was like, I'll give you a link checkout. Yeah, things are good. And she's like, I'll give you a late checkout. And I was like, okay. And then now it feels like they're. They're definitely like this mate. The last mate. The maid is sticking around at work.

[Jake Johnson]

Are you sleeping there tonight?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm switching hotels.

[Steve Berg]

You're welcome at this point.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. So I'm. I'm on the move. But I'm still.

[Steve Berg]

I will.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I will be. Don't get distracted by me.

[Jake Johnson]

I got you. Okay.

[Eric Edelstein]

Never. No. This only helps us.

[Jake Johnson]

That's not true. Those are just words.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, no, he's right. This is good. This is good for the Raiders.

[Eric Edelstein]

I embrace spontaneity on set.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, this is healthy surprises with the Gulf of Tatonkin.

[Eric Edelstein]

Thank you, Admiral Steve Morrison. We just lost him.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You know, life's full of those little moments when you're sending money and it can make a big difference. So why not do that with Zell?

[Jake Johnson]

Gareth and I send money to each other via Zell when we are in the hole to the other guy. The easiest way to do it is Zell. We both use it. We both know that it works. Pay and or request. Request money. Send me some money via Zell. Why? Because you owe to me. Lil Rat. Time to send me the money you owe me. My brother, the great Danny J and I do something for each other that to us it's sincere and it's sweet. We always send each other money as gifts and we do it randomly and we use Zell. We'll just every once in a while he'll get $7.50 from me with a big subject that says you deserve it. And even though he sends me money back, I know in his heart of hearts for a moment, when he saw that $7.50 on a Tuesday morning at 7 before work, he thought, my brother loves me. And sure, when he sends me less back, do I think my brother loves me less? Sure, maybe a little.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Whether it's a big moment or a small moment, Zell is here for you. So you can be there there for them when it counts. Send money with Zell.

[Jake Johnson]

This episode is sponsored by Kachava.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Love Kachava so much. I take Kachava on the road with me all the time. I put it in smoothies. Sometimes I just drink it on its own. It really is the greatest protein powder I have ever had. It's got 85 plus superfoods, so that's 86 or above. Nutrients, plant based ingredients, 25 grams of plant based protein each serving. Antioxidants, adaptogens, that's. I think that's where the protein adopts you, takes you in. So Cachava does that.

[Jake Johnson]

Right now we're going through the new strawberry flavor phase in our house and it's really working. I'm a protein shake guy. As Steve Berg says, gotta get your powder, then it's a real quote.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He has said you've never tasted strawberry like this. Go to cachava.com and use code here to help help for 15 off your next order. That's Kachava K A C-H-A-V-A.com code here to help for 15 off.

[Jake Johnson]

One last thing I want to say to Eric about just words. And then we're gonna move on, because I just have to now that you. The new thing I've been saying to him, Steve, is those are just words. Those are words you don't even mean. They're just words you're saying. And he'll go like, there might be truth to that. I'm like, they're just words. So me, Eric, and Derek were in Waters in San Francisco doing the San Fran sketch fest. Simon Helberg was with us. Bob Odenkirk was with us. It was a lot of fun.

[Steve Berg]

I've had a couple days of Eric in San Francisco. I know what it's like.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, good Lord. The day Bowie died, little piece of your spirit died as well.

[Steve Berg]

Jesus Christ.

[Jake Johnson]

You guys were together when Bowie died?

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, in San Fran. We've been daydreaming for 10 hours visiting haberdasheries. Eric's like, we gotta get hats. Sorry, I didn't want to derail you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Those are just words, Steve.

[Jake Johnson]

So Derek's a big Ravens fan, so we decided, you know, we're going to do is we're going to go to a little Japanese market, get some Japanese snacks and beers, and rather than go to a bar, we're just going to go to Derek's hotel room and just watch the game with the screen on.

[Steve Berg]

Lovely.

[Jake Johnson]

We all agreed this was great. No, we were going to watch in Eric's room.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, because I got an upgrade on the room.

[Jake Johnson]

Eric got the big room bath. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hold on.

[Eric Edelstein]

Works.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hold on, hold on. What? Why? First of all, I'm not opposed to.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, you need. You need as much hotel room help as you can get right now. Big daddy ask for a bath. It's usually a nicer room. Then I get Epsom salts at a bodega or wherever I'm at. And you can just cancel Christmas. I'm having a good old time. And then now I figured out ways to door dash to get them to drop them off at my actual hotel room. So I'd have to go down the lobby like an animal requesting a bath.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Injection is 100% something I'm going to start.

[Eric Edelstein]

Start. Oh, it works.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Said our room got a bath.

[Steve Berg]

He got a bath.

[Jake Johnson]

I would say every listener, next time you go to a hotel, let's start a thing. Everybody requests a bath. You gotta.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can I get a room with a bath?

[Steve Berg]

And I know there's a big ass, but if you have Epsom salt, I sure would love.

[Gareth Reynolds]

How can I buy Some Epsom salt.

[Jake Johnson]

If you're in a hotel, they'll deliver them.

[Eric Edelstein]

They'll deliver them.

[Jake Johnson]

You're taking a bath?

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Eric.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, good Lord. Are you kidding? Especially when I'm working and I've had to chase some kid half my age. Daddy needs Epsom salts. I have massive amounts of them. I was just in New York, had an incredible stay at the Ace Hotel. They had a bath. I got Epsom salts at a bodega. Didn't love the price. Loved how I felt after the bath. Let those toxins leave my body.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, the king right now is killing it on the lowdown.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, we're trying.

[Eric Edelstein]

We're trying.

[Jake Johnson]

Killing it on the lowdown.

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, that brings up a fun story of why I was in New York. And this all relates to Jake is. So I was going to this premiere. Never gone to a New York premiere before, and I was fired up, and I went over my outfit with my wife, my poor wife, which could be another name for this podcast. So we've got the outfit down, and I show up. And then the day in New York, it's raining. And I did happen to pack the manix jacket that we've talked about on here before. The long Japanese rainwear overcoat that I got at a. At an estate sale from Mannix. And Jess had my outfit down. She was fired up. She left me. Good. She couldn't come. She's having my friend Taylor go with me to kind of oversee and make sure I couldn't screw anything up.

[Steve Berg]

A handler.

[Eric Edelstein]

A handler? Yeah, a handler. The great Taylor Schilling was my handler to make sure I was okay. Then about 20 minutes before I leave for the premiere, I'm, like, staring at that Mannix jacket. And then who pops up on my phone but old Jake Johnson. And I said, it's raining here. Should I just wear the Mannix jacket for the premiere? And he goes, oh, you have to. You have to.

[Jake Johnson]

Agreed.

[Eric Edelstein]

So I get the Mannix jacket, I put it in the premiere, Jess calls him. All right. Just making sure everything's okay. Yeah, babe, guess what I'm gonna do. I had the Mannix jacket, and Jake just told me I should wear it. This is 10 years of marriage, and she has heard plans come together. And then an idea from Jake, and everything changes. She's like, but what about the suit and the outfit? No, no, I'm wearing the Mannix jacket over the suit. And then she's like, and Jake said this, and she just knows exactly what's going on. Then I get there, I show up in the suit with the Mannix jacket. She took me to the estate sale. It's her fault.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

So I get there. Taylor's kind of surprised by the Mannix jacket. She's like, yeah, I think so. No, no. Jake told me it's for the pod. And she's like, for the pod? It's for the pod. And then I look at Johnny Pemberton, who plays my partner in this thing. He's incredible, and he just kind of looks like if anyone can pull it off, it's you. But you want that for a red carpet. Like, Jake told me, it's for the pod. So if anyone Googles Eric Edelstein lowdown premiere, you can see me in the Mannix.

[Jake Johnson]

Jack, send the photo you sent to me to Natalie.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, she can. Natalie, just Google Eric Edelstein lowdown premiere.

[Steve Berg]

I've seen you look awesome.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, I think it was a great call.

[Steve Berg]

I think, once again, hat was great, too.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, I found that shopping around and. Because I. I'll tell you what, though. Here's the shadow side. The Manix jacket did not breathe. Oh, boy, did that thing get hot under those lights. And I had to ditch the Mannix jacket soon afterward. There's some other red carpet stuff, like interviews, where I did not have the Mannix jacket because sweat was pouring off because that's the greatness of. Of Mike Connor's Japanese rain. Whereas it didn't breathe. That's what keeps the water out.

[Steve Berg]

They're not porous.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, look at that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You look great.

[Eric Edelstein]

This is all from a call with Jake Johnson 20 minutes before I left. And my wife's. Hold on.

[Steve Berg]

What?

[Eric Edelstein]

You're wearing the Mannix jacket.

[Jake Johnson]

But the whole spin of this call was everybody was hating it. You said, Jake Johnson. This looks good.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It looks great.

[Eric Edelstein]

I think so. Well, and truthfully, if Taylor had freaked out, she was my. My. Everyone else had, like, a glam squad.

[Jake Johnson]

Who's Taylor?

[Eric Edelstein]

And I had Taylor Shillings. My sister in this movie Family. It's the best comedy I've done. Done. And she's like my sister in real life. And then she also is like, you know. Yeah. I think you have to.

[Jake Johnson]

Why don't you Chilling as a guest on Weird Here to help.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, she would love it.

[Eric Edelstein]

She's. She's born for this.

[Jake Johnson]

Done her onto the madness.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah. All right. Yeah. And she can talk about the Mannix jacket, but she and Johnny both signed off on it. But it took something to be like, everyone looks so good. A lot of them are in makeup. They looked awesome. And Then I'm sitting there in a manix jacket that I got for 30 bucks an estate sale. But I think we can all agree that that estate sal paid huge benefits. Here it.

[Steve Berg]

You look great and you look great. The hat is. You wear that like if I wore that hat like a dork I really would. I would not. I would get endless shift. My friends. You wear that and like it looks great.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Steve, are you pitching that we should do a photo shoot with you in this exact outfit soon? No, because I think that's what I heard actually. Maybe let's get you in this ensemble.

[Steve Berg]

No, I'm a little more country, you know, like I could not pull off. I could not pull off like a debonair wear, you know, beautiful like up uptown outfit like that. Eric, you look great.

[Jake Johnson]

Speaking of, we got to bring something up. We have on the Patreon. We went through all the photos together, the four of us. We have narrowed down the Steve Berg calendar. I'm not positive how much has been on main show yet, but we are making a Steve Berg hunk calendar based off an old bell that if you need to get more info, this is the first time you're hearing. It's all over the show. But what I'm bringing up to people right now is it is time to vote. We have narrowed down to two picks each for month. So go to we need to pick.com Steve Calendar. That is we need to pick dot com Steve calendar. It's easy to sign up. The website is easy to use if you want to use it and do other votes. It's. It's all set up how you could do it. If you just want to go on and vote for this, go on for vote. But let's start getting everybody voting and as soon as we have a clear answer for each month, we will shut that month down. But we are going to make this calendar and it's going to be done by this Christmas.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, just in time for the holidays.

[Jake Johnson]

It'll be a 26th.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, the Christmas of 2026. What?

[Jake Johnson]

What do you mean?

[Eric Edelstein]

For those that have not heard, let me just say this was a little. Surprised me. Steve is smoldering.

[Jake Johnson]

Smoldering.

[Eric Edelstein]

It's shocking.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, but this is good. Just to be clear, it's going to be done for this Christmas for next year. We're not holding, we're not promoting this calendar.

[Steve Berg]

That's some weird time loop stuff, man. I can't.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't think so. It's actually super straightforward.

[Steve Berg]

Is it?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Steve Berg]

By the way, I want to say something odd in a compliment. And, you know, I know you can use it because you have a bit. Garrett's is taping a special on Saturday, folks. Two shows. It's gonna be huge. The culmination of a lot of wonderful bits. I'm so excited to see it. But you're having a very good teeth day. I noticed today.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's.

[Steve Berg]

That's a good teeth day, Right?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I'm English. It's a low bar, but thank you.

[Jake Johnson]

I remember the era of this show where Garrett didn't have a tooth up there. Wasn't there a few episodes? That's what I remember.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I threw Jake the tooth, and I thought he would freak out. And he was like, okay. I was like, I thought you were gonna lose your body. Yeah. Cause I got invisalign.

[Eric Edelstein]

Just another day for Jake. Jake.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah. You think the last boomer shocked by a tooth, getting thrown out.

[Eric Edelstein]

That's true. No, I'm kidding.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He ate it.

[Eric Edelstein]

He held teeth in Saigon.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, my God.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But no, yeah, it is. Thank you very much, Steve. That's a very nice compliment. You also are having a good tooth day. I will say.

[Steve Berg]

I don't believe it. That's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I just walked through the lobby, cuz I'm mobile now. I look like a storm chaser. And I walk by the woman who gave me the room, and I go, I'm still recording. I felt bad for the maid. And she goes, yeah, they were wondering what was going on. And I said, I. I said I thought I could do it for another half hour. And she goes, I'm really sorry. And then she looks and she goes, oh, my God, you're recording this right now. I was like, yeah. She was like, the chat. I was like, the chat.

[Steve Berg]

The chat. Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Pretty good.

[Eric Edelstein]

We love it. We love it.

[Jake Johnson]

Speaking of. Because I don't want to just turn this into a compliment session where we're all just saying nice things. Things.

[Eric Edelstein]

I'm fine with that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I know you are. Not good.

[Jake Johnson]

But I find it boring.

[Steve Berg]

Let's get real for a second. I got grievances to air.

[Jake Johnson]

What are your grievances? You need to come up with a grievance, right? A new section called Grievances.

[Steve Berg]

Grandpa's grievance Corner.

[Jake Johnson]

And it can't be charming or make you seem likable. Let's do grievances. And guys, don't fall for the comments of, it's so sweet. It's so nice. We're not teddy bears. We're apex predators.

[Steve Berg]

Well, off the top of my head, let's keep on talking. Finish. We're gonna say, I'll come up with pens out.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The pens out.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

No.

[Jake Johnson]

What? I want a grievance with somebody on this zoom.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, wow. Oh, wow.

[Steve Berg]

God.

[Jake Johnson]

That's Eric, if you got one. Garrett.

[Eric Edelstein]

With anyone.

[Jake Johnson]

Anyone on the zoom with the chat grievance. Look at Gareth Kins shaking his head. He's like, holy cow, this is heavy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm overwhelmed. No, I don't think I. I think I have zero grievances right now with the crib.

[Jake Johnson]

Brother. Those grievances are what he takes a bath in every night in a hotel. He doesn't put water in that salt. He lazy. Give it up.

[Steve Berg]

Give it up.

[Eric Edelstein]

The chip on my shoulder is a chocolate chip.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No water.

[Eric Edelstein]

I use it for fuel. Oh. Really?

[Jake Johnson]

Quickly, as we're thinking grievances, Eric and I went to Biff Whiff's memorial.

[Steve Berg]

Oh.

[Jake Johnson]

And it was special. Eric, your thoughts?

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh. It was as good as it gets. It was. I've been to too many Hollywood memorials, and the first one I was in.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That it's not all grieving. It's some of it's shopping.

[Eric Edelstein]

This was Biff Whiff's theater company in the Valley. The eclectic theater on Lankersham by the old Dairy Queen. And this was about the biggest group of heroes you will see in this life.

[Jake Johnson]

When we walked in, it was a group of older people. There was a group called the Pipparoos. And the Pipparus were his old sketch group where they did like, gross out songs in a bar called Uncle Bill's in San Diego. And the actors all slept at the bar when they didn't have a place to live. Live. And when Eric and I first walked in, Eric goes, I feel like we're walking into my brain. I've never seen a world that I'm like, this is Eric's thoughts.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

Lot of. A lot of long hair with bald spots. The smell of weed wasting in before the funeral started.

[Jake Johnson]

Yes, a lot of weed. A lot. These. Some of these old timers, their speeches were roast sections. And I was like, these guys came out. There was a guy named Weasel who made a speech.

[Eric Edelstein]

The wheeze.

[Jake Johnson]

The wheeze. The wheeze brought the house down.

[Eric Edelstein]

He was so good.

[Jake Johnson]

We crushed.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, he did a whole Wikipedia bit. It was just so fun.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is awesome.

[Jake Johnson]

It was really one of those moments where you go, if you're gonna do memorial, do it like this.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

You're like, oh, Biff was alive. We were dying laughing. It was chaotic. It was crazy. The Wees went up there. Two guys got up there. The old piparoos, the last surviving piparoos, did a couple of songs. They were really going hard for the laughs. And you just thought, like, good stuff. Yeah, good stuff, everybody.

[Eric Edelstein]

And I thought it was beautiful. Steve. The keynote of it all was the great Dana Ashbrook. Bobby. Bobby Briggs. And what he said was so beautiful. Biff married into his family, and he said, so beautiful. My family is kind of boring and not a lot of fun until Biff Whiff married in. And he has brought the fun to our family for the last 40 years. And it was a really beautiful thing to see how one guy can kind of change everything. And I imagine most people have seen. Seen Self reliance and seen Biff in those great, so good Tim Robinson sketches, but he was just incredible. And, you know, I. I really thought that the relationship with Jake and Biff was kind of, kind of really the love story itself. Rel agree. And he will just. He was so wonderful. Such a sweet guy. So great getting to know him. And he will be missed greatly, but it really was awesome to. To be able to share his family and friends with us on that day. And, boy, were they cool.

[Jake Johnson]

And Stevie, now your grievance.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, I was so entranced in the story. Let me hear.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He's too pure. Jake.

[Steve Berg]

No.

[Jake Johnson]

Gareth, do you have a grievance?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Not with anyone on the show, no.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, it's with someone on the show.

[Eric Edelstein]

God. I know.

[Steve Berg]

I have a son.

[Eric Edelstein]

If you're a past grievance with me, Steve, you're. You're free to throw it out.

[Steve Berg]

No, I would. I would.

[Jake Johnson]

Eric, do you have a grievance?

[Eric Edelstein]

No, not with anyone on the show. I really don't.

[Jake Johnson]

I have a grievance.

[Eric Edelstein]

This is all love.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Go ahead.

[Eric Edelstein]

She was shocked. Last Boomer has a grievance.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Eric Edelstein]

This whole thing was probably leading up to that.

[Jake Johnson]

I was hoping somebody was gonna escalate.

[Steve Berg]

Jake pulls out an old time. He scrolls.

[Eric Edelstein]

Hold on.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Escalate?

[Jake Johnson]

I didn't want to be the one doing the grievance. Do you have one? Not with these angels.

[Eric Edelstein]

Not with these guys.

[Jake Johnson]

Everything. It's perfect. Bunch of chatty cats.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Eagle.

[Steve Berg]

Let's hear it then.

[Jake Johnson]

Let's hear it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I got a grievance with this grievance so far.

[Jake Johnson]

Here's my grievance.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, we were on.

[Jake Johnson]

We're on a group text chain. Steve Berg was talking about what he was doing on a Saturday. He took a selfie and said, I'm at an Apple Jack festival.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, it was great.

[Jake Johnson]

An Apple Jack festival?

[Steve Berg]

Yeah. You want to hear?

[Jake Johnson]

Eric goes, sounds amazing. I believe the wording was. Is this correct?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Steve goes, it's really nice. It's fun. Erica's like, wow, Wish I was there.

[Steve Berg]

Erica, it.

[Jake Johnson]

Eric and I were sitting at Biff Whiff's memorial, and I said, so you love the Apple Jack?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah. I Google. I Google the food trucks there. Omaha, Thai standouts.

[Jake Johnson]

He said, I like food trucks. And I go, he didn't say, I'm at a food truck festival. And he goes, my wife and I sometimes go, apple, pig, chicken. And I go, eric is going to an Apple Jack festival. Does that sound awesome? And Eric goes, not fully.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Jake Johnson]

I said, those are just words. Just two words. And he goes, he was loving it. Who cares?

[Eric Edelstein]

That's my grievance.

[Jake Johnson]

God damn it. Just words.

[Eric Edelstein]

Damn it.

[Steve Berg]

Well, I.

[Eric Edelstein]

Hard earned. Hard earned.

[Steve Berg]

I will say the.

[Jake Johnson]

This.

[Steve Berg]

I feel like, Jake, you would. It would be the Dante's fifth level of hell for you at the festival. You would know. Gareth would like, somehow. You would just, like, jump out of the car before we even got there.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I wouldn't want to go.

[Steve Berg]

However, I know Eric would love to go to a little quaint town like Nebraska City.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm putting peppers on the salad.

[Steve Berg]

It's apple.

[Jake Johnson]

Yes.

[Eric Edelstein]

There were ciders. There was juice. I'm big on unfiltered apple juice, by the way.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, yeah, No, I got cider in my fridge right now.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Listen to these.

[Jake Johnson]

So what was. What was.

[Eric Edelstein]

You and I would have the best time, and it would drive the last boomer crazy.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

And then. Hold on. Then just. Eric, then. What would you say to me at our next lunch about the applejack Festival?

[Eric Edelstein]

It was okay. It was okay. I didn't like all the walking, the tree houses. There's tree houses connected by. By drawbridges, and they weren't really made for a tall man. I really Googled it. I Googled it.

[Jake Johnson]

I love seeing Steve.

[Eric Edelstein]

I love seeing Steve. What I can remember, we had a good time. I could do was the Thai food was not great, brother. Omaha does not have as many immigrants. LA is where I.

[Jake Johnson]

If you want apple, you can go somewhere else.

[Eric Edelstein]

That's apple central. Apples, buddy.

[Steve Berg]

No, this was in Nebraska City, which is an hour outside of Omah, home of Arbor Day. We're very proud of that.

[Jake Johnson]

Are you reading this?

[Steve Berg]

No. This is.

[Jake Johnson]

Yes, you were, Stephen. I saw your eyes.

[Steve Berg]

No, I was looking at my hands because I was doing this.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He's got the notes on his hands.

[Steve Berg]

No. You think I'm Reading a monologue you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Say you're always be auditioning well it's.

[Steve Berg]

True yeah yeah Jake yeah it's true I am always auditioning Jake Johnson's gonna be on the zoom you never know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He might Isn't he your best friend.

[Steve Berg]

Still he makes me I always seem to prepare material for him like to.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Go I like to go in there.

[Steve Berg]

With something yeah you before the scene like Berg make up something about a folksy applejack festival I'd love to see that no but it was really fun I went there as a kid growing up we. Susie had some family in town so we decided to take him out there I bought a metric ton of I spent I almost $300 on jarred pickles and pickled everything I bought what did I buy? Oh, pickled quail eggs and they're amazing I didn't know I like pickled eggs.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Until this moment Eric got an arrow.

[Steve Berg]

Into the heart Eric just got erotically.

[Eric Edelstein]

Moved and I'd ask you not to judge it different strokes, different folks it's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All just skin big $300 at the.

[Steve Berg]

Fest yeah yeah yeah it was great we had a time and a lot of stuff's already going bad I couldn't. I could not finish it all I was giving it away too yeah wow. I've been eating three a day I'm like they just won't go away like it's. It's a nightmare now I've built my own hell and I'm living in it now.

[Eric Edelstein]

But you can preserve him Steve, right?

[Steve Berg]

Yeah we're going to cook them down into some cinnamon apples you know that's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It'll be nice Everything Steve has said today has been so folksy just.

[Steve Berg]

I'm a folksy guy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You really are but today particularly the devil's in the details well it's here.

[Eric Edelstein]

You know it's hard we need a new Will Rogers. It's my friend Steve. Thank you yeah yeah Will Rogers though I questioned because he once said I never met a man I didn't like and I'm like man, you must have been drunk well those are just words those are. Yeah, he was the original those are just words they're just. Speaking of words I do think we do need to address some disappointment I was flying back on last Sunday and then the day before I saw a last minute Vandy can camp that was scheduled they did not have Dick Van Djk on the flyer but I instantly knew they're not putting him on the flyer but I will bet money he shows up well they can't put him on the flyer. Right. Because of me. Because of me. I know.

[Jake Johnson]

Do you think that's really true?

[Eric Edelstein]

I think it's partially true. And I think there were a lot of people wanting refunds last night.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, they were? Okay.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah. There was a line as we walked out. I'm like, I'll just send an email and I'm sure I'll get a refund. And here we go. It. But sure enough, soon afterward, my Instagram started getting flooded. I also love. People in public now have yelled Vandy Camp at me.

[Steve Berg]

Yes.

[Eric Edelstein]

At the. At the baggage claim, people said vandy Camp. And showed their phones. They were listening to that episode at that second. It's awesome. To me, I'm now connected to Dick. But Dick did show up for Vandy Camp last Sunday.

[Jake Johnson]

Him saying, I'm now connected to Dick comedically.

[Gareth Reynolds]

A river just ran through my mouth and I had to put a dam up.

[Jake Johnson]

But I want you to speak for your.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, my initial joke was gonna be like, all guys are.

[Eric Edelstein]

New Choice.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, you don't want to keep new choice to me. It's gonna get worse. Okay, so you're all right. So what's going through you when you find out about this? It's great when the fans are giving you the tags on that stuff.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, yeah. And people are gonna address it. Well, because I took a leisure. I love taking a late afternoon flight out, and I was seeing my new friend's show that night on Sunday. So I'm like, I'll fly back around three, be in time for my friend's show that Sunday night. And then when Van Camp got announced, part of me even said, God, should I just take a 6am flight and try to make it? But if I do that, he won't show up. But once I knew that I was not going to be there, I'm like, fuck, Dick's going to show up. And sure enough. God, he danced, he sang. It was Arlene Van Dyke's birthday. Everybody had a birthday cake for her. It was in Malibu. And I was just incredibly sad. Not a bit that I missed Dick Van Dyke again. And also a little bit, I felt a little guilty. I think they probably didn't put him on the flyer because of me blowing it up on the pod. And I just know next time they announce a Dick Van Dyke show, I'm going to be ready and I'm going to splurge and I'm going to go for those meet and greet tickets.

[Jake Johnson]

Because if he doesn't show up, what are you going to do ask for.

[Eric Edelstein]

A refund and take it large. With this podcast, we're getting numbers you don't know. Look, if I get food poisoning twice in the same restaurant, which has happened, you're gonna hear about it. I'd rather. I don't want a lawsuit. There's still. There's still an operation.

[Jake Johnson]

How many times have you gone back after getting food pee?

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, I went to their other restaurant. I'm guessing maybe the. The chef changed because we've had an incident twice at this restaurant. Now I really don't think I'm gonna back unless it's an emergency. Why would it be an because I'm hungry and it's late at night?

[Steve Berg]

Please. If you don't mind, I'd like to. Yes. And understand the Stick Van Dyke thread. So recently, within, like the last week, Dick Van Dyke went viral because he was. There was a picture of Rick Springfield. This. And like, look, no offense to Rick Springfield. People don't really care a whole lot about Rick Springfield. Right? I mean, I'm just being honest. They don't care about.

[Eric Edelstein]

No. I turned out free tickets to see.

[Jake Johnson]

But I have a few Eric I've ever seen. These guys, Wow.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I know.

[Eric Edelstein]

This is our version of punk rock.

[Jake Johnson]

This is their grievances.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Free tickets to see him is the largest insult Eric can hurl your way.

[Jake Johnson]

Look, I'm not lying. I don't think a lot of people.

[Steve Berg]

Care about created a Dick Van Dyke buzz.

[Jake Johnson]

You do.

[Steve Berg]

I don't think that would have gone viral without Eric's story. I really don't like. Why would a picture of Rick Springsteen field and Dick Van Dyke in a gym go viral?

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, so let's test it.

[Steve Berg]

Okay.

[Jake Johnson]

We are calling out to Dick Van Dyke and his crew. We would love, love to come honor you. We have nothing but respect, admiration for you and what you've done in the entertainment world. We can interview you for the show. Eric and I will come to you in person. You can come to the studio at Rabbit Grin. Eric's wanted to do a show called Legends where we interview people about who they are and we honor them. If anybody in the camp would like. We would love to honor Dick Van Dyke. We will do it any way he is comfortable with. We can make it short, long, or however he wants it. We will come to him with the technology. We will do anything he wants. We could do it over zoom if that's how he's comfortable. There will be no jokes or bits at his expense. The jokes will be at our expense. If anything or at the expense of Eric trying to get free tickets to an event. I will make sure that Van Dyke is not part of any of that madness. But if we have what you're saying, that kind of reach where you think part of that.

[Steve Berg]

I do.

[Jake Johnson]

Then let's have this end with you and me asking that man questions about his glorious career and thanking him for 100 years on planet Earth, making the world better. Better.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, Jake, that was poetry.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Eric's face while you were doing that. Jake was truly. He was like, this is it.

[Jake Johnson]

Well, you wanna know? This is if I was a candy. Gareth. A sweet and sour patch.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, very true. Fight through that.

[Eric Edelstein]

Tough outside because I didn't go to Malibu to try to see Dick as a bit. He's a hero.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, no.

[Eric Edelstein]

Eric comedically. Not only Mary Poppins, but he one of my Gareth.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, there's just nobody would accuse you of doing. If this were a bit. It would.

[Steve Berg]

You're not an irony guy, but it's also.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's a lot of times the bit is. For you. The bits don't work that well. If it's just a one man bit. Yeah. You're doing a lot of stuff where you're actually. You're got. You're the. You're the real deal.

[Eric Edelstein]

That means a lot.

[Steve Berg]

I think I just saw my future self in the background. That was me at 73.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's.

[Jake Johnson]

That was you. If you never got into the entertainment.

[Steve Berg]

Game, that was crazy.

[Jake Johnson]

Really.

[Eric Edelstein]

I also want to encourage everyone. I'm a huge fan of Columbo. Watch Dick Van DJK play the killer on Columbo. It is stunning dramatic performance.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We have if that. If the numbers download go up at all.

[Jake Johnson]

That's.

[Eric Edelstein]

He's so cool.

[Jake Johnson]

Can we do something really fast, Eric? Can I put you on the spot for the fun of it?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Can I give you 60 seconds to make a plea to Dick Van Dyke to be on the pilot episode of legends?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yes.

[Jake Johnson]

Three, two, one.

[Eric Edelstein]

Mr. Van Dyke, we stand here in awe of you and your incredible career. You are a beacon of light for us. The 99 years you have lived, you made the world so much better. Constantly changing, constantly evolving, constantly comedy drama. And for me personally, your path to sobriety has been incredibly inspiring. And seeing you in that gym at age 99 is a dream peak vision of how we all should be. I'd like to talk to Chris and Arlene Van Dyke, your incredible wife. And we want to talk to the Fantastics. We want to bring everybody into the fold to celebrate and honor you, sir. And I will be bringing television's Jake Johnson out there with me.

[Jake Johnson]

Me.

[Eric Edelstein]

And we just want to sit at the feet of a master and listen to you talk and give us some kind of wisdom for a world that is in great need of it. Thank you so much, Mr. Van Dyke, for even considering it. And here's to a hundred more great years. Thank you, Dick.

[Steve Berg]

Now should I do a. Here's what. I feel like Dick Van Dyke when he hears this.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, go ahead.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Turn it on.

[Steve Berg]

Dick, we have a message for you. Wow. This character actor left this thing. He wants to do a podcast with you, which is like a radio program. Is it some kind of pervert? That's my thing. It didn't land.

[Eric Edelstein]

Landed gear.

[Steve Berg]

Thank you.

[Eric Edelstein]

Thank you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

By not landing, it really landed.

[Eric Edelstein]

Thank you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll give my impression.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Is that the guy who. Now we can't charge people for when I don't show up?

[Steve Berg]

Good punch up. Good punch up.

[Jake Johnson]

But if we had. Steve, I'm glad you brought that part up, but if we have that reach, please, we would love to do it. But what were you saying you didn't want to? We interrupted. And by we, I mean me. When you were saying about the photo, that, wow, nobody cared about it. Did you have an ending to that?

[Steve Berg]

The ending was that, like, I feel like you guys, this show put the Dick Van Djk into the universe and somehow you guys created a zeitgeist of Dick Van Djk. Because I cannot see a world where Rick Springfield, who even people in our generation largely probably have no idea who.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He is, but he's catching a lot of strays.

[Steve Berg]

Well, I mean.

[Eric Edelstein]

He'S got a gun in his mouth, by the way.

[Jake Johnson]

I wouldn't turn down Jesse. I mean, that guy's got some fucking bangers.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hold on, hold on. Jake, you're offered two free tickets to the Rick Springfield concert. You're going Where?

[Jake Johnson]

Where?

[Gareth Reynolds]

20 minutes away from you.

[Jake Johnson]

Yes, 30.

[Eric Edelstein]

These are just words. These are just. You just lied to us. You turned down, like, fourth row John Prine at the Ford Amphitheater. You ain't going to Rick Spring. These are just words. When you point your finger, you got three back at you. Jack, you just lied to everybod. Cut the grass and the snakes and sh.

[Steve Berg]

That could not be.

[Jake Johnson]

If you live in a glass house, you can't throw rocks.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, you just threw a big one. And then we all tied it in because there were so some. We're here to help listeners that were fired up about the Mannix jacket we talked about before. And then my friend Shanna found a picture of Dick Van Dyke and Mannix. Mannix guest starred on the Dick Van Dyke Show. Yes. Thank you, Shanna. Pat, they're both in very similar trench coats. Japanese rainwater wear. It's all one song, friend.

[Steve Berg]

Japanese rainwear, you know, by the way, hold on.

[Jake Johnson]

Those aren't just words. That's the real error. Yeah, I hate the just words. I love the real Eric, that is.

[Eric Edelstein]

They're all just one.

[Steve Berg]

That's. That was the first thing you said to me. Because, Eric, do you remember, it was incredible. Last Christmas or the Christmas before, I can't remember. I was in la. I was staying with you and you put. I think you had that jacket on when you picked me up and Burbank. I'm like, whoa, that jacket. You're like, it's Japanese rainwear. And there's a story about it. They told me. Sorry, but you led with that. It's Japanese. Like I'm supposed to know that.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, is that Japanese rainwear that doesn't breathe.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Japanese rainwear, so it doesn't get wet.

[Jake Johnson]

But why doesn't it breathe?

[Steve Berg]

Probably who.

[Eric Edelstein]

It keeps the rain out. That's not an answer. Oh, my God. The sweat that was pouring out of me at that red carpet, like, I. I had to steal a towel from the hotel. Sorry, Ace Hotel. Hotel. But man, that thing did not breathe and I ditched it and carried around with me the rest of the night like a ball and chain.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So the downside to the Japanese rainwear is that inside it's raining.

[Steve Berg]

It's very uncomfortable.

[Jake Johnson]

The rain doesn't hit you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Just the sweat gets you so you self. Monsoon.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, good Lord. It was cauldron.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'd rather the rain. It doesn't go in your.

[Eric Edelstein]

But I also envision the red carpet, like in the rain. But the. It was. And it was inside. And then I was a little self conscious. I'm sitting there and there's some actual heroes there coming up and talking to me. And I'm like, I'm in a Mannix jacket. I got an estate sale. But I felt good. I felt his spirit with me. Then I. This is not. A bit. Later on in the night, I was trying to shove my hat in this big deep pocket and I swear I found a used tissue for manics in the pocket.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, well, you get.

[Steve Berg]

But you have found tissues before. So there was more tissues you didn't know about.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, this was a new pocket. He was. I think, really. I found a Bed, Bath and Beyond receipt near the End for. For his run on Life. And then I think he was having a lot of cold and flu stuff near the end.

[Steve Berg]

I didn't Run on Life. Like, he got canceled like a TV show.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, that feels like canceled. Pretty good spot.

[Jake Johnson]

A lot of colon flu stuff. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We're fighting more and more tissues at Mannix's Pockets.

[Jake Johnson]

Hey, guys. He was dying.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jake solved that one.

[Jake Johnson]

You don't go out of this world pretty. You got a lot of things.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jake solved that mystery. Hey, man. Dying.

[Eric Edelstein]

No.

[Jake Johnson]

Before we go. No, Gareth. We love you, crush. Tomorrow.

[Steve Berg]

He's going to do amazing.

[Jake Johnson]

You got a. You got a big show tomorrow, baby. How you feeling?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, I feel good. I feel I've put in a tremendous amount of work. I've been working on it all the time and I don't know, I. That I've completely lost perspective. So, yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

All of our listeners to go to YouTube, watch the special, comment on it, give the guys some love. It matters.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know when it'll be out, but you will hear about it.

[Jake Johnson]

We'll announce it here. Yes, but let's do this next time we record. This is the before, we'll hear after how it went from you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Deal. Done.

[Jake Johnson]

I love it.

[Steve Berg]

And if you go to the show, consider bringing a baked good for him. Don't, because, well, because, you know, look, he's dieting, he's exercising, you know, like Sunday. I want this guy to go.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Not everybody connects working out with needing to put those calories back on the following day.

[Steve Berg]

I don't understand why you would work out then. That makes no sense.

[Jake Johnson]

You're not wrong, by the way. Nobody heckle him with terms from the show. That's not the move.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Don't yell out. You bring the Parmesan.

[Jake Johnson]

And then to the.

[Eric Edelstein]

You can do it to me. Every time someone yells vandy Camp at me, I smile.

[Jake Johnson]

Those aren't just words. But they will be. And it will be a grievance. And it will be you and me alone. And somebody will go, vandy cap. And you'll go, what? And I'll go, eric, wrong tone.

[Eric Edelstein]

You're bandicap, Jack. I'm just trying to eat Baja Fresh.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm sitting out here eating this, you're yelling, vanity Camp. I'm like, eric, you sat on the show.

[Steve Berg]

Delicious. I'm so sorry, brother.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm putting the peppers on the outside.

[Steve Berg]

Ma'.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Am.

[Steve Berg]

FYI, I'm putting the peppers on. Yeah. Ma'.

[Jake Johnson]

Am, first of all, I want to apologize for screaming. I did say I loved when you.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yelled fanny cap at me in the moment.

[Jake Johnson]

I did think you were teasing me. And J Man didn't remind me. I asked for this.

[Eric Edelstein]

This is the cross I have to bear. It's all one song, sister.

[Steve Berg]

Oh, God.

[Gareth Reynolds]

As soy sauce drops out of the Manic's pocket.

[Jake Johnson]

Are you stealing soy and vegan cheese?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Is that vegan cheese? Maddox was having a pretty tough run at the end there.

[Jake Johnson]

What?

[Eric Edelstein]

Sweet Jesse here.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We were all set to release this episode and then we got an update.

[Eric Edelstein]

From Eric about Vandy Camp.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So we got a little extra for.

[Eric Edelstein]

Okay, so most importantly, what we have to get into is we recorded our last episode last Friday. Not Friday, two days ago or whatever, but the week before. While we were recording the episode on Friday in which we determined that Jake Johnson was going to go to Vandy Camp if it ever happened again, which he was betting wouldn't because, let's be honest, Dick van Dyke is 90. We get done recording that episode. I open my email and there is an. Steve, would you just put in your mouth, babe.

[Jake Johnson]

Agreed.

[Eric Edelstein]

What did you just put? Nicotine?

[Steve Berg]

A pecan. I'm starving.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Steve, Steve, Steve, Steven. Steven. Ten minutes. You had to start sneaking pe.

[Steve Berg]

Look, Eric. Eric's Entertain me.

[Eric Edelstein]

It's like you eating. I just wanted to know. I'm living for you. I haven't eaten yet today. I was. I. I've spent all day today gearing up for Vandy can. I didn't even eat yet.

[Steve Berg]

Don't worry about what I'm doing.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, no, no.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm very worried that you brought emergency nuts to the session. But go.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, I'm honored. I'm honored.

[Jake Johnson]

Peon.

[Eric Edelstein]

If my bed is worth a peon. So I get off Friday doing our podcast and I see I've got an email, a group email from Chris Isaacson presents.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay.

[Eric Edelstein]

To the people that came to the show that Dick Van Dyke didn't show up for, you are invited to get.

[Gareth Reynolds]

A discount housing peak. Keep going. I'm sorry.

[Jake Johnson]

10 minutes.

[Eric Edelstein]

I got you, I got you. So I see that there is an invitation. Dick Van Dyke is going to be doing a show in his backyard in two days on Sunday. And that there's a special discount code, $200 off. And I'm like, wow, what is that? I log in, I get so excited. But first, we had just wrapped five minutes earlier. I check in with D. Jake who had just said he is in for Vandy Camp and it's in two days and I know he ain't doing shit on that Sunday.

[Jake Johnson]

Nothing.

[Eric Edelstein]

Well, I will say this before I asked. I get extremely excited about Dick Van Dyke's house. Seeing Dick Van Dyke. The only thing that might temper that excitement is going with Jake Johnson and trying to avoid the eye contact of my best friend while we're in Dick Van Dyke's yard torturing. If Dick doesn't come out, have another piece. Pecan Steve. Dude, my God, I'm so glad you're caught. Your protein loading.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Why are you licking your fingers?

[Eric Edelstein]

We broke it. We bought it, boys. We broke it. We bought it. We love him. This is all great. Peacon is making the story better. So I do then hear it and I pitch it to Jake. But I'm also a little worried he might say yes. But I know if he comes, it's going to be okay. Okay. And then I'm like, you're off the hook if you don't want to. So you quickly take that off the hook. But then I also say I look to buy the tickets and I see there's two tiers. I put in the code and the ticket I'm eligible for is not up front. And it is a $572 ticket with the code off, it's 372. The most expensive tickets are like 6 or $700 and that's to be even closer to Dick. So I do say this, and I'm not proud of it and I don't like the world knowing that I can be bought off. I say, you know, if the pod pays for my ticket, I won't mention that Jake didn't go. Not a great move. And Jake and Gareth immediately jump on me. We're not paying. No way. And they also probably know I'm going to go anyway. But I do want people to know this podcast is about revealing the good parts of ourselves, the bad parts. If you're wondering the price of my dignity and my integrity, it is $372American. Because I'd be telling a different story right now. I'd be like, I wouldn't mention that. Jake just said he was going to go. As Jake Johnson was saying he'd go to Vandy Camp, an email came in my inbox saying, Vandy Camp is in two days. So I, I snap on. I buy the ticket and it's like Willy Wonk. It says details are going to come very soon as to what Vandy can camp is. And I'm nervous, I'm excited. I'm going to Vandy Camp by myself. Nobody and my wife wants to join and there's nobody I want to pay $372 for. To get them to join.

[Jake Johnson]

I think you said, nobody in my wife.

[Eric Edelstein]

Nobody in my life. Well, my wife has been dragged so much stuff. That poor woman. This podcast can be called that Poor Woman. So she would go because she's so nice and.

[Jake Johnson]

And, like.

[Eric Edelstein]

And I don't always reciprocate. She came today. A bunch of improv people are doing a quarantine corn maze next week, and I don't want to go. And she's like, I'd really like it if you go. And I'm like, I don't. I really don't want to stand the corn maze. I'm like, it's a. It's a corn maze and a hayride with an improv. And I'm like, ah, please.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm so sorry. Grandkids are shooting them with paintballs.

[Eric Edelstein]

That'd be amazing. Even you'd go to that? J. I'd go to that.

[Steve Berg]

Hold on.

[Eric Edelstein]

I get to see that old Codre get shot with paintballs. Am I gonna shoot him now? Can I shoot him? The fucker was in World War II. He knows how to take fire. So the next day, I get an email from Chris Isaacson Productions saying, you are going to go to this yoga studio in Malibu, and then you're gonna be shuttled to Dick Van Dyke's house. I start getting very excited. Excited. Very nervous. A little bit of difficulty sleeping because I'm like, are you kidding?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Seriously?

[Jake Johnson]

Yes. He's serious.

[Eric Edelstein]

Half for the pod, though. Because I'm like, not half for the pod. I didn't think we were gonna get.

[Jake Johnson]

Insane for the pod.

[Steve Berg]

It's a lot.

[Eric Edelstein]

It is for the pod. You deal with it.

[Steve Berg]

Taylor.

[Jake Johnson]

You wore the Mannix jacket because you wanted to. You said, because Jake Johnson's for the pod. A hundred times.

[Eric Edelstein]

I was not gonna put it on unless you told it. I brought it because it rained, and I saw rain in the forecast. I wore it today, dummy. Japanese rain. Yeah, it's Japanese rainwear. Okay. My.

[Jake Johnson]

Did you wear it today for the pod?

[Eric Edelstein]

You should have cornered. You're right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can't get out of that corn maze.

[Eric Edelstein]

So the next I will say, jake.

[Jake Johnson]

Didn'T come for 380.

[Steve Berg]

Pass.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, that's okay.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm still going for the.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah for the pot.

[Jake Johnson]

Guess what? We're not going to talk about it. I mean, I'm still going.

[Eric Edelstein]

I pay the money. I just found out this week all my concert tickets are not tax deductible because of a law change in 2017. That's frustrating. So I. Yeah, we had a whole. Guys. Oh, Gareth. So the next day I drive out to Malibu. I'm running late. I'm like, I will get destroyed by these guys if I miss the Vandy camp shuttle. So I get out there, I can't find. There's no parking because there's a Sunday farmers market in Malibu. There's a nature preserve. And I'm like, oh my God. My God. So I park kind of illegally, way off, hurry in. I can't find the yoga studio. Then I see a lady with a Dick Van Dyke pin. And I run up to her like, is this a shuttle? And she's like, are you with Chris? I'm like, kind of. Sorta. Is this the shuttle? And she's like, they're all upstairs at the yoga studio checking in. And I'm late. So I start to go to the yoga studio and then I see a flock of people and I'm saying, the tip of the spear. Highest level Disney adults you've ever seen in your life all dressed like they are rejected extras from Mary Poppins coming down this staircase.

[Steve Berg]

Terrifying.

[Eric Edelstein]

And so I kind of jump back in line for the show.

[Jake Johnson]

Eric. A bunch of guys in tuxedos.

[Eric Edelstein]

Dick Van Dyke from the Dick Van Dyke show from his appearance on Columbo. Who he is as a person. His book. I'm not as into Mary Poppins or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And I want to be very careful with my words here. I think the top tip of the spear of any fan group is a lot. I thought I would jump in with the Rusty's who are the Neil Young super fans. I found them to be elitist, kind of mean, not really that cool. And my two friends from Leeds, they, they, they weren't being that cool to them. And these are the two coolest Neil Young fans in the world. Bob Dylan fans. I go to like two shows I to tour. The ones that go to every show are terrifying. You're praying that they don't have a copy of Catcher in the Rye in their pocket. I enjoy Disney. I love Pirates of the Caribbean. I have a reservation of the Blue Bayou next month. I have friends that are Disney adults. They're awesome. This was the tip of the spear of Disney adults that could pay up to six or $700 to go to Dick Van Dyke's place. Place. And they were pretty scary. And they would go on to be the biggest problem of this day that we will get into later. But because I see them coming down, I jump in line for the shuttle, thinking there's going to be, you know, at least four or five shuttle vans taking us to Dick Van Dyke's place. The shuttle shows up. I see a guy get out, he's kind of harried. And I quickly realized this is crazy, Chris. This is the guy that I've gone back and forth with, repeat on the pod. He is driving the shuttle himself. And I'm trying to figure out who the other shuttle drivers are. Can you please don't put your hands.

[Jake Johnson]

Together with the prayer. Please, Eric, can you please.

[Eric Edelstein]

I didn't know I was doing that.

[Jake Johnson]

It doesn't warrant this. This moment does not warrant that.

[Eric Edelstein]

To me it does. Life is a prayer, Jake, Please.

[Steve Berg]

Yes, I have a picture of what Chris looks like in my head. I want to see if this makes matches what he looks like in real life, though.

[Eric Edelstein]

Give me.

[Steve Berg]

No, I mean like. No, let me. Okay. I was gonna have you describe him. I.

[Eric Edelstein]

Okay, okay, I will. He was different. We looked at the picture of him online. He has like long, kind of a grown out Prince Valiant cut.

[Steve Berg]

Yep.

[Eric Edelstein]

He's wearing some. He's wearing regular glasses and I instantly like the guy. I felt kind of bad for.

[Jake Johnson]

You're trying to get free to tickets.

[Eric Edelstein]

I. Well, if he wants to throw me tickets for Civil shepherd, he should.

[Jake Johnson]

That's exactly why you just said that.

[Eric Edelstein]

No, no, no. I felt a little bad for my tone with him. I was harsh. I'm not getting.

[Jake Johnson]

You're not getting.

[Eric Edelstein]

If I didn't get refunded for Dick Van Dyke when he didn't show, he's not going to give me free Civil shepherd tickets. Especially because he's not going to love everything I have to say about this. And I'm going to get into the weeds on it and God bless. So I'm going to spoiler. I'm not going to get free tickets from Chris. But I instantly really like, liked him. I was instantly absolutely shocked there weren't more shuttles. And that he was driving the only shuttle was hysterical. And then I did the math. I'm like, there's like 50 people here. Dick Van Dyke's house better be really damn close or this is going to be an issue. So the first shuttle goes and they're like, Dick's like 10 minutes away and it was very hot. And there's these Disney adults. A lot of them were wearing boater hats and dressed in Mary Poppins striped suits and not doing well in the heat. And some of them are not in incredible shape and. Or they're Old and, or both. So I, we wait in the heat. A lot of them have parasols. So we wait in the heat maybe 10 minutes, 15 minutes. Chris shows back up. I jump in the second shuttle and I get, get there and I'm like, I don't quite believe this is going be to happen. We drive up to this guard at a gate and it is a gated community in Malibu. Chris kind of has to talk his way back in again, which was odd. And then we go in there.

[Jake Johnson]

What does that mean?

[Eric Edelstein]

Me again, I'm with the show. And the guy's like, you're not on the list. He's like, I'm with the show. We got to get through, through. These people are going to Mr. Van Dyke South. But it's a gated community Malibu, and like probably not the place that's too amenable to a shuttle full of tourists coming in. They don't play around. And this should have been a caravan of four or five shuttles to bring.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. But the problem is that they have to treat this hundred year old man like a wild animal. That they don't know when he's going to be stable enough to have people over to his house. So it's all thrown together.

[Eric Edelstein]

It has to be. I mean we're talking about a show with literally less than 48 hours notice. It's. What kind of lunatic can go and pay a fortune to see Dick Van Dyke with no notice? Myself included. I paint myself with a wide brush. Okay.

[Jake Johnson]

You're tip of the spear, babe.

[Eric Edelstein]

Tip of the spear, baby. And so it's me packed in a shuttle with Disney adults singing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And I'm like, well, I mean I, I watch Dick Van Dyke show with my. Yes, I, I looked at the them I grew up. I, I, I can look at what and mix in. Pardon?

[Jake Johnson]

You are a Disney adult. You were singing Chitty Chitty in the Bang while judging them for singing Chitty Chitty Bang in the bus.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

You're not imagine a car driving by, seeing how loud were you singing? Be honest.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, And I was in a searsucker suit.

[Steve Berg]

You look great in that. The.

[Eric Edelstein]

Thank you, Steve. Thank you. There are official Vanity Camp photos of me in it now, not to give a spoiler. So, so we pull up.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Natalie right now is opening Johnny Walker, by the way.

[Eric Edelstein]

Oh, who can blame her? Who can blame her? I'll just sum up here. We pull up and I'm like, are we actually gonna be in here? The gate opens and then suddenly I am In Dick Van Dyke's backyard, there is a very special drink being made. The Fitz Willy Fizz, based on another Disney movie he did, apparently called Fitz Willy. That is honey lime juice and Citizen 7Up. And then I hear something amazing. Somebody comes rushing up and says, I need a regular Coke. And then they pause, lower the voice and say, it's for dvd. And I'm like, holy, Dick Van Dyke is here and he drinks regular Coke. That's probably one of the secrets to his success. He ain't doing Diet Coke. They start passing around some really nice finger sandwiches. I'm eating there. I'm grabbing multiple sandwiches. I hadn't eaten that day. I got a fistful of egg salad sandwiches. I got a Fitz Willy Fist. And then it's just waiting for all the other people to get shuttled in because there was a massive line behind me and I'm gonna leave it at that front.

[Jake Johnson]

I think we could keep. I mean, are you sure?

[Eric Edelstein]

I think. I think this is originally what I was gonna do for Patreon.

[Jake Johnson]

Natalie, how much stories left?

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah, I mean, a good amount. Natalie. A good amount. At least. Probably 20, 20 minutes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I like the cliffhanger. There's also footage.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, I want all the details.

[Steve Berg]

I don't want Eric to.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, hold on, hold on. Stop. I know exactly what Steve's going to say. More, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more. And I know what Natalie's saying. So now we are going to go to the audience and the comment section. Do you want the full version of this as its own Friday, or should we just figure out a way to put it at the next chat, when the next chat will be in a little bit of time. Who knows when that'll be? So if you. If you're looking to get the end of this, we.

[Eric Edelstein]

The.

[Jake Johnson]

The gang will get back together. It'll be. It'll be called we're here to chant Vandy Camp finale. But we need in the comments. Yes. For a Vandy Cap finale on its own Friday. Rushed or a. I can wait. It's an I can wait. We're gonna see what happens. We're gonna get to it and there's gonna. It might not be a full 20 minute. It's Eric.

[Steve Berg]

But the audience.

[Jake Johnson]

The whole thing will go on Patreon no matter what. We're going to have the audience decide.

[Gareth Reynolds]

There's a lot of meat on this bone.

[Jake Johnson]

There's also an entire episode we could do.

[Steve Berg]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Where Eileen. But I also think we should also have people comment on whether or not it's unprofessional for Steve to be housing pecans.

[Steve Berg]

Eric doesn't. Eric. Eric was regaling us with a beautiful story. I feel like a snack is started.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Eating them before he reg.

[Steve Berg]

No, I didn't. I didn't. That's a lie.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Next to you. Why'd you have him next to you?

[Steve Berg]

Because I always have him next to me.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's a wild.

[Eric Edelstein]

I want to say I've heard from so many. We're here to help fans because what something happened there that was in the clickbait zeitgeist this week. Dick made one joke which I loved, horrified the Disney adults.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, stop, stop, stop.

[Eric Edelstein]

Okay, I won't say anything else, but, like, I want those fans to know. I heard you. You, I saw you linking me, but I, I. It has been so hard for me.

[Jake Johnson]

Not to tell these guys because we know nothing. Can we put this in on the Wednesday episode? And then if need be, guys, maybe we record Thursday night us and we try to release it this Friday.

[Steve Berg]

Yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to open up a nice bottle of wine for this.

[Jake Johnson]

Maybe we'll all get on, we'll do a cocktail and we'll do it at night. Great.

[Eric Edelstein]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Does that sound fun?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Steve Berg]

I'll do a cocktail.

[Eric Edelstein]

Cocktail.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, so can you try to include this whole section, including all this?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Including also just this. I also think it's very important that, that of all the crazy things we've heard today, the fact that Steve said he always has pecans.

[Steve Berg]

Well, I mean, look, look, in truth, it's a mixed nut. I just happen to be needing. All right, we're done at the time.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Thank you very much, guys.

[Eric Edelstein]

Thank you.

[Jake Johnson]

We're Here to Help is hosted by Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds. If you'd like to be on the show, please email us your question@ HelpfulPod Gmail.com. and if you want to watch video episodes of We're Here to Help, you can go to our [e-mail] heretohelpod to see our entire catalog.

[Eric Edelstein]

We're Here to Help is produced by.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Rabbit Grim Productions executive producers Rob Hollis.

[Eric Edelstein]

Jeff Porter and Adam Hollis. Associate producer Jesse Thurston.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Editing, mix and master by Chris Faller. Theme song by Oliver Raleigh. The COVID artwork is by James Fosdike, animations by Andrew Strelecki. And if you'd like to see Gareth do Stand up on the road, go to garethreynolds.com Remember, all the advice given on We're Here to Help is for entertainment purposes only and all listeners should be adults and make their own decisions.

[Steve Berg]

All video episodes of season one are available now on Patreon, and season two.

[Eric Edelstein]

Video episodes will be available every Monday starting January 20th. Go to Patreon.

[Steve Berg]

Com heretohelpod.