Live at JFL with Jimmy Carr

Summary

Podcast Summary: You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

Episode: Live at JFL with Jimmy Carr

Date: August 10, 2022
Host: Pete Holmes
Guest: Jimmy Carr
Co-hosts: Randy & Jason Sklar (Sklar Brothers)
Event: Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, Montreal

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Episode Overview

This live episode, recorded at Just for Laughs 2022 in Montreal, features British stand-up juggernaut Jimmy Carr alongside Pete Holmes and the always irreverent Sklar Brothers. The conversation is a rapid-fire blend of comedic riffing and surprisingly deep dives, as Jimmy shares thoughts on comedy, success, fame, mortality, philosophy, and his personal journey. The tone is playful, honest, and at times, vulnerably profound, perfectly blending the weird and the meaningful.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy, Self-Help, and the "Dao of Comedy"

[15:07–18:26]

• Jimmy’s Pandemic Book: During lockdown, Carr wrote a book transforming his life lessons and readings on self-help into comedic, accessible advice.
  • “The basic lesson of every self help book in the world is the same: prioritize later over now.”—Jimmy Carr [16:44]
• Finding Your Edge: Comedy taught Jimmy to discover and specialize in what you do best, highlighting the importance of leaning into your true strengths, as opposed to trying to be well-rounded at everything.
  • “The world doesn’t need more C grades in physics. Find the thing you’re good at, just lean into that.”—Jimmy Carr [18:06]

2. Talent, Hard Work, and The Myths of Success

[20:19–23:30]

• Both hard work and natural talent are important, but neither alone suffices; success comes from combining what you’re good at and enjoying putting in the hours.
  • “Michael Jordan is nothing without hard work. Bill Gates is nothing without talent. It’s always a mix of the two.”—Jimmy Carr [20:28]
• Limits of Aptitude: Not everyone can be anything; understanding your natural ability is key to finding your biggest “edge”—where your effort will yield the most success.

3. Fame, Happiness, and Redefining Success

[23:44–26:34]

• Fame as Modern Heaven: Fame, money, and power have replaced older notions of heaven and fulfillment, but they don’t fix life’s core struggles.
  • “Fame has replaced heaven. Fame is the land of milk and honey.”—Jimmy Carr [23:44]
• Flow State in Comedy: The joy of comedy lies in entering a “flow state.” Rather than chasing sitcom deals or stardom, Carr emphasizes cherishing the process and the moments of flow, whether in work or hobbies.

4. Comedians and Their Origins: Humor as Healing

[32:05–33:57]

• Carr posits that many comics are children from homes where a parent was mentally or physically unwell, making them “responsible for the vibes.”
  • “Most comedians I know had to take care of a sick parent. Their job in the household was vibes.”—Jimmy Carr [32:05]
• Charming vs. Charismatic:
  • Distinguishes between the two: “Charm means I come to you. Charisma means you come to me.”—Jimmy Carr [34:15]

5. Philosophy, Religion, and the Role of Belief

[37:03–38:49, 42:05–43:04]

• Atheism & Wonder: Carr, while an atheist, appreciates the power and utility of spiritual stories and myth.
• Your Real "God":
  • “What do you check your phone for all day? That’s your god.”—Jimmy Carr [38:00]
• Science vs. Faith: Belief in science still contains elements of faith, particularly since most rely on expert consensus rather than direct knowledge.
  • “Your next question should always be ‘what’s an isotope’—because most people are going on faith as well.”—Jimmy Carr [42:05]

6. The Big Picture: Human Connection and Community

[59:48–62:39]

• Comedy is Tribal: Carr references books ("Tribe" and "Selfie") and asserts that humans are fundamentally social; comedy and podcasts recreate the communal feeling of sitting around a fire.
• Laughter is Social:
  • “You’re 30 times more likely to laugh at a comedy show than at home. Laughter is a social noise.”—Jimmy Carr [60:54]
• Fame as a Return to Community: Being recognized mimics the small village dynamic of human evolution.

7. Mortality, Legacy, and Facing Death

[66:22–73:08]

• Surrealism of Success: Jimmy sometimes feels like he's in a dream, marveling that stand-up lets him live such a privileged, unlikely life.
• Near-Death Experience: Shares a story about a close encounter with a shark, blending vulnerability with humor.
• The Gift of Dying Well: Tells a poignant story about a dying friend, reflecting on the importance of keeping your “side of the road clean” and handling difficult people with integrity.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting and Comedians:
  • "If you meet a comedian, ... ask them which one of their parents was sick. Their job in the household was vibes." —Jimmy Carr [32:05]
• On Success:
  • "Find the thing you're good at. Just lean into that and specialize. And that was the thing that comedy told me." —Jimmy Carr [18:06]
• On Comedy as Drug-Dealing:
  • "We're dealing in dopamine, endorphins ... the drugs are already on the audience and we're just tickling them out." —Jimmy Carr [31:15]
• On God and Attention:
  • "What do you check your phone for all the time? That's your god." —Jimmy Carr [38:00]
• On Perspective and Disposition:
  • "Disposition is more important than position ... you can change your disposition slowly over time." —Jimmy Carr [58:02]
• On Mortality:
  • "You die twice. You die when you die, and you die again the last time someone says your name." —Jimmy Carr [41:42]
  • "Children are a message we send to a future we shall not see." —Jimmy Carr [41:42]
• On Love and Spirituality:
  • "For two thousand years, every song was about God. Now, every song is about love. Are we talking about the same thing?" —Jimmy Carr [52:38]

Humorous Highlights

• On Tallness: Multiple jokes riffing on Pete’s height and being asked "How tall are you?" [07:07+]
• Hugh Grant and Monica Lewinsky anecdote:
  • "'Oh, hello, I'm Hugh. I'm the other fellatio scandal from 1992.'" —Hugh Grant via Jimmy Carr [12:03]
• Charisma vs. Charm, as exemplified by celebrities:
  • "Jennifer Aniston—charm personified. Angelina Jolie—charismatic. … One isn't better than the other. They both get to fuck Brad Pitt." —Jimmy Carr [34:50]
• On group laughter:
  • "Laughter is a social noise ... It's just subconscious." —Jimmy Carr [60:54]

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Important Timestamps for Segments

• [15:07]—Jimmy begins discussing his book, self-help, and advice for comics
• [18:26–23:30]—Debate: Is it talent or hard work that matters, and the limits of "following your dream"
• [23:44–25:53]—Fame vs. happiness; performing for flow, not outcome
• [32:05]—Theory on comedians and sick parents
• [34:08–36:03]—Charm vs. charisma
• [37:03–38:49]—Spirituality, atheism, and what you actually ‘worship’
• [42:05–43:04]—Belief in science vs. faith, Big Bang discussion
• [59:48–62:39]—Why humans need community; laughter as a social behavior
• [66:22–73:08]—Mortality, the gratitude practice, stories of near-death and a dying friend’s wisdom

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Closing Thoughts

This episode is a masterful blend of razor-sharp wit, deep reflection, and comedic camaraderie. Jimmy Carr brings both his trademark dark humor and unexpected vulnerability, reflecting on everything from the art of joke-writing and the evolutionary purpose of laughter to philosophy, spirituality, and facing mortality with grace. The Sklar Brothers and Pete Holmes keep the energy lively and the atmosphere delightfully weird.

Memorable sign-off:
“You die twice. You die when you die, and you die again the last time someone says your name.” —Jimmy Carr [41:42]

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Recommended for:
Fans of stand-up, those interested in the psychology and philosophy behind comedy, and anyone who enjoys candid conversations about creativity, meaning, and the human condition—laced with top-tier British and American riffing.

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[73:25]
Host sign-off:
“Keep it crispy.”—Jimmy Carr, Pete Holmes & Guests

Transcript

[Jimmy Carr]

You made it with. You made it with. You made it with. Oh, yeah, you made it weird. Yes, you made it weird.

[Jason Sklar]

You made it weird with Pete Holmes.

[Valerie]

What's happening, weirdos? This is an incredible episode. I'm not just saying it. It's a little bit shorter than our usual, but Jimmy Carr, the incredible Jimmy Carr. Ryan Seacrest of the uk. Somebody told me that, Katie. Somebody's like, you don't understand, he's huge in the. I know he's huge in the uk, but they had to tell me Seacrest before I really understood because I'm quite, quite thick and dumb. But he's an amazing, amazing comedian and an amazing, amazing person and this chat is wonderful. It was going to be with sweet lady Val co hosting, um, but unfortunately she wasn't feeling well, didn't make it. But that means we get Randy and Jason Sklar, my friends, as co host, and they are snipers in a cornfield. Every time they talk, it's hilarious and wonderful. And every time Jimmy talks, it's hilarious, wonderful and deeply interesting. So I'm very excited for you guys to hear this. We recorded it as part of the Just for Laughs Comedy Fest in 2022. As I was looking for the date just then, I thought it was 2020. Thank God it isn't. This episode is brought to us by a couple a new Pete's Pick, which I'm super excited. I've been taking Pym Chews for years and they have absolutely 100% changed my life. Specifically in how I cope with stress and anxiety. And I love that they are natural and amino acid based that helps your brain do what it is designed to do. What which is help you cope when you are feeling overwhelmed. When I discovered Pym, it's called Pym cause it's prepare your mind, no joke. The first night I took them, I felt the difference almost immediately and ordered not just one subscriptions for my mother and my brother. Because I know that the Holmes family deal with stress. I know I do. And anxiety. So Pym Chews help you manage feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm. And it's wonderful to know that when you're feeling worried, stressed out, or as Val and I like to say, you have a bee in your belly. You can chew just two of these delicious naturally citrus flavored, no sugar added chews and in minutes you start to feel more centered, calm and in control. It's literally a technique. I love having it in my cupboard, knowing I can return to myself when I need to. When I first tried them I thought they were too good to be true, but here they are. We have a natural, non addictive and non psychoactive solution to one of life's most common problems. I like to take it at the start of my day, in the morning, to sort of ease me into a flow state, ease me into the work that I have to do without a stressed out feeling. And I also take them at the end of the day when I'm looking to wind down and melt away the stress that I accumulated while I was working. How well Pym Chews are comprised of proven amino acid complexes and adaptogens that help your brain, support your brain and your body's ability to organically support your ability to manage and tolerate stress, anxiety and overwhelm. These specifically formulated amino acids target your neurotransmitters, specifically the GABA system, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that helps the body manage chronic stress. Supplying your body with gaba, L, theanine and rhodiola. I hope I'm saying that right.

[Randy Sklar]

I know it works.

[Valerie]

I don't know how to say it. Pym is on a mission to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to make a better mood accessible for all. And if that weren't enough, a percentage of their profits goes toward mental health nonprofits, including Bring Change to Mind, a wonderful nonprofit. So it's a new Pete's Pick. If you have anxiety and stress in your life and you're looking for a natural gift, gentle, effective way to give your body the nutrition it needs to fight off stress. Honest to God, this is stuff that Val and I swear by and I'm so glad they're sponsoring the podcast. Thank you, pym. Go to youcanpym.com weird for 15% off Pym mood choose. That's ucanpym.com weird the second Pete's Pick that this episode is sponsored by is my old friend Alpha Brain. Brought to us by our friends at Onnit. For the past, I don't know, six, seven, eight years, I haven't done anything that involves my noodle, that's my brain, without taking two or three alpha brain 15 minutes beforehand. Helps with memory, helps with focus, helps with concentration. If I'm doing a podcast, if I'm doing standup, if I'm writing a script, or. Or if I'm just going on a date with Val and I want to have full access to my memory and to my vocabulary and my ability to listen and participate. I always take Alpha Brain. It is not a stimulant. It's not like caffeine. It's not an energy drink. It's nutrition that your brain needs. It's earth grown ingredients that help your brain function the way it was intended to and at a peak level. I so wish I knew about Alpha Brain when I was in college, when it came to memorizing facts, learning new things, reading books, all that sort of stuff. But I'm still learning, I'm still reading, I'm still growing. And when I do, I take a few Alpha brain and I retain so much more than I would without it. I absolutely swear by it. I keep it in the jacket pockets, I keep it in the car. I keep it in my travel bags. I always, always, always have my Alpha brain. And I just got some of their new black label which I'm very excited to try. So if you want to give it a try, if you're using your brain, chances are you are going to go to onnit O-N-N-I-T.com weird and you'll get 10% off everything you see on that landing page. That's onnit.com weird and show your support of this show. All right, everybody, enjoy the brilliant, the wonderful Jimmy Carr and my friends, the guest co hosts, the Sklar Brothers. Get into it.

[Randy Sklar]

We don't have a lot of time.

[Valerie]

And I'd really like to get to it. I invited two guest hosts.

[Randy Sklar]

I'm going to bring them out and then we'll bring out our special guest. Would you please welcome the Sklar Brothers. Always delightful, my friends.

[Jason Sklar]

Hi, Pete. We're not short. You're just like seven feet tall. People don't know that about Pete. He's seven feet tall.

[Valerie]

You guys have no idea. So I've been hosting shows in Montreal. Yeah, Montreal.

[Jason Sklar]

Montreal, all week.

[Randy Sklar]

And I was, you know, I'm leaving. You're walking through the lobby, there's hundreds.

[Valerie]

Of people and you're like, all right, time. I'm not doing it for that reason.

[Randy Sklar]

There's no other way out.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Randy Sklar]

But I'm like, the ego flares up.

[Valerie]

And goes, old homes. He's about to get a few pets on the.

[Jason Sklar]

I'm ready to glad hand my way over to the inspiration room.

[Randy Sklar]

Ram.

[Valerie]

I was stopped.

[Randy Sklar]

This is. I will never, I won't lie to you.

[Jason Sklar]

Today, let's.

[Valerie]

Three times.

[Randy Sklar]

I was tempted to say four, but.

[Valerie]

The real number is three times.

[Jason Sklar]

Three times.

[Valerie]

Three times. Someone stopped me and went, how tall are you?

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

And I was like, okay, all right, that's good.

[Valerie]

And then again how tall are you?

[Randy Sklar]

Three times people asked how tall I am. Is that the most impressive thing I did?

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah, that's was be long.

[Randy Sklar]

A lot of along.

[Jason Sklar]

Guys, how was Pete's show? He was really tall. He was so tall for most of the show. He was very show. He was up there. Really, really up there.

[Valerie]

How short is.

[Randy Sklar]

Well, I know what it is. It's because every comedian I brought on.

[Valerie]

Stage looked like my toddler.

[Jason Sklar]

Who's a good comedian? Who's such a good comedian?

[Valerie]

This is why I invited two of the funniest and nicest people in show business. Thank you, Randy and Jason.

[Jason Sklar]

Thank you, thank you.

[Randy Sklar]

They're gonna co host.

[Valerie]

Please don't sit on those riffs.

[Jason Sklar]

We won't.

[Randy Sklar]

They never do. And please, everybody, just because my podcast.

[Valerie]

Is two hours long. And they were like, you have the.

[Randy Sklar]

Room for an hour.

[Valerie]

And I was like, how tall are you?

[Jason Sklar]

Do you see how tall I am? Wait, I deserve at least an hour and a half. Do you see how tall I do? I need to walk through the lobby and have three more people ask me.

[Randy Sklar]

I also. I was eating at Expectations because I.

[Valerie]

Think I have autism.

[Randy Sklar]

I can't. I can't. I can't stop eating at the closest restaurant.

[Jason Sklar]

The best. Are you saying you're on? This is the worst joke ever.

[Jimmy Carr]

I will.

[Jason Sklar]

No, I'm gonna leave. I'm gonna leave after this joke. You were eating at Expectations. You think you have autism. Do you mean to say that you're on the spegtrum. Oh, stop it. Stop it.

[Randy Sklar]

That's it.

[Jason Sklar]

Everybody else. You gotta break a few eggs to make a comedy omelette, Guys.

[Randy Sklar]

That's the clip for Insta. Instagram.

[Valerie]

I'm so happy you made that joke. And I'm also so happy that our.

[Randy Sklar]

Guest is Jimmy Carr. Can you believe it? Jimmy Carr. Turn that off. YouTube's gonna yank the video. We don't have Axl Rose money.

[Jimmy Carr]

My. That's my theme tune. Welcome to the jungle. We've got fun and games. It's great to be here. Thank you.

[Randy Sklar]

Thank you for doing it.

[Jimmy Carr]

Long time listener, firsttime caller.

[Randy Sklar]

I'm very touched. You make John Mulaney look like a hobo, sir.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right. Dressed up.

[Jimmy Carr]

Mulaney stole my look.

[Randy Sklar]

You are a delight.

[Jimmy Carr]

We.

[Randy Sklar]

We actually accidentally had lunch today. Or breakfast. I don't know what you call it.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, we had. We had a brunch.

[Randy Sklar]

We had a brunch. Okay, there it is.

[Jimmy Carr]

See?

[Randy Sklar]

Even the way you say that makes me feel elegant.

[Jimmy Carr]

It felt very obvious there.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

Breakfast, Lunch. I don't know what you'd call it. Lunch, famously. There is a word for that.

[Jason Sklar]

If only. If only there was a word for it.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's all they serve in expectations also, so I really feel like you should have had the jump on this, that.

[Jason Sklar]

They probably say that at the top of the menu.

[Randy Sklar]

Brunch all day, you know, and yet I was confused. But I ran into you and Neal Brennan, two of my favorite people, and we. We had, like, a pre podcast. Everything you said was so wonderful.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, thank you very much indeed. But let's. Let's let the listener decide. Let's. Yes, because this. Let's manage expectation here.

[Jason Sklar]

Expectation, expectation, expectation.

[Randy Sklar]

I'm gonna say. Can we turn Jimmy's mic up just a little bit?

[Jason Sklar]

He's not as.

[Jimmy Carr]

Also, if I could be 10% funnier.

[Jason Sklar]

Yes, sir.

[Jimmy Carr]

I mean, I worked. I don't know what you pressed, but wow.

[Jason Sklar]

I know.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's unbelievable.

[Jason Sklar]

That's so much funnier, by the way. That's so much funnier.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

Over 10.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

Okay, so I can bet.

[Jason Sklar]

Take it back to. Let's just take it back to.

[Randy Sklar]

It's not fair to the rest of us.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Randy Sklar]

But you are like a champagne flute. Became a person and.

[Jimmy Carr]

Be our guest. Yeah, it's that vibe, isn't it?

[Randy Sklar]

But Bell uses you, not beast. Beast can't handle you with those paws.

[Jason Sklar]

No.

[Jimmy Carr]

Sure.

[Randy Sklar]

No one could hold you.

[Jimmy Carr]

Sure. I'm exactly what you ordered as a British man.

[Randy Sklar]

That's right.

[Jimmy Carr]

Somewhere between Mr. Bean and Hugh Grant. Bullseye.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

I had a great moment with Hugh Grant. It's a fun story.

[Randy Sklar]

I love it.

[Jimmy Carr]

I hosted a party in my house, and I had lots of people there. I know Hugh pretty well, and my friend brought along Monica Lewinsky. And so Monica's in my kitchen. She's a friend. I know her. If you haven't seen her, TED Talk. It's fantastic about being publicly shamed in the Internet age. Anyway, she's in my kitchen, and Hugh's there, and I introduce them. I say, hugh, this is Monica. Monica, this is Hugh. And Hugh Grant says, oh, hello, I'm Hugh. I'm the other fellatio scandal from 1992.

[Jason Sklar]

And then Eddie Murphy walks in and is like, not so f.

[Randy Sklar]

Oh, my God. Did a portal open to another world?

[Jimmy Carr]

I mean, he's a very, very funny boy, Hugh Grant. He's, you know, he feels like he's got that thing, you know, you meet someone and you go, it should have been a comic.

[Randy Sklar]

Is that right?

[Jimmy Carr]

Should be I know acting and great movie star.

[Valerie]

Should have been a comic, you know.

[Randy Sklar]

Who loves Hugh Grant. And you can tell Kumail. Kumail Nanjiani used to watch all the Hugh Grant movies in Karachi, and he was obsessed. And when you. My wife and I watched Notting Hill recently because we have a lesbian relationship.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah, that.

[Jimmy Carr]

That explains the hair.

[Randy Sklar]

This.

[Jimmy Carr]

This hair, everything you're wearing.

[Randy Sklar]

This hair definitely makes its own cheese. Yes, that's true. I don't mean the hair itself. I have to go. But we were watching it, and we were like, you can see Kumail in his delightful performance, which I would say. Hold up, holds up.

[Jimmy Carr]

Let me.

[Randy Sklar]

Let me just text him real quick.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, do it on my phone. Yeah, that's going to be tricky. Who are you texting? You're not going to be all over my.

[Randy Sklar]

Siri doesn't do it.

[Jimmy Carr]

No, there's. Siri.

[Randy Sklar]

You don't have.

[Jimmy Carr]

Are you fucking.

[Jason Sklar]

You got to open the phone first.

[Jimmy Carr]

Please.

[Randy Sklar]

That would have been a solid.

[Jimmy Carr]

They know. They know enough about me.

[Randy Sklar]

Oh, you turned Siri off.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, I have no interest in that.

[Randy Sklar]

Can I run a premise by you?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yes.

[Randy Sklar]

Here it comes.

[Jason Sklar]

Uh. Oh.

[Jimmy Carr]

Why? Maybe you are autistic.

[Jason Sklar]

Yes.

[Jimmy Carr]

Feels like. Feels like. It just feels like. I don't know how you feel, like, as listeners. How you feel as listeners, but it feels to me like if you're going to ask a question in a podcast, ask it.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah, look, let's finish this conversation at Expectations.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Jimmy Carr]

Go ahead.

[Randy Sklar]

No, I was just gonna say I've been doing a bit where I'm like, we put a listening device in our homes, Alexa. And what we got in exchange was music. Pause. We already had music.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

You know what I mean? Like, they were like, we'll give you music. And I'm like, we already had that. But we're like, we'll make it. You won't have to do this anymore. And that's very bizarre.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, what if that was a joke? Here you go. Uh.

[Jason Sklar]

Oh, I.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, no, it's the. The thing that I had was. IPhone.

[Randy Sklar]

I yell it.

[Jimmy Carr]

You're all aware of this thing? The audience, the phone, secretly listening to our conversations.

[Randy Sklar]

Yes.

[Jimmy Carr]

So you'll be chatting to a friend about the good old days, and then for the next two weeks, you're bombarded with adverts for anal beads and butt plugs.

[Valerie]

Sure.

[Jason Sklar]

Been there. Which, by the way, they sell those at Expectations. They do. They do.

[Randy Sklar]

Oh, is that it?

[Jimmy Carr]

What do you mean, is that it? The big laugh is the clue. It's over. How long you been in this business? Okay, come on, let's.

[Randy Sklar]

I love that you laugh like the dolls in Toy Story 4. That's right, the scary antique dolls.

[Jason Sklar]

That was our joke.

[Jimmy Carr]

Listen, my movie career, I was in gooseb. Toy Story 4. I've done a lot of stuff.

[Randy Sklar]

I don't know. You know, I love roasting. We've done a few roasts together. So you're bringing it out of me. But honestly, I'm thrilled that you're here. And kind of in the spirit of the podcast, one of the things we mentioned we could talk about is, as you called it, the Dao of comedy. I'm very interested.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, I wrote a book in the. In the lockdown. You basically had a choice as a comedian. Our managers came to us when we had Covid and the lockdown and we were locked away for 18 months. Couldn't work. They said, well, you can do a podcast or you could write a book. And I took the dignified decision and I, you know, I'm better than this. I'll do a book. So sure, I wrote a book.

[Jason Sklar]

And so when the podcast failed, you did the book, and so I did the.

[Jimmy Carr]

Can podcast fail?

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah. Wait, was that the title of the.

[Jimmy Carr]

Stay tuned. So I wrote this thing about. It started off as a. As a biography, and then it became like a self help book, basically taking, you know, that's the problem with self help, the problem with Eckhart Tolle and the Power of now is the people that need it don't read it. Because, you know, if you're drawn to that kind of thing and it's very earnest and all the stuff is correct in those books, they're fantastic if you can be bothered to read them, but they don't sweeten the pill. So I thought, well, I'll kind of take some of that stuff that I've read over the years that's really helped me and sort of apply it through comedy to life. Because the basic lesson of every self help book in the world is the same premise. It's prioritized later over now. That's all they say. It's prioritized later over now. And really, I think the journey of every standup comedian is that we spend so much, no one gets there quickly. Everyone's like 10,000 hours, like, learning how to write jokes, learning how to do this, and then suddenly it pops. But we're just always kind of looking at the future. And it's a really interesting kind of, you know, for young comics, whatever. It's just, yeah, write Jokes, that's it.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

So prioritize. It's interesting. I thought you were going to say the opposite, especially after you dropped Eckhart Tolle. Who would say prioritize now over later.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, it's interesting where you find that balance in life is really interesting of like going, do you have as much fun as you possibly can today without totally fucking up tomorrow?

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah, I love that.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's like, it's great. But that thing of like go if you can. You. There's no such thing as a time machine. Right. But that kind of is. But it's time. The time machine is only moving in this direction at this speed. But you can give yourself gifts in the future. You can be, you can have the best stand up show in the world in five years time. You just need to work, you can, you can be thin, you just need to diet and exercise. You can be rich, you just need to save money. It's like, it's that thing of like going, you, you get to meet you in 20 years time. But it's not like you don't just appear like Bill and Ted's. It's just wait around, you're going to be there and who are you going to be? And the idea of kind of saying that like through comedy, I really, I came to it quite late. I was about 26 when I started and I just put so much into it. And I kind of think that's the other great thing that I learned from or that comedy gave me or taught me. It was like finding your edge in life. It might not be comedy, but whatever you do better than anything else, like what's the thing that you do best? And lean into that. Because we live in kind of a specialist economy. Right? We live in a specialist economy. So you don't want someone who's like, school teaches you to be quite good at everything, but then the world doesn't want more C grades in physics. No one needs that. Like find the thing you're good at. Just lean into that and specialize. And that was the thing that kind of comedy told me, which I think is kind of a, it's a transferable lesson.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah. What I find interesting, Well, I feel like we could have applauded. I feel like we should applaud that. That was great.

[Jason Sklar]

So they weren't sure if he was done yet.

[Randy Sklar]

I actually, that's why I was trying to give permission because I was like.

[Valerie]

I want to applaud that.

[Randy Sklar]

But we didn't want to stop you from making another great point.

[Valerie]

Let me Ask you this.

[Randy Sklar]

I find when I talk to people, one of the ways that sometimes I think people might be misguided is they're trying to bend into a specialty. The thing that they're better at anything than anybody else.

[Jimmy Carr]

No, no, not better than anyone else. Right. That's a very important distinction. It's the thing that you do best. You don't have to be world class at anything. It's just. But that thing of like, you just what you enjoy the most. Like the 10,000 hours thing, the thing that Gladwell misses. And I love that book. You've read Outliers, right?

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah. Do you know that it only took him 9,000 hours to write that joke? Apparently.

[Randy Sklar]

Merge into one. We are merge into one.

[Jason Sklar]

Thank you.

[Randy Sklar]

That joke was so good. You. I loved it.

[Jimmy Carr]

But that thing of like, the thing he misses is like what? Like he's sort of. The premise of the book is, well, you do it for 10,000 hours. Look at the Beatles. And they rehearse for that long and then suddenly they're this fabulous band because they come together and comedians all do that. We're all on the road and then it happens after that amount of time. But it's. What could you stand to do for 10,000 hours? That's the interesting question. There's two great journeys on life. The first is finding what you want to do, and the second one is doing it. And tragically, most people get to do neither. They never get to find that thing that they want to do, the quest. But the first thing is finding the quest. And you kind of need to know who you are before you go on, like the superhero movie kind of thing. If you need to know who you are before you go on the quest.

[Jason Sklar]

But you don't put any. That there's a little bit of talent. I think that, like, I think that's the edge.

[Jimmy Carr]

That's the leaning into the thing that you do.

[Jason Sklar]

That is because there's a mixture of the talent that you have and getting enjoyment out of leaning into that talent.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. But the two great myths I believe in our culture are luck and talent, Right? It's.

[Randy Sklar]

It's like the talent luck and the Bible.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, but that thing of like the talent myth is there in our society, right? You go, it's sort of. It's talent and hard work. Sorry. The two myths are talent and hard work. So you look at someone like Michael Jordan, you go, my God, he's so naturally gifted. Right. But I tell you, that guy's nothing without hard work. Absolutely nothing without hard work. And you look at someone like Bill Gates and it's like, oh my God, he worked so hard. He was in the computer lab for 16 hours a day. He worked so hard. You go, that guy's nothing without talent. It's always a mix of the two. It's always that thing of like, you have to.

[Jason Sklar]

I'm going to play devil's advocate because I think Michael Jordan is. Was built in such a way that like his height, his. The way he was.

[Jimmy Carr]

If he hasn't.

[Jason Sklar]

If that guy doesn't height, he doesn't train as hard. He's a. He was so tall. He's an NBA journeyman. He's not the greatest of all time. Like the thing. And I would argue with Michael Jordan, the interesting thing here is he trained so hard and put so much into it that it up the rest of his life. Like he couldn't have friends. He had to like play throw quarters against a wall with a person, with the security guard who wasn't his friend at all to try and steal someone.

[Jimmy Carr]

Someone told me a great story about. This is a real. This has got nothing to do with anything. But you want to hear the story?

[Randy Sklar]

He's in my kitchen.

[Jason Sklar]

This is what we do on podcast.

[Jimmy Carr]

He was at the. He was at the end of my friend's garden. Willie, my friend lives on a golf. Fancy golf course. And Michael Jordan walked by and he was playing with his friends and they were, they were gambling for, I think it was something like $10,000 a hole. 150 for the nine. So there was a lot of money. A lot of money. And they're gambling at that level. And then his friends go, Michael Jordan's friends has been. And he's still there for another day. He's got hours. So he says to the pro golfer, he says, would you want to play? And the guy, the pro golfer goes, yeah, great, I'll play. And he goes, for money. And the pro golfer goes, oh, no, I can't. I can't play for 10,000 a hole. And Michael Jordan goes, no, no, no, it doesn't have to be 10,000 whole. Whatever makes you uncomfortable.

[Jason Sklar]

I will. It's what he said to his wife too. Whatever. Whatever makes you uncomfortable.

[Valerie]

Oh my God.

[Jason Sklar]

But I think what you're saying is that, that we have a range. This is what I think we're all kind of saying is that we all have a range of the outcomes of what our sort of pursuits will become. What will the outcome become. If you put tons of work in with mix of talent, then you can be at this level, within your range, at the top of your range.

[Jimmy Carr]

At its extreme, it's like if you have no aptitude, like you can be anything you want to be in the world. It's total. Why are we telling kids that it does? You know, you'll never be. You guys are not going to be NBA stars. Work as hard as you want. It's never going to happen. It's never going to happen. The. The aptitude plus the work. And then it's that thing of going, think of yourselves like Michael Jordan. Think of yourselves like gamblers and say, well, what's my largest edge? Is about your largest chance of success. What's the thing that you do? Well, I think I've got an angle here. I think I've got the best chance at succeeding at this thing. And then you push yourself into that.

[Randy Sklar]

Can I ask you the question then? What I run into is a lot of people tend to think their thing is something that our culture values. Fame, power, money. Right? But often their thing very well may not be one of those things.

[Jimmy Carr]

You know what I mean? I've got a theory on fame, wealth and power, which is. Fame has replaced heaven. In a secular world. Fame is the land of milk and honey. You think everything's going to be okay when I'm rich and famous. And then, you know, read the papers. Rich and famous people have the same problems, just they don't have the problem with money or they have a different problem with money, but it has replaced.

[Randy Sklar]

You have a dream home and you used to worry about where you would live, then you get a dream home, then you worry it's going to burn down.

[Jimmy Carr]

Sure. And. Or something's going wrong with it. It's the. It's.

[Randy Sklar]

I know a lot of rich people. What's the grain with recycling?

[Jimmy Carr]

Who's the. Who's the. Who's the. It's. David Lee Roth referred to his mansion as a tomb with a view. Oh, I love that.

[Jason Sklar]

Was that before or after he became a paramedic?

[Jimmy Carr]

That was why he became a paramedic. Why he became a paramedic, you know. You aware of the story? David Lee Roth left. He was in rock and roll and he left, retrained, became a paramedic in an all Jewish neighborhood of New York in order to serve.

[Randy Sklar]

Really?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. For two years he was a paramedic, then went back to rock and roll.

[Jason Sklar]

I can't believe the ambulance company replaced him with Sammy Hagar.

[Randy Sklar]

That was.

[Jason Sklar]

Not a cool move. I mean. And then with Gary Cherone from Extreme. That felt extreme. That felt a little.

[Randy Sklar]

This is a day off for old homesy, I'll tell you that right now.

[Jason Sklar]

Sorry, old homesy. I love you.

[Randy Sklar]

Are you kidding me? This is the best day of my life.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, it's interesting, that thing of, like, fame and, like, what you're going for. The. It's that thing of, like, what's success in life and, you know, different people. You know, you can talk about fame and fortune. Obviously, a festival like this is often the thing about Montreal. And just for laughs, the festival we're at is people often talk about, oh, they got a sitcom deal, or they're doing a HBO special or Netflix or whatever. But actually, it's the. It's the process. Right. What's the enjoyable thing about comedy? Well, it's being in a flow state. How often can you be in a flow state? So some people get to do it as their job. Not everyone, but some people, we get to do it as our job. We're in a flow state. We're on stage. It's absolutely the most enjoyable thing in the world to be in a flow state. Some people do it as a hobby. They find a sport that they love, and they play tennis or whatever it is, and they just. They're in that state, and it's so relaxing. And it's important to have that every week. You have to have that in your life.

[Randy Sklar]

Yes.

[Jimmy Carr]

And if you can make that your job, I mean, you'll never work again.

[Randy Sklar]

Well, that's in the movie Happiness, which I. It's a movie I watch every couple years. It's a documentary, and they talk about line cooks get in a flow state, and it's one of the reasons why they enjoy their work. Yeah, but that is. That's kind of. My point is, to the people listening, I just.

[Jimmy Carr]

Those.

[Randy Sklar]

Do you understand what I'm saying? The people that bend and they assume they want to be a movie star when really, maybe they're really in something else.

[Jimmy Carr]

The problem with being a comedian at this festival, and look around, people get to be a comedian, and then they try and do other shit. And I think they're crazy. They have the best job in the world, and they go, yeah, but now I'm gonna be in a sitcom. You should have been an actor then if you want to be an actor.

[Randy Sklar]

Here, here, here.

[Jason Sklar]

Hang on a second. Don't. Pete's a good actor. Pete.

[Jimmy Carr]

I know what you mean. Pete is a good actor because he pretended not to be hurt by that.

[Randy Sklar]

That's right. No.

[Jason Sklar]

And he's Pretending to be interested in what you're saying so much. No, I'm kidding. Pete says Pete's such a good actor. In one movie, he played like he was 5 foot 8. That's just great acting. You know? It is. The other night, we were supposed to do Pete Holmes and Friends, and there was a fire at the Monument Theater, and so they had to bring all the Canadian new faces over and canceled our show. That. Our show with Pete that we were going to be on with Pete. We came there, we were so excited to do it, and all these Canadian new faces. Pete hosted that show, which was great. And to talk about the love of comedy, Jay and I just sat next to the stage while Pete did his set. Instead of just going back and fucking off back to the hotel, we sat and wrote, like, tags of jokes. Yeah, for Pete. For Pete. Just every time he came off stage, we pitched him tags on his jokes.

[Randy Sklar]

It was amazing.

[Jason Sklar]

And we should have left. Like, we should have been gone. But I was thinking that's.

[Jimmy Carr]

I was thinking that's a really good test of, like, when, you know the festival and there's, you know, new faces and new comics that you haven't met before, and the festival's been going a couple of days, and you ask them what they've seen, and if they tell you they haven't seen anything, they're not gonna make it. You know, it's that thing. If they've gone out and they've seen a bunch of shows and they're into comedy because they love it, great. Yeah. If they love it, they'll be fine. Because that Dean is gonna be hard years. But if you love it, who cares?

[Jason Sklar]

That's absolutely right. The moment when you're at your comfortable house and you have a set that you're gonna go to and you just don't, there's a feeling inside of you going, I don't want to do this set. But you go. And you know that something special might happen on stage. You might go backstage and hang out with people that you love and have those moments of true joy.

[Jimmy Carr]

Here's the problem.

[Jason Sklar]

It's all about.

[Jimmy Carr]

Here's the problem with comedy. For me, certainly, it's. Work is more fun than fun. You go to work, you go, this is. This is unbelievable. And then you go out for dinner with friends and go, ah, I don't know.

[Jason Sklar]

It's because you're.

[Jimmy Carr]

I don't know.

[Valerie]

I guess Hugh Grant Valen.

[Jimmy Carr]

I guess. You're nice.

[Randy Sklar]

But Valerie and I just had that. I did a set at the improv. And then we went to a party. And I'm only mentioning this because it makes the story better. It was. The cast of Ted Lasso was at this party, and I couldn't wait to leave. I was like, I've already done my cocaine. May I leave my stage?

[Jimmy Carr]

Cocaine. Wow, that's. That's the title of the tell all biography that comes out.

[Jason Sklar]

I've already done my cocaine.

[Randy Sklar]

I've already done my cocaine.

[Valerie]

That's my memoir. At the End of Life.

[Randy Sklar]

I Already did my cocaine.

[Valerie]

Montel Williams is Montel Jordan.

[Jason Sklar]

This is how we do it.

[Randy Sklar]

And his. His memoir will be called that Was How I did.

[Jason Sklar]

That was also. I'm not Montel Williams. That's the.

[Randy Sklar]

No, not Montel Williams. Let me ask you this. Backstage, you said something interesting. We were talking about jokes, and you said, don't you sometimes feel like the joke already existed?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, I sometimes get that when you're writing a joke and it feels like that. The old stories about Leonardo da Vinci was asked about his.

[Randy Sklar]

Was he in your kitchen?

[Jimmy Carr]

He was not in my kitchen. But it was the famous story about him being asked about, you know, David, how did you do that? And he just said, I just chipped away everything that wasn't David.

[Randy Sklar]

As like, David, could I have had a bigger dick? Could you have left some of that marble? Are you certain that's not David? I'm gonna be standing nude for millions to see. Could you leave a little bit more? That is dav. Hot riff.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

I mean, if you've got to say hot riff.

[Jason Sklar]

No, he did.

[Jimmy Carr]

He said it.

[Randy Sklar]

But. I love that. But you've had the.

[Jimmy Carr]

But I think that joke thing of, like, sometimes you just go, I can't believe no one seemed. He was right there. Certainly with, you know, some of the wordplay. I mean, mine is kind of a mix of. There's some observational stuff and there's quite a lot of wordplay, and it's layering up stuff. So when you're. When you're writing a show, you're. You have the bare bones of the joke. The discipline of, like, trying new jokes all the time. And then there's kind of a routine that's about something, and then you're kind of. You're layering points with one liners over the top. Because, Joe, writing is quite a rare skill. There's not many people that can write an hour jokes that people want to watch. And you go, I want to lean into that and deliver. I like the frequency of comedy as well. I like that Idea that it's just. It should be sort of. You know, some of that phrase, laugh a minute. You go, gee, I wouldn't make a living. I laugh. You want. You want three laughs a minute? You want that kind of. You want the audience to kind of get a bit giddy because ultimately what we are is drug dealers.

[Jason Sklar]

Yes.

[Jimmy Carr]

We're dealing.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

We're dealing in dopamine, endorphins. The genius of it will never. They'll never take us alive is because the drugs are already on the audience and we're just tickling them out.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right. I mean, but also, I would argue that you're set. In addition to all of that, underneath all of that is your perspective, is Jimmy Carr's perspective on all, like, tied together. Ties the whole thing together. So, I mean, what.

[Jimmy Carr]

I don't know. I mean, I never say what I think on stage, but I'm not that kind. But it's. I think comedians leak.

[Jason Sklar]

It's.

[Jimmy Carr]

My big theory on comedians is we leak. So I do an hour of jokes, and they're about the worst things in the world.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

They're brutal. And then somehow people have a sense. Oh, yeah, this guy's probably. Probably slightly on the left and pretty liberal. It's weird how people know who. You get a sense of the comedian. Yeah, I mean, the other. The other big. My big theory on comedians is. Big theory on comedians.

[Jason Sklar]

I can't wait here.

[Jimmy Carr]

Okay, you. If you meet a comedian, if you're hanging out with a comedian, ask them which one of their parents was sick. Most comedians I know had to take care of a sick parent, either mentally or physically. They had. One of their parents was sick and their job in the household was vibes, and they had to make things okay. And then they lent into that. And I think that.

[Jason Sklar]

Pete, is that not true to you? Pete?

[Randy Sklar]

I just turned up a face I was genuinely making for laughs. But, yeah, that's. That's fucking right on. You're like, Anthony Jeselnik became Dr. Phil.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's an interesting conversation because I think, you know, the festival or whatever, when you meet comics, it's like, you could do small talk. Oh, you see any good shows, whatever, get into it straight away. One of your parents was sick?

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah. I'm not trying to, like. It's not a gotcha moment. Did you. Was that your experience?

[Jimmy Carr]

My mother was very depressed, I think, my whole life, and I. You didn't. You don't realize as a kid because you grow up in that household and you think it's Normal to just be in your dressing gown all day. And she was incred. She self medicated with humor. She was incredibly funny and depressed. And it was. It was a wonderful. She was a wonderful person to be around. She didn't like. It wasn't like a dark atmosphere, but she was clearly suffering with it. And it was a. It was a she. She's kind of the reason I do this. I think in terms of. You're kind of inspired by that. The magnetism. I always make like a distinction with comics as well. My other kind of theory is there's two types of comedians. There's charming and charismatic. And the words have become conflated in our world. Right? Charming, charismatic, the same. I don't think it is the same. I think it's vastly different. So if you think about Obama, right? President Obama is hilarious.

[Jason Sklar]

He is hilarious. I mean, go ahead. Have you seen his mom jeans? All the way up to the. All the way up with plates.

[Randy Sklar]

I can't wait to find out if he's charming or charismatic.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, well, he's incredibly charming. So he's head to the side.

[Randy Sklar]

I'm a bit charming, not so much.

[Jimmy Carr]

But it's charismatic. Here's how it. The distinction would be. I. I come to you. That's charm. I come to you. You want to say yes to him before he's asked the fucking question. It's charm. Trump chomp is charisma. You know, forget whether you like him or don't like him. You don't like him, but let's be clear. But that, but he's. He's charisma. You come to me. If you think about Jennifer Aniston. Charm personified. Angelina Jolie, charismatic. One isn't better than the other. They both get to fuck Brad Pitt.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Jimmy Carr]

But.

[Jason Sklar]

Yep.

[Jimmy Carr]

But they're very different skills. And I think, I think that partly the thing of like the other thing that comedy gave to me was you have to know who you are in order to kind of. To make good on it. You know, whether you're charming or charismatic, you have to know that. Know what? You're working with Pete.

[Jason Sklar]

They both get to fuck Brad Pitt, but only one of them gets to drink his blood.

[Jimmy Carr]

Jolie.

[Jason Sklar]

Oh, no, I was gonna say Aniston.

[Randy Sklar]

But that's what's in smart water.

[Jason Sklar]

I don't know. Let's not so true that the charisma.

[Randy Sklar]

The charisma.

[Jason Sklar]

Charisma versus charm. I think that is.

[Randy Sklar]

I don't know which I am what charm by.

[Jimmy Carr]

I mean. Jesus Christ. How could you not see that? Well, I mean, you're literally your charm personified. Incredibly charming. It's like. It's almost like a superpower. You've just got this ability to kind of. People feel very, very comfortable. And you're. The warmth that you project when you do comedy is. It's extraordinary. And in the sitcom, the whole thing, it's just. It's. I'm. Right, right.

[Randy Sklar]

It's very. Well, I do.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's lovely. Whereas I.

[Randy Sklar]

Yes. Which are.

[Jimmy Carr]

You barely have a human heart. No, I'm charismatic. It's a different. It's a different thing, but it's interesting. Like, going one isn't better than the other. It's. It's. We're washing the same side of it. We're washing different sides of the same elephant.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah. I would say you're a cigarette marketed towards ladies personified after. You were so nice.

[Jason Sklar]

Yes. So, Pete, where are you going?

[Randy Sklar]

I don't know.

[Jason Sklar]

Where's he going?

[Randy Sklar]

I don't know.

[Jason Sklar]

He just got taller. He went up on the chair to get taller.

[Jimmy Carr]

A few. Just give me a second. I'd just like to say a couple of words about menthol Slims.

[Randy Sklar]

Look, I. It was so nice and so sincere. I just know that that's. That. I hope that's your love language. We. You and I worked on roast jokes all the time. I don't want to not get to it. So can we jump a little bit to God? I know you're an atheist or her atheist.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, I think. I think I'm an atheist, but I think it's that thing of. I think, always think the most interesting question in life is, what was the last thing you changed your mind about? That's my favorite question to ask someone. And if they go, nothing, you just. Okay, well, you've not been thinking. You've just been rearranging your prejudices. You should change your mind about something very important every year. And I am an atheist, but I think the spiritual side and what those stories give us, I think has got tremendous benefits. There's something in myth and legend that's incredibly important. And, you know, why do those stories survive? Why do the. That. Why Those stories, like 2,000 years old, 3,000 years old stories, and they. They resonate with us. And so it's almost kind of leaning. I'm not a religious man, but, like, when you look at the Jungian archetypes and you look at those. Those things that just remain in society, I think that's very powerful.

[Randy Sklar]

Yes, I. I was. I Wanted to share, but.

[Jimmy Carr]

But it's. It's. Sorry, on that. On the religious thing, I think. What do you think about all the time? What do you think about all. What do you wake up thinking about? What do you think about all day? What do you check your phone for all the time? That's your God.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah. Richard Roy says, follow the money. What do you spend your money on, too? Is another great way to see what you actually give a shit about.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, that's interesting. That's an interesting. I mean, I always think that's. Yeah, it's a. It's interesting. It's like, where do you actually spend your time? What are you really thinking about?

[Randy Sklar]

That's the other one. He says, time.

[Jimmy Carr]

Time. Much more than money.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

I think time is the only thing I would.

[Randy Sklar]

I would agree with that. And honestly, I hope that's true because I spend a lot more time trying to delight people than I do giving them money.

[Jimmy Carr]

Right, right.

[Randy Sklar]

I'm not saying I don't give people money, but I do this a lot and I hope this is of service in some way.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, I think. I think it is. I think it's a. It's a nice thing, but it's interesting, like, where you choose to spend that time. Like, all we have is, you know, that the terrifying truth is the world is a thing that we make, and we could just as easily make it a different way and that, you know, that's the world, but also our individual lives. You know, people are constantly saying. Especially, like over breakfast today, we were chatting about the state of the world and how terrible it is, and you can only brunch.

[Jason Sklar]

Sorry, that's right. It's.

[Jimmy Carr]

How tall are you?

[Jason Sklar]

Get it exactly right. Get it exactly right, please.

[Jimmy Carr]

But that thing of, like, just taking responsibility for your bit of it seems to be a very worthwhile thing of, like, just going, well, I'll just control. I can control this bit and make it better.

[Randy Sklar]

That's that. I'm obsessed with a teacher named Rupert Spira, who's British, and you should know.

[Jason Sklar]

Him and he should be in your kitchen.

[Randy Sklar]

He says. He said when he was seven years old, he said when he was seven years old, he said to his parents, I think this is God's dream, and it's our job to make it as nice of a dream as possible. Whether or not you believe in that literally being true, I think that's sort of what you're getting at. Like, we can change it. We can make it however we want it to be.

[Jimmy Carr]

You know, the John Lennon Story.

[Randy Sklar]

Tell me.

[Jimmy Carr]

John Lennon, when he was. I think he was seven, he was in school, and they said, what do you want to be when you grow up? And John Lennon said, happy. And the teacher said, I don't think you understand the question. The. The question. And John Lennon said, I don't think you do.

[Randy Sklar]

Wow. That's incredible.

[Jason Sklar]

That's so. So I'm gonna tell you a tiny.

[Jimmy Carr]

Story about my son, about Ringo Star.

[Jason Sklar]

So it's about how you choose to define. You're talking about how you define something. So my son, in a very funny way the other day, said. We drove by a restaurant and he said, oh, I have so much nostalgia for that place. And I was like, the place we ate at last week. I said, I don't think you understand what nostalgia means. And he looked at me and he said, remember when you said that? He did, he did. Which I thought was funny, but then I was like, oh, wait, why am I telling him what nostalgia is? Why am I trying to define for this person what this ethereal concept that we really can't touch is?

[Jimmy Carr]

Here's what I think. I think happiness is expectations exceeded.

[Jason Sklar]

Did you say expectations? You did.

[Jimmy Carr]

We have a winner.

[Jason Sklar]

I heard that. I heard that. No, but you're right.

[Jimmy Carr]

But I think it's that thing of, like, why is New Year's terrible? Right? New Year's is terrible always. Well, because the expectation is this is going to be the best night of the year. It's going to be huge. And there's just a night out. And if you go out on a Tuesday and you have drinks with people from work and you end up at the club, it's like, this night is incredible. Birthdays. I feel the same about birthdays. Often the pressure, it's just too much.

[Randy Sklar]

I feel the same about comedy. I don't want the fanfare. I don't want to be brought up as the greatest, all that stuff. It's like, actually, let's go in being like, let's see how this goes. Instead of, I don't want to do New Year's Eve comedy. Literally and metaphorically.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

Well, tell me. When I. When we talked briefly in the lobby about atheism, you said, I'm interested in science. And then you said, can I load you even more? You said, what is science studying? And we had a nice little bond where I was like, we're having the exact same conversation.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, I think some people sort of, you know, if they say they're an atheist, they'll say, I believe in science. And you you sort of go, your next question should always be what's an isotope? Because that's gonna, they're gonna go, okay, I guess I'm going on faith as well.

[Jason Sklar]

Yes.

[Jimmy Carr]

And the illusion that there isn't any faith involved in science is slightly. Because even, even a scientist is not a specialist in all science. So you go, okay, so there's, there's observable fact and we're following that. And it's, but there's, there's kind of a, there's a mystery to it as well. Physics at a very high level. There's a mystery and there's a magic and a wonder. And I think I get the same kind of, of wonder that I used to get from religion. I was raised Catholic. I get that same kind of wonder. But you'll, you know, if you watch like Brian Cox is this incredible astrophysicist in the uk, you watch one of those documentaries about the solar system and you think, wow, it's incredible.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah, it's, it's fascinating. Let me try and remember what I was just going to say because I was listening so hard I dropped it.

[Jimmy Carr]

We'll take a minute. This is a pause point. Well now, why don't we do an advert for Foursquare? That's normally what happens on a podcast. Sure, that feels appropriate.

[Valerie]

What's happening? Weirdos? Lately I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks. I'm about to have Father Greg Boyle on the podcast. I've been listening to his incredible book Tattoos on the Heart and it has been great. One reason it's been great is because I use my Raycon wireless earbuds to do it. You heard Raycon's everyday earbuds look, feel and sound better than ever with optimized gel Tips for the perfect in ear fit. These earbuds are so comfortable and they will not budge even on the treadmill. These guys stay in place, trust me. Raycon gives you 8 hours of playtime and a 32 hour hour battery life. Raycons are also priced just right. You get high quality audio at half the price of other premium audio brands. Blands audio brands. It's no wonder Raycon's everyday earbuds have over 50,000 five star reviews. They have three customizable sound profiles, earbud tap functionality functions. I guess I could just say noise isolation and awareness mode. So go to buyraycon.com weirdo note that it's not weird, it's weirdo. Buyraycon.com weirdo today to get 15% off your Raycon order, that's buyraycon.com weirddo to score 15% off, buy R-A-Y-C-O-N.com weirdo and show your support of the show. It's also brought to us this episode by our friends at dad Grass. This has to be the Pete's pick that I enjoyed, I'm gonna say 10 times more than I even thought that I would. These are bringing back dad Grass. You probably see them in some of the cooler shops around the neighborhood. If you're like me, it's bringing back the chill casual smoke and I'm loving it. Chill out all summer long with dad Grass because it's too nice to be couch locked. They'll mellow you out while keeping your head clear and ease away the stress of the day. Dad Grass is legal organic hemp that relaxes your body and mellows your mind. Dad Grass CBD products are made with 100% organic hemp that's easy to dose and the effects come on smooth. They offer a variety of products and their token from their token smokeable pre rolled joints. That's what I have as well as their hemp flower and variety of CBD tincture drops which I also have and love. This means you can enjoy the effects of CBD while keeping a clear head. And I don't know, I'm not big into different things that people are doing at parties, but I love bringing my pack of dad Grass to a party. It keeps me clear while melting away stress and also frankly gives me something to do at the party with my hands.

[Jimmy Carr]

Like.

[Valerie]

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[Randy Sklar]

What are we studying?

[Jason Sklar]

Let me. So I. My wife's brother is a worked at the, at the cern, which would have a huge particle accelerator in some in Geneva that tried to recreate the conditions of the world before the big bang and smash particles together to figure out there was an equal amount of matter and antimatter in the world. And now there is no anti matter. Where did it go? And that was the experiment they were trying to do. But it's a very scientific experiment. You're smashing particles around a two mile loop underground. But there is all this mystery. Like they don't.

[Valerie]

Well, I was thinking what I was going to say.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, we talked about, we talked about, we talked about the big. I think this may be. I don't know if it's anti matter, but it's anti material.

[Jason Sklar]

Thank you.

[Randy Sklar]

I was gonna say the worldview of there are no miracles is predicated on one pretty big fucking miracle. That's what I wanted to say.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, people are very interested in the Big Bang. You know, the Big Bang was originally a negative term.

[Randy Sklar]

What do you mean?

[Jimmy Carr]

It was someone else, someone came up with a theory of the Big Bang and it was called, like the origination theory or the event theory. And another scientist who didn't like it called it the Big Bang Theory because he was trying to dumb down the idea going, the Big Bang theory, you know, for fucking idiots. And. And it was, you know, so that. That became popular. I'm not really interested in the Big Bang. I'm interested in four minutes before that, what was going on.

[Randy Sklar]

Right.

[Jimmy Carr]

A minute before that, what was happening is a really interesting like. And no one seems to have much of a view. I was. I mean, it's. It's weird. You can kind of understand these things. I get glimpses of physics when someone explains it to me. I can kind of. I grasp it for a second and then it just. It's like quicksilver.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

I remember I went to a lecture. Stephen Hawking was at my college and he gave a lecture on time travel. And I got it and I. I was like. Afterwards, I was so excited and I was chatting to my friend Henry and I went, ah, gone.

[Jason Sklar]

Like gone.

[Randy Sklar]

If only you go back in time.

[Jimmy Carr]

To when you understood it.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

I think that's brilliant. I want to. This is something I've said on the podcast before, but talk to about an isotope and working on faith. I also say that nothing doesn't exist going back to the Big Bang theory.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

Either something. God, a word for something we don't understand and can't photograph and can't touch and can't see. That either God erupted, that word, that placeholder, erupted in the bang. Bang. Or it was nothing. And I'm like. But nothing doesn't exist. We don't have any nothing. We have empty space, but it's filled with the same everything that you are.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. I mean, the extraordinary thing is it's mostly nothing but that you think about what an atom is. It's mostly nothing.

[Randy Sklar]

That's right.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. I've seen a couple of acts like that.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah. Are you. Why are you looking at us? That's such a weird. Look over, say that and look at both of us. He looked right through us. Because there's nothing there.

[Randy Sklar]

But Dead over what?

[Jimmy Carr]

Sorry?

[Randy Sklar]

When you die, it's just completely over. Are you open?

[Jimmy Carr]

I like to say I often do this thing I do a lot, weirdly. I'm quite drawn to grief as a thing. I've had friends die. My mother died. And I think you die twice. You die when you die, and you die again the last time someone says your name. I like talking to people about their dead relatives and that thing of going, I think you do live on, but. But it's what you bring. Children are a message we send to a future we shall not see. That's it, right? That's why people have kids, because it's an existential crisis. And they go, well, I'm just gonna. I'll take care of this one. And that'll go forward.

[Randy Sklar]

Rupert Spira said the same thing about if they're again using God as a placeholder, like, why will the universe. It's in the same way, why have a baby? It's just. It's a loving impulse. It wasn't as calculated necessarily as like, oh, I'll be this and they'll do that. It's more like out of love. This willed itself.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. I mean, it's interesting that for 2,000 years, for the whole of time, every song, every piece of art was about God. And what, 50 years ago, we switched it up and we said, every song is going to be about love. And are we talking about the same thing? And that seems to be fairly. I mean, you know, every rock and roll song is now is about love. And whether it's romantic love or love or whatever, it seems that they're sort of talking about the same thing. I think being very open to other people doing their thing. I mean, I think most, most, most comics quite libertarian in their, like, oh, you're Muslim, you're Hindu, great, whatever. Great. Do you think?

[Randy Sklar]

Well, I was just going to jump in. You said the same thing, love. And I'm getting this from Richard Rohr, but love doesn't just mean a good feeling. Love is this almost excessively liberal. Yes. It's the backdrop upon which all of this is written. The horrors and the joy and the beauty and the loss and the grief and the suffering and the pain. We don't even like it really, but it's so spacious. We won't be able to hold it in our minds, but we can become it. You can quiet down yourself enough and actually be that. Yes. But it doesn't just mean a good feeling. And I love your comment.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, I think the verb not a noun is the kind of simplistic view. I like that, you know, it's a. Love is a verb, not a noun. I think it's a. I think it's a massive attack lyric also, so.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right.

[Randy Sklar]

I would say God is a verb as well. It's the forward undulation of everything.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

I mean, yeah, I think it's acceptable.

[Jason Sklar]

You talk.

[Jimmy Carr]

I thought it was a comedy podcast.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah, no Dick and balls. Wait, wait, wait. All of our phones are listening. So dildos, but only dildos.

[Valerie]

Big, big, thick butt.

[Randy Sklar]

Only dildos. Enjoy those ads for the next week on your Instagram when buttonlydildos.com reaches out. How can you specify it's butt only? You just.

[Jimmy Carr]

I just. Just a simple labeling system is really the way to go. Oh, is that a rhetorical question? I'm sorry.

[Randy Sklar]

No. It's like having a kosher kitchen. These we clean over here. These we clean over here. Thank you. The shoes. I don't know what's happening here.

[Jason Sklar]

Well, it's the same with the dildos. One goes milk and one goes for me. All right.

[Randy Sklar]

Well. You have children?

[Jimmy Carr]

I got. Yeah, I got children.

[Randy Sklar]

Can I just ask you to refresh something? We had a very interesting conversation at breakfast. Something that I think about a lot.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

Is this.

[Randy Sklar]

By the way, when we were talking about nostalgia, I was like, one of.

[Valerie]

The keys to happiness is having nostalgia for the present.

[Jimmy Carr]

Oh, do you remember. Do you remember when he said, Yeah, I do. You were so tall. How tall is this guy? Like three times in the lobby.

[Jason Sklar]

It's a great moment. Yeah.

[Valerie]

To appreciate.

[Jason Sklar]

I never forget.

[Jimmy Carr]

I don't know if nostalgia is what it used to be.

[Jason Sklar]

You long for the days when it.

[Jimmy Carr]

I used to like it more.

[Jason Sklar]

That's right. And you long for those days.

[Randy Sklar]

Would you reheat just for these wonderful people and the people listening? A little bit. We were talking about. You're optimistic. A little bit. And I like hope.

[Jimmy Carr]

And I am optimistic. We were chatting about. We were chatting about Steven Pinker's book Enlightenment now, which is a fabulous book by a polymath and linguist about how, by any metric you choose, the world is a better place now than it was 50 years ago, 20 years ago, 10 years ago now. This book was written four years ago, and.

[Jason Sklar]

That'S not so good.

[Jimmy Carr]

That's a point P made, not. Not so great just recently. But things. But things are. You know, things are kind of getting better, and it's. It's. It's difficult. It's a difficult point to make because I think a Lot of people, well, immediately that puts their back up and they go, well, you don't know what struggle we're going through right now. And there's so many struggles going on, but the world is, it's in better shape than it was.

[Randy Sklar]

He's at a high altitude. He's talking about the planet.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, he's talking about the planet. And I think we all have, you know, we're all concerned for so many different things going on at the same time. But you go, it's getting better. We're moving in the right direction. And there will be gay marriage in Saudi Arabia. Now, we probably won't live to see it, but we're moving on a trajectory where there's more liberty and freedom and goodness. Humanity seems to be getting better. And I believe that we'll move in that direction. Yeah, that things will get better.

[Randy Sklar]

And I know you're not a scientist because neither of us know what an isotope is, but what did you hear about the. I overheard you say, I really wanted to jump in, but I was talking to Laura. You said, I think the environment will figure it out. And I just was like, what? I like this.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, I hope so. I mean there's, there's a lot of, I mean, I don't know, I mean a lot of people would say, well, you're being crazy. And we, people don't seem to want to stop consuming, so. But, and yet we care about the environment, want things to be better. So for me it's the, you know, I'm a big advocate for nuclear. I'm a big advocate for, I mean that's a 20 year solution. Even if we push the button on it today, it would take so long and believe me, I'm not in charge. But that strikes me as a, as an incredible, like the technology solution. I sort of believe in that there's enough there. And we, you know, we came across that technology really by accident. Really. I mean there's, there's, huh.

[Valerie]

Nuclear.

[Jimmy Carr]

Nuclear, Yeah. I mean that wouldn't really have happened unless Archduke Franz Ferdinand had been shot.

[Randy Sklar]

I love that.

[Jimmy Carr]

Perfect. But I'm quite, I'm quite like it. I'm like, I, I'm fairly, I try and be. I think the other thing is like my other kind of thing in life. I think disposition is more important than position. Right. That's, that's a pretty good rule for life. How you are, your, your base state is more important than where you are. And doing comedy puts you in a place like the gift that comedy gives you is like you're looking through rose tinted glasses. You're looking at everything for the funny side, for the joke. And it's a very. And why are people drawn to your podcast to go in to see comedy shows, to watching Netflix specials, to coming out to shows. They want to feel happy and light and up and come. Like, comedy is kind of. And. And how do you change your disposition? Like, is your disposition solid state? Are you born a certain way and I guess I'm just a miserable person? Or can you change that now? If you can't change it just, I guess we'd all give up. It is what it is. I think you can change your disposition slowly over time. It's either you change that or you change the world. Much easier to change your disposition.

[Randy Sklar]

That's interesting. I actually think that's another thing. And I'd love to hear you talk about this that you offer as a performer. You talked about, we write jokes, we're drug dealers. But I think there's a solidarity thing too. When I see you delighting in your shadow and sharing it and being naughty, right. I go, well, fuck, man. I had like five thoughts this morning. We don't control what's going on up here and things come out. And when I see you being cheeky or whatever, being a rascal, I feel less alone, wouldn't you say? I mean, that's what we're doing up here.

[Jason Sklar]

We're going.

[Randy Sklar]

We don't know what's going on. I'm afraid of the world ending and we're together. I always say this, but like the end of Avatar, we're all. We're bodies in a room, or you're listening in your car or whatever it is, and you go like, it's not just me. I can't say that.

[Jimmy Carr]

But I think that's the. We were chatting about the two books that I love and I can't remember the authors, but there's a book called Tribe.

[Randy Sklar]

Yep.

[Jimmy Carr]

And there's a book called Selfie. And if you read them sort of together that, I mean, it's absolutely sort of fantastic. But we were for the longest time in tribes. We would live with between 60 and 80 people and that would. Those would be our people for the longest time. That's how humans were. And now we're a little bit disconnected. And the reason why a podcast popular? Well, because it's conversation. We're gathered around the fire, we're talking and it's. Why do you come out to a comedy show and laugh together? Well, it's a social thing. You're 30 times more likely to laugh at a comedy show when you come and see it live than when you watch it on a screen. Apologize to Netflix if they're listening. I still want to deal. But you are. You're much more likely to. It's a social noise. You know, if you're listening to this in your car, you know, you're probably not laughing along with the audience that are in the room. You know, we're getting quite a few laughs in the room, but you're probably just listening to the podcast again. That's good. It's a funny point. But you're not laughing. It's a social thing that we do. We don't consciously think, I'm gonna laugh so that other people know that I got the joke. It's. It's just. It's subconscious.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

And it's a. And you release the endorphins, and it feels wonderful. And connecting to other people, that's the.

[Jason Sklar]

It's one of the few things that are left that feels like it's the group. The group mentality. The group all does this and functions as, like. The audience is like a giant amoeba in many ways. And it functions. You get on stage and you sort of assess as comedians. All right, what are we working with here?

[Jimmy Carr]

But after. After, like, especially after Covid, after two years of being locked down and people coming out to shows and you go, your life is a screen now. You wake up and check your phone, and then you're sat nav on the way to work, and then you sit in front of a computer, and then when you get home, you go, I gotta relax. I'll look at a screen. Yeah, it's screen, screen, screen, screen. So you want to go out and feel like you're. It's nice to be in a crowd. It's nice to go, I like sitting in a comedy show and watching with the other people.

[Randy Sklar]

It's like you were sort of saying that. It almost explains why fame is so alluring. Do you remember saying that?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. Would you explain what the.

[Randy Sklar]

The idea of tribe. It's more normal to be famous. What's strange?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, that's my. My theory would be being famous is the. Is the normal way to be being famous. It's like. It's like being living in a village, being famous internationally. It's like living in a village, but you've got Alzheimer's.

[Randy Sklar]

Did you have to point out that I am not famous in London? Yeah, Internationally.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

Hold on, Pete.

[Jason Sklar]

You wouldn't understand this.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yes, but that, that thing of, like, let's just say that that thing of being. Being. Being recognized is the normal thing. Seeing a stranger would be the unusual thing. For the longest time and now we've just, we've kind of, we've said, oh, the norm is just walk down the street and you don't know anyone. And that kind of isn't the norm. It's a, It's a strange kind of trick that we played on ourselves. But we're meant to be in groups and that's why you feel so comfortable with, with other people around.

[Randy Sklar]

I think that's brilliant. I. David Letterman said it in his Charlie Rose interview where he said, being famous turns it into a small town. And I was like, that's. That is what I enjoy about it. I'm an anxious person. I can, I can be afraid. I can be socially awkward. But when you go in and somebody comes up, like at this fest, it's happening constantly. How tall are you?

[Jason Sklar]

How tall are you?

[Randy Sklar]

I actually wasn't doing a joke, but.

[Valerie]

Like, why even having you guys here.

[Randy Sklar]

And feeling very safe in my. I know lizard brain is overused, but in my lizard brain, I'm like, I'm safe. You're smiling, you're looking at me. You also know you're safe.

[Valerie]

I would add to your thing about amoeba. I'm in the amoeba too.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah, we are part of it.

[Valerie]

Not all performers do that, though.

[Randy Sklar]

Some performers go like, I refuse to enter the amoeba. But some go like, let's all.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, here's, here's the thing. Charm and charisma.

[Jason Sklar]

Yeah, yeah. Interest, bring the amoeba to me. Jimmy Carr says, yeah, or. But I, But I actually wasn't saying.

[Randy Sklar]

You don't get in the amoeba. But that's very interesting.

[Jason Sklar]

I believe if you. For the agnostic or someone who doesn't believe in God. I always find those moments where a collective does something together. One of those inexplicable, divine moments. So a room full of laughter, a moment where everyone's like in a store, you know the moment.

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, not to. Not to make Pete feel insecure, insignificant, less successful. But when you. But when you bear with me, when you tour the world as I do.

[Jason Sklar]

If you do tell us about that.

[Jimmy Carr]

No, but. No, I just, I think, No, I just saying this because I think people find it interesting when you do like 40 plus countries globally, that is, you.

[Randy Sklar]

Do the interesting show in Rhode island once.

[Jimmy Carr]

The thing you notice is like, it's incredible how people are the same it makes you really believe in humanity because you could do like a tiny show, 50 people or 10,000 people, and they laugh at the same points for the same length of time. You could do a show in Iceland, in South Africa, Melbourne, Australia, Tokyo, wherever you want to go in the world, people are the same. It's extraordinary how we're the same. And it makes you kind of go, oh, this is. Maybe things will be okay no matter.

[Randy Sklar]

Where you go, Jimmy. Some of the audience will just be heads in your freezer. That's just a good feeling. Big swing.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Jason Sklar]

Hot take.

[Jimmy Carr]

It's like we have the DVD commentary on.

[Randy Sklar]

And with the subtitles on. You just said, I love you, Pete. Thanks for having me.

[Jimmy Carr]

Just with a look.

[Randy Sklar]

I know.

[Jimmy Carr]

Let me.

[Randy Sklar]

Let me. We will wrap up because I feel you're a brilliant guest and I love. This was great. I didn't feel like it was short at all. Yeah. Let's ask just a couple more. They can be as long or as short as you'd like, but these are the questions I like to ask. Anything in your life ever happened that you can't explain, that's sort of an umbrella for like things like a UFO or a ghost or a psychic. Knew the name of your dog when you were 8 or anything like that. The weird stuff.

[Jimmy Carr]

I would. Honestly, I have a recurring. I don't know whether you would say it's a psychological issue, but I slightly. I feel like I may have had some kind of accident when I'm 20. When I was 26, and I'm in a hospital bed and there's a TV on in the corner. And I think the people on the TV are my friends because I feel like I'm sort of living in a weird dream world where I get to travel the world doing comedy and I'm around all these funny people all the time and I'm on stage in front of thousands and it feels like. It feels unbelievable to me.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah. That you feel like your life is so surreal.

[Jimmy Carr]

That really, like, is this, like. Is it a Twilight Zone? Is this real? Am I going to wake up? Yeah, it's. It's great. I mean, it's great. I'm incredibly. I try that kind of gratitude thing. I try and just center that. Try and be as grateful as you can or that it just makes life better, just being grateful. But also I'm an incredibly privileged guy. Such a privileged life. Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

That's beautiful. I love that. What about. Have you ever almost died?

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

Would you care?

[Jimmy Carr]

Would I care if I died?

[Randy Sklar]

No. Would you Care to.

[Jimmy Carr]

Feels like. Feels like you were saying we wouldn't care, but would you care? We could do this right now.

[Jason Sklar]

That would only be the first time he died. The last time would be the last time we say his name.

[Jimmy Carr]

So I got. It doesn't. The problem with the story is it doesn't sound real. I could tell the story, but it doesn't sound real. I was in Key west once, and we were swimming on the reef and we got. Myself and my friend Henry, and we got chased by a shark, and I nearly got eaten by a shark.

[Randy Sklar]

But I'm gonna need more. When did you first see the shark? And it's Henry Winkler. We all know, but like you're. You're with Henry Winkler, Hank. And he goes, hey, I think there's a shark over here.

[Jason Sklar]

That's. No, that's when he jumped it. And we have to go to a gala.

[Randy Sklar]

Get out of here.

[Jason Sklar]

Give it up for the Sklar brothers. We gotta go to a gala.

[Randy Sklar]

Jimmy and I are gonna finish.

[Jason Sklar]

Thank you.

[Randy Sklar]

Love you, James.

[Jason Sklar]

Love you guys.

[Jimmy Carr]

Love you, Rand.

[Jason Sklar]

Bye.

[Randy Sklar]

Bye.

[Jimmy Carr]

I gotta say.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

The thing I love about your podcast is you invite two members of the audience up on stage and everybody. No, it's. It really is.

[Randy Sklar]

Well, really, it's the same member twice. But yeah.

[Jimmy Carr]

They walked out the wrong door. They're so committed to comedy. They fucked that up. Those guys couldn't even leave. Correct.

[Randy Sklar]

Honestly.

[Jimmy Carr]

So great. Aren't they?

[Randy Sklar]

I was like, I'll bring the scars. And I was like, it'll give Jimmy something to work with.

[Jimmy Carr]

Oh, he's. They're a delight. They're an absolute delight.

[Randy Sklar]

I. I completely agree. They make me happy. So who saw the shark first?

[Jimmy Carr]

We were. We were kind of snorkeling. Oh, that story still.

[Randy Sklar]

The most interesting story?

[Jimmy Carr]

Well, it's not really about. So we're snorkeling and the. And we were with these kind of baby sharks, like these little sharks all day. And you get very kind of blase about it. And then we saw another baby shark, but it was far away. I don't know if you do. You know how perspective works. So it was far away and it was small. But then when it got closer. I'll slow down. It turned out it was quite a big shark. It was like a huge fucking thing. And then it was obviously their territorial or whatever, so we didn't know at the time, but it was, you know, swimming towards us and we turned around and literally, like the old joke, I had the feeling of going, well, I don't need to be out swim a shark, I just have to outswim Henry. And. And so. And we. We swam a little bit and we got up on fire coral. I don't know if you're aware of how fire coral got its name, but it's not great to stand on. And we. And we waited. We tried to get the boat to come over to us. And so we climbed over the fire coral bit and we got on the boat on the other side and we got in the boat and we were like white as a sheet and kind of a bit panicked. And we got in the boat and the guys were just laughing at us going, just reef sharks. What are you. It's just a reef shark, man. They're not going to hurt you. It's just a reef shark. Relax. And we went like a gray with a. With a black tip. And they went, oh. Oh. Everyone else out the water. It was like a really. It was a real kind of. It was a. Yeah, it was. It was. It was interesting.

[Randy Sklar]

Yeah, interesting.

[Jimmy Carr]

I think I often.

[Randy Sklar]

I wasn't bored.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah.

[Randy Sklar]

It's one of the best stories of all time that I had to pry out of you.

[Jimmy Carr]

Do you ever.

[Randy Sklar]

And it had punchline.

[Jimmy Carr]

Do you ever. Do you ever get that thing on a plane when there's turbulence on a plane? So if there's turbulence on a plane and you think, oh, we might go down. I think it's a really good test in life. Tell me, would you be okay? Would you be okay dying? Because I think the greatest gift. And I've had a couple of friends do it, and it's magnificent if you can, to die. Well, that's an incredible gift to give your friends. Yeah, it's. It's. It's. It's. So I had a friend that died and. And was just extraordinary. Sat me down. We went out. We. We went and got. We. He was a writer called a. A Gill. He wrote this incredible book. If anyone's ever suffered with addiction issues, there's a book called Poor Me P O U R Me, which is his autobiography.

[Randy Sklar]

It's a guy who wrote about addiction and his name is AAA AA Gill.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah, but that's that. Yeah, but that. That's the. That. Oh, that was the thing. It was Adrian. His. His. That was his middle name was eight, but he went under AA Gill after he got into the program.

[Randy Sklar]

I see.

[Jimmy Carr]

And he. We had. He died. So. Well, and you. You. We went on. The last. We knew. It was the last time we were seeing each other. So my other friend does a TV show and we were going up to see him, and for various reasons, I had to go on a helicopter. So I, I, we went up on the helicopter. So we got in the back of the helicopter and there's a guy from the show in the front and the, the driver, they call them pilots. And me and Adrian are in the back. And I'm aware he's. He's gonna die soon. And we're aware this is the last time we're gonna see each other. And so we sit in the back of the helicopter and he tells me about life. He tells me about what's the great thing he shared. Keep your side of the road clean. If you're dealing with someone in your life that's difficult, keep your side of the road clean. That's all. I've had an issue with narcissists in my life. And that's the thing where if someone's, if you have a narcissist in your life, they have the disease and you have the symptom, but just, you have to keep your side clean. And we had this incredible conversation, and he knew he was going to die and asked him all the questions that you would ask, and it was beautiful. And we finished the conversation and the helicopter landed. And we got out of the helicopter and the pilot and the guy from the TV show were just in tears, were just, like, ruined by it.

[Randy Sklar]

Wow.

[Jimmy Carr]

Yeah. Fucking pussies.

[Randy Sklar]

What a Jimmy Carr, everybody. I know how to host a show.

[Jason Sklar]

Jimmy Carr.

[Randy Sklar]

What a night, everybody.

[Jason Sklar]

Jimmy, would you say keep it crispy?

[Randy Sklar]

It's how we end.

[Jimmy Carr]

Thank you very much. Great.

[Randy Sklar]

Keep it crispy.

[Jimmy Carr]

Keep it crispy.

[Randy Sklar]

Thank you, everybody. Thanks for coming to the show. Montreal.

[Jimmy Carr]

Bye Bye.