Alright, welcome. It is Monday of Good News York.
I am alone again because Matt is out beating
people up at the soup kitchen. He's a real jerk.
But that's perfect because I am joined, and I
can say this, by an actual friend of mine. He
is a comedian, a sketch comedian, stand -up comedian,
actor, a podcast host. He does it all. I love
him so much and I'm so excited he's here. Mr.
Paul Valenti. Paul Valenti. It's a very weak
clap because it's just me today. Paul, my man.
Look at you. I know. I look so pale. You know,
we... No, you look fine. I... You know, I sit
here and I'm like and my friend and I'm like,
you know I'm actually a shitty friend because
we've only like talked through social media We
haven't like we haven't really caught up like
this, you know No, we've been meaning to over
the years. I think that what it's safe to say
that you and I both fans of each other Oh my
god. Yes. I don't know about you. I'm a fan of
yours. I'm a fan of yours. I Do you remember
where we met? I do, and I've been excited to
talk about that. I would love to hear your point
of view, because here's my point of view. When
I started doing comedy back in the day, took
my first crack at it, I started... sweeping floors
at a local comedy club and I became the house
emcee there but my goal was I wanted to get to
SNL or you know move down to the city and so
I started looking up different uh you know I
was trying to get gigs down there and I found
this showcase to be an extra on SNL and it was
at uh it was at a restaurant like we were in
the back room of a restaurant and they had us
do 10 minutes each. It was like, you know, eight
of us packed in this back hall, back room of
a restaurant. And I remember I watched you and
I was like, this guy, I love this guy. He reminds
me of a young Belushi. I really, and I still
feel that way. And you and I, we hit it off and
we kind of just started staying in touch. And
then I made the stupid move of doing my music
career instead of my comedy career. And now I'm
back at the comedy. But I just thought you were
amazingly talented and you were such a nice guy.
And it's rare when you stay in touch with people
over the years that you meet on a whim, especially
in that situation. And I've done it with nobody
else but you. And it's awesome. That's how I
keep track of all my friends. I meet them once
and then we're like, no need to meet up anymore.
We're good. We're good. We have this action or
whatever. I'll follow you on the apps, on the
socials. And then that'll be it. That's it. Does
that sound accurate though? Does that sound like
the accurate? We've hung out a few times. It
was a few. Okay. It was a few times. It was a
few times because I believe, I know I went to
that showcase. Twice I don't remember reforming
I don't think you did. I think no you do is was
it with Chris or did I do something else? No,
you were you were alone. I'm pretty sure I think
you did stand -up. I'm pretty sure But it no
was it wasn't sad because I again I thought I
was comparing you to a young Belushi. I loved
this. I loved you That's high praise. Thank you.
Well, let's talk crazy. Let's talk about that.
So You know, there's a lot to get to between
the Chris and Paul show, the Chris and Paul podcast.
I know you do some off -Broadway stuff. You've
got the workshops. Let's start from the beginning
of you getting into comedy and how that all started.
Because you live in Connecticut, right? Am I...
Now I do. Now you do. Okay. I was living in New
York City for 15 years. And I moved... I moved
back just before COVID. Got lucky. Good timing.
Because I would have got COVID right away. Like,
yeah, I'm still on the subway. I don't care.
I like the polls. I was actually at an audition
in the city the weekend of the shutdown, like
when it all started, when all the madness started.
I was in the belly of the beast and somehow I
escaped with no COVID. But anyway, enough about
me. Wow. Yeah. Crazy. A lot right there. It was
a lot. So sorry. Nothing. No, no, let me see.
I want to say we met 2003, 2004. That's right.
It was about 2003 or 2004. Yep. 2004. Okay. Okay.
And I had no idea what I was doing. I knew a
few things. I wanted to perform. I didn't know
how. I didn't know where. I was very, at that
time, very, very influenced by Kids in a Hall.
Yes. And Chris Farley. And I had a lot of, well,
my first experience to comedy was The Three Stooges.
Good for you, man. Good for you for mentioning
The Three Stooges. They don't get enough love
anymore. They really were pioneers. for physical
comedy and the thing, you know, the comedy, our
brand of comedy. It was angry, but it was...
It was brilliant. It opened my eyes. And it allowed
me to be silly in school. And I learned about
the Three Stooges in second grade because I sat
next to this kid, Pino Soro, who I still, once
in a while, keep track in the social medias.
Good. So every once in a while, we'll... Give
a little wave. A little hello. And a little hello
or send a Three Stooges meme. Perfect. And he
says to me, hey, did you ever watch the Three
Stooges? And of course I wanted to fit in. So
I lied. Right. And said, yeah, but since I moved,
I moved to a new school. Since I moved, I don't
know what channel it's on. So tell me. And he
did. And I went home and my... Tell my mom, hey,
wake me up at 6 30 morning, because I want to
watch The Three Stooges. I love that. And then
I came in and I said, hey, Pino, do you want
to watch The Three Stooges? And we just hit it
off, started talking. And my first episode was
a Shemp. OK. Didn't discover Curly until maybe
a few weeks later. And I was like, wow. Shemp
still thinks Shemp is great. It's his own thing.
Sure. He was outshouted by Curly because he was
out for so many years. Yeah, that's how he got
it. And then when I met you, I was probably in
the city for, let's say, a year or two. But before
I went to the city, I was actually in a play
called The Three Scrooges, which is a Christmas
Carol with the three Stooges. That's phenomenal.
And I was like, oh my gosh, I got to play this
role. And that was at this place called Curtain
Call where I met Chris in 99. So I met Chris
in 99. I did the show in 2001 and 2002, I believe.
So just when I'm just trying to figure out, you
know, acting in comedy and I remember auditioning
and I did my impression of Curly and I made it
to the final audition and the director said,
if we cast you, would you shave? Yes. Yes. I
absolutely will. Yeah. So. Because now I got
into that show that the guys who directed it
started opening me at my eyes up, too. I knew
Abba Costello. I knew a little bit of Laurel
Hardy. Sure. No, there was a whole world that
I didn't meet, like Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Howard
Lloyd. I mean, all these great comedians of the
past, Sid Caesar, Red Skelton. I started knowing,
I was like, oh, so now he started changing my
mind. Sure. These guys can get laughs without
being crude, and I'm not Gimsby, whatever. But
I thought it's like, you have to work harder
to get a laugh without saying anything, and I
loved that. So I was trying to fit in that out
when I met you. So I was probably all over the
place, so I couldn't tell you. No. But you mean
you could? No, that checks out because that's
why I set a young Belushi. You were like an old
soul to me. Like, I could tell that you got it.
Like, you had all the characteristics of those
traditional classic pioneer performers. And so
obviously, you have talent, but obviously that's
what you were watching because I could see that,
you know, in your act. And I think that's awesome,
man. I think it's great that you... you know,
it's 2025 and people are still out there paying
homage to the greats that, you know, we all wouldn't
be here doing it if it wasn't for those guys,
you know? Right. Of course. Absolutely. And I
remember when you were on stage and you had my
humor, because you were doing some physical stuff
yourself. Yes, I was very physical. I don't remember
what you were mimicking, but it was funny. And
the way you were just like wriggling your body.
Mm -hmm something yes, but I was laughing my
ass off. You were the only one laughing. I think
I think Yeah, hello, uh, I think I may have been
doing like God this is awful. I think I was doing
different porn positions. I think I was I Do
I think I was talking about how like people watch
porn and like they you know used to be just missionary
And now it's like they're getting so creative
and I think I got up on the stool. That might
have been. That sounds like something I would
have been doing then. But either way, you know,
I do remember the casting director. We got done
and I basically cornered him before he left.
And I was like, look, I was like, I have dreamt
to be on SNL. Please. Like, just give me that
shot. And I scared the shit out of him. But it
worked, because I got on twice as an extra. But
that's when I met you. And then as the years
went on, we stayed in touch. And it kind of seems
like, like I said, you know, Paul Valenti, you
know, sketch comedy, stand -up, actor, you're
doing it all. But it seems like the Chris and
Paul show... has kind of been your main gig for
a long time and you guys were on just a few years
back you were on uh you were one of the finalists
on the mbc show bring the funny the funny which
blew my mind because again we just talked about
i knew you for all these years i knew your talent
and then all of a sudden you're on an mbc show
i'm like yes finally dude he fucking got his
break and um you know i was so proud and it's
funny because i have a friend of mine um, her
and her husband watched the show, and they were
talking to me about it, and they mentioned, they're
like, oh, I love this Chris and Paul guy. I'm
like, wait a minute. And I'm like, is that...
That's how I found out you were on the show.
So I turned... Yeah, no shit. And I, and I catched
the highlights. I'm like, that's my buddy Paul.
I can't believe it. So they thought it was the
coolest thing that I knew you. And, um, then
I told him he's really, he's not that cool, but,
um... I'm kidding. He hides from me. He doesn't
he doesn't that he's reading my texts, right?
That's right. I know I'm bad at that. So anyway,
I digress I You meet Chris in 1999 Talk about
how the Chris and Paul show and and and all of
this came together Okay, so I'm gonna give you
the The end of version because there's a lot
of things that happen dude. It's just you and
me babe We got the time. Do you have a day? We
have a day. Yeah, everything's very vivid to
me. I do have this incredible memory of what
happened in sequence, most of the stuff. But,
you know, I'll put down my keys or my phone.
What does it do to my phone? Where is it? But
you asked me about most gigs, I do have a visceral,
I don't know, it's like an emotional connection.
They said the things you remember the most is
the things you have an emotional connection with.
Huh. Yeah. They, you know they, they all say,
those people. Yeah, the theys. The theys, the
theys people. They say. They're friends with
everybody, right? When you're at the party. Who
is there? Everybody. Everybody was there. Yeah,
same people. Right, right. It's like a club.
It's their club. And they say means no matter,
it doesn't have to be connected to facts or anything.
It's just like they say it. And if they say it,
then it overrides everything. Well, they said.
Yeah, well, they... Well, if they said, then
I guess... That's such a weird phrase. I know.
You know what they're saying? Yeah. You know
what they said? I hate that. What do you say?
Nah. Yeah. Our language is so weird, because
we say a lot of things. Sorry, I'm going veering
off. No, it's fine. I love that. That was fun.
I don't know. Quickly, I was diagnosed ADHD last
July. Oh, dude, you're new. Welcome to the family.
It's wild, isn't it? I was with my psychiatrist.
I mean, my therapist. just 2018. And we've always
talked about it, but she couldn't diagnose me.
And then I realized how much problems I was having.
Yeah. And then she says, well, let's see if I
use a psychiatrist. And I did. And I'm medicated
and it's a game changer. Though I forgot to take
it this morning. Oh, good. Oh, you don't take
it. I take a little I take Ritalin. I too. uh,
got diagnosed in 2019. Even though my entire
life everyone was like, ha ha, you've got ADD.
Cause I was, you know, but the myth is everyone's
like, squirrel. And, and like, yes, the focus
is a very big part of it, but they don't understand,
like, I don't know. Have you ever put your keys
in the refrigerator? You know, like it's not,
it's not just about focus. It's, it's emotional
control. It's... It's racing thoughts. It's obviously
the focus part of it. So I get it, man. And when
I finally started going to therapy and getting
Medicaid and getting a handle on it, it was a
game changer. Because it's a superpower. Like,
the way I explain it is like... It's the best
and worst so it's like the same thing that allows
me to be so fast and be able to improv and be
able to think of outside -of -the -box ideas
is also the same thing that I can't sit down
at night and watch a show and relax because I
have 54 ,000 thoughts on a conveyor belt going
through my head, you know So I was always like
I want to have quality of life, but I don't want
to curb my creativeness, you know Right say for
me Yeah, all of a sudden, my brain went... Mm
-hmm. And I still had things to do, but I wasn't
overwhelmed. Right. And I would have a bunch
of things to do, like, oh, I got it. Right. And
my place would be a mess, and that was my head.
But every time I would organize my thoughts for
a second, it would be nice, and it'd also get
messy again. Now that I'm on it, I have things
here, like notes here. Yeah, everything's organized.
I have a to -do book. Every day that I write
in now. Dude, I live by my calendar. My iPhone
calendar. I mean, it's so bad. It's like, oh,
two o 'clock, breathe, clip my toenails. Like,
my wife jokes, like, I can't believe you put
that stuff in your phone. And I'm like, I can't
believe you don't understand that I need to put
this stuff in my phone, you know? Whatever works,
you know? When I went back to college, I talk
texted my papers. Because I started to realize
how the hell am I gonna write a paper? I don't
I can't say I know what to write, but I just
hate doing it dude I would take my phone. I would
talk text my papers into my phone Email it to
myself put it into Microsoft Word edit it and
then and then submit it and I thought I was cheating
and I told one of the professors I was like listen.
I just want to be open and honest. That's what
I've been doing and they're like that's not cheating
Those were your own thoughts. They're like you're
managing your ADHD. So Brother, I did it. Yeah.
Well, that's what I started doing. It was always
very hard for me. I had all these ideas for scripts.
And when Chris and I would have ideas, it was
so hard to write a whole sketch and rewrite it
and rewrite it and rewrite it. And it was it
was so overwhelming. And Chris and I, especially
in the beginning, we would have shit ideas. I
mean. Chris is an idea maniac. For every one
idea that came up, Chris came up with five ideas.
So we just had a pile of ideas. Then I just started,
OK, just write bits down. And then Chris and
I started rehearsing it. OK, let's do this, let's
do that. But we do it so much that we would start
memorizing movement. So that's how I was able
to do that. So now I can write bits. So I accept
it. Just write bits. Right. You don't have to
work the whole thing and then take the concept.
And that's why I think our show is great because.
It's very loose. It's not like go here. We do
have some structure, but when it comes to the
physicality or anything else that pertains to
that sketch, it's fresh all the time to us. That's
great. That makes sense. Absolutely. You know,
and I feel for you because, you know, I struggle
so much. I have so many, you know, script ideas,
some that I've started and... I try to explain
to people that it's not like I don't want to.
That's the hard part about it is I really want
to write that and finish it. But my brain, I'm
like in this paralysis where it's like I can't
just sit and do it. And that tug of war can be
debilitating, especially in the field that we're
in, right? You know, the creative field. So I
love that you found a way to manage it, you know,
like you just explained. So... Let's talk about
the Chris and Paul show. So, you meet Chris in
99. Now we'll bring it back. We'll do like a
Tarantino. Now we're going back. You meet Chris.
How does this come about, the Chris and Paul
show? We met through a mutual friend that was
doing a show. And I knew of Chris, because we
all ran around in the same circle. And the very
first time I met him, I was in... I was in a
lobby of the theater that we were performing
at, and they were doing some construction, so
there was boards that they were pieces of wood
throwing out, and was showing off to all the
girls in the cast, and I can break wood. Because
I was into martial arts, then Teal was taking
martial arts classes, and I'm like, yeah, I can
do this. And then Chris comes in and he goes,
hey, what are you doing? I was like, I'm just
breaking boards. He's like, let me see. So he
grabs a board. And I'm about to go and he goes,
never mind. He ran out. And so that's the first
our first interaction. And then amazing, I saw
him in Noises Off. And I saw him on stage and
I was like, holy crap, this kid is funny. Yeah.
And then we then my friend Darren and I were
in a play and we were tossing. I want to be like
kids at all. I want to do a sketch trip. I should
know what to do. Because you should talk to Chris.
He's really funny He has he likes how many a
lot and we all met there was like 10 of us that
went over Darren's house and We all just sort
of rating a show. We didn't know what we were
doing but Chris Okay, I guess in the beginning
of the year his senior year. He talked to the
he talked to one of the The teachers and say
hey, I want to do a comedy show at the end of
the year. So is it yeah do whatever So yeah,
it was the chris o 'neill comedy show. So for
like months we're working or we're thinking well
Where could we perform with or before and then
before he just hits with us. Wait a minute I
have a show the chris o 'neill comedy show at
the end of the year and I we could do this there
at stanford high chris's high school so with
a great so we did that and We did we did this
show on may 20th and 2000 and that was our first
I guess time Chris and I were staging, we had
the footage of one of the sketches we wrote called,
Who the Hell is on First, where everyone's trying
to explain the joke to me and I don't get it
at all. Dude, that's great. That is great. Yeah.
Who the hell is on first? I don't understand
this. Yeah. Yeah. We're probably going to post
it soon. We're actually revamping our socials,
medias. Yeah. And we're going to start. Posting
like old stuff. That's great. Yeah, so that was
the first thing and chris and I I remember I
I guess chris goes I knew I wanted to work with
you because I came on stage at the end of that
sketch with a lollipop and Chris gives me the
line because would you like some and I took from
it put in my mouth and you can see chris Almost
break and the audience laughs and chris goes.
That's when I knew I wanted to work with you
I guess you'll do anything and I was in and then
it was basically shrunk to where Chris died.
We're mostly doing the most of the stuff together
and And then Chris goes Let's go into the city.
Let's let's go. I know a couple guys that go
in we could do that, too So I called near comedy
club and I said, hey, yeah, I manage these two
guys and we would love to do a show He's a gay.
I just could not bring three people like all
okay exactly That's New York, man. Yeah. And
then we started performing in the New York Comedy
Club, but we didn't know where to put Skitch
Comedy. So we did our two -man act on that New
York Comedy stage. And then that's how we started
to grow. We did this probably like eight years
to find our voice, but we knew what we wanted
to do. We just didn't know how to do it and how
to mold it. Sure. Especially then, you know,
you didn't have as many different choices of
outlets, you know, it was, it's tough because
that's why the dream for us, like, I like stand
up a lot, but I enjoy sketch, I enjoy bits. And
now with TikTok and, you know, Instagram and
all that, you can do that on the regular, you
know, but back then it was like, you either had
to perform it live or there really was only...
a show like SNL, which was obviously the toughest
nut to crack. So I know what you mean in trying
to find your way, but you guys did. And so you
started performing. You would do that two -man
show at comedy clubs. And then didn't you transition
to theaters as well? Because I know you... Eventually.
Eventually, we went to the People's Improv Theater.
And our first show there, Chris actually had
to miss a cousin's wedding for that. And it was...
We did three shows in December. We're like, oh,
wow, we have three shows in a row. So we got
booked there. And we have it on film. And it's
horrible. Well, it's the worst. But at the same
time, you got to go easy on yourself. Have you
ever met anybody who's turned on the tape of
their first anything and been like, man, we really
nailed it right out of the gate? You know, like,
it's part of the deal. And I mean, I think it's
better than you probably think. So, if I was
to go to a Chris and Paul show now, what do I
expect? It's a two -man show, obviously. Is it
just straight improv? Do you have scripted bits?
Is it a little bit of both? What am I getting
at a Chris and Paul show live? So, Chris and
I, we roughly do an hour, and a lot of it is,
you know, more physical, dialogue when it's necessary.
Sure. And a lot of audience participation. I
love it. And if you saw the... What did we do?
The balloon bit where we brought Chrissy Teigen
on stage. Yes, which check that out. Yeah. That
was one of our favorite bits and that's, gosh,
that bit's probably 2009, 2010. But we... What
I love about Chris and I, we're always tweaking
the bits and see how can we shift it? Can it
move? Is it done? Do we try to solve this? Do
we throw it? So him and I are very good at knowing
what's good, knowing what's still good, and knowing
what can be improved on. And when we started
doing the balloon bit, where Chris is a balloon,
I blow him up, and then he flies away. We we
felt like oh, okay What we can do more bits with
the audience isn't have them Yeah, be part of
them not make fun of them. Right what I love
about that bit is and it works every time I'm
not having given away now, but well, basically,
you know they I give them the balloon and they
and you know when I they go to clap and then
They're realizing like over the string and that's
when Chris goes off It it's so good the reaction
because then I you know There's a point out the
the the song has a big crescendo and I pointed
the person they go Why did you let go of the
bullet? And it just settles in but we we love
to make people feel a part of it. Yeah, so over
the years we've we've written Tons of sketches
where there's audience volunteers. So now we're
trying to do like half half but It was always
a good three or four bits where people knew it
was coming. So, yeah, so you had audience, volunteer
stuff, a lot of classical music, a lot of very,
very in tune with Buster Keaton and Laurel Harvey.
Love that, man. But also some twists are very
morbid. Yeah, and I love that. It's like a giant
kids show. It's two giant kids. We're in this
kids' show, then all of a sudden it takes a dark
turn. No, see that, and that's why you and I
get along. Like, I love that bit you guys did
where you're... where you're at the funeral.
And, like, it's all emotional, and then I don't
want to give it away, but at the end, like, it
just, you know, it flips. And, uh, you're essentially
making fun of some... I just... I love that.
And, uh, I think dark humor has a place, uh,
especially nowadays. Of course. So the Chris
and Paul show how often are you guys performing
now? Just a couple times a year. Are you I know
you tour Are you primarily doing it in the city
still? Where you at with that? No, we so we have
a couple of venues. I mean Here's the thing and
it Chris and I are pivoting more towards Social
media now because that's wherever they were talking
to our agent about it and That's probably the
direction to go Well, because we found out before
COVID, Chris and I would, well, remember, Chris
was in Book of Mormon from 2012 to like 2017.
On Broadway? On Broadway? Yeah, he did. No shit.
He did two and a half years on the road. He was
the first tour for Book of Mormon, the first
tour Book of Mormon. And then he did Broadway
for two and a half years. And when he came to
Broadway, it was great because then, you know,
I would produce some of these shows and I'd call
Chris up. I'd say, hey, you want to come perform?
He'd come do a spot for me. I'd say, yeah, yeah,
yeah. So he would come right out for the show,
Broadway show, and come do, you know, 15 minutes
with me. That's amazing. It was the greatest
because we just fell right into it. Chemistry,
man. Yeah, it is. Well, that's the thing about
it. The only thing, Chris and I, what's held
us together, because even when we were younger,
We were still trying to find our creative flow.
Yeah. And there'd be a lot of fights, but we'd
be done. We could figure it out. We get frustrated
with each other. Like, no, no, we got to do this.
We got to do that way. But every time we got
on stage, I mean, we were just, it was flawless.
And it shows. Yeah. We learned shorthand together.
And then we started just agreeing together what
works. And Chris figured how I worked. I figured
out how Chris worked. And now it's just. easier
to be on the same page with each other, get there
faster. And yeah, so we were doing a ton of shows.
And in New York City, we were selling out all
the time. And we had our fan base, if you will.
And then after COVID, it's been tough to sell
shows. Well, it's not just you, though. I hope
you know that. Yeah, I know. It's tough. You
know, it's hard for me personally. uh, just as
a human being, but also as a performer. I -I'm
trying to get, like, everything feels weird to
me since COVID, and I can't gauge of it, I can't
gauge if it's, you know, is it my mental health?
Is it post -pandemic still? Is it because I'm
now in my 40s or I just had a second kid? All
this shit happened all at once for me, so it's
hard to, like, pull it apart and figure out...
why things feel so different and, you know, am
I not plugged into the scene as much as I thought
I was or are people just not going out anymore?
And I'm starting to find the more people I talk
to that I think it's just... I think society
was always heading in this direction with social
media and not being out as more, but I just think
the pandemic kind of microwaved it, you know?
Uh, yes, it did. Yeah. I feel like... It's well
and all it's also easier to connect with someone
because I can go do a show. Mm -hmm We don't
know it who's who's gonna show up and you're
having trying to message people And but the whole
thing about social media is you're looking to
catch algorithm tail. Yes So it's it's everyone
has the access to do everything, right? So we're
on our own the same playing field. So we went
to the We went to the theater and you had a good
show. People would talk about it and go to the
theater. Yep. And that's fine. Now they're like,
well, I'm on social media. Aren't you on social
media? I mean, if Chris Paul's on social media,
I might as well just watch him there. Right.
But nothing is better than live shows. I think
maybe that's mentality. And now we have a whole
group of people who don't know what it's like
before cell phones. I know. So they've been connected
where I still think a live show is great. But
now we're looking, everyone's looking to kiss
the algorithm. And now everyone has the same
equipment. How do we get our head above? I think
this competition is just more. Well, it's just
oversaturation because, you know, for every five
talented people on social media, there's probably
500 who have no business being on there. And
we're just oversaturated with that stuff. So
it is hard to stand out. But it's an interesting
time because... You know, in the music world,
I've found the new thing I just caught on to.
Some bands haven't even played a show yet. They're
just like uploading, like they create their own
music video or they take a video of them at rehearsal
and they build, you know, hundreds of thousands
of followers. And then the demand is, OK, now
we can go out, which is actually the right way
to do it. But back in the day, you used to. You
used to go out and perform so people would buy
your music and come to the next show. It's a
strange... It's strange navigating this. We're
going through a different... Something's happening.
I don't know where it's shifting just yet. I
mean, obviously everything's gonna go online,
but what's Chance gonna do to live shows? Yeah.
I mean, I just... I don't know. I mean, I'm curious
what you think. I just have this... I have a
theory, but maybe it's more of a hope. I can't
ever imagine that live shows and face -to -face
performance and socializing is ever gonna die.
I mean, you need that as a society. I mean, do
you feel that way? Yeah. I think this is... I
think it's so important to have that human connection.
That's what it'd be... I know we'll probably
talk about it later, but Chris and I do workshops
now. Yeah, I was gonna transition to that. We
do workshops together. We have the Chris and
Paul comedy workshop. Which we touch on physical
comedy and then I do team -building workshops
and other workshops, but what I love about improvisation
is The connection that you can get working with
people. Yep, and I feel like sometimes Yeah,
that's that's missed because Yeah, it mean now
this is doom -scrolling. So yeah, that's cool.
That's cool. That's cool This guy's really funny.
Yeah. OK, we'll go to a show. Right. Yeah, I
don't know. So I feel like, well, here's the
thing also, because a lot of people like the
500 people that aren't funny, but they'll have
this one great viral bit that they fart and give
you the middle finger. That's it. And they're
like, that's hilarious. And they show it to all
their friends, but they wouldn't go to a show
to go see a guy fart. I'm going viral. Right.
It's so hard to navigate that, you know? It's,
um... I don't understand it. No, it's an exciting
time, but it's also nerve -racking, because you're
just like... You know, I chalk it up to, like...
I just remember being a kid and being like, I
wonder what it's gonna be like in the future.
And as of, like, the last two to three years,
I'm like, I think we're... I'm finally in the
future now. Like, I think we're here. We're there
now just trying to, you know, it's like settling.
It's still bubbling and trying to figure out
it's... So I'm glad you mentioned the comedy
workshops. That's where I was going next. I think
it's amazing that not only, you know, do you
perform as much as you do, but you're, you know,
doing the justice of passing on your knowledge
and teaching workshops. How do people... I know
you can be booked. You can go to schools and
do it. Do you do it privately? What's the deal
for the comedy workshops? So when we do shows
we also implement a workshop that we go to like
we just came back from from the comedy Reno,
which is in McKinley, Texas and our machinique,
Texas and We We do the show if we do four shows
and we do a workshop either Saturday or Sunday
and it's all the people from the theater no,
you know, yeah and It's great. And we've been
there for three years. We absolutely love the
comedy arena. Jared, who runs it, an amazing
person who always treats his talent with the
utmost respect and he's friendly. That's what
you want. And so when we start doing our workshops,
he's like, yeah, of course. By all means I think
you're great. You guys should be doing this and
and it's been successful I started teaching Workshops
probably around 2012 13 I came I became fascinated
with improv because I saw a lot of bad improv
shows I bet but it was creating community So
yeah, they do a show they do a $5 show and they
all go and hang out and then we're you know joking
around and You know, just being friendly. Okay.
So don't care how bad your improv is as long
as you guys are getting the other community.
I was like, there's something there. Yeah. So
it took me a while to try to figure that out.
So I started teaching what I know, what I've
learned from improvisation to what works for
me. And then I started expanding that into physicality
and what I love to do. And then I started explaining
that to, OK, what is this really connection improv
do? And it kind of meshed it with a philosophy
for acting and performing. So see, art is all
I spread it improv and I know like improv is
everything. But I think improv, I know because
I've seen improv helps with a crossword with
everything it does, especially with human connection.
I just did a a team building for a new Vance
hospital. And it was 12 or 13 health educators.
Wow. OK. And me going doesn't like tougher. Oh,
more. But I told them my philosophy and I gave
I was giving them games of example of how to
connect with each other. And they were having
a blast. And as soon as we got that first laugh,
not because of what I was doing, because of what
they were doing. And most of them were friends.
Some of them met for the first time. A lot of
people know each other from online. There were
several educators from Zimbabwe who were doing
something at the... I guess they were doing some
classes there. And so there are people invited,
hey, we're doing this team building thing. No
problem. They just came and they were blown away.
One of the dentists, she came to me and said,
would you ever come to Zimbabwe? I'm like, yeah.
Keep your problem in Zimbabwe? Yes, crazy. Yeah.
Yeah. But it wasn't it wasn't like my first thing
is, let's not be funny. Let's just connect. Sure.
That's all it is. Simple connect. And I think
that's what we miss. We miss out on this. I don't
there's no judging it because we do have a lot
of judging. In the world even before all this
crazy stuff happened with politics. They were
still jolly remember when I was a kid making
fun of people Oh, and I go. Oh to me. That's
cringing out. Yes, I know your friends like I'll
look at that I just I know I know it's it's when
I think back to you know I actually was saying
recently Thank God there wasn't social media
back when I was a teenager in my 20s like you
know the dumb shit I would have said and done
Things have changed so much. Have you gone back
and watched some of your favorite 90s movies
and been like, what did they just say? There's
so much shit that went over our heads that I
was like, that's not a good thing that we said
there. No, but I think that's great that you
teach. In other words, when you go and travel
and perform the Chris and Paul show, you'll make
a weekend out of it and also include workshops
that weekend as well. Yes, that's and we have
our little theater that Chris and I met at we
do workshops there There's a theater as we're
doing Now we just started working with this company
called unthinkable unthinkable comedy. Okay based
out of Westchester nice and it's his husband
and wife Gary and Sarah who are amazing people
who we were kind of running around the same circle
we kind of knew each other and They were part
of this the improv troupe that actually was part
of my show is producing Sketch Block. Nice. And
Gary sent me pictures. Yes, that's right. We
did bump into each other. So when I sent them
my resume, I was like, I know this name. And
they're like, oh, I know this name. And then
we friend them and then everything opened up.
Great. So now they teach in schools. And so now
I'm teaching kids from first grade all the way
to 12th grade. Which is great. Do you feel that
same fulfillment that you get when you're on
stage and you're interacting with the crowd and
you're connecting? Do you find that when you're
teaching and you make that connection with a
student, does it scratch that same itch for you?
Oh, yes. Yeah. For both Chris and I. And also,
it's easier in my body. Well, sure. I'm going
to tell you what to do now. You do it. I'm old.
You flip off that stool. Um, dude, yeah, I mean,
well, I don't know if I noticed. I don't know
if you see this. What do you got? Oh, my God.
I broke my, uh, my wrist on stage. No. Yeah.
Did you? During Bring the Funny. Oh, my God.
Well, dude, you're killing it because that's
literally where I was transitioning to next.
Paul Valenti with me. You were on, uh, the NBC's
Bring the Funny. You were one of the finalists.
And I wanted to talk to you about that, but...
We'll go back to the beginning of that Well,
how did you break you you broke your wrist during
like the recording of the actual episode? No,
no We all right. So going into bring the funny
Yeah, we get there I Think the third or fourth
day we have to film our first bit. Okay, so like
okay. So here it is We're gonna do your first
bit and then if you don't make it you go home.
Oh Wow Straight so Chris and I like art. Let's
just put on a great performance. Yeah and Chris
and I worked our asses off every day just to
Just to make sure we stay on And then we had
a being obviously staying for three and a half
weeks and then we went back said we're gonna
film the finale in September so Chris and I figured
okay, what we're gonna do for the finale and
Meanwhile, let's let's promote a show and say,
so we want to get loose and practice. Maybe we
can help us come up with ideas. And July 20th,
we do a show at the pit. You know, it's bad when
you remember the exact date. Oh, yeah. And we
did the show. We did the show. And then at the
end, we go, hey, we love that show so much, we're
going to do it backwards. So we do this thing
that feels called that that that that that that
that that song whatever for you. Yeah, the horse
racing. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So the head. So we do
also backwards the way we're doing silhouettes
of of of the bit like we'll do it a quick second
to do backwards. I love that. And the third or
second or third to last bit, I do a prep fall.
But I'm pushing up as I'm going, I'm anticipating
me bouncing back up. Right. Uh oh. And my whole
arm fell asleep and I go to run towards Chris
and I can't lift my left arm up. So I just keep
on going. Whatever. And then we go, we clean
up the stage in a choreographed way. Go back
into the, there's a door on each side. We fix
our ties and we close the door. And then two
seconds were supposed to come back out. And I
didn't come out. I fell to the floor. Oh, in
pain. What the hell did I do? I must have dislocated
it. I come out. I put my arm around Chris. Paul,
where are you? Where are you? He looked at me
and said, what are you doing? I put my arm around
him. I told him. I said, I think he broke my
wrist. And there's a picture of me telling Chris
that I broke my hand or wrist, whatever it was.
and go in, and my wrist is like... I dislocated
it, not knowing that. Well, you did. Then I guess
the structure holds it up, it went boom, and
like this. I had no idea. So I'm trying to fix
it, I'm like... Easy, dude. We know you've performed
in front of healthcare professionals, but that
doesn't make you a pro. Right. My God, man. And
so we had a film in September. So I got the operation
within that two weeks to fix it. But my hand
was a balloon. And if you watch our finale and
the balloon, the way I'm holding my hand, there
was still, I had to take the cast. I think I
took the cast off, but it was still weak. I was
still going through. Sure. Need some therapy
for that. So yeah. See? If you weren't sure if
you were dedicated to your craft before we know
that now Yeah, how did NBC bring the funny come
about? I know we got to get you out of here in
a minute, but I I want to I want to get to that
so Yeah, excuse me Yeah, we well there was a
guy who was at the pet Alan, who was awesome
to Chris and I. He was one of the, he was the
artistic director there at the time. And he says,
hey, I have someone who are looking for sketch
duos. They're doing a show next, sometime next
year. And Alan says, I love the third game in
Manhattan. I really like you guys. Awesome. Thank
you so much. And he, so they reached out to us
and we sent them a couple of videos. Didn't even
think about it. Like, okay, here's a couple of
videos, whatever. Over the years personally whatever.
Yeah, we know it's like what we have to sit down
comedy sensual We've had sit downs with agents
managers. So we love you. We don't do you Sometimes
whatever I get it man. Just another thing another
thing like yep, and then and then Phone call
started getting momentum and shorter and shorter
and shorter. Oh, wow. They really like us so
February February 12th we flew to LA and We know
it's 13th 14 15th. Yes, right. I know Valentine's
Day. Oh We audition for all the execs and isn't
Chris and I were just We've been Chris's scheme
off of I think look more at that time But we
have really performed a lot that much because
we're both in Connecticut now sure And so we're
out of breath. We do wear two bits. We're out
of breath You know and they're asking us questions.
We're trying to keep your breath But we got a
staring ovation, which was really cool. So we
walked out and was this just for the just for
the execs are in the room or on the producers?
Yeah. And one of the producers comes up to us
is going to produce our sing. And she says, you
guys signed everything? Yeah, because you guys
are on a show like why we used to walk down like
they wanted us, which is amazing. So that whole
experience there was so cool because I guess
everyone liked us and It was such a great ride.
We're like, you know, we're just here just to
have fun and that even though it was funny because
Chris and I, I think it was like bar to half
bartending. It wasn't it wasn't really working
out much. Our meals for the craft table. Yeah,
baby. For sure. Yeah. So that was a great experience.
We got to, you know, we. Got to perform with
Michael Longfellow on SNL now. Yeah. Such a gem.
He is a gem. I actually just saw him in Ithaca.
He opened for Colin Jost. Yeah. I was actually
just talking about him last night, actually.
He is one of my new favorite cast members. Dude,
that's an amazing story. You know, the other
cool part of that is that sometimes the worst
part is that time... Between you know the audition
and when they call or don't call and you just
have to sit there and question And you didn't
have to like that's a very rare situation. They
immediately tell you we want you so you must
have nailed it I mean, yeah, I guess when they
let what they saw man and the and the videos
we sat down, but Yeah, we just kept on and doing
our stuff the cookie. See that. Here's the thing
quickly The cookies was our which are closer
bit That's the only video from bring the funny
that's not on YouTube because they couldn't get
the rights because that John legends all of me
we used and Our videos were getting like 30 40
50 thousand night Can you imagine if we were
able to show the cookie where that would have
taken us or took us? I don't know the proper
Yoko again I'm fine, bitch No, but yeah, so that's
that's what happened. But you know, and then
we got the balloon for the finale, but... Yeah,
all in all, it was a great experience. What was
the premise of the show? I mean, obviously it
was a comedy show. I forget what the... Because
I think it wasn't sketch comedy troops. You were
one... It was stand -up, right? And then you
guys were... It was everything. It was everything.
It was any kind of comedy. Music lacks, stand
-up acts, everything. And the grand prize was
like... Grand prize was like money in a show.
Only $250. Oh, that's all. I'm gonna have to
split it with Chris though. Yeah, exactly. Fuck
that. It helped us tremendously and it helped
us put us on the map. Yeah, I was gonna ask you,
did you notice a change after the show in being
recognized, getting booked, popularity, anything
like that? Well, yeah, our social media bumps
and then we started doing some more social media
stuff and then we started creating a tour. We
got an agent and You know, he's he's helping
us book places at casinos. We're getting places
at theaters and everything's just moving and
grooving. And then we we have a gig in Charlotte
and we're like, hmm, everything's being weird
with COVID. We just found out some people are
getting COVID. We land in Charlotte and we found
out that Tom Hanks had COVID. We're like, oh,
oh, the guy from the the owner from the Charlotte
club, he goes, Guys, we have like 30 cancellations.
Like, should we still do this? No, no, you still
have a good crowd up there. But this is what's
going on. And so Chris and I implemented hand
sanitizer in our act. That's phenomenal. And
it went it went fairly funny. But then that's
our last thing where Chris and I had a serious
talk where it's like, I don't know if we could
do this. Me, I'm like, no, it'll be fine. Yeah.
But when I was feeling eerie watching the TV
and Chris came down and goes, no, Danela, who
was with us, she is she's our stage manager.
We all sat there and I'm like, we can't do this
anymore. We're kind of, we just don't know where
to go. I know. That's when our tour shut down.
We had 40 some odd shows booked. Uh, yeah. That's
tough, man. That's what happened. So we've been
crowing out of it ever since. We were starting
to get some more gigs in 2022. And then I fell
in a hole and I got a laceration on my leg. Bro!
You, uh... Sorry. I know I'm going over time
here, but there's a lot that's happened. Don't
worry about that. You kicked the shit out of
yourself. You broke your wrist. What'd you do?
You fell on what? So, when COVID came, I went
back to... Is Chris beating you? Blink twice
if Chris is beating you. No, he's not. Not at
all. Chris would never do anything. Uh -huh.
Uh -huh. Uh -huh. No, no Chris Chris's is amazing.
He's always been supportive of Of your injuries
my injuries and my adventures. Yeah a lot of
ventures him and I and Yeah, I might I saw it
was I it was but bark bartending I hated bartending
all that. Hey, I love bartending I hate it what?
What the hell is going on with COVID? Because
now people are being dicks. It's always tough
to be in that world. People are expected more.
And so my sister said, hey, would you like to
work with me at this client shop? And I said,
yeah, you know, maybe I need a change. She'll
let you know with a nine to five job. I had nine
to five jobs since like 2007. I was like, you
know what? Yeah, you know, I'll do it. I'm kind
of over the bartending and the scheduling. And
so I was very lucky because that's Albano Appliance.
Amazing people. They're a family owned business.
And everyone I work with is amazing and so supportive.
And they knew who I was. Who I was because of
my sister and you know who I am. They're all
very welcoming and they knew that this is what
I want to do. Sure. So they were supportive of
that. Yeah, yes. And their daughter's in Second
City and she's super talented. So they understood
all that. And so, yeah, so they knew my direction.
Anyway, going to go into where I got hurt, I
I was working in a we're delivering some appliances
and there was a lot of construction going on.
Someone opened a a water valve and didn't tell
me. And as I was walking out, it was gravel.
And then it was like it was like a hole that
it was very it was cement. I couldn't see anything.
Felt right in. And I go to grab my leg. I go,
oh, they're going to end up going. This is not
good. This is not good. And then I go. I fell
in a hole. I mean, any reaction is warranted
at that point. I mean, nothing sounds dumb. My
God, man. So, blood, sweat and tears, literally,
you've given to this profession. Paul, Valenti,
I love you. Before I got in, I just got to tell
you how amazing you are and I've been following
you and how super talented you are. And I, when
you got on Howard Stern, you and I were big fans
of Howard Stern. Yeah, we still talk about Howie.
We still talk about him. All day every day. Hey,
Boner. Hey, Boner. I think that's my favorite
drop. I think that's my favorite drop officially.
Oh, definitely. It'll still be the one time.
But I'm always going around, you know, saying
I'm good for you, good for you. Good for you,
me too. Or I'll just say, if someone says something
about inches, I'll go, four inches is fine. Yeah,
we have, I mean... Yeah. It's so great, but you
and I connected over that. But when I saw you
on our favorite show, it blew my mind. And your
song was amazing. And your music is amazing.
And you are such a great performer. Oh, man.
And to be super nice, too. And you think you're
just a hell of a person. Oh, man. So that's why
I always wanted to say, oh, this kid. This is
why I want to stay in touch with you because
I think you and I relate in a lot of same ways.
We're kind of like that. We have the same energy.
That's why we connected to begin with. I think
we had the same passion, same humor, same drive
and ambition. And you have you have never had
any reason to have to support me or believe in
me. And you always have. And, you know. There
was a time I was going through a lot the last
few years before I took this gig and I really
Took it. I was going through a lot mental mentally
and You've you took the time to call me man,
and you left the nicest voicemail because of
course I didn't answer And I did mean to call
back, but we ended up talking But but I just
want you to know how much that meant to me, and
I'm being completely serious that That honestly
was something that kept me going and really picked
me up when I needed it, and I'll never forget
that. And I love you, man. I love you too, man.
You're the best. You're the best. Before we go,
though, tell me what's going on now. Give me
the plugs, because we're gonna, when we edit
this, we'll put up all the graphics on the screen
and the whole nine. What's going on now? You're
in a play, right? Yeah, I'm in a play called
Jukebox for the Algonquin. It's amazing. It's
Paul Strolli who is a brilliant playwright. He's
actually done a one man show. Super funny. I'm
actually going to meet him next week as he's
coming to the show. But this is the first time
it's playing in the Northeast because they did
an opening in Chicago and then Jeff Daniels was...
was doing it. Oh, wow. Yeah. So it's it's it's
the art imitates life. I just got my dad involved
with assisted living. So this play is takes place
in assisted living. Oh, my God. Are you kidding
me? That's amazing. I play I play this character,
Tyler, and basically the the people in assisted
living. basically want to sell weed and they
use me so they can buy this jukebox for their
housing. You know, you should lie and just tell
the directors, like, listen, I'm such a method
actor. I'm so dedicated that I put my own father
in assisted living just so I could really, you
know what I mean? So I could just really feel
like the character. Dude, that's outstanding.
So that's May 1st through the 18th I saw. Where
will that be? A curtain call where Chris and
I met. Awesome. Full circle, man. Yeah, and the
director, Lynn Connolly, who's amazing. This
is the first time I did a show with her since
99 when I did Good Man Charlie Brown. So it's
reuniting with Lynn, who's amazing too. So I'm
very, very lucky that I'm still doing it, still
get to perform. And Chris and I are doing a bunch
of workshops and we're putting together some
more classes eventually to teach. And then yeah,
we're doing a lot more videos now we have We
have a plan to put out some some more stuff on
the socials consistently. Yeah a couple years
during it during a pandemic we made a Was it
called an apocalypse life, which we did a talk
show in Apocalypse love so you can see us on
video. You can see us in mostly Instagram tick
-tock The YouTubes, all of them, you can see
what we do. Chris and Paul's show, let me make
sure I got the, is it chrisandpaulshow .com?
And you got the Chris and Paul podcast. Again,
Paul Valenti, actor, comedian. He breaks his
limbs for you. Workshops, check him out on social
media. We'll have all that info on the screen.
Paul, thank you for your time. It was so good
to catch up with you, buddy. You might think
you're lucky that you're still doing this, and
maybe to some degree, yeah, there's luck involved,
but you're doing this because you're talented
and you've put the work in, and this is what
you're supposed to be doing, man. And I'm just
happy that you could join me on Good News York.
Maybe next time we do this, maybe I can do an
in -person visit. Dude, that would be... We're
gonna make it happen. I'm convinced you and I
are going to perform in some capacity or be in
the same room or stage at some point. It's going
to happen. Well, I am. I'm actually working on
a few shorts. That's my solo event. We'll talk
more about that. Yeah, we'll talk. My people,
you know, my people will call your people. They
will call. They will call. They. The people that
they tell us what to do. Yeah, they said we can't
do it. But listen, Paul Valenti. I absolutely
love you and thank you for coming on the show.
Good News York, this has been a really fun episode
and we'll be back tomorrow, Tuesday Newsday and
a bunch of other shit. Mike Brindisi, Paul Valenti,
chrisandpaulshow .com and we'll have all his
socials on there. He's got beautiful teeth and
scars to prove it. What happened there? Hockey
injury. I was literally gonna ask you if you
play hockey. Yeah, and I don't have a baby tooth
there. It's not knocked out. That's part of the
listing. My mom's like, well, we're not going
dentists, so. No. Well. Not crooked teeth. There
it is. Paul Valenti, The Toothless Wonder, here
on Good New York. Thanks.