WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.299 Okay, so imagine this for a second. You've got 00:00:02.299 --> 00:00:05.059 someone who can absolutely kill it on stage doing 00:00:05.059 --> 00:00:08.699 stand -up, make you laugh till you cry. But then, 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:11.779 the next minute, they're writing award -winning 00:00:11.779 --> 00:00:14.580 stuff for a huge TV show. Right, totally different 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:16.839 skill. And then maybe they pop up acting in a 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:18.699 show you love, like a sitcom. Yeah, you see them 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:23.039 on screen. And on top of all that, they're maybe... 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:26.100 stirring things up online, causing a bit of a 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:28.660 frenzy. Sometimes all at once. Exactly. It's 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:31.640 like, wow. That's not just being talented. That's 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:35.600 like being an architect of modern comedy, someone 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.890 who really gets the whole landscape. It really 00:00:38.890 --> 00:00:41.549 is quite something, isn't it? To just jump between 00:00:41.549 --> 00:00:44.590 all those roles, writer, performer, producer, 00:00:45.869 --> 00:00:48.710 online personality. Not just dabble, but actually 00:00:48.710 --> 00:00:50.329 be good at all of them. I mean, that says a lot 00:00:50.329 --> 00:00:53.750 about talent, obviously, but also serious skill, 00:00:53.750 --> 00:00:56.090 right? And maybe a bit of nerve, too. Oh, definitely 00:00:56.090 --> 00:00:58.890 some nerve. So today, that's what we're diving 00:00:58.890 --> 00:01:00.890 into. We're doing a deep dive into the world 00:01:00.890 --> 00:01:04.549 of Joseph Monday. Joe Monday, yeah. He was born 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:08.310 March 16th, 1983. So that makes him what? 42 00:01:08.310 --> 00:01:11.569 now. Sounds about right. An American comedian, 00:01:11.569 --> 00:01:15.310 actor, screenwriter. Yeah. The definition of 00:01:15.310 --> 00:01:17.409 multi -hyphenate. He really is. He's not just 00:01:17.409 --> 00:01:19.650 sort of participating. He feels like he's actively 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:22.849 shaping things in stand -up TV, the internet. 00:01:22.969 --> 00:01:24.890 Yeah, like a real influence. And what's really 00:01:24.890 --> 00:01:27.849 striking, I think, is he leaves a mark. You know, 00:01:27.849 --> 00:01:30.549 it's not just ticking boxes. His career path, 00:01:30.590 --> 00:01:35.069 it's like a case study in how comedy talent works 00:01:35.069 --> 00:01:37.650 now, how you navigate everything. Totally. And 00:01:37.650 --> 00:01:41.969 for our journey today, our main guide is his 00:01:41.969 --> 00:01:44.349 Wikipedia entry, which honestly is surprisingly 00:01:44.349 --> 00:01:46.469 detailed. Yeah. Sometimes it can be a bit thin. 00:01:46.730 --> 00:01:49.170 No. This was pretty comprehensive. It lays out 00:01:49.170 --> 00:01:51.269 the whole breadth of his career, professional 00:01:51.269 --> 00:01:53.109 stuff, even a bit of personal background. It's 00:01:53.109 --> 00:01:56.150 got dates, awards, projects, gives us a really 00:01:56.150 --> 00:01:58.730 solid base to work from. That's great. And for 00:01:58.730 --> 00:02:00.829 someone with a career that jumps around as much 00:02:00.829 --> 00:02:02.810 as his does, having a well put together source 00:02:02.810 --> 00:02:05.829 like that is, well, it's super helpful. It lets 00:02:05.829 --> 00:02:09.439 you trace how things connect. You know, see the 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.639 progression from like one thing to the next, 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.319 like a roadmap for his his whole evolution. Exactly. 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.759 So our mission today basically is to unpack all 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.500 these layers of Joe Mendoza's career, not just 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:25.860 list his credits, but really explore how he went 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:28.900 from, say, being known as this kind of Internet 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:32.360 provocateur to becoming an Emmy winning producer. 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:36.259 We want to trace that path from. Albuquerque, 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:38.360 New Mexico, all the way to the top of the comedy 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:41.500 game. And maybe try to understand some of those 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:44.680 weirder terms, right? The controversial stuff, 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:46.719 the public persona. Yeah, definitely want to 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.520 get into that too. Because it feels like it's 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.599 all connected. It usually is. And hopefully, 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:52.300 you know, for you listening, this gives some 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:54.759 insight, not just into Monday, but into how comedy 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.800 works today, how you build a career like that, 00:02:57.460 --> 00:02:59.580 the business side of being creative in Hollywood. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.639 For sure. So we'll highlight the different roles 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:03.860 in front of the camera, behind it. We'll definitely 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:06.479 unpack the awards because, spoiler, there are 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.659 quite a few. And yeah, we'll dig into that unique, 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.099 sometimes, let's say, challenging relationship 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:15.439 he had with platforms like Quitter. Right. And 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.710 you'll see how maybe his early life of his education 00:03:17.710 --> 00:03:20.650 kind of set the stage for this really distinct 00:03:20.650 --> 00:03:23.030 comedic voice he developed. So yeah, let's dig 00:03:23.030 --> 00:03:25.069 in. All right, let's do it. OK, starting at the 00:03:25.069 --> 00:03:29.389 beginning, early foundations. So Joseph Manday, 00:03:29.629 --> 00:03:32.250 born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 16th, 00:03:32.270 --> 00:03:34.770 1983. But the thing that jumps out immediately 00:03:34.770 --> 00:03:38.650 is his parents. His dad, Louis Manday, was a 00:03:38.650 --> 00:03:42.780 lawyer. His mom, Debra Mande, was a judge. Wow, 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:46.280 okay. A lawyer and a judge. That's intense. Right. 00:03:46.419 --> 00:03:49.240 It's such a specific, like, logic -driven, a 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.280 household environment, you'd imagine. How do 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.120 you think growing up with that might have shaped 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.479 him, comedically speaking? Well, it's hard not 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.460 to speculate, isn't it? I mean, you'd guess it 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:00.139 fosters a certain kind of critical thinking, 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.000 like razor sharp. Lawyers and judges, they're 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.280 all about analyzing things, right? Observing 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:07.539 people, dissecting arguments, understanding behavior, 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.080 often in, like, high -stakes situations. Totally. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:11.759 It's not just noticing things, it's breaking 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:14.719 them down. Exactly. It's like forensic observation, 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.939 looking at facts, logic, persuasion. Maybe for 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:19.779 Manday, that meant he didn't just see something 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.000 funny, he could build a case for why it was funny. 00:04:22.339 --> 00:04:27.060 Or ridiculous. Like a comedy prosecutor. A comedy 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:30.040 prosecutor. I like that. So, yeah, let's just 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:32.980 haha and more like, here's the systematic reason 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:35.839 this is absurd. That kind of fits with some of 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.300 his more, you know, biting satire. where he really 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:41.439 takes something apart. I mean, think about it, 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:43.779 parents constantly weighing evidence, questioning 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:46.500 motives. It's got to give you a sense of irony, 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:49.180 right? Maybe a willingness to question things, 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:52.339 challenge norms, maybe even get comfortable with 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:54.980 intellectual sparring. Definitely. Those are 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:57.240 all key tools for a comedian, especially one 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.480 who wants to do more than just tell jokes. It's 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:01.459 about having a perspective, making an argument 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:03.379 through humor. Right. And you see that, I think, 00:05:03.540 --> 00:05:05.779 in his comedy, especially maybe the early online 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:07.519 stuff and his stand -up, too. It's that sharp, 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.720 dissecting quality, not just saying, this is 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:12.319 funny, but understanding why, the mechanics behind 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.439 it, the social weirdness, that analytical thing, 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.300 wanting to take things apart and put them back 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:19.519 together. Yeah. I can totally see that coming 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:22.000 from a household where logic and understanding 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.560 human flaws were just like, Everyday stuff. Maybe 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.759 even explains why he was okay with controversy 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.220 later. Like he was used to arguments. Possibly. 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:34.060 Used to scrutiny, maybe. Having your ideas tested. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:37.160 Makes sense. And then, another piece. At age 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:41.360 10, he moves. From Albuquerque to St. Paul, Minnesota. 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:43.600 Seems like a small detail, but moving during 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.399 those formative years. Yeah, that can have an 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.800 impact. Right. Maybe makes you more adaptable. 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:50.829 Or gives you that kind of outsider's view. Makes 00:05:50.829 --> 00:05:53.209 you better at reading new situations. It definitely 00:05:53.209 --> 00:05:56.930 can. It forces you to, like, observe more keenly, 00:05:57.009 --> 00:05:59.310 right? Figure out the new rules, new social dynamics. 00:05:59.490 --> 00:06:02.350 You become a quicker study. Which is gold for 00:06:02.350 --> 00:06:05.589 a comedian. Pure gold. That constant recalibration. 00:06:05.750 --> 00:06:08.089 It hones your awareness of different little cultural 00:06:08.089 --> 00:06:10.250 things, different ways people act. Adds to that 00:06:10.250 --> 00:06:12.709 well -rounded perspective he seems to have. Okay, 00:06:12.709 --> 00:06:15.569 so that's the upbringing. Then education. He 00:06:15.569 --> 00:06:17.829 graduated from Central High School in 2001. Then 00:06:17.829 --> 00:06:20.699 he goes to Emerson College in Boston. and gets 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:23.879 a BFA in writing. Emerson, yeah. That's a big 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:25.540 deal for creative writing, especially comedy 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:27.959 adjacent stuff. Exactly. A BFA in writing isn't 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:32.300 just a general arts degree. It's specific. It's 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:34.860 focused training. Totally. It signifies a deep 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:37.839 dive into the mechanics of storytelling. It's 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.839 not just about being naturally funny, which he 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.920 clearly is. It's about understanding... Joke 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:45.779 structure, character arcs, narrative beats, how 00:06:45.779 --> 00:06:48.519 to build comedy scene by scene, you know, the 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:50.959 craft. The actual nuts and bolts. Yeah. Skills 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:52.879 that are crucial, whether you're doing five minutes 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.459 of standup where every single word matters, or 00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.220 you're in a writer's room breaking a whole season 00:06:57.220 --> 00:06:59.699 of TV. It's formal training and making people 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:02.360 laugh, but also making them think. So how do 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:05.300 you think that specific training, that BFA, really 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:07.839 helped him, like with standup bits versus a TV 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:10.240 writer's room? What skills really paid off? Well, 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:12.300 for stand -up, it's about things like pacing, 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:15.399 the rhythm of language, how to build a cohesive 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:17.860 set that feels like more than just random jokes. 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:22.100 Setup, punchline, tags. Structure. Structure, 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:24.959 exactly. And how to edit yourself. Be ruthless. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:28.180 A writing program teaches that. Then in a writer's 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:30.759 room, those skills are directly applicable. Breaking 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:32.779 stories, developing characters with distinct 00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:35.079 voices, collaborating on scripts. Right, the 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.720 tea -work aspect of it. Yeah. It means he probably 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:39.839 walked into those rooms with more than just funny 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.579 ideas. He had a toolkit, you know, for actually 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:45.720 constructing comedy narratives, ensuring quality, 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.339 made him valuable right away, I'd imagine. He 00:07:48.339 --> 00:07:50.860 knew how to apply rigor to funny. I can totally 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:52.560 see that. That foundation, the family background, 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:54.980 the formal writing education, it really sets 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:57.120 a strong base. Okay, so he's got this foundation. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.560 Now, this is where it gets really fun. How he 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:02.300 starts making a name for himself. The rise of 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:05.040 the digital comedian and stand -up star. And 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.220 the first big splash, maybe the thing that put 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:09.879 him on the map initially, was that website. Look 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:12.139 at this fucking hipster. Oh yeah, I remember 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:16.980 that. Classic. Right. Created April 2009. Yeah. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:19.480 And the origin story is just perfect comedy in 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.360 itself. Apparently he started it just to help 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:24.199 his dad figure out who was or wasn't... A hipster. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:27.220 That's brilliant. So relatable. Like every parent 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:29.079 at that time was probably asking that question. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:30.939 Totally. And the whole hipster thing was just 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:34.460 peaking then, right? Oh yeah, peak hipster. Mandi 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:36.740 just tapped right into that cultural moment, 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:39.559 that shared feeling of like amusement, maybe 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:42.340 confusion, maybe slight irritation. All of the 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:44.720 above. Yeah, it showed that sharp observational 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.919 humor he has, his eye for a trend, his grasp 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.600 of the zeitgeist really early on. He saw a thing 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:52.840 and he just nailed it with humor. And it wasn't 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.440 just a small thing, it blew up. It became this, 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.940 like, cultural touch point. People sending in 00:08:57.940 --> 00:09:00.399 photos, debating. Everyone was talking about 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.879 it. Yeah. And it had legs, too. Got turned into 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:04.860 a book, same title, look at this fucking hipster. 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:06.860 That's more than just a viral joke. That's seeing 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:09.159 a cultural moment and, like, capitalizing on 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:11.740 it. Almost like being a pop culture anthropologist, 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.850 but funny. Totally. And it shows his entrepreneurial 00:09:15.850 --> 00:09:18.590 side, too, right? This was before every comedian 00:09:18.590 --> 00:09:21.049 had to be a social media mogul. Right, before 00:09:21.049 --> 00:09:23.830 it was a standard playbook. Exactly. He just 00:09:23.830 --> 00:09:26.389 instinctively got how to use digital platforms 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:29.409 to create something properly viral. He understood 00:09:29.409 --> 00:09:31.730 audience engagement, how things spread online. 00:09:32.330 --> 00:09:34.649 That experience, watching something just explode 00:09:34.649 --> 00:09:37.629 like that. Yeah. Do you think it taught him stuff 00:09:37.629 --> 00:09:41.129 about what works online? what gets attention, 00:09:41.389 --> 00:09:43.830 maybe even what provokes people that influenced 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:46.929 his later. Twitter stuff. Oh, I think it absolutely 00:09:46.929 --> 00:09:49.470 had to. He learned firsthand about online dynamics, 00:09:49.950 --> 00:09:52.850 how fast things move, how even silly stuff can 00:09:52.850 --> 00:09:55.950 spark huge conversations, good or bad. That early 00:09:55.950 --> 00:09:57.870 success probably gave him confidence, showed 00:09:57.870 --> 00:09:59.669 him he could tap into that collective vibe, you 00:09:59.669 --> 00:10:01.710 know, and how to use the mechanics of sharing 00:10:01.710 --> 00:10:03.529 online. It was like getting a blueprint for making 00:10:03.529 --> 00:10:05.490 noise online, a blueprint he definitely used 00:10:05.490 --> 00:10:08.009 later, maybe more aggressively. Yeah, maybe weaponized 00:10:08.009 --> 00:10:10.429 it a bit sometimes. You could say that he understood 00:10:10.429 --> 00:10:12.779 the game. Okay, so he's got this digital thing 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:15.220 happening. But at the same time, he's building 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:18.039 a more traditional stand -up career. He released 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:21.600 a comedy album, Bitchface, March 14th, 2014. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:24.299 Bitchface, right. And this wasn't just like a 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:26.500 standard stand -up album. It was described as 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:29.759 this unique mixed tape style. It had voicemail 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.600 messages woven in from this wild list of celebrities. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:34.980 Yeah, that was such a cool concept. Who was on 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:38.259 it again? Okay, get this. Fabulous. The rapper, 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.990 okay. Roy Hibbert, the NBA player. Wow. Jenny 00:10:40.990 --> 00:10:44.330 Slate, Nick Kroll, Zezon Sari, fellow comedians. 00:10:44.710 --> 00:10:47.490 But then also the RZA from Wu -Tang Clan. The 00:10:47.490 --> 00:10:50.169 RZA, no way. And Amy Poehler. It's just such 00:10:50.169 --> 00:10:52.470 a mix. That is seriously eclectic. And it says 00:10:52.470 --> 00:10:54.970 so much, doesn't it, about his sensibility, his 00:10:54.970 --> 00:10:58.460 network? Not just comedians. No. Rappers, athletes, 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.860 comedy heavyweights. It shows his connections 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:03.399 across different parts of pop culture and his 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:05.840 ability to pull all those different threads together 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.759 into something original. It really felt like 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.419 a statement. Like, I'm not just in the comedy 00:11:09.419 --> 00:11:11.700 box. Totally. And it speaks to his reputation, 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:13.960 too, right? That people like the RZA and Amy 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.220 Poehler are willing to, like, leave a voicemail 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:19.740 for his album. That's respect. What do you think 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.580 the point of the voicemails was, comedically? 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.799 Well, multiple things probably. One, it adds 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.559 this kind of meta layer, right? blurs the line 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.879 between the performance and his actual life, 00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:33.259 his connections, makes it feel more personal, 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.799 like you're getting a peek behind the curtain. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.360 Intimate. Yeah. And two, it creates these unexpected 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.799 funny moments, like the sheer randomness of hearing 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:46.659 Fabulous next to, say, Jenny Slate. It's inherently 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:49.320 amusing. The juxtaposition, yeah. Exactly. And 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:51.620 it reinforces that idea that he's tapped into 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:54.389 this. diverse, interesting world, which kind 00:11:54.389 --> 00:11:56.669 of mirrors the range of his own comedy. Okay, 00:11:56.710 --> 00:11:59.750 so the mixtape album was unique. Then, fast forward 00:11:59.750 --> 00:12:02.669 a few years, 2017, he gets a Netflix special, 00:12:03.049 --> 00:12:05.009 Joe Momande's award -winning comedy special. 00:12:05.450 --> 00:12:07.289 Ah, yes, the award -winning special, which is 00:12:07.289 --> 00:12:09.450 a joke in itself, the title. Right. But getting 00:12:09.450 --> 00:12:11.450 a Netflix special, especially back then, that 00:12:11.450 --> 00:12:14.159 was huge for a comedian. Oh, absolute massive. 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.519 That was the period when Netflix specials were 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:18.539 really becoming the thing, the gold standard. 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:20.860 Yeah, seemed like everyone wanted one. It gave 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:23.700 you a global platform, instantly cemented your 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:27.159 status way beyond just playing clubs or doing 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.399 late night spots. And he'd done those smaller 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:31.879 TV spots already, right? Like the half hour on 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.360 Comedy Central, best week ever, kind of. Exactly. 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:37.080 So the Netflix special was the clear next step 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:39.500 up. It showed he could hold an hour, that his 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.799 standup had reached that next level, definitely 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:44.460 marked his as a major voice in stand -up comedy. 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:46.620 Okay, so he's conquering digital, conquering 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:49.200 stand -up. Mm -hmm. But like we said, he's this 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:53.259 multi -hyphenate. And his behind -the -scenes 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:56.940 work as a writer or producer is arguably where 00:12:56.940 --> 00:12:58.740 he's made his biggest mark. Yeah, that's where 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:01.159 his versatility really shines. Let's talk Parks 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:03.840 and Recreation. Iconic show. He was a writer 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.639 for the last three seasons. Right, seasons five, 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:07.940 six, and seven. Crucial years for that show. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:10.820 And not just writing, he also acted in it. Seven 00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:13.240 episodes is Morris Lurpus. Morris, yeah, the 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:16.639 weird Pawnee resident. Hilarious. So that period, 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:19.860 doing both writing and acting on a show like 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:23.000 Parks and Rec, what does that tell you? It tells 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:25.480 you he's got this, like, holistic understanding 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.879 of comedy, right? He can operate effectively 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.059 in the writer's room, crafting the jokes, the 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.620 stories. But he can also step in front of the 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:35.139 camera and deliver lines, understand performance, 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:38.250 timing, how things actually land on set. That's 00:13:38.250 --> 00:13:40.429 a pretty rare combo, especially on a show that 00:13:40.429 --> 00:13:43.490 good. And that dual perspective must be so valuable. 00:13:43.990 --> 00:13:46.929 Like, as a writer, you know what it feels like 00:13:46.929 --> 00:13:50.090 to perform the lines. As an actor, you understand 00:13:50.090 --> 00:13:52.330 the writer's intent maybe more deeply. Totally. 00:13:52.750 --> 00:13:55.450 It creates this feedback loop. He'd know firsthand 00:13:55.450 --> 00:13:57.450 how a line he wrote might play out physically 00:13:57.450 --> 00:14:00.110 or how an actor's choice could influence the 00:14:00.110 --> 00:14:02.740 writing. especially on Parks, known for that 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:05.399 amazing ensemble and sharp writing. Yeah, such 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:07.340 a high bar. Being immersed in that environment, 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:10.019 working with people like Mike Schurr, Amy Poehler, 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.620 the whole cast and crew, that's like getting 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:15.539 a PhD in TV comedy. It had to sharpen his skills 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:18.539 immensely. And you see Morris Lurpus, this kind 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:22.720 of... bizarre, tangential character. Manday writing 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.159 and playing him gives him this intimate control 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.679 over how that specific brand of weirdness lands. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.639 Exactly. It was probably a crucial launching 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:32.159 pad for everything that came next in his writing 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.500 and producing career. And came next is putting 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:37.519 it mildly. His credits just explode after that. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:40.279 And across such different types of shows, he 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.440 worked for Kroll Show on Comedy Central. Which 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:45.159 is pure sketch, character driven, often really 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:47.740 absurd. Right. And also delocated on Adult Swim. 00:14:47.850 --> 00:14:50.549 Which is something else entirely. That weird 00:14:50.549 --> 00:14:53.950 deadpan, witness protection program, mockumentary 00:14:53.950 --> 00:14:56.409 thing, animated sort of. So different. Yeah. 00:14:56.409 --> 00:14:58.710 Going from the warmth of parks to the absurdity 00:14:58.710 --> 00:15:02.429 of Kroll to the, like, unsettling vibe of delocated. 00:15:02.549 --> 00:15:05.009 It really hammers home his adaptability. He's 00:15:05.009 --> 00:15:07.309 not just doing one kind of comedy. He can clearly 00:15:07.309 --> 00:15:09.529 write for optimistic satire, character sketches, 00:15:09.809 --> 00:15:12.090 surreal animation. He gets different comedic 00:15:12.090 --> 00:15:14.509 languages. That's impressive range. And it doesn't 00:15:14.509 --> 00:15:16.659 stop. He was a producer on the first season of 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:19.700 Aziz Ansari's Master of None on Netflix. Highly 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:22.360 acclaimed show, slice of life, more grounded 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.980 humor. And he wrote an episode, The Other Man. 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.419 Then a huge role on The Good Place, writer and 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:31.580 producer. Another Mike Schur masterpiece. Philosophical 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:35.080 comedy, super smart, intricate plotting. And 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.659 he voiced a character too, Todrick Campbell. 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:40.480 Todrick, right. Maximum Derek. And then forever. 00:15:40.669 --> 00:15:43.190 on Amazon Prime Video with Fred Armisen and Maya 00:15:43.190 --> 00:15:45.789 Rudolph, executive producer on eight episodes, 00:15:46.250 --> 00:15:48.169 wrote one called The Lake House. Another show 00:15:48.169 --> 00:15:50.909 playing with genre, relationships, kind of existential 00:15:50.909 --> 00:15:54.250 themes. It's just, the range is staggering. Parks, 00:15:54.690 --> 00:15:58.669 Kroll, Delocated, Master of None, Good Place, 00:15:58.950 --> 00:16:02.580 Forever, all critically respected. all very different. 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.460 And notice the progression, too, from writer 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:07.340 on Parks to producer on Master of None, writer 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.700 producer on Good Place, then executive producer 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:11.940 on Forever. Yeah, more responsibility. Exactly. 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:14.139 He's not just writing jokes anymore. He's shaping 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:16.519 the shows, overseeing things, managing creative 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.500 teams, moving from contributing talent to leadership. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.279 That ability to jump between such different styles 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:24.940 and take on bigger roles, that's elite versatility. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:27.779 He's clearly become this go -to creative force 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:30.299 who can handle different tones and lead projects. 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:33.980 Which brings us to, arguably, the absolute peak 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:38.360 so far. Hacks. Ah, hacks. What a show. He was 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.200 co -executive producer, sometimes consulting 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.379 producer, for the Max series from 2021 to 2024. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:46.480 Wrote multiple episodes. Key creative force behind 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:48.820 the scenes. And, once again, not just behind 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.940 the scenes. He was in the main cast for the first 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:53.600 two seasons as Ray. Ray, the agent's assistant, 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:56.549 yeah. Again, doing both. That deep involvement 00:16:56.549 --> 00:17:00.090 writing, producing, acting on a show as successful 00:17:00.090 --> 00:17:03.230 and acclaimed as Hacks. Yeah. What does that 00:17:03.230 --> 00:17:05.430 signify? It signifies he's integral, right? He's 00:17:05.430 --> 00:17:07.789 woven into the fabric of that show's success. 00:17:08.009 --> 00:17:10.369 As Coe P, he's helping shape the big picture, 00:17:10.710 --> 00:17:13.289 the season arcs, the tone. As a writer, he's 00:17:13.289 --> 00:17:15.490 crafting those specific brilliant scenes. As 00:17:15.490 --> 00:17:17.470 an actor, he's living inside the world he's helping 00:17:17.470 --> 00:17:19.769 create. That must give him such a unique perspective 00:17:19.769 --> 00:17:22.720 on it all. Immense. He can see how a line reads 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.500 on the page, how it feels to say it, how it lands 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:28.519 in the edit. It helps ensure that unique hacks 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:32.160 blend of sharp comedy and real emotion translates 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.660 perfectly. His fingerprints are all over why 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:36.740 that show works so well. And the industry certainly 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:39.559 agrees. The awards for hacks are where things 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.819 really hit another level for him. Yeah, the recognition 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:45.359 is huge. He got a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:48.740 Comedy Series. The big one. at the 76 Emmys, 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:52.220 plus a Producers Guild of America Award and multiple 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:54.460 Writers Guild of America Awards, specifically 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:57.500 for hacks. It's like the trifecta. It absolutely 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.599 is the trifecta. Winning the Emmy for Best Comedy, 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:02.839 the PGA for Best Produced Comedy Episode, and 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.730 WGA Awards for Best Writing. that's hitting every 00:18:05.730 --> 00:18:07.349 major mark. What does that mean, getting all 00:18:07.349 --> 00:18:09.049 those top awards for the same show? It means 00:18:09.049 --> 00:18:11.690 the entire industry, actors, producers, writers, 00:18:12.230 --> 00:18:13.990 recognizes the excellence of the show and his 00:18:13.990 --> 00:18:16.609 contribution to it at every level. It cements 00:18:16.609 --> 00:18:18.769 his status not just as a great writer, but as 00:18:18.769 --> 00:18:21.650 a leader who can help steer a top tier production. 00:18:21.970 --> 00:18:24.690 It says he's truly elite. His involvement guarantees 00:18:24.690 --> 00:18:27.450 a certain level of quality now. OK, so the behind 00:18:27.450 --> 00:18:30.750 the scenes stuff is clearly stellar award winning. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.680 But let's pivot back to his on -screen work, 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:35.839 because he's built up a really interesting acting 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.240 footprint too. Yeah, he pops up quite a bit. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:40.559 We mentioned Morris in Parks and Rec, but he 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.579 also had a pretty significant recurring role 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:46.279 on Modern Family, played Ben in 12 episodes between 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:50.180 2015 and 2018. Modern Family, another huge network 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:53.059 hit. Being a recurring guest on shows like that, 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:55.819 Parks and Modern Family, it shows he's got that 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:58.720 reliable comedic presence, right? Yay. He often 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.299 plays that slightly awkward, deadpan, maybe a 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:03.660 little off -kilter character. It's a specific 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:06.039 flavor he brings that works really well in those 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:09.099 big ensembles. He's good at being the memorable 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:11.359 oddball. The guy you remember, even if he's only 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.940 in a few scenes. Exactly. And then, like we said, 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:16.619 Rayon Hax, main cast for two seasons, being a 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:19.119 main cast member while also being a co -EP and 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.619 writer? That's juggling a lot. Seriously. What 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:23.059 does that tell you about his commitment or his 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:25.539 skill set? It tells you he's incredibly comfortable 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:28.200 moving between those roles, maybe even sees them 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.500 as feeding each other. Playing Ray, he gets to 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:33.519 embody the world he's writing, which must give 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:36.640 him deeper insights. It's like live R &D for 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.079 the show's comedy and character dynamics. He 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:41.839 lived and breathed hacks. Beyond the live action 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:44.200 sitcoms, he does a lot of voice acting, too, 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.660 which is a whole different talent. Totally different 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:48.980 skill set. Yeah. He was Todrick Hemple in The 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:52.289 Good Place and the spinoff The Selection. voiced 00:19:52.289 --> 00:19:56.630 Branch in Animals. And maybe my favorite, he 00:19:56.630 --> 00:19:58.890 voiced Mark Zuckerberg in our cartoon, President. 00:19:59.269 --> 00:20:01.630 Zuckerberg, yeah. That's great casting. It really 00:20:01.630 --> 00:20:04.329 shows his range, right? Todrick is so specific, 00:20:04.630 --> 00:20:07.349 kind of bureaucratic yet chaotic. Zuckerberg 00:20:07.349 --> 00:20:11.130 is pure satire. Animals. was its own weird thing. 00:20:11.230 --> 00:20:13.609 It absolutely shows vocal versatility. Voice 00:20:13.609 --> 00:20:15.890 acting is all about conveying character just 00:20:15.890 --> 00:20:18.490 through sound tone, inflection, pacing. You have 00:20:18.490 --> 00:20:20.930 no facial expressions or body language to rely 00:20:20.930 --> 00:20:24.710 on. So being able to create these distinct characters 00:20:24.710 --> 00:20:28.730 from Hempel to Zakk just with his voice, it highlights 00:20:28.730 --> 00:20:31.029 his control and his comedic instincts in yet 00:20:31.029 --> 00:20:33.829 another medium. He gets how sound alone can be 00:20:33.829 --> 00:20:36.150 funny. And he's still acting. He's got upcoming 00:20:36.150 --> 00:20:38.759 stuff listed. like Dr. Haber in Running Point 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:43.019 in 2025, and appearings as himself in Everybody's 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:45.619 Live with John Mulaney. Oh, cool. So yeah, his 00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:47.460 acting career is definitely ongoing. Keeps putting 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:49.859 him in interesting projects, whether it's scripted 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.900 roles or appearing as himself with someone like 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:54.960 Mulaney. It shows he's still very much in demand 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.940 on screen. People like his Pacific vibe. He's 00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:00.059 also had a couple of film roles, smaller parts, 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:02.400 but in pretty big comedies. Played Joe in The 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:04.279 Interview back in 2014. The Roger and Goldberg 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:08.029 movie, yeah. Controversial one. Todd in The Disaster 00:21:08.029 --> 00:21:10.869 Artist in 2017, directed by James Franco. Right. 00:21:10.910 --> 00:21:13.750 So again, maybe not huge roles, but being movies 00:21:13.750 --> 00:21:16.450 by those guys, Rogin, Goldberg, Franco, it signals 00:21:16.450 --> 00:21:18.809 something, doesn't it? Like what? Like he's recognized 00:21:18.809 --> 00:21:22.009 within that core group of major comedy players. 00:21:22.089 --> 00:21:24.349 He's part of that scene, connected. They trust 00:21:24.349 --> 00:21:26.750 him to come in, even for a smaller part, and 00:21:26.750 --> 00:21:28.490 add something funny, something distinctive. It's 00:21:28.490 --> 00:21:30.809 like a stamp of approval from the film comedy 00:21:30.809 --> 00:21:33.630 world. Broadens his reach. OK, so we've got this 00:21:33.630 --> 00:21:37.400 picture. Critically acclaimed. writer, producer, 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.200 Emmy winner, solid standup, recognizable actor 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.240 in TV and film, an incredibly impressive, well 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.500 -rounded career. Yeah, really hitting on all 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:50.299 cylinders. But then there's the other side, the 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:53.660 public persona, specifically his time on Twitter, 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:57.599 which was memorable. Memorable is one word for 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:00.099 it. Unfiltered might be another. Definitely unfiltered. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.000 Before he quit, he was pretty well known for 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.799 essentially trolling. famous people and companies 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.460 online. Yeah, that was kind of his thing for 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.740 a while, provocation as performance art, almost. 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.779 And he even openly said he bought a lot of his 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:14.319 followers, which is just a weirdly honest or 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:16.839 maybe meta -comedic thing for someone of the 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:18.980 public eye to admit. It really is, and it kind 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.539 of plays into that whole persona, right? Like, 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:24.400 commenting on the absurdity of social media fame 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.359 itself, even while participating in it, buying 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:29.259 followers, and then telling people you bought 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:32.549 them. It undermines the whole currency of follower 00:22:32.549 --> 00:22:35.009 counts. It's like performance art critiquing 00:22:35.009 --> 00:22:37.849 the platform from within. It felt like he understood 00:22:37.849 --> 00:22:40.450 the game, how to get attention, how to go viral, 00:22:40.569 --> 00:22:42.430 and just decided to play it by his own weird 00:22:42.430 --> 00:22:45.369 rules. Sometimes using it for comedy, sometimes. 00:22:45.769 --> 00:22:47.390 Well, sometimes it got messy. Definitely got 00:22:47.390 --> 00:22:49.380 messy sometimes. Like the lacrosse saga. That 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:52.619 was legendary. He just relentlessly tweeted about 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:54.619 wanting to be their spokesperson. Obsessively. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:56.759 Until they actually sent him a cease and desist 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.859 letter. Which is kind of the ultimate punchline 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:01.059 to the bit, isn't it? It's this perfect example 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:03.640 of his style. Taking a silly premise, committing 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:06.579 to it with relentless, absurd persistence, and 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.559 pushing it until it breaks into the real world, 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:11.339 forcing a reaction from this big corporation. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.279 It felt like performance art crossing into reality. 00:23:14.490 --> 00:23:18.069 A comment on branding, fandom, maybe just pure 00:23:18.069 --> 00:23:20.309 annoyance tactics for laughs. Yeah, yeah. All 00:23:20.309 --> 00:23:22.990 of the above. A unique blend of humor and maybe 00:23:22.990 --> 00:23:24.950 deliberately ignoring corporate boundaries just 00:23:24.950 --> 00:23:26.829 to see what happens. And he wasn't afraid of 00:23:26.829 --> 00:23:29.750 direct conflict either. Back in 2011, he apparently 00:23:29.750 --> 00:23:31.930 started a public argument with the NBA player 00:23:31.930 --> 00:23:35.369 Gilbert Arenas. Oh, right. Over Arenas supposedly 00:23:35.369 --> 00:23:37.970 deleting a bunch of old sexist tweets. Yeah. 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:40.220 That's not just trolling. That's picking a fight 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:43.140 on, like, ethical grounds. It shows his online 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:45.940 persona wasn't just about random jokes or pranks. 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:48.480 He was willing to use his platform to call people 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:51.819 out, engage in more serious confrontational debates. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:55.380 It shifted him from just funny internet guy to 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:58.440 someone potentially using humor or just his platform 00:23:58.440 --> 00:24:01.299 for social commentary or accountability. But 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:03.640 that can be a tricky line to walk. Extremely 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:06.259 tricky. Especially online, where tone gets lost. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:09.019 Which leads to maybe the most controversial incident. 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:12.740 2017, that tweet about Barron Trump. Oof. Yeah. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:15.539 That one caused a huge backlash. He tweeted, 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.960 Barron Trump will be mutilating cats on the White 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:20.920 House lawn in like two weeks. and faced massive 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:23.920 accusations of cyberbullying, abusing his platform. 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:26.579 It absolutely crossed a line for a lot of people, 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:30.039 targeting a minor, even satirically, even the 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:32.779 president's son. It hit a nerve. What do you 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.480 think the intent was there? Just boundary pushing 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:38.950 gone wrong? Probably. Maybe intended as dark 00:24:38.950 --> 00:24:41.089 satire about the political climate, the perceived 00:24:41.089 --> 00:24:44.549 chaos. Yeah. But it landed really badly. It starkly 00:24:44.549 --> 00:24:46.730 showed the power and the danger of that kind 00:24:46.730 --> 00:24:49.970 of provocative online persona. It demonstrated 00:24:49.970 --> 00:24:53.009 how easily intent can be misread or just deemed 00:24:53.009 --> 00:24:56.069 unacceptable, especially when dealing with sensitive 00:24:56.069 --> 00:24:58.730 subjects like kids. It probably contributed to 00:24:58.730 --> 00:25:01.549 this idea that his online self could be genuinely 00:25:01.549 --> 00:25:04.230 reckless, not just playful. Yeah, a clear example 00:25:04.230 --> 00:25:06.869 of how a tweet can blow up and have real consequences 00:25:06.869 --> 00:25:09.250 for Definitely. The fallout was significant. 00:25:09.769 --> 00:25:11.730 So given all that history, the trolling, the 00:25:11.730 --> 00:25:14.089 controversy, the backlash, maybe it's not entirely 00:25:14.089 --> 00:25:15.970 surprising that he eventually just quit Twitter. 00:25:16.230 --> 00:25:18.069 Right. He posted that note saying he was done 00:25:18.069 --> 00:25:19.730 with it. And his reason was pretty blunt. He 00:25:19.730 --> 00:25:22.730 called the platform a fucking hellscape. Which 00:25:22.730 --> 00:25:25.789 honestly probably resonated with a lot of people 00:25:25.789 --> 00:25:29.309 even then. His decision to leave and to label 00:25:29.309 --> 00:25:31.829 it so harshly felt like a statement about the 00:25:31.829 --> 00:25:35.250 platform itself. About the pressure, the toxicity, 00:25:35.430 --> 00:25:38.529 the mental toll of living publicly online, especially 00:25:38.529 --> 00:25:40.930 when you're constantly poking the bear. It's 00:25:40.930 --> 00:25:42.890 like even the provocateur reached his limit. 00:25:43.170 --> 00:25:45.309 Exactly. It suggested that maybe the game wasn't 00:25:45.309 --> 00:25:48.069 fun anymore or the cost was too high. It was 00:25:48.069 --> 00:25:50.230 a powerful commentary on the state of social 00:25:50.230 --> 00:25:52.170 media from someone who had really lived in the 00:25:52.170 --> 00:25:54.849 trenches. So he steps away from the hellscape? 00:25:54.890 --> 00:25:58.180 Does that hurt his career? Seems like not at 00:25:58.180 --> 00:26:01.279 all. If anything, maybe refocusing helped, because 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.420 the awards and recognition just kept coming, 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:06.039 especially for his actual creative work. I think 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:08.240 you're right. Maybe stepping away from the noise 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:11.140 allowed his actual talent, the writing and producing, 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:14.259 to really take center stage without the distraction 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:16.440 or the negative baggage of the Twitter persona. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.099 Let the work speak for itself. Yeah. He could 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:22.240 control the narrative again by focusing on the 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.609 shows. and the industry clearly responded to 00:26:24.609 --> 00:26:27.529 the quality of that work. In the long run, leaving 00:26:27.529 --> 00:26:30.049 that hellscape probably boosted his standing 00:26:30.049 --> 00:26:32.769 and respect within the industry. The spotlight 00:26:32.769 --> 00:26:35.410 shifted back to the craft. And that craft has 00:26:35.410 --> 00:26:38.450 been seriously decorated. Let's recap those accolades 00:26:38.450 --> 00:26:40.630 because they really do tell a story of consistent 00:26:40.630 --> 00:26:43.049 excellence. We mentioned the Emmy nominations 00:26:43.049 --> 00:26:46.170 for both The Good Place and Hacks. Multiple nominations 00:26:46.170 --> 00:26:48.710 for Outstanding Comedy Series for both shows. 00:26:49.210 --> 00:26:52.150 That alone is impressive consistency. Being part 00:26:52.150 --> 00:26:55.049 of teams making shows considered among the very 00:26:55.049 --> 00:26:57.470 best year after year. It shows you're operating 00:26:57.470 --> 00:27:00.509 at the highest level. And then the huge win, 00:27:01.230 --> 00:27:03.369 the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series 00:27:03.369 --> 00:27:06.940 for Hacks Season 3 in 2024. That's the peak. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.880 The ultimate validation in TV comedy. For him, 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:12.619 as a co -EP and writer, it confirms his integral 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:14.920 role in creating the best comedy show on television, 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:17.440 according to the Academy. It's a massive statement 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.420 about his impact. Then there's the Producers 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:22.140 Guild recognition. Nominations for The Good Place 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:25.019 and Hacks seasons one and two. And then the W 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:27.940 win for PGA's Best Episodic Comedy for Hacks 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:31.359 Season 3 in 2024. And the PGA is crucial because 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:33.839 it's producers recognizing producers. It honors 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:36.079 the leadership, the management, the vision needed 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.759 to actually get a great show made. Winning that 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:41.539 and the Emmy for the same season, that signals 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:44.039 mastery of both the creative and the practical 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.660 sides of production. And finally, the Writers 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:50.460 Guild Awards. his peers, the writers, nominations 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:52.819 going way back to Parks and Recreation in 2012 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:56.670 -2013. Then the good plays in 2018, Hacks season 00:27:56.670 --> 00:27:59.769 two in 2022. Shows longevity and respect from 00:27:59.769 --> 00:28:02.609 writers over time. But then the WNS for Hacks. 00:28:02.950 --> 00:28:05.470 Two wins for season one back in 2021 for new 00:28:05.470 --> 00:28:07.769 series and comedy series. That's huge for a first 00:28:07.769 --> 00:28:09.849 season. Incredible. Winning both categories right 00:28:09.849 --> 00:28:11.650 out of the gate. That's the guild saying the 00:28:11.650 --> 00:28:13.390 writing on this show from the very beginning 00:28:13.390 --> 00:28:15.309 was exceptional and he was a key part of that. 00:28:15.490 --> 00:28:17.690 And then another WGA win for comedy series for 00:28:17.690 --> 00:28:21.130 Hacks season three in 2024. just reinforces the 00:28:21.130 --> 00:28:23.569 sustained quality of the writing and his contribution 00:28:23.569 --> 00:28:27.230 to it. These WGA wins are arguably the most direct 00:28:27.230 --> 00:28:30.289 validation of his core craft as a writer. So 00:28:30.289 --> 00:28:32.809 putting it all together, the Emmy, the PGA, the 00:28:32.809 --> 00:28:35.750 multiple WGAs, especially achieving that trifecta 00:28:35.750 --> 00:28:39.150 for Hacks, what's the big picture takeaway about 00:28:39.150 --> 00:28:41.809 Joe Mandy's standing now? The big picture is 00:28:41.809 --> 00:28:44.150 that he's unequivocally established himself as 00:28:44.150 --> 00:28:46.869 a top -tier, elite creative force in television 00:28:46.869 --> 00:28:50.029 comedy. It's not just about one hit show or one 00:28:50.029 --> 00:28:52.509 skill. It's about consistent, award -winning 00:28:52.509 --> 00:28:55.210 excellence across writing and producing on multiple 00:28:55.210 --> 00:28:58.109 high -profile, critically beloved series over 00:28:58.109 --> 00:29:01.049 more than a decade. These awards, judged by his 00:29:01.049 --> 00:29:03.210 peers across the industry, cement his legacy 00:29:03.210 --> 00:29:05.430 as someone central to shaping contemporary TV 00:29:05.430 --> 00:29:08.190 comedy. His name carries serious weight now. 00:29:08.230 --> 00:29:10.470 He's a proven leader and a master craftsman. 00:29:10.089 --> 00:29:12.170 and really an incredible trajectory. So wrapping 00:29:12.170 --> 00:29:14.250 up our deep dive today, we've looked at Joe Mandi, 00:29:14.390 --> 00:29:16.890 this true multi -hyphenate, from that early viral 00:29:16.890 --> 00:29:18.869 hit, look at this fucking hipster, through his 00:29:18.869 --> 00:29:21.170 stand -up, his acting, that wild Twitter phase, 00:29:21.710 --> 00:29:24.210 all the way to being this powerhouse, Emmy -winning 00:29:24.210 --> 00:29:26.970 writer and producer behind a show like Hacks. 00:29:27.509 --> 00:29:30.730 He really does kind of embody how dynamic and 00:29:30.730 --> 00:29:33.529 frankly weird the career path of a comedic artist 00:29:33.529 --> 00:29:36.460 can be in the 21st century. Absolutely. His journey 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:38.500 really mirrors the way the industry itself has 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:40.440 changed. You have to be adaptable. You have to 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.700 understand different platforms from live performance 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:45.799 to TV production to, yes, even navigating the 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:48.579 chaos of online engagement. He shows how you 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:51.119 can evolve from being a niche internet figure 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:54.440 to an industry leader kind of learning and growing 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:56.759 in public. So here's a final thought to leave 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:59.319 everyone with. We've seen Mandé go from this 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:01.519 sharp blogger who really got the internet early 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:05.700 on to this major award -winning creator of sophisticated 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:08.579 TV comedy while also maintaining this boundary 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:11.079 -pushing, unforgettable online persona for years. 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:13.799 What does that whole arc tell us about what it 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:15.920 takes to be a successful comedic talent now? 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:18.180 That's a great question. Does it maybe suggest 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.980 that the most impactful artists today need to 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:22.799 be masters of many trades? You know, blurring 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:24.960 those lines between being a performer, a writer, 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:28.019 a producer, maybe even a provocateur online. 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:31.220 Is that multifaceted, multi -platform skill set 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:33.799 not just an option anymore, but almost required 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:35.680 to reach the highest levels of both critical 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:38.500 acclaim and real cultural impact? Makes you wonder 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.539 if the era of just being a stand -up or a sitcom 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:42.680 writer is kind of over for those aiming for the 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.839 very top. Something to think about.