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and you will surely get many different answers.
One of the things I love about the podcast is the central focus it has on successful people.
Why such a passion for learning about successful people and then just airing it on a free show?
Well, we cant figure out why were here.
We cant figure out what our purpose is for being here.
We cant figure out how many other galaxies or planets out there might have other people on it.
I realized that as a manager it’s possible for you to only help one person.
But to me, that was my goal with the podcast and what I wanted.
It sounds corny, but my job as a manager is essentially to be a dream maker.
If we do well, lets move forward.
If we dont, fire my ass.
Its kind of comical, but I get deflated by successes with the clients.
So thats a pretty good ratio.
I sold a special for Tom Arnold.
He said no, even though he had been working 27 years.
I said, Do you mind if I venture to get you an hour special?
The actual act of selling though, it is ordinary to me.
But when somebody comes up to me afterwards and hugs me like that, thats not ordinary its extraordinary.
Because that show is not getting canceled.
So its either all or nothing in those situations.
They only had four shows remaining within the contract that they were going to do in the fall.
Youre not getting out of the episodes.
Come on, I gotSNL, its an eight-year contract, youve only got four episodes left.
Youre doing the four shows with every other cast member.
Lorne says, No Jordan, I cant wait for you.
Jordan, his agents, managers, and lawyers are devastated.
But without that,Key and Peelenever would have been created.
And that launched everything and let him know that he can create, write, produce, and direct.
The rest of history.
and Jordan said I dont have a car, Im taking the bus.
Could you have ever been a standup for your career, or was it not your calling?
Ill say I was a great host.
That was my favorite.
It was fun and I think it worked.
Then I started managing and I still hosted shows, which was probably bad.
Being a standup I dont think was in my calling.
I didnt do drugs, I wasnt a drinker, so the heroinesque feeling of the laughter was great.
Is my calendar full?
And everywhere I went people were so nice, but it reminded me of the tragedy.
So you just go out to a comedy club where people are hugging you, How you doing?
I know theyre trying to be nice,but this was like a negative/positive kind of thing.
Where did that trajectory take you?
I looked in the yellow pages under realtors and one of them called back.
First place he showed me was 82 West 82nd Street right near Central Park.
I paid first, last, security and I was in.
Then I needed a comedy club as a base.
He gave it up to me.
I was there for 17 years, and thats where I decided to start managing.
But I was there and I started my management company.
The list goes on and on.
Some I met in Boston like Bill Burr, Dane Cook, and Louis C.K.
Louie was my first client ever.
I know that Louis C.K.
The thing about life is that there are times that are cyclical where you have certain relationships with people.
I had an incredibly close relationship with him.
Im not saying that what has happened to the women is not wrong, because its fucking horrible.
I cant even imagine.
I feel bad for the women and I know he feels bad for them.
Even the most evil motherfucker.
I would like to believe they think in their minds, Well, this isnt that bad.
Because they dont really understand the effect it has.
I dont know what the answer is, its been going on since Fatty Arbuckle.
And if you measure their whole lives Louis C.K.
And what percentage was he a negative force in the world?
Its like one percent of one percent of one percent of one percent.
Who is the hardest worker youve met in this business?
The hardest working person I ever worked with is Whitney Cummings.
And I kind of get emotional about it.
I remember approaching her and telling her that and shes like I just do the correspondent stuff.
I had a vision of what I thought she would be or could be.
Thats the kind of person she is.
Im proud of her success.
Okay, but you cant name hardly any today.
Believe it or not, back then, therewere more prominently in the eye of people every week.
Joan Rivers did late night.
But that show is not for you.
That show is not for my kids.
That show is not for people in their 20s, millennials.
That show is for older people.
I just rememberedLady Dynamite, Maria Bamford.
Yeah, thats right.
For some reason, for most women, the code hasnt been unlocked.
So in comedy at least theres a lot more than magic.
Honestly I cant do that.
It depends on what area moves you in life.
If youre an actor, you should listen to Larry Mosss episode.
Hes the greatest acting guru of my generation.
If youre an athlete, listen to Dennis Rodmans episode.
Its really all about the journey.
It relates to every single walk of life.
Whos a comedian you didnt believe in who went on to become a star?
He wanted me to represent him and I didnt think that he was ready yet.
I just felt like he needed more seasoning, more whatever, but he said that he was ready.
He knew that he was ready to act and that he was ready to do standup on bigger stages.
Me personally, Ive been shit on my whole life.
Im probably the most imitated person in this business whos behind the scenes.
Every comedian has an impression of me and is always roasting me.
Im used to being shit on.
Louies thing went viral and it hurt Dane.
And hed go back to his office and hed think to himself, Im a fuckingmillionairewith a one rating.
How many people do you know in your life that would turn down $5,000?
This guy turns down $50,000,000.
And bets on himself.
I remember seeing him for the first time after he turned it down.
He had the sense to bet on himself and he believed in himself as an artist.
What do I think of the all the specials?
I dont think that you’re able to possibly be the best representation of yourself.
And he did 30 minutes of material that didnt exist 24 hours before that.
I wouldve given anything to film that and see it.
Dave is more like amazing jazz.
Rock is like great R&B its just tight, you know?
And whats amazing about that special Tamborine rememberTrading Spaces?
That lamp is pretty cool.
Were going to design the room around this lamp.
Rock takes this word that weve all known our whole lives:Tamborine.
The word is truth.
They tell the truth.
And they tell the hard truth.
Check out Katzs podcastIndustry Standardhere.
