Jimmy Fallon: I Wasn’t Prepared For The Hate… It Was Brutal. I Was Starving, Living on $7.25!

25:47And if I could get seen by Brosting Gray, maybe they would put me in touch with, you know, the Adam Sandler's of the world, or the, you know, people that, you know, they had everyone from, I think, Baluci on to, you know, they probably have people on the show now. But I remember getting a call from a manager who used to work at Brosting Gray, just left. Her name was Randy Siegel, and she was great, and she was my manager. I moved out to LA with the manager. And so I thought she would know how to guide me to Silent Live. What are your parents saying at this time? Because if you're, if one's kid says, I'm going to go out to LA to do comedy and improv in these kinds of things, your dad was a, a career man.

26:30He was working at IBM, I believe. Yes, he was working at IBM. He said to me, I said, I said, look, just guarantee me two years of college. It just, just go to college for at least two years. I think we made a deal. We said, if you go for four years, I'll, I'll pay for two years. A new pay for two years. I, okay, that was kind of a deal for us. And so I remember going to college for three and a half years. And on that half of that last semester, I got kind of an opportunity to go to LA to meet with this manager. And I said, I call my parents and I said, I think I'm going to drop out and move, and go to LA and go for it.

27:14And just try to take acting lessons and take class at the groundlings and try to get an audition for at Silent Live. And they were like, all right, well, you really think about this. You know, this is really what you do. Who is this person that you're going out to? And I go, her name is Randy Siegel. She's a manager. I had met her through a guy that I used to work for in in Troy, New York. I was a receptionist at a newsweekly called Metroland. I used to answer the phones. I would also do the personal ads like, you know, men seeking women and blah, blah, I typed those things out. And I remember he moved to LA to be a music manager.

27:55And so I gave him my tape on this way out, a videotape of me doing my troll act. And I said, if you see anybody, he goes, well, I'm not doing comedy. I'm doing music. I go, I know. But if you see anybody, maybe pass it along. And so he passed it along to this manager. So she talked to my parents and they got a phone call, where she was like, I think Jimmy's got something. You know, he's green. But I think if he gets, you know, if he goes to work and puts in the work, I think that he'll get something. I think he'll be successful. He's green. Amateur. He's not ready yet. If you're not ripe, he's green.

28:34So if you're green, you're like, you know, green banana. You know, did you ever give up on yourself or did you ever doubt yourself while you were out in LA? Yeah, definitely a bunch of times. It's tough when you're just not getting the, it's not working. And you want to tell everyone that it is working, but it's hard. It's a lot of rejection. And you end up like, you just trying so hard and you go, I know what I want, but it takes a, it takes so much time to get there. But in the meantime, you have to take auditions. You have to because I was like, I didn't want to take acting lessons. Because I read somewhere that James Dean would go to acting class and just watch and never do the acting lessons.

29:18And I like James Dean for some reason. So I would go and I'd just sit in the back of it and watch everybody. And finally, the acting teacher came out to me and he's like, are you sure you want to do this? Because I mean, you can get so much more out of it if you did this and started working with other actors. I think you should because you're a stand -up comedian. You don't perform with anyone. You're by yourself on stage. I think you should learn how to act with other actors. And I was like, yeah, maybe he's right. Like I'm not James Dean. So I started acting and then you realize, oh gosh, I'm really not good at this.

29:52I got to learn how to do this. It's a skill to play off of other people and to listen to other people. So then I started doing auditions because that's my manager. He got me an audition for movies and stuff. And I think my first audition was to play a lifeguard in the Brady Bunch 2 movie or something. And I had to say like one line like, get out of the pool. Something like that. And so I remember going and my line was printed on facts paper. They facts did over. And when facts machines were a thing. And so I had and they would tell you, bring in the paper when you do the audition, hold the lines so that they don't think they're off -book.

30:31So they think that you have a chance of getting better. I go, okay, great. So I'd hold the paper and I go and action. Get out of the pool. You want to just do it one more time? I go, okay. It's quiet and it's just so awkward. And I go, get out of the pool or whatever it was. And she goes, okay, bye bye. And I actually said bye bye. And I was like, my face got red. I got so embarrassed. And I got back to my apartment and my manager called me and I go, did you hear feedback? She goes, yeah, you didn't get it. They said that weirdly. She goes, they said you're too green. And I go, okay, she goes, but we have to work on it.

31:14You know, just keep doing it and keep doing auditions and work on these lines. And you should get an acting cushion. Go bring that lines to the acting class. And go, here's, can you do get out of the pool? You know, whatever better. So it just got over and over again. You get rejected and you wouldn't get parts. I got no parts, a prior audition for, you know, 30 shows and movies and stuff like that. And you just kind of, it's tough. It's really tough to say if anyone going into the business or acting or any of that stuff, the entertainment stuff, you're going to get beat up. It's going to be to the point where you're like, I'm so depressed, I can't do it.

31:51But just know that if you can just get through it and keep working, eventually whatever it is is going to happen in life will work out. Maybe you want to be an actor, but maybe it'll be a lighting director. Maybe it'll work on sets. Maybe it won't be acting, but it will get you to where you're supposed to be. If you just keep going and keep doing it, I just kept kind of telling myself that. I ran out of money and I was like, I'm going to have to go home to live with my parents and probably go back to college. If I can, if they can let me back in and I think I might have looked into it, but I was just so bummed out because that's not what I wanted at all.

32:33I wanted to be on Silent Live.

32:38It's just reality was like, oh, you almost didn't feel like living in this world. Because it's like people couldn't believe that they're like, that's not reality. You can't just say I'm going to be on Silent Live. I remember going to my grandma's class. My first teacher was great. His name was Jim Wise. And he goes, what do you want to do? And he would go around the horn. And people were like, I want to be in movies. I want to be in the TV show. I want to be in the sitcom. And I said, I want to be on Silent Live. That's very specific. It's one in a zillion. That's what I want. And he brought that up to me.

33:14He brings it up. I was like, I'll never forget that. You said that. That's what you wanted to do. That was my ultimate. I said, if I do nothing else in life, that's all I wanted to do. And like, even if that, if I got on for one season or one episode, then I could do whatever I could. I didn't care what I did after that. That was what was the fixation with Saturday Night Live? I think my parents loved it. And their friends loved it. But that was what they would watch. And that was like the pinnacle of comedy. That was the best comedy show in America. And so that was the best. So it's like playing for the greatest team, you know, playing for the Yankees or, you know, whatever.

34:01I don't know soccer, but Arsenal, I have no idea. Manchester United. Manchester United. You couldn't help yourself. Oh my gosh. But yes, playing for that, you're playing for you want to play play for the best. If you can make it there, that's the best team. Then you could do whatever if you play for Manu. And it's slightly different with you because a lot of upcoming football players would be happy to play for any Premier League team. Manu United is, you know, of course great, but they would aim for any Premier League team, where you seem to be like religiously intent on it being Saturday Night Live.

34:35Yeah, it had to be that because I think that's what we would watch. We would talk about as a family. As a family, yeah, as a family. They would tape it. You know, we were one of the first families to have a VCR, which is anyone young listening to this podcast, a videocassette recorder. So it would tape, it's like a DVR digital video recording. So it's a video cassette and you would tape it on these giant tapes and they would record two hours on television. And so we would tape the show and then you could rewatch it. And then I would rewatch it and study it and watch the sketches over and over again and watch repeats and watch the greats and watch Bollushi and Dan Acroid and people I want Bill Murray and Steve Martin, people I wanted to be like.

35:19As it got into high school, I was taping it, watching the best sketches and I would go to my friend's party and show the best sketch that week and go, oh, this is the best sketch. It's Chris Farley and it's both of, or you know, I would be obsessed that way. I keep, be almost became so obsessed in high school that I couldn't really hang out with anyone while I watched the show because I didn't like it if anyone didn't like the show. And my parents used to let me drink if I stayed in the, if I stayed home. So if I didn't go out, they would buy me a six pack of beer and I could drink at probably, you know, 16 or something or something like that.

35:59You know, not the smarts. But they would, you know, I would hang out with my friends and they would say, yeah, they're going to have a couple of beers and, you know, but I would watch Silent Live with a six pack and watch it and study it. And I ended up just stop watching it with anyone else. I, you know, I guess I still drank from that sad, sad, drank by myself, but I became an alcohol like at 16. But it was, it was a thing that I would do and I would just study it and I would, every Saturday night and the continuing to college my friends would have parties and they go, you got to come, where I go, I'll be there at one o 'clock.

36:40They go, you know, the parties, you got to come before I go, Sarah live, I can't go. They go, just tape it. I go, I can't just tape it. I have to watch it live. Obsessed. Yeah, I was beyond obsessed. Obsessed. Without a doubt, that was it. That was the pinnacle like. Even I went on like an NBC tour with my dad, like a bus trip to New York City and it's a creative tour of NBC to see Sarah live. You know, this is as old as older. I was just so nervous to go in the building and oh my gosh, this is the building. This is what it looks like. And this is the, you know, the, the, the, the, the, the doorway and the revolving door.

37:19I know all this and I know everything. I know the, what the walls look like. I know what the ceiling is painted like. I know Art Deco decorate, you know, I knew everything. I geeked out and I was like, this is the best day. Just going on tour there. Now I've worked there for 20 -something years. You know, it's my home. I've been working in that building since 1998. I don't even think about it anymore. That's the door going to work. Every now and then I'll walk to, you know, I walk to work almost every day, but I'll get that feeling again. Like, oh yeah, don't lose that. This word obsession, it seems to be, what's earlier when I said, you know, the principles of all the characteristics that got you to, to where you are today, but clearly obsession is one of them.

38:04I mean, you're obsessed to an extent that I didn't actually realize with becoming a host on Saturday Night Live. Yeah. An obsession is a powerful force, isn't it? Because it, it means that one can bang their head against an immovable object over and over again until the immovable object moves out its way. And that's kind of what you found yourself doing in LA. You're sat that you're going to these auditions. You're getting rejected. What was your mental health like in that period when you're in LA? Because you're dealing with constant rejection. You're running out of money. You're contending with having to go home.

38:36It wasn't the greatest, and I'm a pretty positive guy in general. But I think that was probably my lowest looking back. I mean, I remember like, you know, trying to see what therapy was, or if I could afford a therapist, or what that meant, or why? Because I was just breaking down mentally of like, what have I done? Like, what have I done? I've kind of made these decisions, and I wasn't getting anywhere. And it was like, I mean, I had really kind of no friends and no social life, just obsessed with work, and obsessed with stand up, and trying to make my act better, and trying to see if I can get on silent live and having no money, and just going like, what is this all about?

39:31You know, I can't, I don't know if I can afford to keep failing. You know, I can't live in an apartment if you don't make money. You know, I can't afford gas to get to the audition. You can't eat. You just like, you just go, oh yeah, I just gotta keep doing gigs, but I'm running out of space. So maybe if I go home, I can go back to doing like these little clubs, and make somebody save up money, then go back out and try again, L .A. I remember they became a moment where I'm like, I think I've wrote a letter to my best friend, like I'm losing it, dude. And in fact, I know I did because he still has the letter, and he works for our show now.

40:10And he says, I have it, and I'll publish it one day. I'll give it to people if I need the money. I'll release your letter if you emotionally broken. I go, you know, but that's what best friends do. They hold it over your head. Secret, sick, dude. Yeah, exactly. I'll sell it on eBay. And I go, gosh, I mean, you know, it's one of those embarrassing things. I'll probably wish I didn't write that, but what did it say? I don't even ask, but I think it was something to the point. Like I'm losing it. And I don't know if I can make it. And I have, I don't know what else to do with my life. And, you know, something to that or affect or, you know, I miss college.

40:55I miss, I miss you. I miss having friends. I miss going out. I miss, you know, I think it was that. It was like maybe regretting my decision to move Telet. Was there anything that this Jimmy might go back to that Jimmy and say to him at that time if you could to say a message that maybe he needed to hear that he wasn't hearing? Maybe advice or... Yeah, I mean, of course the advice would be like it's going to be okay. You know, I think probably the best would go back and be like, hey, I'm proud of you, dude. Like you're doing exactly what you have to do. You're doing what you have to do to become me.

41:40So I'm so proud of you. So keep it up, you know? You know, I mean, I would all the things that I remember just in LA and like, I remember like finding corporate boxes that were thrown out in this garage next to me and bringing that in, not dirty or anything, but new boxes. And I would put sheets over and they would become tables. So I would use that as like kind of an end table next to my bed and stuff like that. And you go, oh yeah, those are, it's creative. You know, you could you could look at it so sad to talk about Nago. Oh my god, you're by yourself. You had a carbon boxes, it's tables. You know, I didn't think about that.

42:23I was just trying to be that look nice if I had a sheet over it. And that looked kind of cool. It was very kind of dormy, you know, but I think about, I don't know why I just maybe think about it now. So maybe I mean, having carbure furniture was depressing. But, you know, you know, I think that's where you have to dig and see if you can make the find the funny and go like, if you can perform now. Then get ready when if you're if you get if you step in the ring, you're an animal. Well, I'm proud of you.

42:57You didn't quit. You didn't you're really like against all odds. You're doing something that no one in the family is done. That none of your friends have done. You really don't know where this is going to end. And you're kind of in adventuring into an odd place. You're discovering all new stuff. It's never been done. And it's it's it's it's great to do this because one day you'll get tested in a different way. And you'll be mentally stronger. And so I'm proud of you because this is all tough now. But it will pay off when when you need to show your strengths. Or you know, it's almost like you're going to the gym.

43:40You know, it will pay off one day. Like I don't want to do it. I don't want to run. I don't want to lift. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to eat. I go, I know. But the future of me is telling you this is great that you're doing this. Because you're going to have a it's just going to be when you need it, they'll be strong enough. And so I think I was becoming stronger as it was building it. And I look back and I wouldn't change anything. You know, at the time, you know, if anything, I would say I wanted to happen faster. But not really. I think you have to live through all the stuff and go, now I remember that.

44:21I was cringy. Oh, that was rough. Oh, I remember that. That was bad. But that was a good one. And then you go, oh, yeah, that was another great one. And then you start thinking of all these stuff that you thought was depressing. Then it's kind of charming now. And you go, kind of, I love those days. I love the days where you bombed. And that was the biggest problem. The biggest problem in your life is that you didn't do a great impression of Jerry Seifel. Like that was the biggest problem in your life. Okay. Then I think your life is pretty good. I do. I do. If you look back and go, that was it meant so much to me.

44:56You know, and I think about that now with my daughters, you know, they tell me stuff is going on in school and stuff. And to me, I'm like, you won't even see these kids. They mean this will mean nothing to you. Maybe you'll be friends with them for life. I hope it'll be great, but I don't think so. I don't remember anyone. I don't talk to them for my grade school. But it's the biggest thing in their life now. So you can't say that because it's like, Dad, this is my life. You're talking about this is the biggest thing. Like high school is so slow when you're in high school. Right now, four years is a joke.

45:28Four years is like a joke to me. I go, oh my god, I can do anything for four years. When you're in it, it's long. Four years feels like 25 years. Yeah. Could you have imagined the reality where you didn't end up getting on to SNL at some point? So if we were sat here now, you're 50 years old and you're sat here and you'd never done it. I would have done it. But so this is what I'm getting at is I would have found a way and done it. And even just walked on or something. I would have found a way to get on it. I would have found some way to either be an extra or walk in the background or do something or I would have, there's no way.

46:11There's no way. I have to. But you're saying if I didn't, what would happen or you're saying, I don't think it would ever happen. I had to be on it. I was going to make it happen. And I had to do it. You know, I don't think there was an option. I don't think there I would have done it. I don't think there's ever an option. I would never have been on that show. I asked the question because there are areas of my life where I sometimes reflect and go, I always thought that that was going to happen. And the consideration that that might not have happened makes it's almost like this like then life wouldn't have been real.

46:46Like then everything I believed would have been a lie. There's small things in my life that when you look at me as a young man and I'm filming myself pretending that a TV show have asked me to do something that ended up happening 10 years ago. And I go, that was always how in my brain. I did that too. Yeah. But I mean, I think a lot of performers have done this where you interview yourself and you pretend you're on a radio show. And you go like, here I am. I'm counting down the top 10 songs. And here's the vote. And I have cassettes of me doing that. You know, I think a lot of people do that. When I asked you the question about SNL, you were so convinced that that's always the way that it was going to go.

47:25And I'm like, that's what I'm trying to, I wanted to see your reaction when I make you consider that it didn't go that way. I can't see it not happening. It was going to happen. I don't know. I don't know if I can tell you honestly that I could imagine another path. I don't even know if I could fake it. Because I would be lying. I know I would be on the internet. I have to. I just, that was, I can't even, I can't lie and say, well, I guess I could have done that. I just know. So how did you go from that kid who's writing the letter to his friend saying that he's considering giving up and seeking out therapy and those kinds of things?

48:10How did you get from that moment to that first Saturday night live audition? I think you get little things, little good things happen to you. You're going to use the word look, right? It sounded like you paused on the word look, though. But I could use luck. But I'm just going to say good things. I mean, it probably is luck. I feel like I'm a lucky person. But I think they're just like, like you, I think I got a holding deal at Warner Brothers television to do like, to act for a sitcom or something. Even though I didn't want a sitcom, I remember putting in the contract that if I get silent live while I'm doing the sitcom, that I can contractually get out.

48:59And they said, no, that's the whole reason no one can, you can't, I go, well, that's the only reason I could. I have to get this in this clause in my contract. And they said no one's ever asked for that, but okay. And so they put it in my contract. So if I was on the show, the show didn't get picked up. But if the show got picked up and I got a chance, I'll just for silent live, I could leave the show contractually because they were like, it's just, no, it's not going to happen. But so I ended up acting and getting a little money, which is great because it's actually, I could stay at my apartment and actually still work on my goal of Sarah Live.

49:39You know, while not doing, I didn't want to act in sitcoms. But that helped me take a breath and go like, okay, I got to cut more months of opportunity. And eventually you get a phone call? Yes. My manager sent tapes and tapes and tapes to Sarah Live saying, can, you know, this is he really wants it, blah, blah. And so I got an audition for Sarah Live. This is my first two auditions. My first one I went to do stand up my troll bit on stage at the comic strip here in New York. And I remember going in and having my one outfit that I owned that I thought was the best. And you know, some shirt from the gap or something.

50:31And Nike sneakers that were like, it was such a big deal. I only wore them on special occasions. This was it. And I went on stage with my troll doll. And I saw Lauren was in the audience. He had his hat on. He's the founder of Cree. Yes, he's creative Sarah Live. And now the late night end of the tonight show. And I remember going on stage and as soon as I did my first impression, I knew it just didn't work. I didn't have the audience. It was cut down from a 10 minute act to I think three minutes. And I had to catch the audience, hook them in three minutes and leave. And I started the first 20 seconds.

51:08I could tell this is bad. It was sweaty. It was a bad audition. And I left and I go, we went to a diner next door to the club with my manager and I had coffee. It was very depressing. Like, wow, that was my, that was it. That was why I just for saturday at live. Lauren Michaels, who's the creator of the show, was there. That was my big opportunity. And I blew it. You all right, so let me fix yours. We'll be fine. Let's figure it out. When back to LA, they said, do you need to get it? How did that feel? For some reason, at that point, I don't remember. I was a bit numb, I think, then. And I think I was on.

51:56I was starting to work on my act and really getting into stand -up. I just kind of kept thinking of my head. I have to get another shot. Another chance at auditioning or showing them what I could really do. Because that was just not the best that I could do. But it wasn't too long after that where I got another phone call from Sarah. How old were you when you got that second call? 23. So when I heard you'd said that if you didn't make it on SNL before the age of 25, you were good. That was going to kill myself. Were you actually? Yeah, I wrote that in something. In some journal or something. You wrote what?

52:45If I don't get out of the Silent Live at the age of 25, that'll kill myself. Did you mean that? Yeah, I did. But again, I knew that I was going to be on Silent Live. So I guess I didn't really mean it. Because I was going to be on Silent Live. The four of us, 25. So crazy. Yeah, I knew that I was going to be honest. So I didn't, wasn't really a threat. So funny. You're drunk, funny. Is the, actually, it's in my book behind there. There's a screenshot of my diary. And in the front page of my diary, it says, before I'm 25. And I have my goal written in the front of my diary. And I've published it in my book, which is on the shelf somewhere.

53:30It wasn't that funny that I had the same thing where I'm like, before I'm 25 years old, I will have to do this. Yes. Yeah. And it's, and it happened, thankfully. But did you think in your, when you were typing? I didn't tell us going to kill myself. Yeah, I don't, I think I typed it out. But again, I was into computers. I think I typed it. I think it's on some file somewhere. I think I said it will kill myself. But I definitely said, you know, yeah, 25 was my thing. I started my first business at 12 years old. And I started more businesses at 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. And at that time, what I didn't realize is that being a founder with no money meant that I also had to be the marketer.

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54:53Trial. That's Shopify .com slash Bartlett. And you get the second call for the second edition, around 23, 24 years old. Yeah. So then I said, do you want me to do the troll doll? And they go, no, we'd rather you're not due to the troll dolls. Because we've seen that already. OK. Was that the end of the troll doll? Well, that was my whole act. I don't have any, I don't have much more. That's all I did with the troll doll act. So I'm like, what do I do? So I just kind of did the troll doll act under a guise of a different thing, where it's like celebrity charity or, you know, so, you know, I think it was a...

55:31Yeah, you're doing a hell of a go. Oh my god. You know, my mom always told me too, I guess a lot of... I guess the next time I say so, I... She used to say all the time, she used to say, why don't you go to the store with your mother? And I... Skinny kid. And I would say, I'd say, why don't you shut up? That was the big... That was my big moment. That was the biggest moment for me. That was... That's crazy. That was the moment in the audition too, that changed everything. Because I was doing a bunch of impressions. And before I did that, you know, I'm so nervous, but now I'm on the actual stage.

56:10And you're there. And the producer comes over and says, Jimmy Fallon, you've come with us. They go, just let, you know, Lauren Michaels doesn't laugh, so don't let that throw you if you're doing your act. You go, great. Thank you. And then they go, now go get a hair make -up. I go, wow, how cool hair make -up. I go get a hair make -up. They're doing my hair. They're putting makeup on me because they're broadcasting in my audition to California, so that the heads of NBC can see. And the guy and girl doing my hair make -up go just so you know, Lauren doesn't really laugh in these auditions, so don't let that throw you.

56:42When I go, okay, yeah, that's what I heard. Thank you. I go get your microphone on. So they're putting a microphone on me and I'm like packing them and the audio I guess, just a little advice, Lauren doesn't really laugh, so if you do you think I go, what is this guy's problem? Why is he that laughing? He's in the wrong business. I mean, he's in the comedy show. And so as I was doing that audition, I did an impression of Adam Sandler, which was what you just played. And I remember at the time it was kind of new because Adam just left, Silent Live and no one was really doing Adam Sandler. And I was doing, you know, like, and yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, and yeah, oh yeah, you.

57:19Whatever. And I remember Lauren started laughing. I don't know, it's cool. It's a cool story. Even if I don't get Silent Live, but I just knew that he started laughing. He put his head in his hand and he was laughing. And I go, that's a good story. I'll tell my kids. I made Laura Michaels laugh. And on Silent Live, on the set of Silent Live, I wasn't really on the show, but I was on the set. And I remember doing that and feeling good about the audition. Like, I left that going. That one is good as a cougat. Yeah, that was the best I can give him. That was it. And I remember one of the producers, Marcie Klein came up to me and said, grab my hands, she was, she was fantastic.

58:07You got to feel good. And I was like, and I just felt like, okay, if they're saying it and I go, I feel good. Then you didn't hear, I didn't hear back for a couple of weeks or whatever. It's like, it's crazy how long you wait. Because you, and they go, look, we like Jimmy. We saw him at the comic club. We were looking for a different direction, you know, for that audition. I think they hired Tracy Morgan. So they were going in a different direction. The first audition. But this one they called, they go, Lauren wants to meet you and talk to you. He's going to be on L .A. And he had an office on the Paramount lot.

58:41And so I drove into the Paramount lot. I get my name to the front gate. It's a great, it's a great studio. It feels like you're in the business. And if you've ever been to the Paramount lot, but the giant gates and you're, it's a movie set and the gates open and you go to a parking spot. And there's actors walking around. It just feels like you're in the business. And there's a nerve wrecking. I went into Lauren's office. Yeah, like a, you know, some office on the, on the lot. And I remember going into his office and everything was white. And it kind of felt heavenly on us. And you're like, and I sat across the desk from him and he goes, do you mean to wear wigs?

59:19And I was like, oh, no, I just, I do this to my hair. I just spike it up. He's like, no, no, I'm saying like for characters and stuff. Like, do you, have you done characters where you wear wigs and stuff? I go, uh, no, he goes, because we want you for the show. And I just think, you know, with more practice and if you try to do different, as soon as you, whatever you're saying, I couldn't hear it. The rest was slow motion. I was like, oh my gosh, he just said I got Sarah life. I did it. I got Sarah life. It's happening. I couldn't believe it. And I go, okay. And I shook his hand. I go, I hope I make you proud.

59:57And I left and I think I pulled over to the first pay phone. I could get to and call my mom. I just got Sarah life. And I was like, what? You know, you know, you know, it was just, it was crazy. The whole thing's crazy. I'm coming back to New York because I'm going to be on the show that I tried to be on my whole life. I did it. It's happening. And here we go. And it was like, wow. And I say goodbye to L .A. and my roommates and everyone was just so happy for me. And then I went to New York and got an apartment and in Midtown. And it was the greatest thing. And I took Sarah life and went from there and did a couple of movies.

1:00:47I met my wife. It's the best thing that ever happened to me. And then I didn't work for a while after the movies. And then Lauren asked me to be on to host late night and replace Conan O 'Brien. I did. I worked hard at that. And then I got asked to replace Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. And I did that and here I am. I know I'm hosted the Tonight Show in crazy life and crazy opportunities. It's just so interesting and fun. There was a motion in your face where you talked about getting SNL and calling your mom. It's so interesting that it's decades ago. Yeah. You know, again, like it's the end of Rocky.

1:01:40You know, it's the thing. It's like, I did it. It's like, yes. You know, you did it. That's insane. You gotta be kidding me. You did it. Well, what we all said you were going to do. But you went and actually, this is crazy. It's not many people get do this. And I was like, yeah. And to talk to your mom who's your biggest fan and always believed in you, you know, that's the motion. I was like, it's just, how can this be? It's just, I don't know. It was just done. It's just the whole thing is kind of crazy. It's amazing. It's the anti -climax. No. Because if you aim at that one goal and put it on a pedestal for that long in your life.

1:02:37No, it paid off. It was everything. It was what I dreamt. It was crazy. Everything. The announcer. Jimmy Fallon. Him saying my name. I was like, dreamt of it. He was really saying it. I could watch him. I enjoyed every second of it. Every bit. The internet was happening at the time. And then people started getting, sending me fan letters and then web pages and it was just like, you started getting famous. And here's the New York City street. I walked on not too long ago being kind of afraid and intimidated. Now I'm walking and people are going, Jimmy, you know, and it's cool. And you go, yeah, what weren't you prepared for?

1:03:20Getting rejection, you know, getting your sketches cut, being told you're not funny, you know, haters. This is before Twitter and all that stuff, which is a different ballgame that I wasn't ready for either. But you think that it's just going to be, oh, this is cool. I remember being great. But then you just people, not everyone's rooting for you. You know, some people want you to fail. People's jobs are to take me down, you know, and to put bad press out. And stuff. That's their job. And that's, and you're just like, oh, I didn't think it was, I don't live in that world. I don't believe that it's real, but it kind of is real.

1:04:01And you go, oh, people are just going to be mean. And you got again, just toughen up and get through it and just keep your head down and keep being funny. And just keep doing things and keep keeping creative. And just if you move that out, you realize it's not even real. It's not, it's real, but it's noise. And it's just, it doesn't affect you. You can only believe in yourself and know that you have to keep going. And if you keep scoring, that will show. Your work will show. That stuff I wasn't prepared for of dealing with the overcoming that, you know, or overcoming that. Yeah, overcoming like hating on you or you know, saying you're not good or something or it's like, you don't think that's going to happen.

1:04:50But it, you know, it will, if you're successful, because someone will be like, you know, someone's not going to like you, no matter what. As someone that's always trying to please is that the antithesis of pleasing for one's brain who is orientated towards making people happy. It's the worst. Yes, it is the absolute worst. You're, I hate it. I want everyone to like me. I can't stand it. I go, oh my gosh. What can I do to make you like me? I think the answer is, you can't, you can't make everyone like you. You just have to do what you do and do the best that you can, that what you do. And be happy with yourself.

1:05:39I mean, look what's the alternative? The alternative is you quit. You, yeah, you quit or you change, you change you to be, I guess what the person who hates you likes. Someone else will just hate that. That's what, yeah, the original people will hate that. The change, you go, yeah, I mean, and then you'll hate yourself. Yeah, I mean, there's, I love music, but I remember like, I love the Beastie Boys. Growing up, but there's that one line, Mike D, says like, be true to yourself and you will never fall. And it's like, kind of is the move. Just be, that's be true to yourself. Then there's no, everyone can say whatever they want.

1:06:22It's like, that's who I am. How did you cope with that? Stardom being thrust into public spotlight. You're getting feedback from everywhere. You're getting the good, the bad, the ugly, you're someone that wants to please. Do you, did you seek any professional help? Did you get any support? No, no, I just kind of lived through it and go like, yeah, I think I'll figure it out. I think fame was fun. It's cool. It's cooler than cool. It's like, wow, this is what I thought it would be. But it's also at the end of the day, it's the work. And the stuff that you do and the stuff that comes out of it, we're most proud of.

1:07:04Where I'm like, oh, I get to do this. I think this bit could be fun. You know, like I remember, we had Mick Jagger on the show, and Lauren said Mick will do a sketch if anyone has an idea. And they go, I can do an idea where I'm the reflection of Mick Jagger in the mirror. And I'm like, you know, what, what I'm doing is shot. I thought what? And Lauren goes, please don't do that. Absolutely, please, please don't do that. He goes, it's been done. The Marks Brothers have done it. It's just a Lucille Ball. It's just, it's been done. Don't, please don't do that. I go, okay. He goes, but go pitch, Mick ideas.

1:07:35I go, I don't want to pitch him ideas. You're the producer. I'm nervous. I don't want to, I don't know Mick Jagger. He's like, just go in and pitch me ideas. So I wrote out like 10 ideas. I'm like, uh, hey, Mick, he's very nice. And I go, I'm, you know, I was thinking maybe me and you, uh, I play, you play Keith, and I'm you and, you know, um, we work at a, you know, sunglass hut or something like that. And he's like, yeah, not, don't, don't me not, don't, don't not, and I go, uh, well, then I have this other idea, you know, where, you know, you and I work in an ice cream shop. But we're, you know, but what he's like, nah, nah, don't me not, uh, I don't, I don't, I don't want to do that.

1:08:13And I go, all right, um, and I'm going down the list and the ideas are getting worse and worse. And I'm just like, oh my gosh. And then at a desperation, you go, or we could do something where you come in your dressing room and I'm your reflection in the mirror. And you're like, what, what I'm doing in this shot, done in the 70s and done in the 80s. What, what I'm gonna do that? What I'm gonna do it? And he goes, oh, I like that. And I go, so I go to Lauren's office. I go, good news, bad news. Good news. Make wants to do a sketch. That does is it's the mirror sketch. And so Lauren was like, okay, we'll do it.

1:08:47And we wrote it in a night, which has never been done. I don't think, when I was on the show, we wrote it on a Thursday night, rehearsed it once on Friday and did the show on Saturday. And it worked. And it really worked. It was might be one of the best sketches I was ever in. And Mick was so happy that he was so giddy and he kind of shook my hand through the mirror, which is funny because we, I'm supposed to be his reflection. And it was just kind of cool. And I remember one of those things where my the room was shaking. And I go, that's cool. That's beyond what I dreamt I could do. Being on Sarah Live is one dream, but now you're doing it, sketch with one of your rock idols and scoring.

1:09:35And it's great. And it's really funny. And everyone's having a good time. Like you really, but that's something and it wasn't meant to be. It wasn't written. It was all just kind of happened last minute. But those little moments all kind of add up and you go, oh my gosh, this is so crazy that this is all happening. How was that? I was looking before you arrived at all the people you've interviewed going back more than a decade. And it's just everybody. It's like Floyd Mayweather to insert the name of the person who's at the top of an industry. You've sat with them. They've been on your show. I was thinking like, how has that altered your perception of not just what fame is, but like what life is about?

1:10:16Because you've met the best of the best, the top of the top, the richest of the rich, the most famous of the famous. I'm interested in people, whoever it may be, whether it's spring scene or Andrew Lane and Joley or something, you're talking to them. Talk to me about this thing or what? I don't know. It's like also with my show, I got to jump right in. I have probably 10 minutes interview, which you got to get in there fast. I got to make them comfortable and know that I'm not going to make them look bad. I just want to talk to them and go like, hey, blah blah, or I'll make a thing, or I'll just say some joke or I don't know what I'll do.

1:11:00Really? And then they'll be themselves and then you go, now it's flowing and you go, yeah, yeah, and then you can get into the movie talk and sell the product or whatever you know, which is whatever. But it's that first kind of five to seven minutes where you get in there and then you start playing with them. And you start like, you can get a laugh out of Floyd Mayweather or something. It's cool. How'd you make them feel comfortable? Is this, you must have something that you have learned about what it is that makes someone feel comfortable? I don't know. I don't have an exact recipe. I will tell you that I go in before the show to their dressing room, say hello before the show.

1:11:40Okay. And just to say hi, I kind of go in and I'll just talk to them. Sometimes I talk to them longer than the interview because we'll get talking about something or life or some bit or, you know, their parents or something and just get into real life talk. And by the time they come out, they feel like we've already talked. So it's less pressure. I think also after 16 years of talking to, I've seen everyone at their highest. I've seen everyone at their lowest. I've seen people date people. They shouldn't date. I've seen people get married and have babies and it's just really fun to watch. And it's fun to go back.

1:12:18And now even if I see these people once a year, twice a year, I feel like I know them a little bit. And you're like, oh yeah, Chloe, good to see you. What's up? Or Mick, you know, how's it going? How's your kids? You know, we can just talk and we're caught up. And you're like, oh yeah. And it kind of feels like maybe it doesn't to them. But to me, it feels like I just saw them yesterday in that where, even though it's probably I haven't seen them in a year, it feels like I just saw you. You go, oh yeah. How'd you stop it from getting old? And I say this because I am obviously been doing this podcast.

1:12:55Now really for about four years, that's really that I consider the starting point when we start on YouTube. And I wonder what I've got to do to make sure that I never get bored of doing this. I don't think you ever will. There's just so many interesting people. Yeah. There's so many people in this world. And it's it doesn't end. I mean, four years, I'm trying to think of where that was. That was around the end of late night for me. I mean, you're just, you're doing all the things. You're just expanding. I mean, but you're working hard. I mean, you're trying. I think just keep trying. If you stop trying, you get boring tomorrow.

1:13:32But here you are in New York with 10 cameras. And you're not in London. You're not in your kitchen. This is fake. They're breaking the illusion. This is fake. This was not real. This is not, there's a light here. This is, oh, fake. This is all a fake thing. This is how this is how you don't make it old. You don't you have to work. This is all nothing here is real. This is all a studio. But that's how you make it. You make it. Oh, this is, yeah. But this is, I think how you make it exciting is you got to put the work in. Don't get tired. You got to show up. And you always got to show up. You got to be there.

1:14:10And you got to be there for your audience. And you do that. You show up. You do all the stuff. I mean, you have to. And that's like you said, it's kind of a seven days a week thing. But it's every day you go, what can I do? What can I do? What can I do? It just becomes part of your life. It's brushing your teeth. It's like, oh, yeah. I guess brushing your teeth at one point told me to have to do that. You know, but now I do it every day. So I don't think about it. I brush them three times, four times a day now. I'm like, how do you keep yourself challenged? Is there something that you're doing to push yourself?

1:14:47Because we expand around the world. We go to different places. We have increasingly more interesting, different guests and challenge ourselves in that way. But when I just looked at your show, I was like, he started with the biggest in the world. I know. I started in the biggest city in the world. So putting more pressure on yourself for any little challenges they're trying something. And you go like, I've always wanted to put out a Christmas album, you know? And just come out with and write original songs, you know? Trying to write songs is hard enough. Trying to write 20 original Christmas songs.

1:15:17It's insane. And what's what's what hasn't been said? I have an idea for a kid's book that I think could be funny, you know? Yeah, data was the first one that was a big deal. It's really the same word on every page. It's just getting your kid to say, Dad, Dad. I thought that no one's done this. So I go, basically, if you get to the end of the book, it's you saying the word, Dad, Dad, so many times that I think your baby has to eventually just go, Dad, Dad. So it'll work. But then you released Mama. I had to because my wife and all my female fans were like, really, you have two daughters and you're not going to write Mama, because it's just the real truth.

1:15:57Everything is Mama. So that's kind of the same book except I changed it to, you want the kids to say, Dad, Dad, and they just keep saying Mama. We have a, I found some wonderful photos of your childhood, which I adored. Oh my gosh. These photos probably recognize quite a few of them. Well, did I post these? Where would you find these? I went through your house. Oh my god. This is my Catholic teacher, kindergarten teacher. That's, this is filling. That's Frank Gentile. You talked about earlier. Yeah, Frank's Steve Teabout. These are my dorm room friends. I would just stand up with Frank and Steve was kind of the artist in the group.

1:16:37Is that Gloria underneath this? Yeah, Gloria. Yeah, that's my mom. That's my mom in our kitchen, where we spent many a time. We we parted many times in our kitchen. In November 2017, when she passed away, you said, as a tribute on the night shift, which I watched, the best audience, referring to her mother, that she was the best audience, she was the one I was always trying to make laugh. Mum, I'll never stop trying to make you laugh. I heard you talk about squeezing a hand three times when you're younger and how squeezing your back. In a fraction of like public attention, I've experienced one of the things that acts as an insulator to all of that for me, is knowing that I have a home to return to.

1:17:24And home for me isn't a place it's people. You know? Yeah. And that's the thing that makes all of the noise feel fake and like it's not real. And that there is something real. And so when I was thinking about all of that and you losing her and her being the audience, her being home for you, I have to understand like how that changed you. Yeah, it's it's it's the toughest thing that I had to go through. I think see, you know that it's going to come eventually, but it's just it was just so sad because just choose so much joy in my life. Uh, I just miss her, yeah. But you don't stop thinking about the people, you know, and you think about all these things and you look at all these other photos and you go, yeah, that was probably she probably gave me the microphone.

1:18:22My mom was probably here giving me the microphone. When you think about people dying, especially when it happens for the first week, you go, I'm going to forget about them. And I can't and you go, uh, so sad. And then the truth is it's just you don't you don't forget about them ever. They will never they're in your life. You think about them in the weirdest moments. And you'll hear a song and I'll hear like, Durandran or something. I don't even know if my mom liked Durandran, but something to remind me of me and my mom, listen, you know, thinking my mom, my god, can't believe I'm listening to just hungry like the wolf or Rio.

1:19:05And I'm thinking about my mom and getting sad. But you do. You have those moments when it's like, but it's it's more happier at moments and you don't get that emotional. You know, if I, you know, want to, I can just start crying because I just miss her. But I think of the best times and, you know, I think I wouldn't be who I am without her, you know. When you say that you miss her, you've said that a few times. What precisely is it that you miss? She had a great sense of humor and she was always, you know, I think there's so many things. Talking about, probably talking about myself a lot. Did you see the thing I did?

1:19:52What did I want her to bring in? I'm like, that thing you did was great. And then it makes you feel good. So I kind of missed the positive reinforcement. The feedback, positive feedback of something that I did that I kind of miss. And her, you know, complaining about something or talking about something she doesn't like. Or I feel like that would kind of give me material. And I miss like, she's, you know, calling on my birthdays and, you know, she's so much love. She just loved me so much. I do worry about, I worry about this because I think sometimes we don't realize the importance of certain relationships until we lose them and my parents are getting older.

1:20:30And I think I have some kind of like subconscious existential fear that there will be words unsaid. Well, I will learn the hard way that there's things I should have said, you know? Yeah, yeah, you kind of, yeah, I think I said everything. I think I said everything. Sounds like you spoke to her a lot. I did. I said everything she knew that I loved her. And, you know, it just kind of happened fast, which I kind of hope. I think that was a good thing. I hope it doesn't happen slow for you because I don't know if I could take that. This happened really quickly. And so I was like, are you able to grieve?

1:21:09Were you able to grieve? Yes, I went for it. My wife is really helpful with that. She was like, go for it. Just, just cry and just grieve because eventually you actually just have to stop crying. It's in a way. You can keep crying. There's no way. But you feel like there's a hole in your heart and the hole in your lungs. You feel unhealthy and you feel like you have to go to the hospital. You're going to die. You know, you just have to go through that and you go, and then you just get it out of your system. You know, as time goes on, you just start able to laugh at the things. Kind of happy memories.

1:21:48You know, and sad she's not here anymore, but I'm glad for what she gave me and went, oh, the memories. I mean, it's way out. Way as the sad thing. I just wish she was around as the only thing. And if you harp on that, then it's too depressing. Did it change your perspective on your own work? Because it's funny. I remember thinking about my whole business when it was like my entire life. I was thinking, if I lost this person in my life now, I don't know if my business would mean the same to me. Because in part, I'm doing this for them. Yeah. Yes, you still do it for them. In a weird way, I still do this for my mom.

1:22:30I think of her when I do things. I go, she would be, she would be tight. She would be proud. She would, that would make her laugh. I still think of her for most things I do. I go, she would love that. That would make her laugh. That would make her proud. She'd be like, oh, that's funny. Or that's, that's good that you did that. Her loss, you turning 50. Yeah. Putting all these pieces together, it seems like this might have inspired your increased concern and I guess drive for longevity and health. Because we talked just before we started recording. And I asked you what sort of front of mind, for the moment in one of the things you mentioned was longevity and health.

1:23:11Yeah. When did that? A match. I think, well, maybe around, I mean, I'm 50 right now, but I think, you know, I think about my parents are, they were never healthy. You know, these drink a lot at the time they smoked, you know, when everyone smoked. I think there's a picture of my mom pregnant with me drinking and smoking. Which is fantastic. I mean, gosh, terrible. But man, I turned out okay, right? Okay, I did wait. See, listen to this back. Maybe I didn't turn out. Guys, maybe this is a lesson. But yeah, I think about being around for my kids and trying to be alive and kind of, financially stable for my kids too.

1:24:01Because I don't think my parents thought about any of this stuff. They just go, no, just have, it was a lot of fun and like a lot of support. And like, there was a lot of the thing, you know, but they didn't really, didn't work out. I think we bought a treadmill twice, you know, different times just tried to make it something that we would all do and no one ever did it. So what does that actually mean for you in terms of your longevity and health, journey? Does it mean that you're going to the gym? You're thinking about what you're eating. Yeah, I'm definitely eating better. I'm, I'm working out when I can, you know, I walk every day.

1:24:36I love walking. But yeah, I try to, you know, I don't drink as much as I, used to and, you know, I get checkups. Nothing I'm unhealthy, but I think, you know, I just want to be around for a long time. I don't even know how long I want to live to be honest. I want to be that old that I'm older than everyone. I mean, I want to have people my age. I don't want to be 130 and no one else is like dude, that guy won't die. I mean, eventually it's, it should happen. I just want to be, I wanted to all happen kind of in the right way. And then eventually as you get, you go on and, I'll pass away, but it's like, I want to be able to be enjoying everything now.

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1:27:11Or go to doccircle .com. I will speak to you then. Is there a next chapter in your mind that you're looking at already? Are you thinking about life beyond TV? Media is changing so much. I mean, you were one of the sort of real pioneers that rode the shift towards the internet and digital. And you've got more bloody followers on YouTube and Twitter and Instagram than anybody. I think I've ever met you about like 100 million followers or something crazy. But are you thinking about the next wave of Jimmy? Not really. I feel like this is a good gig for that type of aging. I think the older you get, the kind of the better the talk show gets.

1:27:59Like, you know, Johnny Carson did it for 30 years, I want to say. And, you know, I think I can do it as long as there's an audience. And I feel like there is always going to be an audience. I feel like I know everyone's like TV is dying. You know, the ratings are dying. But I don't think it is. I think TV is just as powerful as it ever was. I think they're making some of the best entertainment. The best shows are on television. If you call it something else, if you call it Netflix, or if you call it, you know, live podcasts, whatever it is, you're still watching. You need entertainment. And thank God for entertainment because you just find yourself when you're when you're needing some out, out letter, creative, or something, or even a break, whatever you want to call it, meditation, televisions there for you.

1:28:51You can turn on television and watch a movie, watch a show. And you're like, this is great. For an hour of my life, I don't have to think about my problems. I'm thinking about their problems or watching a reality show. Whatever show you, it is you're watching. But your brain's moving. It's not your brain's shut off. You're listening to this podcast. It's not you're not just zoning out, going, you're actually thinking while you're listening to this. And this is changing the way you think. You may not agree that I think you might think about televisions over it, but that's interesting. Still your brain's moving.

1:29:24And this is fun for people to listen to. And this is, I think, entertainment is always going to be there. Has to be around. And I think it's just in, it's moving this way in that way. But it still feel like eventually there's a screen in your house or wherever you're living that you're going to want to see things on. You know, what it's going to be through your eye glasses or if it's going to be through your, you know, contact lenses or your phone or whatever it is, you know, I don't think it's going to be the Apple goggles, but they have to try. Outside of TV, you're very busy. I was reading through your business portfolio and it's extremely extensive.

1:30:06You've found the production company. Oh yeah. Producing several shows, series films. You made a comedy, a series of comedy albums. Yeah, the last one was called Holiday Seasoning, which it's a Christmas album, but I wanted to create like a new verb. Like, hey, we're all, we're all holiday seasoning. Like our holiday season, I'm celebrating Hanukkah. I'm, you know, I'm celebrating Kwanza. We're all holiday seasoning. It didn't take off, but, you know, maybe in the future, maybe, you know, it's 2050 people will obviously say, hey, are you holiday seasoning? You know, yeah, we're all, I don't know.

1:30:47I didn't, I don't know if I created what I wanted to about that one, but you've got the ice cream that tonight, dough. Tonight dough ice cream, we've raised a lot of money for a serious fun, which is a great charity. It's a great ice cream, by the way, but it actually goes through a great cause. So it's win -win. Beautiful. I was reading about it before. It's really cool. Yeah. And outside of that, there's lots of other things from a ride at the Universal Studios to Spinise to you got our own roller coaster. Yeah, crazy. Go to Stomperskate shoes. Yes, gobsompers were a sneaker that we came up with that the more you wear them, the more the leather wears down and they become different colors.

1:31:29So eventually every pair of shoes become unique to that person. There's no two pairs of these same shoes. The through line here, Jimmy, is about making people happy. From rides to ice cream to creativity and the fun of the products that you've made, that appears to be the through line. I like that. Yeah. But that's the through line of your life and many respects. It's a really relentless attempt to please others and to make people smiling, to make them happy. Yeah. I do. I like that. I like making people happy. It makes me happy. And now you've got two beautiful children. It's the greatest thing.

1:32:13You're a dad. It's the greatest thing. I'm a dad. Can you believe that? This guy would be it. This guy would be a dad. This guy would be a dad. It's silly. And I think I'm a good dad. They're the best kids. I love them so much. They're so fun. They're funny. They make jokes. They're interesting. They're interested. How did that shift the meaning of life for you, becoming a father? Because I hit in the process of hopefully having children at some point and I'm trying. You I tell you one thing that surprised me. I don't want to tell you about your own kids because no spoilers.

1:32:52You're just going to figure it all out. And when they get to certain age, we'll talk and you'll be like, dude. And they go, yeah, of course. I don't want to ruin it for you. It's it's great. It's a lot. It's great. But the one thing I didn't think I would happen to be is I like other kids more. I actually appreciate other kids and they go, hey, are you not cheering with it? Are that kids got no friends? Go talk to that kid. Because you go, that's good happening to me, my kid. So you start thinking about other kids, hey, no, no, no, be nice to him. Or he's not, you know, it's like you start and then the screaming baby in the restaurant that once when you were younger, you go like, well, you shut that baby up.

1:33:33Now you go, do you give me the kid? I'll take the kid for a walk. I will shut this baby. I understand what it's like to get out and be a parent and you don't want the kid to cry. And I understand I get all that now. And you go, oh, I'm much more patient with that. What advice would you give your two daughters for life? A life where I lived. They said, dad, listen, how do we, how do we live a good life? Be nice to people. Give when you can.

1:34:07Meet people smile. What if they say, dad, I, I want to know how to be successful. Then go do what you want to do. I think that will make you successful. Do what you want to do. If you do what you want to do, you'll be successful. How are you misunderstood? Because we're all misunderstood in some way. You know, maybe some of the laughs at everything, I don't really laugh at everything. I do have a good time, but I don't laugh at everything. I think one man misunderstood is maybe people don't think that I know what I'm doing or that I, you know, I'm just living through life. Like, I don't know what's going on, but I do know what's going on.

1:35:04And I do care. And I put a lot of work into what I do. And I really put a lot of thought and care into things that I put out. What does your grief stone say, Jimmy? If you could write it yourself. I would say he had a good time.

1:35:28That's not bad. I like that. Jimmy, thank you for doing what you do. It's so unbelievably apparent to me, someone that's just spent a little bit of time for you, that in your heart, you are an incredibly pure, well -intentioned, happy, radiant person who has a really authentic desire to spread to that to other people. And in fact, gains a tremendous amount of energy and happiness from making people like me and everyone that you met in my team behind the scenes happy. And we need more people like that in the world, especially in times like these, where there's so much division and the internet is an absolute war zone.

1:36:13It feels like everybody's frankly losing, if I'm being honest, because everybody's just firing shots at each other on both sides of the aisle, but just generally just all sides of life. So it's wonderful to have people in the world and save spaces and fun places that maintain a bubble of happiness and joy and humour. And you're one of those incredible spaces on the internet, but just generally in life as well. So thank you. It's such an honor to have spent time with you. And you're someone that I've looked up to forever. You know, you've been on screen for most of my adult life. Before I was interviewing people and I had the privilege of doing this.

1:36:45So you're one of my idols as well. And so thank you for that as well. It's been a tremendous honor. And I feel somewhat, it's incredible that I'm like in New York and I'm sat across from you. Really something special. Keep doing what you're doing. You're great. You're fantastic. Oh, you're so great. I had the greatest time. It was so fun. I want to say thank you to every camera. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. We have a closing tradition. Where the last guests leaves a question for the next guest. Not knowing who they're leaving it for. Oh, and we'll ask you to do the same.

1:37:17The question left for you is an interesting one. It was, how would your view of yourself change? And how would your behavior change? If you learned beyond doubt that reality is not objective, but exists only in what you do and your actions. God, the edibles kicked in whoever wrote that one. It's a deep one. Jesus. I wouldn't be shocked. I wouldn't be shocked. I go, wow. I probably would take credit for it. I'd probably say, I knew that. And then you go, wait, what? You knew that? You go, yeah, I wouldn't be shocked. If all of this was just my based on what I'm doing, it's fascinating. If that's the real truth, how fascinating, what a great experiment this was.

1:38:15And I hope, I'm like, I can't wait. I'm, I hope I passed. And again, I'm a people pleaser. Whoever is playing this game, I hope they're enjoying the game they're playing. I sometimes think it's a simulation. We think we've like banned that as a conversation. And someone's playing us. Yeah, they're just like messing around. It would make sense. But don't you think whoever's playing us is enjoying themselves? We're good characters. Maybe they started the game and they've wanted off. And they're like, oh no, it's like toy story. They don't play us anymore. Yeah, they just like, they're off things.

1:38:49And they're like, forgot. And we're like, fucking around. Yeah, and then they go, I don't play that in so long. Jimmy Fallon game, I'm kidding. Steve, I don't play that game anymore. Yeah, no, I had him create a business. They've got to turn it off. I just don't get it right. Gosh. But yeah, well, hopefully, that you don't have to use, you don't have to play it anywhere. I'm going to get to the next level. You will. Jimmy, thank you. You're the best. This was so fun. Thank you so much. I loved your video. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Pleasure to have me in your kitchen. Thank you. Really, and like we've done with the play.

1:39:22This has always blown my mind a little bit. 53 % of you that listen to this show regularly haven't yet subscribed to this show. So could I ask you for a favor? If you like the show and you like what we do here and you want to support us, the free simple way that you can do just that is by hitting the subscribe button. And my commitment to you, as if you do that, that I'll do everything in my power, me and my team to make sure that this show is better for you every single week. We'll listen to your feedback. We'll find the guests that you want me to speak to and we'll continue to do what we do.

1:39:49Thank you so much.

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