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SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Ep. #250!: “My Interview on ‘The Bart Show’ at "Freedom Fest/Memphis’”
66 Plays2 years ago
*THIS WEEK:*
Earlier this year in July of 2023, I had the honor of performing at “Freedom Fest” in Memphis, TN, a four-day convention where like-minded people who are PRO-America and all it’s rights in the Constitution met at the Renasant Convention Center to talk about America’s freedoms and the threats against them. I also served on the panel entitled: “Let the Comedians Speak Freely”; a discussion amongst comedians and a Q&A session from the audience regarding comedy censorship, woke audiences, and comedy in general.
On the convention floor, amongst hundreds of vendors, broadcasters and podcasters, was a familiar face from my time in Los Angeles, podcast host, Bart Baggett, who also is a handwriting analysis expert. I had a great time with this interview on ”The Bart Show: The World's Most Interesting People”.
I’d like to share that interview with you on this 250th episode. You can also SEE the full interview on YouTube on my channel: @lousantini.
In this interview, we discuss:
- Standup Comedy
- Comedy censorship and easily offended, woke amateurs
- My time performing with the late, great Bob Saget
- My transition from my radio career to standup comedy
- Dating standup comedians
- Did the host and I date the same woman?
- Performing the day after 9/11
- My frustration with inanimate objects
- My book, DryBar Comedy Special, and podcast: "Amateur Nation"
- ...AND I have my handwriting analyzed!
*SEE this full interview on my YouTube channel*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HX31RcHoIg
*DRYBAR COMEDY SPECIAL:“Amateur Nation*”: https://www.drybarcomedy.com/lous*
*SUBSCRIBE* on Youtube for 60-second podcast previews every Thursday at 7 a.m. Eastern!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOh5fIZVQdT0VG2M59S0Vwg
*WATCH* the parody song: “My Prez” on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIJjjZLd3q0
*WATCH* the parody song: “He’s So Stupid (And We Hate That)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kT8nBvvPl8
*WATCH* the parody song: “Oh, Say AOC!”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSBDPysq5g&list=PLGw14MGhRN476V1fiL_Hn_i3cUNZtKLkT&index=6
*WATCH* the parody song: “We Want LA”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQOSyZRXts
*WATCH* the video: “30 Things That Are Like Driving a Prius”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKgabFyGMw
*WATCH* the parody commercial: “Teachers Gone Wild!”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWUEnfGQJKs&list=PLGw14MGhRN476V1fiL_Hn_i3cUNZtKLkT&index=4
*DOWNLOAD the book!* https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08254WSV4
*Facebook:* https://facebook.com/lousantinientertainment
*Instagram:* https://www.instagram.com/lou.santini3/
*Truth Social:* https://truthsocial.com/@lousantini3
*LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/lousantini/
*GETTR:* https://gettr.com/user/lousantini
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Opening Remarks
00:00:00
Speaker
I'd like to kill Lou Santini.
00:00:01
Speaker
Kill them all!
00:00:02
Speaker
Woo!
Introducing and Discussing the Honor and Remember Flag
00:00:29
Speaker
Here's another review.
00:00:30
Speaker
Hey guys, what did I miss?
00:00:31
Speaker
Jeffrey Epstein.
00:00:57
Speaker
The Honor and Remember Flag is a nationally recognized symbol that sends a message of appreciation for the sacrifice made by our fallen heroes and their families.
00:01:07
Speaker
The flag flies at many NASCAR races around the country, and you can help honor our nation's fallen military members and remember the eternal sacrifice of their service by flying the flag, too.
00:01:19
Speaker
Text FLAG to 71777 or visit honorandremember.org to learn more.
00:01:23
Speaker
Together, we remember them all.
Lou Santini's Comedy Endeavors
00:01:30
Speaker
Hi, pros.
00:01:31
Speaker
Lou Santini here, host of Amateur Nation.
00:01:33
Speaker
My Dry Bar Comedy Special, Amateur Nation, is now available.
00:01:37
Speaker
And just like this show, if you're allergic to a lack of common sense in today's world, and you like your comedy delivered with uncompromising talent like it is bite, then check out my half-hour comedy special, Amateur Nation.
00:01:50
Speaker
Go to drybarcomedy.com slash lou s. This is my way of saying thank you to the pros who listen to this show every week.
00:01:57
Speaker
DrybarComedy.com slash Lou S. Amateur Nation is not just a podcast.
00:02:03
Speaker
It's a movement.
00:02:08
Speaker
The following is a special presentation of Amateur Nation.
Celebrating the 250th Episode
00:02:14
Speaker
Hey pros, welcome to episode 250, a special presentation of Amateur Nation.
Performances and Reflections on Freedom and Comedy Censorship
00:02:20
Speaker
Earlier this year in July of 2023, I had the honor of performing at Freedom Fest in Memphis, Tennessee, a four-day convention where like-minded people who are pro-America and all its rights in the Constitution met at the Renaissance Convention Center to talk about America's freedoms and the threats against them.
00:02:38
Speaker
I also served on the panel entitled
00:02:40
Speaker
Let the Comedians Speak Freely, a discussion amongst comedians and a Q&A session from the audience regarding comedy censorship, woke audiences and comedy in general.
00:02:51
Speaker
On the convention floor amongst hundreds of vendors, broadcasters and podcasters was a familiar face from my time in Los Angeles, podcast host Bart Baggett, who is also a handwriting analysis expert.
00:03:03
Speaker
I had a great time with this interview on The Bart Show, The World's Most Interesting People.
00:03:08
Speaker
I'd like to share that interview with you now on this 250th episode.
00:03:12
Speaker
You can also see the full interview on YouTube on my channel, at Lou Santini.
00:03:18
Speaker
In this interview, we discuss stand-up comedy, comedy censorship, and the easily offended woke amateurs, my time performing with the late, great Bob Saget, my transition from my radio career to stand-up comedy, dating stand-up comedians, and did the host and I date the same woman?
00:03:35
Speaker
Performing the day after 9-11, my frustration with inanimate objects, my book, Drybar comedy special and podcast, Amateur Nation, and I have my handwriting analyzed.
00:03:47
Speaker
Enjoy.
00:03:58
Speaker
That's how I operate.
00:04:00
Speaker
You know what?
00:04:00
Speaker
It's a good plan.
00:04:01
Speaker
Still gets done.
00:04:03
Speaker
You are buff, dude.
00:04:04
Speaker
I'm getting there.
00:04:04
Speaker
You know, just I feel like the heart, it's like the older I get, the smarter my workouts are getting, but I'm working against father time.
00:04:11
Speaker
Oh man, he's a bitch.
00:04:12
Speaker
He's an asshole.
00:04:12
Speaker
Yeah, it's like if I would just have had this knowledge when I was in my 20s, you know.
00:04:16
Speaker
I actually had, I played lacrosse at Pepperdine.
00:04:19
Speaker
Hard sport.
00:04:20
Speaker
It's a great sport.
00:04:21
Speaker
And I never could keep muscle on.
00:04:24
Speaker
So I was like 155 and I was mean.
00:04:28
Speaker
And so they're like, well, put in, bag it, you know, we're out of players.
00:04:32
Speaker
I wasn't 100 pounds till ninth grade.
00:04:35
Speaker
Wow.
00:04:35
Speaker
But luckily I had the crooked teeth and the mullet going for me.
00:04:38
Speaker
So, you know, I was a threat to the ladies.
00:04:41
Speaker
Yeah, just, yeah, I played soccer for 10 years, had a tryout with like a semi-pro team when I was younger, so I was always the fast, wiry guy.
00:04:48
Speaker
Wiry, because you can't get too muscular in soccer, right?
00:04:51
Speaker
You can't, you can't really, like I said, but it's funny how guys I would pick fights with on the field I would never consider.
00:04:56
Speaker
Yeah.
00:04:57
Speaker
Because there's a referee there.
00:04:58
Speaker
Right, right.
00:04:59
Speaker
He's like, my mom will tell you, you know, that type of thing.
00:05:01
Speaker
Stare you down.
Interview with Bart Baggett
00:05:02
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
00:05:02
Speaker
So you're a badass seventh grader.
00:05:04
Speaker
Yeah, that's right.
00:05:05
Speaker
That's right.
00:05:06
Speaker
That's the name of my next comedy album, badass seventh grader.
00:05:10
Speaker
How are you doing this show?
00:05:12
Speaker
How are you doing?
00:05:12
Speaker
We just launched about a week ago.
00:05:14
Speaker
Oh, is that right?
00:05:15
Speaker
Yeah.
00:05:15
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So we did a lot of interviews at Freedom Fest.
00:05:17
Speaker
We had a lot of weird, interesting, odd people.
00:05:20
Speaker
We have a studio in Texas and now in L.A.
00:05:22
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Right.
00:05:22
Speaker
And I've just been so delighted at the level of comedians that have come on.
00:05:28
Speaker
Yeah.
00:05:28
Speaker
The smart people.
00:05:29
Speaker
We had politicians.
00:05:31
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So it's all over the page.
00:05:32
Speaker
I guess it's more like Joe Rogan.
00:05:33
Speaker
You know, at his level, he can interview anyone.
00:05:35
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Of course.
00:05:35
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It's interesting.
00:05:36
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But I'm not any particular agenda politically.
00:05:40
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So I have found that just my comedy friends are always safe.
00:05:42
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Because they're so much fun.
00:05:44
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And everything's always X-rated.
00:05:46
Speaker
And comedians might have a few things to say.
00:05:49
Speaker
You don't have to like pull answers from them, really.
00:05:51
Speaker
You know, I always think and I always thought this because I remember when I was before I started doing stand up way back in 1990s and I was in Texas.
00:05:58
Speaker
I didn't even know like, oh, you can act.
00:06:00
Speaker
To me, it was a far dream.
00:06:01
Speaker
Like I want to where did you grow up?
00:06:03
Speaker
Northeast Ohio, Akron, Canton, Cleveland.
00:06:05
Speaker
Yeah.
00:06:05
Speaker
So no one says you can be a celebrity.
00:06:07
Speaker
No one says that's even on the menu.
00:06:09
Speaker
Right.
00:06:09
Speaker
And so I remember seeing albums of like Robin Williams and I was like.
00:06:12
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like those guys are the smartest people in the world.
00:06:15
Speaker
Yeah.
00:06:16
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I feel like the, the, those individuals were the poets of the two thousands where in 1860, they actually were poetry.
00:06:23
Speaker
Yeah.
00:06:23
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And without maybe musicians write some points as well, but, but I've always found that the comedians are the cutting edge of culture.
00:06:30
Speaker
And that's what I aspired to be.
00:06:31
Speaker
Like, maybe I could be that wise.
00:06:33
Speaker
Was that your Mount Rushmore, Robin Williams and who else was on yours?
00:06:37
Speaker
George Carlin.
00:06:38
Speaker
He was on my Mount Rushmore.
00:06:39
Speaker
Still.
00:06:39
Speaker
He's the only guy that I've ever had.
00:06:42
Speaker
Um,
00:06:43
Speaker
I've ever met in person and I had nothing to say.
00:06:45
Speaker
Oh, is that right?
00:06:46
Speaker
Yeah, I was in a Starbucks in Santa Monica.
00:06:47
Speaker
That would be me if I met Steve Martin.
00:06:49
Speaker
I would cry like... Steve Martin's one of those two.
00:06:50
Speaker
I would cry like those teenage girls who saw the Beatles the first time if I met Steve Martin.
00:06:53
Speaker
I'm never at a loss for words.
00:06:55
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And I'm just sitting in a Starbucks and I'm like...
00:06:57
Speaker
Hi.
00:06:58
Speaker
Also, it wasn't at a show.
00:06:59
Speaker
You were just out.
00:06:59
Speaker
No, it was just, it's unexpected.
00:07:01
Speaker
Now I'm even more jealous.
00:07:02
Speaker
No, but then he left and I just was like, uh, hi.
00:07:05
Speaker
Hi.
00:07:06
Speaker
It was like, that's it.
00:07:07
Speaker
You think in your head, you have all this stuff to say.
00:07:09
Speaker
And then when the time comes, so.
00:07:10
Speaker
And it's interesting because a few years later, I lived in Hollywood and I walked into this building and his star was right there in front of my building.
00:07:16
Speaker
And I was like, I miss my, and he died.
00:07:18
Speaker
Yeah.
00:07:19
Speaker
And he died.
00:07:19
Speaker
Why do people die?
00:07:20
Speaker
I don't know.
00:07:21
Speaker
You know what's funny?
00:07:21
Speaker
You mentioned that.
00:07:23
Speaker
While I generally, of course, I feel sad if like a celebrity dies.
00:07:26
Speaker
I mean, death is sad.
00:07:27
Speaker
But when a comedian dies, it almost makes me angry in the sense that they've devoted their whole lives to making people laugh and happiness.
00:07:35
Speaker
And then they go and do something like die.
00:07:37
Speaker
Like it's almost like it's like you just betrayed everything you're all about.
00:07:40
Speaker
I know it sounds juvenile, but every time the comedian dies, especially if it's one I respect or even know, it really affects me more than, you know, just a regular celebrity were to pass.
00:07:51
Speaker
Well, the other the other thing about
00:07:53
Speaker
this particular art is every year they come out with something brilliant and you're never going to get that anymore.
00:07:59
Speaker
Yeah.
00:07:59
Speaker
Because there's such a catalog of work that is still so good.
00:08:04
Speaker
Right.
00:08:05
Speaker
You know, Bob Saget passed away a couple years ago.
00:08:07
Speaker
First guy I ever paid my own money to see as a comedian when I was 18.
00:08:10
Speaker
But everyone in Hollywood loved him.
00:08:12
Speaker
All the comics loved him.
00:08:14
Speaker
People don't know about Bob Saget.
00:08:15
Speaker
He's like the dirtiest comic among comedians.
00:08:18
Speaker
And he had the full house.
00:08:20
Speaker
And he was so great.
00:08:21
Speaker
And America's Funniest Home Videos too.
00:08:22
Speaker
Which is also G-rated.
00:08:24
Speaker
Sure.
00:08:24
Speaker
Well, it's funny.
00:08:25
Speaker
It's like I said, I saw Bill Cosby.
00:08:28
Speaker
That's a whole other podcast episode right there.
00:08:30
Speaker
When I was seven.
00:08:32
Speaker
And again, when I was nine.
00:08:33
Speaker
But I saw Bob Saget.
00:08:34
Speaker
I paid my own money, took a date in high school.
00:08:37
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a tiny little comedy club in Canton called the Akron-Canton Comedy Club, 100-seater, sat in the front row.
00:08:43
Speaker
I mean, I know I talk fast.
00:08:45
Speaker
Saget, I mean, he's machine gun.
00:08:47
Speaker
And I liked him so much, I took my parents the very next night.
00:08:50
Speaker
Coincidentally, we got the same exact seats.
00:08:53
Speaker
Flash forward years later, I win the Detroit Comedy Festival.
00:08:56
Speaker
In addition to the prize money, I get to do a half hour before Saget in front of like 3000 people.
00:09:01
Speaker
So I tell Bob Saget that story.
00:09:03
Speaker
He remembered the shoes I was wearing because he made fun of my shoes because I had it was the late 80s.
00:09:08
Speaker
I had these stupid shoes, but like a rope.
00:09:10
Speaker
They're made a soul made out of rope or something.
00:09:12
Speaker
So he goes, I remember that you had those really weird.
00:09:15
Speaker
I'm like, how do you how do you remember that?
00:09:18
Speaker
And then what was funny is
00:09:21
Speaker
I was only supposed to do 15 at the last minute.
00:09:23
Speaker
They said, you know, can you do 30?
00:09:24
Speaker
I'm like, of course, I'll do as much time as you want.
00:09:26
Speaker
So Bob Saget comes into my dressing room and he says, listen, my crowd sometimes has a tendency to arrive drunk and or high.
00:09:34
Speaker
So he says, if you lose them and you can't hold the stage, I can make up your time.
00:09:38
Speaker
And I looked him in the eye and I said, oh, I'll hold the stage.
00:09:40
Speaker
And I crushed it, right?
00:09:41
Speaker
Three thousand people.
00:09:42
Speaker
I mean, how many chances do you get?
00:09:44
Speaker
I'm not leaving.
00:09:45
Speaker
I'm not going to take a dive.
00:09:47
Speaker
So they didn't have an announcer bring him on.
00:09:48
Speaker
They let me bring him on.
00:09:50
Speaker
And I got to tell the story of how he was the first guy I ever paid to see.
00:09:53
Speaker
And I brought him on.
00:09:53
Speaker
He comes out with his guitar, gives me a hug.
00:09:55
Speaker
And he whispers in my ear, goes, thank you for making my job so much easier.
00:10:00
Speaker
And that was
Stories from the Comedy World
00:10:01
Speaker
it.
00:10:02
Speaker
And then, like I said, he passed five or six years later.
00:10:04
Speaker
It's pretty sad about that.
00:10:06
Speaker
We didn't introduce you.
00:10:06
Speaker
Oh, that's okay.
00:10:07
Speaker
Lou Santini.
00:10:08
Speaker
Now, you're a comedian.
00:10:09
Speaker
Comedian, 26 years and counting.
00:10:11
Speaker
That's a hell of a resume.
00:10:14
Speaker
And is that 26 years primarily, like every week going out 26 years?
00:10:18
Speaker
Oh yeah.
00:10:18
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, 24 of those years was in Los Angeles.
00:10:21
Speaker
I mean, you and I had that in common.
00:10:23
Speaker
That's amazing.
00:10:24
Speaker
Yeah, because you know, a lot of comedians, including me, like, yeah, we've been doing it 20 years.
00:10:27
Speaker
Yeah.
00:10:28
Speaker
But there was five years where I didn't do it.
00:10:29
Speaker
Yeah.
00:10:29
Speaker
Or they go up once every five, six months.
00:10:31
Speaker
Yeah, it's hardly counts because you can tell, we can tell if someone's seasoned or not within about 10 seconds.
00:10:37
Speaker
Oh, of course.
00:10:38
Speaker
And some people, there's so many open mics, which I think is great, by the way.
00:10:41
Speaker
Currently, as we record this, there's four or five open mic places in LA.
00:10:44
Speaker
There's always time to get your reps in, even in other parts.
00:10:48
Speaker
But back in the 2000s in 1990, there was not open clubs and that's it.
00:10:52
Speaker
If you didn't have an in and book or so.
00:10:54
Speaker
So that was my challenge in 2005 was trying to find stage time to get better and to find my voice.
00:11:01
Speaker
You did that 10 years earlier, right?
00:11:03
Speaker
Yeah.
00:11:03
Speaker
Yeah.
00:11:03
Speaker
I started.
00:11:04
Speaker
Well, I said my bread and butter started in radio for 11 years in Northeast Ohio.
00:11:08
Speaker
That was full time, six days a week.
00:11:11
Speaker
And while I wasn't doing, for lack of a better word, pure standup comedy, when you're in radio, you do a lot of personal appearances, a lot of heavy metal clubs, a lot of bars, a lot of lounges, a lot of ribbon cuttings, the new Burger King opened, you know, whatever.
00:11:23
Speaker
And you know, you get a chance to, I really realized some things that were funny in person,
00:11:29
Speaker
didn't necessarily translate to radio.
00:11:31
Speaker
Like I'd say something funny at a personal appearance and I'm thinking, I gotta use that because I get to laugh.
00:11:35
Speaker
Go do it on the radio.
00:11:36
Speaker
I'm like, I mean, that didn't work.
00:11:37
Speaker
Because you don't have that immediate feedback.
00:11:39
Speaker
You don't see the audience clap or laugh or whatever.
00:11:42
Speaker
And other times I'd say something funny on the radio
00:11:45
Speaker
Someone would call in, that was hilarious.
00:11:46
Speaker
I'm thinking, I'm going to use that in a personal appearance.
00:11:49
Speaker
Then you do it live, you're like, oh, it only worked because it was on the radio.
00:11:52
Speaker
So I really learned that in terms of timing.
00:11:55
Speaker
So while I said funny things at personal appearances, once I got out of radio, I was able to fully concentrate on that.
00:12:02
Speaker
And I moved from Northeast Ohio, Cleveland to Los Angeles.
00:12:05
Speaker
So I started there in 97.
00:12:07
Speaker
Yeah, I had a similar experience.
00:12:08
Speaker
I don't know if you know, I wrote books on handwriting analysis when I was 22, 23 years old.
00:12:12
Speaker
Wow.
00:12:12
Speaker
And I started doing like Jay Thomas, one of six, my first big, big radio show.
00:12:16
Speaker
Oh, sure.
00:12:16
Speaker
Sure.
00:12:16
Speaker
That guy.
00:12:17
Speaker
Yo, absolutely.
00:12:18
Speaker
Cheers.
00:12:18
Speaker
He was a professional.
00:12:19
Speaker
Yeah.
00:12:19
Speaker
He actually taught me.
00:12:20
Speaker
He goes, here's what I do.
00:12:21
Speaker
I stand the entire six hours in the morning.
00:12:23
Speaker
I'd never sit down because your energy is better.
00:12:26
Speaker
Right.
00:12:26
Speaker
Yeah.
00:12:26
Speaker
I always stood when I was on the radio, but that was a great tip.
00:12:29
Speaker
I was 19 years old.
00:12:30
Speaker
Right.
00:12:30
Speaker
So every interview I did from home with my headset, I would just pace around the room.
00:12:35
Speaker
Yeah.
00:12:35
Speaker
I'd have this great energy.
00:12:36
Speaker
And then they got back and back.
00:12:37
Speaker
So I did, I don't know if you know this, I did 1,500 interviews.
00:12:40
Speaker
Oh, wow.
00:12:41
Speaker
Promoting books and stuff.
00:12:42
Speaker
So I got really good on radio, which is what you did.
00:12:45
Speaker
Yeah.
00:12:45
Speaker
And then I thought, well, this will translate easily to stand-up.
00:12:48
Speaker
It did not.
00:12:49
Speaker
No.
00:12:49
Speaker
I've interviewed over 300 rock stars, musicians, other celebrities.
00:12:54
Speaker
Right.
00:12:54
Speaker
Yeah, this will be great.
00:12:55
Speaker
I could be in an interview.
00:12:56
Speaker
I've been interviewed a million times, working the road.
00:12:58
Speaker
But you're right.
00:12:59
Speaker
You would think, oh, this will work.
00:13:00
Speaker
It doesn't.
00:13:01
Speaker
The one-on-one and asking someone questions is not the same as doing pure stand-up.
00:13:05
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:05
Speaker
And when you're on one on one radio or if you're hosting your own show, you have no feedback.
00:13:09
Speaker
Sure.
00:13:09
Speaker
So you just have to guess.
00:13:11
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:11
Speaker
And what I realized that I was doing, which is the reason I went back to Howard Stern twice and all the big morning shows, is I had figured out what jokes kind of work regularly.
00:13:19
Speaker
And I got, because if you're with a radio show like Bubba the Love Sponge, there's six or seven people in the room.
00:13:24
Speaker
And they all laugh.
00:13:25
Speaker
You can bounce things off.
00:13:26
Speaker
And it's so easy.
00:13:26
Speaker
And you're like, okay, that worked there.
00:13:28
Speaker
So if I'm doing that in Ohio, I know this is going to work.
00:13:31
Speaker
And it did.
00:13:31
Speaker
I mean, I got back over and over.
00:13:32
Speaker
And so that's what gave me this confidence of like, oh, I've always been doing comedy since I was 19, but I didn't start stand up until I was 33.
00:13:41
Speaker
You're doing handwriting analysis at what age?
00:13:43
Speaker
19.
00:13:43
Speaker
Well, I mean, by the time I got my first radio show, I was 19.
00:13:47
Speaker
okay i just i just picture you like forging your parents signatures on like report cards and things like when you're a kid like oh i got this dialed in my father goes listen man i'm really busy i travel a lot if you just sign my is that right this was like this is like fifth grade if you just sign my name that you went to the doctor i will never have to bother because they'll just have that one signature wow so i remember thinking like how did i sign it last time so it was left right it was right like it had to be
00:14:12
Speaker
How do you even know you have that talent?
00:14:14
Speaker
I mean, how do you know what I'm really good at?
00:14:17
Speaker
How do you know?
00:14:18
Speaker
Well, I didn't.
00:14:19
Speaker
I'm not a professional forger.
00:14:20
Speaker
Let's go back on the story.
00:14:21
Speaker
No, I understand.
00:14:21
Speaker
You're not the guy from Catch Me If You Can, that guy?
00:14:23
Speaker
At fifth grade, I was a really good forger.
00:14:25
Speaker
I actually saw that guy speak.
00:14:27
Speaker
He's like FBI, super, super interesting guy.
00:14:29
Speaker
No, I took classes at 14 and 15.
00:14:31
Speaker
My father took classes and I became sort of the handwriting guy.
00:14:35
Speaker
So all my friends are like, oh, do that trick, do that trick, you do handwriting.
00:14:37
Speaker
So I didn't know if it was authentic.
00:14:39
Speaker
It was bullshit.
00:14:39
Speaker
I wasn't sure.
00:14:40
Speaker
But as I got older, I realized, well, there's a little science behind this and there's some people great at it, some people not great at it.
00:14:46
Speaker
And I began to get excellent at it.
00:14:47
Speaker
But what it did for me personally was made me popular.
00:14:51
Speaker
And I wasn't necessarily good looking.
00:14:53
Speaker
I was kind of funny.
00:14:54
Speaker
So I would do the handwriting and all of a sudden women would just show up and hang out with me.
00:14:57
Speaker
So you were a comedian.
00:14:58
Speaker
You're not necessarily popular, weren't good looking, but the women liked you because you were funny.
00:15:02
Speaker
You're saying that we use comedy to meet women?
00:15:04
Speaker
Yeah, maybe that might be the case.
00:15:05
Speaker
I mean, I talk about that in my act.
00:15:07
Speaker
I want a guy who's funny.
00:15:08
Speaker
I want a sense of humor.
00:15:09
Speaker
And then they go on to have sex with the captain of the football team when you're in high school.
00:15:12
Speaker
It's like, yeah, you went over to the same high school.
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah, you know, we're the warm up act for the guy who gets laid.
00:15:18
Speaker
They come hang out with us, they drink, and then they go to his house.
00:15:21
Speaker
We're the comedy fluffer for the guy who actually gets to close.
00:15:24
Speaker
That's exactly what that is.
00:15:27
Speaker
Hey, story of my life until once you got into radio, though, then it became, you know.
00:15:32
Speaker
I was a celebrity.
00:15:33
Speaker
And people, before the internet, they don't understand.
00:15:34
Speaker
Like, you...
00:15:35
Speaker
You were either on radio, TV, or newspaper.
00:15:38
Speaker
And if you were in those, you were a celebrity.
00:15:40
Speaker
Sure.
00:15:40
Speaker
From like the 80s up until basically 2001, in 2000-ish when the internet became pretty popular.
00:15:45
Speaker
Right.
00:15:46
Speaker
And then all of a sudden people had their own channels, which I actually like it now.
00:15:49
Speaker
The fact that we're doing the Bart show, the fact that I can produce this, that I can do the show I wanted to do.
00:15:55
Speaker
I spent years going into the networks pitching a show.
00:15:58
Speaker
And you know what, you're not really there.
00:16:00
Speaker
And it's okay, we like you.
00:16:01
Speaker
And Comedy Central's like, you know, you're not really there.
00:16:03
Speaker
So there's always gatekeepers.
00:16:04
Speaker
Oh yeah, I know.
00:16:05
Speaker
Hollywood's job is to say no.
00:16:08
Speaker
I really feel like, because I'm currently pitching two game shows plus a movie script, right?
00:16:12
Speaker
And I feel like a lot of Hollywood is, like you said, the gatekeeper.
00:16:15
Speaker
Like, well, if I say yes to everything, then I'm not... Any chimp can just say yes.
00:16:19
Speaker
So I have to say no, even if I like the idea.
00:16:21
Speaker
And then eventually, when someone else nibbles at it, then the people that said no, oh wait, we'll bring that back.
00:16:27
Speaker
Maybe we want to see that again.
00:16:28
Speaker
Yeah, the first show I pitched was probably 2003.
00:16:30
Speaker
And I'm sitting in the head office of ABC.
00:16:34
Speaker
And this wonderful woman, and her name escapes me at the moment, but she goes, look, I gotta tell you, Bart, I said no to Survivor twice.
00:16:41
Speaker
And she goes, I don't know what I'm doing.
00:16:42
Speaker
Like, I'm doing the best I can, but we just don't know what's gonna be ahead.
00:16:46
Speaker
And whatever show you're pitching, like, I may say no to you, but I could be wrong.
00:16:50
Speaker
And I thought that was such an honest sort of assessment of like, look, I know I'm in charge of this network and it's not really a fit for us now.
00:16:56
Speaker
And so I pitched a lot of shows that never did.
00:16:57
Speaker
And that's what I love about today is the audience is going to find you with no gatekeeper.
00:17:02
Speaker
So this show may be terrible, but some people may love it and it could blow up, but I don't have a gatekeeper.
00:17:09
Speaker
Yeah, well, like I said, as a podcaster myself and as a comedian, what I like about comedy, if you're a control freak like I am, you're the writer, producer, editor, choreographer, performer.
00:17:18
Speaker
And when it goes well, hey, it's all me.
00:17:21
Speaker
When it goes bad, that audience was terrible.
00:17:25
Speaker
But no, when it goes bad, I make a joke.
00:17:27
Speaker
You still can take that responsibility.
00:17:28
Speaker
I tell a lot of new comedians, the highest high from the best show you ever had and the lowest low from the worst show you ever had are not really representative of who you are.
00:17:37
Speaker
What you want to aim for is consistency.
00:17:39
Speaker
You know what I mean?
00:17:40
Speaker
So like if you book Bart on 10 shows,
00:17:44
Speaker
My scoring system for a lack of a better word is seven out of 10 times I'm gonna kill.
00:17:49
Speaker
Two out of 10 times I'm gonna have a solid set and one out of 10 like any human you're gonna tank.
00:17:54
Speaker
I mean, you lived in LA.
00:17:55
Speaker
I mean, I watched Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld tank.
00:17:59
Speaker
that are trying out new stuff.
00:18:00
Speaker
I mean, it happens.
00:18:01
Speaker
Yeah, it happens.
00:18:01
Speaker
I watched Russell Brand doing it like two hours before his big special.
00:18:05
Speaker
This was like 10 years ago before he grew the Messiah Complex thing.
00:18:09
Speaker
And I really liked his comedy and most of it was open mic stuff.
00:18:14
Speaker
know that he can go to open mics, but what he did was he goes, I got a big mailing list.
00:18:18
Speaker
I'll just mail it out.
00:18:19
Speaker
And he had 200 fans, very tolerant of him writing notes, talking to a computer.
00:18:24
Speaker
And he was doing hard stuff.
00:18:25
Speaker
Like I like doing religious things.
00:18:27
Speaker
I like making fun of hard topics.
00:18:28
Speaker
I like taking on those challenges, but they're harder to write.
00:18:31
Speaker
because you're basically offending people's core beliefs.
00:18:33
Speaker
Someone's going to be... You're going to split.
00:18:36
Speaker
He used to be 77.
00:18:36
Speaker
Now it's only 67% of America are Christians.
00:18:39
Speaker
Okay.
00:18:39
Speaker
So if you make any joke, like I have a Jesus of Nazareth sort of thing, CSI Nazareth, which I think is hilarious.
00:18:46
Speaker
That's awesome.
00:18:47
Speaker
Already I can see where this joke's, the bit's going, but yes.
00:18:49
Speaker
But if you really love Jesus, 67% are already on edge, like don't offend me.
00:18:54
Speaker
So you've got to navigate it very carefully.
00:18:56
Speaker
He did it so well in the story is that he, of that hour and a half or two hours, only like seven minutes ended up in the special.
00:19:04
Speaker
yeah and what it taught me was oh this is hard yeah you're going to go through a lot of material that just isn't great and then what's great ends up on the special yeah what comedian was it said it's like yeah a diamond is made you know you mine it from the earth it's not ready for a ring coming out of the earth you have to chip away as much as you can while still meaning the integrity of the diamond for something you can sell that you can use that is pretty and said you have you write 10 minutes of material so you can fight off there's the 60 seconds that is just
00:19:32
Speaker
That's so frustrating.
00:19:33
Speaker
It's sort of like the David.
00:19:34
Speaker
The sculpture's there, but you've got to keep taking it away.
00:19:37
Speaker
I think they took a little bit too off the wiener.
00:19:39
Speaker
I've seen that statue, but still.
00:19:41
Speaker
I find him attractive.
00:19:41
Speaker
You think he's a little unhung for you?
00:19:43
Speaker
I just remember when we go into Italy thinking, man, that statue's huge.
00:19:46
Speaker
Why is the penis seem so way out of proportion for the rest of the statue?
00:19:50
Speaker
I mean, all things being equal, right?
00:19:51
Speaker
His hands were huge.
00:19:52
Speaker
His hands are the size of like 13-inch hands.
00:19:56
Speaker
It's like a clitoris on there practically.
00:19:58
Speaker
But nonetheless, can we say clitoris?
00:19:59
Speaker
It's a medical term.
00:20:04
Speaker
I hope you're enjoying this special presentation of Amateur Nation.
00:20:07
Speaker
Don't forget, every Thursday is Sneak Peek Thursday, giving you a 60-second video trailer of what's coming on the next episode when you follow me on Instagram, Truth Social, and or Facebook.
00:20:17
Speaker
And I bonus tease you throughout the week with plenty of audiograms for next week's topics.
00:20:22
Speaker
Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, at Lou Santini, and visit my main website, louisantini.com.
00:20:29
Speaker
The second half of my interview on The Bart Show is coming right back.
00:20:33
Speaker
There's been an odd shift in human behavior over the last 15 plus years.
00:20:37
Speaker
A sense of entitlement.
00:20:39
Speaker
A constant need for attention.
00:20:41
Speaker
Ironically coupled with the need to be left alone.
00:20:43
Speaker
A desire to be treated the same as everyone else.
00:20:46
Speaker
Stupidly combined with the mindset of, I'm special, so treat me accordingly.
00:20:50
Speaker
Introducing the book, Amateur Nation.
00:20:52
Speaker
The Decline of Common Sense, Manners, and Social Skills.
00:20:55
Speaker
The Second Edition.
00:20:56
Speaker
Inside, you'll read...
00:20:57
Speaker
The Amateur Mission Statement.
00:20:59
Speaker
The 30 Truths About Amateurs.
00:21:00
Speaker
The Four Stages of Being an Amateur.
00:21:03
Speaker
Amateur Habitats and History.
00:21:04
Speaker
Social Media Plus Me, Me, Me Equals Amateur.
00:21:08
Speaker
Technology and Amateur Behavior.
00:21:10
Speaker
With dozens of real funny photos, weird signs, and laugh-out-loud real-life accounts and actual conversations vividly showing how us pros are surrounded by Amateur Nation every day.
00:21:21
Speaker
Download the expanded second edition of the e-book, Amateur Nation, The Decline of Common Sense Manners and Social Skills.
00:21:27
Speaker
The second expanded edition available now.
00:21:29
Speaker
Be a pro.
00:21:30
Speaker
Go to Amazon.
00:21:31
Speaker
Type Amateur Nation.
00:21:32
Speaker
The honor and remember flag is a nationally recognized symbol that sends a message of appreciation for the sacrifice made by our fallen heroes and their families.
Revisiting the Honor and Remember Flag
00:21:43
Speaker
The flag flies at many NASCAR races around the country, and you can help honor our nation's fallen military members and remember the eternal sacrifice of their service by flying the flag too.
00:21:55
Speaker
Text FLAG to 71777 or visit honorandremember.org to learn more.
00:21:58
Speaker
Together, we remember them all.
00:22:09
Speaker
We now continue with this special presentation of Amateur Nation as we pick up with the second half of my interview at Freedom Fest in Memphis, Tennessee earlier this year as I appeared on The Bart Show.
Continuing the Freedom Fest Interview
00:22:21
Speaker
Enjoy.
00:22:22
Speaker
Going back to what you said though about... Going back to what you said though... You've cut up the staff now.
00:22:27
Speaker
This is what we live for.
00:22:28
Speaker
Well, going back to what you said about your Jesus of Nazareth, you said people get edgy.
00:22:31
Speaker
I'm going to be talking about that when I do the panel about comedy and censorship.
00:22:39
Speaker
Not all people, but a lot of people, as I call them in my book and my podcast, amateurs, they hear, Jesus, oh, what?
00:22:44
Speaker
It's like, let me finish yet.
00:22:46
Speaker
Wait till you hear what the story's about first.
00:22:47
Speaker
I'm probably on your side.
00:22:49
Speaker
And even if I said something that offended you, okay, move on with your life.
00:22:54
Speaker
Does it change your beliefs?
00:22:57
Speaker
If it makes you question something, well then chances are maybe it was something you didn't want to hear.
00:23:00
Speaker
Maybe you should be considering that.
00:23:02
Speaker
But I'm not, I mean, you said you like to tackle the tougher subjects.
00:23:05
Speaker
I do that to a point, but my whole, you know, I've had people like, I didn't like that joke.
00:23:11
Speaker
I had a joke about my mom smacking me when I was a kid.
00:23:14
Speaker
Yeah, I'm an Italian, right?
00:23:15
Speaker
I mean, I wasn't abused.
00:23:16
Speaker
I wasn't beaten.
00:23:18
Speaker
But I talk about in this one particular bit how like, do you ever get that once in a lifetime beating?
00:23:22
Speaker
It's particularly from your mom.
00:23:24
Speaker
Or she just loses her mind.
00:23:25
Speaker
You remember where you were, how old you were, what you did, you probably deserved it.
00:23:29
Speaker
And you can laugh about it now.
00:23:30
Speaker
99% of the time people are like, oh, that's my mom right there.
00:23:33
Speaker
I remember that instead of a book that she threw at you, it was a shoe or a hairbrush or whatever.
00:23:37
Speaker
And you laugh about it.
00:23:39
Speaker
I had some woman come to me and she goes, I was abused my whole life and that hurt my feelings.
00:23:43
Speaker
I was like, look, I feel bad about that, but you didn't listen to the bit.
00:23:47
Speaker
I even said at the beginning, and I don't do disclaimers of my act, but I was like, let me be clear.
00:23:51
Speaker
I wasn't beaten every day.
00:23:52
Speaker
My mom and I are very close.
00:23:54
Speaker
I've written a couple books about her, but I think people have a knee-jerk reaction to words now without listening to the building blocks of comedy, context, writing, timing, and the audience itself, the venue, the avenue which you're watching it.
00:24:09
Speaker
So I had this theory and it's not a comic bit, but, but there's this, uh, you know, people that are super allergic.
00:24:14
Speaker
Like I have a friend with two super allergic kids.
00:24:17
Speaker
Yes.
00:24:17
Speaker
Nuts milk.
00:24:18
Speaker
Yeah.
00:24:19
Speaker
They can't even be in the house because they're allergic.
00:24:21
Speaker
The boy in the bubble.
00:24:22
Speaker
Yeah.
00:24:22
Speaker
And so, so I get like these kids came out of the womb allergic.
00:24:25
Speaker
Right.
00:24:26
Speaker
Seems like a lot of people feel like it's their right to be allergic to your words.
00:24:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:24:32
Speaker
Therefore, instead of making a bubble, you should shut up.
00:24:36
Speaker
Yeah, that's their well, that's their identity.
00:24:38
Speaker
Their identity now is things that oppress them.
00:24:40
Speaker
Victimhood, their anxiety.
00:24:42
Speaker
This is why I literally just I gave up on dating women in Los Angeles.
00:24:46
Speaker
That should piss off all the women in Los Angeles now.
00:24:48
Speaker
They're just disappointed.
00:24:49
Speaker
But yeah, maybe I'm the common denominator.
00:24:52
Speaker
But nonetheless, I mean, I dated all races, shapes and sizes and ages when I lived in L.A., some successful, some not.
00:24:58
Speaker
Obviously not all of them because I'd still be dating them and I moved out of L.A.
Comedians and Relationships: A Humorous Take
00:25:03
Speaker
But
00:25:04
Speaker
I would eliminate some of these women right out of the gate because on the first date, they'd be talking about their anxiety and their allergies and their problems and things they had a problem with.
00:25:14
Speaker
It's like, this is our foundation now.
00:25:15
Speaker
You're a victim and we have to change the world around you.
00:25:17
Speaker
You're a victim and I have to handle you with kid gloves now.
00:25:19
Speaker
It's like, you're dating a comedian.
00:25:21
Speaker
You said you wanted someone funny.
00:25:23
Speaker
It's like comedians are very much get the joke out and deal with the forgiveness later.
00:25:27
Speaker
Yeah, right?
00:25:28
Speaker
Well, you have to always have that talk, especially women who have never dated a comedian, like, here's what's gonna happen.
00:25:32
Speaker
I'm gonna say shit, and I'm not gonna mean it, and you may or may not be offended by it, and then you have to process this.
00:25:38
Speaker
The best example I always give a lot of new comics is the old standard, a man's watching TV, here comes his wife or girlfriend, honey, does my butt look big in these jeans?
00:25:48
Speaker
The civilian, of course, is going to smooth things over.
00:25:50
Speaker
What?
00:25:51
Speaker
No, honey, you look perfect.
00:25:52
Speaker
You're beautiful.
00:25:53
Speaker
But a comedian's like, he's got 10 smart ass answers right out of the gate.
00:25:58
Speaker
All of them hurt her feelings.
00:25:59
Speaker
But he knows like, she'll get over this.
00:26:01
Speaker
If I don't get this joke out, I won't sleep.
00:26:03
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:04
Speaker
Like, I have to come on.
00:26:05
Speaker
She's just she's tossing me this lob.
00:26:07
Speaker
If I don't spike it, I'm not going to, you know, and then we'll deal with the consequences later, knowing that I love my girlfriend or wife.
00:26:13
Speaker
She loves me.
00:26:14
Speaker
She knows I don't mean anything by it.
00:26:15
Speaker
That's the difference between a comedian mindset and a civilian mindset.
00:26:18
Speaker
So, ladies, this is what you're up against or the men if they were dating the women, too.
00:26:23
Speaker
I use that in one of my jokes.
00:26:24
Speaker
I'm like, and then I said, you know, honey, it's not the jeans that make you look fat.
00:26:27
Speaker
Sure.
00:26:28
Speaker
And the girl's like, I know.
00:26:30
Speaker
And I want that because the setup is later, but it's so funny because even though I'm obviously on stage, obviously saying this is an asshole thing I'm gonna say, they still offended.
00:26:39
Speaker
And it's not even them.
00:26:40
Speaker
It's me with this other fictitional person.
00:26:44
Speaker
Who you're not even dating anymore, right?
00:26:46
Speaker
Every male comedian when they're talking about their wife or girlfriend,
00:26:49
Speaker
She always times like, yeah, she's a nag.
00:26:52
Speaker
And every female comedian, oh, they're husband and boyfriend, they're so stupid.
00:26:55
Speaker
Right?
00:26:56
Speaker
And there's nothing wrong with that.
00:26:57
Speaker
I mean, it's like, I can give as well as I can take or vice versa.
00:27:01
Speaker
It's like, I'm okay with that.
00:27:02
Speaker
I've resigned myself to that part of my life as a comedian.
00:27:06
Speaker
I don't mind the stereotypes.
00:27:07
Speaker
It's funny.
00:27:07
Speaker
Speaking of girlfriends you dated, you told me a funny story before we got on here.
00:27:11
Speaker
Apparently,
00:27:12
Speaker
you dated my girlfriend.
00:27:13
Speaker
Yeah, but I didn't.
00:27:15
Speaker
But I thought, but apparently the whole world thinks you dated my girlfriend.
00:27:18
Speaker
The whole world?
00:27:19
Speaker
Well, and Jerry Springer.
00:27:20
Speaker
So this is such a great story that I just completely deleted.
00:27:23
Speaker
She's like, you know, we haven't seen each other in a while.
00:27:25
Speaker
And it's like, didn't I go on a
00:27:27
Speaker
date with your girlfriend?
00:27:28
Speaker
I'm like, who?
00:27:29
Speaker
She said that?
00:27:29
Speaker
You said that.
00:27:30
Speaker
Oh, I said that.
00:27:31
Speaker
Oh, yes.
00:27:31
Speaker
Before the show.
00:27:32
Speaker
Yes.
00:27:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:32
Speaker
So I was I was on a dating game show.
00:27:34
Speaker
This is an ex-girlfriend a long time ago.
00:27:36
Speaker
It's got to be well over 20 years.
00:27:38
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:38
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:38
Speaker
Around there.
00:27:39
Speaker
I was hosted by Jerry Springer.
00:27:41
Speaker
And what's funny is I was a contested on this dating show.
00:27:43
Speaker
I think the concept of the show was
00:27:47
Speaker
the female contestants would have to go through the three male contestants to determine, the show was called Baggage, that's what it was called.
00:27:55
Speaker
It was called Baggage.
00:27:56
Speaker
Called Baggage, that's what it was.
00:27:56
Speaker
And then you get two bags and they send you somewhere.
00:27:58
Speaker
Yeah, so it's like, you know, you tell one truth and two lies, and then the female contestant could determine out of the three men which is the most tolerable for their baggage.
00:28:10
Speaker
Well, Max Ruffin could definitely tell a liar.
00:28:12
Speaker
That's true.
00:28:12
Speaker
That was a good skill.
00:28:14
Speaker
I've tested that.
00:28:15
Speaker
So what's funny is, I mean, we didn't make up what's funny.
00:28:17
Speaker
I remember being contested on that show.
00:28:19
Speaker
And I, of course, it's hard to not be funny when you're dealing with that kind of stuff.
00:28:23
Speaker
And I remember from the booth, you could hear the director like, Lou, that was great, but you got to dial down the funny.
00:28:27
Speaker
And Jerry Springer looks at me and goes, yeah, come on, man, I'm the host.
00:28:30
Speaker
And I remember I told him, I said, well, step aside, chief.
00:28:32
Speaker
And he laughed.
00:28:34
Speaker
and then so uh your ex-girlfriend and we we we spoke we got paid to go on a date which which we never went in fairness she's like hey i have this opportunity to go on this show right we're dating well should i do that i'm like you're living in hollywood you should totally do it yeah exposure easy money i don't know if he's single no one no matter you go on the day they'll send you money they gave us money and we never actually went on the date but then we started communicating via think well my
00:28:56
Speaker
space back then or text message yeah or her burner phone yeah yeah because that woman had a burner phone what she had the first burner phone ever the prototype of burner phones so then uh so we just we never got paid it took like 12 months to get like less than a thousand dollars i said but you get paid yet she goes no i'll let you know but then we needed a woman on our softball team okay and that's when i said you want to be on our softball team which there you go that's then all of a sudden we're in bed now
00:29:21
Speaker
We take that giant leap from a game show to softball to intercourse.
00:29:24
Speaker
That's how the Los Angeles dating timeline works.
00:29:27
Speaker
But it's weird.
00:29:27
Speaker
I've had so many people go on game shows.
00:29:29
Speaker
Now, have you met Jerry Springer before that show?
00:29:31
Speaker
No, no.
00:29:32
Speaker
Fellow Ohioan, too.
00:29:33
Speaker
He passed away in the last couple of years.
00:29:36
Speaker
And I was on Good Morning, Texas, and it was September 12th, 2001.
00:29:43
Speaker
the day after 9 11. oh wow and whatever like everyone's super serious whatever and i've never met him before and we're in the green room getting makeup on and um he was just delightful tall guy too right funny like i just remember politician whatever yeah i mean this guy was joke joke right joke in the green room and finally he turns to me and they're showing the buildings fall on 9 11 and he goes i'm just gonna say both buildings fell
00:30:08
Speaker
Both of them?
00:30:09
Speaker
Really?
00:30:10
Speaker
As if he never watched the news.
00:30:11
Speaker
And he goes, you think it's too soon?
00:30:12
Speaker
It's too soon, isn't it?
00:30:15
Speaker
I was like, oh my God.
00:30:16
Speaker
You know, it's so tense.
00:30:17
Speaker
Sure.
00:30:18
Speaker
And he just cut it with a knife.
00:30:19
Speaker
And I was like, this guy's a genius.
00:30:21
Speaker
You know what?
00:30:21
Speaker
I'm glad you brought that up.
00:30:22
Speaker
I had to do a show at the Ha Ha Comedy Club in North Hollywood.
00:30:25
Speaker
Yeah, I performed there.
00:30:26
Speaker
The day after 9-11.
00:30:27
Speaker
You did not.
00:30:27
Speaker
Oh, no.
00:30:28
Speaker
And I remember, I'm just waiting for my phone to blow up like, hey, show's canceled or whatever.
00:30:32
Speaker
And they didn't.
00:30:33
Speaker
And honestly, doing comedy 26 years, it was one of the most memorable moments
00:30:38
Speaker
touching shows of my life because we got there and you know most comedy clubs music's playing keep the energy up and you could just tell everyone felt like why are we doing this but no one wanted to go home either right they didn't want to go home maybe a dozen people in the audience on a friday night when it was packed and uh i remember i was actually hosting that show as opposed to doing a regular set
00:30:59
Speaker
And the comedians were backstage pacing like tigers, like everything I say is going to be offensive.
00:31:05
Speaker
I have no reason.
00:31:06
Speaker
I have no right to be here.
00:31:07
Speaker
How dare I be?
00:31:08
Speaker
How dare I be happy to be happy?
00:31:09
Speaker
You know what I mean?
00:31:10
Speaker
You're supposed to be miserable.
00:31:10
Speaker
So I remember I came out on stage and there was a guy who came to the show by himself.
00:31:15
Speaker
He had a military Vietnam hat on and maybe his shirt or jacket or something.
00:31:20
Speaker
And I came out there and I said, all right, folks, let's just get one thing straight here.
00:31:25
Speaker
The comedians backstage are nervous as hell to perform.
00:31:28
Speaker
And we know you're tense, so I can assure you there will be no jokes about the tragedy that befell us.
00:31:33
Speaker
But let's make a deal.
00:31:35
Speaker
We promise to make you forget about everything that happened yesterday for an hour and a half.
00:31:40
Speaker
And you promised just to forget about your troubles for a little bit.
00:31:43
Speaker
And we'll work on it.
00:31:45
Speaker
I mean, everyone at the same time, you can tell,
00:31:48
Speaker
Okay.
00:31:49
Speaker
And I remember every comedian destroyed, even the ones who were less experienced.
00:31:54
Speaker
And we got the standing ovation.
00:31:56
Speaker
Look at those goosebumps.
00:31:56
Speaker
Standing ovation and that military guy stood up, was crying.
00:31:59
Speaker
Man, there was not a dry in the house.
00:32:01
Speaker
It was just a beautiful, beautiful
Comedy Post-9/11: Healing Through Humor?
00:32:03
Speaker
night of comedy.
00:32:03
Speaker
And that's one of those life affirming like this.
00:32:06
Speaker
This is why you do comedy right there.
00:32:07
Speaker
Because you're releasing tension.
00:32:09
Speaker
You're taking people away from the troubles.
00:32:10
Speaker
That's the perfect example of the best scenario.
00:32:13
Speaker
Yeah.
00:32:14
Speaker
My brother, who has no respect for the arts or comedy, is like, well, you're the clown of the family.
00:32:19
Speaker
Sure.
00:32:19
Speaker
I was like, it is an art.
00:32:21
Speaker
Yeah.
00:32:21
Speaker
I do how many years like Lou, like this is such an art, but there's no respect for it.
00:32:25
Speaker
Right.
00:32:25
Speaker
Because he's never seen that moment of like, right.
00:32:27
Speaker
You're going to you're going to take people and transport them away to somewhere else.
00:32:30
Speaker
Do you have that type of moment working in your cubicle?
00:32:32
Speaker
Probably not.
00:32:34
Speaker
I'm not saying other jobs aren't important as well, but I mean, seriously, it's like, you know, it's like, those are those life affirming moments.
00:32:39
Speaker
Like, I'm not gonna say it makes up for the lousy money, but it's right there.
00:32:43
Speaker
I mean, it really does.
00:32:45
Speaker
I have that now the rest of my life.
00:32:46
Speaker
Well, the thing about the money is you do it for 10 or 15 years and you barely make a living.
00:32:51
Speaker
You struggle.
00:32:52
Speaker
Sure.
00:32:52
Speaker
And then finally you hit something and now you're kind of on easy street.
00:32:55
Speaker
Was it like that for you?
00:32:56
Speaker
Was there a jump when you're like, wow, I'm making a living now?
00:32:59
Speaker
Yeah.
00:32:59
Speaker
I was always, I was in radio 11 years and I was struggling for the first like,
00:33:04
Speaker
five six seven out of 11 years in radio keeping the lights on but i was also working 80 hours a week i had a side business you know djing weddings and corporate functions all my side hustles were always things that involved entertainment writing on camera on stage something like that i wanted to keep even if i had to have three or four jobs keep them in the entertainment business that's smart and then all of a sudden you know you get called up to the majors at a
00:33:28
Speaker
the number one radio station in Cleveland and one of the most prolific stations in the United States, WMMS.
00:33:35
Speaker
And here I am now, I'm covering the ribbon cutting of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
00:33:38
Speaker
I was actually in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an exhibit for a while.
00:33:43
Speaker
And then all of a sudden you go from being ass deep in debt to like liquid like that.
00:33:48
Speaker
It's like, ah.
00:33:49
Speaker
That's what it's like.
00:33:52
Speaker
10 years of hard work sure now you're i mean you're not rich you're just all of a sudden like but you're making your living in entertainment and when i and that feels good it feels good and when you're in entertainment in los angeles i mean yeah i i painted storefronts on car dealerships and drug stores and uh you know hustled like crazy and uh you know i had an office job until but all of a sudden 2003 four it's like all entertainment that is impressive can i look at your handwriting
00:34:18
Speaker
Go ahead if you can read it.
00:34:19
Speaker
It is messy, but it's actually, it reminds me, you know, I've done, like I said, almost 15, 1600 radio shows and all the best radio hosts write like you.
00:34:27
Speaker
Oh, is that right?
00:34:27
Speaker
Yeah.
00:34:28
Speaker
So this fluid, see this kind of your Y's and G's kind of curve in there?
00:34:32
Speaker
That is all fluidity of thinking.
00:34:34
Speaker
So you have Ellen Lou.
00:34:35
Speaker
Can I get that in writing from my girlfriend?
00:34:37
Speaker
The fluidity and thinking very, very fluid.
00:34:39
Speaker
What it means is it means you go from one topic to the next very smoothly.
00:34:42
Speaker
And what I think the only one that would have this perspective, because I've been reading so many radio professionals, is they have the ability to weave words.
00:34:52
Speaker
say something and come back five minutes later and finish that thought.
00:34:55
Speaker
Yeah.
00:34:55
Speaker
And that's a writer's ability, but some writers can't talk.
00:34:58
Speaker
My girlfriend calls it rambling, but go ahead.
00:35:00
Speaker
It's rambling.
00:35:01
Speaker
Yeah.
00:35:01
Speaker
Yeah, it's rambling.
00:35:02
Speaker
But you're a rambler and that's just, you're in the perfect position for yourself.
00:35:04
Speaker
I mean, you could kill, go back to radio for that.
00:35:06
Speaker
Really?
00:35:06
Speaker
Also persistence, which is a sign of self-made millionaires, which is great.
00:35:10
Speaker
Domineering which can be a little bit petty if you want to take control someone hit the ding on that Domineering okay pride which I think is always a wonderful quality because it means that you care about your work and status is important so you worked for a long time with no money but you were getting status right I did the same thing in my 20s and I and I was broke most of it but I was kind of famous so I was like I would like some money in addition to this notoriety
00:35:35
Speaker
I tell a lot of new comedians when you're not making money, your reputation's all you have.
00:35:39
Speaker
So protect it.
00:35:40
Speaker
Well, and it's important, but it's also a driver.
00:35:42
Speaker
So what I did in my 30s, I still want the recognition, but I also would like to have some business.
00:35:46
Speaker
I want some money.
00:35:47
Speaker
Sure.
00:35:48
Speaker
And so I sort of adjusted my values.
00:35:49
Speaker
It's still recognition's important, but making a difference, being creative, all that's there.
00:35:54
Speaker
Yeah.
00:35:55
Speaker
No, you're a very well-balanced person.
00:35:57
Speaker
You really are a fast talker.
00:36:00
Speaker
You're almost like New York fast talker.
00:36:01
Speaker
I get that a lot.
00:36:03
Speaker
People think I'm from New York.
00:36:04
Speaker
So the M's and N's are how fast you are.
00:36:05
Speaker
And generally what that means is people who drive slow in the fast lane, you'd like to shoot them.
00:36:10
Speaker
Were you following me here?
00:36:12
Speaker
I told my girlfriend I want a hood mounted machine gun for my car.
00:36:16
Speaker
But they do.
00:36:17
Speaker
Have you been on a cruise ship ever?
00:36:18
Speaker
Yes.
00:36:19
Speaker
Why do they walk like this and just you cannot get to your gig?
00:36:23
Speaker
You can't get to the buffet and they'll go left and then you'll go around them and walking to your show.
00:36:28
Speaker
This happened three times.
00:36:29
Speaker
The same woman twice.
00:36:30
Speaker
I even went around her at a different part and I'm like, she's back.
00:36:33
Speaker
Can't you just shoot them?
00:36:35
Speaker
I think it's still illegal.
00:36:36
Speaker
I mean, I believe there's a gun vendor at the show that would probably be okay with that.
00:36:40
Speaker
As I talk about my act, that's so much as like a taser or like a silencer.
00:36:43
Speaker
A taser's not fair.
00:36:44
Speaker
Just kind of like a soprano.
00:36:45
Speaker
I mean, I think an elephant gun, but taser's probably better.
00:36:48
Speaker
Yeah.
00:36:48
Speaker
But don't you get like, because here's why, you think fast, you've already finished the thought, and they're still slow.
00:36:56
Speaker
I get mad at my computer, like I hit the button, do it.
00:37:00
Speaker
Shift, tab, or open this file now.
00:37:03
Speaker
You have one job.
00:37:03
Speaker
You're a button.
00:37:04
Speaker
You have one job.
00:37:04
Speaker
Oh my God, dude.
00:37:06
Speaker
I want to hug you right now.
00:37:07
Speaker
I say those exact words.
00:37:09
Speaker
I tell my girlfriend, I fully believe that inanimate objects are like public enemy number one.
00:37:14
Speaker
It's like you have one job.
00:37:16
Speaker
Do it.
00:37:17
Speaker
Toast the toast.
00:37:18
Speaker
Microwave the bagel.
00:37:19
Speaker
Whatever it is you're doing.
00:37:21
Speaker
Oh my God.
00:37:21
Speaker
So you gave me a t-shirt.
00:37:22
Speaker
I did.
00:37:23
Speaker
So first of all, you got my color.
00:37:25
Speaker
I just, I don't always wear this.
00:37:26
Speaker
I have like five of these shirts because it makes my eyes look pretty.
00:37:29
Speaker
I want to say something.
00:37:30
Speaker
Yes.
00:37:30
Speaker
No, it's not gay.
00:37:31
Speaker
Just a beautiful.
00:37:32
Speaker
You're pretty bad.
00:37:33
Speaker
So this is no amateurs.
00:37:36
Speaker
Yep.
00:37:36
Speaker
Ooh, I kind of like that.
00:37:37
Speaker
What's the meaning behind that?
00:37:38
Speaker
Amateurs, my Dry Bar comedy special is called Amateur Nation.
Promoting 'Amateur Nation' and Final Thoughts
00:37:42
Speaker
My book on Amazon is called Amateur Nation, The Decline of Common Sense Manners and Social Skills.
00:37:47
Speaker
And my podcast is called Amateur Nation.
00:37:49
Speaker
Amateurs are people who are doing life wrong.
00:37:52
Speaker
The speed bumps in your life, the people that are in your way every day.
00:37:56
Speaker
And I talk about it in my intro, the unintelligent victim types, all these people, just enough of you.
00:38:03
Speaker
All the people we make fun of.
00:38:04
Speaker
people we've been talking about on the show today.
00:38:06
Speaker
Exactly.
00:38:06
Speaker
People I make fun of in my act.
00:38:07
Speaker
So yes, so my shirts, you can get them on my website.
00:38:10
Speaker
I'm running out of them, but yeah, no amateurs.
00:38:12
Speaker
So you have Lou Santini Entertainment on Facebook, YouTube, Lou Santini.
00:38:15
Speaker
It's so easy to go.
00:38:16
Speaker
And then you have this unfortunate- Lou Dot Santini.
00:38:20
Speaker
Lou Dot.
00:38:21
Speaker
So there's a-
00:38:22
Speaker
Well, because I do other Lucy and no, I got my account censored twice by Instagram.
00:38:26
Speaker
They shut it down.
00:38:27
Speaker
I have five, 10,000, you know, start over, start over twice, twice.
00:38:33
Speaker
So you can follow you.
00:38:33
Speaker
And is there a show coming out?
00:38:35
Speaker
Where can they see me over your comedy?
00:38:37
Speaker
Lucy and TD.com.
00:38:39
Speaker
My dry bar special driver, comedy.com slash L O U S. And I'll actually, you know, my calendar is on there.
00:38:45
Speaker
How fun.
00:38:46
Speaker
How fun.
00:38:46
Speaker
I haven't seen it yet.
00:38:47
Speaker
I'm looking forward to it.
00:38:47
Speaker
I appreciate it.
00:38:48
Speaker
Yeah, this will be great.
00:38:49
Speaker
When this podcast drops, we'll promote it back and forth, and I'll hang out with you in LA, I hope.
00:38:52
Speaker
Can't wait.
00:38:53
Speaker
We can share some more girlfriends.
00:38:54
Speaker
Oh, yeah.
00:38:54
Speaker
Yeah.
00:38:55
Speaker
I owe you one girlfriend.
00:38:58
Speaker
Though already I'm behind.
00:39:00
Speaker
Lou Sintini, everybody.
00:39:01
Speaker
Thanks, everybody.
00:39:11
Speaker
Well, I hope you had some laughs listening to this special presentation of Amateur Nation, 250 episodes and counting.
00:39:18
Speaker
We return to our regular format show next Sunday.
00:39:21
Speaker
Watch me go after amateurs on my Drybar special, drybarcomedy.com slash L-O-U-S.
00:39:26
Speaker
Copy and paste the link from whatever platform you listen on and send it to a fellow pro.
00:39:31
Speaker
or an amateur that is doing life wrong.
00:39:33
Speaker
And please leave a review.
00:39:35
Speaker
Amateur Nation is not just a podcast.
00:39:37
Speaker
It's a movement.
00:39:38
Speaker
Remember, amateurs, we see you.
00:39:40
Speaker
You're not at home.
00:39:42
Speaker
Don't do life wrong.
00:39:43
Speaker
Go pro.
00:39:44
Speaker
Don't be an amateur.
00:39:46
Speaker
For Amateur Nation, I'm Lou Santini, and this has been a Big Major production.