The Daily Show: Ears Edition - TDS’s Chicago Comics on Returning for the DNC | Behind the Show

Episode Date: August 19, 2024

Josh Johnson, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, and Daily Show writer Scott Sherman discuss starting their comedy careers in Chicago and what it feels like to return to the Windy City for this week’s Democratic National Convention. They chat about how to find comedy within so much Harris/Walz enthusiasm, how starting comedy in Chicago informs their creativity today, and which pizza places are on their radar this trip. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do Nice Guys Really Finish Last. I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new miniseries on the Art of Fairness. From New York to Tahiti will examine villains undone by their villainy. Monstrous, self-devaring egos and accounts of the extraordinary power of decency. Listen on the I-Heart Radio app, Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, the weekly show coming out every Thursday.

We're going to be talking about the election, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread bread the the the the the the to to the to the the to the to to the to the to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the to to the the they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? Listen to Comedy Central. Hello and welcome to the Daily Show Ears Edition. This is Josh Johnson and I am here with Grace Cooling Schmidt and Daily Show writer Scott Sherman. We're head to Chicago for the DNC this week, so this is an extra Chicago E. episode of the Ears Edition. We all came up in the Chicago comedy scene at different times. So we're going to get into Chicago comedy stories and obviously some intense food debates. But first I'm

curious because we're about to go to the DNC. It's going to be my first DNC. I feel like am I right that all of us have not been to a convention since we've been here? Yeah, I mean my forays into almost going to conventions. We were almost going to go and then COVID hit and then Milwaukee and... Yep. Yeah. Are you excited, Josh? I'm, here's the thing.

I am excited for the event. I wonder what it'll be like now that the, the takes might be behind the, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the takes takes takes takes takes takes takes the takes takes, takes, takes, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, takes, uh, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes,'s the thing, I am excited for the event. I wonder what it'll be like now that the takes might be harder to come by, because everyone's like excited and having a good time. I'm not saying that to do good jokes about a thing you have to be like trashing it, but it is a bit more particular of an angle you have to find when everyone is just happy about whatever to the bring up, it becomes harder to find the angle to make things even more funny, you know? So I guess I'm looking to insight from you because you went to a Kamala rally in Philly. What was that like? Okay, so we know Tim Walls is white, but is he white enough to win all 19 electoral votes from Pennsylvania?

Have you guys seen him play Hackey Sack? Have you seen him play that? Have you seen him say that? Have you seen him say that? Have you seen him say that? Is he white enough? Who's close to Lily White, I think, so? You think so? But when it comes to white, he's right. Come on, watch it, I gotcha. Okay, cool. I mean, before Kamla was the nominee, I was not expecting this much positivity around her

just because, I mean, the way that VPs work, they're like not in the spotlight. Right. It's so interesting to me the way that memes are such a big part of politics these days. And just like trying for parties to pull in anything that will get in like a younger vote is interesting. From like the music that was being played, going from like I'm coming out by Diana Ross to a Chapel Rones song you know like they're really trying to just like get every factor that they can but genuinely the excitement that I saw there was pretty incredible. Yeah I think there's an element where there's some comedy in how strange these new feelings for Democrats are you you know, the racist-changing, things are happening, to their bodies, that they don't, they're not, it's a new kind of experience, they're feeling emotions they haven't felt before, and you know, they, I think Democrats need to like, start to explore these, these new feelings and, and, you know, they, I think Democrats need to like start to explore these new feelings of joy and optimism.

So the last question I'll ask before we get into just straight up Chicago talk is like, I'm sharing with you all now because I've been thinking about for a couple days and I feel like, to your point, Scott, like, it doesn't feel normal to not be running around neurotic, worried, oh why did they say that thing or like, oh this person's problematic, and I feel like it's almost as if Democrats are like in their sort of maga bag. Like this is how I imagined Republicans felt in 2015 when they were like, let's go to this rally and it'll be fun. And this guy's funny, like watching Tim Waltz like make jokes.

Yeah. And people not just laugh, but be like, oh, that's crazy. Oh, he said the couch. Right, right. It's like, you know, seeing more of almost like wrestling event type energy is, it's something we've seen before but do you all think that it's like in in the same line of excitement or am I like off with that? I think you're making a good point and I think the branding

behind Kamla Harris and Tim Walls right now is I think it's really smart and I think that they're pulling in people that they weren't gonna get when Biden was there and I think it is so much about like the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same th. th. th. th. th. th. the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same is is so much the same the same the same the same the same the same th is so much th. I is so thin is so things things things things things things things things things things things things things thin thin thin is th isthink that they're pulling in people that they weren't going to get when Biden was there. And I think it is so much about like PR and how they've been branding themselves. Mm, got you. Yeah, I mean, I think a good, hopefully healthy balance that I think it would be good to strike is remembering that this is still a statistical tie that we're talking about here and you know the enthusiasm is great but you got to remember like voting is the thing that actually matters and then you know keeping up the work after that. And you've never voted, right?

No, no, yeah. So you, you a convict? You, you out here? I, we're not recording this, right? I'm sorry, I'm sorry. This is just the three of us hanging out, no mics. Yeah. Tell us what you did. Well, I'm going to speak for all of us right now. We're very excited to be back in Chicago. We all got our starts doing comedy there. Scott, you did sketch and improv at Second City. Grace did I.O. and was big in improv the entire time you were in Chicago.

And then I did annoyance and stand up the entire time I was there. Do you feel different when you go now based on like how you felt when you were starting there?, the the the the the th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, to th, to th, th to th, th, th, thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi, thi, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, tho, thi, tho, thi, tho, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, to th. to to to thi thi to thi thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. to thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, time I was there. Do you feel different when you go now based on like how you felt when you were like starting there? I feel like it's such a different thing to be this like comedy baby and then go back with like a real career, you know? Well thank you for saying I have a real career. That's that's nice. Yeah I mean I think the beauty about the Chicago comedy scene is it is really like a formative time for the th th th th th th th th th th th thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi the thi the thi the thi the the thi thi thi thi thi the that the their their thi up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I their I up I up I up I I up. I I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I up. I the the the the the that that up. I feel the up. I feel up. I feel that up. I feel the up. I feel up. I, I mean I think the beauty about the Chicago comedy scene is it is truly like a formative time for people and it's not New York and it's not LA and you feel like you can like actually hone your craft there and take it seriously without feeling like you know the pressure coming from

being one of the larger entertainment capitals of America. Yeah that makes sense. I mean I definitely, I definitely have a the, like a thick the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the tooo to caree career career to to thau thau thau thau their thau thau thau their thau tha, the pressure coming from being one of the larger entertainment capitals of America. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I definitely had that feeling when I visited LA, it would be like a last minute spot. And then someone in the green room would be like, oh, this person's in the crowd. I'm like, who? Because I don't know who anyone is and I'm still like young in doing stand-up and they and they're like no This is a casting director. They book and it's like All right now I got to think about that. I was just try have like a good show Whereas in Chicago, I feel like everyone was trying stuff and the fact that industry there like was or is small Is is like your amounts of times that you? That you have to feel that way. th. Like. Like. Like. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. th. th. this this. this. this this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th is th is th is th is th. th is th is th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I thi. I thi. I thi. I th. I thi. I thi. I this is this is this is thi. I this is thi. I thi. you that you have to feel that way, like it's just more

freeing, which I think yields better work, you know? And you don't want people to see you when you're like, you don't always want people to see you when you start wanting things. Do you mean? Like you may not be ready. You may just know things exist now. And I think that's part of, it's indicative of being very acutely aware to to having a sort of acumen towards comedy yet, you know? Yeah, and nobody comes out like fully formed. Yeah. You need that time to grow. So yeah, and it's a perfect play for that. Not the least reason is because it's cheaper than New York in LA. So you can actually, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, that, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very, very very very very very very very, very that, very that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi-a, thi-a, thi-a, thi-a, very thi-a, very thi-a, very thi's a perfect play for that. Not the least reason is because it's cheaper than New York and LA. So you can actually like afford your rent. Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, that's part of what I loved about my time in Chicago was, I'm almost 100% sure I'd never performed in front of a producer ever when I was there. I was performing like six nights a week in front of maybe some paying people and mostly other comics. And there's something so special about that and I think I was able to develop more of my own voice because of that because you're gonna try things out with like zero pressure. And I had like a really collaborative fun community there who really was just there for like the love of comedy. We weren't even, I never, I never th-I. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, and I, and I, and I, and I, and, and, and, thi, and, and, th, th, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, thi, thi, the thi, thi, thi, thi, who really was just there for like the love of comedy. We weren't even, I never thought about like my, what my career would be when I lived

there. Yeah. It wasn't until like the pandemic where I started posting stuff online that I started thinking about where comedy would take me, but I really was just like blindly like I love doing what I'm doing right now and it's such a special place for that. Yeah I think especially in comedy, especially in the arts, if you're not enjoying the slog of getting to where you want to be, you're not going to enjoy it when you're there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Chicago's a really good place for that. Especially with like the diversity of places, IO, Second City, annoyance, all the stand-up clubs. I mean, you can like enjoy the difficulty of like finding your voice as a performer

as a writer without having to worry about the just like basic pressures. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a there's so like, the the the diversity of, their, their th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their thiiiiiiiiiii, thi., thiii. thiiii. I, thiii. I, thiii. thiiauui. thi. thi. their their their their their without having to worry about the just like basic pressures. Yeah yeah there's such a sense of presence right and I'm sure like obviously you had a sense of presence because you were doing improv and everything but even for stand-up and even for some of the shows that I would go to that were sketch or something like that you really did get this feeling of like this thing is never going to happen again. Like this show? Yeah. This is never going to happen again. We'll do the show again and it'll have the same name and it'll run at the same time, but this thing's never haunt. If you weren't here for this, then it's just over. You know, I don't know if I just heard of it. But okay a good example is is shithole. Yeah.

Shithole's a venue by the way not us disparaging a venue. It's it's what they called it. Okay but like shows at Shithole or just these like... Yeah those were like once in a yeah. Yeah and I mean do you all, do you all feel like, is there anything from starring in Chicago that you take with you now in what you create, whether it's like performance or writing or anything? I mean, not being precious. It is a thing that you have to kind of learn as a performer, especially in improv and sketch,

and then you gotta take that to late night too.. This feeling of like, I'm doing it, it's femoral, like, it's gonna be gone the next day, but I'm gonna get to do it again. Agreed. I think for me going with your gut, comedically, because you aren't really getting much external validation, or I wasn't, I'll speak for myself, I wasn't getting much external validation while I was there, I wasn't getting paid for really any of the shows I was doing until maybe like the last three months that I lived there.

And, you know, there's no like jobs that I was getting in entertainment or anyone I knew was getting an entertainment. I knew some people doing like commercial work, but you know, you have to just go based on, I think a th.., like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, a the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the last did a great job last night, I'm going to try and just like make myself laugh again. And you know, I think a lot of people in New York have been, like who started out here can get stuck on like, well, fuck, like I know people who have got jobs when they were like 22 just going to a show at Union Hall. And I think that because Chicago doesn't have that same pressure, you're able to listen to yourself more.

Yeah. Yeah. Like, I lived on the South side for most of the time, but then I lived on the North side really close to I.O. for a year. And that's when TJ and Dave were performing there all the time. And TJ and Dave is like absolutely legendary improv duo. And I got to see these two guys every week, the absolute pinnacle, masters of their craft about what they were doing, and then what they would do just be gone. And then they would do a whole new thing the next week and I'm like well if these guys don't care about preserving

every word of their performance every week why should I care? Sure. Why would I not just be like I did that thing? Now I'm gonna grow from that and move on to the next thing. Yeah and yeah I was just gonna say I've thought about that with stand up a lot recently actually I did a th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th thi thi the the the the the the the thi thi the the the the the the the the the the the the they they they they they the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they would they they would they would the the the the the the the the an the an theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee an thee the the the the th next thing. Yeah. And yeah, I was just gonna say I've thought about that was stand-up a lot recently actually. I did a show maybe like a month ago and I like improvised a couple lines and I was like listening back I was like oh god that was so good. And so then a show a week later I tried redoing those improvised lines I did and it did not land because it was like what was funny about it was that it was off the cuff and the audience was cued in that it was off the cuff and it brought me back to like an improv thought of like you don't you don't just need to redo something you just did like if

something was improvised let it be improvised and live there. Yeah yeah yeah and I I think that as as much as I've had these like these thi thi thi th amazing th amazing these like th amazing th th th th th th the th th th the th th th th th th th th th the amazing the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the, like their their their their their their the the their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their the their the their the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the to to theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. toe. thee. theeeee. thee. the. th I think that as as much as I've had these like amazing experiences that I take with me from Chicago, I also have things that I hope that I never Repeat again in life. I've had shows that were so bad and like part of it was that I was bad So it's like when you are not good at comedy your chances of having a good experience are very slim but like I performed at places where I was like I would walk in it and be like, oh, this isn't going to be good. Like you can tell, and then it went exactly as I, and not even in a self-fulfilling prophecy, as in for my set, I mean, the actual show was like, the the actual show was like horrific. Yeah. You know and I'm trying to think of one right now where there was like oh okay so I did this show it was very awkward because it

was a bar show but there was no stage which is also fine because as long as people are sitting and you're standing you still kind of maintain that distance but some of the people were standing up because the room was so small that you It really did just look like anyone performing was about to get jumped Because there wasn't enough room between like even where Scott is to where I am. I know what you mean. I did That much room. Yeah, and so I'm just standing there like doing the set. I think I did fine, and then this guy went up after me, and you could tell that. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I th. I the? I the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the room. the room. the room. the the room. the room. the room. the the room. the room. tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt there like doing the set. I think I did fine. And then this guy went up after me and you could tell that he was good. He was good, but everyone was so drunk that like it wasn't hitting and he was doing magic. And so it was like, it was, he was doing magic. He was doing magic.

And he goes up and he's trying to do like a car trick but the person he picks out of the audience is like very drunk woman and he was good looking. This was like this was a hot man right and so as he's trying his like pattern in between the joke and he's like showing the cards to everybody she's like oh are you flexing? And he's like no I'm not I'm just trying to but his arm is bent and he does........................ the. the. the. the. to. the. he. he. he. he. he. He. He's. he. He's. He's. he. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's he. He's. He's. He's. he. He's. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. he. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. t. t. t. he. he. t. t. he. he. he. he. t. he. he. he. he. he. he. He's. He's. he. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's. She's like, oh are you flexing? Are you flexed? And he's like, no I'm not, I'm just trying to, but his arm is bent and he does have muscles. And so then at one point he's like, is this your card? And she straight up just bit his bisep like she was just, she was just having a different experience, right? And so I finally I'm like, yeah there's nothing, this is just going to keep to keep their to keep to keep to keep to keep their to keep to keep their to keep their to keep their to keep their their their their their thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. this this this this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is just this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is this is th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. th. th. this is just going. this is just going. this is just going. this is just going. this is just going. this is just going. this is just this is just this is just this is just going to keep making me sad. Like, I got them at their least drunk, so I can't even be like, oh, I did the best on the show. It's like, the show just hadn't gone downhill yet.

And so I leave. The next week, I hear about that show from someone else. And they're like, yeah, the host, I guess he just like lost it and he had a taser and he just started tasing people who were like actively heckling. Oh my God. See that's what you can do in Chicago that you cannot do in anywhere else in this country. You guys see what we mean about it being a magical place? Yeah, that's why we need to preserve Chicago as a comedy institution capital of the world. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Because you need that threat. Yeah. That's th. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. th. th. th. th. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that that that that that that that that that that that that that's that that. that that that thively that that thively thively thively thively the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thively. thively. thively. thi. thi. thi. thi.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a. ta. that. that. t world. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Because you need that.

You need that threat of a taser. Of a taser. That someone does not you. He wasn't a cop. It's like this dude just has a taser on him. No. Yeah. Did you all have any experiences that were like, especially early days? Like either I'm not having my best night or this is like a properly, properly terrible experience. I wasn't on stage for mine, so I started doing improv and sketch at my college, which was started by the founders of Second City. I had been directing a show down there, and one of my friends came to the show and I had to physically restrain him because it was so drug and he was heckling my crap but then I was out of college and I was just like trying to find a job and I interviewed for a job to be an usher at the Blue Man group.

Wow. And the guy interviewing me was like, it seems like you have tons of experience. This is great. Every once in a while we get a routed crowd. How can you deal with that? I was like, well, I only had her physically restrained someone one time. He was like, yeah, we don't allow that to happen here. So like I couldn't get a job.

I think they were paying like $5 an hour or something like that. I couldn't get a job because I had to tell this guy stupidly that like I had to restrain my drunk friend. Yeah. But I mean I like, I like your level of conviction to like making sure that the Blue Man show continues uninterrupted. Yeah. Yeah. Like sitting them down being like, hey if you need me to bust up any any kid that needs it. Yeah. I got I will rock them in the back of the head. If there's somebody if there's a middle-aged couple from Naperville coming down. Yeah. And they start to mess up with the up up up up up up with the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. Blue. Blue. I the blue. Blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I the blue. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I the. I the. the. the. the. the. t. t. t. t. t. te. te. te. te. t. te. te. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the., if there's a middle-aged couple from Naperville coming down, and they start to mess up with the timing of the drum set, not on my watch.

Not on my watch. Hey, these kids can get kicked in the chest, all right? Believe that. Because you don't want the blue men to actually say their first words ever on stage. Like shut the fuck up. Yeah, because that just breaks th th th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the the th. the the thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi their thi. their their the their their their that, their the. the. the. their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the. Yeah, the. Yeah, the. the. the. thea. thea. ta. tauuoooooomoombse. tea. tea. thea. thea. thea. the. the. the fuck up. Yeah. You don't want that. Yeah. Because that just breaks the fourth wall. Let me do that. Let me take care of it, right? Give me a taser. Yeah. Did you ever have anything that you were like you look back on as like maybe maybe either the worst show or just like oh man this is a this is like a rough experience for me personally? I mean definitely the first few open mics I did in Chicago, I was like, oh my God.

Just like simply being one of maybe three girls out of like 60 guys was like fucking. And like the comedy you would see that, you know, it's like, is that comedy? Yeah. Was so crazy. But this is like slightly off topic, but I just was reading an old journal the other day. I was like, oh, the oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, the, the, the, the, oh, oh, oh, oh, the, the, know, it's like, is that comedy? Yeah. Was so crazy. But this is like slightly off topic, but I just was reading an old journal the other day and like wrote in my journal, like, just did an amazing improv show. And after the show, Garrett came up to me and complimented my set. Can you believe that? And now this guy, Garrett is one of my closest friends. And it just like reminded me, I like forgot about like when you're up and coming in comedy

and you see someone for the first time who like maybe is a year older than you and you just kind of like immediately idolize them and then this transcends just Chicago, but like how quickly comedians can become friends too in a way where it's like, oh, this person used to be like a god to me and now it's even better they're one of my close friends I thought was just cute. Yeah. Yeah. When would you say because there's a real sense when you're there that the city or the people like as far as audiences or like fellow comics will tell you when you're like ready to leave? Do you, did you, did you either feel like you listen to th?? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th? th the th. th th th the th th. the the th. th. th. th. th. they they they're they're they're the they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they they're they they they they they're they're they they they're? they're? they're? they're? they're. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. their. they. they. they. they. they. they. te. they. they. their their they. they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're you when you're like ready to leave. Do you I mean? Yeah. Did you either feel like you listened to that or what like or if that affected you?

And if it did, when was the time that you felt like ready to leave? I mean, I was at, I was working at Second City. What were you? What? I was like working for the producers, but then I started doing everything. I started like doing all the archives And then they very unwisely put me in the accounting department that was hilarious huge mistake That's so funny but one day the sort of producer emeritus at the time she's gone now rest and peace. Joi Sloan, incredible woman who's like coaching tree from her is just out of control. She kind of pulled me into her office and she was just like I'm ready to make a

phone call for you. Wow. And she did, and you know it was still like a long road between that phone call and anything else happened, but you know, it was still like a long road between that phone call and anything else happened. But you know, she kind of knew, like I'd been paying my dues and she was like ready to do that for me. But you had to work for it, you know? And that was the moment I was like, well, if Joyce thinks I'm ready for the phone call, maybe I'm ready.

Yeah. Yeah. I feel like, um, okay, so I got to Chicago in 2017 and when the pandemic hit, I felt like I was really finally like hitting a really cool stride. I was on an improv team, a house team at I.O. That I was really proud of, and I just started performing at the hideout, doing stand-up, and then the pandemic hit, and at that point I think I had like 300 followers on Twitter, which I just want to say I did think was a lot. I was like, this is crazy, there are people I don't know who follow me. But a friend of mine was like you should start posting videos on Twitter. So I did and I feel like maybe like a month in things started really jumping for me.

So then my lease ended in Chicago. In June, I had friends with an open room in New York and I just started making money on TickToc. So I had like a different, I feel like I never really got. Can you show me how to do that, by the way? Yes, of course I can. Thank you. You're gonna be huge, Scott. I think, I'm exactly what Tick Tock is looking for.

And I know you can dance and that's all you need to do. I never really got a goodbye from Chicago because I kind of of to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to steering wheel and drove across to get to New York. But yeah, I think without the pandemic I probably would have stayed another year or two, but I don't know where my career would be now, I guess. So in a way, I feel lucky that I figured out social media because I think it is hard for a lot of people who were in Chicago that I think are so insanely talented, who have like essentially given up on comedy because there's not that many roots.

You know, if you can't find one, an open door when it's open. We're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back. It's been said that nice skies finish last. But is that really true? I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new miniseries on the Art of Fairness.

We'll travel from New York to Tahiti to India on a quest to learn how to succeed without being a jerk. We'll examine stories of villains undone by their villainy and monstrous self-devaring egos and will delve into the extraordinary power of decency. We'll face mutiny on the vast Pacific Ocean, blaze a trail with a pioneering skyscraper, and dare to confront a formidable empire. The art of fairness on cautionary tales. Listen on the IHart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, the

weekly show coming out every Thursday. We're going to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show, coming out every Thursday. We're going to be talking about the election. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? Listen to the Weekly Show With the Weekly to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the Weekly the Weekly the Weekly the Weekly the Weekly Show the Weekly Show the Weekly Show the Weekly Show the Weekly Show the Weekly Show the Weekly Show to the Weekly Show to to to the weekly to to to to to to the weekly show the weekly show to to to to the weekly show to the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the weekly the the weekly the weekly the weekly to to the weekly to to to to to to to to the weekly show to the weekly show the weekly show the weekly show the weekly show. the weekly show. the weekly show. the weekly show. the weekly show. the the the to to to the to to the to theeea. to to to to to theea. to thea. thea. the weekly show the weekly show? Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back. Okay, so I am curious, because everyone talks about the best pizza or compares Chicago pizza in New York pizza. I want to start off a little bit differently. Let's get it. I am curious, because everyone talks about the best pizza or compares Chicago pizza and New York pizza.

I want to start off a little bit differently. Let's get into it. A little bit differently. Here we go. I want you to tell me about the worst food experience you had in Chicago, right? This place may be closed now. It may have been someone else's cooking. Maybe it wasn't a restaurant, but I,

yeah, the worst. You're trying to get us killed? We're about to go to Chicago. But this could be a friend. This doesn't have to be an establishment that you're trashing. This could be just an experience that you had. I can go right now if you want me to, if you may lay it down. You got to kick this off. Okay, so all the hate can go on. Yes, yeah. I went over to a friend's place and they were kind enough to like, you know, like cook and everything. And I had been warned by another friend that they couldn't really cook so then eat beforehand so that you won't be hungry, right? But I was invited as if it was like a house party and

then I got there and it was just me. So like I don't know if everybody else canceled or if they only ever invited me but it was just me and them and like a ridiculous amount of food, right? And so then I was like I'm gonna have to eat quite a bit to even look like I put a day. it. And it was like, it was them, first of all, trying something. So it wasn't a dish that they make. It wasn't like a, have my famous like five layer dip, whatever. It was like, I made these special pork chops in this specific way that I had never heard of before. And I tried it and I it felt like

my mouth so they used a lot of vinegar okay and you could tell even though it was cooked meat as you were eating it you were like oh okay I didn't know the meal was acid mm-hmm that's brutal it's pretty bad yeah yeah but I feel like it perfectly sets us up to talk about good things like the good pizza. Yeah. You know, if you know how bad things can get, it makes you appreciate the good even more. Exactly. Yeah. This is not necessarily a food experience, but the restaurant that I worked at for two years when I lived there, there was one day, they had um, their philosophy was customers always right. Which I certainly th I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I th I th I th I th I th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th is th. thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi the. the. the. thi thi. Yeah, thi. Yeah, thi. Yeah, thi thi the. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. thee. the. the. the. th. they had their philosophy was customers always right, which I certainly understand, but boy is it unfair to all of the employees. Yeah, yeah. And there was one day where I was working as a host

and this woman came in and I guess I like wasn't at the host stand when she walked in. So when I like walked up to like pass her and she was already headed to a table, I was like, oh sorry, just come check in with me and eventually got her seated. And then a couple minutes later I saw her whispering to my manager. And my manager came up to me and was like, hey, this woman wants me to fire you right now. And I was like, what? And he was like, yeah, she said that you were like being rude. And I'm just going to pretend that I'm firing you. If you want to just like pack up your bags and go home and we'll pay you through the rest of the day. And I was like, okay, sure. And honestly, I was like, what, 21?

I was like, hyped that I got to go home early and not be paid. But in hindsight, I'm like, that is awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful awful, that that that that that that that that is awful awful awful awful, that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that you that you that you that that that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that that that that that that you that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that is that is that is thi thi thi to thi to to to to to to to to to to to that's to that's that's that's that's that's that that's that that's that's that I got to go home early and not be paid. But in hindsight I'm like, that is awful that he had to pretend to a random woman who was going to spend 40 bucks. That I was fired. Yeah. Especially, oh I guess if it's not like that expensive of a restaurant either, it's even weirder. Yeah, I mean it was like, it's like a healthy, fast, it's not fast casual. It's a chain. That's wild. But yeah, I mean, it was like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like, it's like, it's like it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, that's like, that's like, it's like, that's like, it's like, th. It's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it, it's a chain. That's wild. But yeah, I mean a salad is $17. She probably wasn't going to spend more than 50. Yeah, yeah. I mean unless she had a table of 22 that she brought in, yeah. It feels, it feels like an insane thing to do for no reason at all. Also just like think about the type of person you have to be to ask a manager to fire an employee who's making $11 an hour. Yeah, if you want someone fired in front of you that you have not met,

that you've only had what, like four words of an exchange with, you definitely, not even deep down, you definitely want slaves. Oh, wow. Like that's a person, that's like, that's the worst type of person. That, I can't even... She was evil at the core. I think that, that. I that. I that, that, that, that, that, that, th, thi that, that, that, thi, that, if that, if that's that's that's, if that's, if that's, if that's, if that's, if that's that's, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if th, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if thi, if you thi, if you thi, if you thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. they, if you thi, if you's like that's the worst type of person. Yeah, she was evil at the core. I think that that's not even I'm having a bad day. That's a that's an actual demon. That's a I have only bad days. Yeah, and I cause harm. Yeah. This person creates bad days. Wow. I mean, I don't have it in me to ever call out a bad dying experience. I just thi thi. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I thi. I the thi. I that. the that. that. that's that's the that's that's the that's the the the the the the that's that's the the the the the the the the the the the the that's the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I thi. I ty. ty. ty. ty. ty. thi. thi. that's that's thi. I that's thi. I th. I don't have it in me to ever call out a bad dine experience. I just can't do it. I love restaurants too much. I love Chicago restaurants too much. I will take the blame for a bad dining experience at one of my beloved diners in Chicago. But you know one of the formative Chicago experiences I was out really late. I was pretty drunk. Went to Clark's Diner. Got my short stack and

then it was like I'm still hungry. Got the like skillet, I think it was like a Cherizo skillet. And let me tell you Belmont Avenue, I apologize to what I did to you that night. That was not okay. And I feel very bad about. You should. You're a change man. I do. I was like never again. Yeah, fair. Next weekend maybe after that. Yeah. yeah. No, there are a lot of like amazing places that have closed. I looked up a few places that I'm very excited about that are still there. So shout out to Thai pastry and then I'll also be stopping by J. B. Albertos because that's near where I used to live off of the Morse Red Line stop. And I might get some pizza there. There was a beautiful pizza there.. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There there. There. There. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There there. There are there are there are there are there are a there are a there are a there are a there are a there are a there are a there are a there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there are there. There are. There are. There are. There are. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There. There's there. There's a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There are a there. There's because that's near where I used to live off of the Morse Red Line stop and I might get some pizza there. There was a beautiful pizza place called Chiquis that closed

while I still live there, but they they did like a flatter, they didn't do like the Chicago style, they did like a flatter pizza that wasn't necessarily super thin crust but it was getting there. Tavern style. Kind of tavern style. And cheese, it was like, and they would, this is how if the dude got bored, right, I don't know if he was the owner, I don't know if he was supposed to be doing this, but if he got bored enough

and people hadn't come in because we would go rying to see if he should put on the menu. And I remember eating that and being like, oh yeah, do this. Do what you, and I'm like, remember making a list of everything he said was on it and stuff. And then you go and you'd order it because you could build your own too. And I was just like, that place. Do we need to do a go around the room, what's the pizza place? Would love to. Let's do it. Go ahead, start it off. All right, so I have a disclaimer about mine.

Okay. Because I don't have... You're always keeping yourself out of legal trouble. I'm trying to. Yeah, you're a very diplomatic individual. Well, because everybody's gonna hear what my favorite is and they're gonna be like, you are trash. You are you're the the the the the the the th. the th. th. th. th. th. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to start. to start. to start. to start. to start to start. to start to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. to start. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I to. I to. I to. I to. I to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to toe. to to to. to. to hear what my favorite is and they're going to be like, you are trash, you are you are a garbage person who doesn't deserve to wear that cup's hat right now. Okay. And I'm going to tell you, there's a reason for it. Okay. It's Giordanos. Gotcha. I know. Here's a thing though. It was my first. Okay. And this is why you have to be very careful kids with who your first is with. Because it sets a standard. Well, you know, it's a pizza sex talk. I'm gonna regret saying that.

They're basically the same. It's basically the same. And so, like, look, shout out to Lu Malnades, obviously. Shout out to Art of Pizza. Shout out to Pequads. I'll see you soon. Like, I'm very excited about all these places. But the first time you have that like three pound slice of deep dish.

So is that where you'll be going back to? Like on the Chicago trip you'll be going to Gironanas? Probably not. Probably not. It's just memories wise. It's your favorite. I can totally respect that. Yeah. Yeah. And you pass one and somebody opens the door you can smell all the cheese that's happening inside. It's like way too much. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's a. It's a. It's a the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. It's th. It's th. It's th. It's th. It's like. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's just. It's the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. It's th. It's th. It's th. It's just. It's just th. It's just like. It's just like th. It's just like th. It's just like th. It's just like the. It's just like. It's just like. It's like. It's just. It's just. It's just like. It's just yeah. And you pass one and somebody opens the door, you can smell all the cheese that's happening inside. It's like way too much. It's a lot. It's a lot. Yeah. Like they get socked.

The crust gets sogging. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It doesn't have the tensile strength that's the thi sauce. Sometimes a spatula doesn't. Sometimes the spatula that they use gives under the pressure of that much bread sauce and cheese. But I'll say to anyone going to Chicago for the DNC

for the first time, you know, just be careful. Yeah, don't hurt yourself. Yeah, okay. What about you? My favorite is Pequads? Yeah. Yeah, I think it's just incredible. I can't. the pressure. the pressure. the pressure. the pressure. the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th that th that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that th thuuu thu thu thu thu they they they they they they they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use they use thuu. that's thu.. Okay. What about you? My favorite is Peacquads? Yeah. Piquads? Yeah, I think it's so it's just incredible. I cannot wait to have it. It's just so crispy. Yeah, I get it right. But do you have a favorite? It's very tough. So you're going to judge me for my favorite potentially, but I'm hoping that can slide into home at least with the people in this room?? th? th? th? th? th? the th? th? the th? the th? th the th th th th th th th th th th th. th. th. th. th. th. the the thi thi thi thi thi's thi's thi thi thi thiqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I. I's th. I's th. I's th. I's toe. I's toea's toea's. I'm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm toea'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a. I's to to th. I's to judge me for my favorite potentially, but I'm hoping that I can slide into home, at least with the people in this room because of when I would have been eating it, right? So you know where Io used to be, that old location in Riggleville.

I used to go to Iow shows, the $5 shows, I used to go there, watch a show and then go to Demos. And Demos was like, there's was like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I, I, I, I, I. I. I. their, I I I I I. their, I. their, I I. I. I. their, I. their, I. I. their, I was to, I was their, I was to to their, to to their, to th. to to to to to too, too, too, too, too, too, to, to, to, their, their, their, to go to Demos. And Demos was like, there's a place in Louisiana that I used to go to called C.C.'s Pizza, it's a chain, right? It is a chain, but it's, it's, the CCs you go to is the very specific experience you have. Right. And I went to a CCs that was less than stellar. And so my overall first encounter with getting like specialty pizzas or pizzas that don't, that you can't get anywhere else because no one else puts mac and cheese on pizza and stuff like that was actually like very bad. And so to go to demos and have all these different slices be so good and specific to to one place, I was obsessed with Demos and would eat it. Anytime I got out of a show it, I-O until they moved and if I got out

out of a show it under the gun when that theater was there, or like, Underground Village, if I was doing a show there, it was like properly spectacular. I don't know, I would probably just go to Pequads. Yeah. Well, Grace and Scott, thank you for joining me on the Daily Show Ears Edition. Thanks. Thank you.

Be sure to tune in to the Daily Show's coverage all week. And if you're in Chicago this week, we hope to see you at the Athenia tha thananan the Daily Show Ears edition. We'll see you. Bye. see, bye. Explore more shows from the Daily Show from the Daily Show. Whereever you get your podcasts. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. Do nice guys really finish last. I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales Podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Do the new miniseries on The Art of Fairness.

I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new mini-series on the Art of Fairness. From New York to Tahiti will examine villains undone by their villainy. Monstrous, self-devaring egos and accounts of the extraordinary power of decency. Listen on the IHart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. John Stewart here. Unbelievably, unbelievably exciting news. My new podcast, the weekly show. We're going to be talking about the election,

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