Michael Che w/ Sam Morril & Mark Normand - We Might Be Drunk Podcast
Hosted by Mark Normand and Sam Morril
- 1h 30m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
The hosts welcome a guest to discuss the exhausting world of press tours, topical joke writing averages, and the realities of working on Saturday Night Live. They trade stories about legendary comedians like Norm Macdonald, Richard Pryor, and Mel Brooks, and reflect on the strange challenges of playing massive arenas versus intimate comedy clubs. The conversation also touches on memorable celebrity hosts like Donald Trump, the stress of bombing on stage, and the meticulous process of shaping a new stand-up hour.
- Treat topical joke writing like a baseball batting average where landing two out of seven is considered respectable. 7:15
- Make peace with the reality that nothing lasts forever in show business so you can enjoy the work. 12:00
- Keep a club-sized pace by returning to smaller venues to test new material after performing in big spaces. 24:48
- Do not let the initial sting of a bad set deter you; immediately get back on stage to clear the rust. 50:55
Chapters
- 0:06Intro and Michael Che Welcome
Hosts Sam and Mark open the show, introduce Michael Che, and set a casual, humorous tone.
- 1:27Comedy Writing Process
They dive into how comedians craft material, the constraints of TV, and the balance between edgy jokes and network limits.
- 2:23Choosing Minnesota for Filming
The hosts explain why Minnesota was selected for a special, highlighting its historic theater scene and Midwest charm.
- 3:39Touring and Show Logistics
Discussion of touring schedules, the number of shows per week, and the practicalities of performing across the country.
- 5:00SNL vs. Standup
Mark reflects on the differences between performing on SNL and doing stand‑up, touching on writing pressures and audience dynamics.
- 12:00SNL Tenure Reflection
Mark reflects on his 13 years at SNL, the evolution of the show, and the reality of its impermanence.
- 15:00Joke Swap Origins
The hosts explore the history and mechanics of the joke‑swap segment on Weekend Update, including its strategic use of silence.
- 17:48Meta Commentary on SNL
A meta discussion about how Weekend Update sometimes comments on itself and the challenges of staying relevant.
- 21:48Hannibal Special Behind Scenes
Mark shares details about the unreleased Hannibal special, its content, and the circumstances that kept it from airing.
- 30:53Cat Litter Ad
A brief commercial break featuring a cat litter product, illustrating the show's sponsorship structure.
- 42:32Early Auditions and Setbacks
The hosts discuss Michael Che’s early audition experiences, the highs of quick success and the lows of missed opportunities.
- 43:20Letterman and Ellen Mug Collection
Che reminisces about his prized Letterman and Ellen mugs, highlighting his collection of TV show memorabilia.
Highlights
- 0:32
Hating the Press Tour Grindinsight
The guest and hosts vent about the exhausting nature of doing press and early morning talk shows for a new special.
- 4:40
Topical Joke Baseball Averageinsight
The guest explains that topical joke writing is like baseball where landing two out of seven attempts makes for a decent week.
- 13:43
Backing Into the Joke Swapstory
The guest reveals that the notorious Weekend Update joke swaps started by accident because rough rehearsal jokes kept getting dead silence.
- 45:21
Letterman During Hurricane Sandystory
The guest shares the stressful story of being booked on Letterman during Hurricane Sandy without a working phone or power in New Jersey.
- 51:25
Dangers of Staying Too Longinsight
The host compares doing a bad set right after a great one to staying too long at a crap table and losing everything.
- 59:58
Trump Hosting Saturday Night Livestory
The guest recalls the strange backstage vibes when Donald Trump hosted Saturday Night Live before he won the election.
- 1:25:29
Eddie Murphy Commands the Roomstory
The guest describes a star-studded anniversary party where people walked away from Jack Nicholson and Paul McCartney just to take pictures of Eddie Murphy.
Quotes
“I hate it. It's a nightmare. It's the worst part of the gig, and I love the gig so much that I'm willing to put up with it.”
Unnamed speaker · 0:32 “The most shit I ever got? Probably Caitlyn Jenner stuff.”
Unnamed speaker · 17:51 “If I could get two out of about seven, I had a decent week.”
Unnamed speaker · 4:40 “I got a Letterman. And my thing is mugs. I like the, I like a mug from every show.”
Unnamed speaker · 43:20 “First, I think was, I think Letterman was the one that felt like, oh shit. That was the one.”
Unnamed speaker · 45:08 “I always feel like SNL is just sort of a magazine of what the country is.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:01:32 “This has been a great, uh, press week for me.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:08:37 “in those sentiments of punching down, and who, who you're allowed to make fun of and not, and you're like...”
Unnamed speaker · 1:14:49 “And I was like, these motherfuckers just walked away from Jack Nicholson and a Beatle.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:25:34 “That's what it felt like. It was like, oh, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and everybody's here.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:25:52
Sponsored segments
- Whisker Litter Robot 31:00–31:49
- Willie's THC Infused Social Tonic 31:52–33:21
- Hims 33:21–34:34
- MOD 34:32–35:58
- Bodega Cat 1:27:37–1:29:19
About this episode
Michael Che joins Mark and Sam to talk about his new Netflix special, Shot in Minnesota, the origins of his brutal joke swaps with Colin Jost, and what really goes on behind the scenes at SNL. Plus, bombing at the Beacon, making his Letterman debut during Hurricane Sandy, awkward celebrity encounters, and why nobody wants reassurance after a terrible set. Watch Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota, streaming now on Netflix:https://www.netflix.com/title/82816770 Sponsored by: Whisker: Get 10% off your Litter-Robothttps://www.whisker.com/WMBD Willie’s Remedy: Get 20% off your first order with code WMBD. Plus, free shipping on orders over $95.https://www.drinkwillies.com Hims: Find personalized treatment optionshttps://www.hims.com/DRUNK MOD: Get a free consultation and 10% off your first order, plus free shipping, with code WMBDhttps://www.mod.com Subscribe to We Might Be Drunk: https://bit.ly/SubscribeToWMBDMerch: https://wemightbedrunkpod.com/Clips Channel: https://bit.ly/WMBDClips Sam Morril: https://punchup.live/sammorril/ticketsMark Normand: https://punchup.live/marknormand/tickets Produced by Gotham Production Studios: https://www.gothamproductionstudios.com@GothamProductionStudios | Producer: https://www.instagram.com/mrmatthewpeters #WeMightBeDrunk #MichaelChe #MarkNormand #SamMorril #ShotInMinnesota #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #BodegaCatWhiskey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
19,081 words · 6 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Netflix
- Hilarious
- Beverly Hills Cop
- 30 Rock
- Nutty Professor
- The Dream Team
- The Jeopardy
- Stand Up Live
- Miami Improv
- West Palm Beach Improv
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated