#54 My Ted Alexandro Talk

Announcer 0:00

Looking to sound like you know what's going on in the world, pop culture, social strategy, comedy and other funny stuff. Well join the club and settle in for the Jeff Dwoskin show. It's not the podcast we deserve. But the podcast we all need with your host, Jeff Dwoskin.

Jeff Dwoskin 0:16

All right, Jonathan, thank you so much for that amazing introduction. You get the show going each and every week and this week is no exception. Welcome, everybody to live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. As always, I am your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Great to have you back for Episode 54. That's right. 54 amazing episodes. Can't believe it. Hope you caught last week's was Shannon Wilson and the weeks prior with Jacko, Allah and Burt Ward, Ted lanch. So many amazing guests to live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show over these 54 episodes. I hope you're enjoying them all. And you know what, you're gonna really enjoy today's episode. That's right, today's episode with comedian Ted Alexandro. One of the funniest comedians around you loved him on his multiple Comedy Central specials on Kimmel, Conan his amazing specials on YouTube. You're gonna love our chat, and it's coming up and just a few minutes.

I do want to take a second to thank everyone listening on the castbox app or your favorite podcast app and subscribing and liking and telling all your friends about live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show it's the perfect topic to keep in the back of your pocket when the conversations getting boring and you're with your friend is like oh, you know kind of bread I love I just discovered this new wheat bread. It's so delicious, dry yacouba Hey, you can interrupt Have you listened to live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show one of the funniest pop culture interview shows in the world that you can listen to on your favorite podcast app such as gas box, or Apple podcasts or Spotify. And there'll be like no, and you'll be like you got to do it, put that wheat bread down. And while you're at it, get yourself some decent bread. And then listen to live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show you won't regret it. Either those decisions you won't regret either decision.

So I do want to provide a quick update two episodes ago, I shared my traumatic experience with FedEx, I had ordered a package and it had traveled across the country. And then the FedEx person got to my sidewalk and decided far enough my friends. I throw the package from here and he threw the package from the sidewalk onto my porch. I caught the whole thing on my ring video and I posted it on my Twitter at Jeff Dwoskin show. It's still there. You can go check it out quite humorous. And I challenged everyone please reply to this tweet. Let me know how far you think the FedEx guy threw my package. And I realized after saying the words, he threw my package so many times, it did sound a little dirty. But I literally met he threw a package of mine. So thank you for all those who wrote in about that. And let me clarify my package is safe. It was the actual physical package that was thrown. So I asked everyone, how far do you think the package was thrown? We had seven feet 16 feet 20 feet? The correct answer is 12 feet. My package was thrown 12 feet FedEx took it 1000s of miles and many destinations got 12 feet from where it should have laid before I picked it up and the guy said no ma This is as far as I go. I don't know if he actually had a bad British accent anyway. So go go watch the video. It's kind of funny, but the answer was 12 feet. He threw it 12 feet. And I appreciate you all playing along with me.

Speaking of playing along with me join me every Wednesday at 9:30pm Eastern Time for crossing the streams. That's my live show. You can catch all the past episodes on YouTube on the Jeff Dwoskin show channel on YouTube. We've got 23 amazing episodes up there right now we talk about awesome shows and movies that you should be streaming on. There are many streaming services. So check that out. It's tons of fun and it's engaging so you can comment along during the show we put your comments up we'll talk to you you can weigh in on the shows we're talking about live while we're talking about them super fun. Speaking of super fine, head over to jeffisfunny.com. That's my website on my website. You can sign up for my mailing list and I send out emails weekly just to remind you how awesome the show is and that you can share with your friends. I tried to make it as easy as possible for you to share your love for live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show with all your friends.

I'm really excited. You know what next week is next week is our one year anniversary. That's right. It'll be exactly one year since the first episodes of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show hit the airwaves. So we got a big show for your plan for next week. That's gonna be tough. Have fun.

And now it's time for the social media tip! All right, here's your inside scoop on all things social. I was reading trade magazines. Twitter's coming out with a tip function. That's like the cool new hit thing is to tip creators, a creator would be, say, a host of a podcast such as Jeff Dwoskin hosts live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show, he could go on Twitter, you could hit me from our funded tweets. clubhouse does this they have a send money option. It's kind of the new in thing to be able to help creators make a little money to cover the costs that they spend to bring you Awesome, awesome content week after week after week. I've got a little thing on my website and in the show notes called buy me a coffee. You can just buy me a coffee, you buy me coffee, and I'll do a little shout out a lot of fun. And I'll do it while I'm sipping coffee. I'm drinking this coffee and I like thank blah blah, blah, blah blah. She said easy. Anyway, so look for that and see if you can set it up yourself. Share the love tip people that you like, let them know that they should keep creating the funny and keep going all the creators out there will love you for it. And that's the social media tip!

I want to thank everyone who supports the sponsors week after week after week. can't thank enough when you support the sponsors you're supporting by from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show sponsors email dm text me call me they're like Jeff, we cannot believe the response we get after one of your live advertising reads and like I know my fans are amazing. My listeners are incredible. And that's why the sponsors keep coming back week after week. I can't thank you all out there for supporting them week after week. It's how we keep the lights on here at live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show this week's sponsor looking to impress your teacher trying to keep that doctor off your back sounds like you need an apple that's right you need an apple Apple's just aren't for eating making sauce jelly or turning into dried fruit apples also can woo your teacher and keep the doctor far far away. But guess what? That's not all. Apples also relieve constipation reactivate good gut bacteria. When was the last time you were asked? Hey, how's your gut bacteria? I don't know eat an apple and turn it good apples also decrease the risk of your diabetes and protect yourself from osteoporosis. There's so many hidden benefits of apples. Did you know when you're staring at a Macintosh or Golden Delicious I gather a honey crisp Granny Smith crab that you were staring at a constant patient reliever that you were staring at your one degree solution for good gut bacteria. Oh my god, grab an apple and do yourself a favor make your life that much better. apples. We're here for you. All right, well grab an apple. I love apples. Who doesn't you know I love a good I like the green ones that are a little tart. Those are my favorites. So go grab an apple vailable anywhere there's trees with apples or supermarkets. You can get those at your local supermarket. Just tell 'em live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show sent ya!

Now that we're all free from constipation, living high on our good gut bacteria. It's now time for me to share my conversation I had with Ted Alexandro with you enjoy.

I'm excited to introduce to you my next guest. You've seen him on Conan, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel everywhere, one of the funniest comedians around Ladies and gentlemen, Ted Alexandro. Ted, welcome to the show.

Ted Alexandro 8:23

Thank you, Jeff. Good to be with you again. After so many years, my friend. I know

Jeff Dwoskin 8:27

2004 we work together at Mark Ridley his comedy castle.

Ted Alexandro 8:32

Yeah, I mean, you know how it is, in some ways, it feels like it was last weekend and other ways it feels like it was 2004.

Jeff Dwoskin 8:38

But it's funny, like as I do these, and I talk to some people that I haven't talked to and 616 it's like in my head. I'm like, I can't retire. Just to kind of wrap it around the whole idea that so much time has gone by

Ted Alexandro 8:51

Yeah, yeah, with comedy, you know, like you're constantly working with different people. So when you're thrown together for a weekend, and it's you know, it's an intense kind of intimate experience of like, you're watching each other work, you're hanging out backstage, maybe you go out for a drink or a bite afterwards, or during the day even so you become friends. And then then you go your separate ways, and you meet up again over the years. So it's this weird thing where time just loses its kind of rigidity. And it's just a very fluid thing that it feels like, you know, like I said it could be last week last month whenever I'm bad

Jeff Dwoskin 9:22

enough as it is with timeframe. So like, I was getting my haircut once and the guy's like, why we've been together for a while I was it been a year already? He goes, Jeff, you've been coming to me for five years. Like why? Really? Five years? Right? How's that even possible? I know you familywize right now we're sort of like where I was then I had kids already young kids. When I finished like my first 10 years of doing comedy. I created a scrapbook, a digital scrapbook. And so I went back because like that first 10 years, I don't know how you were like when you first started but I saved everything every flyer anything I ever had my name on it, sure picture, anything like that. I always saved it. So I went back and I found from 2004. I page with Ted Alexandra, which we worked together twice that year. Yeah, I remember I remember is are you ready for that? Give it to me because this kills cracks me up. So the backstory is this was my first time featuring so this was a big deal for me. Why Mark released Comedy Club, which is like the big club. Yep. And I was a feature and you were the headline? Yes. This is what I wrote. Right? I had the pleasure of working with Ted alexandro. twice this year. The first time was my feature gig at the comedy castle. I did really great that weekend, after one show, someone came up to me and Ted and said, You both were amazing. My head was bursting. I had just gotten the same compliment as the headliner. She then continued to say to Ted, but you, you the ladies must want to fuck you. And then I died inside.

Ted Alexandro 10:48

I remember logging that into my comedy journal as well.

Jeff Dwoskin 10:53

That's hilarious. I remember sitting there. It was like one of those moments where I was like, I had never felt better about myself. And then I was in Jesus turns you and says that I'm I Oh, my God. I didn't even know that was a secondary competition going on?

Ted Alexandro 11:07

Yeah, the levels of it. You know, that encapsulates? showbiz. Right? Yeah. The highs and lows in a 10 second span

Jeff Dwoskin 11:14

10 seconds.

Ted Alexandro 11:16

Oh, my gosh, yeah. And I remember at at the castle to you kind of, you have a little merge table there at the end. So you, you kind of greet everybody as they come out. And that's always such a vulnerable feeling. Especially when you're not, you know, I mean, I don't know if it changes or not, but I'm presuming when you become like more of a household name. And people know you from stuff outside of stand up. It's a different relationship, as opposed to I was usually, and still am largely in a position where, you know, maybe there's a handful of people that know you from stuff, but a lot of times it's people that are maybe just going to the comedy club, and they are surprised, like in the case of the whoever approached us, you know, they're kind of just coming to a night of comedy. And yeah, so they I think a lot of times, they are surprised if they if they enjoy you, because I think people foolishly sometimes have this notion of like, there's, you know, however many it is 1020, comedians that they know, and then everybody else is like an open mic, or, or just, you know, someone who's like, trying to break big or whatever.

Jeff Dwoskin 12:21

A lot of times when people just go to one of these comedy clubs, they're just sitting there like, Oh, I'm just going to go see comedy tonight. And it just happens to be whoever, a lot of times, you know, sometimes they do say, Oh, this is my favorite comedian. I'm gonna go Yeah, it's definitely different. I always found it fascinating. Because like that comedy castle had been there for decades. And like the people that would come in older people, you know, older than but my age now. There would be like, Oh, this is my first time at a comedy club. It was quite like your first time really, it's not like they're like a deep deep in the cities. You know? I mean, these they're like, they're like everywhere.

Ted Alexandro 12:55

Yeah, yeah, it is strange, right? And the things people say after a show, too, it's always you're a little bit like at least I always felt a little bit on edge. Like it could go either way. Like like what you said with that woman it could it could start out being a compliment and quickly turn south or and I think especially too, because again, we're so vulnerable after having just performed really, it's it's not right that we're out there and a lot of ways you know, I mean, like Mick Jagger is not going out to the lobby after a show not to compare us to Mick Jagger. But you know, like, you do kind of need that alone time to decompress. But like literally right after a show we're face to face with the people that were just watching us. And a lot of times they just feel very free to say whatever the hell they wanted. It got you to the core.

Jeff Dwoskin 13:39

Yes. When I stepped off stage, and this is why I also did like comedy competitions. I like to feel like I felt and like Sometimes you'd have a big show, right? Yeah. Like, grading scale. Be right. And like so you go out and everyone be like, That was amazing. You were amazing. And you're like, no, that didn't make me feel good. It'd be like, no, I felt like I wasn't on totally on. And then I felt like sometimes if I destroyed you kill and then you walk out and no one says anything to you. I feel just as bad.

Ted Alexandro 14:07

It is funny, right? You have that internal sense of how you did and sometimes it doesn't match up with the feedback, you know? Yeah, it is. It's very weird. It's very weird, but I always kind of felt like it would sit fine with me if I had the sense like, Oh, I nailed that. I did what I intended to do, you know whether it was like trying to get a certain bit to work or something new you were putting out I'm usually pretty good about compartmentalizing, like, even if the crab was not what I expected. Unless it I mean, totally just there's a total disconnect where it's like I didn't get anything. That's obviously a little weird, but if I do what I set out to do, I usually feel pretty good about it, especially like the more you do it. Obviously, as you go along, you start to realize it's just another night in a long string of nights and you'll do another show, if not that same night, certainly the next night. So every night has less import, the further along you go when you're just starting out, like every night is like, you know, just make a break.

Jeff Dwoskin 15:03

I always felt like I didn't have last year's like I could, you know, I mean, like, I didn't hear things that weren't there like, I would know if it was good or bad, you know? So it was like, I didn't want anyone else to tell me differently after you know what I mean? was like it. Same thing with a comedy competition. I was like, oh, Ted, you won. It was like we all kind of wine we all agreed sets. comedy is about enjoying who's on stage, you don't have to like pick which one was the best?

Ted Alexandro 15:27

Yeah, I could not agree with you more on that perspective. And I think that kind of permeates a lot of not only show business, but just the psyche of life, the competition type thing. I mean, we're inundated with it with whether it's, you know, we saw it with last Comic Standing, obviously. And now all these shows, America's Got Talent or the voice or on and on Shark Tank, that they're all kind of pitting one against the other. And there's one winner and everyone else is varying degrees of loser. But yeah, I agree with you, I and that's why I never did those shows, because to me, it kind of flies in the face of what I think of comedy being to begin with, we're not all on stage at the same time you experience this person and their vibe, their energy, their style, and then you experience the next person, you know, and it's not a competition. You know, I understand how that works for television and for ratings and packaging and all that. But that never appealed to me. And it kind of galls me, actually, which is why I never went out for any of those shows.

Jeff Dwoskin 16:28

I went after one once, but I did not make it.

Ted Alexandro 16:32

Fair enough. You weren't meant to you know, the comedy Gods would not let you get through.

Jeff Dwoskin 16:37

No, no, no. But it was funny because I flew down to Florida to get in line because Mark Ridley had gotten me and J. Chris nuber. Kind of like an ad. Right. But yeah, he missed the flight. This is before cell phones. And so I'm in line for four hours until we got there. Wow. And while we're in line, everyone's talking about Oh, yeah. Oh, no, you know, Kathleen Madigan is already in the house. And john headphones is already in the house. Like everyone was like listing off every single person is. So you started to slowly realize, because nobody knew like reality TV in the beginning was how fake it was. So at least you know, not the mess is Right, right. Like you watch. I was like season one survivor. I wasn't like all into it. I wasn't like I didn't come in later. I was like, Oh, this is this is real. And then later, you start to I remember being backstage after the thing, because my friend was gonna make it to the night after. I remember Jim Norton was there too. He made it to like that show also, but then they were started talking to this guy, Buck star, and he was like their plant at every city. And then I remember seeing it and going oh, my God, you know? I mean, it's like, yeah, yeah, it's just a show. They're just there was one season where they let a guy go through and he ended up winning. And it was like, there's no way that guy deserved to go through

Ted Alexandro 17:54

Yeah, no, there's too many variables. And definitely as reality TV went along, and you could see them putting their hands and you know, on the scales and dictating the way things would go and shooting things certain ways. Yeah, it was it was favoring different, different people. And so it's not even, you know, on the one hand, they're saying, Yeah, come on, what's the big deal, just be part of a competition. But it's not even really that, as you say, you know, your stomach is kind of sinking as you're standing online. And you're finding out that the house is already half full.

Jeff Dwoskin 18:30

Exactly. Yeah. It's bizzare.

Let's go back in time. So you started your teacher before you went into comedy? Yeah, pretty much like as I started, I was I was teaching during the day, how hard was it to step away from teaching because to be a teacher, I think you have to like you probably like we're like very dedicated to that people who choose to be teachers are very giving. And that's like, I want to do this and educate the young. What bit you that moved you into the comedy full time? Well,

Ted Alexandro 18:55

I would say it was not difficult at all, for me to step away, because I had been doing it for five years. At that point, as I said, I was teaching during the day at a couple of different schools in New York. So I was fortunate that, you know, I was doing a job that I did love and you know, as you say, it was fulfilling. I was teaching music, I had had a degree in move in music. So I was teaching elementary school music. So that was fulfilling and creative in its own way. And also public speaking and you know, being in front of groups. So I think it definitely helped with all of that as well, so that it was a good complement to pursuing comedy at night, you know, like finding your voice, that kind of thing. Because I think as a teacher, you do that as well. You kind of find your style, your voice, what fits you front of a class, but you know, as each year went by, I was enjoying teaching less because comedy was clearly what I wanted to do and was starting to make a little bit of money and I was getting more opportunities signed with a manager. So yeah, it was becoming clear that that was going to be my path and I even probably left a year later than I should have I was kind of burnt out on teaching by the time I got out. Yeah, I left like halfway through the year I told the principal, I'm gonna leave after the the holiday break. But it was cool. I mean, by that point I had done Conan that October and left teaching in January, I guess. So by then, like the whole school knew I was a comedian and that all the teachers knew. So it wasn't like a surprise or anything. They all knew that I was, you know, somewhat legitimate.

Jeff Dwoskin 20:25

That's awesome. Did Conan a couple of times you done Letterman Kimmel? Was it like just preparing for a guy that's never done it? What? I mean, I'm assuming some people are listening that have never waited? What's it like preparing like for that, and they all the sets have to be different? I've seen some of your sets on it. I mean, it's always like this, you know, it's got to be this tight thing. And it's controlled, right? Because it's, I mean, it's gonna be on TV. So they're like probably very specific. You're like kind of getting through and landing on the final set that you do?

Ted Alexandro 20:55

Well, it's definitely different than just typically doing your set that you would do at a club don't have the freedom, as you said, it has to be vetted by the Booker and depending on the show, the Booker can be pretty easy going and allow you to pretty much submit your set and approve it more or less, typically, you'll submit more than you wind up doing. And then they'll say like, okay, let's lose these couple of jokes or whatever. So as I went along, I became a little more savvy to submit, like the ones that I kind of knew that were gonna get cut, because like this group of jokes work better together. So I was pretty sure like, they're going to approve all this, and these will be the ones that cut anyway. But yeah, if you kind of become it's the same way that learning how to do a set at a club is a certain skill and getting your legs there and different clubs to right because like your home club, that starts to become very comfortable, very familiar, and you hit your stride there. And there's less variables as far as things that might throw you. Same thing with doing a television set, like my first one. I think the Conan was the first like big one that I did, I had done some like regional things. But yeah, Conan I remember just working really hard on that preparing, just running the set countless times and really making a point to memorize not just the setlist, but also each of the kind of opening lines of the jokes. And then the transitional lines, like, here's how this joke ends, and how this joke begins. So just having that kind of fluid train of thought, or just that there was a seamlessness to the flow of a set so that I also because you know, you know how it isn't when you're on stage, when there's a reaction, be it laughter or applause and and oftentimes with TV, crowds, they applaud more than then they laugh. So I wanted to be mentally prepared for however they react, my mind is already ready for what's coming, so that I'm not like, you know, lost in the moment of how they're reacting. So yeah, just a lot of that preparation that goes into then hopefully, being able to enjoy the moment. You know, I think I got better as that went along. In the early going, I was just so excited and so amped that I think I was a little probably over excited, but then I settled into being able to, to own it more.

Jeff Dwoskin 23:11

So the day after Conan, who's calling what's ringing? Like, what were the what were the spikes you got? I'm sure you got like more club days, because you know, the more TV credits you had, then you had that, you know, people the clubs are probably calling you left and right. And like what type of opportunities where we're coming at yet. This is how you got on Dr. Katz? Or is it? Yeah, you know, I

Ted Alexandro 23:31

can't remember the timeline, it was probably somewhere between Yeah, the Conan set. And because that was the first one. And then I had done a comedy central presents half hour, you know, maybe within a couple of years of that the Dr. Katz thing probably came along after the Comedy Central half hour, you know, just because I was in the comedy central pipeline, and he probably maybe saw the special or however that came to be Yeah, I do remember that after the Conan set for myself. And I think, you know, just people in general, the industry, other comedians, they look at you differently, it's a, it's a stamp of approval, that you've got some heat on you and you've done, one of the major shows, it just legitimizes you in a way in your own eyes, and in the eyes of others that think you can kind of exhale a little bit. And you know, as I say, just own things, own yourself, own your own energy a little bit more, because so much of comedy is in the early going convincing yourself that that you're a comedian, right? Like, you're just going to open mics and you're traveling around and you're doing gigs and you know, you almost don't say it out loud in the beginning or you don't tell anyone like if you're meeting people or you know, just I'm sure you've been in the position on a plane somebody has, like, what do you do? You know, in the beginning, I was a teacher, you know, like, let's, let's address as quickly as we can, but the more you do those types of late night sets and stuff you you settle into that, like, yeah, I am a comedian. And if I have to, I'll even tell the person I'm sitting next to.

Jeff Dwoskin 25:05

What's the logo side? It looks great on a poster, right? Like it does give you credit. It's like it's great for your parents to be able to explain. Oh, my my boy was? Sure. Oh, you haven't heard of Conan? Have you heard of Letterman? No. Have you heard of Kim? All? Right. Like I said, No, I don't know that. That is what about the view?

Ted Alexandro 25:24

It's exciting to do those things. Yeah, for that reason, too, because you are sharing it with family, with friends with all these people who have been cheering you on at all these crappy gigs that you do that they've come to, that's part of it, too, for a comedian. In a lot of ways, you're so hyper focused on yourself and on the gigs and the next gig and getting better. If you're not careful, you can lose the ability to appreciate and celebrate those moments as they come up. Because they can also be fleeting, like, you know, you do Conan, or whatever it is. And then the next night, you're back at some gig, and it doesn't matter. You know what I mean? So there can be the highs and lows of like, I was on Letterman last night, and like, you know, you're just at some bar gig The next

Jeff Dwoskin 26:07

night or whatever. And tonight at Leo Steakhouse we present. Yeah, that's no exaggeration. Ted Alexandro!!.

Everyone always talks about that. It's like, it sounds like it's almost mandatory that you do a stadium and then you got to do someone's basement the next day. It's like there's it's what keeps you in check. Right,

Ted Alexandro 26:24

right. Yeah. And as I say, the more you do stand up, the better you are able to manage the emotional highs and lows that come with that so that you don't lash out at the crowd at Leo's steakhouse, because they're not Letterman crap.

Jeff and Guest 26:38

Do you know where I was yesterday? Right?

Ted Alexandro 26:42

Or you can even just, you know, you make a joke about it and say, you know, last night I to prepare for this gig. You know, I was I was on Letterman last night. Now I feel ready for for Leos.

Jeff Dwoskin 26:58

So you did you did to Comedy Central special. So right did yeah. Yeah. You also did an amazing web series called teachers lounge, which I think is we reconnected when you were doing that because I think I had a website and I was like, Oh, let me let me let me share this. I want to share this. That was great. And that every hitter in comedy in it. And then obviously you drew on your teacher background as well for this teachers lounge.

Ted Alexandro 27:22

Yeah, that was exciting. Yeah, I appreciate that. That was exciting. My buddy Hollis, James, with whom I started in, stand up. We went to Queens College together. And he had founded the sketch comedy group at Queens College. So in a lot of ways, he was really responsible for me getting into comedy and realizing that it was something I wanted to pursue, you know, because I just went out for the sketch group there. And he, you know, cast me in it. And I submitted some sketches to him, and he put them in the show. So that was very affirming that Oh, wow. I guess you know, like, I guess I'm funny. I guess I can write jokes. So then when we graduated, we started going out to open mics together. And we did a little duo thing for a year and a half. But over the years, we collaborated on a lot of different projects, some screenplays and then teachers lounge, I always had the thought of like, I can use my teaching experience and try to find use that as a kind of a foundation. So what we wind up doing was I played the music teacher How was played the janitor and different comedians came in playing faculty members in every episode. So as you said, we had heavy hitters, everyone from Jim gaffigan, played the school nutritionist, Louis black was the principal, Judy gold was the gym teacher, Jim Norton, as you mentioned, was a head of security so that just all these great comedians and we thought a bit in a certain sense as like almost like Curb Your Enthusiasm meets Dr. Katz in that were allowing comedians to come on and essentially play themselves and giving them a framework of like, here's, here's the beats that we'll be hitting. Here's the basic storyline, and then you know, you can just run with it and improvise. Dave attell famously played the school photographer, and I mean, talk about running with it. Yeah, like, he just he, he just made it his own. And we had a lot of comedians on that particular episode playing faculty members, because he was, you know, he was taking the faculty photo and everybody stuck around. Even after their scene was shot. Everyone stuck around to watch a towel because he was he was so captivating to watch him work.

Jeff Dwoskin 29:27

I love Dave attell. He's, I've seen him a few times as well. Yeah, I saw him actually, with Mitch Hedberg. Wow. When they were touring together, and then David towel and Louis black and Louis black. I remember that. I remember that. Comedy Central tour.

Ted Alexandro 29:42

It was right. Would that was shortly before Mitch passed, right. Like within a couple years? Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Jeff Dwoskin 29:47

It was great to be able to have said, oh, I've seen him like it's a hell of a tour. Yeah,

yeah. That's always the interesting thing I find about comedy like, those were like three huge names right. Huge names and You could talk to some people and they're like, Oh, yeah, they are dead, edited. And they're like, who are like, how do you not know who these people are? It's like, it's amazing to me, like just I mean, I guess the same thing with actors and certain, like, you know, in certain music groups and stuff like that. There's just certain people that know who they know. And but it was always like, how do you not know these three people? It's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, maybe because he always here in the world I was in the world. They just who I looked up to, and

Ted Alexandro 30:23

yeah, and we're always a bit ahead of the curve, because we're working with these people or know folks who have worked with them, or we just know who you know who's good and who's coming up. But yeah, Dave, Dave always kind of stood out to me as a real genius. You know, just a guy who was so quick and so smart. And so singular. Yeah, I mean, coming up through New York getting the chance to watch him night after night was a real gift for me as a comedian coming up, because you're watching a real virtuoso, just, you know, do his thing.

Jeff Dwoskin 30:53

He was so good. I think it was before there was black probably was on the daily show all the time. So there was I think there was just before that, too. Yep. So teachers on so why why didn't Comedy Central pick it up? It seemed like it would have been like such an amazing show. Thanks. Yeah,

Ted Alexandro 31:05

you know, it was disappointing. The way things go in showbiz, you pitch things around. And I always felt like this is tailor made for a Comedy Series for like, it has legs, like you just keep plugging in. And we even saw down the line. Obviously, you can plug in actors, you can plug in athletes, there's kind of just an endless stream of scenarios you can build for whoever's coming into a school. So we pitched it around first in script form, and people passed. Then we shot the 10 episodes, which are all available on YouTube now. So we figured, like, you know, let's let's do it, let's make it created do it the way we want to, and I'm glad we did because it was really satisfying in every facet, you know, just creatively writing it shooting it. Just the fact that I was able to get all these comedians to do it. You know, Michael che and Ty Barea, you know, everyone, Rachel Feinstein, every everyone was so great, and that it surpassed I would say, our expectations finished product was so good. And also, you know, like, in the early going, Oh, also, we you know, we had each episode begins with a school announcement. And we got Janine garofolo and Alec Baldwin to do the school announced the voiceovers. So that was great, too. So everything just like really came together in such a way that we were so proud of it and happy with it, kind of like what we were talking about earlier, when you have that sense that you did what you set out to do you know, or even surpassed it, like, you know, what else can you really ask for that feeling was really satisfying. So yeah, it was disappointing when then we pitch those around, we shopped those around. And, you know, I I specifically hired a manager and an agent to do that. And just nothing happened with it, you know? So, I mean, it's just that's the nature of the business. It's

Jeff Dwoskin 32:53

very, very fickle, and unpredictable. It's amazing to me, because I mean, that was like comedy gold. And those episodes, like you said they were shot professionally. I mean, they were like it looked like there was tons of money behind it. I mean, it was like it was it was really good. It's It is also the kind of idea you could probably bring back anytime.

Ted Alexandro 33:08

Yeah, for sure. I would think so. You know, I'm a big believer that Yeah, you don't you don't know when the right time is going to be for anything, a particular project for you to hit with something. I'm also a big believer that you're always accumulating skills and tools that will help you whenever that thing does come. So my hope is whenever an opportunity comes, I've already shot a successful web series that I'm very proud of. And you know, that I helped I co wrote, I started I helped to direct in a certain sense, even though we had a, you know, a great director, Matthew Weiss, but I was, you know, helping the comedian's in terms of directing what we needed from them, because they were my friends. So yeah, though, what I'm saying is all of those skills will help me as I go forward.

Jeff Dwoskin 33:52

Absolutely. I found that I've added my two sons, like, what am I Oh, yeah, I do have that. I didn't get right. There you go. There you go. Yeah. So one of the things that I've followed you on for a long time, you're very passionate with social issues, very political, which is grinding is great. But we'll probably mostly because I agree 100% with everything. Funny how that works, right? It's not a requirement. It's not a requirement, but it's true. Yeah. You and Bill Maher, though, that's where I get all my news. So do you feel like being so political has helped anyway or hurt in any way? How has that played out for you? And oh, well, you know,

Ted Alexandro 34:33

that's an interesting thing, because it was really just a life shifts that happened. You know, I would say like, it was interesting, even you know, as we talked about my comedy central presents, those were about five years apart and 911 happened in between. So my comedy pivoted a little bit even after 911 where, like, in my first Comedy Central presents, I wasn't really talking about anything too political. It was mostly Just observational and my own life and stuff like that. But then there was a shift in the second special where it was more political talked about 911. And talk about Katrina, even that had happened. So yeah, so then as you know, the the crash happened in oh eight, and then Occupy Wall Street happened in 2011. I just found myself more and more drawn to these things. I, you know, I didn't go to occupy wall street intending to, you know, I wasn't really an activist, but I just found myself drawn to it kind of innately compelling to me. So yeah, that's what I've kind of followed in this past decade, really, Black Lives Matter, all the things that have kind of come to the surface into the center, the climate movement, you know, because what I found, you know, again, I was not, I would not categorize myself as an activist pre Occupy Wall Street. But what I found is you become part of a network, and then you just, you know, what's going on, and what the next thing is, and what you have friends that are, they're so passionate and are organizers, that they keep you abreast of what else is going on. So to me, that was a real gift to be around people that were informed, passionate, had a worldview that was more broad than mine. And also, as a comedian, I think sometimes we can get into this insular world where we're just hanging out with comedians talking about comedy. So it really, it really opened up my life and my perspective and a lot of ways so I'm very grateful for that to the other part of your question, did it help her hurt in the industry, it probably hurt in some respects, because I don't think people wanted politics, in their comedy and on a lot of these shows are a lot of you know, the Booker's are what they were looking for. I'm a big believer that whatever, you forfeit, in certain respects, you're gaining in other areas, if you're kind of operating from your integrity, ultimately, I was happy to let go of whatever I did lose from that

Jeff Dwoskin 36:55

was very inspirational, not only to me, I'm sure to many others. Thank you. Yeah, just sitting here, and I don't have the I was a courage, I guess I had the courage to do it myself and to be able to like kind of vicariously live through those actions, and I feel good about it. So thank you for that, sir.

Ted Alexandro 37:10

Yeah, I appreciate it.

Jeff Dwoskin 37:12

I was really listening to the Dr. Katz. There was a couple of jokes here that always stuck out in my head. One of them was in there. One of them was about Jesus and the abs.

Ted Alexandro 37:22

Yeah. It's an old favorite. Yeah,

Jeff Dwoskin 37:24

it's an old theory. It's so great. That one is part of the animated Dr. Katz, which was great. Yeah, I

Ted Alexandro 37:30

think that's on YouTube somewhere.

Jeff Dwoskin 37:31

Yeah, definitely. That's where I was digging around. And then the other one I remember and I'm gonna I don't want to butcher it. But I'm gonna butcher is like Ted's voice. If you can hear we'll talk about your special in a second. But like, you have a very bringing in type of voice here a very, I don't say soothing because that implies you fall asleep, but like, it's a very people have it. By the way, you can see like, where your teacher, your, if your voice is a certain cadence to it that you want to hear. It's like it's easy to listen to. Anyway, so this other one was like it was something about like, a dream and can in gravy. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Right. There's just like, there's a reason you were asleep?

Ted Alexandro 38:08

Yeah, how people are always excited to tell you about their dreams, but it's always just some boring story. You know? And I say, yeah, there's a reason you were asleep during this. Those are just listening to you.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:19

So funny. For some reason, it's just some sometimes certain jokes just never leave you like, yeah, yeah. No, I

Ted Alexandro 38:25

appreciate that. You know, especially like, when you have those early bits that work and that become like, identified with you in some way. I think the two that you mentioned are definitely like that, you know, that feels great. As a comedian when you're starting. It's just great to have stuff that works. You know, like you just claimed like, Okay, this is got, you know, a closer or I've got, like, you know, that's my signature bid or whatever. But then yeah, as years go by, it's funny for me to look back at those because, you know, I mean, I'm doing it now like close to 28 years, there's a nostalgia to it and a pride and it's almost like an old friend or an old you know, I don't know like I guess like a baby in a way it's like that's in your infancy as a comedian. That's like, they were they were with you. That was your crew. You know, like your your bag of jokes as you as you were starting out so yeah, I look back fondly on I love listening to my early stuff. I don't mean like I sit down and do it, but when I when I hear it. I I'm proud of it. I

Jeff Dwoskin 39:23

enjoy it. Yeah, it was good. It was good stuff in terms of like the old bag of tricks. I remember I saw john and yet pinette just since passed away. He's passed away Yeah, john pinette sorry. I'm horrible with pronouncing that it's funny like when you realize you've never actually said something out loud.

Ted Alexandro 39:41

Right, you just

Jeff Dwoskin 39:41

read it in your head you hear it? anyway. So he got on stage and just referenced the you will hear for our lead joke. You know,

Ted Alexandro 39:50

the one the the chinese buffet that was his signature. The Chinese

Jeff Dwoskin 39:53

just he just referenced it. Yeah, he didn't do the joke. He referenced it and brought the house doubt. I'm like that, to me that's like, if you can do that, oh, you made it then.

Ted Alexandro 40:06

It's funny. You mentioned him because I first met john and worked with him funny enough on a cruise with Louis black because Louis black for a few years was doing this thing called loose cruise, where he would bring a bunch of comedians onto like a Royal Caribbean ship or whatever. Kathleen Madigan was there, Larry Wilmore, a bunch of people down moraira. So john was on there as well. And so it what was great about it was, I only had to do like maybe two nights worth of shows. And then the other three or four nights, whatever it was, you just watched the likes of Kathleen Madigan and john pinette. And just to sit in a room and watch panet like murder, like he killed like, no, everyone, of course, did well, but yeah, the way he got standing ovation, like every set that he did, it was just that guy that like his energy and the way he would crescendo to such as fever pitch that they had no choice but to stand and applaud, you know, so yeah, he was, he was a real treat to watch perform. And God loves them. I mean, he was just as as much of a tornado offstage to like after the shows, you know, go to the bar. And I remember him, like ordering drinks for me, you know, and I'm not a big drinker. But he's like, Alexandra, what do you have? And I'm like, you know, I'll have I think I had like a Bailey's on the rocks. And he's like, give me three Bailey's on the rocks. And he'd like put three in front of me. I'm like, I'm really gonna probably just drink half of one. But that's the way he was. And he'd ordered like, every appetizer they have. And, you know, he was just engaging everybody at the bar. And like, he was always on stage, you know, that that kind of energy and personality. So he was he was, you know, a lot of fun just to witness. You know,

Jeff Dwoskin 41:41

that must have been fun. I met him backstage in the green room. And he signed the flyer for me, which was cool. Yeah, it's always sad when you lose someone

Ted Alexandro 41:50

like that. It's so funny. It's like, oh, man, so funny. And yeah, young too. I mean, he was he had to be like, what? 45? Maybe? Yeah. But and, you know, as you said, I wonder too, like, would he even have I guess he probably would have still been able to do the chinese buffet bit. But you know, like with the PC culture now, you wonder if if that bit even would they probably wouldn't show it on TV. He could probably do it in clubs, probably.

Jeff Dwoskin 42:13

So. So let's, let's talk about your special. I know you've done a bunch of specials, but your most recent one is called cut up. And I watched it. It was really good. Thank you. It's interesting, because it's like why they like five different clubs.

Ted Alexandro 42:27

Well, it's actually three it's it's the comedy cellar, the village underground and helium in Portland.

Jeff Dwoskin 42:33

Oh, six, six different shows three different okay. Yeah, right. Okay. Okay. That's right. I just sorry. So I can't read my own writings. I take notes on seven. Like, I'm so prepared. And when I look at my notes for a show, I'm like, I can't read one thing. Who wrote this? So the comedy cellar is that's like one of my quick tangent because we mentioned david tell earlier. Anytime I would go to New York, just as a tourist go to the comedy cellar. It's the greatest place anyone listening. You go there and you get headliners like Ted alexandro. I think zzS area showed up once. Amy Schumer showed up to one of the shows a test for Roseanne Barr roast material is like every person there Dave attell I think was there for the five times I've been in that class. Yeah. And then they always hang out after which is kind of cool. Yep. Yep. It's all headliners doing like 15 minutes or so. Yeah, the

Ted Alexandro 43:18

seller is it's like the Yankee Stadium. It's just the iconic venue of stand up. I don't think really there's any other place like that. I mean, I guess you could argue maybe in LA The Comedy Store or other places, but for my money, the seller because of the unpredictability, as you said like, who might pop in on any given night, you know, I mean, I was there one night when on the same night I think it was Chappelle Seinfeld rock and and who was the fourth? Maybe it was Amy Schumer. Yeah, but just these like big stars that happen to come all on the same night. And the crowd is just expecting, you know, they're just expecting a great show, but you never know who's gonna be there. So it has that energy and, and also the fact that, as you say, it's all headliners. It's all people with with impressive credentials. So for me, yeah, that's been a fun experience, my trajectory from you know, being on the outside looking in, even though I started in New York, I would just go to the cellar much like you described, when I was starting, I would sit in the back, if you're a comedian, at least back then probably now they don't, because it's just always packed, I would sit in the back and watch a tell whoever was there, you know, but tell usually would close the shows. So it was just a real education. So then to go from that to getting past at the club. And then it takes years for you to feel like you have your legs and you belong and you feel comfortable there. So then that happened. And then you know, in recent years, it's now it's my home club, and I work there all the time. And I'm free to try things out and just to be myself, you know, I don't I don't have to fear that I'm not going to be passed. If a set doesn't go well or whatever, that kind of frees you up to to do some of your you know, to create Do your best work. So that's why that's part of why I use the video that we had shot from those clubs for cut up. The

Jeff Dwoskin 45:07

last time I went there, I'm with my wife. And I'm like in line to get in and I'm talking to my wife. And I don't realize because I don't know who the emcee is they standing there next to me. And then I'm in the front row. And he started talking to us in referencing things that we had set in mind. I'm thinking myself, Oh, my God, thank guy was limited and whatever came out of my mouth.

So the comedy cellar small. It's very tight. It's like if there was a fire, you just turn to the people. Nice to go. Nice now. That's pretty much but the food is also great. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the

Ted Alexandro 45:41

cellar is about maybe 120 people. I think when it's packed. It's just this tiny basement very weirdly configured, you would not pick it out if you were trying to design a comedy room, but it's great. And then the village underground is around the corner. And that used to be a music venue. And they own that as well. And then I guess just as comedy boomed and as they were selling out multiple shows a night at the cellar, I think they finally realized like we're sitting on this other room, let's just make this a full time comedy room as well. So the village underground is right around the corner, right across the street from the blue note. So that's kind of a cool little area. That's a bigger room. The village underground is probably maybe 200. Yeah, my last two specials, senior class of Earth and cut up at least parts were both shot at the village underground. Well, it's

Jeff Dwoskin 46:29

great. It's an hour of Ted, it's on YouTube, on the Ted alexandro YouTube channel, you can check that out. I discovered the comedy cellar I was working with way back when I was working with Robert Kelly. And by coincidence, my wife and I were going on like I think was our anniversary and we're going to New York next week. And he's like, Oh, I'm gonna be at the comedy cellar. I'm like, oh, let's go to that was probably my first time in New York. That's how I discovered the comedy cellar. Oh, wow. Yeah.

Ted Alexandro 46:53

Was that like late 90s, early 2000.

Jeff Dwoskin 46:55

It probably was either right around the time we were together or just for I was right around there. Yeah. And so yeah, it was a long time ago. I remember Robert Kelly actually drove us back to our hotel. Oh, wow. There's my claim. That's great.

Ted Alexandro 47:10

Yeah, Bobby is a great guy. You know, it's funny because the seller wasn't even, even like when I was starting wasn't what it is. Now, you know that it's kind of had this growth in status and becoming this iconic institution of comedy over the past couple of decades. I think Louie's show had a hand in that because it began with him going in into the club. Various shows have have since shown the cellar. So yeah, I think it's kind of grown in stature. Probably, you know, since around the time that you went.

Jeff Dwoskin 47:43

It's very just memorable when you see it. Yeah, you see it and you immediately know that even if you don't know the name, you go that's the same club that all those other people.

Ted Alexandro 47:51

yeah, it's very recognizable, for sure. Yeah, even just the entrance, you go down these steep stairs, comedy cellars and lights. And then the room is, as I said, like, odd. And it's almost like three or four different spaces. You know, like, if you look in this direction, the room guy goes kind of far to your right, and there's like a little balcony, you know, in the corner, then there's just two rows like right in front of you literally two rows and space in between for people to go to the bathroom, which is a constant stream of people because people are coming down from the restaurant coming into the show and just to use the bathroom and go back out. And then the left is like its own weird. So as a comedian, you know, you're corralling these different areas. Usually people are right in front of you. Or maybe you know, they're all kind of fanned out very evenly, but the seller has these disjointed little pockets. So it you know, it takes a little time to learn the room as a comedian. And it's daunting when you're starting just because it is the seller. But yeah, you know, over time you kind of as I said, you get comfortable with it.

Jeff Dwoskin 48:50

Stephanie and this has turned we're going to call them and have them sponsor this episode. Is my funny cellar stories. I went I was thinking New York for work. Go to the comedy cellar, right. watch the show. Next week. I'm working in a club in Ann Arbor, the headliner goes up, starts doing his thing. I turned to my friend. I'm like, Sal, I think this headliner, like stole all this material. And he's like, What are you talking about? He's like, I've heard this before. He's like, where I go. I can't remember where I've heard this before. So I go look at my camera, because I took a picture as you're walking down of everyone that was there. I had seen him the week before at the comment. Oh, that's great. But it No, but they had no recollection. I get to kind of just came and went in my brain. But like, I remember that. Yeah. And so all of a sudden I'm hearing it is like freaking me out. I'm like, like he even stole the guys look so bizarre. Oh, that's great. So this is amazing. And then so what's next for you? What's next for Ted? alexandro? Well, I

Ted Alexandro 49:43

would say there's a lot that is unknown due to the pandemic. So we'll see if and when things kind of get back to normal as far as being able to perform in clubs. Right now. I'm kind of focusing on my own show. Do the Ted alexandro show. It's a you know, it's a podcast, but I do a I do it on video. as well and have usually comedians but also people from the world of politics and activism. And you know, I've had everyone from Jim gaffigan Todd Barry, Judy gold everyone to to friedlaender. Yeah. So it's just it's just a fun way for me to kind of keep the performing chops up and talk about what's going on in my life. And to keep in touch with with friends,

Jeff Dwoskin 50:24

everyone, check out the TED Alexander show and his specials. They're all on the same YouTube channel. You can check them out there that it's good catching up. I appreciate you spending time with me, Jeff. A real pleasure, buddy.

Ted Alexandro 50:35

Yeah, man. Nice. Nice to catch up with you as well.

Jeff Dwoskin 50:38

All right. How fun was that? Ted alexandro. Ladies and gentlemen, one of the funniest comedians in the world. I'm going to put a link to the show notes. You got to watch teachers lounge, the web series, it's amazing. I'm going to put a link to his podcast I'm going to put a link to his YouTube channel so you can watch his comedy specials. All amazing. If you haven't seen Taylor alexandro in the past, then you have to add it to your bucket list for the future. It's a must. He's hilarious.

Well, here we are coming to the end of yet another episode. Can you believe it? Episode 54 is almost done, but almost done. Wait, wait. It's not done yet. Because you know what time it is. It's time for a trending hashtag on the family of hashtags from the hashtag round up. That's right hashtag round up Follow us on Twitter at hashtag round up download the free hashtag round up app play hashtag Twitter games with us all day every day and one day one of your tweets may show up on an episode of from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show fame and fortune a way to asterik legal note fame and fortune allegedly my but I can't promise you in a way to this week we got to find a hashtag from Mr. Race Bannon who runs a weekly game on hashtag around up the hashtag is #WhatTheyDontTeachYouInSchool. I no mas to Ted alexandro is first profession school teacher. What they don't teach you in school is a hashtag game where you read the hashtag and then you tweet with the hashtag something that you think they didn't teach you in school serious or funny. Everything goes on hashtag round up. And here's a few examples of the tweets that came out for you to enjoy. #WhatTheyDontTeachYouInSchool ignored lesson one how to grow old gracefully. That's right as you get older, maybe don't wear your kids clothes. What else did they teach in school? Beer before liquor? That's right That's something we just learn and pick up in college. Another thing they do not teach us in school how to fold a fitted sheet. Oh my god that torments everyone for lifetime These are some amazing hashtag what they don't teach you in school tweets. Here's a g ood one that one day soon mom and dad are gonna stop paying for everything... What???? every kid says with a gasp

a very important lesson not taught don't stop believing. That's right. We all learned that from journey a lesson that we had to learn from Saturday live and because they did not teach us in school cowbell may be the answer The answer the only prescription is more cowbell. I apologize for the worst Christopher Walken impression. However, let's get back to #WhatTheyDontTeachYouInSchool. The best ways to fake your own death. Yes, that could be important sometimes. I'm not sure when but hopefully the FBI and CIA are not listening right now. vacations are important. That's right. Take a break work life balance folks how to rebuild the ice cube tray. That is definitely something they do not teach you in school, and I had many, many roommates that did not know how to do that. How to survive the apocalypse. Again, this they did not teach you this in school. You can see like when people rush for toilet paper and gas no one has a clue. We're all doomed. Another lesson they don't teach you in school is how often you'll burn the roof of your mouth while eating frozen pizza is something that everyone should be prepared for before leaving for college. High School is remiss and not having an entire class on this topic how to calculate sales tax that is something they do not teach you but also they don't teach you how to tip it's 20% you just take 10% and then double it little tip from media another hashtag what they don't teach you in school, all the funniest parts of the movie are in the trailer. That is unfortunately so true how to make shadow puppets how to file taxes, and of course, one of the most important things that hashtag they don't teach you in school, how to avoid death. Oh, stay alive, everyone figure it out on Twitter. All right, those are some fun #WhatTheyDontTeachYouInSchool. As always, all those tweeters will be retweeted at Jeff Dwoskin show and listed in the show notes show him some love Give him some retweets play along and one day one of your tweets may show up on a future episode of live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show.

Well here we are at the end of Episode 54 thanks to everyone for hanging on chillin with Me for yet another week. Next week is our one year anniversary. Pretty excited for that gonna put together an awesome show for you. And I'll see you then.

Announcer 55:10

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Jeff Dwoskin show with your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Go repeat everything you've heard and sound like a genius. catch us online at the Jeff Dwoskin show.com or follow us on Twitter at Jeff Dwoskin show and we'll see you next time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai