#108 My Last Conversation with Ricarlo Flanagan

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Jeff Dwoskin 0:16

All right, Michael, thank you so much for that amazing introduction. You get the show going each and every week, and this week was no exception. Welcome, everybody, to Episode 108 of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. As always, I am your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Great to have you back for another fantastic episode. This episode has both the somber feels and the happy feels I'm excited to share with you a conversation that I had with my friend for Ricarlo Flanagan, comedian, actor, hilarious individual, I was so excited. It was December 2020, my wife and I were watching the mad about you reboot. And Ricarlo Flanagan comes on in the final scene of the final episode. And I just got so excited. And I called him and then we scheduled an interview that took place in January 2021. And we had caught up we hadn't talked in a while he had moved to LA from the time we had done comedy together in Michigan. But it was so great to catch up.

You're like Jeff, that was that was a long time ago. I know I get you know, I do so many of these interviews, and then I get behind and it takes time. And then during the pandemic, we were all shocked in October of 2021. To learn that Ricarlo had passed away, it was such a shock to all of us that that were friends with him. And it was such a loss. It's such a loss when you lose someone who's just so funny, and such a bright star in the world. And so after that I I just I kind of just sat on the interview. And then as time went on, I kind of got the courage to re listen to it and edit it and present it to today. It's so sad that you know when you lose someone and but I'm so excited though to share the conversation. Such a fun conversation we had we hadn't talked in so long, laughing and having a good time and catching up. As I was editing the interview. It was interesting. I was like, ah, if I had known this was the last time we talk, I would have asked different questions maybe you know, gone in different directions, you know, the things you think about, but on the other hand, also just happy to have had the conversation and just capture how excited Ricarlo was to get where he had gotten and what the future held for him. I know you're gonna enjoy the interview. And that's coming up in just a few minutes.

I hope you all had time to check out my interview with Blanca Blanco last week, such an amazing inspirational story Blanca shared with us. Definitely check that out. It's all in her book breaking the mold, but also we cover so many of the threads in the interview. I had never gotten that many responses that fast to an interview from when people listen to Blanca tell her story. So thank you to everyone who reached out. I love hearing from you. I love the little notes everything it means a lot. It really does keeps me going. Check that out. Go to Jeff. It's funny, calm. Catch all the episodes. Subscribe wherever you want to subscribe, buy me coffee, do whatever you want. Enjoy. Also, thanks for the notes. I'm glad everyone's enjoying the Thursday bonus episodes, which are curated segments from our live crossing the streams that we do every Wednesday at 9:30pm. Eastern time live on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, where we talk about TV shows you should be binging so I'm going to be like I can't make it to that show. So I just shove it right into your ears now every Thursday so, so glad you're enjoying that.

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And now it's time for the social media tip. Alright, this is the fun part of the show where I share a little bit of my social media knowledge with you a little 411 I picked up on the street that we can all raise our social media game together. Okay, so here's a little interesting function that I just found that Twitter now offers when you go to tweet a video or a photo you can actually now warn the entire world a your video or photo is sensitive in nature. Twitter is solving the problem of sensitive content was self regulation because you know, if people posting sensitive information, the first thing they want to do is warn you but if you are of the ilk that where you're like yes, I am about to post some sexy photo of me and I want to warn the world that this is Incoming sexiness. If you go to the photo you've added or the video and you click add it, there's a flag icon and then you can choose nudity, violence or sensitive so you can add your own content warning to keep your photo from the eyes of sensitive people that may be emotionally impacted from seeing the photo or video you are now sending go save the world. And that's the social media tip.

I do want to thank everyone in advance for their support of the sponsors. When you support the sponsors. You're supporting us here live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show, and that's how we keep the lights on. Today's interview sponsor is the alibi room located in fabulous Chicago, Illinois, voted Best worlds bar in Chicago. 12 years running. If you need a drink, there's no shame in heading over to the alibi room. They've got all the drinks. Alright, well, if you need a drink, head on over to the alibi room in Chicago. I think they have online ordering. So if you don't live in Chicago, you can just order it on their website. So check that out.

And now it's time for me to share my conversation I had with Ricarlo Flanagan with you comedian, actor, rapper, but most importantly, an amazing human being who we lost way too soon. Alright ladies and gentlemen, special guest today a very excited to catch up with my old friend, comedian Ricarlo Flanagan.

How are you my friend?

Ricarlo Flanagan 6:32

Oh, good, bro. How are you? Man? How are you? Good to hear your voice after seven years. But I think it's been about seven years since I've heard or seen you.

Jeff Dwoskin 6:39

I know. It's crazy. I mean, I know we Facebook and stuff. But yeah, this is me the other day. I'm sitting with my wife. And we're watching the mad about you reboot because it's on Amazon Prime Now. And we're cranking through and we're cranking through. And that last episode comes up and I'm like, holy crap. I think that's Ricarlo Flanagan.

Ricarlo Flanagan 7:03

Oh, man, y'all responsible for a 10 cent residual that y'all was watching it. That'll work. Baby getting rolling in the money.

Jeff Dwoskin 7:14

You get what you get? Is that how it works? Oh,

Ricarlo Flanagan 7:17

usually, it depends on how many times people watch. It's like, sometimes it'll be like $7 a watch or $10 or $20 and then sometimes it'll go down to five cents. Just depends like it's I don't even really know I have to read it but I think like they after the first initial airing then after that you get like a certain percentage of it like I know when I did the neighborhood they aired that in primetime twice so I got a residual offer that and I was pretty good. So you know if it is in primetime and I've that I'm looking at my mailbox, but other than that, it just comes when it comes. Well

Jeff Dwoskin 7:53

this I know like when Cobra Kai went to Netflix after you know lingering and in people enjoyed it but only if you had YouTube read so people who had seen it loved it but then once it went on on Netflix, it blew up now man about you made its way to Amazon Prime, which I don't think pushes as hard. But I was excited as heck to see I was just like you come in there. You're all cops security guard, which

Ricarlo Flanagan 8:22

Yeah, I played a cop. That was that was a nice departure from playing a security guard. You know?

Jeff Dwoskin 8:28

You know, it's funny, I was talking with Alonzo Bowden. And he said the same thing is like my career of being a bouncer, whatever movies and like I was looking at your IMDB and sure enough the MC security guard the Carmichael show bouncer the neighborhood security guard walk the prank Moscow walk the prank security and then Mad About You of course security guard and then why is it time guys? Well, I can't I can't a nice big black man be a doctor every time why do they assume that you only can be a bouncer a security guard?

Ricarlo Flanagan 9:05

Yeah, I think that's that's a they have to see if you can pull that off first before they give you a chance to do anything else or if you can be unbelievable security guard which I used to do security back in the day, but I stopped because I didn't think it was worth the risk. But you know, so I can they I actually had a little bit of a cheat code. So now that I've done a lot of security hopefully they let me play a doctor song you know, I play a garbage man even I'll do something different than just standing in front of the door looking like I'm you know, checking people in and stuff.

Jeff Dwoskin 9:36

Well, let's talk about this for a second cuz you're you the way you describe it. It's like oh, it's a rite of passage. I have to do this to do that. Yeah. Are the white actors doing this too? I mean, is it like if it's a big white if it's a big white guy? It's a big way like is any big white guy we know that once you get into acting, you have to go through this security guard bouncer phase of their career. It says this

Ricarlo Flanagan 10:00

I would say 90% No 10% Yes. Because the 10% would be how he looks. If he looks you know you a big ball head do with a bunch of tattoos and really that's kind of your your window is small anyway. But you know, you're a pretty white guy. Usually you're gonna be a romantic lead or you know, you're European, a guy coming out of like, you know, it's funny you say that because I find when I did shameless, one of the guys that play Debbie's a love interest. I mean, there's do this is a pretty dude, I'm talking this dude was way too pretty to pretty much do anything else. Like he couldn't be a cop. He couldn't be, you know, like a plumber enough. So he, you know, and I know, he had, you know, a lot of criticism before that, but I'm sure he's never ever had to play a security guard. I tell you that right now. He was way too great. So it depends on how pretty you are. You know, I said, I'm like, I'm like me. Because like, if you read last year, you take days looking black man, say DS probably never played a security guard. Like he just elbow probably never played as a kid. I can guarantee you that. He might have played the FBI agent. You know what I mean? But he he never played a security guard. Because, you know, no, none of the ladies have fallen out over security, you know, a falling out over that federal agent. You know, he's, you know, he's had, he's had some interesting choices. He did a Tyler Perry movie. We play like a single dad that was like a holiday or something like that. I'm like, damn, well, you know, I've never I probably never get that part. But that's the part I'm the most equipped to play because I grew up in a house with alcoholic real alcoholism. You know what I mean? Like, I know the ins and outs of it, but some reason they just assume that I can stop people at the door. No, take that. $5 and take

Jeff Dwoskin 11:49

Well, I mean, yeah, you're a very believable security cop. I'm mad about you. I mean, I gotta say first, I was like, that's what a cop? Did they get a real cop? And then on my way, that's Ricarlo.

Ricarlo Flanagan 12:01

I know, you know, unfortunately, I know cops pretty well, myself. So you know, I've had plenty of experience with him growing up so I can definitely get you that to where I can play. I want to play a detective. That's my goal. My ultimate goal I want to play like a Columbo type do you know what I'm saying? Like that's that's one of my goal to try to play like a believable middle aged, you know, middle aged guy well, my tie kind of off center my shirt a little bit wrinkled, I looked a little bit you know, rough you know, and but I saw all the cases that's that's my that's my goal. You know, be that real intense, middle aged black dude, that's going to hood and interviewing people. Where were you yesterday? Where are you at? I know you would it is having people send you you know.

Jeff Dwoskin 12:49

I think I think you'd be a great a great detective I think you get you can even lead the force I think could lead the force. Because you know, your style of delivery. I think fits detective Well, right? Because your style, like your style on stage. You know, correct me if you don't like how I'm saying this, but like your style and stages, you kind of just say it's funny, because it's funny, not because you're not telling jokes up there. You just if anyone listens to your, your, your style delivery, it's just like you just say and then you like you realize that was frickin funny what he just said, and then they laugh, right? And then to me like a detective, that'd be perfect. That'd be like your, your kind of Colombo. We you know, like, you know, perfect thing. So you'd be you would you would be perfect. And it was just you'd go in there. And you just you get them to confess before they even realized it.

Ricarlo Flanagan 13:39

Yeah, well, I'm glad you said that can see you. That's coming from a person that Washington has heard, you know, seen me on stage numerous times. So you can actually make that assessment. And that's good that you know, that's a good assessment. I'm glad that you know, God. You know, that's what you get for me on stage. That's good. That's all I did. You know.

Jeff Dwoskin 13:56

So take me back to pre detective Ricarlo. And you before he like, what got you into comedy? I mean, you said you were actually a bouncer. But like, wait, what point did you like start getting on stage? What's your origin story with comedy?

Ricarlo Flanagan 14:10

Oh, man, it's a good one. Because I, I never got on stage. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio arisen. That's where I grew up. And I never really got on stage there. As a matter of fact, when I was there, I was, you know, an underground rapper I was, you know, rapping and you know, all the underground scenes, all the all the bars that we would go to, and then I would make music and put it on the ground radio. Like, that was my passion. That's what I thought I was gonna do. But then you know, you know, life, you know, takes you know, whatever direction we were not in control. That's the first thing. I think we have to realize one thing you learn as you get older, you realize you're not really in control of anything. You know, your life would take you in any direction. I ended up in Michigan, because my father he ended up getting stationed toward the tail end of his career. He ended up getting stay stationed in Michigan and Chesterfield. So he called me and asked me if I wanted to come live with him, but I had never lived with my father or he was a military pretty much my whole life. I accepted his offer. I was hesitant at first, I was like, man, you know, I never live with him, I'll know what it'll be like, you know, but turned out to be great man. It was a real great experience. And I ended up, you know, finishing school. And when I got done with school, he's like, Hey, man, you know, it's time to get out. Now you get a job, you know, on your own. So I ended up moving to Ann Arbor, I got a job. There's actually a cable company. I think it's time Warner at that time on the spectrum now, but I got a job out there. And I was just there, I had an apartment. And I was like, looking for stuff to do. Basically, in my eyes, I'm in the middle of nowhere, because, you know, is this I'm from Cleveland, you know, I mean, like, that's the furthest I've ever been from home period. So as far as to live I visited. So you know, I, I was downtown Ann Arbor, because I had discovered downtown Ann Arbor, just by happenstance because that my job was close to that downtown Ann Arbor. So I would go get fooled. I'm downtown, and you know, my lunch break. So I see this poster on my lunch break. I say a comedy class. And it was this dude on there. You know, he real hippie looking dude, his name was chili challenge. So I took down one of the they had a little thing with a number on the poster. So I'll rip one of them off. And so I called the number. And they told me to show up at the Ann Arbor comedy showcase. So I ended up, you know, it was at nighttime. I was like, perfect. And it was something about it. Like I was really excited to do it. I kept telling everybody on my jog, yeah, I'm gonna go take comedy classes, you know, like some about it. I was just really excited. And then, when I took the class, and I kind of, I started to learn what it was, I took that class about maybe five times. And then I started, the guy who runs the showcase Roger, you know, Roger, he was there, he would always be watching me. He told me to come through the open mic, you know, so we had a graduation class born there. But then I will start going to the open mics. I was like, Oh, this is the real shit right here. Like this is, you know, this is where it gets real. It's real people in ages, you know, the friends that are graduating class showing up. And of course, you're gonna do good because everybody's there to support, you know, you got to go to a real mic where the people are there to not support. So, you know, I ended up going sit over Mike and Rogers, let me get up, you know, over and over. And I just started up and he just started I really just thought it was like, amazing, you know, I thought it was like, the best thing I have found to do cuz I even loved it more than making music. You know, like, I was like, Man, this fits me. I felt that I found something that fit me. You know what I mean? And next thing I know, man, I just started going and I started going out I started going to Joey's in Livonia. You know, I'm going today over Mike every week, you know, it just became such a routine. Man, I just fell in love man. And, you know, after, you know, a couple years, I started getting on the road, doing comedy, you know, as the funny business, they start getting work. You know, I mean, people that will get me other work and stuff. So like, you know, it became my job. After a while, it became like, you know, a matter of fact, comic me and Chris Peters, he, I did up become his roommate, and he ended up actually letting me stay at his place, and just pursue comedy. He really looked out for me, so, you know, shout out to Chris Peter. That was one of the catalysts to me really kind of dipping my toe, you know, toes into the comedy waters, so to speak, and really, you know, going for it, you know, I'm saying, after a while, I kind of, I felt like I could I did everything I could do, you know, this was probably about maybe six, seven years in a comedy. So I ended up moving to Los Angeles. And now I've been out here ever since 2013. And

it's been like, you know, I've just been on this, you know, path. And it took me away from everything I knew and put me in everything I didn't know made me comfortable. You know, Amy broke, took all my money. And, you know, but you know, is actually is, it's been the best thing that ever happened to him really, especially because I needed comedy. You know, like, the reason I left home anyway, it was because I had a lot of, you know, I'm just discovering is now I had a talk with somebody and you know, it's all it was almost therapeutic for me because I realized, like, due to the, you know, my home circumstance, I ended up getting kicked out when I was about 16 Because I got into an altercation with my mother's husband. And I had a lot of anger in my heart. I didn't even realize it, you know, so I, I really was just lost from the circumstances and not wanting to be where I wasn't more in it just, you know, the universe, set it up, right ended up getting away from me, you know, and that's what, that's where I belong, you know,

Jeff Dwoskin 19:39

that's a that's great. Sorry, I didn't I did not know a lot of that. So thank you for sharing. You know, it's funny because I got the same advice early on, and I always share it. I was doing the clubs. I was doing good because I was bringing people and Mark Ridley I used to I did I did an arbor live with Roger but then also I did release Margaret. These a lot and one day mark Barnum one day mark pulls me aside and I thought we you starting to have Mike, you're supposed to tell everyone to calm right? Because those are our shows. That's why he pulls me aside one day and he says, Jeff, you need to stop inviting people. The only way to find out your if you're really funny is to do this in front of strangers. And I'm like, Oh, yeah. Yeah,

Ricarlo Flanagan 20:23

you know, find some people who just you need the audience that really is funny. It's like a funny dynamic and comedy, because the overall consensus is usually you come there to laugh, right? But most of the time you find audiences come there to not laugh, they actually come here to make you prove that you can make them laugh, like, you know, they just have that kind of, you know, I'm not gonna laugh at this guy attitude, like, you know, to be able to win those people over is really kind of what, you know, helps you grow as a comedian. You know what I mean?

Jeff Dwoskin 20:54

Yeah, and I think I think that's like, one of the main things that kind of is what translates then into other parts of your life, whether it be just being silly with the waitress at the restaurant, or, you know, just, you know, in be able to diffuse something with strangers or being at work, or I'm sure when you were doing customer service at a Time Warner, it's like, you get to like, there's a different level of being able to control that conversation where they don't know you're really controlling the conversation. Because you're not you're you're allowing everything to happen. But you you in such a way that it can peacefully move, and people can enjoy it, and you can inject laughter and they don't even I always joke with my family, I'll make a joke and the waitress will laugh. And you know what I mean? When I say when someone laughs when a comedian makes a joke versus someone who just, haha,

Unknown Speaker 21:38

yeah, that was a difference. It's a skill, we got the skill set, you know.

Jeff Dwoskin 21:44

And because my kids always laugh at me, because I'll make the waitress laugh or something, and she'll, you know, good laugh, and she'll walk away. And I'll just kind of make a look at it. The kids and I'll be like, she didn't even know she was dealing with a professional.

Ricarlo Flanagan 21:57

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, dude, I used that actually working at Time Warner. Because I was on the phone with a guy who was like, he was like, 60 days past doing this bill. And, you know, I had to break the news to him that, you know, we weren't turning the service back on. And, you know, I had to tell him, Well, you know, because he was blaming us, you know, he's like, Well, you know, you guys are doing this to me. And I had a tunnel, I was sorry, you have to pay a bill, or your services or be you know, disconnected can provide you services. He goes after you Ricarlo. And I was like, wow, that came deep from your heart. And then he started laughing, you know, because he, you know, he did, I don't expect you to, you know, be on your toes like that, you know, was he once I said that, and he started laughing, and we kind of had a general conversation that he ended up having is past due and got to servers and reconnect. So you know, it's a useful skill. Sure.

Jeff Dwoskin 22:49

Yeah. I think it's, it's the ability to react that quickly to something.

Ricarlo Flanagan 22:54

Yeah. So you know, somebody say, Eff you, you know, what's your name attached to it? That was personal. So you know, you know, usually a lot of people would crumble, because that's daunting. That's like, you know, that's shocking. You know, you don't expect to hear that, you know, especially not so personalized, you know, I'm saying but that dude was angry, obviously, you know, so just to be able to defuse that is, you know, that's, that's why we get into comedy. You know, that's what we're pretty much doing is taking the air out of, you know, anything tense, you know what I mean?

Jeff Dwoskin 23:25

Yeah, I think I speak for myself and everyone, the lowest moment in your life, when you take it out on the random person that answered the phone.

Unknown Speaker 23:36

He was, he was not happy, but you know, whatever was going on in his life, it was something going on. Because, you know, that's pretty much we all project that's like, I think he especially as I get older, that's one thing I learned that, you know, that's what you're dealing with about 70% of the time, if somebody projected on you, for whatever reason, you know what I'm saying? So, you just kind of gotta just deal with it. George, you know, and that's why I count is useful because without comedy, we'll even be able to deal with that in a positive manner. You know, what I mean? Like, we probably you know, end up fighting something that somebody you know, comes at it sideways like that, but not written our comedy, you know, we can use our words. What is the best what's the best use of your words is the best.

Jeff Dwoskin 24:22

The words are the best. So okay, so let's, let's talk more so when you did you move out to LA is like, Is your goal right now to be like, would you want to be a full time actor on a show? Or would you want to be a full time comic

Unknown Speaker 24:36

man if I can find a way to weave both of those into the situation that would be great man, if I could just you know, if I get a series regular, and that would open the door to me, you know, doing no touring and being able to take some of my friends out with me. That would be great. You know, that's, that's the ultimate goal because you know, comedy is still cheap for me. You know, even though I do other things like you know, make music and stuff like that. By comedies still cheap. That's, that's what I like what I enjoy the most. That's what, like, I just want to talk about, you know, there's so much stuff going on, especially in the last four years. I'm like, Well, you know, there's no other avenue, you can really talk about it in the way you want to talk about it, you know, I got so much so many opinions. And I can't let loose, you know, acting, which I'm, you know, I'm telling somebody else's story. If I'm at, you know, if I'm making music, I'm just trying to be cool somewhere, you know, just displaying a skill, but comedy is where you can really kind of let your opinion loose. You know, even you know, regardless of, you know, as you know, people say now everything is so tense. Now, people are saying that, you know, you got to watch what you say and you know, stuff like that. I'm just like, well, you know, you got to watch what you say it sucks. You know, that's, you know, that's the difference, you know, if what you say is terrible, then yeah, of course. Yeah.

Jeff Dwoskin 25:53

Yeah, yeah. If you're gonna be a racist asshole, yes. There's never gonna be there's never gonna be a good time for that.

Ricarlo Flanagan 26:01

No, there's no door for that. There's, you know, there's no audience. Which is weird, because it's like, people think like, you know, they think they can pay audience but that isn't like, well, you know, nobody's gonna be in public laughing. No, they might. They might, you know, download it secretly. Don't be in a public venue. Cracking Up where somebody could take pictures, you know? There's no time.

Jeff Dwoskin 26:28

So of all the shows you've been on has anyone recognized you in public? From what show?

Ricarlo Flanagan 26:33

Yeah, I had a lady when I first the shameless light when it aired because they're probably a little bit after we filmed it. So I'm on the train. I was actually taking the orange line which is is why the bus but it runs on the train tracks which is weird. I don't know what the purpose of that is, is really literally a bus driving down the street, but they got tracks attached to but whatever. So, this lady here Stam she's an older Hispanic lady. She was staring at me hard I'm talking like, I mean, I got comfortable. I like I had to say something my how're you doing? She's Hi. Oh, hello, you. You Shameless, Shameless yeah that was amazing. No, okay, no, no, I see. I didn't know the same thing um, I would much rather you say something to stab me like I just stole your purses. Um, you know what I mean

that was that was you know I do deliveries you know just to pay the bills you know between things especially right now productions now. And I had to do recognize me from the MC I dropped his groceries off in I'm knocking on the door to let him know that it was there. Your door looks on my head saw you doing? He looked at me was like I say yeah, man. Deliver groceries. Man. Cuz I get that railroad. What I'll be doing

Jeff Dwoskin 28:03

is Ricarlo killing everyone's acting dreams. Yep. It is play man. I get to make one day and also be do do ever

Ricarlo Flanagan 28:14

again. If that's what you aspire to baby, you can do it. You can be on the same list and drive Uber baby. Let's go. You know.

Jeff Dwoskin 28:24

Did you get to hang with William H Macy it Oh,

Ricarlo Flanagan 28:27

yeah. We, oddly enough, because we, we filmed on this real hot day, man. It was scores. And I didn't have a car at this time. So I felt the scores extra because I had to take the bus all the way to Pasadena and I was living in this you know faraway land called with NACA, you can see the proximity up like why would you live in it, but I had a job there. So I took the bus out there. We were filming at this like church, it was like a it was like a church in the school combined. But they had like, it was two times the first time was on the lot on Warner Brothers lot sees that Warner Brothers get as one of those one of those like, they had like a cuz you know, a lot of those a film in Chicago, but they have some scenes that are set up, you know, back at the studio, they just basically recreated so there's a bar that they go to that they have recreated the set for that. And he was there between set we were sitting in the back they had because they didn't have any trailers. So we said actually in the back room, and I was in there with him and two of the other actors that played on it a real big guy he was real cool too. And he was just in the back playing his ukulele he was just just sitting back there stroking his ukulele you know, cracking jokes laughing or whatever, but when when there was downtime, and nobody was talking, he just be you know, just playing the ukulele real down to earth kind of guy. You always appreciate him the down earth who drives a Porsche you know, I mean, so that was that was that was really cool.

Jeff Dwoskin 29:53

I'm a down to earth guy drives a Cadillac.

Ricarlo Flanagan 29:56

That's this is good. Follow Cadillac you know Cadillac you can interest him enough

Jeff Dwoskin 30:10

I'm the kind of guy once I get a car it's like I just I only get the same car over and over again because it involves no effort to just go back to the dealership turn it in and and

Ricarlo Flanagan 30:19

yeah, yeah, exactly. You'll have learned about new features

Jeff Dwoskin 30:23

the only reason I don't have a Saturn today is because they went out of business

out of business I got a real rhythm here. I got I love the Saturn. I love Saturn.

Ricarlo Flanagan 30:43

Nice cars, man. Just nobody was you know, I don't know why but they didn't sell. They didn't sell that good. I don't know why. They had like a four door model a sedan. That was really nice, but nobody bought them. But they were real nice. You know, they like to sob remember to stop. Mm, yeah, nobody bought those. But those were nice.

Jeff Dwoskin 31:03

Well, you know, Mad About You? Right? polarizers like one of my favorite comedians of all time. Kind of growing up, he say but what was him? I was Paul hanging out with Paul riser. Well, because you because you were the scene you were with everyone. Actually, Carol Burnett was in that scene. I mean, there was like everyone was in that scene because that was like the goodbye birthday party scene where it was like the very last episode so that he actually now that I think that Carol Burnett was there I went and did you get to meet Carol Burnett.

Ricarlo Flanagan 31:31

I didn't meet her. I saw her though. But I didn't meet her. I met Helen Hondo, which was she she gave me a hug which was nice. She took a picture with me that I've seen in my mom.

Jeff Dwoskin 31:40

He's you get to meet Paul riser. Or I did. He came

Ricarlo Flanagan 31:43

up to me. After I filmed my scene I did about maybe four takes and he came up to me oh well. The man came he saw he gave me a handshake. He was real cool. All all over pretty nice. It was it was a you know who directed it? You remember the mom from growing pain? Yeah, she directed she directed the episode. Okay. She was really cool. Yeah,

Jeff Dwoskin 32:05

I enjoyed the reboot. It was it was a good reboot. It was kind of struck me like the original series I enjoyed while I'm watching it. I can't remember it.

Ricarlo Flanagan 32:14

Yeah, yeah.

Jeff Dwoskin 32:18

I remember you. I took a picture. I took a picture. I'm like, I got my camera. I took a picture of you on the screen. And I was so excited. I'm so excited. I

Ricarlo Flanagan 32:25

see you. That's awesome, man. That's awesome.

Jeff Dwoskin 32:28

I didn't know you were in it. I was and I'm like, I'm like, Oh my God. That's my wife. That's her car though. And she goes, she's like That's awesome.

Ricarlo Flanagan 32:38

Yeah, that's the best thing to like, when people see you and they don't expect it. You know, like, and that's why I don't say nothing. I feel like, you know, when I first got like a role or two, I was excited. So I don't but then I learned to just kind of keep quiet about it and let people see it. Yeah,

Jeff Dwoskin 32:54

let's see what else Oh, you did an episode of insecure. Isa ray to me is like hilarious. Is that how you say her name? But yeah. She's so funny. She's not a good shows. Yeah, man,

Ricarlo Flanagan 33:08

man, oh, man. I've man that's, you know, knock on wood. You know, knock on wood. But I mean, as a blessing, man, it's a real blessing. Especially. It's been it's been definitely a long road, you know, seemed like a challenging road to get there. And just, you know, it's always you know, you know, some circumstances like nobody really knows what's going on. But, you know, you broke his head or, you know, you know, you got you bought, you lost something significant, like just my car. I had a, I had a Ford Taurus, and I had just lost it. At the airport. When we are we found that I was out of town, I was actually in Michigan, and I was there for like two weeks, and my car had got impounded from the flyaway, like, the day after I left, so I had no clue it was even in the empire. So I wasn't going I came back and found out where it was, and they were charging me per day, like hundreds of dollars was gone. So I was thinking that, you know, you know, no, you know, I feel it was you know, as wild time it was, but you know, it was I was glad that I got a chance to do it. And it really just kind of gave me a lot of hope. You know, I'm saying stay out here because, you know, it's challenging man, when you come out here, especially from the Midwest, and this is nothing like the Midwest. pletely different, it's a lot bigger, you know, a lot more going on. So, to be able to come here and find a way to you know, develop a routine here, you know, that that really kind of gave me a lot of hope as far as staying here and you know, keep fighting toward reaching my goals. Don't I mean,

Jeff Dwoskin 34:43

it's so awesome. But yeah, you're you're a fighter. You're a fighter. And you've been, you've been putting together an amazing resume. Well, let's talk about I have one more thing I want to talk about Last Comic Standing.

Ricarlo Flanagan 34:53

Ah, yeah, that was yeah, that's when I first first got I was like, Yeah, I was like a year after I got here. That was a really good experience that was like my first time really doing any kind of TV, you know, seeing what you know, really went on behind the scenes and stuff. I met one of the sites, you know, two things I met a lot of stuff happened on that day you know, didn't air sidebar by the way to go back then secure. I just want to say it's probably good. Regina Kane actually directed the episode I was in Institute she was she was I got notes from her as he came up to me and told me what to do when I went across the street and put the camera near that. So to get my reaction. So that was a that was really cool to meet her and Isa Ray on the same day now Pluto, so back to land time I'm standing. Um, so I'm there, you know, um, we they had us in this room in the back of the state. So we was there like that we actually, as a matter of fact, they made a stay at a hotel that was right next to the studio because of the NBC law. So I was staying in this hotel, nice room, but we couldn't really like go, you know, leave or anything like that. So I was just there with other comics. So I'm giving everybody Rasta Walmart that need to go pick stuff up. So you know, who's going to Walmart. I took Miss Pat bear. She went to get like, a bunch of stuff for a hair stylist to do her hair and stuff like that. So that was cool. Her hairstyles was fine, too, by the way. Oh, I just want to throw that in. She was her hairstylist, man, man. But uh, so we have been this back room this whole time. So they had us do each. I made it to the semi final. So each episode that we found, we had to go through these different little things for like shortcuts to the show. I ended up meeting Wanda Sykes. She pulled us off to the side and I had a one on one with us about that was supposed to air on the show, but my eyes did air. But Wanda Sykes. She told me that she really liked my material. And she was like, she sees me as a, like a real comedian. You know? Oh, man, that's crazy. Just to have her say that to me. Then we were filming the semi final episode. And Norm Macdonald said that I was his favorite comic in the competition. But of course that didn't hear. But uh, I met him right after that. And I you know, he gave me a hug. He was a real cool though. Keenan Ivory Wayans was there. And Roseanne, but I had to Anthony Jeselnik was the host. And after my first round, he didn't really speak to anybody or like that. But after my second set, I went backstage to wait for them to take me across the line. He came up to me he was like, Hey, man, I was. Damn, that's crazy. You know? So that was a real good experience. Man. I was uh, that was fun. That was fun. That was that was good time.

Jeff Dwoskin 37:34

That was pretty good. And the Anthony doesn't. Vegas is funny. Here's a funny thing. I was gonna ask you if you got to meet him. So did you maintain any connections with like one to Sykes or

Ricarlo Flanagan 37:45

not at all dissipated at all, you know, just just like everything. You know, you know, you see them and then it's kind of like having a co worker, you know, you see them at work. And then after work, you know, you don't see him until work. Same thing, but it's cool. If any of them remember me, that would be surprising. That was years ago. So. But uh, I always had that memory. Just to keep you know, ever I'm down. I just always keep mine. Wanda Sykes who I think is really funny. Say that. I was funny. So you know that that works. You know and normal.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:16

Yeah. Does it to the grades. Yeah, I bet they would remember you. i You're not You're not exactly forgettable. You're. I mean, how many comedian how many comedians say Shakespeare?

Ricarlo Flanagan 38:26

I'm not somebody who can really do it. I can really do it if they needed me to do it. I can really be a bouncer after really? Yeah, I got like another five years of being a boss, that I'll probably be the intimidation factor of probably doing.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:45

Mm hmm. So you have two albums out, man law and hope you're proud. And those are both available. Right? You can get those on Amazon or anything like that. Everyone listening or Carlo is seriously one of the funniest comedians in Winnie it's tureen it comes to your town, you got to definitely check him out because he's just so so funny. But to get your Ricarlo fix before that, check out either of his albums and I'll put links to them in the show notes. And then you were on laughs We were both on that TV show.

Ricarlo Flanagan 39:17

We share credit.

Jeff Dwoskin 39:21

We share one credit anyway, I was a security guard remember

Ricarlo Flanagan 39:27

while you were waiting for you to cop on a security cop?

Jeff Dwoskin 39:30

Well they call me in because I they said they lured they only said yes. And then

Ricarlo Flanagan 39:40

say Oh, well, hey, you know, that's all that matters. You got the credit. You know, that's that's what matters. You know? Well, if

Jeff Dwoskin 39:46

it makes you feel better, I told the story once on another on another episode, but I auditioned once in Michigan because remember, they were doing a whole thing in Michigan once with credits and stuff like that. And it was the worst thing ever. I was like a plumber For this, I was trying out for this guy he was supposed to be like, probably like a cocky guy that wears a sweater over his shoulder. And then they, it was so bad. I didn't sign the waiver. I didn't say. So they said they want me to call back. They wanted me to come back. I'm like, what? And then on the PDF, it says, nerdy TSA agent. Okay, so I'm with I'm with my wife. And she's like, nerdy TSA age. And I'm like, I know, this is ridiculous. I double click on it. That was shortened from super nerdy

so you know why you cherish those secure? Copper?

Ricarlo Flanagan 40:43

Oh, man, that's, you know, that's why they got these committees now to make sure they don't put disrespectful part names on scripts at all. Yeah, that's crazy. Man, you should use and find it. I'm gonna find out who that was that wrote that man. And

Jeff Dwoskin 41:03

it was funny, because on an earlier episode, actually, I found the script that I had to read, and I did it on my show, I gotta figure out. He just reminded me of it. So So So what's next for Carlo?

Ricarlo Flanagan 41:18

Oh, man, um, I just, I actually, you know, production is kind of really slow. So I'm just auditioning for commercials right now. And hopefully, I can knock him out in production. Come back, we'll get back to, you know, shows playing detectives or security guards. You know, I'm actually writing I'm trying to sit down and make myself right another hour. So that's like, I want to either do another album or try to go for getting a special. So that's my next. My next bullet point. That's what they call it a benchmark. That's my next benchmark.

Jeff Dwoskin 41:49

Okay, I like that. That's good. And that's a good, that's a good next step. Okay. Now, this isn't the normal part of the show where I asked you to tell everyone where they can keep up with you on the social medias. But But I want to do it differently with you. Because I know you can do Brock Obama's voice. I wanted to ask Obama to tell everyone where to find Ricarlo Flanagan.

Ricarlo Flanagan 42:11

What was your social media? What do you want to do if you want to follow Ricarlo? Because he has he has some jokes, you get laugh? You want to get a laugh? And he's that he's that fall flat on Twitter and Instagram. Fa th er, FL, a in a gn, you know, usually it's usually g a n but he had to omit the A because no one else had. So it's a problem there. And hopefully you'll be entertained because he says, sometimes he didn't get crazy. So you know, you might want to avoid it. But if you got the appetite for it, you can fly the flag.

Jeff Dwoskin 42:48

Bravo, sir. Thank you so much. It was really fun. Hey, man,

Ricarlo Flanagan 42:52

likewise, bro. It's been too long and been way too long.

Jeff Dwoskin 42:55

Thanks for hanging.

Ricarlo Flanagan everybody, shining star gone too soon. Upon reflection. As I was listening to the interview, I realized a couple of things. One is social media has kind of tricked us into thinking that you know, when we interact, we're being social realizing it was seven years since we had actually kind of had a conversation outside of just back and forth on social media. You know, cuz you know, you have certain friends that you have throughout your life where even if you don't see him when you do talk, like when we would like when Ricarlo and I reconnected and we're talking on that, during that interview, we had a great time as if no time had passed. But time does pass. And, you know, the lesson I learned is, it's important to reach out to people that you want to reach out to and talk to and make sure that you maintain connections. On a real personal level. I think we've gotten too much into texting and DMing and, you know, hearing someone's voice and making each other laugh, there's nothing that can actually replace that LOL LOL doesn't really do it.

So a couple things one, go to Amazon music download Ricarlo's Man Law album, listen to it. Take in his humor when we remember people, they're always with us. So definitely check him out and definitely search up his IMDb I'll put a link in the show notes. can see all the appearances he made on all the shows he had done so much. It's so so amazing. And there were so many great places for him still to go. check out his albums on Amazon music just search up Ricarlo Flanagan, treat yourself to that and then call up somebody who haven't talked to in a while. Have a chat with them. And let's actually get social.

Alright, well with the interview over that goalie mean one thing that's right it's time for a trending hashtag when the family of hashtags at hashtag round up us on Twitter at hashtag roundup download the free always free never cost a penny app at the Google or Apple Play stores get notified every time a hashtag game goes live play a log in one day one of your tweets may show up on a future episode of live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin Show, fame and fortune awaits you.

This week's hashtag is #WeirdReasonsToBeArrested. I thought it would be a fun hashtag to play since Ricarlo and I talked so much about him playing security guards and cops so I thought it'd be fun if we all played hashtag weird reasons to be arrested from PBJ tags a weekly Game On hashtag round up, you just tweet a weird reason to get arrested. Use the hashtag hashtag weird reasons to be arrested and suddenly your Twitter famous Alright, I'm going to read a few right now. Here's some #WeirdReasonsToBeArrested. Catch up on a hot dog at the ballpark that should get you immediately tossed starting every sentence was so so how are you? So um, that's definitely a weird reason to get arrested. But you should definitely get arrested wearing crocs with socks in public. How dare you. overdue library books. These are all #WeirdReasonsToBeArrested. Putting the toilet paper on the wrong way in my house. That's not a weird reason. Asking the chef for assault. Oh in the wrong restaurant that'll get you more than arrested. being criminally cute. Oh, I've been arrested for this one on numerous occasions. Am I right? Eating catch up on pizza. That's a crime in many, many countries. Eating the last slice of pizza. That's a crime everywhere. And final weird reason to be arrested. Eating pineapple on pizza. Oh, there were oddly a lot of pizza responses to hashtag weird reasons to be arrested. People love their pizza and are willing to send you to jail. If you disrupt that love good luck society.

Well, with the hashtag game over and the interview over that can only mean one thing. That's right. We've come to the end of another episode. Can you believe it? Episode 108 is coming to a close. I want to thank all of you for celebrating Ricarlo Flanagan with me. I truly appreciate that. And I truly appreciate you all coming back week after week. It means the world to me, and I'll see you next time.

Announcer 47:10

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Jeff Dwoskin show with your host Jeff Dwoskin. Now 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