Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviews Lavell Crawford. He was one of my favorite celebrity presenters at the Neighborhood Awards. We will discuss building his stand-up comedy and acting career and believing in himself. In 2023, Lavell Crawford returned for his fourth SHOWTIME comedy special, LAVELL CRAWFORD: THEE LAVELL CRAWFORD. In the special filmed at the Joy Theater in New Orleans, Crawford dived into the issues of getting older without the shame and with all the sarcasm. Lavell Crawford is a comedian and actor known for playing Huell Babineaux in Breaking Bad (2011–2013) and its spin-off Better Call Saul (2017–2022). The album version of his 2021 Comedy Vaccine special was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's the show that she is the secrets of success
experience firsthand by Marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I
will know he's given me advice on many occasions. And
in case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know
he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision make
because it's what he likes to do, it's what he
likes to share. Now it's time to hear from my man,
Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald. You know our host money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information this show provides
offer everyone. Really, it's time to stop reading other people's
success stories and start living your own. My guest is
Lavell Crawford, just a Els. He's one of my favorite
celebrity presenters. At the Neighborhood Awards, we discussed building his
stand up comedy and acting career. It really is about
(00:53):
believing in yourself. Because I first met this young man
on the Jamie FOXX way back in nineteen ninety eight
and three. Lavel returned for his fourth Showtime comedy special,
call d Love Al and Especial. He talks about there
was tape to enjoy theatre in New Orleans, dove in
the issues of getting older, which I can relate to
with the shame and all this sarcasm. Lavell is a
(01:16):
wonderful comedian. Obviously seen him in acting. You know Breaking Bad.
I remember we've talked about Breaking Bad. I said, how
you got that role? We're gonna talk about that. They
need to spin off better Call Sault. The album version
of his twenty twenty one comedy special was nominated for
a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the six
or fourth Annual Grammy Awards. Please welcome with the money
making conversation, master class. I'm call my friend Lavell Crawford.
(01:39):
How you doing, Levell.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I'm gladed brother. I'm out here trying to make it
happen for you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
See, just a little backstir. We started in this basement.
We did it with his phone. Now we're doing comedy
from his truck. So we got some We started something new. Lavell,
How you doing, brother?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
How you doing? Man?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Man? I'm I'm blessed man, I'm happy and I'm doing
everything I supposed to be doing. I'm on my two
feet living life the way you're spposed to still on
the road doing my thing.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
You know the interesting thing about it, when I look
at my life and my relationship. You know, we're young,
we don't think about longevity. But then as we get
older and I look back and go, wow, I've been
in this game for a long time and I can
appreciate longevity. What are your thoughts when you look back
a little bit? Because you know, me and you met
in nineteen ninety eight, Jamie Fox, who were young, and
(02:31):
I can remember some of those conversations that I've been here.
I brought you on Steve Harvey's big time, and we
kept in touch and just along the way, just seeing
each other in the streets at the comedy clubs or
any opportunity I could give a young comed like your shot.
The longevity part. What's that conversation? What runs to your mind?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Well, I, first of all, you know, I thank the
love above it.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I always appreciate you, as Steve Man, for giving me
some opportunities because like I mean you, I mean you guys.
You know, when we think about the comedy game, and
everything about it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
You know, y'all put me on the hoodies Ward Steve.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Big Tie every time y'all had something, y'all, y'all let
me come on and shine, man, and you know, and
some of it was unbridled, but it was a lot
of fun and it and it got to the people.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Thank God for YouTube, because when y'all let those.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Things fly, man, people fell in love with me, you know.
And like the one where you had me and mister
uh but David into it, you know, and y'all just
let that fly.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
People went crazy because they was like, man, what is this?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
And I mean, that's all people talk about sometimes, man,
you and uh.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, hey, you know they call them mister Browns.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
And I was like yeah, and people thought they thought
that that was just luck we made up. I said, naw,
now that that was some real deal, a real deal.
But I look at all of that, man, just like
I think somebody said it best being that I just
stay stay consistent. Anybody give me an opportunity, I go
(04:12):
and take it and ride off of it.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And I appreciate every door to open for me.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
And I thank you for people yike you and Steve
and many other people that I've worked with. You know,
they gave me those opportunities because I don't get him
handed to me. I come from the mid bro. You know,
it's almost it's a trial and error every day for me,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So you know the beauty, soul, beauty of lavel is
that you know. You know, I look at my life.
You know this is money made conversations, master class talking.
He's an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur means that you count on yourself.
You know, you got to put in the hours in
and for the hour week, in a five hour work week,
you know, it's time that you have to discipline yourself.
(04:53):
And I remember when I look back and every time
I called him, he delivered every time I asked him.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
And he was never afraid.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
That his said chards that do good, you know, because
he wanted to make sure he got the next phone call.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
He wanted to make sure that you.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Know, he didn't if he messed up, tell me so
I can fix it. That was important to you, right
level all the time, all the time.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I mean, I don't just go on it just like
you know, like, oh well they gonna come, they need me.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
I never had that idea and I was trying to be.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I wasn't a perfection, but I always wanted to make
it look as perfect as possible, right right, right, right.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Right, because because those moments I remember when we were
going through the process and having these conversations, and when
you got the big break on Last Comic Standing, right,
and then you and then when I would watching you,
we would talk. You had to come up with material
like the material like the material welcomes through that whole
(05:55):
process of trusting yourself and using new material that you
didn't do but turned out to be beneficial to you
becoming a champion.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, the crazy thing about Last Common Standing was, you know,
they put me in at the wrong time because I
was polished. I was ready for all that I had.
So I had so much weaponry and anything they asked
me to do, I said, let's go, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I had material out of day.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Some of those comedians, it was weird that, you know,
they like a young, upstart kind of comic who been
in it for four years. Man, by the time I
was old there, I was been in it by eleven years.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I think Ralph Harris was older than me.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yes, but yeah, yeah, so Raphie, I had watched raph
before I even made it, so he was probably more
veter than me.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But by the time I get in there, I said, whoo,
they ain't ready. He goes, I'm coming with it.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And and the thing about I tell any comedy in
this man, I always tell him. I said, Man, every
opportunity in front of the camera back in the day
was your advantage, right, you know, you get to get
that put that put that material out there because you
got forty two to fifty two million internationally people watching
(07:14):
you all over the world, and they watch you all
the United States. I said, every time I go up, man,
I'm gonna be funny. I seen some comedians like, ohn't
know what I'm gonna do. I said, we move out
my way, and I know exactly what.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I was gonna do.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I like, I said, you crazy, These are the opportunity
to come alive. You know, some people make it like
just being likable and they just get in.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I was, you know, I was always a big guy,
so I.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Was intimidating on one side, and then on the other side,
you know, I was, you know, a strong comic, So
that was intimidating to a lot of comedians because they
ain't gonna let me.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
They ain't gonna let me eat at the table all
the time.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Oh, we don't need him blowing me out with you know,
I'm one of them guys to say, Man, I like
to be around other killers. I'm sorry, I don't like
to be around people that are scared of the killer.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
I want to be around another killer that then you
can try me right, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Because the interesting thing about when I look at my
relationship with it's my trust, you know, because when and
I'm gonna go back to the Neighborhood Awards where I
really thought that, you know, it was a blessing because
it was something that Steve and I did it for
the community and we honored people for it was Ward's
best church, best barbecue, and every award every year. I
(08:33):
would give him the food Award every year, and then
I would give him as Richard, don't give you a
food Ward, Well, I march.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Him right out there with call he farrall. She wouldn't
say nothing. She knew her role. She knew her role, which.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Is announced the way you walk out there. And I
think when the cracker barrel war, if anybody see that
video YouTube, is a cracker barrel when we were there
was possor boy, that is by far the most and
it was all in prov because nothing he was saying
was on that screen. Her walking through that whole process
of just seeing because the average attendance we had was
(09:12):
like nineteen thousand people. And brother, you held everybody's attention
walking through that process. The bell Oh well, I mean
I think that was the one where Steve.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Came out to her because she had lost all that weight.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so Steve said he could put his
hands around me.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
He couldn't believe it. He was like wow.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And it was one of those things where you know,
Shirley came up and she had did that thing talking
about the uh she was up for the LeVert movie
or whatever and everything and I and I told Sjarl,
I said, congratulations. I wonder who won won depart because
I was up for it too, but I just didn't
have enough chest here. I had to sing it down.
(09:56):
I had to ask you down. But I have enough
chance there. And if I anybody I know who got
some chests here is Sharyl. And Cheryl was a good
sport because that's my sister man, and she know I
was gonna play with it no matter what. Every year
she'll say so crazy. You know, I'm gonna run up
(10:18):
and touch it right. It never be over offensive, you know.
And I just ask.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I said, Sharyl got more hair on her chest than
her back to me and Steve's ever seen. Back in eighty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Five were talking about Cheryl Underworld, now the host or
co host of the talk CBS Talk.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
She was another phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
It was cyl and it was level running neck and
neck who was destroyed and the hoodies every year every year.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I mean, Kim will even do a great job. Man.
It was a it was a it was a fun time.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
And I said, man, I mean, what other venue do
you have where you got two almost twenty times of
your own.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
People watching you and you get up just let him fly?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
And I said some stuff because at the time y'all
cut the cliffs to make it move, move along, right,
But when y'all let that play, and then they wanted
to play me off, and I was like, no, no,
you ain't gonna do me.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Boys of Dog and and couldn't. It wasn't in the shape.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Hey they had. You had Grandpa Pigeon talking about everything
and church I was I went in boy I said,
you won't play that music.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
On me, and I went into yeah that was.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
That was so brilliant, man, that was so brilliant because
it was two things. I remember that video did like
because I emailed it to you. It was like three
million views the next day of you doing that moment
of cracker Barrel and when you did that with David Mann.
That was, I have to say, was instrumental in you
(12:07):
being branded as a top comedy act in the black community.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it was one of those lounching
pads I'm telling like I tell people, I think me
and a comedian.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Had a conversation.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
They were talking, man, they got your stuff on YouTube
and they exploiting it and they ain't got your permission.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And I told them, I said, brother, let me tell
you something.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Some of the best rappers who made it big used
to sell mixtapes.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And when I look.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
At YouTube, it's like me, I have to go out
on the streets and sell my mixtapes. They being blasted
all over YouTube. People watch YouTube more than they watched television.
And I became a star off of YouTube right and
then Netflix, and then like the Hoodie was when y'all
put my stuff on there and people got to see it.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
It was like, oh my god, where this guy at.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
You know, and I tell comedians all the time, you
have to use Rudy Ray Morris is the best thing ever.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
You got to.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Use what you got, use what you got, and every
opportunity every door. Instagram made a lot of these comedian
stars doing their little skits.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
But I was doing straight up stand up right right right,
you know.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Now, then if we moved through the whole stand up
because like I won't ever try to understand because in
this business, we always hope for one big moment to
just send us to the top.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
But it's steps.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Like being the part of the Shaquille Nails Comedy Special
was instrumental too, correct.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Sure, I mean you know the crazy thing about that was,
you know the Shack All Star.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
You know, when I finally met Shack and I want
to be on it.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
They had a couple of them come before I got
to do it, and then I think it was the
same time. It was a prolific It was a night
that Michael Jackson had dad and everything. It was a
crazy weekend. But when we got out there and like
that was one of those times where I had some
comedians talking about I don't know what I'm gonna talk about.
I don't know what I'm gonna talk I said it
was you better move out away because I'm about to
(14:16):
explode this sucker. It's packed in this building.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
We'll be right back with more money making conversations.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
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Speaker 1 (15:21):
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Speaker 5 (15:32):
Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations Masterclass, hosted by
Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, it got everybody in there.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You got my man, Cliff Pole, you got celebrities, you
got NBA stars, and you ain't coming up there talking
about nothing. Man, I'm about to show you what this
is gonna do. And seeing the crazy thing about it.
I went up second. Meli Kamacho went up first. I
went up second. But when I blew that suck go
off the off the hinges, they clipped mine and move
(16:03):
my clip always.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Like I ended the show. Okay, yeah, okay, yeah you
know yeah yeah, I didn't even end the show.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
They they looked at them like, man, ain't no way
we could put him up at the beginning.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
People wouldn't watch it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So when I did that, man, it was it was
a it was an epic moment for me because it
just broke the seal again. And you know, my people
saw me and everybody saw me. I mean, because see,
we always think that we do these big shows and
black people were just gonna watch it. It's worldwide because
let me tell you something. Every nationality be watching us.
(16:40):
They just begot to be on our fourth fourth man
a for room. Don't mean that everybody ain't gonna check
it out because everything I've done, I think, you know,
because the little venues I've done and open doors in
every spot because they said, well he's funny over there
and with us.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So hey man, because because I mean, last Comic Standing
was for NBC. So that was just white television. Look,
don't listen late with what it is. That's white television.
You did the Neighborhood it was that was one hundred
percent black, you know what I'm saying, one hundred So
you controlled that medium. And then when you went over
to the Shack, you know, Shack brings Hispanics, he brings you,
(17:19):
he brings sports, he brings black, he brings all the whites.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So that really allowed.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
You because you already was well known because of Last
Comic Standard, it really merged the whole process. Now when
you did you've done four showtime comedy specials. Now your
first one I.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Did, I did, I did, I did, ah, I did
a five five together altogether you did what Now I
did five I did I did the first one was
cann brother gets some love, right. I did a Home
for the Holiday, I did Comedy Vaccine, I did New Look,
Same Funny, and then I did these of Veil Group.
That was the final, the last one I did, Yeah,
(18:00):
so I had okay one I did it.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
The first one was yeah, I'll just let you know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Okay, cool because because you know, I'm getting all my
press release wrong. It's at four, so it's five. You've
done with show time?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
No no, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well well congratulations, but about
it because right, so let's talk about you because you're
out there, you're out there touring Lavell, you're out there headlining.
I was out there, and boy, selling tickets or people
coming to see you is always a special feeling, you know,
(18:36):
seeing the words sold out. Where did you realize that, hey,
you know, could we just hustled that you can make
a living out this, that people you have a brand
that people will paying money to see consistently, which additional
puts more pressure on you.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Talk about that, that that turning that corner.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Well, honestly, my man, you know, I think the biggest
moment that I thought I could sell tickets was when
I was out there, I with my first one of
my managers, Phil Bonna, and we had got booked at
the Stardom Comedy Club in Alabama and.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
H Birmingham, Alabama. Bruce air Yead Birmingham, Alabama there.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
At the Bruce Airs Room, and Bruce Hairs gave me
that and he said he could if I sell out,
I get bonuses, so we would go.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
We did the first night Thursday night.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I was in my dress, shoes and my little suits
after the show, going to every night club, passing our
flies every night club, let people know because if they
see my face, they were like, oh man, we know him.
But but you know, it wasn't a notoriety there. But
I went out there, and I went out there and
hustled it, and next thing you know, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
(19:51):
was sold out and.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
I was got my biggest payday ever.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
It was Ninadays I look at it like it's nothing
like what it is now, But back then, I was
so proud of myself that I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Were really great.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Because when you headline the Shack All Stars, I just
thought you headlined the show. I didn't know you were
second slaughtered the stage. As we said, that's every comic dream.
That's every comic rule. Okay, I'm gonna make it hard
for you to follow me.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
That just competition.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
You ain't try to be evil, but if you gonna
follow me, let's make it difficult, right, That's right.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I mean, I mean, now, I don't care.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I've been I've had this moment several times lately too,
because I'll be on these tours and the comedians, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Mean, hey, if they they high, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
And but in a minute, like I tell him, I said,
you know, I had comedians calling the promoter and Thelle
just he's doing. They always say I'm doing too much time?
And I say, now, now, I said, you give me
twenty minute. I'm gonna make it a hot toy, right,
you give me eight I'm gonna make a hot end.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Right, give me the full time. I'm gonna bring it.
I mean, but a lot of comedians get to a
point where they.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Get a headline status and they get comfortable and they
think they could go on cruise control. And this game
ain't no such thing as cruise control. I believe you
stay sharp and you ain't got to never get ready,
you know what I'm saying. Absolutely, And I go. I
go up there and I go to guns and blazers.
I only got one speed was shot. And I tell
(21:24):
people that all the time. I said, if you're coming
behind me, I'm just gonna let you know, just bring
bring your best.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Don't come up there trying to think you can jump
on my ride my wave. You know, because I'm coming.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Because as a comic, we know the blessing is somebody's
giving your stage and that's an audience in front of it.
That's the number one blessing. The other blessing is your
name is on the banner and people coming pacifically to
see you. Now, you had a run, you did your
first comedy special. What did you do and how did
(22:00):
you react when you really got that first opportunity in
the comedy room to sell tickets?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I think I think, like I said Birmingham, Alabama, when
I started selling, I was able to get out there
and pump and do my own promotions and I sold
the place. I got my first bonus and people came
to see me. Because that's just solidified. Because what I do,
and I know a lot of comedians do is is
uh they don't.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I don't. I don't see it.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
But I see that I'm teaching some of my young
count After the show, I had a meet and Greek,
right and I and I still do that nowadays. You know,
I may sell the picture, you know, photo with me
for about ten bucks, but you know it's still a
meeting Greek. You know, it's still and that's how you
sell tickets. And I try to explained to my wife
and everybody else. I said, man, it ain't out there
(22:51):
trying to look.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
And then now the acting opportunities, the draw which I
didn't see coming your way when you came into played
a bodyguard in one of the all time great series,
Breaking Bad. Tell us how that occurred in your career.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Man, you know, I just moved my wife and kids.
We had just got married.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
I moved out my wife and gives me from my
youngest was born, moved them to California, and I was
on the road, come out rode tired as hell. I
got an audition and it said and I was trying
to reschedule audition. He said, man, you gotta go do
this now. And I you know how you do audition.
I'd have done like billions of them. I was like, man,
I'm tired of getting these like no call backs, nothing
(23:37):
like that. And I went in and I went out
for one thing and read one line for the second thing,
and the guy said, can you start Wednesday?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
And next thing you.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Know, there I was you know, Breaking Bad, one of
the hottest TV shows in America.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
So so you went in not expecting to get it.
You gave a one hundred percent. The second line he give
you a job.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, because I read for two two roads, and.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
The second one they had one line, we're clothes, We're closed.
That was it, and the dude was like you the man,
and they loved it. And it was you know how
I used to say that all the time. How there
was those Hollywood stories like Elvis Presley and I was
like he was at a gas stage, he was just singing,
(24:27):
and Colonel town Parker said you need to be a star,
and that's that's I was always wanted that to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
And I just went in.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I I was thinking I was gonna it was like
three people, and then people said read this one line.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
I said, we're clothes and the dude said, can.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
You start Wednesday? I said, and I thought it was
a joke. Next you know, I got a plane ticket
I'm going to Albuquerque.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I'm up there with.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
Gen Ga, Carlo Spazito, Brian Craston, and Paul uh Uh
Bob Odenkirk, and I'm sitting up here, got my own
uh On camper, sitting up there in my own trailer.
I'm playing the role all the time, and I wasn't
(25:15):
doing nothing fake acted like I was sleepy.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Then I like some small roles of talking.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
And then why the winner the sag Award won a
sag Award and everything.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations. Let me ask you this, man, because
it's so funny.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Listen to this.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
When you went in for the audition, did you know
anything about the series?
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Nothing?
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I heard about it, but I didn't know nothing about it.
I honestly, god, I didn't know nothing about this show.
You know, like all black people.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
When you when you when you look at that, so
you know, I gotta askwer this question. Five comedy specials,
shit call? Have you been approached? Are you developing a
sitcom or some type of calm a dramedy for the
next step because of the fact that you're so amazingly funny.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Well, I wrote, I wrote it.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I wrote a couple of them called like a daddy
step because I'm a stepfather as well as real father,
you know, And I want to talk about how how kids,
you know, don't never call black kids don't never call
you daddy.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Even though they daddy wasn't no good.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
You always be in their life. Boy, everything they daddy
was shoes. They still calling you by your first name.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Thank you, mister. Level them. You know, I do.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
All day and I gotta asks the father around and I.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Look at the kid, Can I can I step in? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Mr gram you you made the bills. I'm like, what
but but but yeah, I wrote that, Scot I wrote that,
writing on that.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
But I I've had we had me and uh, what's
his name?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Ralphie made past you know, got resch Is sol Me
and Raphiel was up for a couple of sitcoms together,
playing brothers, you know, and uh, but it never never
panned out. Now they got this writer strike now, so
it's like I've got blessed Adam Sander. Adam Sander put
me in so many, you know, some of his films.
(27:24):
I was so blessed to be a part of his stuff.
I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
And that's thanks for YouTube, you know, Adam Sander saw
me on YouTube.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
He put me in Ridiculous six and then I was
in Huet Halloween and also did Home Team.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
It just opened doors for everything, yep, exactly.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
You know the beauty of watching you now. You know,
we talked about it when Steve Harvey came out and
put his arms around you, and it was a big
deal about the weight loss and things like that, talk
about that decision making process and we're you're at right
now emotionally and mentally about your weight.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Oh man, you know, you know, you know way wait,
you know, being overweight, man is always you know, you
know you're a health guy. I mean you do your
bacon and everything, but you know, you go out, you know,
try to stay healthy and then you know healthy healthy,
healthy healthy as well.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
But you know, it's like I was. I was comfortable
with the skin i end, but when.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I had my son and and everything and that, then
I was just looking at some of the things that
I was going through, some of the health issue. I said, Man,
I think I'm squadding and this blessing that God that
gave me, you know what I'm saying, because if I
died from a heart attack, for me too too, much
gravy on my chicken. I think I'll be I think
(28:48):
I'm gonna get to heaven, and guy ain't gonna let
me in.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
You could have left that chicken wing sit there. You
didn't have to eat that, you know.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
And then I started feeling, you know, and I you know,
I played sports. I boxed, I play football, I do
even when I was overweight.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
I did jiu jitsu.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I wrestled and went out the way to state and wrestling,
and I did a lot of sports. But you know,
once you'allt here, you doing comedy, and I didn't get
real big until I started making money. When I started
making money, was there to go to Ruth Chris. That's
when I started getting all that butter on the state.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
You know what I'm saying, absolutely, Hey man, they bread
and Ruth Chris.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
That's what I get.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
The best brother, that's the best.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Man. You know. I want to thank you everything gotch
mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
You know the thing about it, because you know, as
we end the show, food and travel, going to bed
late night. You know that comedy you in it said
at ten you're gonna eat you in it said that
one you go.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Eat, then you wake up. You eat and that's how
the weight gain happened.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
You know, sometimes our profession won't allow us to be normal,
and then it just next thing. You know, you're twenty
pounds a week, you're thirty pounds away, you're forty pounds overweight, and.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
So you know, don't look at us bad lifestyle.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
And then you're watching my videos on YouTube and you realize,
Rashan make me sick.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
He ain't gave you no doing weight. And look at
it he baking every day an day with them deserts.
I get that all. I get that all the time.
I get that all the gut you still got new
flash suits. I'd be like, man, does he eat it?
Love it? Leavell man.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I want to thank I know there's been one hell
of a tape that we went through, but I want
to thank you, brother for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
And now I know you're in Houston.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We're gonna connect, man, and go down to my favorite
Mexican play Loopy Tortillas down in Houston, Texas, and then
kick it for a while.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Man, I appreciate you, brother.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
This is a day, this, this is the thing says you,
you so called know how to fish.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Yes, we're gonna get out of that wat you have you?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Oh oh yeah, cause I talked to Ronnie Green yesterday.
So Ronnie Green, I tell you what we will you
listen meet and you do an episode of Ronnie Green together.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
How about that? Let's do it?
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Okay, I'm let's do it. I'm gonna call Ronnie Green today.
It's just go forward and you and I gonna do
one together.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Cool? All right? I love you, man.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Thank you for coming to my show, Money Made Conversation
Master Class.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Appreciate your brother, Love you bag, take care of man.
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (31:36):
Let me tell you about the host of Money Making Conversations,
Rushan McDonald. Rushan's a two time Emmy Award winner, three
time n double a cp Immage Award winner, sitcom writer,
stand up comic, and former IBM executive. Thank you for
joining us for this edition of Money Making Conversations Master Class.
Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushan McDonald is produced
(32:00):
by thirty eight fifteen Media Inc. More information about thirty
eight fifteen Media Inc. Is available at thirty eight fifteen
media dot com. And always remember to lead with your gifts.
Welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's the show that she is the secrets of success
experience firsthand by Marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I
will know he's given me advice on many occasions. And
in case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know
he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision make
because it's what he likes to do, it's what he
likes to share. Now it's time to hear from my man,
Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald. You know our host money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information this show provides
offer everyone. Really, it's time to stop reading other people's
success stories and start living your own. My guest is
Lavell Crawford, just a Els. He's one of my favorite
celebrity presenters. At the Neighborhood Awards, we discussed building his
stand up comedy and acting career. It really is about
(00:53):
believing in yourself. Because I first met this young man
on the Jamie FOXX way back in nineteen ninety eight
and three. Lavel returned for his fourth Showtime comedy special,
call d Love Al and Especial. He talks about there
was tape to enjoy theatre in New Orleans, dove in
the issues of getting older, which I can relate to
with the shame and all this sarcasm. Lavell is a
(01:16):
wonderful comedian. Obviously seen him in acting. You know Breaking Bad.
I remember we've talked about Breaking Bad. I said, how
you got that role? We're gonna talk about that. They
need to spin off better Call Sault. The album version
of his twenty twenty one comedy special was nominated for
a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the six
or fourth Annual Grammy Awards. Please welcome with the money
making conversation, master class. I'm call my friend Lavell Crawford.
(01:39):
How you doing, Levell.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I'm gladed brother. I'm out here trying to make it
happen for you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
See, just a little backstir. We started in this basement.
We did it with his phone. Now we're doing comedy
from his truck. So we got some We started something new. Lavell,
How you doing, brother?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
How you doing? Man?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Man? I'm I'm blessed man, I'm happy and I'm doing
everything I supposed to be doing. I'm on my two
feet living life the way you're spposed to still on
the road doing my thing.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
You know the interesting thing about it, when I look
at my life and my relationship. You know, we're young,
we don't think about longevity. But then as we get
older and I look back and go, wow, I've been
in this game for a long time and I can
appreciate longevity. What are your thoughts when you look back
a little bit? Because you know, me and you met
in nineteen ninety eight, Jamie Fox, who were young, and
(02:31):
I can remember some of those conversations that I've been here.
I brought you on Steve Harvey's big time, and we
kept in touch and just along the way, just seeing
each other in the streets at the comedy clubs or
any opportunity I could give a young comed like your shot.
The longevity part. What's that conversation? What runs to your mind?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Well, I, first of all, you know, I thank the
love above it.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I always appreciate you, as Steve Man, for giving me
some opportunities because like I mean you, I mean you guys.
You know, when we think about the comedy game, and
everything about it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
You know, y'all put me on the hoodies Ward Steve.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Big Tie every time y'all had something, y'all, y'all let
me come on and shine, man, and you know, and
some of it was unbridled, but it was a lot
of fun and it and it got to the people.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Thank God for YouTube, because when y'all let those.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Things fly, man, people fell in love with me, you know.
And like the one where you had me and mister
uh but David into it, you know, and y'all just
let that fly.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
People went crazy because they was like, man, what is this?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
And I mean, that's all people talk about sometimes, man,
you and uh.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, hey, you know they call them mister Browns.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
And I was like yeah, and people thought they thought
that that was just luck we made up. I said, naw,
now that that was some real deal, a real deal.
But I look at all of that, man, just like
I think somebody said it best being that I just
stay stay consistent. Anybody give me an opportunity, I go
(04:12):
and take it and ride off of it.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And I appreciate every door to open for me.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
And I thank you for people yike you and Steve
and many other people that I've worked with. You know,
they gave me those opportunities because I don't get him
handed to me. I come from the mid bro. You know,
it's almost it's a trial and error every day for me,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So you know the beauty, soul, beauty of lavel is
that you know. You know, I look at my life.
You know this is money made conversations, master class talking.
He's an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur means that you count on yourself.
You know, you got to put in the hours in
and for the hour week, in a five hour work week,
you know, it's time that you have to discipline yourself.
(04:53):
And I remember when I look back and every time
I called him, he delivered every time I asked him.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
And he was never afraid.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
That his said chards that do good, you know, because
he wanted to make sure he got the next phone call.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
He wanted to make sure that you.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Know, he didn't if he messed up, tell me so
I can fix it. That was important to you, right
level all the time, all the time.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I mean, I don't just go on it just like
you know, like, oh well they gonna come, they need me.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
I never had that idea and I was trying to be.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I wasn't a perfection, but I always wanted to make
it look as perfect as possible, right right, right, right.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Right, because because those moments I remember when we were
going through the process and having these conversations, and when
you got the big break on Last Comic Standing, right,
and then you and then when I would watching you,
we would talk. You had to come up with material
like the material like the material welcomes through that whole
(05:55):
process of trusting yourself and using new material that you
didn't do but turned out to be beneficial to you
becoming a champion.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, the crazy thing about Last Common Standing was, you know,
they put me in at the wrong time because I
was polished. I was ready for all that I had.
So I had so much weaponry and anything they asked
me to do, I said, let's go, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I had material out of day.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Some of those comedians, it was weird that, you know,
they like a young, upstart kind of comic who been
in it for four years. Man, by the time I
was old there, I was been in it by eleven years.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I think Ralph Harris was older than me.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yes, but yeah, yeah, so Raphie, I had watched raph
before I even made it, so he was probably more
veter than me.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But by the time I get in there, I said, whoo,
they ain't ready. He goes, I'm coming with it.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And and the thing about I tell any comedy in
this man, I always tell him. I said, Man, every
opportunity in front of the camera back in the day
was your advantage, right, you know, you get to get
that put that put that material out there because you
got forty two to fifty two million internationally people watching
(07:14):
you all over the world, and they watch you all
the United States. I said, every time I go up, man,
I'm gonna be funny. I seen some comedians like, ohn't
know what I'm gonna do. I said, we move out
my way, and I know exactly what.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I was gonna do.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I like, I said, you crazy, These are the opportunity
to come alive. You know, some people make it like
just being likable and they just get in.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I was, you know, I was always a big guy,
so I.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Was intimidating on one side, and then on the other side,
you know, I was, you know, a strong comic, So
that was intimidating to a lot of comedians because they
ain't gonna let me.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
They ain't gonna let me eat at the table all
the time.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Oh, we don't need him blowing me out with you know,
I'm one of them guys to say, Man, I like
to be around other killers. I'm sorry, I don't like
to be around people that are scared of the killer.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
I want to be around another killer that then you
can try me right, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Because the interesting thing about when I look at my
relationship with it's my trust, you know, because when and
I'm gonna go back to the Neighborhood Awards where I
really thought that, you know, it was a blessing because
it was something that Steve and I did it for
the community and we honored people for it was Ward's
best church, best barbecue, and every award every year. I
(08:33):
would give him the food Award every year, and then
I would give him as Richard, don't give you a
food Ward, Well, I march.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Him right out there with call he farrall. She wouldn't
say nothing. She knew her role. She knew her role, which.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Is announced the way you walk out there. And I
think when the cracker barrel war, if anybody see that
video YouTube, is a cracker barrel when we were there
was possor boy, that is by far the most and
it was all in prov because nothing he was saying
was on that screen. Her walking through that whole process
of just seeing because the average attendance we had was
(09:12):
like nineteen thousand people. And brother, you held everybody's attention
walking through that process. The bell Oh well, I mean
I think that was the one where Steve.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Came out to her because she had lost all that weight.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so Steve said he could put his
hands around me.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
He couldn't believe it. He was like wow.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And it was one of those things where you know,
Shirley came up and she had did that thing talking
about the uh she was up for the LeVert movie
or whatever and everything and I and I told Sjarl,
I said, congratulations. I wonder who won won depart because
I was up for it too, but I just didn't
have enough chest here. I had to sing it down.
(09:56):
I had to ask you down. But I have enough
chance there. And if I anybody I know who got
some chests here is Sharyl. And Cheryl was a good
sport because that's my sister man, and she know I
was gonna play with it no matter what. Every year
she'll say so crazy. You know, I'm gonna run up
(10:18):
and touch it right. It never be over offensive, you know.
And I just ask.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I said, Sharyl got more hair on her chest than
her back to me and Steve's ever seen. Back in eighty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Five were talking about Cheryl Underworld, now the host or
co host of the talk CBS Talk.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
She was another phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
It was cyl and it was level running neck and
neck who was destroyed and the hoodies every year every year.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I mean, Kim will even do a great job. Man.
It was a it was a it was a fun time.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
And I said, man, I mean, what other venue do
you have where you got two almost twenty times of
your own.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
People watching you and you get up just let him fly?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
And I said some stuff because at the time y'all
cut the cliffs to make it move, move along, right,
But when y'all let that play, and then they wanted
to play me off, and I was like, no, no,
you ain't gonna do me.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Boys of Dog and and couldn't. It wasn't in the shape.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Hey they had. You had Grandpa Pigeon talking about everything
and church I was I went in boy I said,
you won't play that music.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
On me, and I went into yeah that was.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
That was so brilliant, man, that was so brilliant because
it was two things. I remember that video did like
because I emailed it to you. It was like three
million views the next day of you doing that moment
of cracker Barrel and when you did that with David Mann.
That was, I have to say, was instrumental in you
(12:07):
being branded as a top comedy act in the black community.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it was one of those lounching
pads I'm telling like I tell people, I think me
and a comedian.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Had a conversation.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
They were talking, man, they got your stuff on YouTube
and they exploiting it and they ain't got your permission.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And I told them, I said, brother, let me tell
you something.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Some of the best rappers who made it big used
to sell mixtapes.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And when I look.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
At YouTube, it's like me, I have to go out
on the streets and sell my mixtapes. They being blasted
all over YouTube. People watch YouTube more than they watched television.
And I became a star off of YouTube right and
then Netflix, and then like the Hoodie was when y'all
put my stuff on there and people got to see it.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
It was like, oh my god, where this guy at.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
You know, and I tell comedians all the time, you
have to use Rudy Ray Morris is the best thing ever.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
You got to.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Use what you got, use what you got, and every
opportunity every door. Instagram made a lot of these comedian
stars doing their little skits.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
But I was doing straight up stand up right right right,
you know.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Now, then if we moved through the whole stand up
because like I won't ever try to understand because in
this business, we always hope for one big moment to
just send us to the top.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
But it's steps.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Like being the part of the Shaquille Nails Comedy Special
was instrumental too, correct.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Sure, I mean you know the crazy thing about that was,
you know the Shack All Star.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
You know, when I finally met Shack and I want
to be on it.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
They had a couple of them come before I got
to do it, and then I think it was the
same time. It was a prolific It was a night
that Michael Jackson had dad and everything. It was a
crazy weekend. But when we got out there and like
that was one of those times where I had some
comedians talking about I don't know what I'm gonna talk about.
I don't know what I'm gonna talk I said it
was you better move out away because I'm about to
(14:16):
explode this sucker. It's packed in this building.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
We'll be right back with more money making conversations.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Masterclass programming is made possible in part by support from
thirty eight to fifteen Media, led by Emmy and n
DOUBLEACP Image Award winning television producer for Shawn McDonald. Thirty
eight to fifteen Media offers social media management, podcast production,
designs logos, and develops websites. Additional services include brand management
(14:46):
and career development consulting services. More information is available at
four seven zero six eight eight three eight one five
or via email at info at thirty eight fifteen Media
dot com. Keep winning HBCUs represent Black excellence. If you
attend or are an alumnus of an HBCU, we want
(15:08):
to hear about your story. The My HBCU Story Digital
Library will allow current HBCU students and alumni to share
their stories. More information is available at HBCU College day
dot com.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
You can upload a photo.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
The photo can be recent or from when you attended
your HBCU.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
More information is available at HBCU college day dot com.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations Masterclass, hosted by
Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, it got everybody in there.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You got my man, Cliff Pole, you got celebrities, you
got NBA stars, and you ain't coming up there talking
about nothing. Man, I'm about to show you what this
is gonna do. And seeing the crazy thing about it.
I went up second. Meli Kamacho went up first. I
went up second. But when I blew that suck go
off the off the hinges, they clipped mine and move
(16:03):
my clip always.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Like I ended the show. Okay, yeah, okay, yeah you
know yeah yeah, I didn't even end the show.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
They they looked at them like, man, ain't no way
we could put him up at the beginning.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
People wouldn't watch it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So when I did that, man, it was it was
a it was an epic moment for me because it
just broke the seal again. And you know, my people
saw me and everybody saw me. I mean, because see,
we always think that we do these big shows and
black people were just gonna watch it. It's worldwide because
let me tell you something. Every nationality be watching us.
(16:40):
They just begot to be on our fourth fourth man
a for room. Don't mean that everybody ain't gonna check
it out because everything I've done, I think, you know,
because the little venues I've done and open doors in
every spot because they said, well he's funny over there
and with us.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So hey man, because because I mean, last Comic Standing
was for NBC. So that was just white television. Look,
don't listen late with what it is. That's white television.
You did the Neighborhood it was that was one hundred
percent black, you know what I'm saying, one hundred So
you controlled that medium. And then when you went over
to the Shack, you know, Shack brings Hispanics, he brings you,
(17:19):
he brings sports, he brings black, he brings all the whites.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So that really allowed.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
You because you already was well known because of Last
Comic Standard, it really merged the whole process. Now when
you did you've done four showtime comedy specials. Now your
first one I.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Did, I did, I did, I did, ah, I did
a five five together altogether you did what Now I
did five I did I did the first one was
cann brother gets some love, right. I did a Home
for the Holiday, I did Comedy Vaccine, I did New Look,
Same Funny, and then I did these of Veil Group.
That was the final, the last one I did, Yeah,
(18:00):
so I had okay one I did it.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
The first one was yeah, I'll just let you know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Okay, cool because because you know, I'm getting all my
press release wrong. It's at four, so it's five. You've
done with show time?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
No no, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well well congratulations, but about
it because right, so let's talk about you because you're
out there, you're out there touring Lavell, you're out there headlining.
I was out there, and boy, selling tickets or people
coming to see you is always a special feeling, you know,
(18:36):
seeing the words sold out. Where did you realize that, hey,
you know, could we just hustled that you can make
a living out this, that people you have a brand
that people will paying money to see consistently, which additional
puts more pressure on you.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Talk about that, that that turning that corner.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Well, honestly, my man, you know, I think the biggest
moment that I thought I could sell tickets was when
I was out there, I with my first one of
my managers, Phil Bonna, and we had got booked at
the Stardom Comedy Club in Alabama and.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
H Birmingham, Alabama. Bruce air Yead Birmingham, Alabama there.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
At the Bruce Airs Room, and Bruce Hairs gave me
that and he said he could if I sell out,
I get bonuses, so we would go.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
We did the first night Thursday night.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I was in my dress, shoes and my little suits
after the show, going to every night club, passing our
flies every night club, let people know because if they
see my face, they were like, oh man, we know him.
But but you know, it wasn't a notoriety there. But
I went out there, and I went out there and
hustled it, and next thing you know, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
(19:51):
was sold out and.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
I was got my biggest payday ever.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
It was Ninadays I look at it like it's nothing
like what it is now, But back then, I was
so proud of myself that I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Were really great.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Because when you headline the Shack All Stars, I just
thought you headlined the show. I didn't know you were
second slaughtered the stage. As we said, that's every comic dream.
That's every comic rule. Okay, I'm gonna make it hard
for you to follow me.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
That just competition.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
You ain't try to be evil, but if you gonna
follow me, let's make it difficult, right, That's right.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I mean, I mean, now, I don't care.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I've been I've had this moment several times lately too,
because I'll be on these tours and the comedians, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Mean, hey, if they they high, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
And but in a minute, like I tell him, I said,
you know, I had comedians calling the promoter and Thelle
just he's doing. They always say I'm doing too much time?
And I say, now, now, I said, you give me
twenty minute. I'm gonna make it a hot toy, right,
you give me eight I'm gonna make a hot end.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Right, give me the full time. I'm gonna bring it.
I mean, but a lot of comedians get to a
point where they.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Get a headline status and they get comfortable and they
think they could go on cruise control. And this game
ain't no such thing as cruise control. I believe you
stay sharp and you ain't got to never get ready,
you know what I'm saying. Absolutely, And I go. I
go up there and I go to guns and blazers.
I only got one speed was shot. And I tell
(21:24):
people that all the time. I said, if you're coming
behind me, I'm just gonna let you know, just bring
bring your best.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Don't come up there trying to think you can jump
on my ride my wave. You know, because I'm coming.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Because as a comic, we know the blessing is somebody's
giving your stage and that's an audience in front of it.
That's the number one blessing. The other blessing is your
name is on the banner and people coming pacifically to
see you. Now, you had a run, you did your
first comedy special. What did you do and how did
(22:00):
you react when you really got that first opportunity in
the comedy room to sell tickets?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I think I think, like I said Birmingham, Alabama, when
I started selling, I was able to get out there
and pump and do my own promotions and I sold
the place. I got my first bonus and people came
to see me. Because that's just solidified. Because what I do,
and I know a lot of comedians do is is
uh they don't.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I don't. I don't see it.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
But I see that I'm teaching some of my young
count After the show, I had a meet and Greek,
right and I and I still do that nowadays. You know,
I may sell the picture, you know, photo with me
for about ten bucks, but you know it's still a
meeting Greek. You know, it's still and that's how you
sell tickets. And I try to explained to my wife
and everybody else. I said, man, it ain't out there
(22:51):
trying to look.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
And then now the acting opportunities, the draw which I
didn't see coming your way when you came into played
a bodyguard in one of the all time great series,
Breaking Bad. Tell us how that occurred in your career.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Man, you know, I just moved my wife and kids.
We had just got married.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
I moved out my wife and gives me from my
youngest was born, moved them to California, and I was
on the road, come out rode tired as hell. I
got an audition and it said and I was trying
to reschedule audition. He said, man, you gotta go do
this now. And I you know how you do audition.
I'd have done like billions of them. I was like, man,
I'm tired of getting these like no call backs, nothing
(23:37):
like that. And I went in and I went out
for one thing and read one line for the second thing,
and the guy said, can you start Wednesday?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
And next thing you.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Know, there I was you know, Breaking Bad, one of
the hottest TV shows in America.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
So so you went in not expecting to get it.
You gave a one hundred percent. The second line he give
you a job.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, because I read for two two roads, and.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
The second one they had one line, we're clothes, We're closed.
That was it, and the dude was like you the man,
and they loved it. And it was you know how
I used to say that all the time. How there
was those Hollywood stories like Elvis Presley and I was
like he was at a gas stage, he was just singing,
(24:27):
and Colonel town Parker said you need to be a star,
and that's that's I was always wanted that to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
And I just went in.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I I was thinking I was gonna it was like
three people, and then people said read this one line.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
I said, we're clothes and the dude said, can.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
You start Wednesday? I said, and I thought it was
a joke. Next you know, I got a plane ticket
I'm going to Albuquerque.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I'm up there with.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
Gen Ga, Carlo Spazito, Brian Craston, and Paul uh Uh
Bob Odenkirk, and I'm sitting up here, got my own
uh On camper, sitting up there in my own trailer.
I'm playing the role all the time, and I wasn't
(25:15):
doing nothing fake acted like I was sleepy.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Then I like some small roles of talking.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
And then why the winner the sag Award won a
sag Award and everything.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations. Let me ask you this, man, because
it's so funny.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Listen to this.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
When you went in for the audition, did you know
anything about the series?
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Nothing?
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I heard about it, but I didn't know nothing about it.
I honestly, god, I didn't know nothing about this show.
You know, like all black people.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
When you when you when you look at that, so
you know, I gotta askwer this question. Five comedy specials,
shit call? Have you been approached? Are you developing a
sitcom or some type of calm a dramedy for the
next step because of the fact that you're so amazingly funny.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Well, I wrote, I wrote it.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I wrote a couple of them called like a daddy
step because I'm a stepfather as well as real father,
you know, And I want to talk about how how kids,
you know, don't never call black kids don't never call
you daddy.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Even though they daddy wasn't no good.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
You always be in their life. Boy, everything they daddy
was shoes. They still calling you by your first name.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Thank you, mister. Level them. You know, I do.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
All day and I gotta asks the father around and I.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Look at the kid, Can I can I step in? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Mr gram you you made the bills. I'm like, what
but but but yeah, I wrote that, Scot I wrote that,
writing on that.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
But I I've had we had me and uh, what's
his name?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Ralphie made past you know, got resch Is sol Me
and Raphiel was up for a couple of sitcoms together,
playing brothers, you know, and uh, but it never never
panned out. Now they got this writer strike now, so
it's like I've got blessed Adam Sander. Adam Sander put
me in so many, you know, some of his films.
(27:24):
I was so blessed to be a part of his stuff.
I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
And that's thanks for YouTube, you know, Adam Sander saw
me on YouTube.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
He put me in Ridiculous six and then I was
in Huet Halloween and also did Home Team.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
It just opened doors for everything, yep, exactly.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
You know the beauty of watching you now. You know,
we talked about it when Steve Harvey came out and
put his arms around you, and it was a big
deal about the weight loss and things like that, talk
about that decision making process and we're you're at right
now emotionally and mentally about your weight.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Oh man, you know, you know, you know way wait,
you know, being overweight, man is always you know, you
know you're a health guy. I mean you do your
bacon and everything, but you know, you go out, you know,
try to stay healthy and then you know healthy healthy,
healthy healthy as well.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
But you know, it's like I was. I was comfortable
with the skin i end, but when.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I had my son and and everything and that, then
I was just looking at some of the things that
I was going through, some of the health issue. I said, Man,
I think I'm squadding and this blessing that God that
gave me, you know what I'm saying, because if I
died from a heart attack, for me too too, much
gravy on my chicken. I think I'll be I think
(28:48):
I'm gonna get to heaven, and guy ain't gonna let
me in.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
You could have left that chicken wing sit there. You
didn't have to eat that, you know.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
And then I started feeling, you know, and I you know,
I played sports. I boxed, I play football, I do
even when I was overweight.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
I did jiu jitsu.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I wrestled and went out the way to state and wrestling,
and I did a lot of sports. But you know,
once you'allt here, you doing comedy, and I didn't get
real big until I started making money. When I started
making money, was there to go to Ruth Chris. That's
when I started getting all that butter on the state.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
You know what I'm saying, absolutely, Hey man, they bread
and Ruth Chris.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
That's what I get.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
The best brother, that's the best.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Man. You know. I want to thank you everything gotch
mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
You know the thing about it, because you know, as
we end the show, food and travel, going to bed
late night. You know that comedy you in it said
at ten you're gonna eat you in it said that
one you go.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Eat, then you wake up. You eat and that's how
the weight gain happened.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
You know, sometimes our profession won't allow us to be normal,
and then it just next thing. You know, you're twenty
pounds a week, you're thirty pounds away, you're forty pounds overweight, and.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
So you know, don't look at us bad lifestyle.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
And then you're watching my videos on YouTube and you realize,
Rashan make me sick.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
He ain't gave you no doing weight. And look at
it he baking every day an day with them deserts.
I get that all. I get that all the time.
I get that all the gut you still got new
flash suits. I'd be like, man, does he eat it?
Love it? Leavell man.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I want to thank I know there's been one hell
of a tape that we went through, but I want
to thank you, brother for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
And now I know you're in Houston.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We're gonna connect, man, and go down to my favorite
Mexican play Loopy Tortillas down in Houston, Texas, and then
kick it for a while.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Man, I appreciate you, brother.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
This is a day, this, this is the thing says you,
you so called know how to fish.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Yes, we're gonna get out of that wat you have you?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Oh oh yeah, cause I talked to Ronnie Green yesterday.
So Ronnie Green, I tell you what we will you
listen meet and you do an episode of Ronnie Green together.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
How about that? Let's do it?
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Okay, I'm let's do it. I'm gonna call Ronnie Green today.
It's just go forward and you and I gonna do
one together.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Cool? All right? I love you, man.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Thank you for coming to my show, Money Made Conversation
Master Class.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Appreciate your brother, Love you bag, take care of man.
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (31:36):
Let me tell you about the host of Money Making Conversations,
Rushan McDonald. Rushan's a two time Emmy Award winner, three
time n double a cp Immage Award winner, sitcom writer,
stand up comic, and former IBM executive. Thank you for
joining us for this edition of Money Making Conversations Master Class.
Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushan McDonald is produced
(32:00):
by thirty eight fifteen Media Inc. More information about thirty
eight fifteen Media Inc. Is available at thirty eight fifteen
media dot com. And always remember to lead with your gifts.
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