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April 14, 2025 12 mins

For fans of Jeremy Piven, he’s instantly recognisable in a couple of roles. 

His portrayal of Ari Gold in Entourage propelled his career, winning Piven a Golden Globe and three consecutive Emmys, and he also starred in Mr Selfridge – the drama based on the life of Harry Selfridge.  

Despite the more serious roles he’s played over the last few years, Piven has a knack for stand up comedy, which is bringing him across the ocean to our corner of the world.  

He’s just finished up filming Past Lives in the UK, taking to the road to perform his standup. 

“It’s my job right now just to kind of run around and get up on stage, and interact with people and have a great time, and make people laugh,” he told Hosking. 

“Stand up comedy’s never been more popular, I think because of all the frustrations that we’re unpacking.” 

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is several minutes past. Say well, Jeremy Piven is
a couple of different things to most of us. For
some he's our gold of course from Entourage, or if
you like me, he was the star of Mister Selfridge.
More recently we got the wilder release coming of the Performance,
which is quite the movie. Now that isn't enough that dimension.
He's funny, he does stand up, and he's on his
way here anyway, Jeremy Piven is with us.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Very good morning, good morning. Good look, you.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Look like you're in pain for a start, So what's
happening here? Like you're holding your head? The interview's barely
begun for goodness sake.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, no, listen, I you know what I'm hoping is
you ask me what can we expect from you when
you come to do stand up comedy? Right, that's the question.
I'm just at. My life will be peeking.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
If I can explain why I'm funny to you, I
will literally my pleasure glad will be exploded.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay, Listen, what I do, because I've been in this
game of very long time. What I do is I
build up to that because I don't want.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
To build up to it. Oh yeah, let me explode together.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, we explode together.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
You don't want to you don't want to do this
in minute number one because by a minute twelve to thirteen,
and to be so boring, it's just like, you know.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well I need yes. Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Now.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Now let me ask you a couple of questions. First
of all, I read I don't know this to be true,
but I read you live in Malibu. If that's true. One,
were you affected by the fires?

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Two? If even if you weren't, what's been the rebuild?

Speaker 3 (01:35):
I no longer live in Malibu. There is no rebuild.
It's it's all just sitting there. We we had a
fire captain whose priority was diversity. I thought it would
be water. You know she didn't. She did a great job.
We're we're scrambling, my man, We're scrambling. It's tragic. These

(01:58):
people have all been displaced in the Palisades. I I'm
up in the hills and got very lucky. The windside
down and the helicopters sprayed some water and we got
very lucky out here. But it's tragic, and you know,
you know, all of us can say you got to
do better, but I don't know what it's like to

(02:20):
have a reservoir where there's no water. Listen, I am
to be honest with you. I unpacked a lot of
this in my stand up because it's frustrating. And yet
we we all need to come together and laugh, you know,
because we've we've everyone's been through it. Man, We're we're all,

(02:43):
you know, very confused about life, and so what better
way to all get together and have a good laugh.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
That is true sickond question. I answered, well, because it's
it's interesting the news cycle. Even here in New Zealand.
We were absorbed by what was going on in in
the Palisades and the hills and all that sort of
stuff for a period of time. Then suddenly, not knowing kids,
we've all moved on. But I'm assuming there's a lot
of people who are still suffering, still looking for insurance,
still trying to rebuild.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
Still.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
I think the reason why you're not hearing about it.
And this is a much longer conversation, but uh, you know,
the media is a is a is a funny, fickled beast,
and there's a twenty four hour news cycle that you're
you know, well aware of, and you know you do
get to see some guys who are out there who
are thrown some drones up and nothing's been touched whatsoever.

(03:35):
In Malibu, for instance, nothing has been done, and something
needs to be done. We you know, we're these people.
You know, they want to get back in at some points.
We all pay a lot in taxes, so we're curious
what's happening.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah, exactly, dubbed tiling in, but slightly separate the strike
of Hollywood. I read the industry has never comeback. So
in other words, they've got what they wanted. AI's coming,
pay me some more money, but then people got laid off.
The number of productions made these days, there's nothing like
it used to be. Hollywood's in trouble. The work drives up,
Is that true?

Speaker 3 (04:12):
You know there's so many different variables that go into
all this. I can't tell what has led to what,
you know what I mean, it's my job. I just
finished the movie in the UK called Past Lives, and
I've been on the road doing stand up and it's

(04:32):
my job right now just to kind of run around
and get up on stage and interact with people and
have a great time and make people laugh and set up.
Comedy has never been more popular, I think because of
all the frustrations that that we're unpacking here.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
If I watched Mister Selfridge, which I did, by the way,
and I thought that was the greatest show, it was just.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
I take it. It was a hit. It seemed like
a hit to me, was it.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, I'll put it to put it in this perspective,
we sold We sold that show to one hundred and
sixty five countries.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
And yeah, and that's more than Entourage. Now in the States,
no one's seen it because it was on PBS and
they're incredible. I watched PBS, but it's it's it's funded
by the public, so they get annually about eleven dollars
to play with and to kind of disperse it evenly
amongst you know, all the billboards. I mean, it was

(05:31):
a it was a rude awakening for me. I was like,
I got this show, guys, let's go. And they're like,
we don't have any money. We don't have any money. Oh,
no money, seriously, And and so the show in the
States went under the radar. Listen, there are people of
certain demographics that watch PBS that love the show. In
the UK it was huge, and Ireland it was huge.

(05:53):
Maybe with you guys, I hope.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
Oh well, it was fantastic. That's why I just these
days you never can't tell because something gets a bit
of noise, is it really a hit?

Speaker 3 (06:01):
I don't.

Speaker 2 (06:01):
I loved it, so that's all that counts.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
That is other counts. And I was wondering who was
watching and you're the guy.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
That was me, that was you?

Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well done?

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Okay, listen, hold on, Jeremy Pivens with us.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
We'll come back to Ontourage and we'll come to Ontourage
in just a couple of moments. The teen past Me,
sixteen past dight. Jeremy Pivens is coming to the country
for his comedy. Sha'll give you the dates and just
a couple of mins. Now listen, Jeremy, can I admit
to you, First of all, I've never watched Ontourage. I
mean we talked about Selfridge before the break. I've never
watched Entourage, but as I said, I saw Selfridge, which
was brilliant. So so I mean, I guess everyone's a

(06:37):
fan until they're not.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, well, listen, thank you. You're an anomaly in my
life and I love that because you know, when I
tour around doing stand up you know, they're screaming. You know,
I'm a douchebag because of you. Ari. You know, let's
hug it out, bitch, and these things mean nothing to you.
Maybe someday they will, but they really you know Ari's demeanor.

(07:03):
He was always taking the piss and they love it
New Zealand and the UK and Australia. So I know
in those countries when I hear that accent, you know,
I know they're coming over. So, for instance, I could
reach out to Joe Parker and then he and I
could go back and forth, and I'm gonna you know,
he's one of your own. He's a superstar.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
Where are you getting this stuff from?

Speaker 3 (07:26):
This?

Speaker 2 (07:26):
Joe Parker is? This is a hang on?

Speaker 1 (07:28):
Here is if you done as a comedian, I'll do
the local intel and I'll drop in a New Zealand name. Well,
do you know Joe Packer. We love Joe Pocket. Joe
Packer is my friend.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
He's he's one of the he's one of the good guys.
And when those guys win, it makes makes you really happy.

Speaker 1 (07:45):
That is that is true. He's bigger, He's bigger than
he's able being. He's going to be I think, uh
title holder he's going to be a world champion.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Wouldn't that be incredible? I just got the chills because
that's one of those stories where you know a guy
works his ass off. Yeah, and you know under the
Radar has always been really good. They counted him out
and he never gave up. So I love that.

Speaker 2 (08:10):
I love that.

Speaker 3 (08:10):
Is that?

Speaker 2 (08:10):
Do you support the Bulls or the Beers? I couldn't
get that right.

Speaker 1 (08:13):
Do you support because that's that's applicable to the Beers
because they constantly get good? Or is it the Bulls
you support?

Speaker 3 (08:18):
I only support guys that Josh Giddy and people in
Australia play for, and that would be the Chicago Bulls. See,
I'm tailor making all of this. This is to your region.

Speaker 2 (08:28):
This is incredible. Now listen.

Speaker 1 (08:30):
The other thing I need to cover off with you,
because I've gone through it a couple of months ago.
I'm lead to believe you tuned sixty in July. Am
not correct in saying this?

Speaker 3 (08:38):
No? I mean, look at me. They have it all wrong. No.

Speaker 1 (08:42):
I mean, obviously, if I look at you, you can't
be turning sixty. But I'm lead to believe from research
that it could be sixty.

Speaker 3 (08:49):
No, it's forty fifty. It's something, right, I don't know
where it is right exactly.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
I'm not a fan of numbers.

Speaker 3 (08:58):
No, I'm like a Cuban baseball player. I just I
am whatever I feel.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
There's nothing wrong with that.

Speaker 3 (09:06):
We need to go into the skincare game.

Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh really, you damn strike you do it.

Speaker 1 (09:10):
But having said that, are you going to be doing
something in July for forty to fifty whatever you feel.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
Or you you know, I haven't even gotten there yet, right,
but I do need to do something sure, And you
know I love performing. I love getting up on stage.
I'll be in my hometown of Chicago performing at the VIC.
I know. I'm with you guys in New Zealand. What
theater am I at?

Speaker 1 (09:31):
You know, well, it depends where you are. I mean,
where do you want to be. I mean I've got
you at Sky in Auckland, Sky Theater in Auckland's That's
a good place.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
That's a beautiful place. I'm very lucky. What is the
date that I'm performing?

Speaker 2 (09:44):
Do you know this is?

Speaker 1 (09:45):
This is very clever, Jeremy. You've been in this game
quite a while. You've been in this game at a
long time. It happens. I have it in front of
me because I too of them, probably with details ready
to handle.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Are you there? Thursday, July thirty one.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Wow, So you're the first show that I'm doing after
my birthday?

Speaker 2 (10:04):
First shot forty or fifty or sixty, whatever it.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
Is, whatever it is, what I'll do is why don't
we all celebrate my birthday together there? Because I'm still
going to be drunk. Let's be honest, all right, I'm
a total degenerate, right and I'm gonna play through with
some adult beverages and we're all gonna hug it out.
I'm saying things that you don't even know what hug

(10:28):
it out means.

Speaker 1 (10:29):
I know what hug it out means. What are you
talking about? You hug it out? Come on, hug it out,
that's what you do.

Speaker 3 (10:33):
Oh well, that's my catchphrase from Ntrage was let's hug
it out, bitch.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
No, I didn't know the bitch bit, but.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
Well, hug it out. If you know that it comes
from me, that comes from an improv that I did
on Entrage. I feel like I'm explaining a joke.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
You did not invent.

Speaker 1 (10:53):
Hug it out thousand percent on your life hand on
Hot You invented hug it out?

Speaker 3 (11:00):
Well, I improvised the line in Entourage and it did
become a catchphrase. Why don't you ask some of your
if you have any friends, to ask.

Speaker 1 (11:09):
Them listen the we're looking forward to We're looking forward
to seeing you in the country post your birthday, on
your birthday, whatever it is, and and and and it's
been a joy to meet and talk with you and
maybe maybe become Listen.

Speaker 3 (11:24):
Joe Parker is going to be at the show. Okay,
of course he's gonna approve to you that he's a
friend of mine.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
Well, I don't not believe that he's not a friend.
I just don't believe you invented hug it out. I
believe that Joe's a friend. I believe you might or
might not be turning sixty. I don't believe you invented
hug it out. But either way, we'll sort it out
when you're hear coming and see us and we'll chat
some more.

Speaker 3 (11:45):
I would be honored to come by and visit. Why
don't you call Joe a text show? And you asked
him about that question hug it out? Bitch? Did that
come from Piven on Entourage? And you're gonna you're gonna
see that I'm a man of by word.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
Okay, well I got it for now, Jeremy. By the way,
I'm living like Piven, I live like I'm living like Piven.

Speaker 3 (12:06):
I love it. How you living, Jay Peven?

Speaker 1 (12:07):
I'm living jar I love it. I'm living like Jay Piven.
Lovely to talk and chat with you and come see
us when you're in the country.

Speaker 3 (12:14):
I'll see you soon.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
There you go.

Speaker 1 (12:16):
He's crazy. So the I'm Living like Joe Peven is
his podcast. I don't even know if his podcast goes anymore,
but that's yet more research I did for him.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
It doesn't go anymore anyway.

Speaker 1 (12:26):
He had a podcast called I'm Living Like Jay Piven,
and I thought that's quite a clever podcast thing. So
he's here on the end of July July thirty one
at as we mentioned, sky City eight twenty two. For
more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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