AZIM 11-6-25 iNTERVIEW with Comedian JO Koy

- All right, you know who that is, you guys. - I'm so excited. - I'm here. - I'm for a nice shirt up front. - Come on, come on, come on, come on, baby. (phone ringing) Oh, got it. - No. - In third. - Oh, god, oh, god. - Okay, and answer it right. Okay, got it. So this is Joe Koei, everybody. Joe Koei is a nationally, internationally known comedian. He's one of my favorites, and he is on with us right now. He's gonna be, he's gonna actually be at the Stranding Hand Theater tonight, and there's only less than 300 tickets left, so out of the thousands that have sold, there's only a few tickets left, and Joe Koei is on the phone with us right now. Joe, good morning. - Good morning. - Dude, huge fan. - Huge, huge effing fan. And I just watched your Golden Globes monologue again this morning. So the last Golden Globes, Joe Koei hosted, and he only had like 10 days notice to, how did that, I know you probably told the story a million times, and I apologize, but how did that come about? - It was the last second thing. You know, they weren't even gonna do the Globes, and then next, you know, it popped up, and they offered it to me, and we had about less than nine days to get ready. So, yeah, that was crazy. - My favorite, is it hard telling jokes, making fun of celebrities in front of the celebrities, 'cause they don't wanna laugh, they don't wanna laugh at them, 'cause then they worried about the blowback or whatever, was it, were you getting good vibe? - I mean, it was, you know, it's like doing comedy in front of a food court. (laughing) It's like a club table. I mean, they're all eating sushi and drinkin'. It was just the weirdest environment, but you know, it was fun experience. - The funniest part was, it was like I was in front of Chipotle, and I even tried to talk to people. - Like, the funniest part was, he goes Robert De Niro. I think it was De Niro, what's the other old one? There's two of them. De Niro, yeah, De Niro. It was Robert De Niro. He goes, man, your last performance was your best one. How'd you get that girl pregnant at 80? (laughing) - De Niro was right there in the room. - That's great. - Oh my God, dude. Dude, that was hysterical. (laughing) - And that one took balls because, you know, you're coming at him, you're coming at him hard. I mean, he's right there. - He's right there. - You're making fun of a legend, how was that? (laughing) - Well, it was fun. I mean, he was actually laughing. That's not the funny thing. I enjoyed it. - Yeah. - Crazy experience, really crazy experience. - Good for you, man. - It was fun. - All the success you've had now, bro, you look back to the guy that was just doing open mics and stuff, like, whoa, what would the guy that started? Would he think you could have reached this level of success where you're at now? You as a kid? - Or not a kid. But first in the business. - Yeah, I started right out of high school, started when I was like 18 and, you know, I remember when I was 16, I went to RAW, Eddie Murphy live in, like, I was a kid and I was actually in the venue. And I remember seeing that and I was like, I was like 18,000 people. I was like, wait a minute. Everyone's here to see stand up. I couldn't believe it. (laughing) But then next year though, next year though, I'm on stage at the same exact arena that he was playing in and now I'm with my son. And, you know, showing him like this is where I was when I was, you know, sitting in the same chairs that I was sitting in when I saw Eddie is now the same venue that I'm at right now. So it was kind of, it was just eerie because I just, I never thought in a million years that I'd be in that same arena. And here we are tonight, Toledo tomorrow, Chicago, you know, United Center. We're, you know, Michael Jordan played. So it's crazy. I just got the chills when you told that story, man, because, you know, as someone that has kids, there can't be anything cool. I mean, you're really, you're living life now so that your kids, like, I don't know, for your kids and for them to be able to see the amazing things that you got to do and where you're at now, I mean, there's just something to that, man. It's just, it's amazing. I know you told the story a million times, but if you don't mind telling it, so Joe Coy was, he always wanted a Netflix special and he always wanted a Netflix special and Netflix kept turning him down or wouldn't get him a special. So he goes in and buys his, he pays for his own net, works, Netflix special. To tell the story, Joe, because it's, it's so inspiring. Dude, is someone that's, that's been with a big company and it's now doing their own thing? I mean, you are such an inspiration. Tell the, the Netflix story. Oh, I mean, you know, I love Netflix. Oh, I want to put that out for you guys, yes, yes. But, you know, it was a huge decision on their part and, you know, that's what you do. You know, you, you know, they're a business first and, you know, they, you know, they weren't ready to be in the business with Joe Coy. So I, I and my team, most, you know, my manager, especially, you know, he was just like, let's do it ourselves and I'm like, I guess, he didn't want to, I mean, you mean, I got to spend my money. Like, this is not fair and, and like, I don't even know how to direct, I don't know how to get cameras, but we went into the anyways, we bought a bunch of cameras, we hired a director and we, by the way, my director and my producer stood with me to this day. Wow, they ended up producing all my specials after that and, uh, Shen and Michelle. And, uh, we, we bought the cameras. We rented out the arena, uh, not a arena theater in Seattle. And, you know, the day before we had, you know, we were about to shoot, we had all the cameras in place. And, uh, we get another phone call from Netflix saying, hey, we heard you're still shooting a special, we go, yeah. And they're like, yeah, we just want you to know, we really don't want it. The day before, the day before they're like, dude, stop spending your money. We're not taking your fucking special. Yeah, they're like, what are you doing? No, they didn't say, what do you do? They were just like, hey, we want you to know that, we don't want it, but congrats. We're glad that you're doing it, but we're, we're, we're going to tell you right now, we don't want it. She's just going to, you know, it's just cool. They're clarifying, you know, say, hey, man, maybe you misunderstood it, we're just going to shoot it. We, we're like, we don't want it. And, uh, and then we shot it. I cut it up. By the way, uh, my son was in the green room. And I remember just like, I thought the world was over, man. You know, he's just a little baby at that time. And I was just like, wow, man, the one person I want to sell it to and they're saying, no, we're still shooting it. Like all this money put in and we cut it up. And, and then, you know, I, when I remember the first joke I said on stage, it was like an ad live. And I just remember saying to myself, like, oh, this special. Yeah, I go, this is, this is amazing because I was just on fire. You're feeling, you're feeling, have they apologize since, like, have they come back and be like, well, let him, let him finish the story first. I go and finish the story. So all that we cut it up and then we just decided, like, screw it. Let's just submit it to Netflix. And basically saying, hey, man, I know he said, no, but he's watching it. Yeah, that's like pretty amazing. And literally we submitted it and, like, maybe 30 minutes later, they called us and said, don't send that anywhere we want it. And it was so crazy because they said they were, yeah, they said they were booked for the whole year. They said they already bought all their specials. And then we still submitted it. And they were like, yeah, we want it. That's great. I mean, that gives me the chills, yeah. Yeah, it was crazy. It changed my life. It went from, you know, comedy clubs to multiple theaters. And then my second special at Netflix, I started doing arena. How much did it take? Basically, the moral of the story is if someone says, no, that doesn't mean don't do it. It means just, no, not right now. And you got to prove to them, no, you need to do this right now. And there are so many people in this room, Joe, that are, like, entrepreneurs and run their own business and do something. So like, I wanted to make sure that Pat heard that story and Lisa heard that story. And everyone heard that story because like you said, no, no, doesn't necessarily mean no. I mean, if you believe in yourself, yeah, how much in the dating world? Yeah, no means no means no. That's my business. So yeah, no means no. Funny, no, but seriously though, like, sometimes you need it though, because it really changed me. And then I ended up directing. So like now I'm a director, I've directed two specials on my own. I directed, I directed Brooklyn, basically, you know, I directed, which was my last special, I directed Chelsea Handler special, I do another guy by the name of King Batch, I directed and executive producer, you know, all those happened because someone told me no, and now I know how to do it and now, and I love it. How much did you spend on it? Oh, okay, I don't want to just, let's just say a lot, let's say a lot, so whatever number you think it is. Times 10. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So was there any point where, I mean, you got to be stressing out, because let's just say, let's just say, you don't buy those cameras, you rent them into rent them, they're like 25 grand each. Oh, my God, Jesus, and you're spending the money and people, because I know that it's more than when you start it. Some people are coming to you and they're like, all right, we need, we need 10 more, Joe, we need 15 more. What is, what are you going through? You're like, what the fuck did I get myself into? Yeah, basically, you're just like, oh my God, like, I remember them saying, I forgot what it was that they said, and it was to the point where the pockets were still empty that you were just like, yeah, go for it. Why, why, why stop now, man, like, we're already 90 feet underground, so let's go ahead and make a dollar 10 feet down my little bar, let's bury ourselves as far as we can. Oh, my God. Well, you just got to the point where I was just numb, yeah. Oh, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, feel your, your, it's, it's making me sweat, just like, making about it. So, like Lisa said, did Netflix end up apologizing in the end for, for being that way towards you? No, they, you know, it's, it's so crazy because like I said earlier, like, I love Netflix right now. They, they give me so much leniency and so much creative control now and it's dope. It's a business decision. That's the thing about this business, like, you're going to fail, you're going to, you're going to get nose and you just got to learn how to have a, a thick skin and just get back up. You're like, all right, we're, once tomorrow's start, let's get to tomorrow already. Yeah, it didn't work out today, but tomorrow's going to be good and he literally, that's, that's how it is in this business. So, you know, I've had so many TV shows that, that were shot and pilots and I thought, oh, get ready for this season and then we get a, you know, the, we get a phone call that morning and saying, yeah, we're going to go ahead and pass on it. So it's like, you just get up and go and, and, and just get ready for the next pilot season. So you know what I mean, it's, I can't explain, it's just, from the outside looking at it, it looks like, oh my God, his life is over. Right. But it's like, no, man, that's just, that type of life is over here. Well, it's just, you know, in Hollywood, you know, I'm from L.A., I'm definitely not in the Hollywood scene like you are by any means, but I grew up there and I know the Hollywood world, like us regular people in the Midwest don't even under, like, don't understand because it's just that much different, like the way things go. Like, we were, we were listening to a PC of the day, Tom Hanks talking about how they were two years into the first toy story movie and that, and that dream, however, as a dream works, whoever does, does toy story, said, scrap the whole thing, we got to start over. After two years of putting work in, they just started the whole thing over. That's a lot of work for nothing. Yeah. Right. But it turned out to be a masterpiece. Oh, that's crazy. And now they're going to make a fifth one. Oh, that's cool. Yeah, man. Yeah. The most expensive masterpiece. By the way, DreamWork hands down. That's the company in the world. I shot my first movie with DreamWork. Spielberg is amazing. Oh, my God. And I'm getting ready to do another cartoon. I'm doing a cartoon with DreamWorks coming up. So that's cool. You worked with Spielberg? Spielberg. Okay. So when I got Easter Sunday, that was actually, oh, so that's kind of cool. That's just a little, yeah. Dory. But I get, I do Seattle. I shoot Seattle when they said, though, they said, yes, it airs on that place. They give me a second special and I go to Hawaii and I shoot it coming in hot. And with that air, Steven Spielberg was shooting West Side Story. And when they took a break, like a 30-minute break or an hour break, he watched coming in hot. You know how it suggests certain shows? You know how it pops up? Yeah. Yeah. Well, my poster popped up. I don't want to let me watch it. And he clicked play. And next, you know, at the end of that special, he called my people, we got to go into business with Joe Koy. And I walked in on the, when I went to the Amblin Studios and literally walked in and go, Spielberg wants to make a movie with you. Do you have an idea? And I pitched it. They're like, we'll take it. And next, you know, I'm in Vancouver shooting this movie and it was all because of Spielberg. He paints for the whole thing. That's incredible. It's amazing. It's amazing. Joe, that is, that's like dreams. That's amazing. Right? Yeah. Yeah. And now, crazy. What do you think about this, the pinnacle of your career, you're now in Toledo tonight at the Stranding Hammer. Yeah. I mean, this is what you've dreamed of. You're in tire. We are in the big lane. Okay. Welcome. Welcome, Joe. Welcome, Joe. These are the, these are the more fun shows though. Yeah. What? You know what I mean? Tomorrow's in Arena, right? Tomorrow's like Chicago. You know, United Senate. But today it's Toledo and it's like, I don't know, there's just something about, you know, the big city to like, like these, these smaller cities, there's something different. The energy, the energy is different because here's the thing, if you're in a, a big city. So you're in Chicago, let's say. So you know what else is going on that night? You know, um, friggin, uh, I don't know, Gwen Stefani is doing a show over here and blah, blah, blah's over here and blah, blah's over here and then tomorrow in the same arena where Joe Koi is, the, the, the bulls are playing or whatever. You're here, here in Toledo, like it is a big deal that Joe Koi has come here. So you're here. We appreciate you. We appreciate you coming because it is a big deal. I do have a question though. Have you ever heard of Toledo prior to coming here? Yeah. Are we on the map? So I think I played Toledo back in the day. Yeah. I remember playing, uh, the comedy club in Toledo. Was it fun? Was it funny? Was it connections? It was funny bone for sure. Okay. Yeah. We love the crowd. I love you. Either Ohio, like, you know, Yellow Springs out here, that's where Shepel's place is. Uh-huh. I love playing that. I remember that's a, that's a fun story. I remember we were watching awards show together. We're all in, uh, uh, here's a, here's a, here's a funny, here's a cool story. Okay. We're all, we're all at, uh, in, uh, Yellow Springs watching the awards show. And I had a commercial that I shot and it was, it was for the, the, I think it was a great one. I can't remember which one it was. Uh-huh. And, uh, Alley Wong, Tiffany Haddish and Dave, so we're all in his garage, you know, he has like this, a man cave and we're, we're all watching the Grammys. And, and it was so funny because Dave gets nominated and he wins his award. We all high five. It goes to commercial and it's Tiffany Haddish and then Dave, high five, Tiffany and then right after Tiffany, my commercial heir, Tiffany, as a Dave, Dave, you know what I'm saying? Dave's like, Hey, what's going on, man? Everyone's here. And then next to you, you know, Alley Wong wins an award and he's like, this is crazy. The world has no idea that everyone is right here. It's right. It's right. It's right. It's right. It's right. It's right. It's right. It was, it was the funniest moment. You know what? Why, here's why I love you, Joe Koi is the, you know, you don't have to try to be funny. We're having a conversation and I love your stories or so. And you're like, I think I have this story in this story. I love it. Are you in a wire, Ohio right now? Are you flying here? Yeah, we just got here. I just got here. So I, I got here like six hours ago. Oh, where, where are we going to breakfast, bro? I was just going to say, come here, breakfast. Yeah. Yeah. I heard Toledo's known for the breakfast, bro. Yes. Yes. We have, we have more restaurants in this city per capita than any other city. We are a foodie city. And I was joking, by the way, or you know, we, yeah, we really do. We have so many, right? And so I would argue to say we have so many locally owned places in any other city. To give you that cool, to give you, to give you an example, I run this restaurant called the Drunken Nacho and it's like five minutes from where you're going to be. And it's letting you know, Joe, it's half off nachos today. It's ten minutes. It's ten minutes. It's ten minutes. It's half off nachos today. And I might even put in the other half, it's you stop about. Joe, are you, are you, are you might, you might give Joe a quarter of a three nacho. I might give Joe a three. You consider. You are too generous. You know what, bro, not only will I pay for the half off nachos, but I'll pay for the other half myself. Oh my. Joe. Joe, can, Joe, are you a little, I don't want to, I don't want to talk. The Spielberg, Spielberg gives him a free movie and I'm making him pay for his half up nachos. Joe, are you allowed to stay, are you, are you staying in town or are you guys just hanging out for the day? Uh, no, we're, we're staying. We, uh, you mean after the show, no, we get right up and we get out. Right. Right. So what, where do you guys stay? Like what, I guess I'm asking, what area of town are you in? Because I want to recommend some rest. Is this, are you setting me up to get mugged? What? No, no. I want you to be here. I want you to walk down this alley. Yeah, I want to know what end of town you're standing because I want to recommend a good place for you. What it would, what it would have been better if one of us said it, Lisa, I was just, I was just going to be saying, we don't want to know what room number you're in. I can find that out of my own. We can recommend restaurant, I like to set up some breakfast. Yeah. I got to tell you, Joe, quite I can tell you my funny story is, um, so Bert Craig, Bert Kreischer was on our show a years ago and, uh, and then Bert told the story on, on a podcast. So he said, he said it was the first time he was in Toledo and he fucking killed it on our show. It was a Friday. Um, it was, it was different times. It was, you know, 15 years ago, whatever. But, um, he, he killed it and he told the podcast, they're like, when did you know you made it? He goes, I was on the show in Toledo, Ohio and he goes, I killed it and he said it was the first time we had ever had a sold out, every show was sold out and there were no comp tickets. And he said, that was when I knew. And then it's funny because I had a bar right next to the hotel and, and he shows up after the show and we're, and we're, the bar is closed. It's three in the morning and he's laying on the bar and we're doing body shots up for a price. That's great. Oh my gosh. The memory. You know, why does Midwest is best, right? We're welcoming people. We enjoy like, having fun. You're a good entertainment. Good people. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. That's my guy. That's Bert, man. We're road dogs together. So, there was always a friendly competition between him and I and it was, it was just fun. Like, he'll be there the week before me or two weeks after me. Like, it was always like you'd see Bert's face on the wall like the white face. You'd see a cell as many, to sell the tickets that we did and, you know, it's always fun when we see each other go out and hug because we know what the grind was and now here we are doing what we do now. So, it's fun to see that, man. No, no, Joe, this is fun. It's really, it really is fun to see it. This is definitely not a Gacha interview. So, if you don't want to talk about it's cool, but you did mention that you directed Chelsea Handler's show and you guys, you guys went out for several years. How was that relationship? You want to talk about it or no? If you don't, it's not a big deal. Oh, no. I mean, it's, you know, she's great, you know, she's, she's, she's the next, you know what I mean? It doesn't mean, you know, I have any ill feelings towards her at all. Like, you know, we shared a time together. It was beautiful. It was fun. Yeah. You, we saw a lot of places together. It was, you know, we shared stages. It was fun, man. We had a blast. I've known her for a long, long time, bro. Wasn't it just the two years? I knew her way back in the day, you know, before, you know, the Chelsea lately, before that show, even John was, you know, we were friends before that, you know, so we actually met through John Love it. You know that? Do you know that? Do you know John Love? Yeah. He's got a comedy club out at Universal. Oh, well, not anymore. It closed. Well, he, uh, he uh, that was funny. That was funny. That was funny. He was like, hey, he's got a comedy club. Well, I only, I only, I only bring clothes that, hold out that close 22 years. Bro, I'm, I'm so, I'm so fucking old, dude, it's so out of touch. But no, the thing is, is you get older people, you know, people say it, but time flies when you're, when you're older. Like, I can't believe it's been 22. It's insane to me. But anyway, all right. I'm still the same way. Okay. Okay. So get off my case. I'm opening for John Love at the time, right? Uh-huh. And he was just like, you know, it was always a two-man show. It was just him and I, right? Uh-huh. And one night he goes, it was like a Wednesday night. He goes, hey, there's this young, young female comedian. He's hysterical. And then he went up on stage and closed and I remember her and I was just talking and we were doing our John Love It's impersonations, it's like that's how our friendship started. And then next, you know, uh, I'm on her show. Like, it was crazy, it was, it was like, I remember once you, you know, she took me out to, you know, dinner with her producers and she's like, we're going to create this show called Chelsea lately and, and yeah, that, so I do, but I was there for the inception and everything. Wow. That's cool. That's really awesome. Yeah. You've had, you've had such a cool life. And, and you seem so, are you grounded or are you, are you, do you have diva moments? Because I mean, when, when you're caught up in that, that circle and people are catering to, you know, all the time, I mean, it's hard to not get a big head. Are you pretty grounded? Oh, no, I'm grounded. I mean, like right now, while I'm talking to you, I have someone massaging me and feeding me great. Who doesn't do that? Who doesn't do that right now? Right. That's normal. That's Andrew's normal Thursday morning. Yeah. That's how he starts his day. Yeah. I get it, bro. Yeah. Yeah. That's just a Thursday. No, man. I'm, I'm so blessed. I'm, I'm living what I, I, I, I dreamt of doing, bro. Yeah. Yeah. Bro, you know what I mean? Like, this is such a good life. There is no reason for anyone to have it added to when you're living your dream. I don't understand that, man. We, I'm in such a good position. I can literally wake up and go anywhere I want. Wow. My son works for me. My sister works for me. Like, come on, man. I had the best life. Like, I'm taking my family on the road wherever I go. We've seen places that people can only dream about. If I have an added to it or if I'm, you know, stuck up, like, that doesn't even make sense. Right. Like, what are you talking about? I'm happy all day every day, man. That's awesome. That, that is, that is amazing, man. And I appreciate you getting up early for us. Because again, that's not, that's a, a deep, not getting up is a diva move. Yeah. You just, like, you could have said, dude, I'm not, I'm not doing that. I mean, we, we've already sold out the strand of hand. We've only got a couple hundred tickets left. I'm not getting up at 8.30 in the morning after I just got in six hours ago. Yeah. A, a frickin' radio show. I'm not gonna do that. I mean, it's, it says a lot about you that you got up and spent this time with us. And man, you don't know how much we appreciate it for sure. Oh, man, I love you guys. Yeah. I enjoy doing this. I love waking up. By the way, it's not even a couple hundred. We're less than that. Oh. I really didn't have to call you, man. (laughter) I know you didn't. I just literally called you for you to bring me breakfast. (laughter) I had a big night of like sitting in my pajamas at home tonight playing, but now I might, I might have to come to the show. Oh, I know. Let's go get tickets. Yeah. I want to see Joe Koi so bad. You have no idea. Oh, my God. It's going to be awesome. Okay. So, um, I'm well here. Come through. Yeah. For sure. And, um, so I just want to let you, this is the test of you really down to earth. Drunken Nacho. I'll be there afternoon today. Half-off Nacho's for you. For you. For half-off just for you. You might do on like a free, um, something else like a free app. Oh, free app. Hey, Lisa. Lisa. Lisa. Oh, my God. So, there's an appetizer before the meal. (laughter) We're fat brother. This is the Midwest. Okay. They actually have a good corn day. Yeah. It's like, can I get some mozzarella sticks before I get into this meal of nacho? (laughter) It's funny. I was talking to this guy once. I was talking to this guy once from England. I'm like, what is the biggest difference between England and here? Because you guys are fat. He goes, you Americans love your sauces. He says, you put sauces on your sauces. (laughter) That, buddy. That's so funny and true, buddy. That's so funny. It's so true. And, by the way, I love sauces. So, whoever this guy is, can shut up. (laughter) Dude, we, I do, I, I swear to God, like I had a salad yesterday. And I had barbecue sauce, I had my chicken in the barbecue sauce on top of the salad. And then I put some ranch and some French on there to mix them up. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, that's the only reason why that's the only reason why vegetables were invented for ranch. For ranch. For ranch. Yeah, bro. Yeah, it's for ranch. Like, no one likes cauliflower. Like, what? I like ranch. Yeah. (laughter) That's the truth, man. Are you from, are you from, are you from, in LA? Are you from the area originally? I'm from Seattle. That's right. That's where I grew up. And then, you know, I started my stand-up in Vegas. Okay. And then, uh, and then I've been living in LA for 24 years. So, my son was born in Beverly Hills. Oh, wow. And that's, that's just where it all started. Where the whole life of LA started. Hmm. Well, I love it. I'll tell you what, Joe, you have, have a great day. Enjoy, enjoy Toledo, my friend. And, uh, hopefully, hopefully we'll see you later. Yeah. And if you, he's got a handful of tickets left. Last minute, if you want to get Joe Coy tickets, there's a handful left. Strand of hand theater tonight, brother. Go ahead. But, but most importantly, catch me live at the drunken nacho. (laughter) You remember the name. I love you. I love it. Thank you, Joe Coy. You really, you really have no idea how much I love you. It's amazing. Now, I'm coming to work the rest of the day out of the drunken nacho. Just in case. Just in case Joe shows up. I love you. Just in case. I'll be, I'll be on standby. I love you guys. Love you, brother. Enjoy. Bye. Have a great morning. Love you guys. Come through. Yes. Absolutely. For sure. Thank you, brother. There it is. Joe Coy, everybody. Yeah. How amazing. What a genuine person. Oh, my God.