I am Neal Brennan, host of "The Approval Matrix" on SundanceTV. AMA!

I love The Champs podcast. It's the only podcast that I've found which bears repeat listens...seriously. One topic I haven't heard you address on the show is how you and Moshe were paired up. At first glance, it seems like an odd pairing, but I think you 2 are the perfect foils for one another. So, how did you 2 come to create The Champs?

I just saw him at the comedy store and was impressed with his presence and experience.

Hi Neal,

Thanks for doing another AMA!

Dave once said that “I guess shooting a white slave master is only funny to me and Neal.” So I’m wondering if you and Dave watched “Django Unchained” and pissed yourselves laughing at the multiple slave master deaths in that movie? Or perhaps was it taken seriously by both of you?

Django was a totally different tone. But Dave called me after he saw it with an amazing joke..."Do you think slaves spanked their kids?"

I was on a first date and went to see some standup. You came on stage and said I looked like a pedophile. Were you going to say that about someone no matter what or did that really come to mind when you looked at me? I never heard from her again, so I can't be sure if you helped me or ruined something wonderful.

Not planned. I must have really thought you looked like a pedo. Sorry man. Let's assume I did you a favor so I can sleep at night.

Did DJ Douggpound leave because you were too mean to him?

Doug never really liked doing the podcast. He wanted to make money from it and felt like me and moshe never gave him a chance to talk. Which is all fair.

What's your favorite Tracy Morgan story?

That before 9/11 he was on a commuter jet that didn't have a bathroom so he relieved himself in the cockpit in front of the pilots into a mountain dew bottle.

Have you asked Dave to do the Champs? When he said no, how did he say it?

He has an open invitation. He said he wanted to do a live one. But… Who knows?

After one of your shows at the Hollywood Improv, you were talking to some chicks. After you left one of them said something like, "As if... he may have money, but he's too old and not cute." I went over and called her a twat waffle and she flipped out and knocked over my drink. Can you buy me another?

That's hilarious. I'll reimburse you. Also, who says something like "he's too old and not cute?" Were they movie characters?

A female friend of mine said she met you on Tinder. Is it true that you have a strong Tinder game?

My tinder game varies. Also I'm prone to get sick of it and take it off my phone.

If you could pick any 3 comedians (alive or dead) to hang out in a room and chat with, who would you pick and why?

Patrice O'Neal, Mark twain, and Doug Stanhope. Three of the most original minds in American comedy history. I would also throw in Bill Hicks and Bill Burr and Billy Wilder.

Hey Neal!

Chappelle recently said on letterman that there was a chance of chappelles show coming back.

Any chance you would be involved in the project?

Nope and I'll give you $1000 if the show comes back. hit me up on Reddit.

Hi Neal,

What's your favourite comedy show on TV at the moment?

John Oliver's show on HBO.

What's your favorite on Comedy Central at the moment?

Toss up. Schumer, daily show Colbert drunk history Kroll key and peele. Lotta good shit.

I fuck with the Champs in a big way. I think fans would like to see a video recording of the podcast, at least of some of the bigger guests that you have on. Any chance of adding a video component to the Champs?

Worldstar actually asked us if we wanted to do a video version on their site. And me and moshe are so disorganized that I forgot until right this moment.

Neal. Big fan. Can you go into more detail on how Season 3 of Chappelle's show ended so clunky and maybe elaborate on the state of mind of Dave? How is he doing nowadays by the way. Are you two still friends and stay in touch?

Detail? Not really. But yes me and Dave are still friends and do still keep in touch.

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Never gonna watch it but dozens of people have told me it's fair and well made. Never gonna watch it because I don't need to see how somebody interprets my life. But it's a cool idea for a documentary

When are you going on the Howard Stern Show?

Never been invited but Howard is a huge influence on my career listened to them all through high school every day.

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Okay

When Dave calls you, is he like, "Neal! Neal, it's Dave, Neal! Neal!" but like in that Dave Chappelle's voice?

VERBATIM

How did you and Moshe come up with the idea of The Champs podcast? Also did you feel Riff Raff was genuine after doing the podcast with him?

We needed a premise and I have a lot of black friends that are interesting/famous and weren't on other podcasts - so we went for it. Riff raff is and remains pure jibberish. But I sort of like him.

Who's been your most fascinating guest on The Champs?

One of my favorites is the Robert Townsend episode. But honestly there's something fascinating about every episode. Although for most fascination, I would say superhead

Who are some good, relatively unknown, standup comedians to keep an eye out for?

At this point there almost are no unknown comedians. Thanks to bloggers everyone sort of knows who everyone is at this point. But I would suggest watching Jerrod Carmichaels HBO special in October that'll be good. And go to a club near you.

If Jerrod Carmichael and Michael Che teamed up to do a show, would you consider directing it?

Absolutely. I fuck with both of them.

Whats it like to do @Midnight?

It's fun. It's an awesome show. Should have mentioned it in my fave Comedy Central shows. South Park also.

When will you have Chrissy Tiegen on the podcast?

Soon. She's a funny motherfucker and a total mess.

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Eddie Murphy for 3 episodes.

Hey Neal, you a Kenan man or more of a Kel guy?

I guess Kenan. I'm still friends with Kenan.

neal, your thoughts on bert kreischer?

and you need to do JRE again.

kriesher is funny. Supposed to do JRE in next few weeks

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Can't really talk about it. But I'd never hit a woman obviously.

How come Yassin Bey (aka Mos Def) hates you?

Don't think he hates me.

Hi Neal! I'm a big fan of your podcast! I love it when you guys discuss girls and relationships, I've actually learned a lot from those discussions (I'm a 20 yr old white girl btw)

What's your favorite episode of Frontline?

Probably "Bush's War." On frontline. Sad, comprehensive, long. About Iraq.

Hey Neal! My question is how can I get a job on the Approval Matrix? I'll work for Bangladeshi wages...

Thanks for the laughs.

What do you want to do?

I can do whatever needs to be done.

I can write, pitch ideas, PA, help with setup/breakdown. Seriously anything short of fellacio and I'm down...

and if we're being realistic -- I could be talked into fellacio.

Where do you live?

What new hip-hop have you been listening to?

Action Bronson big Sean ASAP rocky meek mill

How many Rush albums do you own?

None. Are you mad?

Not at all, just deeply disappointed.

I get that.

Will you be having Blake "Big Red" Griffin back on the Podcast? It was one of the times I have laughed the hardest in my life. I made a picture depicting your fight with him http://imgur.com/St0PkjW

Yeah. The problem with having BG back is that he's too famous now so any little thing he says will get blown out of proportion. It makes it less fun for him.

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There is one on Netflix right now called "the battered bastards of baseball." I don't even like baseball and it's an awesome documentary.

Does Moshe smell a little funny? Cause it sure does look like he might...

I don't think so. But I agree. He looks like he would.

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It would have been more cinematic. Like trainspotting. Less goofy and colorful.

What is your favorite memory from Chappelle's Show?

There's a lot. But I would say coming up with the idea for that jury selection sketch. We were so far behind and needed ideas so badly. And it was a clutch idea. And I love that garbage episode where we only showed stuff that didn't work. That's just what's popping into my mind.

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Yes

Hey what is your favorite room in nyc? Love to catch you live sometime.

Comedy cellar. Or Hannibal's night at the knitting factory in Brooklyn.

Are you going to have your birthday at the same bar that you did last year?

Great question, weirdo. No idea.

What NBA players would you like to get on the podcast?

I'd like to get deandre jordan, Dwayne wade seems like he's secretly funny. Tim Duncan is funny from what I hear. Zach Randolph strikes me as a weird funny dude. Russell Westbrook. I could go on.

How come all of your answers are really short ?

Do you want to do this or is Sundance making you?

What are you, my girlfriend?

Do you have any plans to do another comedy movie? Your stand-up game came up and I could only think that would greatly contribute to making a movie with some great jokes.

Yeah. I have a script that I'm trying to get made that will smiths company is producing. Hip hop comedy. We'll see.

Hey Neal,

Seen you at the Comedy Store multiple times and appreciate the laughs. You & Dave both have mentioned how the script for 'Half Baked' was 10X funnier than the movie. Any chance you'd publish it so we all can take a look?

I don't want to publish it because I don't know where it is, and also, I'd hate to have people read it and be like, "this is exactly what the movie became. the fuck are you guys complaining about?"

Do you like chocolate milk?

No

Hey Neal why'd you have to make Brandon Wardell cry over some tortilla chips?

I don't know. I just did.

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Just end it. It's a subjective argument. I know Wigg a little bit. I went to her birthday party this past Saturday night. It was fun.

Hey Neil! Thanks for doing this.

I just wanted to say I met you once and you were a total dick. I have never encountered a more assholish person in my life. You were horrible to a nice girl at a party for no reason and made her cry. Glad I can finally tell you this. My question is, how can you be such an asshole and still make a living?

Also, your movie about selling cars was terrible.

Dearest, buttbeast4, when was this?

BUTTBEAST PLEASE! YOU SOUND LIKE A CREDIBLE PERSON! TELL ME WHEN THIS FAKE STORY HAPPENED. (thanks for the shout out for my selling cars movie.)

Neal, I grew up on your work. From All That to Chappelle's Show, you've had a huge influence on my worldview. I'm a writer and comedian due in large part to you and Dave. I'll cut to it - how can a nobody like me make the right connections and work with someone like you? I'm confident I have the talent, but so much of showbiz seems like luck and "who you know."

It's really not who you know. Comedy is pretty democratic. Get huge laughs With Complex jokes. Everyone will want to help you/work with you. Including me.

I liked your recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Did Charlie have any good insights into the story about Rick James and his girlfriend kidnapping that girl for days on end?

He had no insight about rick kidnapping the girl. But apparently somebody told rick that he'd gone too far at one point. And rick supposedly said "too far? There's no such place."

I've always thought stand-up comedy would be the most nerve-racking job, how do you deal with nerves that come with your job?

And; what was your favourite part of working on Get Him To The Greek?

You get used to the stressor standup by doing it every night. And get him to the Greek was fun. It took like 45 minutes four years ago. But people bring it up once a week. My buddy nick directed it. And I'm cool with Jonah and TJ so it was fun.

Hey Neal, big fan of your work, I've been staying showing all of my friends your 'Women and Black Dudes' stand up, you stay killin man.

Anyway enough dick riding, my question is out of directing, writing, or stand up, which is your favorite to do? And what project have you had the most fun working on? Also, what music you playing these days? Keep killing it otherwise

Honestly i don't have a favorite. I'll just go where the sin is shining and where I'm the most inspired. Shit is random. I got that samsung voice over job out of nowhere. So I'll just do whatever I feel like I can be good at.

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Chelsea Perretti is friends with the kid mero I'll see what I can do.

When Chappelle left the show, did he consult you at all? Or did you find out the same way everyone else did?

not consulted. just heard before other people

Hey Neal, big fan.

I just listened to the Aries Spears episode of The Champs a few days ago. Is there any other comics/actors that come to mind that you think needs to lose weight to be more successful?

Not really. But everybody looks better skinny.

Neal Brennan, I owe the Chappelle Show Season 1 & 2 DVDs, I subscribe to the Champs, I watched the Goods, I own Half Baked, I'm a black guy, and the only thing I don't have is a Samsung phone. Will you please unblock me on twitter so I can start following you without sending messages to the Champs twitter account or Moshe?

Why did I block you? And remember, nobody gets blocked for no reason.

if you could describe your mood at this current moment with a song lyric, what would it be?

Arf arf arf. DMX

Why do you do that thing with your hands when you give your monologue on "The Approval Matrix"? And do you realize that I always just stare blankly at them while you speak?

Great show, though. You're totally funny. And totally cute for a straight dude.

People are really upset by my hands in the monologue. I use my hands when I talk but didn't realize it looks weird to people on TV. I call it the "john gotti." I look like john gotti saying "this guys got a lotta balls." Seth Meyers told me it took him a week to figure out what to do with his hands on his show. I've only done 6 eps. So if we get picked up I'll maybe do something different.

What is on your 'Recently Played' playlist?

Fela kuti, sia, Kanye, schoolboy q, gnarls Barkley, Jon brion, crystal castles beastie boys.

oh yeah, you mentioned mr. show earlier.

my fav sketch show of all time, kids in the hall being 2nd.

what's your favorite mr. show sketch? i think mine is possibly "the audition".

Agreed. Or titanica. But mr. show's best jokes were in the margins.

Did you and Dave ever talk about his Oprah appearance or Inside the Actors Studio?

Nope

Hello Neal! What, please, is your favorite ice cream?

Ben and Jerry's cookie dough

Any chance you could get Chuck D on The Champs? Also, what's your favorite channel at http://RAPstation.com/ ?

I would love to have Chuck on the show. Personal hero of mine.

Hey Neal...longtime fan of your standup and The Champs. Always wondered, how do standups make money? A spot at the Cellar is, what, $75? I've seen you in the Galaxy spots, so congrats on that. You getting any Chappelle Show residuals? Peace.

Standups make money on the road and doing TV. I'm lucky that I can make money doing other stuff. Like the samsung and the approval matrix on Sundance. And I write and direct stuff too. And I still get $ from Chappelle's show.

I saw your set on The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail (Great show on Comedy Central Wednesday nights at 12:30ET for anyone who hasn't seen it and is a fan of stand-up comedy) and thought it was great. When you film your next comedy special, would you ever consider doing a three-mic set, or would it be too difficult to do an hour like that?

I'm seriously considering a three mic set for an hour. It'll be hard to pull off but that's the plan. I tried a 20 minute version of it in Ireland that went so-so. But I'll try a longer one now that I'm back in the USA

Guru or Nas?

Nas. Guru didn't have enough energy and was an inferior writer to nas

Which old/cancelled comedy show would you love to have written for?

Mr show or the Ben Stiller show.

Has the Approval Matrix aired yet? I wanted to stream it online legally (we cancelled cable years ago) but I couldn't find any episodes.

It's been airing for 2 weeks. Keep searching dog.

Couple questions 1-Why do your hands stay above nipple level during your Approval Matrix monologues? 2- Who's on the writing staff?

Stay away from my nipples you bitchass motherfucker. Writing staff was me, Rory Albanese and Kurt Metzger.

You told a short Sia story on one of the recent episodes (maybe you guys dated?) Any other good stories? She's an amazing writer.

Did I talk about her? She's got one of my favorite singing voices of all time. I was a fan of hers from zero7 before I met her. She's an awesome artist.

What was it like working on the set of Half Baked?

It was cool. I was young. It was fun to get a movie made.

Any reason you chose to go with Sundance as a network? Did you have an existing relationship? Was it the best offer you got? I thought you might get more exposure with a Comedy Central or NBC (or are those just way too big?)

They're the ones who wanted me.

Who's your favorite superhero?

Wonder Woman

If you met a girl, who is also a fan, after a show, would you take her seriously ? Or is that a terrible circumstance for you to meet a girl?

I wouldn't disqualify a girl because she was a fan. I'm a dude. And apparently I'm too old and not cute.

Were you hesitant about working with Comedy Central again when being involved with Inside Amy Schumer? How has the experience been so far?

Not hesitant at all. Comedy Central is a great network for comedy. And Schumer is my really good friend.

What was it like working on All That and Kennan & Kel? Were those your first big writing jobs?

My first big writing job was MTVs singled out with Jenny McCarthy and Chris Hardwick and then I did all that and then I just wrote Kenan and kel one episode. And then half-baked. Singled out was really fun it was the first time I was just in a room with other comedy writers. And they definitely felt like my people. Just to give you an idea of how long ago this was there was no Internet and a guy got fired from the show because he kept sneaking into a janitors closet to watch the OJ trial

What are some recent books you reccomend?

The goldfinch. And a book called Lit by Mary Karr. Memoir. The lady wrote about 40,000 good sentences in a row.

Questlove,Robert Townsend, donnell rawlings, ian Edwards, Charlie Murphy.

Neal, there's one thing I've always wanted to ask you. At the beginning of 'Half Baked,' we hear all about the Jamaicans in Washington Square Park. Then, at the end, the guys need to find a Jamaican...but there's no mention of the Jamaicans we heard about earlier. It's been previously established that Thurgood knows several Jamaicans! Why doesn't he ask them for help?

Is this a hold over from previous drafts? A brilliant, intentional subversion of Chekhov's Gun? An instance of stoner memory loss? It's bugged me for over 15 years.

Dude you're you're looking a little too deeply into a 6 inch well. Also if Dave had gotten the Jamaicans then we have no scene. We have no comedy.

Big fans of yours and I absolutely loved you as Patrick Kenzie in the movie Gone Baby Gone. Any truth to the rumor that you guys might shoot a sequel?

I'm assuming this is an insult but I don't have the energy to google it.

What made you want to become a television host?
BTW, The Approval Matrix is funny. Good Job.

Thanks for reading, Mr. Brennan.

Hosting a show is fun. Get to say your own jokes and have other people write for you and get to be on TV. No downside as of yet.

Have you ever been punched in the face?

No but I sure hope to be someday.