Ike Barinholtz | Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hi everyone, this is Amy Polar. Welcome. to another episode of Good Hang. We have. the great Ike Baron Holtz joining us. today. Ike is a hilarious, warm, funny. mountain of a man that I met back in. Chicago many years ago and I work with. him on the movie Sisters. You might know. him from the Mindy Project. We did a. satirical podcast together called The. Chris Chapman Doover where he played a. uh podcast host that uh well is not. great. He wasn't great, but he was. trying his best. He's the co-creator of.

a great new show called Running Point. with Mindy Kaling and um he is the star. of the studio which is out now on Apple. and we're going to talk to him about. that. Ike is amazing and as always we. like to um take a minute before we start. to talk about people that know Ike or. might know Ike's work and want to talk. to me about questions they think I. should ask him. So, let's get on Zoom. and let's talk to two queens, Emily. Spivey, writer at SNL, and um Katherine.

Han, actress and hot [ __ ]. extraordinaire. This episode is presented by the Toyota. Grand Highlander. Life's journey brings. constant change, filled with exciting. surprises, new chapters, and grand. challenges. And the Toyota Grand. Highlander is more than a vehicle. It's. your partner in embracing all life. throws at you. Blinked and the kids have. grown up. The third row can fit three. adults. From daily routines to. life-changing adventures, the Toyota.

Grand Highlander is up for every grand. challenge. Learn more at. toyota.com/grandhylander. Toyota. Let's. go places. [Music]. So, how's your day going? What's going. on with you? What what where are you. right now and how has your day been so. far? Well, um I'm in a in my car. Um but.

it's getting hotter and hotter, which is. great. Um I just got my eyebrows done. and um that's how much I love Ike is. that I'm showing up in this in this in. this face. And Spivey, where are you. talking to us from? I'm in North. Carolina. Everything's fine. I'm still. getting over that faka flu. the SNL. COVID flu, the right the scourge that we. all got at the plaza. I blame Lynn Lyn.

Manuel Miranda. I feel like he was. patient zero. cuz everywhere I went I saw him. All. right. Well, we'll get to Ike because. you both have worked with him in various. ways and I'm going to talk to him and. interview him in just a few minutes. He's going to be so happy by the way. that you did this. So, thank you. What I. love is his like his enthus the way he. falls in love with the project and just. has its back from the beginning. Like I. just love how he um is so freaking loyal. and faithful to the thing that he's.

doing that it really inspires everybody. else to. like be as enthusiastic. Also, there's. never a he never lets the ball drop in. any conversation. Like if it's an. awkward table, he will keep it up. Like. the vibration is very high with Ike. Baron Holes. It's a a very high. vibration human being. I think whenever. I've worked with him and he played a. character on a show that I did, he was. the biggest cheerleader. Um just a.

positive joy bomb all the time. Brought. so much to the role. Um helped to really. develop this character and then was. completely so supportive and positive. the whole time. showed up for every. event. Just an absolute gentleman, funny. joy bomb. I mean, what a delight. And I. thank I thank him for that because that. was a show that I had created and was. running and he really helped with my.

confidence. Like like I would find. myself going, "Oh, thank God Ike's going. to be there today." Like, "Okay, good.". Ike be [ __ ] God. You're a god among. men. Um, Hanzi, by the way, if you have. in any way turned off your AC, feel free. to turn it on. Oh, thank you so much. What if you just see me like. just slump to the side? Then you see the. roof this for the. [Laughter]. and Polar and I are trying to guess. which parking structure you're in. Oh.

god, what structure is she in? There's. the sun beating down from above. LA, baby. There it is. LA. So bright. LA is. too bright. Yeah, we're just using context clues. like from her window to try to figure. out where she is. Like where is she? God, is that a von? No, it's a girl. I. mean, I I first was really introduced to. him and I know he had like such a huge. body of work before this, but was on. your podcast, Amy. That character that.

he played on um the with Dr. Sheila with. was so freaking brilliant. Like so. dropped in. I really dig it. I also dig. his height and his father. Yeah. Yes. His height and his father. He's a tall. gentleman and he also has a dad who is. new to the biz that we're going to talk. about today. Um you're talk I just want. to clarify. You're talking about a show. called the Chris Chapman Doover which is. on Odyssey a podcast that we produced um. as well as a great podcast that Emily.

Spivey is the star of called Women. Talking About Murder. And they were both. with Li with with the great Liz. Kakowski. And Liz and I also made the. Chris Chapman doover with our producer. Jenna here. And um uh those are two. great examples of like our love of. podcasts and us trying to do comedic. versions of styles that we love. And in. in the one that Ike did, Ike plays one. of those guys who can't get it right.

And so he has to keep apologizing for. the thing he said the week before. And. Ike was so good at playing a guy who was. trying to learn from his mistakes but. who had hot takes and he had to say. them. So good. Such a good character. Okay, so. the last question I'll ask and let you. guys go. Thank you so much for this is. I'm talking to Ike and what do you think. I should ask him? How are his girls? How. is it being How is it being um a girl.

dad. and. um because that's something I really. always admired too is the fact because. he has three girls, right? Three girls. Yes. And which I think is so cute. Yes. Him and his wife Erica are awesome. and awesome parents. And yeah, Spivey, you and I have boys. So yeah, it's a com. It feels very different. Well, yeah. I.

thank God I had a a boy. If I had a. girl, I'd be. completely like half crazy. I wouldn't. know what to do. I'm sure you know this, but I would love to know what in the. birth order in his family where he falls. and how that influenced him um uh as a. comedian and where that all started from. for him. Wait, what is everyone's birth. order on this call? Where are you in. your fam? I'm oldest and of of three and. I have two younger brothers. I'm the. oldest and then I have a younger sister.

But people think that I'm the youngest a. lot cuz my sister is so responsible and. seems like an adult and I guess I don't. seem like that. Amy, you always seem like the oldest in. your family. I am the oldest. So I'm I. have to say because I am I'm older than. my parents, which is I know that's. that's what people don't realize about. Polar. She's weirdly older. I'm weirdly. older than my parents. Both her parents, but Ike is the oldest in his family. I. know that. And his younger brother is.

also an actor. So, it's it's just two. brothers and his dad and now his dad. That's something I would love to hear. about what that is. And also, I feel. like they all live here. So, he has. these huge Sunday dinners with everybody. all the time. And it feels like it just. feels so wholesome over there that just. kind of like a Sunday roast with all. your relatives coming over like sounds. like I mean it's so far from what my. Sundays my family spread out all all.

over the country but um I always feel. like a like a tenderness towards that. It feels really sweet. Um I love a man. who likes to eat. I don't trust a man. who who doesn't eat. It's weird. It's. weird either. Um okay. Well, have fun. talking to Ike. I can't wait to hear it. Thanks. And I can't wait can't wait to. have you guys on this, too. And so that. we get to talk well about you behind. your backs, too. So, okay. Love y'all. Miss you. All right. Love you guys. Good. to see you, Han. Before I pass out, I.

can't I can't. And then. Oh, no. There she goes. She wow. Wait, Ike, look at the um the um fake. food. Fake food. This is all my personal. collection. You are one of the great collectors of. fake food in North America. Wait. Um, this is the fake food. This is fake food. for my house. Oh my god. Look at Look at. the garlic. Fake garlic. I'm obsessed. with this tiny neutrorain. Can I have. Oh, really? Why don't you open it up?

Wow. There's actually a. There's a weird Japanese neutrorain. thing in there. I can't prove this, but. I feel that the people who make these. are perverts, you know? Well, I mean, there's. something mildly perverted about it in a. good way. Oh, you know what? Can we talk. about that? You know that we have a. theory that there's there's a difference. between pervert and creep. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Perverts can be great. Agree. Some. of our greatest Americans have been. perverts. FDR, hands down the best.

president. Huge pervert. This is exactly. why I wanted you here. We've got Ike. Holtz and we're at we're off to the. races. But to your point, perverts can be good. Creeps almost always are bad. Yeah. And. it's And perverts, you know, people are. so afraid of creeps that I think they. can overcorrect and they can scoop up. perverts. Yes. When they should just. scoop up the creep. Welcome back to. Justice for Perverts. Um I when I hear. the word pervert, yes, I I go like this.

Like for those people that are. listening, not watching, I just get a. little smile in my face like Yes. Like a. little pervert. Oh, little pervert. Sweet little pervert. you know, uh, someone who's just like, I don't know, doing their thing. Again, consensual. adults. Consensual adults. Everyone's. into it. They sitting on cakes and they. all like whatever they like to do. They. like No shame. I do not kick shame. I. might kick shame a little bit just cuz. it's a waste of a delicious cake. Okay, that's right. Because you love food. I. love food. I take it very seriously. And.

when I see someone sitting in it and. touching themselves, I'm just thinking. like someone really put love into that. cake and spent time baking. But to your. point, I love a good pervert. Creeps, no. thank you. No thank you. And and it's. kind of like like good art, like you. know it when you see it. You know the. difference between a pervert and a. creep. Do you think that we have high a. higher tolerance for perverts because of. our age? I think it's a generational. thing. Yeah, I think the younger. generations don't have as much love for. for perverts, but they're young. You'll.

get there, guys. Get there, guys. Give. us a chance. I can also tell you this. Sometimes perverts can become creeps. 100%. I had a friend who I loved and he. had a dad who I actually liked a lot, but um I remember going to their house. as a kid and the dad had playboys in the. bathroom and I was like, "Amazing. This. is the greatest thing in the world." And. then his parents got divorced and then. the next time went over there he had. hustler under there and then you're like. cuz Playboy you're like when you're a. whatever eight-year-old boy you're.

like this is great hustler like that's. P. We're talking about P now which is. not great for a young man. I think what. you're trying to say is that every creep. started as a pervert but not every. pervert becomes a creep. Could not be. more well said. I believe it was Mark. Twain who first coined that phrase. Yeah. You you you said that to me at the. Mark Twain Awards. You g when you gave. when we gave each other awards at the.

Mark Twain. I whispered and I hugged you. and said, "Congratulations." How's my hair piece? By the way, you look incredible, Ike. This got uh woven into my head this. morning. Looks so Yeah. What kind of. glue do you use on that? This is just. good old Elmer's. Good old Elmer's. picked up at Right Age, you know. Paste. it on there. It's a glue stick though, so it's not like I don't have white glue. all over my hair. Do you like wearing. wigs, by the way? Like No, I hate it cuz. I have like seven hairs left in my head. and just whenever Well, yeah. But. whenever they they pull them out, like.

the clips, it just that hair comes out. I'm like, yeah, I I have so much fake. hair in my head right now, and it's. wild. Like, if I took it all out right. now and laid it on the table, it would. look like a regular person's hair. I. need so much fake hair to look like I. have even normal hair. You were a great. wig wearer, though. Like when you used. to like old UCB SNL sketches, you really. wore a wig better than anyone. Better. than anyone in this whole town. Well,

let's get really get started. Yes. Okay, let's be real and get this interview. started. Let's be real. Ike Baron Holtz. is here. Ike, we met when and where? We. met in I can tell you pretty much like. the exact year is like 1996. Uh, I had just started taking classes at. Improv Olympic, which was your former. theater. And you guys had just left like. five months before I started to go start. UCB. Maybe it was a year, but whatever.

You guys had left. And UCB was already. kind of like the cool thing. And I. remember they were like, "Hey, there's a. uh Amy Polar and Matt Bessor coming back. to teach a workshop at Improv Olympic at. like 11 a.m. on a Monday." So, I had a. day job and I lied to my boss. I was. like, "I have the flu." And uh and I. went and um no one like for some reason. it was just me and three other people. and Matt Besser was like, "Yeah, we. can't do this with this few amount of. people." And so I remember you were. like, "Why don't we just smoke a joint.

in the green room?" And I was like, I. did. So unprofessional. And I was like, "This is the coolest person I've ever. met in my life. Like like I'm obsessed. This is incredible." Um, and then you. guys came back and did the workshop. And. I remember the first half of the. workshop was you teaching us, just. getting in there and doing scenes. And I. was like, this woman is the greatest. improv teacher I've ever seen in my. life. Like, oh my god, I love her. She's. the greatest. And then the second half. was Besser, who was trying to teach us. the Mortal Kombat form, you know? Yes.

And the group of improvisers that were. doing the workshop, we were all bad. We. were all like very young and green and. trying to get and the form wasn't going. well. I'll never forget Matt Besser, God. bless. And just goes at one point goes, "No, I should have done something else.". He said it out loud. That's never a good. sign when your teacher uh says out loud. Yes. Yes. But but I was still like it. was such an amazing memory for me. because it was really when I first. immersed myself in our world and and it.

was always cool. And then whenever like. you know I'd be at a friend's house. watching Conan and you would like come. up into a bit I'd be like she she taught. us a workshop smoked a joint with her. Oh my god. How much how how you started. when you were 18? I was 18. Yeah. I I. went to college for a year at Boston. University and just did not enjoy it. Was not going to class. Was very. distracted. And I knew I wasn't going to. go back and I knew I I was being drawn. to acting. And uh I went to go randomly.

see the Improv Olympics 10th anniversary. show and I believe you guys shot a video. uh and I was just blown away by seeing. you guys saw McKay for the first time. Tim Meadows specifically was so funny in. that show that I was like I am signing. up for classes tomorrow. So that was. kind of my journey from college into the. improv scene. Do you ever think about. finishing college? I am going to try to. enroll. Have you seen the film Back to. School with Rodney Dangerfield? I'm.

gonna try to do that. Um, uh, no. I I. you know what? That is something that. like I I just I don't know if it is for. everyone. You know what I mean? I think. college used to be, at least when I was. there, it was a thing where everyone. went and it was just a fatal complate. You would go to college, you would get a. job, and that's how it work. And I think. that's changed a little bit. Yeah. Um, and to me, I'm just kind of. like, yeah, I don't It's never something. I I was like longing for. Yeah. You.

know, I mean, I just find your brain. your brain so huge. You're super super. smart guy. I mean, we'll get to it, but. you basically won. I mean, you won. Jeopardy. I won so celebrity Jeopardy. And then I did I went on regular. Jeopardy and I did win. You won on. regular Jeopardy. So when you were first. in Chicago and by the way I'm wearing. Chicago like my heart just melting. It's. just beautiful and that's like a vintage. one but it's nice. It's really good. That Dave Stasson would go wild. We love.

Dave Stson your writing partner. co-creator of Running Point. Great show. that's coming out or or out is out. It's. out with Kate Hudson. Mindy Kaling also. producing on that. And you guys are huge. basketball fans. We've talked a lot. about basketball. Can we talk about the. Bulls? Yeah. And I mean, know I don't. know where to start, but the current. Bulls or the the great Bulls of my youth. being because I will say this, growing. up in Chicago in the '90s was so.

remarkable. that I am so fortunate that I've. inoculated myself from any sports pain. Right? Meaning that the Bulls have been. terrible now for a while. The It's the. worst. It's the lowest point for Chicago. sports across the board. Every team is. terrible. And I want them to do well, but I don't. live and die by it because I had so much. of a run in the 90s that I'm not like, oh, even if the Cubs went to the World. Series this year and they lost, I. wouldn't be like, damn it. I'm I feel.

like the '9s gave. me such a wonderful joy that I still. hold on to it and I'm able to watch. sports with a very healthy approach to. it. Do you uh remember the first time. you saw Michael Jordan and did you ever. meet Michael Jordan? Yes and yes. Uh. first time I saw him live I went to a. Bulls game before he was on the team um. when it was all Orlando Woolridge. Uh uh. I saw him his second season um uh before. he got hurt uh or his third sorry his. third season when after he came back for.

the first time and it was crazy. It was. it was such a phenomenon and like. especially in Chicago before he really. blew up. Um, and then I met him years. later at a health club and I was holding. a uh, you know, Archie magazine, Archie. Archie. I was holding like a Jug Head. Digest 12 and he walks in. I was froze. and I How old were you? Oh god, maybe I. 11. I don't want to say like 17. I was. reading Jug Head. Uh, was it Desi. Jughead? Uh, it was actually uh,

Slaughterhouse 5. Jug Head. That's That's creep territory. That's not pervert. That's creep. That's. creep. That's true. Uh, so, uh, but I. just walked up to him and held up my Jug. Head Digest and he just looked at it and. signed it and I was I melted. So, you. have it signed still? I have it signed. still. It's still at home. Uh, and yeah, it's it's uh I love him. I love him. I. love too that he has lasted so long. That documentary that came out was so. great and a whole new generation of. people never saw him play live still uh.

understand how wonderful he is. Well, uh, as we continue to talk about sports, I just want to say that underneath my. Chicago Bulls sweatshirt is this guy. It's going to be a Boston Celtic shirt. Yeah, it is going to be a Boston Celtic. shirt cuz look at this. Oh, that's. really good. That's really good. Best. I. did love him very very much. Is it Is it. um I loved him so much. I loved him so. much. That was the '8s Celtics were the. '9s Bulls for us. They they kept us.

going for a really long time. He was. amazing. And I know there's like a. nine-part Celtics documentary that's. coming out. Bill Simmons. Bill Simmons. Bill, we cannot wait to see this. You. know, he's from Boston. Bill Simmons. Yes, of course. [Laughter]. Bostononians are like Canadians. Bostononians are like love to say. they're from Boston and they know. everyone from Boston. Canadians are the. same way. Very true. They're like, you. know, Brian Adams is Canadian. It's. like, okay, all right, you got that one. Fine. Like, you know what? You should.

leave with Martin Short maybe. Can you tell us a little bit about. Running Point? Yeah. So, Running Point. is is it's a story inspired by the life. of Jeannie Bus, who is the owner of the. Lakers, who I've actually gotten to know. over the years, and who really is like I. imagine like most owners of sports teams. like. have like satanic rituals where they. worship Mollik and their billionaires. and stuff. She's just like a normal. person, you know? It's like a family. business. and and she's so like.

forthcoming and wonderful and her life. really is crazy. I mean, she's the only. female owner in a in a incredibly. maledominated field and running a legacy. team, one of the most important teams in. the league. And so, we thought that a. family comedy or Mindy Kaling thought. like a family comedy uh uh set in a. basketball office would be a really. funny world and and thought of Dave and. I and brought it to us. We obviously. worked with her on the Mindy project. years ago and we really loved her and. hadn't worked with her in forever. And. so the three of us just kind of talked. about what it could be and and what we.

think it is. And uh yeah, that was like. three years ago and now doing really. well. It was it was Yeah, it did number. one on Netflix, baby. Shout out Papa. Ted. We love you, Papa Ted. For those of you who are just listening, we just dabbed. We dabbed in honor of. Ted Sandos getting Netflix dab running. point is canceled. Oh no, you just got a. text. It was the dab. Little dab will do you is what they say. A little dab will not do you will not do.

you inab you in. Oh my god. Um you do a lot of things. really well. You write, you produce, you. um uh act, and they're all like you you. you have a lot of skills that you can do. really well. How do. you I I guess the question is. like which one right now is the one. that's like turning you on the most? Which is the one that like because you. just were in as an actor photography and.

it's a problem. I can't believe I said. turning you on. Why did I say that? I'm. I'm so bad at this. I just started. I like I seriously don't know how to ask. questions. Like what are questions? Hey, there's one. That's a question. What are. questions? Because on but but I guess. what I'm trying to get at is people I. don't think enough people know how much. you write. I'll say that. Yes. I right. now is a very blessed time where I love.

shooting and acting and being on set and. production. That is fantastic. Um, as. you get older, you know, I'm at that age. right now where my kids are still want. to like hang out with me a little bit. and they still like they're going to be. gone soon. They're going to be teenagers. that just don't want to hang out with. me. You have so much time until they're. teenagers. Yeah, they're still little. Yeah. But yeah, the oldest is like she's. like 11 going on. Um, and and it it will. I know it will go fast. So I right now.

like in this little phase of like. writing and spending I think also too. we've kind of through the years through. COVID we figured out how to like really. focus a writer room and be very. effective with our time like I'm sure. like at parks you know you remember like. oh yeah they're coming in at 10:00 and. they're leaving at 10:00 you know what I. mean like it's long long hours it's it. is a little bit better now where you can. kind of manage your time a lot better. target it a lot more still put in the. time but be able to cook dinner every. night That's my real favorite thing to.

do is to like cook dinner at night for. the kids and eat like a giant just. bucket of food. Um, uh, that is like the. the fun zone right now. And that will, you know, hopefully change at some point. because in a few months I'll be like, I. need to get out of here. I need to be on. set. Yeah. I don't think, you know, maybe for people that aren't too aware, when you're on set filming something, it's kind of when you have the least. amount of control of your time and. you're looking to surrender completely. and you're looking at a 12-hour day, 12. hour plus days. If you're acting, too,

you're getting in hair and makeup. If. you're shooting far away, uh, you know, you're waking up at 5:00 a.m. and and. that's when it can get rough, but then. you're exhilarated because you're on set. and you're funny and you're with all the. fun people and stuff. So, um, but right. now the zone I'm I'm really, uh, loving. is being creating and being at home and. writing and stuff. That's I remember. with Parks, I mean, the best thing about. it was the immersion into the world. And. the worst thing about it was. just so much time away. Like I I really. had to figure out how to.

um, balance having little kids and being. on set. It is not easy. It's hard. And. we're lucky too. Like we're shooting. Running Point in LA. Mhm. I got friends. that are like, "Oh yeah, I'm going to uh. uh Newfoundland for four months to shoot. like a sci-fi show." That's really. tough. That's where you're like, "Oh. man, you gotta really love acting or, you know, need to do it and go and that. that's the rough one." Okay. And then to. get to the other thing that you're doing. because I'm very excited to watch this.

the studio studio with our good friend. Kathern Han. We love her. I remember you. told me years ago you were like, "Do you. know Kathern Han?" I was like, "No.". you're like would love her and you were. right. Katherine Han is she's a a good. example of someone I met in my 40s. You. know, you think you've kind of met your. friends for life and Katherine and I we. just kept hearing about each other and I. was a big fan of her work and I knew her. work and then she came on Parks and um. Paul Rudd was like have you don't know. Kathern Han and he said oh you two are.

gonna and we just immediately like and. she is one of my dearest friends and so. funny and so talented. People are. obsessed with her on Instagram. Like, like if someone posts like a trailer for. the show, like every reply is like, "Mother, mother, I'm coming for you. I. love you." You know why? Because her and. Plaza did the kissy kissy. Oh. Oh, I. know. They did a little bit of witches, witches, kissy kissy witches. And the. original show was called Kissy Kissy.

The original show was. It was like I'm doing a show where me. and another wizard kiss and I don't. think it's Wizard Kiss. Wizard Kiss. Wizard Kiss actually does sound like a. pristine show. Who would be the guy that. we would like to see you kiss in Wizard. Kiss? Do you remember Bull from. Nightcore? Richard Mole. I'm going to say who who would we want. to see you kiss in in w in in Wizard. Kiss? It would be like um Do you want. like a younger guy like uh some I met.

Timmy the other night at the Laker game. Should we get Timmy? Oh god. I' I would. binge. He's adorable. If you and Timothy. Shalamé kissed in a new show called. Wizard Kiss. Timmy, if you're around, give me a call. Like, you guys are casting spells and. every once in a while you go. Critics. are like, "This is the worst show ever. It's the end of Peak TV. It's over. So many executives are firing because of.

this green lighting." How about Timmy. Sha? Timothy Shallam. He's got the. goods. Speaking of Michael Jordan. Yeah, that's I that's I thought of you when I. saw that speech cuz I was like that's. that's my guy right there. Okay. And I I. promise we'll cut this part because I. could talk about it forever, but you. know, I'm kind of into the Anog, which. is this like thing that tells what. personality you are. And Ike is at any. three. So is Jenna, our producer. Uh so. is Tina. So is Seth. Achiever, right? Threes are like, get it, win. Yes, be.

the best. Yes, I would say that Timmy's. speech is ultimate any 3 energy. He. recently gave a speech at the SAG Awards. where he basically said, "I want to be. the greatest." Yeah, I loved it. I loved. it. I loved it. And I love that too. He. wasn't like, "I want to be the greatest. like Brando." He's like, "No, I want to. be like Michael Jordan and Michael. Phelps and Biola Davis." Biola Davis. Yeah. It wasn't just to acting. It was. this whole spectrum of things. Yeah. No, he's got the he's got the goods, man. He's making mustaches. Uh great again.

He really is. I saw him at the Laker. game. He had a beautiful mustache. He. looked great. Who grows a great. mustache? Um Henry Cavl. Yeah, that. thing is incredible. Yeah. Yeah. It's. It's like thick and strong. Mine is not. great. Mine looks like a guy that like. is killed very early on by Liam Niss in. one of the Taken films that's like I. don't know what I like like Yeah. Like. that. It's like thin and wispy and I. will grow it out sometimes and like no. one likes it. It's not it's it's it's.

Have you ever grown a full beard? Have. you ever I had one like literally two. weeks ago. It looked like it was very. like was I an imam? Was I a rabbi? Somewhere in between. I don't know. But. it was very long and and and and thick. and and quite frankly gross. It got you. like once it gets past a certain point. once you're dealing with what's that. smell? Oh, I had cereal. Like you know. what I mean? It's so disgusting. Disgusting. So, yeah. So, I I shaved it. and then my daughters were like, "We. missed the beard." I'm like, "Too bad.".

Yeah. Did Erica like it? Your wife? I. think at first it was kind of like, "Oh, this is nice." She's like, "Oh, there's. a stranger in the house." She was like, "Oh, no. We do a whole scenario. Don't. chase me. Don't chase me. The money's in the safe. Leave me. alone.". Oh, fine. I'll take off clothes. Fine. For every five minutes, she says some. long complicated thing. For every five. minutes I don't tell you the code to the. safe. I'll take off one of one article. of clothing. Bearded man that doesn't. live here. That's not my.

husband. And you're like, "Wait, what's. the rule? Let's just watch TV. Come on.". Okay. But she liked it. She didn't mind. it. No, she didn't mind it. And it was. cool. But then it just got like I think. for the premiere of Running Point, I. showed up. And it also when you're an. actor, people are like, "What are you. shooting?" And you're like, "Nothing.". Like, "Are you in the Revenant part. two?" you're like, "No, I'm just I got. nothing going on.". Um, you brought up Katherine Han and we. do this fun thing with on Good Hang. where before we have our guest in, we do.

a little Zoom, a little fun Zoom with. people that know them and we talk well. behind their back. Oo. It's almost like. this is your life a little bit. Yeah. It's a little bit like, you know, the. idea is you don't really know who's. going to show up and who's going to pop. in. And so we did a zoom with Kathern. Han and Michelle Obama and Michelle. Wait, who are you gonna say? Sorry. With your first wife, Michelle Obama. Oh, yes. Yes. And Katherine, we did it. with Kathern Han and Emily Spivey. Oh my.

god. And we got to talk about my. all-time faves. Truly. I know. God, I. love Spy. And they had questions for. you. Oh. And Han Spy's question was. about your daughters. Like, what is it. like to be the dad of three girls? You. know, you're a girl dad, as they would. say. I'm a I'm a girl dad. I'm a girl. boss. And um I'm a girl interrupted. Uh. it is, you know, I grew up in a house. with boys, just me and my brother. And. um it is it is a delight. Like it is.

like, you know, and again, I'm in that. zone where they are really like still. little and they want to play and they. are asking me questions about the world. You know what I mean? And I am very well. aware of the fact that there will be a. time where they're just like they won't. even be texting. They'll have like a. chip in their brain and be like, "Dad, I'm shipping right now." But I have a I. have a vision of like um you know Payton. Foster getting married and to each other. getting Jesus. Sorry. No, not to each.

other. And you first of all, you love to. cry. You're a big crier. Jesus. Yes. And. um that might I don't know if that's a. girl dad thing, but it's definitely an. Ike thing. You love to cry. I feel like. and I have this vision of you dancing. with one of them and then the other. sisters tapping out like that's. I'm going right now. That's the part. about girl dads of which I I Are you. trying to make me cry? And then you're. like and then your grandfather's ghost. comes down and he tells you he forgives.

you. And I'm. like that would be good. I think we're. similar in this way which is you you. live very big. You take big swings and. you love that about people and you are. definitely that kind of person. You're a. party pumper. Yes, I think we both are. I'd like to say we share that in common. We like a good time. We like trying to. like get get party going, the energy. going. Like I've been to a million. parties with you, small and big. And. when Ike shows up, like it's like we're.

we're getting started. Come on, let's. cut loose. Yeah. And have you always. been like that? Do you think that just. like that was your from day one vibe? I. remember like when I was like five, like. my parents would have like friends over. for dinner and I would like after dinner. walk around and be like, "Let me see. your cigar." Like, you know what I mean? Like I was like doing bits and like. imitating Indiana Jones and stuff. And. so like I do love uh you know being. around people. I love like like sitting. around like a bunch of your friends like.

doing bits and laughing and and maybe. having a few drinks. Like that is a very. very fun time. And and uh I'm not. stuffy. Again, I'm a lot like Rodney. Dangerfield. You really are for kids. And let me just ask anybody under the. age of 53 about Rodney Dangerfield. Okay, let's take a water break. My. Stanley. I wish Stanley was a sponsor. You can. get him. Do you have a Stanley, too? No, this is a Yeti. Should get Yeti as a. sponsor, but an actual Yeti. I love my. Stanley so much. I know it's basic. Well, maybe not. If Stanley, if you're a.

sponsor, it's not basic. It's a. wonderful way to drink. But if you're not a sponsor, I know it's. kind of basic [ __ ] Stanley stuff, but. there's something about the weird like. baby bird gerbble thing you have to do. where you have to. go. That's so satisfying. It's strange. Okay. So, um I feel like you're like. your Emily and and Han and I were. talking about this about you about your.

enthusiasm for life and for projects. Like when you come onto a set, when you. say yes to something, one of the best. things about you is people know you're. going to commit. Yeah. Where did that feeling of like where did. you learn that idea that you had to. commit and what does it you what does it. do for you? That's I'm gonna say that's. that's that's I think from from our old. improv days. I think that's a big part. of it is uh I mean just at like a basic. level like you know I will give Mick.

Napier some credit on that one because I. remember Mick who's like a famous. Chicago improv director and guru. I. remember I was taking classes with him. one time and I think early on when I. would do improv I was like a lot of bit. of a sideline guy like I would kind of. come on and say like a funny line from. the side and he was like [ __ ] get in. there man get in there you know do weird. [ __ ] be weird and I think that kind of a. big part of of our improv training is.

learning to not be afraid of failing. So, as you develop as a improviser, you. start to learn that like, oh yeah, even. if this scene is bad, you got to commit, man. You got to like go all in. You got. to just you got to you got to do it. And. I think that kind of just bled. into, you know, the way I look at work. I will say I'm very lucky. Uh I'm, you. know, uh by and large doing projects that I. love. You know, if I was doing The Sound. of Freedom, too, you know, I don't know.

if I'd be like, "Hey everybody, I got a. food truck.". Yeah. You know, um but uh but you know, and again, most of the things I do are. comedy and stuff. And I do think it's. very important that, you know, when. you're on set, when you're when you're. when you're doing a whether a TV show or. movie, it's a comedy, it should be. loose. It should be Yeah. You know, it. should be people should be ready to. laugh and and and you know, but you do. but you bring it over to not just your. work, like your life, too. Like when. you're in something, you're really in. it. Yeah. Yeah. You really are in it. I.

I Yeah. I you know, I again I think it's. just cuz I'm lucky. The people I'm. hanging out with. They're like our. friends are great friends. You know, the. people we know are are wonderful people. And so I'm I don't know. It feels like I. think we're only here for a couple. minutes and it's good just to kind of. throw it all out there. You know what I. mean? It's a hard It's a good lesson to. learn early. I always try to tell my. kids this, too. Like, if you can get. past the fear of being cool, like you. said, or failing or being cool. The. coolest people are the people that are.

like take the biggest swings and go for. it and just kind of It's a hard lesson. to learn to just get over being. embarrassed, but you don't mind being. embarrassed. You also have to go. through, I think, a lot of embarrassing. things. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I [ __ ] my pants on the L one time, you know what I mean? And like, it was a. nightmare. Like I've been in countless. bad improv scenes and movies that didn't. work and episodes of TV that were just. like what? You know what I mean? Like. I've had I've tripped at an airport like. you know what I mean? Like all these. things I think add up and kind of they.

give you metal. I think people probably. know who maybe have listened to you on. other podcasts, but you talked about. being in boom Chicago, which was like. you performed in Amsterdam with Jordan. Peele, Seth Myers, Seth, Josh Myers, Liz. Kakowskiowski, Josh Myers, all these. like great people over there. And how. many How long were you there? Almost two. years, which was wild. It was crazy. It. was a crazy party. Did you celebrate Y2K. in Amsterdam? I did. I did. What was. that like? Cocy. Very cocaine. Very. cocaine from what Ideed. Indeed. um.

cocaine, but it was it was Dutch, so it. was like cocaine. Uh uh just like regular cocaine. It's. just more condescending. It's just more to the point. It's more. directed to the point. Yes. Um but it. was really it was a great time. It was. it was just uh you know uh really fun. people. I was really young. I was like. 22. I'd never been to Europe before. Um, we were doing like the theater was like. becoming like a thing where like the. prime minister would come and we would. have huge audiences and it was just it.

was like the ultimate party and we're. all like still friends and it it was. really really fun. That sounds so great. I might go back this summer but I would. go back with my family which would be. interesting you know like hey girls this. is where I took too much ecstasy and. vomited before I saw Oasis. Yeah, I. picked the pill out of the vomit and ate. it. again. This is a different time, guys. This is like 1999. Please don't judge. me. This is before you could get another.

pill. You only had one. You had to get. it out. It's But it wasn't on. Are you. Are you going to see Oasis again? Do you. want to I would like to see Oasis. Do. you think that Oasis I mean um I'm. curious if Oasis will they will they. tour? I are they going to make it to the. thing? I think they will make it. They. seem to have like they're pumped. They're I think they're pumped and I. think they need the money very bad. There's an amazing clip, if you can find. it, of Liam. Gallagher making a little cup of tea and. he's just like, you know, back in the. day I had four people doing this for me.

I had one person holding the cup, the. other person putting the bag in, the. other person getting the water, the. person heading to me. Now I have to do. this [ __ ] shite by myself. That's why. there's no more rock. stars. It's really a good good little. clip. But yeah, no, I'll see Oasis. Like. I I I'm a '9s boy. They were so [ __ ]. cool when they came. And those brothers. fighting all the time. So cool. That was. when you could just be like, "Maybe I'll. show up, maybe I won't." And you and and. I I mean, I guess you can do that now.

still, but it just feels more you'll. just get sued more. Yeah. If you walk. back then you just people would go, "Hey, come on." Yeah. Yeah. Oh man, sucks. But I had a great night anyways. still saw Sebido. They rocked. Sebado. Oh my god, that's such a deep. cut. You I I love your family. I You. have a brother in who's an actor and. incredible John Baron Holtz, great. actor, great guy, wonderful family, family man. And now you have a dad who.

is an actor. Yeah. And um Emily and and. Han both wanted to know what it was like. now to have your dad be on TV. And we. they were asking what your dad did. before, which I didn't really know. What. was your was he a lawyer? He was a. lawyer for like 35 plus years. He wanted. to be an actor back in the day. And then. like he like auditioned for Second City. when like John Belalushi was there. Like. he wanted to be an actor, but just was. impatient. It's like ah I'm going to.

have a family. I'm going to go to law. school. And uh he he was yeah was you. know a litigator for 30 plus years. But. he was very supportive of my brother and. I and they came to so many improv shows. and there was a couple shows that we did. with him. We brought him on stage and. acted with him which was really fun. Susan Messing brought him on stage and. did a show with him one time. It was. crazy. Um, but yeah, he always had this. kind of little passion. And I remember. like five years ago, he was like, I'm. gonna retire and I don't know what to do.

and you know, blah blah blah. And and I. remember thinking like, well, move to LA. and, you know, maybe you could, I don't. know, get a line on a show or something. or, you know, I'll put you in stuff if I. can. And and. and long story short, a year after that, a friend of a friend is like, "Hey, would your dad put himself on tape? were. trying to do like a new hybrid show. where they need a judge and it sounded. insane and low stakes. I was like, "Yeah, sure. Call." And so he he he he.

they called him and my brother and I put. him on tape and I remember filming him. and looking at John and being like, "He's pretty good. He's a good good. read. He gave a nice little. performance." So we sent in the tape and. like an hour later a friend of mine is. like, "Hey, I'm cast I'm producing the. show. I'm going to cast your dad." Oh. And that show was Jury Duty. So it comes. out and it's a huge hit and he's like. recognized everywhere he goes now and. like God bless him. He loves it's like. it's his dream. He's so living his best. life and he's in Running Point. He's in.

the studio. He's he was in the. accountant part two with Ben Affleck. Oh. my god. Yeah. No, he's he's he's a. working Los Angeles actor. And it's. amazing. And it's like even when there's. times where you're like like if I'm. cooking dinner on Sunday at 4:00 and I. got the stove, I got four burners going. and he'll come up and be like, "Hey, remember whenever you get a chance if. you could put me on tape for that. thing." And you're like, "Okay." So then. you're all a sudden you're you're still. taping him. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I mean, so.

we got to talk. That's too much. It's. you got to hand that over to somebody. else. I I He He Yeah. And that someone. else is not my mom. I'm not going to put. her through that. Okay. So, we did this podcast that was. really fun because we were we we did a. bunch of um satirical podcasts. Well, your pitch to me, which I was still like. the greatest pitch, is like, "Don't you. want to improvise but not have to go on. stage after 8:00 p.m.?" You know, you. were like like we could just go if we.

were in a studio and just riffing. And I. was like, "Oh my god." And you were. like, "What if it was a fake podcast. network?" And yes, it's it basically one. show your your character Dr. Doctor. Doctor Sheila. You have to say her name. in the form of a question. She's not a. doctor. She's not a doctor. She kind of. launched it and. then her last episode introduced Chris. Chapman, which was my character, which. was a I would say he would be. a member of the manosphere. Yes. Right.

He's definitely adjacent to some of the. podcasts you've heard of. Yeah. um. experts who have um uh supplements and. labs and um like uh a lot of uh uh they. do extreme stuff. Yeah. Kind of thing. Yeah. Where it's like, oh yeah, no, you're supposed to actually sleep in ice. water. Like you're supposed to I read. that if you sleep for eight hours. encased in ice water, it it will help.

your in deinflammation. It's the stuff. Or even even more, they're like it'll. help with your menopause. That's what. they say. And you're like, "Oh, okay. Give that a shot." Okay. Uh, but yeah, misinformed, uh, confident. You were. incredible at at at talking. extemporaneously as that kind of person. because like I said from the beginning. when we started and Liz Kakowsky, the. co-creator, and I would laugh. We would. be we would we would just say like, "Look at I go. You are able to talk. about subjects and go very deep about.

the conspiracy theories around them.". And sometimes I don't know where where. you left where Chris Chapman Yeah. and. Ike there was some blur. Yeah, definitely there were some blurred. lines. They came to me with an idea and they. said, "We know the effect you have on. our society. We know how significant you. are. We want you back." And they said, "The one thing we are worried about, we're worried that no women will listen. to the show." So they said, "You want to. do the show? You need to get 1% at least. female listenership." Right?

the the character of Chris Chapman is. feeling like the world is, you know, moving too fast and he's trying to catch. up and trying to apologize for stuff. that he got wrong and then when he. apologizes, he kind of he gets it wrong. again. He gets it wrong again. And I I. think there there is a big part of me. like that. like a lot of the guys that. he's in inspired by. I think there's a. part of a lot of dudes who there's a. component of that where you're like, "Yeah, I I like to smoke weed and like.

to, you know, talk about. like, oh, [ __ ] who shot JFK. I want to. know who shot RFK." You know what I. mean? Like like that's like there. there's a part of that. Um, now I don't. I think all that is kind of gone and. it's been replaced by just Well, I think. it's always interesting and and this is. men and women. I I think we both share. this which is I I think it's very funny. when people act like act like experts, super experts. Yes. And then go, "Hey,

I'm just I'm just a guy. I'm just a guy. I'm just a guy, man. I'm just a. comedian." No, no, no. You just told us. about how to perform a heart transplant. Yeah. Yeah. You own that now a little. bit. You can't buy You just said it, but. now it's like I But you know what? Hey, man. What do I know? I'm just a dumbass. I just got a lot of hot takes and Yeah. Yeah, I'm just a dumbass. And and and I. would say also with women, um women are. asked to also give tons of supportive. advice and life advice in a way that if.

you missed it, you'd be like, I'm. imagine they're certified therapists. Yes. And you look at them, you're like, oh no, they um they were uh they used to. own a gym. It is a golden age for those. types of people in all fields. Like when. you go onto your Instagram algorithm or. Tik Tok algorithm, you just see people. that are just like, I'm here to tell you. that if you eat oatmeal, you will. literally die. And like they're so. confident. You're like, I was going to. have a bowl of. oatme what what they're up to. And uh I.

like the ones that are like and by the. way, I'm the biggest sucker for this, too. I I I am the audience, but I like. people that are like top five ways to, you know, get top five ways to uh. forgive your partner. It's like number. one, take a moment and realize they. didn't mean to do what they did. Number. two, make a decision to forgive your. partner. You're just like Mhm. Mhm. You're listening. This is so good. And. it's just it's so surface level stuff.

It's just so like the only way to be. happy is to choose to be happy and say. to yourself, "I'm a happy person." And. you're like, "Yeah, yeah, yes, you are. right." It's so, but I'm I am a sucker. for I love a list. I love a list. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Especially workout stuff, too. Like I'm like, "Oh, oh, this is top. five ways to like to like do sit-ups. without doing sit-ups. Yeah, sign me. up." And then you see like a doctor. comment being like, "I'm actually a. spine doctor. This will you'll never. walk again if you do this." you're like, "Okay, what do I do?" But then you do.

research and the spine doctor, there's. actually an actor who played a spine. doctor on TV and he he added the word. doctor and if you look a little closer, his last name is. doctorally John Doctor and Yeah. Yeah. One of the things we're doing on Good. Hang is we're just kind of like figuring. out, you know, these conversations are. an attempt to like feel fun and and an. escape from a lot of stuff. What do you. do? Where do you go? What do you watch? Who do you listen to? What kind of video.

do you put on? What do you watch to. laugh? One of the great things about. having kids is you get to go back and. you get to watch shows with them that. you love. So, I have gone through uh. Seinfeld with my kids and they loved. Seinfeld. They love. They do. What Who do they They love everyone. They love everyone. They love JLD. They. They They love Kramer. They love Kramer. standup. Uh, no, I'm joking. These. maniac. Um, they um but they they just.

love the show. They love the show. Um, and then we uh started doing the Mindy. project which they were very into. Uh, they got into the office. Our next on. the docket is a little show called Parks. and Wreck, which they're going to love. it. They're going to like freak out. about. Um, so going back and watching. those like like watching three episodes. of a sitcom that you have seen before. but you love very much is like mother's. milk to me. like it's so nice. It's so. relaxing. It is It is just It just makes.

you laugh really hard and also just. takes you back to that time. You know. what I mean? You instantly go back to. like 2012 and you're like, "What a. different world. What a different time.". Um so those are the main ones, but I. also like I love when I see like a a. totally new thing. Um like um I loved uh. I love You ever seen the movie Bottoms? Yeah. So good. I I loved that movie. It. reminded me of one of my all-time. favorite comedies. A very big movie in. our house which happens to star one Amy.

Polar. Hamlet 2. I'm not even kidding. you. Is like like it is a Hamlet 2. Check it out. Masterpiece. It is one of. the funniest movies ever made. I've seen. it dozens of times. It's one Eric and. I's favorite. It's We always tell people. about like have you seen Hamlet 2? And. they're like what? Steve Kugan the great. Steve Kogan literally one of the. funniest men of all time. and you and. and bunch of high schoolers, Katherine. Keenir. Um, but Bottoms reminded me of.

that and it came out of nowhere. I had. never seen a lot of those people before. So, when I see things like that and then. um you know there's there is Tik Tok. There is You do watch Do you I do watch. Tik Tok. I do watch Instagram. Secret. Tik Tok. I'm I'm once I learn how to do. it. Who do you like on Tik Tok or. Instagram? Um, a lot of chefs. A lot of. a lot of chef uh work. Do you like all. that macho chef stuff where the guy like. cooks in the woods and the meat? Uh, yeah. There's those guys, but then. there's the guys that are like shirtless.

and they're like kneading dough and like. putting their face in the dough like. it's like a butt. Like, and you're like, it's like too much. It's too much, guys. You're turning mad a little too much. Yeah. Like, I love you so much. Thank. you for doing this. I can really say. without a doubt, this was You know what? It's a good hang. Oh my god. It was a. good hang. [ __ ] hang. Please just. come back all the time. Let's do it. tomorrow. All right. Let's do it. tomorrow. See you then. Fantastic. Thank you so much, Ike Baron Holtz, Isaac Baron Holtz, um, your legal name. Thank you so much for being on the.

podcast. I love you and, uh, you're so. hilarious. And check out the studio, which is coming out soon or already out, depending on when this is out. But um I. just want to end um by saying, you know, uh when we do the Polar Plunge, we want. to dip into something that changes the. chemistry in our brain and makes us come. alive. And I wore my Chicago Bulls. sweatshirt today, but really at the end. of the day, I'm a Celtics girl. Grew up. watching the Celtics and love them. And.

if you have not checked out the great. documentary. um it's uh Bird Versus Magic about Larry. Bird and Magic Johnson and their. incredible friendship, rivalry, competitive relationship, whatever you. want to call it. Highly suggest. It's. excellent storytelling and um it's uh. it's about the two greatest players. ever. I know Michael Jordan. Um okay. Uh, thank you so much for listening to.

Good Hang. Uh, we we love that you're. here and we'll catch you next. time. You've been listening to Good. Hang. The executive producers for this. show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss. Berman, and me, Amy Polar. The show is. produced by The Ringer, and Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by Jack. Wilson, Cat Spalain, Kaia McMullen, and. Aia Xenerys. For Paperkite, production. by Sam Green, Joel Levelvel, and Jenna. Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy. Miles. All I ever wanted was a really. good.