Alex Mandel on fame, OCD, and acting

I'm Vic Cohen, and it's a fair question. It's a fair question. It's a fair question. I'm Vic Cohen, and it's a fair question. It's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair question. I'm Vic Cohen, and it's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair quest, quest, question. Hello, this is Vic Cohen broadcasting live from downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row Studios. The name of the show is It's a Fair Question because on this show, every question is a fair question. There is no question that is too personal or ever off limits. And tonight, I have a very good friend. Really, I consider him like family. Maybe like a little brother or maybe a nephew. At one point, I believe he's called me, maybe even recently, Uncle Vic, and not in the creepy way. He's never sat on my lap as much as I've asked him and begged. I'm talking about a very special and talented friend of mine. He's an actor. He's an entrepreneur. He is Alex Mandel. Hello. Hello, Vic. Yes. I know that we were actually going to do this before and it didn't work out, so I'm happy I'm here now. You know what? It's great to have you anytime. Yeah, and stay right on top of that mic. No, I don't mean that in a gay way. No, yeah, I know. There's no one in the room named Mike. But we can arrange that. So thanks so much for coming down. I'm so happy to be down here in the studio. It's great seeing you. You know, I have a very special connection to you. I've known you for a long time. You know, I think you were about like eight, maybe. Seven, nine. I would say so, yes. Something like that. How old are you now? I'm 23 years old. Wow. You are a young man. Yes. I'm afraid to call myself a man, but yes. Well, I was at your bar mitzvah when it was official. You don't feel like a man. I like to think of myself still as a boy. Okay. And still have fun and be weird. But I do know that, yes, you were at my bar mitzvah. And I still have one of the gifts you got me. Oh, tell me. I think I know what this was. Yes. No, it was an American flag Speedo, which is totally appropriate to give a 13-year-old boy at his bar mitzvah. From Uncle Vic. Yes. Yeah. And you know what? I still have it. And you're wearing it now. Yes, because they're lucky. They are lucky. Yeah. Well, the way I know Alex, is through his father. His father is Howie Mandel. I worked with Howie. I first met your father on his daytime talk show. It was appropriately called the Howie Mandel Show. And then your father and I had a great connection. And it's just been such a... My relationship with him has been the most special relationship I've ever had with someone. Other than like family. I mean, you've got such an amazing father. And getting to know you is part of that. You know, one of the blessings of that relationship. Getting to see you grow up. And so having you here has a lot of meaning in many different ways. What are you working on right now, Alex? And tell everyone, you know, it's got to be a little challenging when you've got a father who is so well-known to kind of, to make your own way. It's hard anyways at 23. I know it was for me. What's that experience like for you? Yeah, it's, you know, I'm trying to do the whole acting thing and everything. And I've been doing that for years. And it is, as much as it is, it does help, you know, to have my father be who he is. Because sometimes that is what gets me in the door to an audition or anything like that. But of course, it's still on my talent to get me through and to get me the part. So the thing is, yes, it helps a little bit. But at the same time, I feel like they judge me a lot more. And they try, I have to like live up to this name when I'm trying to make it on my own. And, you know, sometimes I feel like I can't get these roles. I feel like I can't get the roles that I want if they don't know who my father is, which is, you know. Say that again. I'm saying sometimes I don't, I don't, I feel like I can't get the roles that I'd like to get if they didn't know who my father was. If they didn't know. Yes. It would be easier? No, it would be harder. Sure. Because he, you know, I actually, the thing is, I don't ever like to use the daddy card, I call it. I do. You do? Yeah, I use your dad. I pretend. I'm Vic. No, no. You don't like to use the daddy card. I don't. I won't use that. Like, you know, when I meet new people, that's one of the last things they know. If I'm working in a production where my dad's not working on, you know, people don't need to know. There's not everyone else telling everyone what their dad does. Right. For a living. So I don't feel the need to share mine. And it just works out that way for me because people, you know. I work and people respect me for my own work rather than who I am or where I've come from or who my dad is. And it ends up being better for me in my mind because I feel like sometimes things are given to me because of who my dad is, which is great because they're given to me. But it's bad because then you still have the thought of you couldn't get it on your own. And this may sound like a crazy question, but did you ever as an actor think about changing your last name? A lot of people do that. I would. I wouldn't do it. But it is something some have done. I, you know, I've had people ask me that. And the truth of it is, as like what I was saying before, it does help me get in the door. And in this business, it really is all about connections. Other people that I know that are acting, you know, it's like they got in because they knew the director. They got in because they knew the casting director. It's all about, it is relationships often. And I agree with you. I mean, if I, if my, my father's in the insurance business. And, um. One of my brothers works with him. And I'm certain that that relationship obviously, um, helps. It helps my brother in his career. And there's no reason that I think it would be crazy not to take advantage of that. Yeah. And I, and I, I do when I, you know, it's the right time to do it. Anything that that's relating to any sort of entertainment work. I have no problem. You know, if I, if I'm meeting someone for connections, then, you know, if it's going to help me, it's not a problem to, for them to know who my dad is. Because they're like, oh, you know, it's familiar. It's like, oh, it's like some secret club that they're in, you know, that they're all in. And. And I think it takes that sometimes like that, that connection in order to make people feel comfortable and familiar with you to allow you into their world. Yeah. And I, I agree. And I think that, um, you got to use everything. It's not about, and ultimately when it really comes down to what you or anyone brings into the room. Yeah, definitely. I mean, it gets you to the door and through the door, but then everything rests on you and you feel that perhaps there's even more pressure. There's, there's a lot. And even, you know, there was. There was one audition I went in for, for a horror film, um, when I was 21 and I went in and the first thing the director said, cause he was sitting in the room was, look, I know who your dad is. I don't care if he's the president. If you're not good, I'm not hiring you. And you know what? In my mind, as much as that was pressure, it was the greatest thing I could have heard because I know that if I got this part, it was because of me. Right. Did you get the part? I did get the part. It'd be a really sad story if you didn't get it. Yeah, you know, it probably wouldn't be a story I would tell. I would be scared. Yeah. I was almost afraid to ask. Yeah, no, I didn't get it. No. Yeah, I did get it. What's the, what is the project? Uh, that's called Killer Holiday. Okay. And we filmed that, uh, instead of Barbara. It was a horror film that was starring Michael Coppon and the director, Marty Thomas was, um, uh, great. And we filmed that and everything like that. And it's actually going to come out in November, this November. Oh, really? Yeah. Okay. Hold on one sec. Hey guys, I can hear you and see, sorry. I can hear you. I can hear all of you guys. Sorry. Just wanted to talk to people in the booth. Thanks. Um, sorry. Um, okay. So let's talk about, um, you said it's come, sorry. You said it's coming out in December? No, in November. November. It'll be out in November. Yeah. And it's being, uh, distributed by Lionsgate actually. So it's a Lionsgate film, which is awesome. So does this mean it's going to have a regular theatrical release? Um, I'm, I'm not sure about, uh, the, whether it's theatrical or not. I definitely know. I know that it's going, uh, DVD and, um, it will be out this, the announcement actually that it was being distributed by Lionsgate came out yesterday. Okay. So that's a big deal, right? It is a big deal. It's very exciting. And so that's, that's something that I worked on a while ago, but it's, it's still bringing me excitement to this day. Well, that's the thing. You never know where anything can lead. Yeah. And stuff that you might've done a few years ago suddenly could be released. Yeah. And then you never know. You never know how well it's going to do, you know, something that you think, you know, may have been a smaller project or a bigger project could be, you know, some of these actors go, this was the best film I've done, you know, before it comes out. I'm so proud of this. And it flops. Was that your first feature? That it, that was my first feature. Yes. And how did that feel? I mean, this was something you weren't working with your father on, right? I mean. No, he had, he had, uh, no affiliation with this at all. And it was so great because I actually, you know, got this audition. I got this audition just from, uh, you know, meeting, uh, the, one of the producers working on it. And I got the media, I got the audition, audition for it. They called me the next day to tell me that they, to offer me the role. They said it was a lead role. I was super excited for that. And I've never done a feature film. I've been, I was wanting to for so long. I wouldn't work in TV. And the thing is, is I did that and it was just so like, you know, to drive to set every morning and have all this equipment around and everything like that. It was just exciting every morning. And I would wake up, you know, sometimes at three 30 or four in the morning. Did you have a sleeping problem? Um, no. That's for the call, right? I actually, I didn't, my call was actually noon the next day, but I was just so excited. Yeah. That's great. Well, that's the ultimate to be doing what you love. It's cliche, but it's true. No, it is. It's great to wake up every morning and be excited to go, Oh my God, I'm going to go in again. How long were you on location with that? Uh, that lasted a close to three months. If I'm not mistaken. Really? Yeah. Yeah. You were out of town for three months during that time? Well, it was in, it was in Santa Barbara and I was living somewhere in LA and, uh, I actually, there was the, uh, actor's beach house in Santa Barbara for all the, uh, actors to stay in, which was awesome. So what was that like? Well, here's the thing. I like my bed. I am very big on like, no matter how far it's, it was worth the drive for me to still go back to. What's so special about your bed? It's Tempur-Pedic. It's just, uh, you know, I, I don't know. It's, it's something. Do you have OCD like your dad? I have terrible OCD. Is this part of it? Um, a little bit, you know, it's, it's not, okay. I say I have terrible, but in relative to my dad, I have nothing. Right. Just for those of you who don't know, um, Howie Mandel, uh, Alex's father has gone public about his OCD, you know, from everything from washing of the hands. It's mostly the palm of the hand, right? For your fat, for your dad. Uh, yes, it's. I mean, he would prefer to touch nothing. I'm sure your mom feels great about that. Yes. Except for when he decides he's not going to touch her. No, I know. I was joking. I mean, like, how do you have a relationship? No, well, you know, it's different. And the thing is, is, um, people say, do you have that as well? And the thing is, is I don't like to touch a lot of things. I still never touched doorknobs. Still never do any of that. How do you feel about touching me? Um, well, that's, that's. I don't mean in that way. I don't mean in that way. Okay. Um, well. I do shake hands, which he doesn't. Right. Um, but I, you know, it's more of, it's, it's just, it's weird. Um. Do you think that your OCD is because of the environment you were raised in or more the way you're wired like your dad? Well, that's, that's what I was saying is people ask if it was nurture or nature. Right. And for me, I felt like, you know, when I was growing up and every kid needs to hold on to the railing when they're walking down the stairs, right? So that they don't fall. Well, I, every time I was going to touch the railing, it was, no, no, don't touch that. You know? Oh, oh, sorry. That was bad. Don't touch that. You know, that's something that I learned. This is your dad talking. Yes. And it, you know, in his extreme OCD in his mind was like, you know, I, he can't touch this because it's dirty. Right. And, you know, it went as far as I probably shouldn't tell this story, but I'm, I'm, I don't care. Um, he, he actually told me that when I was in first grade and it stuck with me till now, uh, when I was in first grade, he pulled me aside and he said on, before I was in first grade, he pulled me aside and he said, um, before I was in first grade, he pulled me aside and he said, before my first day of school, don't, if you have to go number two, don't use the bathroom at school. And I said, wait, why? And he said, because there's germs on it and the germs could kill you. And which, you know, it's funny now it's ridiculous that he told me that. Yeah. So at a recess that it came and I had to go number two, but I didn't want to die. So I stood in the yard, the school yard, and I had to go in my pants because that was the only way. Oh. Not to die. But the thing is, is I went back into the classroom, had to hide it. I remember my mom having to come bring clothes. This is in first grade. Wow. And my mom asking me, why did you do that? Why didn't you just go to the bathroom? I said, I didn't want to die. And she pulled me aside because the school nurse was like, what? And she pulled me aside. And I said, because dad told me that if you use, if you touch the bathroom, you could die. And so it's been like that, you know, now I look back on it and it's funny, but you know, it's because of his. His, you know, mental state and his state of mind where he just couldn't deal with that. How else did it, did it play in your childhood? I know that every time, well, every time, every time I had to like use a public restroom because his, that's his nightmare is restrooms and hospitals or doctor's office, anything. So a hospital restroom is the worst. Yes. That is the worst. Yes. And, but he used to do this thing where I had to, to pee in the, in the urinal. So he would hold me up so that. I wasn't touching anything. And once I was done, he would just shake me, which probably didn't look good because he's shaking a little kid, you know, in the back. Never looks good. No. Trust me. But I just remember that, you know, he was telling me that the first time I ever in a crowded restaurant came out of the bathroom and yelled across the restaurant. I said, dad, dad, I didn't touch anything. And he was, he was so proud. My mom was so embarrassed. And that's just was my childhood was, you know, don't touch this once someone else has touched. It don't do this. Don't, you know, everything was very, but it was normal because you grow up in that. And it wasn't weird to me. It wasn't like people go, was it hard growing up with, with that? No. You know, and, and same with when people say, what is it like having a dad, you know, like that now? And I say, well, I don't know any different. I haven't had any other fathers. Right. So. Well, having worked closely with your dad many years, I find that some of that stuff does rub off on me and other people who've worked with them. Yeah. You know? Yeah. Especially the bathroom stuff. I mean, he makes sense. Every, everyone that works with him for a long enough period of time, all of a sudden they don't want to shake hands or they're not touching. All of a sudden they're a little bit more conscious about it. And he knows he's, he's like, has his craziness about it. And if you say, do you think it's normal? He'll say no. Well, yeah. And for a while it was a secret, right? I mean, he didn't, wasn't very public about it. He, it was, it was, he was very quiet about it just because mental health. Wasn't really a known issue. It was, um, you know, it w I mean, it wasn't, it was a known issue. It wasn't really a respected issue. It was like, as soon as something's mentally wrong with you, there's, you know, it's a terrible thing when truthfully, you know, his belief is, you know, you go to the dentist to maintain your teeth. You go to the doctor for regular physicals. Why shouldn't you be checking up, you know, mentally with a therapist, which is a big part of everyone's life. And so he, you know, is so proud now. To say like, I do go to therapy. This is what helps me every day that. So now he's able to, it's a bit freeing for him that he could tell people and share it. Yeah. And it also makes it freer for other people. Yeah. I go to therapy and I, you know, probably, um, the more people are open about it, the more comfortable I feel, you know, to talk about it. And I agree with your dad's philosophy. And also I think it's, it makes for a healthier child, you know, and you, because there's no stigma. If you wanted to go see a therapist at any point, it's only encouraged. I'd imagine. Because what's wrong with you? And that's, you know, that's, that's exactly what it was. You know, there was things that were hard for me when I was, you know, I wasn't very good in school. I just never was. And that had to do with not like pretty much my ADHD, which I believe also came from my father. I just couldn't, you know, yeah, you know, I had every sort of, uh, um, letter you can have ABC, all this stuff, you know? Uh, but I had ADHD and still do. And it, it just. You've been very good here. You've been very focused. Well, look, if you see people can't see it, but I've been, if you notice, I touched the microphone, I've been grabbing my, I'm like, I need to be fidgety at least a little bit. Right. But you know, it's just, um, in school it came down to homework actually, which sounds like a lazy excuse, you know, oh, he's just not doing his homework because he's lazy. But the thing was, is just no matter how much I said, oh, you're going to go home and do your homework. I would go home. And I'd be like, um. You know, I'm going to do this first and this and this and this and this, and then nothing happens and I don't end up doing it. And so they moved me to a, uh, private school where I'd have a little, it was, I only had about 25 kids in my grade. Wow. And so you could graduate number 25 in the class and that would sound good. Yes. But not quite that impressive. Because no one needs to know how many they actually were. Right. So you could say you're in the top 25. Yeah. At all times. Exactly. Was that your high school? My high school. Yes. And it was great and it worked for me and everything like that. But it was just, um, that was like everything where I felt like you always feel, cause that's something mental as well. And that's something I felt really bad about was just that, you know, I felt like I was, I couldn't do this. I'm not capable of doing this. And no matter how much my mom or my dad or anyone else would say, you know, it has nothing to do with being able to do this. You're still smart. You're still being able to actually, you know, know the information. You just aren't getting it. You're just writing things done. And so at that point, yeah, my dad was like, you know, you should talk to someone, see if they could help you. And it was, you know, never wanted to go down the medication route or anything like that. But I tried, um, you know, different methods and different things helped me. And to this day, uh, people ask me about what I, what I do. And I say I'm an actor or I like to produce my own, you know, shorts or whatever I can produce. And when you say shorts, you don't mean producing them. You mean like video, you don't make like shorts. Like you don't make under. Well, from like from the high school I went to, I actually did learn how to sew and we had to make sure I can make shorts. Okay. Yes. But short videos is what I, what I should specify. Um, no. Yeah. So short films is, is better, better understanding. But um, uh, see, here goes my ADHD. Where was, what was I telling you? I don't know. I think I have a touch of it too. I think we were talking about your film coming out. No, I'm kidding. That was like 10 minutes ago. Um, you were talking about, um, you were talking about, um, you were talking about, um, you were talking about, um, hey, the number here is 800-893-9562. If you'd like to give us a call, I'm talking with Alex Mandel, 800-893-9562. Um, you're talking about fidgeting, um, your ADHD in school. Yeah. I'm probably the wrong guy. No, no, this is, this is great. I just liked that both of us totally. Yeah. Okay. I feel it's more, it's more on me cause I'm the host. Like you're get off. I'm like, you know, but I'm, I have some of this too. So it's interesting to hear that from you. I think it's a creative thing. Oh, I do know where I was going with this. Good. Yes. I just, it just popped back in my head. But, um, I was saying that like when, right now, when I, you know, have any sort of, I want to do something like business wise, cause I do these, I'm an actor do producing that kind of stuff. Any interest I have, I have to be a professional at it. That's like my OCD is. I need to literally sleep in my bed next to my bed. I need to literally sleep in my bed next to my bed. I need to literally sleep in my bed next to my laptop because when I have an interest, I need to do tons and tons of research so that I know everything about it. Like you're a really good editor. Uh, yes. And I went to school for editing and you know, avid certified and that, that was great, you know, for me cause now I could edit all my own videos that I want to do or even for my dad's projects too. I do a editing for them as well. Right. So the OCD in that case has been, has paid off. Yeah. I mean, you know, even to, I had an interest. I was still having an interest in bartending. So I went to bartending school. I hadn't, you know, anything I have, I'm having an interest in real estate, so I'm going to real estate school right now. Are you really? Yeah. So I'm doing that. And then I was like, oh, you know what? It might be cool to become a ordained minister. So I did that. So anything, anything I have an interest in, I just kind of do it. So the most dangerous word in the world for you is Google. Yes. You decide you want to like, um, you just parked your car downstairs. Did you have any interest in like bartending? Like parking attendant type work? Cause I mean like this could come at any time, right? You know, honestly, I'll, I'll do something. I walked into here, not gonna lie, walked into here. It's like, Hmm, I wonder if I could put something together. Like, like it's just like, oh, how could I do this? How could I, I always think about, you know, the next sort of thing I can, I can work on now, where my ADHD is a problem is, am I going to finish that? Because I start so many things. Well, you had the Samuel, if you want to check out some of, um, Alex's work, he had a, he created a character called Samuel. Now I thought you were really good about keeping that going. And sometimes, and from what you shared with me creatively, you kind of hit the end of the road with that one. I mean, sometimes it's, sometimes there is the right time to walk away. I don't know if it was or not, but it sounded like from what you shared with me, that wasn't a case of you losing focus or getting tired of it. No. And the thing is, once I get started with something, it's about trying to get things, you know, trying to get things started. Once it's going great. I cause you know, it's exciting and everything like that. And the thing with Samuel videos that I have on my YouTube channel, um, they were great because it was funny. It was kind of sometimes inappropriate. Um, a lot of times inappropriate, always inappropriate, always inappropriate, but they were, you know, they were fun. And the thing was, is my favorite part about it was to go out, even my friends and them quoting things. And it was like, these are my own friends that are like loving it. Loving these, you know, I get to entertain them. And that's my favorite thing is if I could stand in a room, make someone laugh or, you know, do that. It's great when I could make a video and make thousands of people laugh or, you know, at least be entertained. That's awesome. Which is why YouTube is such a great tool for me because I had can have these ideas and put them out in video form. Well, let's talk about YouTube for a moment. I do have a project right now that people can check into. Uh, actually if, if you, people do subscribe to my YouTube channel now. I'm currently writing a whole series of short films. They're not related episode after episode, but they are, um, you know, I'm going to start releasing a new one every week. And the thing is, is with Samuel, I found out, I mean, I found that, you know, I was so excited. The first ever Samuel I put up, I didn't have a huge following on, on YouTube or anything like that. And overnight, just because my friends sharing and stuff like that, I wake up the next morning cause I upload it late in the afternoon. I wake up and it has a thousand views. And you know, YouTube wise, that's not a million views. I hate that. But for me it was like, oh my God, a thousand people saw this. Yeah. That is incredible. You know, people are already writing to me, things like that. And that was just so exciting that I had to keep doing it. But the thing was, is Samuel was so had such a structure that I was only able to change a few things. Once you knew the structure and you've seen the structure over and over again, I watched my view count start to drop a little. And as soon as I start to see it drop throughout the week. complications. Or at least slow down and how fast the view counts would come in. I realized I need to change it up. So I made a few changes, but it was still always the same structure. So now I want to do, you know, I was stuck with that character. And now I want to make, um, videos every week that are completely different. So, you know, you may, some people may love one video, which happened with Samuel and hate another one. And other people loved the one someone hated. So this way, if I make a new one, a completely new one every week. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. make a new one, a completely new one every week, then, you know, you may not like this week's, but next week's is completely different. Yeah. I think, I think that's a really smart way of going. How far along are you right now? I actually have two complete, completely written and cast and ready to go. We're going to start shooting them as soon as we can. When are you launching? I don't have an exact. I'm trying to pin you down. Yeah. I'm trying to sound like I got my, my stuff together right now, but. Well, let's say this, they should check in with you on, you know, subscribe to your YouTube page and that will naturally bring them when the series is up, they'll get it, right? Yeah. They'll get an email saying that a new video is up. And then from that point on, they'll know that there's a new one coming. And it's Alex Mandel. Yeah. Just youtube.com slash Alex Mandel. And same with, with Twitter is at Alex Mandel. Cause I do write all the progress that, you know, is going on with that. So that I do. I do keep people updated and they'll know what's going on, but these shorts are great. I'm having fun writing them. Yeah. I think that's really good. And that's, that's kind of, I think that's the way to go. If you know, it's, it's, it's, it can bring so much, uh, you know, exposure and, and also you're learning a lot. I mean, I know whenever I do a video, I learn a lot just from the process and the comments that come in, you know, as much as there's bad comments and good comments that, you know, sometimes the bad ones, people go, well, why don't, why don't you just delete them? Cause you do have the power to delete them. I'll never delete a negative comment because people, you know, it may start up an argument on my, you know, well, getting people moved is a big deal. Yes. Either way, either way. If someone's emotional, I think that's a success. Yeah. You know, if it brings attention to it, these people, they're writing negative things and there was, you know, certain people that wrote negative things on every video I released, but as much as they're writing negative videos, they're negative comments. That means they're watching every video. So thank you for, that's right. I agree. You know, one thing that's really impressed me among other things is you seem, you appear to be very grounded. You know, you seem to have like, and you're only 23 and there are a lot of people who've grown up in the kind of lifestyle you've lived in, you know, being in a celebrity type world that I don't see this kind of groundedness. And am I delusional? Is there a side of you that I'm missing? Are you like an animal when you walk, away from me? I am, you know, known to be pretty wild and crazy, you know, amongst my friends. You seem responsible. Yes. And the thing is, is I do owe that to my parents. And I have to say that, you know, my people ask my dad, you probably didn't see him a lot when you were young. Well, the thing is I did. I probably saw him more than a lot of kids saw their dad because if he was, you know, gone for an extended period of time, he turned it into a vacation. So we would, the whole family would go with him while he would work. Or, you know, if he was doing shows in Vegas or anything like that, he would make the effort to come back every night, fly back every night so that he could wake up, wake us up for school. We have breakfast, everything that together. Then he flies out, does all his work in Vegas, and then flies back that night again to do that. And he makes sure that he's not out of town, you know, for any extended period of time without so that he was there in our lives, which was important, you know, and he felt that was important. That was great. And so that was, you know, that meant a lot to me and was, was very respected, respected. You know, I respected that very highly of him. And, you know, even though I wanted to be getting the business from when I was really young, he kept saying, no, no, no, you need to go to school. If you want to be in this business, you need, you can go do community theater or school theater or anything you want, you know, on that, in that sort. And he said, when you're 16, you could drive, you could drive yourself to auditions. Well, I turned 16 and he said, you know what? When you're 18, you can make a decision whether you want to do this because then you'd be an adult. And now he did, you know, over the summer, if he had a show going, he was always, you know, I have a part for you, you should come in and it was fun. And it was, you know, I ended up apparently being kind of good at it because people were hiring me on other things. I don't ever like to say, you know, to praise myself, but, you know, people were hiring me on other things and asking me to do this. I've worked with you. You're great. I mean, I can just say that we've worked on a couple shows together, which has been amazing. Yeah. They've been a lot of fun. And so, yeah, when I, when I turned 18, I, this is what I wanted to do. And, you know, and he was never going to be like, oh, you shouldn't do it now. Then he was, you know, 100% behind me with everything I wanted to do. He supported everything I want to do. And if I'm really like set towards something, he'll guide me always in the right direction, but, you know, he's going to support anything I want to do, which was always great. And he always instilled everything in me that was important, you know, schooling and family, and everything. So I felt like I grew up in a life, not like many kids who have, you know, celebrity or well-known parents who don't have that, you know, it's like, oh, go do what you want. I'm going to be gone for a while. Go do this. You know, I ha I do have friends that are in a completely different direction. I'm not going to say any names, but, you know, I have friends that didn't wind up, you know, having the correct, you know, mindset in, in the way to live their life. And they're doing bad things or they're ending up in rehab or they're doing, you know. But your mom has a lot to do with the way you were raised too. Yes. Yes. Definitely. I think your mom's amazing and, and so down to earth as well. Yeah. And they're always willing to, you know, it's never a solid structure with our family. It's always, you know, I was having problems. So my parents, you know, did the work to find out how are we going to help him rather than, you know, do this, do, you know, they were never, it was always, you know, let's do what's right for them and not, you know, not care about what society says is the right thing to do. And then little did they know nowadays, it is the right thing to do what they were, you know, the way they raised me with, you know, being okay and switching schools and everything was, was to do, to make sure that I was happy and that I was doing well and everything that my two sisters, them too, you know, my older sister, Jackie had a lot of problems growing up. She got into a lot of bad things that was terrible in school and still managed to go to the, you know, the college she wanted to go to. And the first year she almost failed out. And, you know, she's, hopefully she's not listening. She's like, no, because this is a good, I promise. There's a happy ending. Yes, there's a happy ending. And she's, she, so she went there and they said, you know, we're not going to pay for this if you're not going to try. And the thing was, is it had nothing to do with my parents. It was just the crowd she was in, you know, especially from the high school she went to, which. It was a public school. It was a public school. Yes. And that was probably a choice. What? So that you guys would have a, I know you went to private school. Originally you were in a public business. So you'd have a normal public life experience. Yeah. And that's, that's why she was there. And you know, it, I know that a lot of the people that go to those schools are, or that school in particular, you know, I'm not going to say any negative about it, but it did have, you know, a lot of bad people. Well, then something happened where she was away from those people and she had more of an influence of my parents. And this was in high school. She changed schools or. Well, no, when she went to college. Okay. She wasn't in that. She wasn't in high school anymore. Right. So she wasn't around those people. She got a whole new group of friends and everything like that. And then she went off to graduate that and go to graduate school at UCLA and graduated there with a degree in education and got her master's in education. And now she's a teacher teaching for underprivileged, you know, kids. And she's like, you know, got her life together. She's getting married, everything like that. So everything was, you know, worked out. And I just think it like, if it was just to, really to the way my parents raised us, I would say that it was, that's why I am the way I am. I look at me going off on a tangent and you're trying to figure out what I'm talking about because I'm trying to figure out what I'm talking about. No, I do. It does make sense. I mean, I think what you're saying is you're showing how your parents have, how they parented your sister. Yes. And how that all worked out. Yeah. And how they've perhaps some of the style they used with your sister, they've also used with you. Yeah. And, and the thing was, is they, they were able to, you know, they, like I said before, my dad is totally open to therapy and everything like that. So he did that with my sister. Cause he said, I don't want to punish you for this. I want to know why you are the way you are. I want to know how I could help you, how I could do this and everything like that. And, you know, that's ended up ultimately what helped my whole family and my parents with my sister. So there was stress with everyone around it. Oh yeah. You know, and I'm in the other room while, you know, they're having a fight, you know, and it ended up they, because they know how to handle it and they know what the, correct thing to do is. And, you know, my mom and my dad both grew up in Toronto. It's not like my dad became big and then met my mom, you know, when he was, it's not like that. It had nothing to do with that. He grew up with the morals of, you know, families first, this is who I grew up with. This is, you know, everything and grew up from living in where he shared a bedroom with his brother in a small apartment. So, you know, he, uh, with his whole family actually. And not a bedroom with the whole family. I love your grandma, grandmother. I couldn't imagine everyone in the one room. Yeah. No, especially, especially with my, with my dad in there, he's plays jokes on everyone, even including me. Right. And which embarrasses me a lot of the time, um, all the way back from when I can, from before I can remember a lot of times inappropriate. Because what's the, uh, what's the one thing you remember the most embarrassing joke or prank your dad pulled on you? Oh, this one comes straight to the top of my head. Um, he, okay. This is gonna sound weird on my dad's side of the family. For some reason, we have like extra bones that grow like an extra, he has something weird in his back where he caused him to bat back. My sister has an extra bone in his back. I don't know. Something like that, which caused him to have a bad back. My sister has two knees. My older sister, I, she probably does not want me saying this. You mean two knees and one leg? In one leg. Two knees and one leg. Cause you're supposed to have two knees. Yes. You're right. She has three. It's not actually, it doesn't have a joint. She can't bend it sideways, but she has like an extra like bone that comes out of like. She should be just an amazing dancer. Um, you would think. You would. I, I don't. But if she knees you in the balls, it's gonna really hurt. Yes. Cause she's gonna need for each nut. But, but she, uh, she, um, has that. And then for me, my, the right side of my chest is a little bit higher than the left because there's like, I guess an extra bone in my chest or something like a, a growth, but that sounds so weird. And I'm not saying that's a good thing. I'm not saying that's a good thing. I'm not saying I have some growth in my chest. Okay. But I went to the doctor when I was in fifth grade, I went to the doctor and the, uh, doctor, I guess had talked to my dad and pre-planned this when I was waiting in the, in the doctor's office. And he came in and he said, um, what you have is actually a boner. And I said, I, you know, I, cause I'm in fifth grade. I I'm going to laugh at everything, you know, at that. And I'm still laughing now. Uh, but he says, he says, you have a boner. I said, what are you, what are you talking about? And so I'm laughing. He goes, no, it's not funny. He goes actually, and had this whole like reasoning. Yeah. The doctor is telling me that it's because, um, and my dad's in there too, like explaining. And my dad says, you know how, like he goes, that's actually where the term came from. He goes, you have a bone in your chest and there's a bone protruding from it. It's coming out. He goes, so that's why they actually called the, you know, down there. It's like, it's like a bone coming out, you know, protruding from it. And I was like, Oh, so it made sense. Right. You know, of course. So I have a bone in my chest and I said, well, what should I do about it? And my dad said, you probably shouldn't do PE, shouldn't do physical education. So he forgot to tell me he was kidding. I went to school and I was sitting in PE with my whole like fifth grade class and we're all going to do PE. And the coaches, you know, we called our like teachers are standing there and I raised my hand and they called on me and I told them that, I can't do PE today. And they asked why I said, it's because I have a boner. No way. I expected them to know because, you know, these are health coaches. They know like all this stuff. And you swear to God, I swear to God, I told them I can't do PE because I have a boner. And they, they kind of chuckled a little bit, but like tried to stay really certain. They said, what did you just say? I said, I have a boner. It's in my chest. I'm not lying. I went to the doctor to get my boner checked out. And they, you know, everyone, the whole grade is looking at me and laughing. And I'm kind of like, don't know what to think right now. Just embarrassed. And I'm kind of trying to smile, but at the same time, you know, I thought I have this medical problem and here's all these people laughing at me. They sent me to the principal's office. So they said, tell her. And I said, I can't do PE because I have a boner. And she said, she called my parents and I could overhear on the phone and she's calls my, and my mom answers. She says, why is your son saying that he can't do PE because he has a boner? And she goes, and I could just hear over the phone going, Howie, what did you tell him that he is? He goes, oh my God. And he, and I could, you know, my dad then told my mom that he forgot to tell me he was kidding. So he had to make an apology, write an apology letter to the, to the school. Your dad. Principal. Yep. And had to apologize for me saying that in front of my whole class and had to say that it was inappropriate because we're in fifth grade and everything. But it's, it's things like that, you know, little thing that was one of the bigger ones, but there's things like that as I was growing up. Is there one other story that's that funny? That's a great one. Well, I'm not going to ruin that story by saying another one because there's, that one's really like, that's the king of kings. Just because, you know, what kid in fifth grade wants to raise his hand in front of his whole grade and tell everyone that he can't do PE because he has a boner. Was this co-ed? Yes. Oh. Yes. So. I think it's also horrible that you said it was in your chest. Like, I'd be wondering how did the boner get in your chest? Well, I'm sure everyone else was wondering that too, but it kind of haunted me for a little while. They call you boner at school and stuff? No, it was just like, you know, I would be like tired and they go, oh, are you taking a break because you're boner? You know, everything that's no, I'm not, no, you know, everything was just so, I was embarrassed because I felt so stupid that I believed that. Right. That's really good. How, when did you realize how, and maybe you haven't yet, because it's hard. What a genius your dad is. Has it ever struck you like, wow, he really is incredibly gifted? Yes. I, you know, he just, he does amaze me with everything he does because he has like, he does everything. He does, you know, he's. He doesn't change a tire. No, he doesn't do that. When I say he does everything, I mean, he's like, you know, all over the place, like does things because, you know, I don't know if he wants me to say his age, but he's, he's. Doesn't care. He's getting older. I mean, yeah. And he, he's getting older, but the thing is, is he still like, he'll push himself until he's literally on the floor. I've seen him on the floor. He goes like, yeah, he, he calls, I call him, I go, where are you? To see if he wants to go get lunch. Oh, I'm in New York. It's like, oh, when did you go to New York? Oh, no, no, I'll be back tonight. Don't worry. Then he comes back and the next, and then he may go to three, like, he's like, do you want to come with me to something? He goes to three or four cities around the US in a day. And then he still has to, he's producing like, you know, anywhere from four to 10 shows at a time with his, you know, company with NBC. And he's doing like all this stuff and it's just, I don't even know how he does it or how he can power through it, but he'll work until he's literally sick in bed, can't do anything. And which doesn't happen often because he doesn't touch anything. So he doesn't get a lot of germs. But no, I know, I know what you mean. I mean, I've, I've had the good fortune of seeing it up close and it is amazing. His drive is just incredible. Yeah. And he just is so driven to do everything that he wants. That he does everything that he wants to do. Yeah. What about as a kid or even as an adult, was there a time when, do you remember the first time you were like, wow, he's kind of famous? I mean, like, was that a moment in your life where it kind of occurred to you? He's not just my dad or you were watching a show with him or? Well, the thing is, is when I was growing up, he was bigger. When I was young, he was bigger in the comedy world and everything like that. And my friends weren't watching his comedy. So when I was in like elementary school or even going into middle school, but their parents knew who he was. So all my friends would say, my parents say that your dad's famous or anything like that. And it really, you know, it was cool. There was still like, you know, I would go places and it was still crazy. And I still, he would still have a lot of people coming up and asking to take pictures and his autograph. But it wasn't around my friends until really deal or no deal came around. Then it was people my age knowing who he was. That's really interesting. I wouldn't have expected that answer. Yeah. It's just, it didn't actually, you know, hit my friends level. What about you? Is that when it hit you more? That's when it, that's when I had to be a little bit more, I don't want to say cautious about it, but cautious about it just because there was a lot of people trying to contact me for, you know, to get through to him or people becoming my friend and I finding out for the wrong reason because they're trying to get things out of it. Or even as far as relationship wise. His girls thought it was cool to be, you know, dating or whatever his son, which is not, I don't think anyone wants to date a girl knowing that she's going out with him because of his father. But, you know, for any reason, but that's where I had to start being a little bit more cautious with everything. You know, what are some things that, you know, some of the things I've learned from your dad, I mean, there's, it's hard to even say them because there are so many. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. how hard he works and, you know, his talent is his natural wit as well as what he works on. I mean, he's, he's, there's, you know, just like one of the ideas, I mean, that Nike saying, just do it. I know that's a big idea of his. I mean, I, and not that it came, not that he gave it to Nike, but the idea of, has he shared that with you? You know, that he's, and he will continue, like he says, he knows it's cliche and he knows it's Nike's thing and everything. But the one thing that when people say like, how do I get into this? How do I, you know, a lot of people go, you know, I'm a big fan of your work. How do I get started with comedy? How do I, and he says, he goes, as much as I hate to say, because it's that he goes, I love to say, just do it. He goes, that's what you have to do. You know, he started his career on a, on a dare where they dared him to go up on amateur night at a comedy club and he just did it. And that's what started his career. And he says, you know, from then on, or even before that, that's what his philosophy is. If you want to do, something, just do it. You know, with, and he's told that to me and we've had some amazing conversations. And I think that, you know, that's a side that people don't get the opportunity, the privilege to get to know is the serious side of him. Cause it's, there's a real, there's a Yiddish word, Hamisha, you know, Hamisha is a good. I have no idea. Yeah. But that's what, you know, and, and that's, those conversations are particularly really special. Yeah. And it's a different side of him that, that a lot of people don't get to know. With my father, he's he's really successful in the insurance business. And there are people that have worked with him over the years who, who love him. Look at him as a mentor as I can do, look at your father that way. And I wonder being my dad's son, it's great. Cause I've known him forever, but there's something I miss in that I never got that fresh meeting. What do you mean? It's hard to describe. Like with my dad, like he's my dad. Yeah. I get my dad's very successful and he has all these great qualities, but the familiarity is so there that I never had. There's also a benefit sometimes to meeting someone. Like if I wonder what that experience would be for me, if I, he weren't my dad and I met him, would I be blown away more or would I? Yeah. You mean, if you're not related to him? Yeah. Like your dad is your dad. Yes. As much as. You know, but I meet your dad and I have this, you know, incredible life altering type, you know, really special experience. Yeah. That's just unique because only I could have it as meeting him when I did in my life. Yeah. And. Do you ever think about that? I do think about that. And I also think about it in the reverse, which is he thinks I'm great. He thinks, you know, he's always go, oh, you're so talented with this and everything like that. But I'm also his son. Would he think the same of me if I wasn't his son? Would he actually be like, you know, right now he wants to get a show going with me. We want to work together and everything like that. What is he doing? Yes, he's doing it because I'm a son. But at the same time, reverse what you're saying is, would he still be just as like, you know, amazed at what I'm doing or, or, you know, my talent or anything like that? And then going to what you're saying is I do wonder what it would be like to meet him if he wasn't. And, you know, it would be weird. And I see other people that meet him. And the thing is, you know, I'm not a son. And the thing is, is when they're so amazed by him and they're, you know, and it's so great. I just, I enjoy it because I'm like, I'm very proud of my dad with everything he does. And I, you know, if it wasn't socially not okay for me to be going out and shouting out who my dad is, the only reason I would be is because I think it's so great that what he's doing that I want to share with people like he's doing this and this is so crazy. I'm proud of what he's doing. And I'm proud to say this is what he's doing. And I'm his son. You know, people are saying this is such an important man. I'm his son. I'm so proud to be called a son. Unfortunately, socially, that's not okay, because that means I'm trying to get something out of it in everyone's mind. So, you know, but yes, I do wonder what it would be. But I do get to see other people meeting him and watching and seeing like, you know, he is a great, you know, great guy and a genius with what he does. And even on his philosophies on life, and you had the opportunity to talk to him on a level that a lot of people, people don't, which is on a serious level, because he's a funny guy. And I love it. Yeah. And he's very smart. You know, he's a very smart man when you get to actually have a conversation with him, a serious conversation. Yeah, definitely. And, you know, very thoughtful. Yeah. You know, and also the love for you guys, you know, his family is, you know, he really is a great example, because he does maintain the family values. And the fact he did marry your mom, someone he met in high school, I think that's just not that one can't have a great marriage, meeting someone later in life. Yeah. But their bond is, is so great to see, you know, and I hate to say this, but I'd like to say it also is, I'm sure relationships get tested when he's gone. And, you know, and especially in a world where everyone wants to, you know, say hi to him or see him. I'm sure there's a lot of women that try to throw themselves at him. And, you know, and he's, my dad is, it's probably took a lot for him to be able to do that. And, you know, and he's, my dad is, it's probably took a lot for him to be like, okay, with him leaving town, and her being, you know, back to take care of the kids to take care of us or anything like that. And the thing is, is, I know that she was never because my dad has like these values that are so important to him. And partly, yes, like what you're saying is he met my mom in high school and grew up with her. And this is something you know, so his this is like important to him, his family and everything and nothing gets, you know, nothing becomes more important than that to him in in any world. Everything's first. Well, that's the interesting thing. You know, there are many kind of say, like, there's things about him that are unpredictable, like, you know, a lot of these guys in comedy, you know, I do stand up and, and we see other comics, they have a lot of troubles, you know, with their personal lives, a lot of them, you know, emotional stuff. And, and, you know, yet your dad has maintained this stability in his personal life. That is really fascinating to see. Because, especially if you look at his stuff early on, he just was kind of, you know, very physical and the what, what, what, and, you know, a lot of props and, and zany kind of, you know, wild. And like, you know, deep down, there's this guy who's actually very serious minded, who eventually wants to have a family and makes that his top priority. It's just an interesting combination. Yeah, he was he was always, you know, when he was young, was always known to be a super crazy, you know, comedian. Guy always like, off the walls and everything like that. And so that's, you know, I'm happy that he was able to, you know, see what was important in his life and everything like that. And he you've got to go from jokester to in my mind, perfect father was is important to me. I don't know anything before perfect father, right? You know, I seem to and not again, not to praise myself or not to, you know, speak highly of myself. But the one thing I hear from a lot of people is they're surprised that I, you know, talk to them or hang out with them. And then they get to know me. And they're like, you know, I have to say, you really have your head on straight, or you're just such a normal guy, you know, you're not like, you know, if I don't know what I could say on here, but you know, about Lindsay Lohan or some or Paris Hilton, or I don't know, some people, you could have a reality people are shocked. And they they want they right away. Sometimes people are shocked. And they they want they right away. Sometimes people are shocked. And they they want they right away. Sometimes people judge me. And they think, oh, he thinks he's so cool. I'm just, you know, having fun. I'm always doing this. And it shocks me that when people think like, oh, what, even when they say like, oh, you're such a down to earth kind of guy. It's like, well, why wouldn't I be? Are you expecting me not to be? Are you you know, anything like that? And the thing was, I just think I was raised right, or correct. And that's something that's never really fazed me is, I don't know how these other people weren't. I don't know what went on that that, you know, where you only know what you know. Yeah, exactly. And yeah, and I've enjoyed getting getting to know you as an adult. Because I didn't get I didn't really know you as a child. You know, you're kind of quiet and would run off and do your own thing. And so it is interesting. I've also when we've had the opportunity to work together, which is just a great experience and amazing. You know, it must be weird for you because you remember me from when you're a little boy, and then we're doing stuff together creatively, even sitting right here. Yeah. That might be a little weird for you. I don't know. But it's it's definitely in the, you know, and I think of you as an equal. You know, this isn't like I'm thinking of you as a child here. Yeah, no, and that's and that's great. And the thing is, is there's sometimes when I, when I do get, you know, at the age I'm at, I'll work with my dad on things and everything like that. And in my mind, it's like, I'm still his son. And like, for you, you've known me since I was very young. So it's that it that does go through my mind is do am I still the little boy or myself, you know, and it's, you know, I'm still the little boy. And I'm still the little boy. And it does mean a lot to work at the same level. As you know, I because I do respect everything you do and love your work. And it's, it makes me laugh every time. That's nice. Thanks. You know, I did grow up with with you at every birthday party diving in the pool and your speedo and cat mask. But July 4th party. Yes. Yes. The last one, Frank might take a break. Oh, yeah. I think so. Well, for a little bit. Frank's my cousin. You don't know. And he sometimes shows up in a cat mask and a speedo. Well, you also I live in Malibu right now. And there's a pillow on my couch that I believe Frank, the Frank sent. I sent it on Frank's behalf. Oh, yeah, you sent it on Frank's behalf. That's it. But it's it's a Frank in a speedo hosing by the pool. And that's definitely a conversation starter. The house when when people come over. Starter and an ender. Well, listen, Alex, we're almost out of time. But is there any where can people find you? On Twitter at Alex Mandel or YouTube, if youtube.com slash Alex Mandel, or even on Facebook. Okay. And I want to thank you for taking the time to come all the way here downtown. And like I said, I'm really excited for you. Proud of you. And so happy for how life is is showing, you know, forming for you. It's just great to watch. So thanks again. I appreciate it. Yeah. Well, thanks again. I appreciate it. And thank you for listening right here on Vic Cones. It's a fair question. I'm Vic Cohen. And it's a fair question. It's a fair question. It's a fair question. It's a higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher higher I'm Vic Cohen, and it's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair, it's a fair quest, quest, quest.