Do you mind telling me what the breakdown was about?

Well, the breakdown was about was, well, first off, I, at 59 years old, I was just diagnosed with bipolar.

At 50 fucking 9, okay? And I didn't know what to make when they're testing different things, what works, what doesn't work.

Working on the show, The Goldbergs, I went home, and I'd, my drive home, I go, "Why did I apologize so much today?" Bipolar.

You didn't know which Jeff you were gonna get.

You know, happy-go-lucky, depressed, angry.

Once I found out, it explained my whole life to me in that fashion.

... whether you like it or hate it or whatever, do you feel now you would still be misunderstood doing that, or has it, has the room changed to please?

Well, I feel like Bruce does owe you one because you did give him his funniest line in the episode of Curb, right?

Oh, you know that.

Oh, you've read me saying that because I don't ever talk about that.

I'm now starting to talk about that.

So we did this show and I'm apt to, you know, I'm not really there for punch up.

You know, my job as a producer is to try and make the scene better and help Larry's vision get on the screen.

That's really my job as a producer is But sometimes, boom, you know, something occurs to me.

I'm curious if you could just share some memories of some of those figures who you have in the book who we've lost.

Tell me how.

On so many levels.

Well, I, I can go to the earliest of, of that was my way into relationships with other children Young adults.

Like all through, uh, elementary school, I was the funniest kid.

Junior high, high school, unequivocally.

That was a sense of pride for me, and I love how pe- ma- wh- m- uh, how I made people laugh.

But also, it w- made it easier for me to make friends.

[laughs]

Is it is it laughs or food first?

Oh, always laughs.

Comedy has dominated my life since probably, well, I started showing that I was funny very young.

I would do things, I'd be in the bat.

I remember the first joke my parents told me was the first joke, funny thing I did.

One thing as a kid, you find joy in whatever.

The boxes, like when kids get a toy in a box, sometimes the box is more interesting.

As the lead actor in one of the most successful TV shows at the time.

It's

kind of offensive.

If you know everyone in comedy.

Almost every guest actor who was remotely comedic, I did know.

Anyhow, so years later we were at lunch and he was asking me about the comedy scene and he said, HBO really wants me to do something.

And I said, well I've got the perfect idea for you.

And I had been on the road with Jon Stewart and Dennis Leary helping to develop their specials, their HBO specials.

I'll be

Mm.

That's, that's the time y- you use it editing.

But, so Bruce Springsteen, who by the way was everything I dreamt he would be.

Everything.

I was very nervous to meet him.

What a guy.

Fantastic.

[laughs]

(laughs)

No, no hits.

And they stuck with him.

They stuck with him.

And then from that moment on, whenever that 0 for 30, he just took off.

Prior to Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs were worthless.

Uh, they were not good.

(laughs)

(laughs)

Okay? And so what am I gonna do? He didn't, he, I, I gave that to him like running around the set, "Me! Me!" So I never talked about it.

So here I am on your show letting people know my brain.

And I also came out with, um, uh, who the leader of the, um... (laughs)...

the big Johnson community was.

I went to JB, I go, "Say Horse C. Williams."

I bet.

He asked for me to come to his dressing room, which he doesn't do, after the show.

You think everyone's buying it as a gag?

No, mostly they're buying it 'cause it's funny.

There is a great percentage who love Kentucky Fried Chicken and think their breath is good with it.

Here's a statement on our country.

Los Angeles Dodgers, I go to the game Friday night.

First person they introduce is a fire- a fireman who fought, uh, the Altadena fires for 38 straight hours.

Okay, well, yeah.

...

Yes.

Today is a beautiful, wonderful day.

I had a delightful day filming Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I am in a great mood.

And then our friend, Doug Robinson, texts me-

Yes.

... with a capital letter, Russell Wilson.

He says, "You know, Rich doesn't usually get the scoops.