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The Three Questions with Andy Richter

The Three Questions with Andy Richter

Justin Halpern

Aug 25, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min · 17 segments

Writer and Abbott Elementary executive producer Justin Halpern joins Andy Richter to discuss the weird world of network television testing, his best-selling book (and subsequent TV show) Sh\*t My Dad…

Writer and Abbott Elementary executive producer Justin Halpern joins Andy Richter to discuss the weird world of network television testing, his best-selling book (and subsequent TV show) Sh\*t My Dad Says, his unique path to TV writing, the amazing William Shatner, and his debut novel, Get Lost. Do you want to talk to Andy and his comedian friends live on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Radio? Tell us your favorite dinner party story (about anything!) or ask a question - leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Writer and Abbott Elementary executive producer Justin Halpern joins Andy Richter to discuss the weird world of network television testing, his best-selling book (and subsequent TV show) Sh\*t My Dad…

Speakers: Justin HalpernGuestAndy RichterHost

Show signals: SuitabilityLimitedBiasNot politicalAudience≈9.2M followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: Justin Halpern×29 Andy Richter×17 McMuffin×12 Abbott Elementary×11 Uber Technology×7

The Changing Television Business1:23 – 7:52

Andy RichterHost

1:23

First off, what's going to fix show business? What's going to happen with television? I think more mergers.

Andy RichterHost

1:31

The more we can consolidate corporations, the better

Justin HalpernGuest

1:34

off we're going to be in this industry.

Andy RichterHost

1:36

Do you have any handle? I mean, because you're you've run a number of shows like you've gotten like you're more of a grown up in TV terms than I am, because you've actually you've actually run things.

Andy RichterHost

1:46

I've just, you know, little Lord Fauntleroy my way through things.

Andy RichterHost

1:52

But it is like I don't I don't know what's happening anymore.

Andy RichterHost

1:55

I just, you know.

Justin HalpernGuest

1:56

I don't think they know either.

Justin HalpernGuest

1:57

I think that's where all the like fear comes from is just they don't know exactly where the next big boom is going to be.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:04

And it's no longer about like chasing just like we made

Justin HalpernGuest

2:07

a bunch of good

Justin HalpernGuest

2:07

shows

Justin HalpernGuest

2:08

and we put them on the air.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:08

I

Justin HalpernGuest

2:09

think it's like, how can we grow? Yeah.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:11

And it's like exponential growth.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:13

And that's what's driving everything.

Andy RichterHost

2:15

And to me, it just seems like.

Andy RichterHost

2:18

this nebulous concept of shareholder value is going to kill us all.

Andy RichterHost

2:24

Yes.

Andy RichterHost

2:24

How can

Justin HalpernGuest

2:24

we increase the value for shareholders? Yeah,

Andy RichterHost

2:27

yeah.

Andy RichterHost

2:27

And it's like... well, if we took the first 10 years of SNL and burnt the originals, you know, we could make some money.

Andy RichterHost

2:38

Okay,

Justin HalpernPersonAmerican author
99%29 mentions
Andy RichterPersonAmerican actor and comedian
98%17 mentions
McMuffinProduct ModelFood
96%12 mentions
Abbott ElementaryTV SeriesSitcom
94%11 mentions
Uber TechnologyCompanyTransport company
93%7 mentions
McDonald'sEntity
91%8 mentions
American Broadcasting CompanyTheater GroupTelevision broadcasting company
90%7 mentions
Quinta BrunsonPersonAmerican actress and comedian
88%6 mentions
HuluOrganizationTelevision network
86%5 mentions
Nancy SilvertonPersonAmerican chef and baker
85%1 mention
$#*! My Dad SaysTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
83%1 mention
William ShatnerPersonCanadian actor
81%7 mentions
Harley QuinnTV SeriesAnimated series
80%2 mentions
Shit My Dad SaysBookSite
78%3 mentions
Matthew WeinerPersonAmerican television writer and director
77%3 mentions
XEntitySocial networking service
75%8 mentions
David LettermanPersonAmerican television host and comedian
73%5 mentions
Mint MobileCompanyMobile network operator company
72%5 mentions
Victor FrescoPersonAmerican television writer
70%1 mention
I Suck at GirlsBookBook by Justin Halpern
69%2 mentions
NBCCompanyTelevision broadcasting company
67%2 mentions
T-Mobile USCompanyCompany
65%2 mentions
Writers Guild of AmericaCompanyCompany
64%2 mentions
Bill LawrencePersonAmerican television producer and screenwriter
62%7 mentions
VHSProductMedia format
60%2 mentions
Sirius XMCompanyBroadcasting corporation
59%1 mention
AdsWizz, Inc.CompanyCompany
57%1 mention
Food and Drug AdministrationGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
56%2 mentions
Saturday Night LiveTV SeriesAmerican comedy series
54%1 mention
Nielsen HoldingsCompanyMedia company
52%2 mentions
San DiegoCityCity in California
51%3 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
49%2 mentions
Andy Richter Controls the UniverseTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
48%2 mentions
Father's DayEntityCelebration
46%1 mention
NavyEntity
44%2 mentions
Ocean's ElevenMovie2001 film
43%1 mention
Mad MenTV SeriesAmerican drama series
41%1 mention
Jamba Juice LLCRestaurantRestaurant company
40%2 mentions
San Fernando ValleyPlaceArea in Los Angeles County, California
38%1 mention
The NetMovie1995 film
36%2 mentions
IllinoisAdministrative AreaUS state
35%2 mentions
Matt DamonPersonAmerican actor and film producer
33%1 mention
SecretariatEntityHorse
31%1 mention
Late Show with David LettermanTV SeriesAmerican talk show
30%1 mention
CanadaCountryCountry in North America
27%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
27%1 mention
Kevin SorboPersonAmerican actor
25%1 mention
New YorkCityCity in New York State
23%1 mention
BurbankCityCity in California
22%1 mention
Pizzeria MozzaEntityPizza restaurant in Los Angeles, California
20%1 mention

Corporate MergersMedia > Television > Television Industry
Impact on ProgrammingMedia > Television > Television Industry > Corporate Mergers
Abbott ElementaryEntertainment > Television > Show Development > Creative Process
Comedy WritingComedy > Television
InfluencesComedy > Television > Comedy Writing
Personal AnecdotesComedy > Television > Comedy Writing > Influences
Metrics of SuccessEntertainment > Television
Viewership TrendsEntertainment > Television > Metrics of Success
Subscriber GrowthEntertainment > Television > Metrics of Success > Viewership Trends
Show DevelopmentEntertainment > Television
Influence of ParentsFamily > Parenting > Parent-Child Relationships
Television IndustryMedia > Television
Family DynamicsFamily > Parenting > Parent-Child Relationships > Influence of Parents
TelevisionComedy
Parent-Child RelationshipsFamily > Parenting
Entertainment
Family
ParentingFamily
Media
Comedy
TelevisionMedia
TelevisionEntertainment
Creative ProcessEntertainment > Television > Show Development

The Changing Television Business1:23 – 7:52

Andy RichterHost

1:23

First off, what's going to fix show business? What's going to happen with television? I think more mergers.

Andy RichterHost

1:31

The more we can consolidate corporations, the better

Justin HalpernGuest

1:34

off we're going to be in this industry.

Andy RichterHost

1:36

Do you have any handle? I mean, because you're you've run a number of shows like you've gotten like you're more of a grown up in TV terms than I am, because you've actually you've actually run things.

Andy RichterHost

1:46

I've just, you know, little Lord Fauntleroy my way through things.

Andy RichterHost

1:52

But it is like I don't I don't know what's happening anymore.

Andy RichterHost

1:55

I just, you know.

Justin HalpernGuest

1:56

I don't think they know either.

Justin HalpernGuest

1:57

I think that's where all the like fear comes from is just they don't know exactly where the next big boom is going to be.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:04

And it's no longer about like chasing just like we made

Justin HalpernGuest

2:07

a bunch of good

Justin HalpernGuest

2:07

shows

Justin HalpernGuest

2:08

and we put them on the air.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:08

I

Justin HalpernGuest

2:09

think it's like, how can we grow? Yeah.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:11

And it's like exponential growth.

Justin HalpernGuest

2:13

And that's what's driving everything.

Andy RichterHost

2:15

And to me, it just seems like.

Andy RichterHost

2:18

this nebulous concept of shareholder value is going to kill us all.

Andy RichterHost

2:24

Yes.

Andy RichterHost

2:24

How can

Justin HalpernGuest

2:24

we increase the value for shareholders? Yeah,

Andy RichterHost

2:27

yeah.

Andy RichterHost

2:27

And it's like... well, if we took the first 10 years of SNL and burnt the originals, you know, we could make some money.

Andy RichterHost

2:38

Okay,

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