Saturday Night Live Secrets & Norm Macdonald w/ Kevin Nealon | 2 Bears, 1 Cave

Kevin Nealon reminisces about his memorable era on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) and the pressures of comedy as well as his relationships with comedic legends and his reflections on the legacies of Gary Shandling and Norm Macdonald.

Kevin Nealon's Snl Era: Memorable Hosts and Cast Members

Nealon shares memorable times and the intense dynamics from his tenure at SNL.

Nealon Was Hired As a Writer and Performer, Featuring In Every Show and Writing For Himself

Nealon was hired as both a writer and a performer for SNL and remarkably appeared in every show of his guaranteed seven, writing mainly for himself. He reflects on the tight-knit original cast and contrasts this with today's larger ensembles.

Nealon Felt Pressured and Intense Pitching SNL Sketches to Make the Room Laugh

Nealon describes the pressure of pitching sketches, sometimes repeatedly avoiding discouragement from unresponsive pitches. His go-to idea was about a runaway truck ramp ending at a bar.

Nealon Collaborated With Comedic Icons Like Steve Martin, Mick Jagger, James Taylor, and Dana Carvey

Nealon fondly recalls working with icons including Steve Martin, Mick Jagger, and James Taylor, as well as forming close bonds with his peers, like Dana Carvey who recommended him to SNL. He deeply appreciated the underrated talent and beauty of cast member Jan Hooks.

Navigating Comedy and Finding Approval From Experienced Comedians

Nealon explores the themes of mentors, memorials, and seeking validation within the comedy industry.

Nealon and Bert Sought Approval From Veteran Comedians

Prompted by fellow comedian Bert Kreischer, Nealon discusses seeking approval from veteran comics and long-time SNL producer Lorne Michaels—even in daily life—highlighting the grand impact of his SNL tenure. Kr ...

As individuals age, concerns about memory and cognitive abilities, as well as maintaining health and physical fitness, become increasingly important. Kevin Nealon and Bert Kreischer dive into these topics, detailing personal anecdotes and strategies for combating age-related challenges.

Cognitive Decline and Memory Concerns With Age

Nealon and Bert Discuss Dementia Signs and Nealon's Forgetfulness Experiences

Nealon recalls concerning moments of forgetfulness, such as leaving the stove on and misplacing the milk, which led to his wife suggesting a dementia test. Despite these instances, he expresses reluctance to undergo testing due to fear of a positive diagnosis, especially considering the lack of a cure. Nealon also describes his struggle to remember actor Lee Majors' name, an example of how short-term memory can falter with age.

Bert's Concerns About Future Dementia

Kreischer relates to Nealon's experiences, sharing similar forgetful moments like leaving the remote in the fridge. Both discuss the fear of dementia, with Kreischer expressing concern after hearing about Bruce Willis' diagnosis and reflecting on his own memory retention. Despite these worries, Kreischer considers that he might be a hypochondriac but still stresses the importance of remaining aware of cognitive health.

Maintaining Health and Fitness As one Ages

Nealon and Bert Discuss Staying In Shape and Avoiding Joint/Muscle Issues as They Age

Nealon, who has four joint implants due to arthritis, talks about the shift in his hiking activities, moving from intense treks to gentler strolls to accommodate his condition. Kreischer acknowledges a weight gain over time and expresses a desire to feel comfortable with basic movements, such as getting out of bed, highlighting that health transcends mere aesthetics.

Both reminisce about past athletic endeavors but acknowledge the toll these activities have taken on their bodies, with Nealon eschewing running due to its impact on his joints and Kreischer focusing on maintaining muscle mass for mobility.

Bert Emphasizes Exercise, Like Squats, For Strength and Mobility

Kreischer underlines the importance of exercise, including squats, to stay strong and agile. He highlights his dedication to working out every day, demonstrating that consistent effort in fitness can help fend off the decline that comes wi ...

Kevin Nealon and Bert Kreischer dive into a candid chat about their off-stage pursuits and temptations, revealing another layer to their comedic personas.

Nealon's Creative Pursuits Outside of Comedy

Nealon's Passion For Illustrating Comedian Experiences

Nealon divulges his long-standing hobby of drawing illustrations, initially as doodles, and now with more serious intent. He has had gallery showings where he's shared his works involving experiences with other celebrities, such as Prince, Dana Carvey, and Howard Stern. One such piece he discusses depicted Conan O'Brien, where he focused on the upper parts of his face, sparking a humorous notion about the heads at Mount Rushmore being too large to include the bodies.

Nealon's Hiking Enjoyment and Social Dynamics Of Inviting Comedians

In addition to illustration, Nealon hosts a hiking podcast where he invites various personalities to join him. His experiences on the trails are varied, with reactions from guests like Conan O'Brien and Bobcat Goldthwait, and David Spade's refusal to hike due to a bad back.

Indulgences and Vices

Bert's Alcohol Moderation and Healthy Lifestyle Struggle

Kreischer admits to a tug-of-war between healthful aspirations and his penchant for drinking. Despite being known for his alcohol consumption, he shares that cutting back on his intake left him feeling phenomenal, which led him to reconsider total abstinence. Kreischer has managed to cut back drastically on drinking but finds complete restraint challenging.

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Kevin Nealon and Bert Kreischer engage in lively discussions ranging from the dark historical interest in beheadings to Nealon's roles in acting and his upcoming projects.

Imagining Extreme or Morbid Scenarios

During their discussion, Kreischer shares his fascination with beheadings, particularly historical events like Marie Antoinette's execution. Nealon and Kreischer contemplate the use of an axe for beheadings and even joke about the method of execution they might choose. While they both express an interest in such gruesome topics, they admit hesitance in watching gory materials. Nealon, with a touch of humor, makes light of the posthumous beheading of Oliver Cromwell, and in a humorous turn, Kreischer muses about the impracticality of using paper cuts as a means of beheading.

Nealon and Bert's Discussion of Beheading and Gruesome Topics, Acknowledging Their Interest but Hesitating to Engage

A hypothetical discussion about beheading ensues, revealing Kreischer’s interest in beheading stories like that of Marie Antoinette, including details such as her wig falling off. He imagines using a big axe but doubts he could actually carry out such an act. Nealon chuckles at the idea of beheading Oliver Cromwell after his death and jests about the methods he might use for a hypothetical beheading, including slow cuts or large scissors, while Bert jokes about the inefficiency of utilizing paper cuts.

Nealon's Acting Roles and Upcoming Projects

Discussing his career, Nealon expresses his primary passion for stand-up comedy but acknowledges that he has acting endeavors. He humorously recounts an experience of recognizing himself in a trailer for a horror film called "Inhabitants," a surprising moment given ...