Joe Rogan Experience #779 - Andrew Dice Clay & Joey Diaz

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode delves into the controversial and enduring career of Andrew Dice Clay, exploring his unprecedented rise to arena-filling fame and the subsequent industry backlash. The discussion covers the evolution of his comedic persona, the struggle to separate the "Dice" character from his true self, and the challenges of free speech in comedy. It also touches on Joey Diaz's extreme experiences with marijuana edibles and Dice's unique approach to acting and even gambling as a means of providing for his family.

Key Discussion Points

• Marijuana Consumption & Edibles: Joey Diaz recounts his incredibly high tolerance for cannabis edibles, claiming he can "open up with 600 milligrams" and once slept for 19 hours after unknowingly consuming an entire bag of cannabis-infused popcorn, causing his wife Valerie to panic. Dice highlights the economic benefits of legalization, noting Colorado generated more tax revenue from weed than alcohol.
• Andrew Dice Clay's Arena Success & Backlash: Dice details his historic arena tours, selling out over 300 shows in 26 cities to 12 million people in a four-year span, all before social media. He vividly recalls the infamous MTV ban following his performance of the "Georgie Porgy" poem at the awards show, and the subsequent "blacklisting" by Hollywood, questioning why absurd comedy faced such severe repercussions compared to violence in movies.
• The Comedy Store & Early Filming Projects: Dice shares anecdotes about his early, self-funded "reality show" filmed at The Comedy Store over two years, involving comics like Bobby Lee, Ari Shaffir, Steve Rannazzisi, and Mike Black. He describes staging elaborate pranks and "fights," including a memorable "fight" with Wheels where he was legitimately flipped. The project was eventually shut down by Mitzi Shore after an incident with Paulie Shore and his kids.
• Evolution of Comedy & "Dice" Persona: The conversation explores the tension between Andrew Dice Clay the person and his stage character. Dice expresses frustration with reporters who question his "offensive" material after seeing him as a family man, while Joe Rogan defends the material's humor as absurd and not meant to be taken literally, likening it to a "goof." Dice emphasizes that his jokes about sex and relationships are exaggerated cartoons, not expressions of hatred.
• Acting Career & Audition Stories: Dice discusses his long-standing passion for acting, from his first near-miss with Barry Levinson's "Diner" to landing a role in Michael Mann's "Crime Story" alongside Kevin Spacey and David Caruso. He hilariously describes his Crime Story audition, where he ranted at the camera because Michael Mann wasn't present, only to be cast five months later. He also talks about recent roles in Woody Allen films and his Showtime series, "Dice."

Notable Moments

• Interesting Story/Anecdote: Dice shares a story about attempting to film Mike Black being thrown down The Comedy Store steps for a sketch, not realizing Black wasn't a stuntman. They had to film it in pieces, with Ari Shaffir jumping in to stop Dice from "killing" him with a chair.
• Surprising Fact/Revelation: Andrew Dice Clay reveals he strategically gambled at blackjack for approximately eight years, turning $30,000 into $1.15 million at one point, to cover his mortgage and fund his sons' rock band album, viewing it as a desperate measure to provide for his family when other income was scarce.
• Memorable Exchange: Joey Diaz credits Andrew Dice Clay's VHS special as a pivotal moment in his life. While in a halfway house on New Year's Eve, watching Dice perform, Joey realized Dice was articulating the "dirty voices" and judgments that lived in his own head, inspiring him to pursue comedy as a career.

Key Takeaways

The episode provides an intimate look into the controversial yet influential career of Andrew Dice Clay, highlighting his groundbreaking impact on stand-up comedy and the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity amidst public scrutiny. Listeners gain insight into the personal toll of industry blacklisting and the continuous struggle to separate a comedic persona from one's true identity. The conversation underscores the importance of free expression in comedy, even when it pushes boundaries, and celebrates the resilience required to thrive in a fickle entertainment landscape.