Original subtitles

Every set has to go well.

If I have a bad set...

I can easily revert back...

to aggressive and combative Brody.

Got the ID badge right here.

It's not here to remind me that I can always go back.

It's more of a reminder of what I've been through.

Well, I need to listen to doctors.

Stay on my meds.

And I owe that to my friends, because that's what got me in trouble.

Yes! "Chelsea Lately" show...

but this was before all of this went down.

I was an audience warm-up there.

I did almost 400 shows.

That ended bad.

I want to go back to the "Chelsea Lately" show and apologize to the staff...

and to the security, and to the producers, and to the talent on there...

for my behavior when I stormed out like a child.

One, two and three.

Yes!

What about the day you left the psych ward, your last day?

What was your feeling there?

So you picked me up, which was very nice of you.

Can you please chew your food... please?

You picked me up, you took me to get a haircut.

You waited, you were there for me.

Then you dropped me off at home.

That's where I have an issue.

17 days in the psych ward. 17 days in the loony bin.

17 days in the nut house, and all of a sudden I'm ready to sleep by myself?

I'm not saying that you needed to spend the night with me that first night...

but somebody needed to be there with me.

I wasn't ready to be alone.

And you know what that night was like?

It was brutal.

Well, all you had to do was call me and tell me you were feeling--

I felt you did enough for that day.

I wish I'd known that.

Maybe the doctors should have-- should have given us a manual, like for the first 48 hours.

Stay with this guy. Shadow this guy.

Hold his hand. Rub his shoulders.

And then I read my tweets and I started crying.

Why were you crying?

Because I said some crazy [BLEEP].

And it hit me what I did.

I made a fool of myself.

And the people--

A funny fool.

People forgave you.

Most people forgave me.

Honey, I'm home from the psych ward!

Hi!

Oh, there's my beautiful wife to welcome me home.

Hi, I didn't know you were going to be home so early.

I'm off to the club for my 3:00 lesson with Gerard.

It's backhand day. Whew! Bye.

Bye.

My kids! Yes!

How was the funny farm?

Funny farm? I was on vacation.

We all know you weren't on vacation.

Yeah, Dad, we know you were at the UCLA psych ward.

We're not kids anymore.

You're not kids anymore? I was only gone for 17 days.

Where are you going? You don't hug me?

Kids at school say bipolar is contagious.

Oh!

I just want to be crazy.

All the hot guys at school love the crazy girls.

Dad, finally somebody I can talk to.

I'm not here to welcome you home, I came to borrow your blender.

Why don't you stay here? We can do smoothies all night.

It's my life! Don't tell me where I can mix my smoothies.

I got strawberries, blues-berries.

You don't get it.

I do get it.

I can't be around this negative energy.

I'm positive, Dad.

I am so stressed right now, I-- I gotta get high.

I need a break.

I need to get baked.

Zach Galifianakis? My friend from "G-Force"?

You came here to welcome me home?

I came for my bong.

Zach, what are you doing? Come on!

Well, you're never alone when you're bipolar.

One of the very sad things about bipolar disorder...

is the wreckage it leaves behind when it's untreated.

As you well might imagine, destroys relationships, destroys financial situations.

And just wreaks havoc with somebody's life.

I sit in my bed all day, I'm doped up.

I feel like Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Just sitting in bed.

Seroquel, that pill has street value.

And I've got a lot of them.

Look up the side effects of Depakote.

12 hours of sleep and urinal leakage.

I've not had an erection for five months.

It's-- it's just skin.

You want real-life [BLEEP]?

Or you want me to give you the Hollywood fable?

I mean, comedy is about tragedy. It's about pain.

I see a talk psychologist.

See, you didn't even laugh at that, now that hurts me even more.

A lot of comedians are depressed.

They have a dark side, they have pain.

Therapy program we started and it had been going on for over a year.

I hired a few psychiatrists.

They come in here three, four night a week.

And the comedian that come in here...

they go talk about their problem and hopefully they help them.

When did you leave Chelsea again?

I left the Chelsea show almost two years ago.

Okay.

And I kind of left on bad terms, stormed out of there.

I work on "Chelsea Lately"...

which he used to be the warm-up act for.

He told jokes to get the audience ready to laugh...

before Chelsea came out and did her monologue...

and for the round table people, did the round tables.

Chelsea loved him, thought he was super funny.

And everyone wanted him there.

Hi.

Really great warm-up guy.

You like him?

I mean, who is that?

I like Brody, he good at--

Oh, you do, you like Brody?

I like him like before you come on, he good at that.

-Oh, you like that? -Yeah.

Thing about working at Chelsea was, she'd put me on the show and it was a popular show.

And it was a fun environment.

-Do you know Brody? Oh, you know Brody from "The Hangover". -Oh, do I know Brody?

Well, you actually didn't share a scene with him.

Oh, no, we did, when we got tasered, he was one of the police officers with Rob Riggle.

Ah, that was all improv. I was focused, we did some--

Can you stop talking to him...

because otherwise, people are gonna get the impression that he's doing an interview.

-Hoagies are big in Philly. -Hoagies are good.

Brody, hoagies?

Yes! Been there!

The day I left was a day that I didn't plan on having problems.

But those problems arose.

The crew guys were goofing around, you know, rattling the curtain.

Trying to get a rise out of me.

So I went up to one of the producers and I said...

"These guys are talking in there and kind of driving me nuts...

"and I'm trying to warm up the audience and I can't."

And he goes, "What do you want me to do about it?"

I go, "Nothing, I'm just telling you."

So he says, "Just go out there and warm up."

And I go, "I do more than just warm up the audience, I'm an actor.

"I do movies. Thank you."

And I raised my voice back there and I think I scared a make-up girl.

Maybe the comedian was scared.

They didn't know what was happening.

So then I went out and I warmed up the crowd.

But once the taping started, I kind of shut down.

I didn't put the energy out.

I was upset, and the show didn't do very well.

And then the head executive producer came in and just blasted me...

and said, "This is it! Chelsea's mad, so-and-so is mad.

"You [BLEEP]ed up!"

Nobody asked me like what happened, I just kind of got yelled at.

I saw Chelsea later that night, it was a holiday party at her house.

And she said, "Well, Brody, I heard you had a problem today at work."

I said, "Yes, I did, I'm sorry."

And she goes, "We'll talk about it on Monday."

And I just felt like I was gonna get reprimanded.

Being that I'd been in trouble before for a couple little flare-ups...

audience members occasionally saying that I was too hard on them.

And I wasn't the greatest audience warm-up.

I would get on the audience sometimes, maybe scare some people.

And I thought about it and I got nervous, I got scared.

And I went in on Monday and I quit.

And they said, "Okay, bye," and that was it.

And then nobody reached out to me like, "Sorry it ended that way."

It was just kind of "see you later".

I happened to be a guest on Chelsea that day on the round table.

I had heard that Brody walked off the set during his warm-up.

And he came to me, and he was like, "I'm quitting tomorrow".

And I was like, "Don't do that, that is ridiculous."

And he's like, "I'm disrespected" and it was this weird thing in him...

that I'd never seen before, where he was really concerned with being respected.

400 shows of Chelsea and I walked out on top!

You don't disrespect me!

You don't do it!

I felt good maybe for a couple days, and then it started sinking in.

Like, what did I do?

And then I started feeling like an outsider.

Then I felt like I burned bridges there.

I didn't want to have that energy on me, and it's felt like it's been on me.

Do you have her number? E-mail?

You're friends with her, or were.

You mean, you want me to call her and see if you can go over and apologize to her?

Basically set it up that way that you're gonna apologize.

Set something up.

It just would mean something to you that you did not--

-that bridge that you burned is-- -Not totally...

-Scorched. -Scorched.

-I mean, it's burned. -One lane is open.

Late at night, you're doing work on the bridge.

N-- yeah.

A long-term project, but can we--

Build this bridge back.

With the help of state funding, federal funding, Adopt-A-Highway.

Why don't you follow her?

Follow her?

Wait for her to come out of work.

Go, "Hi, Chelsea, it's Brody, I want to talk to you."

I probably could.

No, I'm kidding, of course you couldn't do that.

Oh, I mean, I know where they shoot. I know where the studio is.

Don't do that.

Maybe someone can facilitate you having a--

-Yeah. -You know.

Maybe that somebody is you.

I could probably do that.

We're headed to Chelsea Handler's house.

Am I nervous about today? Yes, I am.

There's trepidations, there's stress levels.

I haven't spoken to Chelsea for two years.

-Chelsea's show... -Mm-hm.

was a family to you, in essence.

And so when people didn't reach out, it is hurtful.

It's like, oh, we're turning our backs on you, when that might not--

Yeah, that hurt me.

I just felt like they had to keep going, they have a show to do.

Of course.

And I felt like I had a lot to do with that show, as a part of the family.

So I kind of miss the fun environment, the regular paycheck.

So when that ran out, it kind of shifted me a little bit.

Do I think it had anything to do with my episode? I mean--

But it did impact the stressors in your life, meaning-- it was, yeah.

Yes, which may have indirectly led somewhat to me going where I went.

Talked to Chelsea, who knows what's gonna happen.

Yeah.

Whatever.

Oh, great.

Another bad decision by Brody.

I mean, even when I drive, I make bad, [BLEEP]ing decisions.

Today I have an opportunity to possibly make things better.

She might go, "Brody, why did you leave the show?

"Why did you cause weird energy?"

I go, "Because I'm immature.

"I'm not fully developed. I'm a late bloomer."

Oh, god.

Hi, Chelsea.

You brought me flowers?

-Yeah. -That was nice.

Hi, do you want to give me a hug?

-Yes. -Hi, you look okay.

Different. I look different, right?

No.

So, um, I left the show... on bad terms.

What happened exactly?

Because I don't really know the story about what happened.

I just know that you were having some sort of breakdown.

I had, um--

I had a run-in, maybe, I butted heads a little bit.

Uh-huh.

And I felt I was gonna be in big trouble.

I feel bad for you anyway, so I wasn't mad at you, and I'm not mad at you.

I mean, you owe more of an apology to people that you interacted with.

Because if I just saw you down the hallway, I would always walk the other way anyway.

Right.

But I appreciate your apology, it feels as sincere as it can get.

It's worked out perfectly that you got a TV show about apologizing to people.

-That's part of it. -Yeah.

What's the other part?

Showing my growth, showing me getting back into comedy.

I want to get back on late night TV doing stand-up.

That's great, that's really good.

Yeah.

Well-- I mean, you seem better.

Your thinking is a little bit more clear.

-Do you feel better? -My thinking is clear.

Because you-- were you in a mental hospital?

I went to-- yes.

Okay, that reaction is not clear thinking to being in a mental hospital.

I was--

That's not hilarious, but it's kind of funny.

I was in Canada, at the Montreal Comedy Festival...

and I stopped taking my Lexapro.

And you went--

Which led to--

-Wow. -I know, yeah.

Are you on a different medication now?

You seem very-- like the most normal I think I've ever seen you.

Yeah, I'm on a different medication.

I think this is working better.

I do feel more calm.

You're more engaging.

Before it was like you were putting on a performance even in a conversation.

Right.

Which is very--

Hard to do.

-Or hard to take. -Hard to take.

I'm doing talk therapy.

That's another thing I wasn't doing.

Is that what this is?

This is therapeutic, but I wouldn't call it talk therapy.

So what's talk therapy?

I go speak to a therapist every week.

-That's just therapy. -Yeah!

I mean, how else would you do that, silently?

Well-- well, there's different forms of talk therapy, isn't there?

Cognitive, behavioral...

So what kind are you doing?

I think talk therapy.

I talk to her, she talks-- we have kind of a--

Okay, well, anyway, where do you go to do this?

At the Laugh Factory.

Where-- who at the Laugh Factory?

Well, Jamie offers the comedians there free talk therapy sessions.

Okay, what are you talking about? That's not--

Well, she's a real therapist.

Well, why is she at the Laugh Factory? Shouldn't she get an office?

She has an office, as well.

She goes to Laugh Factory a couple nights a week.

Chelsea Handler thought it was weird that I was doing therapy at the Laugh Factory.

Why did--

And I go, "Well, she also has an office, but the Laugh Factory is right down the street from me."

Why do I want to drive far away?

-All the way-- -To your office.

-Right. -When I can come here.

That sounds ridiculous.

-Doing it at the-- -Right?

It's upstairs, it's not in the audience.

Brody, when is she giving therapy, while someone's doing stand-up?

Well, you can hear the show downstairs.

Oh, my god.

Did she think it was weird, because it's at a comedy club?

Because people see you coming in and they see me.

They know that I'm the therapist here.

It's a little-- it's a little str--

Yeah.

Okay, well, anyway--

She's been good, she's good.

Well, she seems good. She-- you seem good, this is good.

I mean, what else? Are you drinking? Are you doing drugs?

Are you smoking pot?

I've cut down on the pot.

You shouldn't smoke any pot.

-Yeah, it kind of makes me paranoid. -You don't need pot.

No, that's not good for your personality. You shouldn't smoke any pot.

What about drinking?

I'm willing to try it.

You shouldn't, you shouldn't do anything else.

You should be sober. You're the type of personality that's going to excel sober.

You should never ever mix with what you're taking as your medication.

I'm telling you, you look good, I have a good feeling about you.

-Wow, thank you. -I do.

I would tell you if I thought you looked bad.

You know that I don't have a problem with offending you.

Yeah, this is, just us meeting here, is a-- is a big relief to me already, instantly.

Well, that's good, you can come on the show, if you want to come on the round table...

-or something, you can. -Really?

Yeah, that would be nice for you, I think.

-Yeah. -Right?

I mean, you've always been good to me.

Well, I-- you know, I can see that you've got some things that you need to sort out.

Right, well, I want to say thank you.

Okay, bye. Let me give you a hug.

Okay.

-Thank you, Chelsea. -Good luck with that.

If you need anything, let me know. Bye.

I'm glad I got to reconnect with Chelsea.

I'm a little nervous about going over to the show...

because I haven't seen a bunch of those people in a long time.

That's a little overwhelming.

And then, oh, you gotta do a national TV show that's gonna air that night...

and have jokes prepared?

So, it could be daunting, but I'm gonna go in there and be positive...

and know that I've done this kind of stuff before.

And then if I do well, maybe it'll bring me back.

Welcome back, it's good to see you.

It's good to be back.

So... yeah.

All right then, hi!

Aw, Chris!

Hi, Brody! How are you, buddy?

-Bro-dog, you look good. -Give me a hug.

-Good to see you. -What's happening?

-Get 'em amped. -I'm gonna get 'em pumped!

-Positive energy. -Lots of positivity.

-You're back. -I'm back.

Positive, in the moment. Right now.

-Hey, Jen. -You look so skinny.

-Really? -It's so nice to see you.

I'm so happy you're back.

I used to talk to Jen every day. I'd go into her office.

I don't have an office anymore, I'm just in a cube now.

I miss being here.

Well, you'll be back all the time. You seem amazing.

-Really? -Mm-hm.

Why?

You're so present.

You're not-- there's not like a veil of something else going on in your head.

You're just so mellow, I love it.

That's what people say.

It's wonderful.

God, my whole episode has really come full circle.

You know, if you live in the past, that's depression.

If you live in the future, that's anxiety. I live in the now.

I didn't know that.

Which is, uh, stress.

Um, he is back on the round table after being banned for a very long time...

and he will be at Bar Lubitsch in Los Angeles May 31st, Brody Stevens.

Thank you. Thank you.

So, Brody used to be our audience warm-up guy...

and he was horrible at the job.

I did okay, you know.

I mean, you were okay, you were very threatening to people.

Do you remember he used to terrorize people with that cow bell?

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

You're like, "Even if you don't think something Chelsea says is funny, you need to laugh!"

I believed in the show, you know?

Yeah, and now you're back.

I'm back, I'm honored to be back.

You're on better medication, right?

I'm on, I'm adjusting, I'm tweaking it.

So, yes, be very supportive, he's trying to make a comeback in comedy, I mean--

Or he's trying to get noticed for the first time in comedy.

All right, I have to go back upstairs. I've been blowing off my work all day.

Perfect acting, perfect acting.

I wasn't acting.

You're so sweet.

400 shows on Chelsea and walked out on top!

You don't disrespect me!

You don't do it!

I felt good maybe for a couple days...

and then I started feeling like--