Original subtitles

Guys, thank you very much. I had a great time.

Positive energy.

Yes!

Very funny! Thank you, Conan.

Positive energy. Positive energy.

Yes!

Brody Stevens, ladies and gentlemen. That is our show.

Ready? One, two and three.

Yes!

Enjoy it!

When I was here months ago...

I didn't feel bipolar, I felt great.

Everybody said, "Brody, you're back. Celebrate. Buy that condo.

"Get that car. Go back on Conan."

Well, I haven't been back on Conan.

I hate you!

Oh, you gotta get adjusted to your meds.

You had a manic episode, be ready for the crash of your life.

But I just feel out of sort.

Nobody ever told me I would crash like this.

You know, you go up, you're on top of the world.

You feel like you're back, and then, I went down.

I'm in Hollywood, I'm trying it.

Sleeping 14 hours, having a chemical straitjacket on me.

( DISTANT SIRENS WAILING )

It's pulling my soul.

I can't be who I am, because I'm on these meds.

Is this the new Brody? I don't feel good.

Bipolar disorder is an inherited disorder of mood.

Where a patient alternates between periods of extreme highs and extreme lows.

ARI SHAFFIR (O.S.): This episode is with my friend, Brody Stevens.

About a third of my patients with a single mood stabilizer...

do well for the rest of their life.

Another third of patients, we usually have to use a combination of medicines...

a so-called cocktail of medicines.

BRODY (O.S.): It's like my friends don't talk to me.

ARI SHAFFIR (O.S.): Well, how come?

'Cause I was a dick.

And a third of patients, no matter what we do, seem to cycle in and out of mood episodes.

I'm too stressed I'm like gonna upset those around me.

I'm on [BLEEP] a thin rope.

Well, I'm here in my apartment.

Did I mention that I'm heavily doped up?

I started worrying about Brody when he moved to Hollywood...

because you could just tell...

his whole being was like just this constant depression.

I'm living in a building with a bunch of tweekers and domestic violence-ers.

I live in a [BLEEP] hole.

When do I get the nice car? When do I get the hybrid?

When do I get off this gosh-dang air mattress?

Well, with the bipolar phase of depression...

this one is much more endogenous or chemical.

It is very, very deep, and it takes a lot to pull themselves out of it.

Brody was really in a dark place.

There was the mania, and then we were warned of the depression.

CAMERA (O.S.): Got it? All right, ready, Brody?

Yeah.

He was weak.

He seemed tired.

It was like he had lost that positive edge.

You know, the things that you know, somebody would want to look out for...

is that lack of motivation.

This, what we call anhedonia, this inability to experience pleasure.

Possibly you know what depression feels like. Yes, I do.

And I think he thought that was gonna be how his life was gonna be.

And I think that got him depressed.

Why am I here? There's sirens, there's domestic issues.

Just the other day, I heard a guy and a lady arguing...

screaming at the top of her lungs. It frightened me.

The first time that I saw him, he started crying...

these tears of-- you could just see there was some pain in his life.

Isolated from people, I cried daily.

For the first time, he actually thought about saying...

I think I may need to go back in.

I think I need help, I'm having weird thoughts.

Very depressing thoughts about maybe not wanting to be around.

Suicide, I had dark thoughts.

You know, we all can get down, and we can all get sad, these are deeper thoughts than that.

When left untreated, it could potentially lead to, in worse case scenario, death.

We were all very concerned that he wasn't gonna be able to pull himself back out of it.

I think it affected him so much...

that I really thought we would never see him as a comic again.

Since he was so depressed and kind of reaching out a little bit...

I think we all scrambled at that time again as we do very often with him.

We talked about the structure thing of having a plan.

People talking to him, communicating with him, making plans.

Hello? Hello?

You'll call me tomorrow? So where are you?

You're down there? Yeah.

DAVE RATH (O.S.): So I hung up on him.

Someone's gonna go hike with him on this day.

And who's gonna see him tomorrow?

He responded to that, knowing that everybody cared and started to feel like...

"Oh, I need to distract myself with life, actually."

I'm very depressed right now.

Why?

I'm on a lot of medication. I don't feel good.

Think baby steps. One little thing at a time.

I was aware in my family, there is a strain of depression.

I don't feel like I'm myself...

But I'm gonna go home, I'll shower, and then I'll lie down on my air mattress.

We would go on these hikes, it wouldn't be that positive at all.

Do what you feel like doing, and then push yourself--

Yeah, jumping off this cliff.

When you have the-- don't.

A support system is very important, family, friends...

they are there to provide stability.

You dare me to go down here?

No.

Encouragement... keeping things as normal as possible.

Do you need help?

No, I'm good.

And assisting them in monitoring their systems.

Breathe.

You gotta think of this time now as the rebirth of Brody.

You're relearning how to do everything.

It reminds me of that Harrison Ford movie, "Regarding Henry".

That's what I'm doing, I'm learning motor skills, at least I'm doing that.

Yeah. Tomorrow, can you come back?

We'll be here tomorrow.

( SOFT MUSIC PLAYING )

I'm dying to get back to the Valley.

My sister chose to stay in the Valley.

Wouldn't give me a break, Stephanie.

And now you're just a number out in Thousand Oaks, and that's okay.

Stephanie, it's Steven, your brother.

Yeah, well, I'll meet you by the tennis court.

Where is she?

Oh, you made it.

Yeah.

Why are you so happy?

'Cause what is that all about? Because I'm depressed.

Is that my mail?

Yes. Let me see.

Please? Yeah, that's fine.

Yeah! That's a check. That's a residual.

Why is there a baby crying?

How am I-- It's not making me--

It's making me stressed almost.

Well, then go tell the baby to shut up.

I'm not gonna tell a baby to shut up, Stephanie.

I don't do that.

Well, it was fine for about the first five days...

and then it was all downhill from there.

My sister was abusive, she beat me up, true story.

Growing up, she beat me up.

She spit on me, threw keys at me.

Beat me with a pan, and you're saying, "Brody, what beatings hurt the most?"

The beatings with the keys, yeah.

Why, you ask?

Because my sister was a janitor.

Well, it's probably easier to tell you the things we didn't argue about.

You know, I gotta get out of this place in Hollywood.

Is there a chance? No.

You're saying no.

Mom has a comfortable couch.

I don't want to go down... We cannot live together.

...to Palm Springs. Sorry.

Stephanie, I can't stay in this apartment anymore in Hollywood.

I'll help you find an apartment.

Will you help me move?

Sure. Really?

Yeah. Why?

I thought you were busy selling jewelry or playing tennis.

I got an idea, let's play a match.

The winner, if it's me, I get to move back home to the family condo.

If I lose, I stay in Hollywood on an air mattress depressed for the rest of my life.

That sounds good to me.

( MUSIC PLAYING )

Yes!

The depression is lifting.

See you later, Seroquel . I'm serving.

Can't handle the pressure.

( MUSIC CHANGES )

Fudge!

Fudge!

Damn it.

Okay, so deuce.

That was an ace. Right.

So, you won?

Yeah.

And I can't move back home.

Apparently not.

You don't have to stay in Hollywood...

but you can't be here.

Damn it.

but you know how long it's gonna take me to get me there?

40 minutes... watch this.

Go ahead. Unbelievable.

There's a tour bus... I hate you!

Is that a chick or a guy?

If it's a chick, she could be good. I'll take it.

Are you turning? Son of a bitch!

I'm gonna take you back to the Valley.

We're stuck in a little traffic...

on Laurel Canyon.

Now we're goin' over the hump. This is it. Mulholland.

Going down! Yes!

Magnolia. Roscoe. Riverside. Lankershim.

The San Fernando Valley.

You know, people make fun of the Valley...

and not only did the Valley get ripped on...

if you drove a Pinto, that was double-y embarrassing.

( ROCK MUSIC PLAYING )

( TIRES SCREECHING )

CAMERA (O.S.): Wait! Brody!

1987, me gettin' picked on for driving a Pinto, not being confident.

I'm sure people are staring at me right now.

This is where I lived in first grade. This is 1976.

Tarzana Elementary... Reseda High School right there.

That's where I made a name for myself...

in that baseball field.

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of a legendary high school baseball game.

Grant versus Reseda.

The pitcher for Reseda in this match-up for the ages...

was golden-armed Steven Brody Stevens...

who it must be said, could really fill out a uniform.

Steven Brody Stevens went on to become a successful comedian and actor...

who's been in The Hangover, The Hangover 2, Due Date, cut out of Funny People...

and a guest on numerous podcasts.

And even though a critical arm injury insured that Brody would never make the Majors...

he still is, for my money, Rich Eisen's money...

North America's hardest throwing stand-up. Yes!

This is the big game, opening round.

It's the LA city baseball playoffs...

here at Grant High School, home of Toto and Tom Selleck.

Reseda High School, home of nobody.

But it's not about them right now, it's about me.

Little Brody versus Big Rod Beck...

and you know what? I'm winning this game right now, it's one-nothing.

I'm not gonna let Rod Beck beat me.

I've got the mechanics I've got the coaching.

I've got my father there distracting me.

Dad, move! Please, let me focus on the catcher's mitt.

I beat Chatsworth. I beat El Camino. I beat Woodland Hills Taft.

They wrote about me in the LA Times. They wrote about me in the Daily News.

This is what it's all about.

I'm not gonna give up the home run.

I'm not gonna walk this guy. I am a proud Reseda Region.

CAMERA (O.S.): Then what happened?

I walked this guy... and then I gave up a home run, and we lost.

And they went on to win the city title.

And their star pitcher went on to the Major Leagues...

to have a great career, while I worked at Red Robin and Macy's...

and then I was a tour guide at Radio City Music Hall.

Then I moved back here, I had some success.

Couple TV spots, then I went into audience warm-up...

for nine years.

( LAUGHING )

I'm looking to get back in the Valley.

I gotta look for apartments.

I gotta find out how close I want to be...

to where I need to spend the most of my time.

You don't just go on the internet...

you gotta actually get out and drive.

Hi, uh, we're looking at the apartment.

I want water. I want power. I want pets.

I want a security buzzer.

I will find the apartment that fits me. Whoo!

( TIRES SCREECHING )

( TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING )

It feels great to be back in the Valley.

I got the apartment and I signed the papers. Yes!

It's a one bedroom, it's carpeted apartment.

Carpeted living room, carpeted balcony.

I'm off my air mattress.

See you later, air mattress.

( WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING )

( MUSIC ENDS )

You wanted it, you called me, the forces, the energy.

I'm from the Valley.

Reseda.

818 'til I die!

Things didn't turn out right after Conan.

I think a lot of it had to do with me living in this Hollywood apartment.

My meds, the adjustment of them.

Not being on such a heavy dosage.

That kind of lifted my energy.

And then the excitement of let me make the leap to go back into the Valley.

All those elements kind of got me going again.

BRODY (O.S.): What are you looking at?

What is this look? Friendly guy on toilet?

Friendly guy on toilet, yes.

Zach, these are getting me work. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

I get you work.

Oh, you got me-- oh, I guess you did.

You know, I think what would be good for you, Brody,

What? Since being in the...

entertainment business

You're forced to be in your own head a lot.

Yes.

Well, it can drive you crazy, right?

I've had that problem.

I was thinking, recently...

that maybe what would be good for you, is to volunteer.

Open up to other people's needs and helping other people...

helps you feel more fulfilled... Right.

I think.

And that's what I do with audience warm-up. I help the crowd--

Three, two, one! Here we go, big energy!

That's what I'm talking about.

They are not in need of anything,

Maybe if you went somewhere to like a place to volunteer, a soup kitchen or a--

I like soup. The soup's not for you.

I like Campbell soup.

The soup is-- you're not eat--

I like Chunky man soup.

I like Soup Doggy Dogg. Matzo Ball soup.

Things of that nature.

Why are you talking into a microphone?

Just practicing my podcasting.

Look, it doesn't have to be broadcast. There's a beauty in being discreet in your life.

You know that, right? You don't have to share everything.

Can I tweet that?

The volunteering hopefully will make me feel better, but it's not about me.

It's about helping others.

Okay, tell me where to go.

I've got my gloves on, I know how to serve food.

They all get coffee and whatever they ask for, okay.

BRODY (O.S.): Morning, guys! Morning!

Now how do I do this?

Put the tray here. With the tray...

How's the food? It's good? Everyone having a good morning?

I'm here to bring some energy, some fun.

Who here is from Los Angeles, born and bred?

Where in LA?

Boyle Heights, I've been to Boyle Heights...

looking for my car stereo. I'd like it back.

I'm joking, guys, I do comedy.

Anybody want a smoothie?

Klonopin, am I right?

Yes, it is. I got it.

I'm not-- I'm not doing a good time on this one.

I'm-- this is not one of my better tables.

This is... strong.

How do you-- why do you laugh so much? I love it.

I just told you, I just take it easy.

I don't worry about nothing.

No depression?

I don't take no medication, that's why I happy every day.

You think I need to take my meds?

Yeah.

I'm from LA, I'm from the Valley.

818 'til I die.

I'm helping out, I'm volunteering.

I used to be depressed.

Because I went off my meds cold turkey, and I had an episode.

And then whatever comes up, comes down.

And that's what happened to me.

So my buddy said, "Why don't you volunteer and give back."

I said I'd do it.

Good.

( SOFT MUSIC PLAYING )

I gotta stop being sorry for myself.

I don't have it so bad.

These people, they didn't have a place to go.

They don't have the luxury to pick and choose where they're gonna be.

I mean, they pump me up.

Go, Lexie, go.

So the fact that I had that opportunity to do that...

and volunteering and meeting these people, it definitely--

You'll put things in perspective.

Ha! Go! Mexico!

I got a lot of things going on for me.

Come on, Chevro-lee.

Start for me.

Push... and believe.

Son of a bitch!