Breaking Bread with Tom Papa

David Alan Grier breaks bread with Tom Papa and talks acting, kids, and how he changed the culture.

Tom auditions to be in Jason Reitman's next film.

Henry Winkler joins the Breaking Bread family and tells Tom he is still hungry. Winkler talks all things Happy Days and his starts in show biz as the Fonz and making magic with Ron Howard. He then shares how he broke out of his Fonz shaped mold and put his head down and got to work to start to make his dreams come true. Winkler gives Tom advice on picking your favorite kid, making a marriage last, and how to be cool. Henry Winkler would also really like it if Ryan Gosling played him in the biopic of his life.

Catch Seinfeld, Gaffigan, and Papa on tour in a city near you and stay tuned for Tom Papa's newest Netflix special "Home Free" out October 29th!! Jerry Seinfeld comes to break bread with longtime friend Tom Papa and sets the record straight about the state of comedy in 2024. The pair discuss the horror that is touring as a standup comedian, the apocalyptic set of Seinfeld, eating airplane pizzas with Jim Gaffigan, and the world of show biz. Maybe one day Tom and Jerry will give a masterclass on How to be a Comic 101.

Roy Wood Jr. takes a break from “Have I Got News for You” on CNN to stop by and break some bread with Tom Papa. In the true breaking bread spirit, Roy and Tom talk about how baking is the ultimate act of love… even when the baked goods come from a total stranger’s kitchen. The pair talk about women, families, good cigars, and how to steer clear of “spiritual experiences” that might be too intense. Roy talks about his dad, Roy Wood Sr., and his lasting impact on American civil rights and journalism. Roy speaks on his experience leaving The Daily Show and the pair discuss the state of politics in comedy.

Jimmy Kimmel and Tom Papa turn into two old Italian men on this week of Breaking Bread. They talk preparing the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the San Genaro Festival, and making Zeppole in the back yard. Jimmy talks about celebrating 20 years of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the chaos of the shows first days. The pair talk about today’s insane political climate and how comedy makes everything worth it.

Jessimae Peluso lives out her italian nonna dreams this week at Breaking Bread. She declares that Sofia Loren is the perfect woman and that nobody should be afraid to age—or become a witch. Jessimae and Tom talk about a mirror that shows your true reflection that is conveniently and ironically located in the museum of illusions. Being a comic means going to Omaha when you need money and being up to date on pop culture references like “rizz.” The duo also take time to recount some of film’s brightest and beloved classics like “The Electric Grandmother” and “Harry and the Hendersons.”

Moon Unit Zappa drops by Breaking Bread to share her new book “Earth to Moon” where she writes about growing up with Frank Zappa as her father. Tom and Moon talk about veganism, Frank Zappa’s crazy fanbase, Moon's relationship with Marc Maron, classic LA Italian haunts, and Egyptologist Dr. Colleen Darnell. In her book, Moon shares stories of growing up in an unconventional household in 1970s Los Angeles, coming of age as part of the MTV generation in the 1980s as the “Valley Girl,” and finding herself after losing her father, then her mother, and the dismantling of her longest relationships. Tom and Moon talk about veganism, Frank Zappa’s crazy fanbase, Moon's relationship with Marc Maron, classic LA Italian haunts, and Egyptologist Dr. Colleen Darnell.

Paul Scheer stops by to set the record straight about his role in Twisters. Paul and Tom gossip about eating on trains, choco tacos, and the Clippers. Paul talks his new book and being an airport vendor at LAX. Paul is starting a speed dating therapy business and has discovered a love of Funyuns.

Marc fell on his face and made a new special about it. Maron comes to break bread with Tom Papa and talks smoking with Keith Richards and how to avoid owning a cigar shop in a strip mall. Marc gushes over Taylor Swift, patchouli, New Jersey, and Wendy’s. The two talk about how awful acting is and Marc’s new show on Apple TV+ with Owen Wilson, and making Eddie Murphy and Larry David laugh.

Robert Smigel and Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, come on to Breaking Bread with Tom Papa! Triumph reveals secrets about his life as a bachelor. Smigel talks Triumph hurting people’s feelings and getting the truths that no one else can. Smigel recounts the beginning of his comedy career, the start of youtube, The Dana Carvey Show, working with Lorne Michaels, and the legendary SNL 25th anniversary show. Tom and Smigel recount memories of growing up in New Jersey.

Watch Sam Morril’s special “You’ve Changed” out now on Amazon Prime! Sam Morril joins Breaking Bread with Winnie the pug. Sam and Tom talk about their dreams of moving to Florida to solve mysteries and rock Hawaiian shirts. Sam hates Top Gun and wonders why Glen Powell is in every movie now.? The pair talk Star Wars, College Sports, and Sam’s secret past as a furry… Sam reflects on growing up in a bodega and his love for the Godfather. The two comics swap stories about the Comedy Cellar and surviving plane crashes. For a limited time, kids eat FREE! Go to HelloFresh.com/PAPAKIDS to unlock this exclusive offer. One free kids’ meal per box for two months while subscription is active.

John Owen Lowe comes to break bread with Tom Papa to celebrate season 2 of Netflix’s ‘Unstable’ out now! Johnny talks about this season getting even crazier and what it’s really like to have his dad, Rob Lowe, as a co-star. Johnny tells Tom how to stop balding and uses his scientific past to teach us about stem cells. The pair re-cap the Olympics, talk rebelling against show biz, and spill about ‘Unstable’ season 3 and Tom’s newest special!

Adam Pally and Tom Papa toast to TV, comedy, and being Steph Curry getting to the Oval Office. The pair talk Pally’s new show “Mr. Throwback” now streaming on Peacock, and wild twists of fate that led him to a hit TV show. Tom reveals the truth behind The Marriage Ref’s crazy marketing strategy and being just a little too skinny to be the “fat guy.” Pally and Papa give tips on how to make it in Hollywood and tell us the key is to never audition. Wildgrain is the first-ever, bake-from-frozen subscription box for sourdough breads, fresh pastas, and artisanal pastries. For a limited time, you can get $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/PAPA to start your subscription.

Matt Damon ends his press tour for “The Instigators,” starring Damon and Casey Affleck, on this week’s episode of Breaking Bread. Matt and Tom talk about everything from the day they met on the set for Steven Soderbergh’s “The Informant” to Matt’s forbidden love for the Yankees, breaking the hearts of Red Sox fans around the world (Boston). The pair talk Tom’s dreams of being an Olympian/BMX champion, surfing together in Costa Rica, trying to make James Gandolfini laugh, and Robin Williams’ beloved legacy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Matt Damon in “The Instigators”: “The Instigators” debuted in select theaters August 2, 2024 before its global premier on Apple TV+ August 9, 2024! In the film, Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to pull off a robbery of the ill-gained earnings of a corrupt politician. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police, but also backwards bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture—or worse. Directed by Doug Liman and written by Chuck MacLean and Casey Affleck, “The Instigators” also stars Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, and Toby Jones, with Jack Harlow and Ron Perlman. 00:00 Intro 00:40 Midnight Run & ‘The Instigators’ 04:19 Tom getting cut from ‘Air’ 07:54 Matt can’t remember what movies he’s been in 10:35 Direct! 16:09 Matt Damon LOVES Derek Jeter 21:36 Tom Papa, average Olympian 24:40 Casey Affleck writing ‘The Instigators” 25:58 Car chase therapy & Bourne Identity 31:16 Instigators is pro-therapy 34:36 Jack Nicholson's advice 38:35 ‘Good Will Hunting’ Robin Williams & Michael Stuhlbarg 43:31 Surfing in Costa Rica 45:36 You’ll never run a marathon 47:02 Trying to make James Gandolfini laugh 48:15 Taste Test! Shrimp Crackers…. 50:54 The comedian diet - cheeseburgers 52:27 The Comedy Cellar & a new generation of comedy 55:15 Neighbors with Andrew Schulz About Tom: Tom Papa, a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry, has made significant strides in film, television, radio, podcasts, and live performances. Notably, he's a regular on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and various late-night TV shows. Papa's literary skills are evident in his books “We’re All In This Together” and "You’re Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," a collection of essays, and "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," a comedic look at family life. His latest stand-up specials are “Tom Papa: What A Day!” and "Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!" on Netflix. Beyond comedy, Papa's engagements extend to hosting "What A Joke With Papa And Fortune" on SiriusXM and appearing on NPR's "Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me." His love for baking led to hosting the Food Network series "Baked." As an actor, he's worked with notable figures like Rob Zombie and Steven Soderbergh and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including the HBO film "Behind the Candelabra." Additionally, Papa has contributed as a writer to projects like "Bee Movie" and various TV series. Residing in Los Angeles with his family, Papa continues to balance his professional life with personal interests like baking. Get in touch with or go see Tom live on stage! Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa #TomPapa #breakingbreadwithTomPapa

Chad Daniels tells Tom how Wisconsin and Minnesota are identical, including their lack of Olympic champions. They plan living in the woods on a pontoon boat avoiding X-Games level activities like tandem bikes and paddle boarding. Tom gets uncomfortable with Chad’s past love affair with comedy legend Phyllis Diller. Chad shares his thrilling past as a soda pop felon sent to Camp Cucamonga where he made a pastor sin. Stay tuned for the shocking Pringles taste test of the century. Catch Chad’s new Netflix Special “Empty Nester” out now! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Chad Daniels: With close to a billion streams of his 6 albums to date, Chad Daniels is one of the most listened to comedians of all time. Originally from and still residing in rural Minnesota, Chad has been touring the country for over 20 years. He has made 6 late night appearances to date and is one of only 13 comics to be featured on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Chad co-hosts the podcast Middle of Somewhere with co-host Cy Amundson, and recently launched his second podcast, PRETEND PROBLEMS, alongside his girlfriend Kelsey Cook. His kids tell him you can find him on Instagram and TikTok. If you want to know more, you can follow Chad on Instagram and twitter @thatchaddaniels or subscribe to his facebook page @comedianchaddaniels. About Tom: Tom Papa, a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry, has made significant strides in film, television, radio, podcasts, and live performances. Notably, he's a regular on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and various late-night TV shows. Papa's literary skills are evident in his books “We’re All In This Together” and "You’re Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," a collection of essays, and "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," a comedic look at family life. His latest stand-up specials are “Tom Papa: What A Day!” and "Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!" on Netflix. Beyond comedy, Papa's engagements extend to hosting "What A Joke With Papa And Fortune" on SiriusXM and appearing on NPR's "Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me." His love for baking led to hosting the Food Network series "Baked." As an actor, he's worked with notable figures like Rob Zombie and Steven Soderbergh and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including the HBO film "Behind the Candelabra." Additionally, Papa has contributed as a writer to projects like "Bee Movie" and various TV series. Residing in Los Angeles with his family, Papa continues to balance his professional life with personal interests like baking. Get in touch with or go see Tom live on stage! Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa #TomPapa #breakingbreadwithTomPapa

Joel McHale gets comfortable on this week's Breaking Bread on his way to shoot 'Animal Control!’ Tom apologizes for having to reschedule on him. They get into Joel’s insane lifting routine and waking up early. Joel dives into hosting vs acting. He shares that he collects weapons. And of course, we talk Godzilla. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Joel: Joel McHale is an American actor, comedian and television presenter. He is best known for hosting The Soup (2004–2015) and his role as Jeffrey "Jeff" Winger on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015). He has performed in the films Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011), Ted (2012), and The Happytime Murders (2018). About Tom: Tom Papa, a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry, has made significant strides in film, television, radio, podcasts, and live performances. Notably, he's a regular on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and various late-night TV shows. Papa's literary skills are evident in his books “We’re All In This Together” and "You’re Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," a collection of essays, and "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," a comedic look at family life. His latest stand-up specials are “Tom Papa: What A Day!” and "Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!" on Netflix. Beyond comedy, Papa's engagements extend to hosting "What A Joke With Papa And Fortune" on SiriusXM and appearing on NPR's "Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me." His love for baking led to hosting the Food Network series "Baked." As an actor, he's worked with notable figures like Rob Zombie and Steven Soderbergh and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including the HBO film "Behind the Candelabra." Additionally, Papa has contributed as a writer to projects like "Bee Movie" and various TV series. Residing in Los Angeles with his family, Papa continues to balance his professional life with personal interests like baking. Get in touch with or go see Tom live on stage! Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa #TomPapa #breakingbreadwithTomPapa

Hannah Berner of Giggly Squad fame joins the table and has a new special on Netflix, ‘We Ride at Dawn.’ They start with how they met, at a Netflix golf event. Tom asks Hannah who cooked for her, and they get into the forbidden Italian romance her parents had. Tom shares a story about his aunt’s sauce going bad, and then a nightmare incident at a hotel after his last show. Hannah guides Tom through how to clean up hotel crime scenes and how she likes to spend her time post-show. They question what’s wrong with LA food, and how certain vegan restaurants try to trick you. Tom describes what it was like bringing a vegetarian home to his Italian family, and how he was a vegetarian at one point. They talk about convincing your partner’s parents to like you in general. Tom consults Hannah’s advice for handling mean girls and how to get revenge on Instagram and social media. Hannah asks Tom about family, and they get into what having kids was like. Lastly they get into the trend of run clubs, and waiting in lines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Hannah: Hannah Berner was born in Brooklyn, New York and emerged on the comedy scene by writing, directing, editing, and acting in videos on social media and writing viral tweets. She has two podcasts, Giggly Squad and Berner Phone with over 50 million downloads. She was a cohost on Bravo’s Chat Room, as well as a member of Bravo’s Summer House for three seasons, and has over 4 million followers across her social media platforms. She has interviewed Jennifer Lawrence, Hailey Bieber, Priyanka Chopra, Kesha, and the Jonas Brothers. She currently is on a theater tour across America for her stand up comedy. In 2022, she was named one of Just For Laughs “New Faces Of Comedy" in Montreal. She was recently named one of Variety’s “Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2023”. About Tom: Tom Papa, a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry, has made significant strides in film, television, radio, podcasts, and live performances. Notably, he's a regular on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and various late-night TV shows. Papa's literary skills are evident in his books “We’re All In This Together” and "You’re Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," a collection of essays, and "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," a comedic look at family life. His latest stand-up specials are “Tom Papa: What A Day!” and "Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!" on Netflix. Beyond comedy, Papa's engagements extend to hosting "What A Joke With Papa And Fortune" on SiriusXM and appearing on NPR's "Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me." His love for baking led to hosting the Food Network series "Baked." As an actor, he's worked with notable figures like Rob Zombie and Steven Soderbergh and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including the HBO film "Behind the Candelabra." Additionally, Papa has contributed as a writer to projects like "Bee Movie" and various TV series. Residing in Los Angeles with his family, Papa continues to balance his professional life with personal interests like baking. Get in touch with or go see Tom live on stage! Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa #TomPapa #breakingbreadwithTomPapa

Aisha Tyler and Tom reunite after many years of stand up together early in their careers. Aisha shares her journey with network television, hosting and starring in Criminal Minds. She also regales tom with her obsession with optimization podcasts and cold plunges. Then Aisha gives Tom the rundown of her margarita business ‘Losophe,’ and the differences between warring canned margaritas on the market. Aisha has also been directing, which has provided a new perspective she takes into her acting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsor Wild Grain! Any combination of breads, pastas and pastries shipped to you, plus $30 off the first box and free croissants when you go to https://www/wildgrain.com/papa. About Aisha: Aisha Tyler is an American actress and talk show host. She is known for playing Andrea Marino in the first season of Ghost Whisperer, Dr. Tara Lewis in Criminal Minds, Mother Nature in the final two The Santa Clause films, and voicing Lana Kane in Archer. She also had recurring roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Talk Soup, and Friends. She co-hosted seasons two through seven of CBS's The Talk, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. Since 2013, she has hosted Whose Line Is It Anyway?.[2] She also hosted Ubisoft's E3 press conferences and has lent her voice to the video games Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3, and Watch Dogs. About Tom: Tom Papa, a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry, has made significant strides in film, television, radio, podcasts, and live performances. Notably, he's a regular on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and various late-night TV shows. Papa's literary skills are evident in his books “We’re All In This Together” and "You’re Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," a collection of essays, and "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," a comedic look at family life. His latest stand-up specials are “Tom Papa: What A Day!” and "Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!" on Netflix. Beyond comedy, Papa's engagements extend to hosting "What A Joke With Papa And Fortune" on SiriusXM and appearing on NPR's "Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me." His love for baking led to hosting the Food Network series "Baked." As an actor, he's worked with notable figures like Rob Zombie and Steven Soderbergh and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including the HBO film "Behind the Candelabra." Additionally, Papa has contributed as a writer to projects like "Bee Movie" and various TV series. Residing in Los Angeles with his family, Papa continues to balance his professional life with personal interests like baking. Get in touch with or go see Tom live on stage! Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa #TomPapa #breakingbreadwithTomPapa