#255: Jordan Klepper

This week on A Waste of Time with ItsTheReal we welcome the star and creator of the new Comedy Central documentary series Klepper, former Daily Show correspondent Jordan Klepper, to the Upper West Side! Jordan talks growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, forever being in the shadow of high school legend Derek Jeter, his contributions to his high school's national champion mock trial team, going to college on a math scholarship while double majoring in theater, and moving to Chicago to immerse himself in the best of improv acting. Jordan discusses his time as a substitute teacher (and his second day on the job, September 11th, 2001), his experiences on both the ImprovOlympic and Second City stages, performing as part of the Second City touring company at sea, surrounded by magicians and contortionists and dancers, and why he ultimately made his way to New York City. Jordan breaks down his time as a reality TV writer for the doomed follow-up to Duck Dynasty, Indiana Joes, working on ridiculous MTV game-show/sketch show pilots, and the video that got both Jordan and his wife on the radar of Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, and the phone call informing them that there was only one job being offered. We talk through The Daily Show legacy, the audition process, the culture that Jon Stewart created, performing on stage with the entire Wu-Tang Clan, what it was like when Jon announced he was leaving, the big shoes that Trevor Noah has stepped into and made his own, and what Jordan is building in his own voice with Klepper. All that, plus his recent video collaboration with Bill and Hillary Clinton, the best and worst sketch group names he was involved in, getting arrested on the job, how he feels about dog-friendly offices, and so much more in this incredible funny episode!