NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Seth Meyers admits there are times when he鈥檚 in a disagreement with his wife or absurd situation with his kids and he can鈥檛 help immediately thinking about making it into a bit. The comedian and has morphed several of those amusing stories into his latest HBO/Max standup special 鈥淒ad Man Walking.鈥�
Meyers' last HBO special, in 2019 also delved into his adventures in parenting, and Meyers says after being cooped up with the family during the pandemic he couldn鈥檛 NOT write about his kids and marriage to his wife, Alexi Ashe.
鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed how 鈥� unlike the nightly show, which is so tied to politics and the world we鈥檙e living in 鈥� this was more about sort of the universal experience of being part of a family,鈥� Meyers said in a recent interview. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun to be on stage and realize that you are not alone in the way you are feeling about things.鈥�
The special was shot live at the Vic Theatre in Chicago where Meyers got big laughs when talking about mundane things like not knowing how to fold a stroller and the risks of playing board games with his children, who are 8, 6 and 3 years old.
Meyers said his kids so far haven鈥檛 objected to him talking about the funny things they say and do on stage. 鈥淚 am very cognizant of saying things that I feel like they鈥檒l be okay with,鈥� he said. Right now, they like being occasionally on TV and fodder for his act, but he knows that could end as they get older. His oldest son recently seemed less enthused about an .
鈥淭he minute someone at school busts him for being in a turkey costume, game over,鈥� Meyers said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut we will give them permission ... because my wife did buy into being married to a comedian, whereas they didn鈥檛 choose it.鈥�
One of the special鈥檚 standout bits is about Alexi trying to get through airport security with a tub of hummus. Meyers was going to keep it to himself, but then couldn鈥檛 resist trying it onstage. 鈥淚 am literally in real time thinking 鈥� it鈥檚 not just that the story is so funny, but I realize this really is a perfect example of who we both are in this marriage," he said. "It kind of overlaps nicely with the theme of what I鈥檓 trying to do.鈥�
The special's director, Neal Brennan, suggests the humor lies in Meyers' relatable stories despite his fame and acerbic persona. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very much in control on 鈥楲ate Night鈥� and his home life? He is not at all in control," Brennan said, laughing.
Brennan, who also directed "Lobby Baby," says Meyers has zero airs when it comes to family. 鈥淭he conceit of his thing is like, 鈥業鈥檓 a very good business man ... and I have all the power. I have all the authority, whatever I say goes. And then I get home and it鈥檚 just a bunch of people taking advantage of me and wanting to talk about lava.鈥欌��
Known for his biting political commentary, Meyers says the humor in his act stems from recognizing how men and women fail each other, and he tries to spread the blame around fairly.
鈥淚鈥檓 so loath to do that special about a man complaining about his wife,鈥� Meyers said. He enjoys when husbands and wives both recognize themselves in his comedy. 鈥淭he balance is very important to me. Whereas both sides politically is a completely useless waste of time, I do try to do both sides by marriage."
Meyers also reflected on and said he loved witnessing the 鈥渂ig swings鈥� of his era on the show. 鈥淚 loved just being there while you watched Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg and Bill Hader all just become the people who would then be a massive part of show business for the next two decades."
While there will always be naysayers who say 鈥淪NL鈥� isn鈥檛 as funny as it used to be, Meyers says being 鈥渂eautifully uneven,鈥� is one of its most enduring qualities, and likens it to watching live sports.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know until it happens how it鈥檚 going to be,鈥� Meyers said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always said the worst show has something great and the best show has something terrible. And there鈥檚 no host that can guarantee consistency."
As for whether he'll keep doing stand up, Meyers said with all the family shenanigans, it's a pretty safe bet. 鈥淭hey keep providing content. So yeah, I can鈥檛 imagine it鈥檚 going to stop anytime soon.鈥�
Brooke Lefferts, The Associated Press
