Even though I never liked Jordan Klepper
while he was here, I'm contractually obligated
to have him back to talk about his new show.
So please welcome my best friend, Jordan Klepper.
(cheers and applause)
-Welcome back, Jordan. -Good to see you, man.
-Welcome back, Jordan. -Never liked. Never liked.
No, man, that's just me being honest.
-Welcome back to the show. -That's... Oh. (laughs)
-Dude, we miss you. Honestly, we miss you on the show. -Do you?
-Are you kidding me? How have you been? -Oh.
-I've been good. I miss coming on the show. -Yeah?
Like, I-I-- One minute Jordan Klepper was on The Daily Show,
then Jordan Klepper was doing a-a talk show
where you were playing a character,
-like, a right-wing character, -Yes.
and then you stopped doing that
and now you're doing another show.
-Like, what changed? -What, uh...
Well, I think you just explained it.
I mean, I was doing a show-- Do you need me to explain it
-back to you, is that what it is? -No.
-I was doing The Daily Show, and then I did -Yes.
another show where I was playing a right-wing character,
-Yeah. -and then now I'm doing another show
-where I'm out into the field. -Yeah, but I'm saying,
why-why aren't you playing a right-wing character anymore?
Well, because the network thought I'd be better--
because 11:30's really crowded, Trevor.
There's, like, 50 shows, that's what it is.
-There's, like, 50 shows then. -So now you're moving earlier
-to have more fun. -I'm moving earlier to have more fun.
Honestly, so for the last, like, eight months, uh,
you know, I've been trying to keep you updated,
but you won't return my calls.
-I do texts. -Yeah, you won't return my texts, either.
But I'm not here to complain about that.
-I feel like you are. -I mean, a little bit.
-Uh, but I've been out in the world -Yes.
Like, we wanted, we wanted to--
We had the opportunity to go do a show
-that was about stories that don't get told. -Right.
-Out in real America. -Yes.
We hear a lot about real America.
What is real America? What do they care about?
They care about a lot of shit.
And it's not just what happens at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
-Yes. -And so, for the last eight months,
I've been out there in the field talking to people.
I-I was worried about you, though,
because I-I saw you doing this new show,
and then the next thing I saw a headline that says,
-"Jordan Klepper arrested." -Yes.
And then I was like, "Damn. So you lose a father figure
and now you've turned to a life of crime."
-Why were you arrested? -This is why,
because you won't return my text messages.
But, no, Jordan you were, you were seriously arrested.
I was-I was earnestly arrested.
I think, like, uh, what-what ended up happening is
-we'd been following activist's movements. -Right.
And there's an amazing group in Atlanta, Georgia,
called Freedom University, and it's a bunch
of undocumented students and DACA students
who can't attend public colleges.
And it's because the board of regents down there
-won't let them. -Right.
Uh, Georgia's one of the... (stammers)
They have one of the hardest lock-downs
on immigration policy altogether.
And so, I was down there and I was learning
about this program, Freedom University,
and myself and pastors and other teachers
went to a board of regents meeting,
and we stood up and we protested,
and when you do that in the South they arrest you.
Was this your first time getting arrested?
It was my first time getting arrested.
And you know how they joke about how they'll strip-search you,
-and they'll cough to see if something falls out -Yes.
of your anus? It's not a joke.
(laughter)
That's what they do.
Like, right off the bat.
You walk in there and I'm like,
they're gonna warm up to me, it's gonna be--
No, they're like, "You go in this line."
And I watch other people go in, drop it, cough.
And cough twice to see if something falls out
of your anus, which, to me, must be industry standard.
'Cause everybody they asked two coughs.
Two coughs, if you pass the two coughs, you go.
Which, if I go back, and I want to bring something in,
just practice for a few months.
If you can get past the two-cough threshold,
-you can get anything in jail. -(laughing)
-Oh, man. -And then I spent 12 hours, uh, uh,
surrounded by faith leaders,
other people who were there in general population.
And then, about four hours in, somebody comes in, they're like,
"Do you have a TV show?" And I'm like,
"I want to stay here with everybody.
I want to say here with ev--" They're like, "No, I'm told,
"uh, th-they're telling me, my boss says you have a TV show,
we need to put you in a separate cell."
And I'm like, "I don't want to go. I don't want to go."
They take me anyway, they put me in a separate cell.
I'm like, "All right, you know, this is what happens.
"You know, I'm a little bit famous, I've been on television,
I'll be in this separate cell."
About 30 minutes later, they come back in, they're like,
"You're fine, go back in the general population."
(laughter)
So, you know, I'm famous but I'm not that famous.
Well, can I tell you, I've-I've had the privilege of seeing,
-uh, a few episodes of the show. -Yeah.
And what I, what I genuinely love is, like,
it is a new take on-on what people love seeing you do,
and that is Jordan Klepper is a legend
at going out and talking to people.
-You've brought us a few clips. -I've got some clips.
Do you want to see me get attacked in the real world?
Yeah. That's what I dream of,
-Jordan, I mean... -I know, I thought you would.
-That's why I pay people. -If you like to... (laughs)
If you like to see me hurt, you're gonna love this.
Let me show you something.
Uh, our first episode I go down and I follow
a group of veterans who are battling PTSD,
-and they do it be professional wrestling. -Okay.
And so they invited me in the ring
to learn a little bit about professional wrestling.
If you want to roll that wrestling clip.
One of the things with pro wrestlers is chops.
It's just open hand slap.
It depends if you want to do, you know, backhand up
or forehand down.
You just... Right down the opponent's chest.
-No. No. -You're gonna... Yeah. You're gonna... -Show him.
-(grunts) That does (bleep) hurt! -No!
It does! Hurts!
-It's just a chop. -I don't care what you call it.
-It hurt. -(man laughs)
It's the thing where I call the police.
It's-it's an assault.
Yeah, I thought this was all supposed to be fake.
Yeah, no. You can tell.
I-I have a comedic register that I play in,
and I also have an authentic squeal,
and what you hear there is the authentic squeal.
I'm genuinely gonna be your number one fa...
Is this, like, you get hurt all the time?
-Is it like a... -(laughs) It pretty much is.
This is what I... Comedy Central is like,
"If you can get arrested, hurt..."
I also go out into the bayou, and I got...
-I sunk in a boat with a group of protesters. -Yes.
Uh, so I was basically in the bayou
with a bunch of alligators hiding from the police
-for a half a day, as well. -Wait.
What was the story? What were you there for?
-Well, the story was me, Trevor. -(laughs)
But in the grand scheme of things,
-there were pipeline protesters who were trying to stop... -Yes.
...the building of the pipeline down there.
And that's what the... The purpose of the show
was me to see there are a lot of people
who are fighting in America, who are on the front lines,
-who are trying to make something happen. -Yes, right.
And I wanted to see what that looked like,
so I went down there.
We woke up bright and early, 2:00 a.m.
They have to literally drive an hour and a half
to get to the water and then an hour on the boat
-up the bayou to try to get to where the pipeline is... -Yes.
-Uh-huh. -...so they can get on land
and lock themselves to the pipe.
And as we get going there, a police boat chases us,
causes a wake, and the boat goes under.
And we literally...
Us, $15,000 worth of equipment and a bunch of protesters
find ourselves swimming to the shore
and then literally picking up the camera.
And-and we are...
I think the word is, uh, (bleep).
I have a clip of that if you'd like to see it. Yeah.
Oh, I... This is too much joy.
-Let's see Jordan... -Show me the bayou.
Let's see Jordan (bleep), please.
-Did we just capsize? -(women laugh)
So, what-what the (bleep) just happened?
-We-we-we... -So...
-All right. -Basically...
-Okay. -Shit happens,
and we were in the boat.
The... I think what happened
was the police boat was making some circles,
creating some big waves,
and it basically sunk our boat.
Yeah.
The good thing... You can tell it's authentic
'cause for the next six hours, I don't try to make any jokes.
I just bitch to my cameraman
about why I'm not behind a desk anymore.
Let me... let me ask you this.
I remember when you told me what the new show was gonna be.
-Yeah. -You're like, "I'm on the road. I'm meeting the people."
Like, how many times did you regret that decision?
'Cause, I mean, this is pretty sweet,
-you have to admit, huh? -(laughs)
Look at this. We have lights, we have air conditioning.
-This is pretty nice. -Huh?
We have wonderful people here joining us every day.
-(cheering and applause) -This is really nice.
You're in a bayou, sinking.
I've seen your apartment, as well,
-and it looks nothing like the La Quinta Inn... -I'm having...
...in Killeen, Texas.
I'm having a good time, my friend.
Did you regret it, or did it put you...
did it connect you more with, like, issues
that are taking place in America?
-Oh, regret it. Uh... -(laughs)
I mean, uh, no.
I think, honestly, it was... it was moving.
Like, to go out there and see people...
Like, here's the deal,
is, you know, no matter what side of the aisle you are,
you probably look at what's happening in America today,
and you want it to change for the better.
-Whatever that perspective is. -Uh-huh.
And I think it was refreshing to go out there
and to see people who are trying to change something.
And, so, that-that was inspiring to see.
Uh, I love being out there.
I love being with people.
(chuckles) Although there was this ennui
that, uh, set in after a month or so,
and I realized, like...
After getting through The Daily Show
and The Opposition, I was like, "What do I miss?"
It's like, oh, every day I would wake up
and walk into a room full of really smart people.
-We'd craft a take. -Yes.
-We'd write some jokes. -Right, yeah.
The jokes would be given to me. Makeup would be put on.
I'd be put on a suit.
The lighting would make me look attractive and not gawkish.
-Uh-huh. -And then I'd be put in front of an audience
of 150 people, and I'd read those jokes,
and they'd be told to laugh at those jokes.
And I would feel good at the end of the day.
-Yeah. Yeah. -And in the bottom of the bayou
while the police boats are going by and we're ducking,
I'm thinking, "I miss that."
(laughter)
I want to show you one more clip.
-Can I show you one more clip? -What do you have?
-What do you have? More pain? -More pain.
Uh, I covered the gun issue a ton.
Yes. This is a big, uh, a big cause
that you are really passionate about,
-is guns in America. -Yes. Guns in America.
-Yes. -Now, I did want to... I wanted to embed with people
who had a perspective outside of my own,
and so I traveled with the Open Carry Texas group
-down in Texas... -Yes.
...and spent time with them to see their cause.
And we went to, um, an actual parade in Texas.
And, to be quite honest, I was a little shocked
by the types of people who were carrying those guns.
I'll show you right now.
♪ ♪
What are you carrying?
I don't know the specific number. I know it's an AR.
-I believe it's an AR-15. -It's an AR-15.
Do you like open and carry?
-Uh, yes. -Why's that?
It's just, like,
I'd feel responsible for protecting others,
'cause I'm the one that could provide protection with the gun.
That's a lot of responsibility for you. You're 13.
Yeah.
Is that good for you guys, a 13-year-old carrying an AR-15?
He's probably a better shot than I am. Well, that's not true.
Not many people are better shots than I am.
Yeah, in your time.
I think you're stuck in the past.
-(laughs) (Trevor laughing)
Oh, man! Oh, man.
That's one of those moments where I'm like--
you-you properly use the fact that you're white,
'cause I wouldn't make that joke to a guy holding a gun.
(laughs)
Those are my people.
Yeah.
People holding a musket, clinging to the past.
-I know them. -Did you--
Let me ask you this. Because you're out there
-talking to these people, -Mm-hmm.
is there anything they said that changed your mind?
Is there anything that we'll watch on the show where we go,
"Huh, I never saw it like that"?
I mean, I think, like, you spend enough time with people
and you realize, like-- You know, on--
-We-we often see the snapshot. -Yeah.
We see that one thing that we're outraged by.
Even guys carrying guns, it's like,
"Oh, you're clinging to your guns.
You're injecting fear into a situation."
And I do believe that. I disagree with them politically.
But you spend more time with any group of people
and you realize they're doing that because they want
-to better this country. -Yes.
Um, and I think that is-- it's eye-opening.
I sat down with, uh... with folks who were pushing back
against, uh, immigration issues,
again, who I don't agree with.
But, like, you spend time, you have beer,
and you understand a lot of people are dealing
with the same problems. They're just dealing with 'em
in different ways. And I think if you give them space
to make that, uh, point of view,
then you can't just throw the baby out with the bathwater
and disregard the-the point of view
-that they bring to the table. -And I think alcohol
makes us friendlier. So, I mean, that's why the beer helps.
-The beer is so important. That's what I realized. -Yeah.
That's, like, a big thing. Before I let you go, uh,
one of the moments that went viral recently
-was you sat down with Hillary Clinton -Mm-hmm.
and you got her to read the Mueller report.
-I did. -When I watched the clip,
she genuinely looked like she was having the time of her life.
-Was she enjoying it as much as it looked like? -100%.
I think there was something really cathartic for her.
Like, I-I brought the Mueller report
and I knew I would ask her if she wanted to read it.
And, uh, we found somebody who was trying to get her
to read the audiobook for the Mueller report.
And so we put it in front of her, and she jumped on it.
And I think it is true.
Like, that-that thing is-is half full of things
-she was warning people about 18 months ago. -Right.
And I think for her to read that
and to get the catharsis of telling people, like,
"It's here in writing," uh, is important.
I also think the fact that somebody is reading it...
-(chuckles) -(laughs)
And also that that's seen as a threat to some people,
-like, "Did you hear what Hillary Clinton did? -Yes.
She read the Mueller report."
-People are offended by that. -Yeah, they're like,
"I can't believe it! People are reading nowadays? Unbelievable."
Well, dude, you know what, I'm excited for the show,
uh, because this is you doing what you do best.
But it's got a lot of heart. It's funny at the same time.
And, most importantly,
it involves you suffering a shit ton.
-So, thank you, my friend. -Thank you, sir.
Jordan's new show kicks off May 9
at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central,
so be sure to tune in.