Toluca Lake with Derek Waters (1)
Speaker 2
Always look on the bright side of your life. This is the best podcast I've ever been on. Because I'll tell you, it's like, it's fun.We're not sitting in a fucking room twiddling our thumbs. Like, it's just very nice. And it's great to see you.
Speaker 1
It's great to see you too. That's me and Derek Waters, taking podcasting to the streets. Hi, I'm Alan McLeod and welcome to Walking About, the podcast about walking.Adventure is worthwhile in itself. So said the bold and pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, reminding us that the value of trying something new and unknown doesn't necessarily come from succeeding at it.
It comes from the experience of doing it.And in a way, the same can be said for walking. A worthwhile endeavor, no matter how you manage to fit it in. Whether you're walking to work, school, around the mall, to the local library, grocery store or cafe, or just taking a leisurely stroll like we're doing on this episode.Because today we're walking about Toluca Lake. Located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, Toluca Lake is bordered by Studio City, North Hollywood and Burbank, and celebrated for its tree-lined streets, walkability and proximity not only to major Hollywood studios, but also the Burbank Airport.
One reason famed former resident Amelia Earhart decided to live in Toluca Lake in the first place.Only minutes away from Universal Studios Theme Park, some Toluca Lakers complain of hearing the screams of noisy riders on the new Fast and Furious ride. But you won't be complaining because my old pal, the hilarious Derek Waters is walking with me today. Derek and I are a little more slow and serene than Fast and Furious.A prolific actor and comedian, you may know Derek from the show Mythic Quest and its spinoff series, Side Quest. Derek is also a writer, director, and the creator and host of the Comedy Central series, Drunk History.
A show I myself appeared on as an inebriated narrator, and I couldn't have gotten through my drunken historical tales without Derek as my designated driver.We begin our walk outside Derek's Toluca Lake home. All right, so we're here in Toluca Lake. This is great.This is, uh...
Speaker 2
It's beautiful, 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Speaker 1
Ooh, I'm feeling that sunshine coming out. Is that an apple tree over there that's covered?
Speaker 2
It is an apple tree. Oh, wow. Yeah.There's all kinds of trees here.
Speaker 1
Little baby apple tree.
Speaker 2
It's not just a lake. There's trees.
Speaker 1
Yeah, you know, there's actually a Toluca Lake.
Speaker 2
There is, yeah. Have you ever been there? I have, yeah.It's a man-made lake, but it's a beautiful lake. A lot of history there. Amelia Earhart lived here.Not on the water, but that's her house.
Speaker 1
Did she live... Wait, really?
Speaker 2
That was.
Speaker 1
I know Amelia Earhart lived in...
Speaker 2
She did live in Toluca Lake. That's just not her house. You want some other people?
Speaker 1
I know Bob Hope. I know Frank Sinatra. I don't know you, but I know you.
Speaker 2
The creator of Woody Woodpecker.
Speaker 1
Oh, really? How about that? I'm still thinking.So it's a vibrant, creative community.
Speaker 2
Yeah, vibrant, creative community. I love living here.
Speaker 1
Do you feel the creative vibes when you stroll around?
Speaker 2
I do. I like that it feels like there's a community, you know? And it's just a nice neighborhood that doesn't feel...I lived in Hollywood for 11 years. And that, you would think, would be creative.
But I didn't feel that creative.Morning, how are you? Good, how are you? Good, thanks.I'm excited to be outside with you, Alan, and not to change the subject of my neighborhood. But I'm really hoping that we encounter something that has gotten out of hand.
You know, there's a lot of issues with Iran.There's a lot of issues in the world. But the one issue that is really hitting me on walks is the speakerphone. Is this often talked about on your show?
Speaker 1
We're talking about when someone's just talking out loud with their speakerphone open?
Speaker 2
Yeah, it's gotten out of hand.
Speaker 1
Honestly, no, that's never really come up.
Speaker 2
It's gotten out of hand, and I really wanted a place to discuss it in here. Because I have often said in my head, when am I going to say this out loud? When am I going to say, why do I have to hear this?Why do I have to hear this? But then their rebuttal would be, what, why does it matter to you?
And I don't know what to say except like, it's human decency, right?I mean, does it bother you as much as it bothers me? Like just somebody just talking on their phone so loud. Like, I was like, maybe they don't have a right ear or if there's something wrong with them that they need to do.But it's so common now that everyone just has to let you know they're on the phone. I don't know.
Why would you want to also have other people hear your conversation?
Speaker 1
I think that the speakerphone is really designated for when you're in some sort of group. How do I phrase it? Like, you know, when we're talking on the phone with the grandparent or something, we put the speakerphone on so we can all have a little say and all hear.But, you know, we're not out in public. We're not at the local pub. We're not at a library.
Speaker 2
So when we hear someone on the speakerphone, what should we say? Can I say hi?
Speaker 1
Right, no, is this- Is it for me? Is this just a green light for anybody to participate in this conversation? Yeah, like if you just start talking.
Speaker 2
I was picking up food the other night, not to brag, trying to save one. I may use DoorDash, but I hit pickup. I'm not doing delivery.I'm doing pickup. Hell yeah. And that was the longest time I've ever waited.Want to do one more?
Speaker 3
Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2
We're doing heroin right now. Oh, I love this. And there was a guy waiting for his order.And also all four DoorDash guys that were here to pick up, we're all on speakerphone. But the one guy was so close to my ear, I almost said, is it for me?
But I was just like, I'm not ready for that battle.I'm not ready for it. No, yeah. Because it's not going to change.You think I say something to that guy, he's like, oh, you know what? I didn't realize I was disrespectful.
I'm going to stop.And everyone's going to stop. No, I just want to know what I can compare it to. Like, is there something that we do that I wouldn't put two and two together?Maybe doing a podcast out loud.
Speaker 1
Well, you know, yeah. That's what I was going to say is, do people maybe not differentiate like whether the person is physically present with them, the conversation is audible to everyone around them? You know, like we're speaking out loud to each other.
Speaker 3
Yeah.
Speaker 1
And we're doing a podcast, which just certainly got to be annoying to people.
Speaker 2
But we're next to each other. If we were on a walk, which we are, without being recorded, my volume would be at the same.
Speaker 1
I agree. I think there's an unspoken rule. Yeah.
Speaker 2
There's also the type of conversations. Like I was at the one time I was at Ralph's. One time.One time I went to Ralph's. That's all you've been to Ralph's?
Just one time because there was someone on the speakerphone.No, this one time at Ralph's, I heard this guy's like, yeah, we'll just get a skeleton crew, shoot at low budge, very few locations. It just really bothered me. And actually on that one, I don't think he, I always have a theory that people like that aren't on the phone.I don't think he was on the speakerphone. I think he was just wanting someone to be like, did you say skeleton crew?
I'm part of the film industry.I would like to be on the film crew.
Speaker 1
Well, I mean, you got to be careful. You say skeleton crew, people might get scared of that.
Speaker 2
Oh, that's true.
Speaker 1
I think there's going to be a skeleton, a crew of skeletons showing up here. Want to do one more?
Speaker 2
Oh yeah, let's do these. I love where we're kind of doing.
Speaker 1
Another time. Yeah, I know. I forgot to press record until we were about 10 miles into this walk, sadly.So I appreciate you soldiering on here.
Speaker 2
Is this San Diego? Oh man, it's great to see you, Alan. Oh dude, it's great to see you too.Let's talk about our history. Do you remember when you and I first shook hands?
Speaker 1
I would, it must've been, when they were putting up the Hollywood sign.
Speaker 2
Yeah, Hollywood land.
Speaker 1
This is where it'll be located.
Speaker 2
Hollywood land.
Speaker 1
And we shook on it and we spit in our hands and shook.
Speaker 2
That was it.
Speaker 1
No, I don't remember when you and I met. I don't remember when you and I met, but I do have, I absolutely have a distinct memory of actually a phone call from you that I did not put on speaker. I did it the right way.
Speaker 2
Good man.
Speaker 1
When I heard from you for the first time related to like drunk history, it was the Christmas. But we had had have done. We knew each other before that.
Speaker 2
Yeah.
Speaker 1
Because I would see you, I was around UCB. And of course, this phone call happened, I was sitting backstage at UCB. I was probably about to go do the lights for a show or something.
Speaker 3
Yeah.
Speaker 1
But anyway, I was at UCB all the time and you were regularly hosting shows and doing comedy shows. So we were seeing each other. I remember seeing you there shooting, or maybe I even like was kind of like Derek and Simon.Yeah, Derek and Simon. So I remember you and I guess Bob Odenkirk was there probably. And there was like some scenes at UCB.
Speaker 2
Possibly Chris Kattan.
Speaker 1
Possibly.
Speaker 2
And Simon Helberg.
Speaker 1
Simon Helberg.
Speaker 2
I think that's 2000 and oh man, I get real bad with that. Maybe like six or seven. I think it was six or seven.Yeah, but yeah.
Speaker 1
So yeah, you were kind of like well into your comedy career and making stuff. And that's something I've always admired about you is that you've always had that kind of I'll do it myself attitude. You kind of have like, you really kind of stay true to yourself.You make stuff you want to make. Thanks man. And then you just make it.You don't wait for necessarily someone to greenlight it, you know? And then that's kind of.
Speaker 2
Yeah, that's why I'm living on the streets. No one's greenlighting the ideas anymore.
Speaker 1
So you're literally where the green lights are. I'm just standing next to traffic signals. Green light on my idea.
Speaker 2
Yeah, no. But I remember obviously the night before Christmas was a debacle. But it was so much fun with you.That was a wild, wild night. We don't have to go into those details, but that was an exploration on all accounts.
Speaker 1
What I recall was wild. But yeah. No, I mean, you know, like I.And we don't have to. I know you're a humble man.
But I want to give you your flowers for, you know, being such a.That ended up being a huge part of my life, you know, just like as far as what people. I know for you mostly, but I mean, for my even like minor participation in your project. That's like what a lot of people know me for, is being a drunk narrator.
Speaker 2
That's so crazy.
Speaker 1
And it's always, you know, it's always a lovely interaction when someone recognizes me or, you know, perhaps buys me a drink or something like that.
Speaker 2
Does that happen more often than, like, let me buy you a drink?
Speaker 1
Not, not in a few years, but like my last, you know, when I.
Speaker 2
When you would go to a bar.
Speaker 1
The craziest thing. Yeah, yeah. When I would go out to bars a lot, you know, that would happen from time to time.And my one of my favorite times, I love New Orleans and one of my favorite times in New Orleans, I just happened to be going there around the time there was an episode that had a segment with about Jean Lafitte. And played by Jason Momoa. And that was the thing that I narrated.And folks, every bar I went into, folks were buying me drinks. It was crazy.
Speaker 2
Doesn't that seem like a different time?
Speaker 3
It totally was.
Speaker 2
I mean, I know it was a different time, but like a show coming on TV, people knowing what time it came on, like how black and white that seems now. Want to do two more miles?
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. Let's keep it going. No, it really did like seem like that was like a thing that, you know.
Speaker 2
But you also started it. Like it had existed before, but like there's many reasons why I've always loved you. But one of them was doing that procedure of the frustration that you would get of not getting it right.But you had already gotten it. No, man, I didn't fucking get it, man.
No, fuck, man.I don't want to get it right, man. I mean, those are always the best storytellers that just like you have your own voice. Everyone's drunk, but like you have that certain thing that you would do every time.
