Wait! Before I say "comedian." Let me tell you who Paul Mecurio really is. He's a transformer. A true re-inventor. He started out at as a lawyer on Wall Street. Because it was logical. And he got used to making 2, 3... 4 million dollars a year (after bonuses vested). It was hard to give it up... at first.But he still made little efforts. And those efforts add up. Overtime Paul stopped taking notes in meetings. He wrote jokes instead. And then one day he got a chance to meet Jay Leno. And he started living a double life. If the senior partners knew what he was doing, they wouldn't tolerate it. He'd be out. Immediately. This was a gamble. But it was worth it... Show Notes: Jay Leno The Daily Show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Stand up NY Comedy Cellar Paul Koestner - Louis CK's cinematographer The Hudlin brothers (Warrington Hudlin and Reginald Hudlin. Reginald wrote "Black Panther: Power," directed "Marshall" and produced "Django Unchained.") Spike Lee ("25th Hour," "He Got Game," "Do The Right Thing," "Malcolm X," "She's Gotta Have It") Albert Brooks (his movies include "Taxi Driver", "Finding Nemo," "Finding Dory," "Twilight Zone: The Movie," "Private Benjamin," "A Most Violent Year," and so many more) Woody Allen ("Annie Hall," "Manhattan," "Love and Death," "Bananas,") David Letterman Robin Williams Luna Lounge Marc Maron Blowin in the Wind by Bob Dylan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA Monologue: What Makes America Laugh Before Bed by Jon Macks My interview with Jon Macks: Ep. 190: Jon Macks - The Gut Decision That Lasts A Lifetime Jimmy Brogan (Jay Leno's main writer) Louis CK Pete Holmes Gary Gulman Steve sweeney Don Gavin Movie: Chuck with Liev Schreiber I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.   Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify   Follow me on Social Media: Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.