Andy Richter | Sidekick No More — From Conan to the DWTS Cha-Cha!

Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe

PodcastOne

Society & Culture, Tv & Film, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 21.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

#896. Andy Richter is stepping out from the sidekick spotlight and spilling all the stories you’ve been waiting for! From his early days making teachers laugh to becoming Conan O’Brien’s iconic right-hand man, Andy has always found a way to bring the laughs.

Then came Dancing With the Stars. Andy surprised fans (and himself!) and even earned the title of “People’s Princess” this season, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at why he said yes to the show.

Hear about his start in improv, his friendship with Conan, the highs and lows of DWTS, and even honest confessions about health, weight loss, and how the show changed his life after a slow season. Whether you’ve been a fan for decades or just love a good story about comedy, dancing, and life in the spotlight, this episode is packed with Andy’s feel-good energy.

Tune in and get ready to see Andy Richter like never before — sidekick? Not anymore.

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

(1:42) – Andy Richter on why he’s never loved being the solo spotlight, and how being a “morale keeper” shaped his sense of humor
(8:20) – The story of how Andy met Conan and became the first writer hired on Late Night
(21:37) – Andy shares the heartwarming moment his daughter realized he was in Elf
(24:16) – Why Andy said YES to Dancing With the Stars despite initial hesitation
(37:39) – Behind the scenes of DWTS: the highs, lows, and what it really felt like to be sent home.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of Off The Vine is brought to you by booking.com.
0:03.0	Since 2010, they have helped over one billion vacation rental guests find places to say.
0:08.5	That's billion with a B.
0:10.1	Head on over to booking.com and get started on your listing today.
0:13.2	Get seen. Get booked on booking.com.
0:16.0	ORA, for a limited time, visit Auraframes.com slash vine.
0:20.1	And get $45 off Oa's best selling Carver
0:23.3	mat frames named number one by wire cutter by using promo code Vine at checkout. Figs, if you're
0:29.3	in healthcare or shopping for someone who is, you can get 15% off your first order at wherefigs.com
0:35.3	with the code Fs rx.
0:42.7	Pura take up to 30% off site wide during Pura's Black Friday sale, the biggest sale of the year for a limited time only at pura.com.
0:45.7	Aerolo, if you've got an international trip coming up, download the Aero app now or visit
0:51.2	A-I-R-A-L-O.com and use code vine for 15% off your first e sim
0:57.0	you're listening to off the vine with kately bristow
1:04.7	hey vinos real quick if you are listening right now which obviously you are you wouldn be hearing this, can you hit the subscribe or follow button on whatever platform you're on? Please, that one simple thing helps more than you even realize it allows me to keep growing on this podcast and making these episodes the best they can possibly be obviously for you. That's the only favorite I'm going to ever ask, okay? It truly means the world to me. Thank you. Now let's get into it. Hey, everybody, welcome to Off the Vine. I'm doing an intro from home today because I forgot to do one for Andy, but Andy Richter was on the podcast and we had obviously a lovely, hilarious, meaningful conversation. He kind of opened up more than I thought he would and I just love him and respect him all around. We obviously talk about dancing with the stars. But we also talk about how his career came to be and the struggles that he's overcome. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Illinois. Oh, you grew up in Illinois. I love people from Illinois. It's, you know, Canada is just a different kind of Midwest.
2:01.6	Yes.
2:09.2	There's a very, it's a very similar kind of ethos to Midwestern people to like, and, you know, in like Wisconsin, Michigan. I always gravitate towards those kind of people.
2:11.2	Yeah, yeah, they were very similar.
2:12.2	I always call them honorary Canadians.
2:13.6	Yes, you're not wrong.
2:15.1	So when did you move?
2:16.5	Was it when you were like, I'm going to go do big things in Hollywood?
	...

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