Tom Kelly Show

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly is a Long Island comedian going through his midlife crisis with an independent podcast where he just has fun. After decades working behind the scenes in television and radio, Tom mixes comedy, personal stories, show-business adventures, Long Island characters, street interviews, local businesses and conversations with interesting people. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's deep. There's no real plan. Whether it's at a TV show or on the Long Island Expressway . . . you're with Tom Kelly . . . in the moment as Tom keeps trying to remember to have fun.

  1. 21h ago

    490: Remembering Patrick Stewart, Captain Picard & Saying Goodbye to New York City

    Remembering Patrick Stewart, Captain Picard & Saying Goodbye to New York City Remembering Sir Patrick Stewart, the legendary actor behind Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men. In Episode 490 of The Tom Kelly Show, comedian and lifelong Star Trek fan Tom Kelly reflects on the passing of Patrick Stewart at age 86 and the lasting influence of Captain Picard. Tom shares how Star Trek shaped his childhood, why Jean-Luc Picard became a role model, and what made Stewart's portrayal so memorable. But this isn't a conventional tribute. Tom also has some controversial opinions about Star Trek: Picard, the later Next Generation movies, and whether actors should have too much creative control over their characters. Then Tom gets personal. Recording his final podcast from his longtime Upper West Side apartment, Tom prepares to leave New York City and begin a new chapter on Long Island. After nearly two decades in the apartment, he's confronting the surprisingly emotional challenge of deciding what to keep, what to throw away, and which memories deserve a place in his new home. From the nightmare of moving furniture out of Manhattan to a 19-year-old mattress, vintage iPods, sentimental paintings, pandemic supplies, and his grandmother's unused cheese grater, Tom discovers that moving isn't just about getting rid of stuff. Sometimes it's about letting go of an old version of yourself. Plus, the worst Long Island Halloween costume ideas and one final goodbye to West 74th Street. Chapters 00:00 – Remembering Patrick Stewart & Leaving New York City 00:56 – Welcome to The Tom Kelly Show 02:24 – Patrick Stewart Dies at 86: A Star Trek Fan Remembers 03:22 – Growing Up With Star Trek: The Next Generation 03:47 – Did Patrick Stewart Hurt the Star Trek Movies? 04:32 – What Went Wrong With Star Trek: Picard? 06:36 – Why Picard Season 3 Is Worth Watching 07:05 – Captain Kirk vs. Captain Picard 08:04 – How Captain Picard Influenced Tom's Life 09:13 – Saying Goodbye to New York City 09:45 – The NYC Trash Incident That Pushed Tom Over the Edge 10:46 – Why Moving to Long Island Is So Stressful 12:19 – What Should You Keep When Moving? 12:40 – "You Don't Need a Moving Truck. You Need a Dumpster." 14:09 – Starting Over With New Furniture 15:49 – Are You a Hoarder? Old Cables, iPods & Forgotten Technology 18:04 – The Sentimental Things That Are Hard to Throw Away 22:07 – Pandemic Hoarding: Soap and N95 Masks 24:12 – Grandma's Cheese Grater and a Family Memory 26:48 – The Worst Long Island Halloween Costume Ideas 27:45 – Listener Shout-Outs and a Final Goodbye to Manhattan

  2. Oct 26

    489: Norm MacDonald Documentary Judd Apatow & Alternate Side Of The Street Parking

    Did Judd Apatow's Norm Macdonald documentary really capture the comedian behind the legendary jokes? Comedian Tom Kelly records a solo episode from his car on Manhattan's Upper West Side while waiting out alternate-side parking. With a move to Long Island approaching, Tom reflects on why he's finally leaving New York City, the frustrations of owning a car in Manhattan, and the challenge of figuring out the next chapter of his comedy career. Tom also shares what it's like returning to television as a warm-up comedian for The Masked Singer and why getting back in front of a live audience has been creatively energizing. But the main event is Tom's review of Judd Apatow's Norm Macdonald documentary. As a longtime Norm fan, Tom enjoyed revisiting the legendary comedy clips but felt the film didn't reveal enough about the man behind them. Tom also revisits his days interning at Late Night with Conan O'Brien during Norm's controversial departure from Saturday Night Live and shares a little-known story he heard about Norm Macdonald getting booed offstage during a performance at Quinnipiac College. It's a conversation about comedy history, career reinvention, New York City and why sometimes you just have to turn on the microphone and make something. Chapters 00:00 Podcasting From a Car on Manhattan's Upper West Side 00:58 Why Sometimes You Just Have to Create Something 01:06 Why Tom Kelly Is Leaving New York City 01:29 The Nightmare of Alternate-Side Parking in NYC 04:46 Rethinking the Format of The Tom Kelly Show 06:03 Working as a Warm-Up Comedian on The Masked Singer 06:55 Reviewing Judd Apatow's Norm Macdonald Documentary 07:34 An Unexpected Conversation With a Stranger 08:26 What Was Missing From the Norm Macdonald Documentary? 09:51 Remembering Norm Macdonald's Saturday Night Live Years 11:30 The Story of Norm Macdonald Getting Booed at Quinnipiac 14:17 Why Tom Wanted More From the Documentary 14:50 Moving Into a New Condo and Finding a Podcast Studio 15:06 Magic Mirror, Comedy Shout-Outs & Closing Thoughts

  3. Oct 5

    487: Paul McCartney Is With My Ex and Why Keith Chase Hates Long Island

    Why does comedian Keith Chase (@ChaseTheShortGuy) hate Long Island — even though he grew up in one of its wealthier communities? Tom Kelly sits down with fellow Long Island comedian Keith Chase on New York City's Upper West Side for a funny, surprisingly personal conversation about growing up in Roslyn, Long Island stereotypes, wealth, privilege, community, politics and getting outside the bubble you grew up in. First, Tom and Keith get distracted by the unusual connection between Paul McCartney, Nancy Shevell and Nassau County Executive/Governor candidate Bruce Blakeman. Keith also gives possibly the most controversial ranking of The Beatles ever attempted on a podcast. Pasted text Then Keith explains what he disliked about growing up in Roslyn: the money, status competition, entitlement and feeling that everyone was trying to prove they'd "made it." But he also talks about the advantages he had, the teachers who influenced him and why he's grateful for the opportunities his hometown gave him. The conversation expands into Long Island culture, Massapequa vs. Roslyn, changing neighborhoods, why Keith doesn't want to move back to Long Island, and how leaving his hometown bubble changed the way he sees the world. Timestamps 00:00 Paul McCartney, Bruce Blakeman & What's Coming Up 00:27 Comedian Keith Chase Joins The Tom Kelly Show 01:15 The Paul McCartney–Bruce Blakeman Connection 02:16 Tom's Encounter With Bruce Blakeman in Sag Harbor 02:40 Why It's Dangerous for Creators to Talk Politics 03:39 How Nancy Shevell Ended Up With Paul McCartney 05:53 Would You Rather Your Ex Leave You for a Beatle? 06:21 Keith Ranks The Beatles From Best to Worst 08:33 Keith's Advice for Bruce Blakeman 09:25 Tom's Strange Tom Brady Connection 10:59 Massapequa vs. Roslyn 12:31 What Does Keith Hate About Roslyn? 13:22 The "I Made It, So I'm Better Than You" Attitude 14:08 Working as a Lifeguard in East Hills 16:00 When Adults Bully the Lifeguards 17:07 What Keith Actually Loved About Roslyn 17:35 The Teachers Who Changed His Life 18:31 Leaving the Family Home Behind 19:38 How Roslyn Became a Jewish Long Island Suburb 20:35 Roslyn's Connection to the Man Who Built Levittown 21:18 Would Keith Ever Move Back to Long Island? 21:37 What Keith Hates About Long Island Culture 22:18 Long Island vs. Jersey, Westchester & Connecticut 23:36 How Did Long Island Prepare Keith for the Real World? 23:57 Escaping the Roslyn Bubble 25:10 Massapequa's Version of the Long Island Bubble 25:42 The Childhood Tragedy That Changed Keith's Perspective 27:01 Tom's Very Different Massapequa Experience 27:36 How New Yorkers Respond to Tragedy 28:25 Why Keith Needed to Get Out and See the World Follow Tom Kelly: @TomKellyShow Follow Keith Chase: @ChaseTheShortGuy

  4. Sep 21

    486: Why Businesses Hate Long Island Influencers

    Why are some Long Island business owners getting frustrated with influencers — and does paying someone $1,500 for an Instagram video actually bring customers through the door? Tom Kelly and Steve Burgerer take the podcast on the road from Sunrise Highway to Southampton for a loose Long Island conversation about influencers, sponsored content, getting paid for creative work, and Tom's philosophy on when he will — and won't — promote a business. Tom talks about the criticism that influencers will promote anything for money, whether influencer marketing actually works for local businesses, and the difference between making an advertisement and making something people actually want to watch. Then things wander—as they should—into Tom's price for "selling out," the time a charity organizer promised him an extra $1,000 and didn't pay, losing a TV job right after buying his mother an iPhone, why he doesn't announce new gigs until they're secure, and whether Tom's parents are basically the nice version of Ray Barone's parents. Why are some Long Island business owners getting frustrated with influencers — and does paying someone $1,500 for an Instagram video actually bring customers through the door? Tom Kelly and Steve Burgerer take the podcast on the road from Sunrise Highway to Southampton for a loose Long Island conversation about influencers, sponsored content, getting paid for creative work, and Tom's philosophy on when he will — and won't — promote a business. Tom talks about the criticism that influencers will promote anything for money, whether influencer marketing actually works for local businesses, and the difference between making an advertisement and making something people actually want to watch. Then things wander—as they should—into Tom's price for "selling out," the time a charity organizer promised him an extra $1,000 and didn't pay, losing a TV job right after buying his mother an iPhone, why he doesn't announce new gigs until they're secure, and whether Tom's parents are basically the nice version of Ray Barone's parents. Timestamps 00:00 Why Do People Hate Long Island Influencers? 00:24 Podcasting From Sunrise Highway 00:38 The Most Long Island Thing Ever 01:23 Why Podcasting Isn't As Easy As It Looks 02:05 Explaining The Tom Kelly Show to a Stranger 02:37 What the Hell Is Quogue? 02:58 Where Has Steve Burgerer Been? 04:03 Long Island Businesses Are Rebelling Against Influencers 04:28 Are Influencers Worth $1,500? 04:44 Can You Trust a Paid Influencer? 04:51 Has Tom Kelly Ever "Sold Out"? 05:45 What's Tom's Sellout Price? 05:59 Burger City vs. Shake Shack 07:05 How Much Money Makes a Bad Gig Worth It? 07:44 Why Tom Used to Turn Down $2,250 Gigs 08:31 The Charity Gig That Owed Tom $1,000 09:43 Why You Can't Win a Feud With St. Jude 10:40 Why Tom Won't Announce His New TV Gig Yet 11:04 Another Comedian Took Tom's TV Job 12:03 Steve Finally Meets Tom's Parents 12:25 Are Tom's Parents Like Everybody Loves Raymond? 13:25 Tom Buys His Mom Her First iPhone 14:09 Tom Loses a TV Job Right After Buying the iPhone 14:38 Joey Kola's Rule About Counting on a Gig 15:10 Do Influencer Videos Actually Work for Sponsors? 15:41 Why Did This Sponsored Video Underperform? 16:32 Magic Mirror & Listener Shout-Outs 18:39 Why Tom Is Making More Social Media Clips 18:54 Heading to Southampton

  5. Aug 31

    485: Dealing With Pet Loss - Pet Loss Therapist Judith Rosen

    Is losing a pet really as painful as losing a human family member? How do you know when pet grief has become something you need help dealing with—and what should you NEVER say to someone whose pet just died? Tom Kelly sits down with longtime friend Judith Eve Rosen, LCSW, a clinical social worker specializing in veterinary social work and author of Life After Pet Loss: Daily Reflections for Working Through Grief. Judith explains how an experience in a veterinary emergency room inspired her to specialize in pet loss and the human-animal bond.   📖 BOOK — Life After Pet Loss: Daily Reflections for Working Through Grief Buy Life After Pet Loss on Amazon 📸 INSTAGRAM — @mypetlosstherapist Follow My Pet Loss Therapist on Instagram 🌐 JUDITH EVE ROSEN JudithEveRosen.com   TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Pet Grief & Life After Pet Loss 00:40 Meet Pet Loss Therapist Judith Eve Rosen 01:09 Is Pet Grief Really That Serious? 02:09 How Judith Became a Pet Loss Therapist 03:05 Veterinary Social Work Is a Real Specialty 03:44 Life After Pet Loss 04:01 Why People Seek Help After Losing a Pet 04:29 The WORST Things to Say When Someone's Pet Dies 05:11 What Is Disenfranchised Grief? 06:13 Does Everyone Need a Pet Loss Therapist? 07:27 PTSD and Traumatic Pet Loss 08:15 How Do You Know When Someone Needs Help? 08:31 Is Losing a Pet Like Losing a Family Member? 09:16 When Pet Loss Becomes Compounded Grief 10:10 Losing a Pet When You Live Alone 10:33 Does Losing a Dog Hurt More Than Losing a Rabbit or Fish? 11:27 Grieving ALL Kinds of Pets 12:58 How Do You Move On After Losing a Pet? 13:22 Keeping Your Pet's Collar, Bed or Favorite Things 14:33 Ways to Memorialize and Remember Your Pet 15:04 What If Your Friends Don't Understand Your Pet Grief? 16:56 Being Patient With People Who Don't Understand 17:45 Helping a Friend Whose Pet Is Dying 19:04 Pet Loss Resources and Support Groups 19:52 How Do You Explain Pet Death to a Child? 20:39 The "Memory Jar" for Children and Families 21:34 Feeling Guilty About Getting Another Pet 22:12 A New Pet Isn't a Replacement 22:41 How Do You Know When You're Ready for Another Pet? 23:29 Life After Pet Loss & Judith's Instagram 23:56 Closing Thoughts

  6. Aug 10

    482: Perez Hilton And What I Hate About Lindenhurst - Plus Dog Poop

    Tom Kelly goes from celebrity culture to Long Island problems and then ends with a tribute to one of the people who helped shape his life. Tom reacts to the troubling news surrounding Perez Hilton and reflects on fame, career reinvention, getting older, and the difficulty of trying to recreate an earlier high point in your career. It leads Tom to an important realization: sometimes the people who matter most aren't in show business — they're simply the people who love you. Then, a neighborhood debate: Is it wrong to put your dog's poop in somebody else's garbage can? Tom has a definite opinion. Next, we're going to Lindenhurst, Long Island. Tom asked Lindenhurst residents what they hate about their own town. Parking apps, fishing permits, disappearing landmarks, confusing streets, yard-sale rules, the town's legendary reputation for bars — and why Tom actually loves Lindenhurst. Finally, Tom remembers Gary Proce, his former Long Island Lutheran High School athletic director and mentor. Gary helped a shy teenage Tom come out of his shell, nominated him for a Christian Service Award, encouraged his sense of humor and helped give him some of his earliest opportunities. Tom reflects on Gary's life, his many careers, and the importance of telling people they made a difference while you still have the chance. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Coming Up: Perez Hilton, Dog Poop & Lindenhurst 00:52 — The Tom Kelly Show 01:14 — What Is The Tom Kelly Show? 02:13 — Magic Mirror & Listener Shout-Outs 02:57 — Good Morning America & Tom's TV Career 03:52 — What's The Next Chapter? 04:09 — Who Moved My Cheese? & Reinventing Yourself 06:00 — Perez Hilton & The Early Internet Era 06:47 — Perez Hilton's Troubling Livestream 07:03 — Fame, Midlife & Trying To Recapture Success 08:06 — Appreciating The People Who Love You 08:33 — Is It Wrong To Put Dog Poop In Someone Else's Garbage? 09:28 — The Neighborhood Dog-Poop Wars 10:26 — Why Tom Says It's Wrong 11:41 — It's Your Dog. It's Your Poop. 12:33 — Leaving The Apartment & Taking The Podcast On The Road 13:22 — What People From Lindenhurst Hate About Lindenhurst 14:02 — The Lindenhurst Vibe 14:55 — "Swindlehurst" vs. "Lindy" 15:27 — Why Do The Sidewalks Suddenly End? 15:49 — Lindenhurst Parking & Parking Apps 16:57 — Paying To Fish From The Lindenhurst Docks 17:29 — Lost Lindenhurst Landmarks 18:05 — Lindenhurst's Confusing Streets 18:48 — Only One Yard Sale A Year? 19:50 — Does Lindenhurst Really Have The Most Bars? 20:46 — The Football Stadium Problem 20:58 — Missing The Lindenhurst You Grew Up In 21:13 — Why Tom Loves Lindenhurst 21:42 — Remembering Gary Proce 22:21 — How Gary Helped A Shy Tom Kelly 22:54 — The Christian Service Award That Changed Tom 23:31 — Gary Helped Give Tom His First Paid Video Work 24:17 — "Scoop Kelly" & The Adults Who Notice The Quiet Kids 25:08 — Tell People The Impact They Had On You 25:45 — Gary Proce's Remarkable Life & Many Careers 26:30 — A Real Long Island Hustler 26:52 — Remembering One Of The Greats 27:09 — Your Homework: Tell Someone They Made A Difference - Most Importantly - Tom remembers a mentor: former Long Island Lutheran High School athletic director Gary Proce. -

5
out of 5
180 Ratings

About

Tom Kelly is a Long Island comedian going through his midlife crisis with an independent podcast where he just has fun. After decades working behind the scenes in television and radio, Tom mixes comedy, personal stories, show-business adventures, Long Island characters, street interviews, local businesses and conversations with interesting people. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's deep. There's no real plan. Whether it's at a TV show or on the Long Island Expressway . . . you're with Tom Kelly . . . in the moment as Tom keeps trying to remember to have fun.

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