USMC vet and comic Rob Riggle reveals his ‘Brink of Midnight’ moment
SUMMARY
We all love Rob Riggle. He's the Marine-officer-turned-comedian who started his military career in aviation, moved over to public affairs then maneuvered himself into a career in show business.
We've interviewed him before and got some awesome insight into his career, but he recently sat down with six-time Emmy Award winner John Brenkus to talk about his unlikely path into comedy.
During this episode, Riggle talks about his time in elementary and high school — a late bloomer who was bullied and used his whit to joke his way out of trouble — and how he dreamed of being a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Riggle said when he asked his Marine squadron commander to move out of aviation and into the ground side so he would be better set up for a career in show business, his CO gave him a tongue lashing he'd never forget.
"If I saw him today I would tell him he's a piece of shit," Riggle tells Brenkus.
That "counseling" became what the podcast host calls a "Brink of Midnight" moment — when one decision, one event changes everything that comes after.
Be sure to find out more about Riggle's winding path into comedy by listening to the latest episode of the Brink of Midnight podcast.
