There are few things that Billy Gardell loves more than telling jokes and talking about his family. With regards to the former, if you’ve turned on CBS any time over the last 14 years, you’ve likely seen Gardell’s brand of observant, down-to-earth comedy across two hit sitcoms, Mike & Molly (from 2010 to 2016) and Bob Hearts Abishola (2019 to 2024). Now that the latter has concluded its impressive run, he’s excited to do more stand-up shows, like his June 8 set at Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs.
Still, nothing gets Gardell glowing quite like conversations centering around Patty, his wife of 23 years and the mother of his son, William III. Gardell credits her with standing by his side through his public health issues — Gardell’s weight-loss journey started with bariatric surgery in 2022 — and all of the usual Hollywood rigors. As Gardell explained to Forbes Travel Guide recently, he plans to repay the love of his life with more of his time and lots more traveling around the world.
You have a big show coming up at Agua Caliente. How many performances have you done already this year?
I just started back full time about a month ago. I was in Atlanta at The Punchline for a little while… Um, hang on a second. My wife needs something. She takes precedence.
[Gardell excuses himself for a split second to send a text message.]
So, yeah, I was in Atlanta. Then I did a gig in Boca Raton, and then I did a casino in Seattle. I’m nice and warmed up, and I’m ready to hit Palm Springs. This is about the 12th show back since my tour started.
How does it feel to get back out there consistently?
In the beginning, it was terrifying because I hadn’t done it in like three years. Obviously, I took some time to change my health and I took some time off to rearrange the puzzle pieces. You know, I lost 173 pounds and I had to get used to this frame and what this body wanted to tell me. So, it’s been fun to explore that.
That first show back was terrifying. But then, I don’t know, man, something happens when you get that connection with the audience. You start to want more and more and more. Now I’m really having fun again.
It’s great to see you back out there. I’m a big Bob Hearts Abishola fan.
Thank you, man. I can’t believe I’ve gotten to do two [hit shows]. I don’t know who gets to do that. My wife says I got a horseshoe in my [rear]. But the common thread in both of those shows is that love wins the day. Where the world is right now, I’m so proud of that show.
I think it was Ben Franklin who said, “Well done is better than well said.” I think [my shows] were a beautiful example of when you love somebody, you love somebody — and that’s that. If you can’t get behind that, I don’t really want to hang out with you.
You’ve been vocal about things you’ve gone through physically. Many people struggle with staying on their usual diet and exercise routines while traveling. How have you managed to deal with it all?
I’m religious about it. I pack healthy stuff in my suitcase. When I get [to a destination], my first trip is to get some healthy snacks for the room so I don’t tempt myself. I find a way to work out. I got a trainer who says there’s always time in the day. It just means you got to get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later. I’ve adapted that mantra, man. And I finally learned that it’s not torture to do this stuff.
This is how I’ve learned to care about myself. It took me till 52 to figure that out. I’ll be 55 in August. But I’m a big believer that enlightenment doesn’t care when you get there, as long as you arrive. I’m learning to take care of myself. And I’m finding joy in that.
There’s something to be said about learning to be calm in life and learning to love yourself without arrogance, just out of care. If you’re emanating love, you can’t argue with that. Like when you hear two people argue, someone screams, someone else screams and the screaming continues. But if you return the serve [coming] at you with love, there’s nowhere to go with that.That’s my message. That’s at least what I’m trying to convey anyway.
Have you performed at Agua Caliente before?
No, this will be my first time. I’ve been to Palm Springs several times. It’s such a great little getaway when you’re in California. It’s got that vibe. Sinatra stamped that place with some cool, and it’s always kept that. It’s a great weekend for me and the wife. We get away there once in a while. I got a friend who lives down there, so I’m familiar with the area. This will be the first time that I got to perform down there, so I’m looking forward to it.
You’ve got stops in places like St. Louis and Philadelphia after that. Do you do the touristy thing when you hit a new city or are you focused on the show?
I try to find something cool in each city that I go to. I tell my son this all the time: you got to go look for inspiration. It ain’t going to knock on the door. You got to read, you got to get out and you got to film things with your eyes. When I was in Kansas City, I went to [jazz legend] Charlie Parker’s gravesite.
In St. Louis, they got toasted ravioli.
In Philadelphia, it’s the Liberty Bell or museums. I like to soak whatever city I’m in on me. And usually, some kind of inspiration will come from that.
I try to find common threads that we can all enjoy. We’ve forgotten how to understand that, in this life, all anybody is looking for is somewhere to live, someone to love and a job to pay for it.
I love being able to find things about a city that I’m in that I can convey that I experienced while I was in your city. It’s identifiable and it connects us. It connects me to where I’m at.
I still think there’s a lot of wonderful things in America. I haven’t lost hope. I’m a believer that humans are humans, and when we have common threads, it reminds us that we’re not that different.
When you aren’t touring, do you and your wife like to travel?
We’ve done a bunch of stuff in the States, Hawaii is a very special place for us. But next summer we have our eye on our bucket list. We want to go to Europe. We want to go to Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy. If we can get two of those next summer and two of those the summer after [that would be great].
My wife deserves my time because, for 23 years, she has stood beside me, behind me, in front of me, whatever was needed. So, I feel like now that I’m through the other side of the second show, I need to pay that back in a beautiful way. And we’ve always wanted to do that together.
I think that’s our next bucket list item — Europe next year. I want to see some of that old, old construction. And I want to experience different cultures. I like seeing the foods, sounds and smells. That’s what a writer does. You got to go. You gotta go feel that. And again, it’s the human condition. The more we connect, the more we see we’re the same. And the fear goes away. And then, I like to come back and report on it. That’s 10 minutes of jokes right there.
Outside of performing, what else puts a smile on your face?
I would say spending time with my wife or when my 20-year-old gives me time to hang with him.
And I’m a big vinyl guy. I’m always adding to my record collection.
I like to mess with my car a little bit. I’m a simple guy that way. When I get my downtime, I try to cherish it at home. If I’m not out looking for something to write about or just to experience, I’m also a homebody. I like a calm life. It feels good. I’ve just been enjoying this place in marriage where I’m at now. We’ve been through all the wars, and we’ve been through all the joys. And now, we’re in that sweet spot. I just know we’re going to be one of those old couples [who does everything together]. Without her, I’m in a ditch somewhere. I realize that. I think it’s a gift to know that.
