This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

#627 - Leanne Morgan

December 3, 2025

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  • Leanne Morgan's major career breakthrough, including her first sold-out tours, occurred later in life, in her early 50s, after she considered quitting comedy. 
  • Leanne Morgan first gained recognition for her comedy on *Last Comic Standing* and was encouraged in her career by her husband, Chuck Morgan, who works in the mobile home industry. 
  • Leanne Morgan's Netflix series *Leanne* features an accomplished cast, including Kristen Johnston and Ryan Stiles, and was greenlit after several previous television deals did not materialize. 
  • Leanne Morgan's new Netflix show, which was greenlit by Chuck Lorre, features an impressive cast including Kristen Johnston, Ryan Stiles, Celia Weston, and Tim Daly. 
  • The conversation touched upon the unique local lore of Leanne Morgan's hometown in Tennessee, specifically the famous Bell Witch haunting, which involved government investigation. 
  • Leanne Morgan detailed her early life, including selling jewelry to gain confidence for stand-up comedy and the persistent, loving pursuit by her now-husband, Chuck Morgan, following her first divorce. 
  • Leanne Morgan and Theo Von share mutual admiration for each other's sweet spirits and unique presence in the comedy industry. 
  • The conversation touched upon early life experiences, including smoking habits in school and early exposure to drugs like cocaine in college. 
  • They discussed the career paths of other comedians, specifically praising John Morgan, "the raging Cajun," as an exceptional storyteller. 

Segments

Initial Greetings and Appearance
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(00:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Theo Von complimented Leanne Morgan’s appearance, leading to a brief exchange about being ‘stunning’ versus ‘handsome’.
  • Summary: Theo Von complimented Leanne Morgan’s appearance, noting her stunning look. Leanne humorously suggested she might only be stunning in a dire emergency scenario. Theo expressed a preference for being considered ‘handsome’ and healthy-looking.
Early Career Recognition
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(00:01:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s comedy career was recognized by Theo Von as early as Last Comic Standing, judged by Gary Marshall.
  • Summary: Theo Von recalled seeing Leanne Morgan perform early in her career on Last Comic Standing in L.A., which featured Gary Marshall as a judge. Leanne also mentioned performing a set at the Hollywood Improv where she did a full plank on a stool. Theo recalled being impressed by her set, which included material about her father.
Leanne’s Age and Family
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(00:03:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan revealed she turned 60 in October and has two grandbabies.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan shared that she recently turned 60. She also mentioned having two grandbabies, a fact Theo Von found surprising given her energy. Leanne met her husband, Chuck Morgan, at the University of Tennessee.
University of Tennessee Connections
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(00:04:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Theo Von and Leanne Morgan connected over shared acquaintances at the University of Tennessee, including Chuck Morgan and Peyton Manning.
  • Summary: Theo Von met Chuck Morgan at a University of Tennessee event where they also encountered Peyton Manning. They also discussed knowing baseball coach Tony Vitello. Leanne recounted meeting Morgan Wallen at a charity event after he was eliminated from The Voice.
Start of Comedy Career
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(00:06:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan began performing comedy at age 32 after her first child was 18 months old, initially doing small gigs for $50.
  • Summary: Leanne started comedy when her first child was 18 months old, opening at Zaney’s after doing small local events like the Rotary Club. She met her husband, Chuck Morgan, at the University of Tennessee where he was pursuing an MBA while she struggled to finish her undergraduate degree due to drinking and skipping class. Leanne’s early college experiences involved exploring new things in Knoxville, like kissing Italian boys.
Career Struggles and Turning Point
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(00:16:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s career breakthrough happened in her early 50s after a poorly received Dry Bar special, prompting her to consider quitting for a hardware store.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan’s career break arrived in her early 50s when she was nearly ready to quit comedy. Her manager advised her to do a Dry Bar special, which she felt sucked and didn’t sell tickets, though some clips went viral. She was taking low-paying corporate gigs, like one in Dubuque, Iowa, before a viral clip of her discussing Def Leppard and Journey resonated, leading to sold-out shows.
Early Touring Hardships
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(00:21:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Early touring involved financial strain, forcing comedians to choose between long drives or using meager travel stipends, sometimes leading to extreme measures like freezing food outside.
  • Summary: Leanne toured for 12-13 years, often earning around $1,200 a week with a small travel allowance, forcing difficult choices about flying versus driving. She recalled hanging groceries out of hotel windows in Kansas City to keep them cold due to a lack of refrigeration. She was supported by clubs like Cap City in Austin while living in San Antonio with three young children.
Leanne’s Netflix Show Details
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(00:48:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s Netflix show Leanne features an impressive cast including Kristen Johnston and Ryan Stiles, and was greenlit after her fifth television deal attempt with Chuck Lorre.
  • Summary: The show Leanne was greenlit after her fifth television deal, this time with Chuck Lorre, which Netflix immediately supported. The cast includes Kristen Johnston (who had to explain industry jargon to Leanne) and Ryan Stiles. Celia Weston plays her mother, a role she also played in a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell.
Netflix Show Cast Details
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(00:48:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s Netflix show features an ensemble cast including Kristen Johnston and Ryan Stiles.
  • Summary: The fifth show for Leanne Morgan was approved by Netflix, featuring an ‘unbelievable cast.’ Kristen Johnston played her sister, and Ryan Stiles also appeared in the production. Celia Weston played her mother, reprising a role from the Reese Witherspoon/Will Ferrell movie You’re Cordially Invited.
Streaming vs. Cable Content
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(00:52:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Streaming services allow creators more freedom regarding profanity, nudity, and mature themes compared to cable television.
  • Summary: Streaming platforms generally permit uncensored profanity, explicit sexual content, and graphic violence without the censorship required for cable broadcasts. Creators on streamers face fewer restrictions on mature themes and controversial political topics. Leanne Morgan noted that her show included carrying a gun, which is permissible under streaming guidelines.
Bell Witch Local Lore
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(00:59:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s hometown of Adams, Tennessee, is historically significant due to the famous Bell Witch haunting.
  • Summary: The Bell Witch story is one of America’s most famous mysterious events, investigated by the government, involving phenomena like unseen forces and violence against the Bell family. The lore includes the witch appearing as a black dog or crow, and the area features the Bell Witch Cave. The town was once considered to be the capital of Tennessee due to its rich tobacco crops.
Comedy Career Trajectory
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(01:11:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan did not feel gender bias in comedy, attributing early career setbacks to personal readiness rather than sexism.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan stated she never felt women were disrespected or overlooked in comedy, believing her lack of success was due to not being ’edgy enough’ or ready for opportunities like Comedy Central. She felt pressure to be pretty but prioritized being funny, a pressure lessened by achieving success later in life. Her success timing allowed her to avoid the intense scrutiny young, attractive female comics often face.
Meeting Husband Chuck Morgan
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(01:19:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan’s husband, Chuck Morgan, pursued her persistently after she divorced at 23, eventually winning her over by paying her rent and being a provider.
  • Summary: Chuck Morgan first approached Leanne while she was waitressing and immediately offered unsolicited advice about her diet, which she initially disliked. He wooed her by buying her gifts, covering her rent, and taking shifts, demonstrating a ‘hunter and gatherer’ mentality she desired after her divorce. They have been married for 33 years, and he is described as introverted and highly organized, contrasting with her artistic nature.
Post-Success Touring Realities
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(01:31:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite her Netflix success, Leanne Morgan and her daughter still share hotel rooms and eat free continental breakfasts on tour due to her husband’s frugality.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan mentioned that her husband, Chuck Morgan, is not used to the financial success and prefers they stick to budget travel, such as sharing a king bed and eating the free breakfast at Hampton Inn. Her daughter Tess, who works as her makeup artist, travels with her for support. Her new special, Unspeakable Things, reached number one on Netflix but was quickly challenged by other popular content.
Innate Talent and Early Life
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(01:38:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Natural charisma, like that of Elvis or J-Lo, is an unmanufacturable quality that Leanne Morgan is perceived to possess.
  • Summary: Theo Von suggests Leanne Morgan possessed an innate quality as a child that indicated future success. The discussion briefly touched upon youthful smoking habits, with Leanne noting she started smoking around age 19 at UT to emulate waitresses with Louis Vuitton purses. She also recalled a single instance of trying cocaine in a small Louisiana town.
Recalling Louisiana Comedians
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(01:42:16)
  • Key Takeaway: John Morgan, “the raging Cajun,” is highlighted as a highly energetic and excellent storyteller whom Leanne Morgan opened for early in her career.
  • Summary: The conversation shifted to Louisiana figures, prompting Leanne Morgan to mention opening for John Morgan at the Stardome and in San Antonio. Morgan is remembered for his high energy and storytelling ability, reminiscent of Jerry Clower. Leanne also mentioned Mark Ryan as another good storyteller from Louisiana she worked with.
Louisiana Culture and Entertainment
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(01:44:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Louisiana is characterized as a fascinating state where nearly everyone is naturally entertaining, leading to fewer dedicated comedy clubs.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan noted that people in Louisiana are fun, wild, and entertaining, suggesting everyone acts as an entertainer. She theorized this high level of native entertainment contributes to why the state might have fewer comedy clubs. Louisiana is also cited as having the highest per capita rate of people born there who never leave.
Career Trajectory and Authenticity
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(01:45:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Theo Von expressed feeling nervous before high-profile interviews like Joe Rogan’s, contrasting it with the ease of conversation with Leanne Morgan.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan praised Theo Von for having a sweet spirit and being a bright light, noting that their easy conversation was a relief after feeling nervous about other interviews. Theo Von admitted to feeling pressure due to having so much of his persona online, contrasting it with the simple, fun dynamic of their current discussion. Both acknowledged knowing they were destined for success in entertainment from a young age.
Desire for Family and Partnership
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(01:48:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Theo Von prioritizes finding a hardworking partner who wants to have children over superficial attractiveness as the most important qualities in a future spouse.
  • Summary: Theo Von expressed a strong desire to have children and find a teammate in a partner, emphasizing shared goals over physical appearance. He noted that over-analyzing potential partners can ruin opportunities, but he is hopeful about recent connections. Leanne Morgan jokingly offered to carry a child for him, citing her farming background and health.
Leanne Morgan’s Career Milestones
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(01:54:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Leanne Morgan felt immense nervousness and undeservingness when recognized on the field at the University of Tennessee, despite being their only comedian alumnus.
  • Summary: Leanne Morgan discussed feeling nervous when recognized at UT, feeling she barely graduated and didn’t deserve the attention, though Chuck Morgan enjoyed it. She expressed a future goal to focus more on storytelling rooted in her upbringing. Leanne’s second Netflix special, “Unspeakable Things,” is currently streaming, and she plans to tour again after wrapping up the second season of her show in April.