'Mike & Molly' actor Billy Gardell says there’s an 'erosion of decency.' How his comedy connects us

After 15 years starring in CBS sitcoms like Mike & Molly, Bob Hearts Abishola, and Young Sheldon, Billy Gardell is back doing what he’s always done best: stand-up comedy.

The actor and comedian brings his “Less Is More Tour” to the Shore Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks on Friday. He shared details about his 173-pound weight loss, why he’s rooting for Gen Z, and what he thinks we all have in common on LAist’s Morning Edition.

Once a standup, always a standup

Gardell’s been doing standup for almost four decades. But even after all that TV success, he couldn’t stay away from the stage.

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“During my second show, Bob Hearts Abishola, I thought maybe I’m done with standup,” he said. But then he went to see a friend perform at the Irvine Improv and got “that weird twitch” in his shoulder. He said his wife immediately knew he was going back.

Rooting for Gen Z

Part of Gardell’s act focuses on his 22-year-old son and the challenges young people face today. He said, unlike some comedians, he’s not here to bash the young’uns.

“They’re dealing with stuff that we never dealt with,” he said. “Look, I’m from Gen X. We were feral cats, and we overcompensated and raised a generation of house cats. Now we can’t be upset that they’re not great at dealing with stuff.”

Finding what connects us

Gardell steers clear of politics in his act. He said he focuses on the human condition. With AI looming and social media fracturing our sense of community, he sees “an erosion of decency and kindness.”

“When you give an opinion, you’re just lecturing somebody,” he said. “But when you share experience, now you’re including somebody.”

So what does he think we all have in common?

"We're just looking for a hand to hold, a roof to live under, and a job to pay for it. And when you keep it that simple, you bring people together," he said.

The show closes with an homage to his father, weaving together stories about love, forgiveness, and common sense — what Gardell calls “connective tissue” that people are “thirsty for.”

The “Less Is More Tour” will be at the Shore Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks on Friday. Get tickets here.