Man, Jake Johnson is easily one of the best guests I've ever seen on this show.

I feel like I just watched a movie about Jake Johnson's life. He's so open about everything and explains himself so well.

Not everyone *gets* the apology. Sometimes dads just leave and refuse to admit they've done anything wrong by abandoning you.

This is some GREAT Interviewing. Showing the humanity of celebrities

What I noticed: He said he was mid-30’s before he cut his dad a break, before he felt like his dad had earned the title Dad. That’s about 18 years after his dad went into rehab, about a childhood’s worth of effort on his dad’s part, before Jake felt like having a father/son relationship with him. So, however many years you miss, that’s at least the number of years you need to be consistent... As a rough estimate. Energetically, it was like they hit that threshold of: I’ve received what I’d missed, so now we can continue forward.

dude this guy should write a book

My father attributed his reconnection with my sister and I to watching this interview, and I couldn't be more grateful. He was persistent, didn't give up and eventually regained our trust (after we didn't make it easy), and we eventually had the parent relationship I always craved. He passed away last year unexpectedly and as awful as the grief is, I got to know and love him so fully for 3 years and I wouldn't change it. If anything I wish he found this sooner. Thank you for this video.

Jake's story made me cry. He is so open and honest about such a personal thing. This could be a film. Very touching and inspiring story.

My dad left before I was born. That alone taught me to be there for my kids. I knew before I had kids, that I would never abandon them.

"You've earned it, you're my Dad!" one day I'll be saying this to someone.

This put into words everything I wanted my dad to understand without ever knowing how.

My mother was an addict and I was very unforgiving toward her when she got clean. She took and took and took the punishments I gave her and I can tell you that what Jake is saying here is totally true. She stuck it out and now, while our relationship may not be perfect, it’s far from broken.

It's so cool to see guys actually talk

I'm a single dad and the situation is complicated, but I know that if I keep showing up and letting them feel just how much I love them, then when they're older theyll already know my flaws and my strengths, and there wont be any need for redemption, theyll accept me for being less than what they deserve, but more than willing to keep trying no matter what. It's the trying that really matters.

I’ll adore my parents forever for breaking the cycle of absent/abusive parents. No idea what I’d do without them.

Hurt people, hurt people and this was the case. I’m glad they were able to get to the other side of that hurt.

god damn it, I loved every second of this heartfelt conversation.

Big fan of the show and the format. Genuinely believe this is the best interview you've done. Above all else, Jake Johnson comes across as a great guy.

As a divorced kid, who had dad issues, this advice is 100000000%, spot on right.

My dad isn't in my life (and I don't want him to be), but this was still super heart-warming for me. ❤️❤️

And he had every right to express the anger of not having his father, in that way. He was a child and his father had a lot to make up for. These men half ass come back into their kids' lives and expect immediate open arms then give up when they don't get it. You gotta earn that. You have to repair the damage caused because that child didn't create it. You did. Kudos to them both for the beautiful realizations and growth.

Wow, I love this interview. The fact that his Father remained consistent in order to repair the damage brought on by his absence! This is beautiful. It’s also another reminder of how fortunate I am to have had my Father take an active role in my life. Even after he and my mother split they continued to co-parent: in fact my mother refused to bad mouth him in front of me. She also did not allow me to disrespect him; in any way, shape, or form. I was angry and took him to task more than a few times. Yet, like Jake’s Father, mine remained consistent. My Father and I grew closer as I grew up. Only then did I come to a better understanding of the effects of a broken marriage on ALL parties involved. My Father died suddenly and without warning. I miss him terribly. This interview was a needed reminder of just how loved I was and how lucky I am to have been my daddy‘s little girl. If permissible - Never give up on growing close to those you love. Take HEALTHY steps in that direction. It’s been my experience that most relationships are, in fact, repairable... given the right amount and type of effort.

Grew up with a single mom, 3 kids. She's a total boss. She also never encouraged us to hate him. Humans make mistakes, but also, we never wanted anything. she did her best and we knew it. We never felt like we missed out or that there was a hole in our lives. Good luck to him in his life or if he's still alive, who knows. But My mother, that women is so strong, brave and hardworking. I just hope she's proud of her kids.

Jake seems like such a genuine dude ugh I love him

Massive respect for Jake's Dad. For recognising there was a problem, wanting to see change and then accessing the help. All you need after that is a soul breaking perseverance of humility. The last thing my father asked me to do was help him commit mortgage fraud. On his last full day of life, he was still setting us up for failure. He knew there was a problem, but never wanted to see change. For change was an admission of guilt. He would leave us whenever his fantasy of success couldn't be maintained with lies and fear, he always came back when that fear began to slip and the lies needed reinforcing. My mother wouldn't divorce him, that he would ever find happiness outside the marriage was too much too bear, so we were used as emotional blackmail to prolong his and all our agony. It's a too common story, so thank you Jake Johnson for showing something different.

I think for me, my father dying hurt more than his living because I knew this was never going to happen. I thought I had washed my hands of him. I thought I couldn't hate him more. Until he died, I didn't realize I had always held out hope that he'd change, that one day he'd say he realized he was wrong, that he was sorry, that he did love me...and that hope died when he did. And then I realized, that you can only hate a person so much, if you loved them.

Palabagoop

All I ever wanted was my Dad to attempt to pretend like he cared and wanted me and my siblings...he just never did.

So, Jake was a Chicago fan, who enjoyed writing, with a father who abandoned him for years...exactly like his New Girl character. Did the writers on New Girl come up with anything on their own?

Loved this and love Jake Johnson. Man, I wish that progress could happen with my dad. He’s legit a narcissist and a sociopath (I wish I was dramatizing that), so every interaction with him has been debilitating, unfortunately. And then he gaslights me and my sister every time he does talk to us (which is never - I’m talking once a year if we’re lucky). It really sucks.

I don't even know what my dad looks like. His loss

My dad cheated on my mom in their entire marriage life, at their 30th year of marriage my mom found out that he had son with some other chick. It finally push the button for my mom. All his life all he ever done was belittle my mom, how he always shout at her in public, down grade my mom knowledge, and all the worst thing. This behavior he did it too to my older sister, maybe cause my sister share a lot in common with my mom, so she caved in. I on the other hand, share a lot of his shitty behavior, despite how much i hate it, so i punish him, as hard as i could. I never bother to look him in the eyes, i gave a snarky replied in front of my uncle and aunt which btw is his sibling, i did everything that he did to my loved one, and he knows that i hate him. And yet i never hear him saying I'm sorry to me, to us, to his wife. Not every one get an apology and not everyone gets to be forgiven, especially those who never apologize.

My dad left for the woman he cheated on my mum with, he re married her, I recently heard he even had kids with her, he never came back to apologise to me, my mum and my other three siblings, he just left one day and expected us all to be okay, I would never have accepted the apology but it would have shown he cared for us, he abused my mum mentally and physically, he made my mum pay for gifts he’d give me saying it’s from him but really my mum when I was younger, he wasn’t a drunk or addict or whatever he just screwed up with our lives, spent all my mums money on shit he’d also gift his new wife who was his girlfriend at the time, he was a gold digger and that’s why he stayed with her she had two kids prior to keeping my dad, I don’t know where he lives anymore but hopefully it’s 6 feet under

I am my dad's oldest daughter and he has been absent from my life 70% of the time because his job is more important and his other son is more important but not me. So watching this interview tore me into pieces. It hurts. I am 25+ but hoping when I am in my 30's my relationship with my Dad becomes better.

I have watched a few interviews now and this guy is really genuine. He knows his limitations and his strengths and is just enjoying his life and career.

Been going through this with my father as he chose is new wife over me and my sister. after years of trying to make it better and being shot down I didn’t talk to him for a year. After that year I Met up with him for lunch (he moved to the other side of Australia) I decided that the the relationship is now on MY terms. I text him back when I want to, I answer his calls when I feel like it, I got to the lunch when it suits me when his plane is on a layover (he works fly in fly out/fifo). and it still hurts but I decided that I’m not going to do anything if I don’t want to when it comes to him. Not until he puts at least 50% of the effort into our relationship that I put in. Anyone that can relate to this video I want you to know that I know the emotional toll this takes and the pain that you suffer and that you are important and strong for getting through absent parents shit ❤️

Nick Miller is one of my favourite television characters of all time so I am delighted Jake seems like such a wonderful guy.

I can relate a lot to Jake. My story is just flipped. My mom and her husband gaslighted my brother and I for years which led to us turning on our dad. My dad tried over and over to come see my brother and I every other weekend or every Wednesday. My mother hated him and used us as to hurt him. Well one day I told my dad when he came to get us for the weekend " we dont want to to go". So right there he gave up and our mom won. I didnt see him for almost 12 yrs because of the bullshit of my moms lies and hatred. I have continued my relationship with my dad for about 6yrs now and its hard sometimes for me to look at him knowing what I did and how I was used to hurt my dad.

Love these. Love the honesty.

This is fantastic. My dad was absent all of my childhood and he passed away when I was in 8th grade, so I never got to have this relationship. Can't say i am not jealous from time to time, but to anyone out there who can spend time with your dad, please do it for me....even if it is tough :)

Absolutely wonderful interview 🤗

I’m seriously depressed, honestly. It’s been a real uphill battle, but I’m still going. And I’ve been damaged by each experience I have with other people that it’s turning me into a bitter sad and cold person. My dad plays a factor in all of this. He was in and out of my life until I was 13-years-old, and then he was just gone completely. I’m 23 now.

I appreciate this so much. Recovery.

What a fantastic interview 😊

This was so great

This hit home in so many levels.

Absolutely brilliant ..and great interviewer ..

Amazing. Thank you. So cathartic.

What an amazing interview. Wow.

Aghhh what a beautiful story. Thank you jake ❤️

The more I learn about Jake Johnson the more I realize he kind of *is* Nick Miller. Pretty cool of the New Girl creators/writers to incorporate so much of him into the character.

I loved this!

So beautifully said and so honest. It's so relatable.

Thank you Jake, I needed this.

I love this man.

I'm a dad, I'm not a deadbeat or absent, and neither was my dad. I love being a dad and I love my kid so much and if I'm not working or sleeping, I'm hanging out with them by choice. STILL this is really a great video that I think ALL fathers can learn from. We forget the impact we have on our children, and in turn they on us. A parent is god in the eyes of a child. Even if you think you're doing a good job/the best you can, its really important to take a step back, audit yourself, talk to your kids and people around you, and be honest about how your relationship with your children is going. I'm really happy Jake and his Dad were able to reconnect and it goes to show that sometimes PEOPLE REALLY CAN CHANGE. That being said, I think it is safe to say that if Jake's father could go back and change things, and salvage his relationship with his son when his child was young, he absolutely would. And his mistake of being a poor father during that time, is the greatest regret of his life. Also some children would not forgive their father as Jake did, regardless of how many attempts made in good faith by a former absent/bad parent. And an abused/neglected child is well within their rights by all means to refuse that reconnection. All dads should make the concerted effort to NOT let the relationship with your kids get to the point where you have to repair bridges you burned. If you have burned those bridges, there is hope that you can repair them, as happened here but it is by no means a guarantee and the damage done can never be forgotten.

This interview means so much in my life. Thank you.

Wow. Thank you for sharing this story.

Incredibly well said.

I love this he is so honest and open and lovely.

Thank you.

His dad deserved every bit of the hard times, but I am glad they made up and he took his role seriously in the end.

This is one of the best channels on KZfaq

It feels so good hearing him speak like this. (I have/had dad issues too.)

His honestly and transparency is amazing

This is so relatable... Great talk from Jake

I love this message

One of the most relatable things I've ever watched. Loved how he voiced an all rounded perspective of things

I love how honest this guy is. Inspiring story 👍

Come back to this video every time I need a good little works on the water. Really hits home

I can relate to Jake and hope to grow like he did

Thank you❤

Excellent interview!!! Jake Johnson you hit the nail on the head when it comes down to divorces and how the relationship between fathers and kids change.

I’m crying omg this is amazing

This was really beautiful. As man without a father I am so proud to know that Jake made the choices he did and shared this story. Powerful words.

This is the kind of dialogue I want to hear about. I can also relate to the story. Nice work!

He is incredible.

I didn’t expect to tear up.

This dude is so down to earth, right on. 👍🏻

this was so sweet

Every talk with JJ is gold. Could listen him for hours.

Probably my favourite interviewer, and one of my favourite interviews.

This is hands down one of the best interviews of honesty and parent/child relationship ever. Bravo ...

I love his vulnerability and honesty!

You create this amazing intimacy that begets wonderful stories like this. A beautiful anecdote that usefully offers potential redemption. Wow.

This was, absolutely, one of the most meaningful interviews I’ve ever seen.

ONe of the best interviews I've ever seen. Bravo! Thanks for the inspiration.

This is hauntingly beautiful. Jake Johnson is a grown ass man. Thank you.

Wonderful interviewer. Great job of asking good, genuine questions and then being quiet enough that they can answer.

I’m so in love with this man

This is me right now as a father and son…instant tears.

That's beautiful advice

I love him so much. Great guy.

my dad wasnt around while i was young either and forgiving him for that shit is hard dude, thanks for making this

This is so honest and a way I can explain my relationship with my mom that I’ve never been able to before.

Same thing happened with my dad. Love the guy now

Great insight

I really like & admire this actor. He seems so genuine!

These interviews are fantastic, raw and a breath of fresh air in this crusty ass world. This message from Jake is also so powerful and relevant today. Grateful.

Thank you ✌️💞