Joel McHale knew he had trouble reading — but didn’t know it was part of a larger issue until decades later.
The talk show host, who was the face of “The Soup” on E!, said he was anxious to start the gig back in 2004 because he couldn’t read that well and his son’s diagnosis with dyslexia made him realize he suffered from the issue himself.
“When I started ‘The Soup’ back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can’t really read, and I had to read the teleprompter,” he said on pal Dax Shepard’s podcast “Armchair Expert” this week.
The 46-year-old explained that as a child he was diagnosed as a “slow starter” and had to repeat grades in school.
“So my sons are also dyslexic,” McHale, who shares sons Isaac, 10, and Edward, 13 with wife, Sarah Williams, explained to Shepard, who also has the learning disability.
“One [son] was being diagnosed, and the doctor goes, and she was describing all of the symptoms, and I was like, ‘That’s what I have,'” McHale said. “And she goes, ‘Oh I was wondering which one it was because it’s passed down.'”
He added that his son’s doctor couldn’t believe someone had called him a “slow starter” as a child.
“Because that’s a synonym for stupid,” Shepard chimed in.
The “Community” star then shared that his father clearly had the disability as well, looking back.
“He would never really admit it for a long time,” McHale said. “He can’t remember names just like I can’t.”
Shepard, 43, has revealed in past interviews that he had to take Special Ed classes throughout high school because of his dyslexia.
“People would tell us we’re f–ked,” McHale replied to Shepard during the interview.
In the interview, McHale said he was able to overcome the disability and always figured out “how to get around it,” including cheating his way all through high school.
“I knew I was good at sports, and I knew I loved acting and performing, so I really dove into that, and school always became secondary,” McHale explained. “And I knew that I could tell jokes in class, and that always did well.”
McHale attended the University of Washington where he was offered a rowing scholarship, but decided to walk on to the football team.
“I always excelled in sports, so I knew I had advantages there,” he continued. “That really gave me like confidence and self-esteem.”
