Life with Janine and Animals

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We're gonna to talk about how fun it is to harmonize We're going to talk about Paulis Ye performing at Disney's Pleasure Island And we're going to talk about how she really enjoys writing joyful losers and how that got her through some real complicated times at SNL. So we are going to get into it, but before we do, there's so many people that want to talk about how great Paula is. I could interview twelve of them right now, but we have someone who is kind of a new friend and a new fan of Paula's and who is working with her currently now in a new film and that person is Kimberly Diane Kardashian, otherwise known as Kim Kardashian. Kim, Kim Kardashian Can you hear me This episode is presented by Hilton. Guys, you know what vacation perfectionism is? It's the pressure to get your family's summer vacation booked and make it perfect and memorable. Stressful, right? Don't worry, because the team at Hilton takes care of what matters, so you can exhale and disconnect They've got over nine thousand hotels around the world, including amazing resorts and all inclusive options. So you'll definitely find the stay that you're looking for. When you want your summer vacation to feel like a vacation, it matters where you stay. Look now at Hilton. com Hilton for the stay Kim Itice to see you. It's really nice to see you. Thank you so much for doing this on a Saturday. Of course. I just left the gym, so I look a little bit of a mess, but it is what it is. What did you do in your workout I do strength training.. So I have like crazy bodybuilder trainer and we do lots of like today we did lower body so squats and walking lunges. and I'm feeling you because I know I have to up my weight stuff for like bone density Do you ever get a Das DxA scan Now tell me about it. I actually know a portable DxA scan person and that comes in a van And you lay down and each one of my sisters and my mom, we all live in the same gated community. So we have the van drive by and we all jump in the van and you just lay down and it scans your body maybe like three minutes. And u, It told you all about your bone density. Ooh, I love that, you know, over We do it once a year and just to make sure that you're still got it going on and you still have all of the bone density that is necessary. I mean, it feels like something that our moms did not know about or talk about at all. I know. I feel likeine intake. I know. There's so much stuff that we have to now take 's a lot. Supplements, I take probably thirty five supplements a day. Cama and spread them out three times a day. and I thought, okay, I can't do this fish oil right now, like anymore. I have like pill fatigue. I have to stop these fish oil. And I got my blood work and it was so evident that I stopped and I had to start again. But it is tough to take fish oil because you When you take it, you You like taste it for a long time. Pills are just so big. I know I wish there was like an IV drip I could do every day and I would just do it on my way to work. I'm sure there is port another guy in a van who can follow your car. Yeah. Well, you are on your way to work on the fififth Wheel, which is the movie that you're in starring in that Paula Pell wrote. And I'm so I was thank you so much for talking about her today because To me For People that love Paula Um are people that love comedy. I have been fascinated by the comedy world and the people that I've been so blessed to meet over the last few years. And Paula Anytime I mention her name I get a text back just genius Yes.ust how we met was so funny and it was so quick and fast. and it was maybe a year and a half ago, maybe two years ago here filming a movie that we had an idea like the first time we spoke And it was really crazy that someone wanted to connect us and thought this would be a really fun project. Would you guys ever want to Kim? wouldould you want to do a comedy and Paula, wouldould you want to write it And we got on the phone and She hung up called right back within an hour with the whole idea. Wow She's incredible. We had the funniest day yesterday on set. What happened? So it's like Nikki Glazer, Fortune theme ster and I in this one scen and I won't say what's going on, but Kristen Wig is doing something. Perfect. So funny. Perfect. And we're supposed to be laughing and reacting I couldn't control myself. L almost peed my pants just every single time is being in a room with people that you You want to be professional, you want to get the job done and you just can't control yourself because it's so funny. I can tell you are a big comedy fan. I've now gotten to meet some of the people that I've always looked up to and thought were so amazing It's just such a it's such a community where everyone supports each other so And I experienced that for the first time when I hosted SNL It was like this group chat of so many comedians. trying with my bit and with my monologue And it was so fascinating just to see everyone's minds and to see how supportive everyone was and showed up that night When I was doing that and rooting for you like everyone genuinely roots for each other. And I've never seen that kind of connection and bond in any other genre in the entertainment business. Okay, so you said you had a couple questions for Paula today. What are your thoughts for what we should ask her? I wanted to know When she was Coming up with this idea for this film Is this everything that she thought it would be To me, it feels like one of those magical L there's a little extra magic in it that like we all knew and I think this is how it was envisioned Bye I feel like there's just a little extra fairy dust over this. Project and it feels really good and does she feel that fairy dust too? And why is it important to you to ask that question to her? Wh Why do you want her to whyy do you wonder if she's feeling that too? Because it's such a Exciting time and an exciting feeling. just feels like I just wanna know if she feels the same way that I feel about it because I am really excited and passionate about it And I don't know, maybe this maybe she's so accomplished and there's so many projects and this is just one of those. And like I think the exact opposite. L I think the best thing about Paula is that she has this She creates momentum. She has energy, which is what like you're talking about. as you know, you need to get stuff started But she also I think one of the best things about her is she doesn't forget people in any process, like people are as important to her as outcome. She's a people person. You know, she really wants to connect in that way, like through the stuff that she makes and So that magicy sparkly stuff that you're feeling among each other, like I think that's kind of if I was to say something about her, like she is I think she loves that stuff. I think that's why she's still doing it. Yeah I just I hope she feels the magic because I feel it. And then anything else? I always wanted to know, is there ever someone that you just control yourself, you just see them in action and you just canan't stop laughing like you physically canan't get through a scene or something because you find them so hysterical. And I love I love watching SNL and when you're trying to get through, you know a bit and you just they break and they just start laughing. Like to me, that's when I really start laughing because I can feel how much fun it is and I can see that they're having such a hard time getting through it because they just want to laugh so so hard and I just wonder like who is that person for you? for her? You know, like I said when we started, I feel like anybody who loves Paula's comedy to me means that they know comedy. So it really means a lot that you got on a Zoom today. Thank you. O, of course She's gonna be so thrilled and excited that we talked. Okay, thanks so much Have fun this weekend. Thank you. Nice talking to you Bad J This episode is brought to you by visible Ah Spring is in the air, which means it's time for some spring cleaning. We're decluttering the closets and finally tossing those mystery cords. But while you're cleaning out the junk drawer Take a look at your wireless bill Don't fall for wireless traps, surprise fees, confusing bills and empty promises. Join Visible and cut out the nonsense. With Visible, you get unlimited five G data and hotspot on Verizon's network for one flat cost, just twenty five dollars a month, taxes and fees included. It's everything you need and nothing you don't Finish your spring cleaning by ditching the carrier clutter. Head to visible. com and get started. Terms apply, see visible d. com for plan features and network management details Paulael. Fantastic. Thank you. Full denim suudan. is that? Ooh, You to lesbian moon for what Paul, you're probably one of the guests that we've talked about the most with other guests. L I was thinking today about us talking, it was like, Oh, we've brought up, I mean, I'm so lucky that we just get to talk to our friends on this. It's the dream job, isn't it? It is Y is It's a dream job the hours And wouldn't it be fun to have two people doing it You know T blondes. It could be called two blondes having a good hang. But I mean, I'm not trying to infiltrate your good thing. But no talk we'll talk. We've talked about well, we've talked to you on the Anag Gastar episode, you very nicely gave on a question. Thank you for that Anybody who knows comedy knows you, anybody who is paying attention to who has done what over the past twenty five years they know you. And I just want to say, I want to start by saying something I say to people all the time, which is Paul Appel is the funniest people's favorite person. and you are often in a room of hugely funny people, you are usually the funniest very competitive that way. I know I likeed that. I liked. you are a little competitive. I likek that. And and in a good way. And also Anybody who likes you and likes your comedy to me is like an indicator. that they know comedy. You know, it's really nice, Amy. Well, it's true, Paula because's really nice. You know, I'm gonna pretend to drink. Okays pretend' embarassed about that I What do you got going on and there are delicious water? Los Angeles water taste the tap. I really appreciate that. I love I love cracking up hard to crack up people. That was That was always our fun. And obviously with Lauren, I used to like to I like breaking through someone who's Tough, a tough someone's like, I'm a hard like hard to amuse me. I love to find the a little crack. You do anything you want to keep working it and that's why like with like, especially like quote unquote, like alphas, you're really, really good Getting them to laugh. Well I was new a few times when I was little in school and I hated people that were on immediately when they were new of like, hi, I'm so and so. Yeah, what do you like? Oh, I like this too. My biggest fear was that I would be that kind of person. so 'cause I never like inauthentic love coming towards me. I don't like when people are I just like to believe that it's it's real that it's not going me on the other end or they're making fun of me or something. so answering your question that I created in my head. didid I ask one? You didn't. but it's That feeling like with Lauren is is just like I want to feel more comfortable with him. so I'm gonna sit on him Y This is what I used to do. I was going to talk about this later, but let's talk about it now. You can talk about it later. You used to go This is three hours ago Yeah you guarantee me Contractually because I said I'm not driving over here notot getting on the four hundred five for an hour. I know how fast that goes. Well we all know the podsos. I know it's Important U You areid Do you consider yourself a midwest girl? E though God yes. What would you how would you describe a true midwesterner? Like what what are they like? A pleasant liar, a deep liar just like southern women. Midwestern women usually are big liars and they my grandma used to always G to She loved to go have a little diner food with me, and I would take her to the pine cone And over by the interstate in Laelle Pux, and she would start eating the soup and I have a big midwesterners love soup to Midwestern women. And she'd, Oh, and is this soup ever good. Oh and how? Oh, I love this soup. Oh God. And then the guy would come by. This soup is fantastic. She would talk about the soup and then as we're walking out, she would go, I didn't care for that soup And I would look at her like Why the fuck t her? I didn't say why the fuck t her, but I'm like, whyy didn't you just tell him you didn't like the soup and get a different soup? Oh You know, I came from that kind of people that you don't tell the truth because that's not What I like about it is based in kindness you don't want to hurt people's feelings. but yes. you grew up where specifically for most Juliette. Yeah Joliet. And for people who don't know Joolette, Illinois what's that town like? I haven't been there in a long, long time. I know they have a casino. I haven't been there since they have a casino, which really revived, I think, revived Joliette. But it was, you know, kind of a suburban town outside of Chicago, probably about forty five minutes outside of Chicago And there's a prison nearby. so my quest was always like, you know, where are you from Joliette? not the prison. I always had it loaded up. It that was the Joiette prison where Blues brothers they go to Joliet. So Joliette Jake was Cro's name, I think in Bluess Brothers. right. And when I came into my meeting with Lauren he said, So where are you from? or he said, tellell me about you your off. And I said, Well, I'm from Joliette. And he said, whether that's true or not. And he thought I was doing a Joliette Jake reference maybe And I I didn't even know his name was Joliette D at the time. and I was like Well it is true. I mean, I'll have to send them some proof of that because they're really raking me over the coals. Yeah, that's a little bit of a mind fuck to be like, nice try when. it isn't even anything that you thought you were snowing them on. But we've talked about this a lot and I love this. and I'm curious now as we're getting older if like you always say that you felt as And I know from You letting me read your journals I gotot to read pololish journals. and is you always felt kind of like wiser In your years as a young person. I was a very caretaker. I always say born at fifty. V I remember I started my period at nine, and I remember telling all my friends how it works And like how to you how to put a pad on and how to and they'd gather around me like I was like Julie Andrews on of music and I'd be, let's start at the very be. There's a string and an applicator. and I just would always have the in of like, I'm an older. Yeah, you know. And I had an older sister who taught me to read. Patty was like incredible. She always was very nurturing to me to them, to my friends, I was The wise one, I had a very old soul and I think it was because it was withering from lack of any sexual interest from anyone. So by the time I was fifteen, I was like, well, I'll never be touched. But I was also silently and quietly looking at women and feeling like you grew up So you grew up in the eighties. you were a lesbian, you knew it but you couldn't I knew it, but I didn't really know it in quotes until I was just out of high school. And so my best friend and I were basically madly in love with each other and we ended up always like sleeping over each other's house during the week for the last couple years of high school in the same bed like just it was a very Florida High schoolchool was like so affectionate like in the public school. and I came from like a Catholic girls school that was so not. I mean, we'd hug each other if, you know, somebody died or something, but it was just like or if you had something on your coat, you know, let me do that and get it off. But like it was I got to Florida and I was like, what is going on? Why is everyone hugging each other? But it was perfect for a closeted lesbian because we'd go to like a choir trip and we'd be just like, You know sixty nine of each other on the bus just sleeping. like I'm sleeping on her ankles and she's sleeping on my ankles and it's just But we didn't know at the time, we did know, but we didn't know. It was like your soul knows, but you are not saying it. You're not acknowledging it. And then we started having all these fights at the end of high school, like a lot of dramatic drunken fights. We'd drink like a lot of white wine and big football cubps and we'd be like, I don't know And it just like fights and then it was like And then it just the world broke open and I was like, But it was a world you couldn't do that. That's what I was going to say is I think people didn don't really remember or understand that in our generation, I mean, I had I had no openly gay students in my high school. notot one Not one, notot even the super gay ones.act the super gay guys where you're like, there is no doubt Like I was saying to my kids, there was no gay and lesbian alliance in my high school. Oh how much. There was no openly gay teachers or students. Everything was, you know, nothing was spoken of and it was this time where you really did have to live this secret double life that you could not share with most people that you loved. And I mean, the most heartbreaking thing about it was that when we we went to college and we ended up together for a few years in college and then there was a big heartbreak, most heartbreaking thing is to go home and not be able to be heartbroken young person with in front of your family. Yeah. So you have to manipulate all the reason you're heartbroken of like, oh, she's gone away to school and I'm not and it's just I miss having a friend. I miss someone to hang around with and go troll for dick You have to like you just have to you don't get you don't get the aftercill.' heartbreaking because you just want to look at your Oh I'm crying already guys. This is supposed to be lighthearted, right But like you want to look at your mom and go like yes. It's my first time I had my heart broken, you know? And my parents were very kind, sweet, wonderful, supportive people. And at the time, if I would have had the balls to do it, I could have maybe explained it to them and they would have been loving to me. And you know, I know your family so well and you know, you talk about your sister and your parents, you come from such a funny like your parents are Hilar They sisters hilarious. You guys tease each other. You love a good joke. Like comedy was so important to you. No growing up. All of them. My father is truly genuinely like in his next life will be a comedy writer. He He is a comedy writer. likeike he is still he's he's eighty seven and he is still so ungodly funny. My mother was having gastro problems recently when she got really sick. And I said I texted my dad and I said Um Is she still having diarrhea? And he said not since Saturday andpelled at T URD, Saturday. Satered like immediately But he does it, he does it without being desperate for you to laugh. Sure, sure. She just does it and waits. And that's you too. I also have a really good skill of freezing and pretending I'm freezing. you want me to do it? Yeah Okay, I'll just do it while we're talking. Okay. So I know that There was a lot of musical theater that you were into when you. I love. The only reason I doesn't stop is that I was just joking on my spin During the pandemic, I used to do it all the time on Zooms and and I would go so long And just be but like, you know, you have to be in the middle of st something. You can't just like, Yeah. So it's just like when you People are gonna to think their YouTube is. And they'll be like, no, I'm gonna I'll watch that later. You were a musical theater like you were doing all your plays in high school. You were like, I want to be a performer. Like did you know anyone that was an actor? Did you think that was going be your job? One of my biggest gifts in life was I grew up in the Midwest where I had a little teeny Catholic high school. They had the most glorious Theater and music departments, always, all my schools always had the most glorious And nobody had money. It wasn't like these rich schools at all. And I was in Full with Orchestra, Oklahoma when I was like in fifth grade. Full orchestra. Music man where like a full band comes in at the end with seventy six drum like, but really talented but like and When I was in eighth grade infamously with all my friends I was mother superior born at fifty, Mother superior in sounded music. And I have video and like many photos of me looking into the shaft of light, like Maria, you shall be led forth with peace It's like my pubes have not come in And I'm like, the oldest woman. I am the oldest fucking woman and I'm looking like Earthy matron just singing in my nun outfit. I sure you claim you yeah, you do have the great have been other eras for sure. But you're you love sex too much, be. Can't do it, you can't. I should have done the nun thing. Oh, wait, I did Hi, sister, Christine. She's not a sister anymore. He's gonna try to drink me like a cow. You cla you claim that you're an alto, but you're not an alto? I'm an alto and then I can do like soprano as a joke voice. I was talking to Anna about Anna Gastire about this, at some point, what is joke voice? Like joke voice is voice. like, you know Well, I mean, when you sing hi, like Alto, I'm a big blender. I love harmony. I love harmonizing those new things where you can go and just for the day harmonize with a bunch of people. I weep when I watch them where you can go in different cities and they have that group that you learn it in one day and then you go and they're all singing like the song from Rnt and everyone is just walking around with their and their s That's my joy of all. I grew up with a lot of choirs, a lot of show choirs, a lot of groups I love to harmonize. So when I did Girls F Eva and I was with these like insane singers like Sarah Bererellis and Renee Goldsberg, and then Bizzy Phillips was a great singer. like secretly. And then we would sing, it was just like to blend and sing with them. What have you been listening to lately? I'll just every so often, I'll listen to, I'll listen to company because I did a parody of that. my God. Let's talk about that for a second. We're all over the place, but it doesn't matter You did a documentary now for people who don't know, documentary now was a like a was a bunch of fake documentaries that Bill Hadater and Fred Armison Seth Myers did brilliantly did and John Malaney was in some and wrote and there was a very famous one based off of the film and musical company, The making of the Broadway album. Yes. and you guys did one called co op co op the musical and it was a of the era, we were in that era and I was in a lane stretch. And it was based on an actual documentary that was very iconic black and white documentary about the night that they recorded company cast album, which was a hot mess, but then it turned out incredible. And I listened to that and when I got to do that with them, because they were all fictional songs, but like Sondheim actually heard them and talked to Melane about them and was like, I love. you know, ' it was he did. Yeah, he. I didn't know that. I went to some screening of it and then talked to them and they they all, I think met him. Like kind he kind of gave his blessing. like these are good. And he gave his blessing ' they were such Well done songs, Elon Eli Bolen was so good at writing the music. and And the they're so funny And you know, Seth wrote some of those songs, but they're they're all so funny and just I just love being able to sing and emote at the same time. Like any musicals that I grew up with, I loved the ones that you could just in the, you know, one of my favorites. I'm not going I know you probably do you have to pay for songs? Well, I mean, I feel like we do what we used to call it as and all a sound. Let's do a sound. but you can sing the song losing My mind from follies. it's like It's those kind of songs that like Liza Manali would ex. So can you sing the sing part of it the real thing and then show people what a sound like would be? It's one of the saddest songs on Earth The sun comes up I think about you Coffee cup I think about you You said you loved me or were you just being kind? R I? missing my Gun shot I'm sorry if Okay, now can we get a sound of like Yeah. So we wanttff and then they were like, we can't do that. You're going to have to do. So it would be like When I wake up You're in by mind. When I wake up You're not here, my heart's cracking. You're in my mind. And we' just Just off enough. Okay Florida Affectionate Florida. You get there as a high schooler You go to Disney. Yes. You work at Disney. I work at Disney. How did you get the job at Disney? which is a job everyone must want. got my degree in theater, I left University of Tennessee because I barely finished. I did finish. But that's really interesting because you're such a good student and you're so smart and studious. I was also a theater student. and it was the eighties and my best friend James Anderson, who wrote at S andL for twenty years and wrote every funny thing you've ever seen. He and I were classmates and we were gay and we used to go to gay bars and dance all night and then we would do plays constantly that rehearsed all night. and then we would have like a seven o'clock biology class in the morning and it was no parking. So I was always making up in completes all the time. And my parents came for my graduation And I looked for my final I went to the haall of science So look at my final, my final gr the night before they all got there with my grandparents and everything, and it was an F And I called James crying and it was pouring rain in a phone booth. And he goes, callall the teacher. It's even o'clock at night, but call the teacher. I called the teacher and I just blubbered and he ended up giving me like a Dar or a se and I could graduate. I had to write a paper that night, had no sleep the night before my graduation. I wrote a paper called that I still look for in boxes C't Pagiarized one hundred percent. a bunch of stuff cobbled together on microfiche. and it was called Galileo, the courage to wonder And I came up with this theory because I read one line that he said he had a fraght relationship with his dad or something. and I was like, it was just all about his internal world with his father and all the shit Oh my God, Paul, I did not know that that you graduated by the skin of your teeth. Would never have guessed that. But I I got to Florida, you know, was broke as hell. A lot of my friends went to New York, like James to have the dream and I went back to Florida And then They built Pleasure Island And it was this nighttime, crazy eighties. giant ic island of clubs for the adults. It was brilliant Like your kids are here and you're sick of them and you want to go out and let it rip and get drunk with your wife and make out. And every night was New Year's Eve. So every night at like right before midnight, all the drunks from all the clubs and the theaters and the comedy warehouse, which was improv All of them came out and then there'd be these hot dancers and then they'd have confonetti, they'd do a big countdown. It was like Times Square And it was so eighties and so good And so I ended up being in the original cast of the Adventurers Club. So I was Pamelia Perkins, once again, a matron A comedy matri I was twenty two. Pmelia Perkins, the president of the Adventurous Club. Kongaloo. Heat up your fourourth of July at the Home Depot with our wide variety of grills under three hundred dollars and make every gathering one to remember. Give your outdoor space a glow up. Whatever your budget is, with savings on seasonal plants starting at five dollars. With the grill fired up and your backyard set to perfection, you'll be able to invite friends and family over to kick off the party. Start celebrating with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. 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That's why you rack With Share My trip from Uber, you can send your live trip location to the ones who matter most. like Dan and Hannah, who always wait up to make sure their daughter gets back to her college dorm room. Or Tiffany who's running late as usual, and her friends are tracking her trip to make sure she's actually on her way. Look, she's right there. She's three minutes away. Or Sam who never goes anywhere without her roommate knowing exactly where she is Some journeys are meant to be shared Share your ride in real time with Share My trip on Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app the other fun thing about Pleasure Island was all these guys would come. Now this is when after I got my heart broken wanted to have a baby and I was like, never really been with a man. I've been a little bit here and there. J a little sneaky weeky, whatever. Yeah touchy tetchy pookey pookey, but like nothing haaven't had the full girth. Right. And so I was like You know, maybe I need to go down Penis Avenue. so I at that club. They'd let the employees party after work. Oh my God. That's I was two hours. Yeah. When the club would close, we had like at least an hour and a half to go to these other great bars right there. So we'd be with these cute ass boys and we'd just be like, you know, a bunch of cute Bits or cute like Irish boys. And I looked literally like B you know, like I mean, I had like a buffuffant and I'm like, you want to meet us over at the thing. And then I would go in the bathroom and I would like blow out my long hair. I'd take all my hair down. I'd put a bunch of make. I'd put a bunch of makeup. I come out I was still fat, but I would put all the other stuff on, Bring the eye up, put earrings, lots of stuff up here. Look at me up here And and then I show up and then I started fooling around with these guys that were like these fun, like there to have fun. And they were like, she's so cool. She doesn't even really seem into me. I'm like so And nothing nothing st stuck. Yeah, except the semen. No, I'm kidding. But like nothing, you know, Yeah. And so Disney was like It felt like a training ground for you. Yeah Disney was every night you got to have a large group of people laugh at what you did. even if it was like stupid that night or you weren't feeling it or you weren't, it's that energy that we all love that we loved at S andL that rave since we were little that we do stick in front of our parents on a couch. You got to hear humans look at you and go, Ohh, she's really funny. they'd laugh at you. And then I went over to at Murder She wrote the post production show during the day. for my next job, I moved out of Disney and I just did part time there. and I pretended I was a like in these wheels. I pretended in some of it, you're an editor. and it was all about the making of murder she wrote And I would talk to Jessica Fletcher on the screen. So I'd go, you know, it was all timed.. So it was like fake, but you know, she'd come and go, o dear I think we're going to do this episode you we better go. There's murders And I go, I know Jessica. Well we're going make sure that we're going and you'd have to talk. And one day I was so hungover that I looked up at her and I turned and I went, let's see what big I said, bigig old Jessica. I go, let's see what big old Jessica has to say. And then I turned like this and it was just like could not stop laughing. my whole I missed like three cQuess. So she was just talking with like ten seconds in between because I was ling over church asles this. So that felt like it's where I got my SNL job. Okay, so how do you go from talking to Jessica Fletcher to get auditioning for SNL? Be year All those talented people that worked for Sack Theater also performed at Disney. Great writers, great performers. and they had a theater and I would go and do characters at their theater sometimes on skketch Night. I wasn't an improviser. I was you know I never really have had improv training ever in my life except theater.ure And every day at Disney. That's true. So I did these characters And then that got to S and L. Wow. And then I'm sitting in the dressing I mean, green room with all the people that worked at Murder, she wrote, post production. and I was sitting there waiting for the next them to load the next audience and everything was a corded phone, of course. And it was like somebody's calling you and I answered the phone. It was my local agent that I had done commercials for and stuff. And she was like, are you sitting down? And I said, yeah. And she said Lauren Michaels wants you to come to New York and and meet him and I was like, is it what is it? Like, is it an audition? 'cause I mean, spent my whole life recording SNL doing Rosanna Ranna Dan in high school for my school assemblies. like I was so SNL. And they were like, no, it's not an audition. What is it? And I just got off the phone and they flew me there that week for two nights or one night And I just got there and was terrified and I went in and he was like two hours late, and I sat down with him and he started talking like we had been talking already. Like he started in the middle of a sentence. kind of Y show is you know, a phhoenix rising and this year we're gonna rise again and blah, blah blah. And I'm like rising above my body. And at one point I remember saying to him and Steve Higgins I am a lot more boring here than I usually am. I just remembered like calling out because I was so scared and so And he had already dised my know telling him I'm from Jouliette. So I was a little off. You were basically hired without knowing and no one told you were hired, which is what SNL wr. So then they just said I think I think we And then I left. Lauren notoriously does not hire or fire. And then I and then they you know, Steve Higgins was like, okay, we'll figure you know, we'll call you It test in about four days, five days. I went and gave my cats and my dog to my mom and dad. I ran and called like it was the most I remember crying in a closet and calling my nieces and nephews and crying and being like, know? And they're like, canan you take us to the Like they didn't know New York City. like it was so exciting, but it was terrifing. And I remember my mom just finally looking at me and going is the worst case scenario. And I'm like, I fail at a place that I've worshiped my whole life. And she's like, but then you do. And you had the experience, you got to go there. Wow, Paula, so they saw your characters and they were like, we want her as a writer. They didn't really make it clear why you were coming in.. You knew you were coming in for writing and not performing Yeah, but you were a performer What is it like to like and obviously you're a performer who's writing all the time, you're creating these characters. But back then, especially, I feel like the lines are way more blurred now. Yes. But when When when you get to SNL, you kind of get like put into a category abbsolutely. And you were put into the writer category even though you And you are this super strong performer who's been performing. Yeah. So what was that adjustment like? Well, I don't want to assume, you know, I've heard here and there little things and who knows because we've all been in there when they're picking people and it's like so random.. I mean, not random, but like there's reasons that you don't think are the reasons and all this, but I do suspect that I was a big lady. I was a big plus size person. was there was just not that in any V anything, like there wasn't, you know, there were starting to be Rosean Bar like people that had more real looking bodies. but I was just not of the aesthetic of that place whatsoever. It was late nineties,id mid nineties Mid nineties. No it was ninety five. And I just I do suspect that it wasn't even her writing, like I like her writing because that fits with us. Did you ever talk to Anyone at the show about that specifically or like I mean, I, you know, I really was such a good Catholic girl Yeah of of a roule follower when it comes to when when a when a who because I hadd only acted, I and told them. I'm not a writer., even though I'd written short stories and different. I don't know how to do. I don't know how to do any of this. Yeah. I really I was so afraid to ever show any desire to perform. And it's why I'm so gloriously happy to be able to perform in later in my life because I finally let that out of the cage. just shame the shame. The shame. and also the shame and the shine, right next to you. ooh I like that. the shame and the sh. shame and shine because you might have been feeling that, right? Like I just want to be grateful for what I have shine without you even trying, like it could not be dimm likeike you there, you became the performer that you are now. because it was such a strong, undeniable thing. People put you in sketches, because they knew how funny you were, you were funny in the room. You just like without to your point, you didn't say, fuck this, I'm not going to write. I only want this took the opportunity You did an incredible job writing for other people and you slowly knew and believed in yourself and others saw what kind of perform. Well Ielt I felt like everything and it it was a bigger picture of codependency and caretaking that in my life, in my whole life, I was making pie. and then giving all the pie away. Okay, so for people who don't know who are listening, and we talked about this a little bit with Anna and we've talked about it with Rachel and we've talked about with Tina and we' talked about it with Seth and we talked about but like Paulaal has written Some of your favorite sketches including Bobby and Marty, the Culps, including Debbie Downer, including the Cheerleaders with those actors. Of course, of course. But the actors get all the credit They do. they always It's like whoevers saying the lines, people assume that they've written the lines. And as I mean, people understand that there are writers on that show, but the public facing cast always gets the first kind of love, amount of love Appalachian emergency room, Tony Benn T talk show, all this stuff. When you're writing,, what was the first time you wrote something and you were there where that terror went away a little bit where you thought Okay, I might not get fired. okay. Well, there's two kinds of terror because I was in that era of recurring characters and I was lucky enough to in that first year with Will and Sherry for cheheer leadaders and with Anna and Will for for Bobby and Marty They were so up my alley. I was the person that tried out every year for cheerleading, never ever made it, Worked on my backhand springs in the summer. and then I would because I was fat and I would stand with holding everyone's purses during the basketball games and I knew every cheer and all my friends were cheerleaders. Like all of them were on the squad and then I'd be up there like a dance mom. like but once again Matron at, twelve going. And and gathering them around to tell to them about like c Dia, c drop, D. And so the idea of I loved writing joyful losers. That was my favorite thing is someone who is joyfully living their life, what they want to do. because when I read that journal, that's what I was, you know Got a new I got my rock tumbler and I have I changed the grit and my amethyst is looking gorgeous. My God. and I was like a victor like a crazy broad as this little person like talking about what lights me up, my plants, my stuffed animals, all those things. And when I got there and met them, they were my people. like I would cry laughing till five in the morning, writing those things with them other thing you have to get there is to Pve that you're actually good by yourself And that is a terrifying thing because you can always hide behind those characters that once they're hit, you got that to ride on. It's the best thing ever.. And my very first one, I remember was doing Wellford Brimley with John Goodman And I wrote it I used to do this thing where I was the last one almost always at writing nights. Yeah. Paula stayed the latest. So one night I wrote John Goodman as Wilford Brimley, and he was on a fake course because it always used to make me laugh when he was a big guy and he would I mean, Wilford Brimley was a big guy, but then he'd do this commercial for this like health stuff. and he'd be like, I take care of my blood sugar. I was like, no, you don't And so I had him say, like, you know, I take care of my blood sugar. Well I don't and it was just this slowly descending conversation in this commercial And John was so funny killed at the table. it absolutely killed and it was the first time I could really L look and go, I deserve to be here because I didn't feel like I deserve to be there. I didn't think, you know, and then if I was writing with other actors, it's like, yeah, but they're so funny and they're so good. And that was the first time I said, you are a writer. L you sat down and you wrote words that no one else saw because they all went home and they could They could read this. I mean, they they read this and they laughed. How long did you write for SNL? I wrote full time for like eighteen years and then I started you know, I did that slow exiting out where I did like I came to Lauren and was like, I'm going to do half the season spread out. So I would do like one or two shows, then I would have a break for a while. It was really trying to get away from the team. And he did want you to le. It was slow. And Lauren, you know, one of the things I love the most about him is he he doesn't want peopleople he doesn't want his family to leave, you know. And you are the long do you know you are the longest tenured Female writer in SNL history. Female. Oh ye, 'causeuse I was gonna to say James beat me by two years on the writing side, but yeah, female Um s that's really nice. Cool? Why haven't I gotten a plqu for that? And before I get off SNL, two things. One is Debbie Downer. Yes, most fun ever. I mean, that first Debbie Downer is We've talked about the antipressant of all antipressants. I remember us all standing in one of the dressing rooms just looking up at the screen and just we could not believe It was like a house of cards falling down, but it was the best house of cards and we just wanted to go on and on and on. And I mean, you created a cultural language. Like people use the term Debbie Downer now as if it was just it was on my soaps the other day and I was like, good Lord. It was. Yeah. What soap are you watching? all the CBS soaps, loveove them all if you ever want me on there I' love to do an. She should definitely on a so try. That would be so fun. Yeah That would be so fun So we've worked together on so many things after S andL. We worked together on sisters, an incredible movie that you wrote that is like kind of nice. We're incredible. And Tina got to play some versions of you and your sister and read my actual journal in a bathtub. They were in the bathtub reading pages from my actual. Beautiful and so fun. And that shoot was so fun with Ike and John Cena, your buddy who loves John Cena. He loves you. I love John Cen. I know. I see him to this day. I have a couple ideas for John C and I'm gonna hit him up for. I have some He is he just and that shoot was just and Kate there were so many fun people that came in on that. Diane Weon James Bl. James Bowlin playing my parents and do you want to tell the story about when Barbara came by set So my mom has lived to like worship Barbara Strezan her whole life. I took her to the millennial Millennium concert that was supposed to be Barbara's last concert And that was at the Milan, that was like two thousand, whatever. two thousand, right? Yeah. And I spent all this money to fly her to Vegas to go to that concert at like New Year's Eve, it was this huge surprise. And I took her. And then she comes to Sisters married to James Rowland. She comes to Sisters the day before my parents came to set to visit from Florida. And if I would have known, I would have like immediately flown her there you know, I sent pictures, which is like great. She looks cute from this blurry picture. I don't know if you remember, my parents happened to be there. and in a different way you're flying my parent you're flying your parent, your mom out to Vegas I'm always telling my parents, I'm not gonna fly you out to Vegas the opposite. I gu is there' Strizan Well, they're always like Why don't you take me the Academy Awards and I' like relax. Right. So my parents arrived on the set and my mom' was like, o, James Berlin is here. I wonder if Barbara Streisan is gonna to show up. And I go, Barbara Streisan is not going to come to our set, mom it a break, like let it go. And she just came to visit. She is. And she was the cutest. So cute. So cute. And I just remember whenever I would get up to go to anything she are you going to the going to the craft serervices. She goodust give me a little plate to some. Just justust give me a little sum. I don't care what it is J just a little su. And I'm like, that's fucking pistring I mean, a stararsborn with Christopherson and her is like I know every moment of that movie. I used to lay on the shag carpeting and ball and sing to that movie and not ball sexually, like ball. Yeah being WWL But we've worked together on Wine Country, on Parks and Reack, on Sisters, You have been more and more, like you said, in front of the camera. You got a new show on PicCa called The Burbs. Yes. so excited. Yes, which looks So fun it so fun and creepy. P tell me like what You're you love to be part of an ensemble. I mean you you are you are a leading lady in every way, but you also love that juicy ensemble. Thank. And Kiki Palmer Palmer leads the pack. Julia Duffy Cape Tallwalker and Jack Whitehall, who is also in the movie we're shooting that Janin and I wrote. And they are so funny and so weird. Like their characters have so many twisty, weird secrets. I've never done this kind of genre. I've never done a mystery murdery Some things are serious, some things are funny, you know, because that we grew up with comedy or drama. Yeah. You know, you were either watching AR or you were watching. There was no like in between. Can we talk about Kiki for a second? So unbelievable. We just did the press press for it and the premiere for it. She can just She can just lead anything and just be the kindest, funniest most energetic. and then she's like in hair and makeup, getting like elaborate stuff done while she's doing like a podcast thing, also talking to a choreographer about a music. choreography for the music video she's doing for her album that's coming out the next week. Like I would just look at her and go like, I get exhausted and a two year old child. I know. She's a pro. She's so great. I was getting my hair blown out Um, And I a couple of weeks ago and I just looked up at the TV and they play the, you know, they play the movies on the screen the hairplace and it was her and Akeela the Be. and she just had I know she so little braces and she was just she was such a great actor. I was just watching her do this whole monologue and I'm like, oh my God, she was just cooked when she was born. L it was just I't to cook I don't want to skip over the fact that you were getting your hair blown out because I would say nextext to Tina Feay, and not a competition, but I'd love to have you both in here and we can touch your hair You have the best hair You have incredible hair. Thank you very much I shouldt know this all your hair. It's all my hair. I took very good care of my hair because when I was plus size and in that era, this is not like a pathetic factect, it's a true factect If you had good hair, it was like something that you could use because there were There was no good clothes. It was like Big shirts and leggings, that was all you had. Right. When I was young, all the pictures of me, if I ever felt good about how I looked, it was always just right rightight here. you know, because everything else I wanted to forget about. What is your relationship now to Nck downown It's good. I lost some weight this year for health reasons a little bit like twenty five pounds and it made me feel a lot better because I have knee replacements. So it was much better for that. But I lost one hundred close to a hundred pounds three times in my twenties and it really devastated me because I gained it back each time. I gained it back more. It was such a racket. All those diet things were such a racket. I would go into deep depression, which I'd always struggled with. I would go into that cycle of like Suddenly people wantan to talk to me becausecause I'm skny pretty looking and then like and I'm not funny, I was not funny at all when I was skinny. Right. And so that's the only reason that I eat cream cheese on pop tarts now to stay funny now I feel like Yeah. I mean, well, I think you speak to you're speaking to a lot of people who are listening who understand and you're really honest and very H compassionate about how that can be a lifelong struggle And I have been on the shot. I've been on the shot this year on a very microdsed way that helped me a lot. with. inflammation pain, everything. and it got me, I had kept gaining again and it got me down to this kind of like, I just want to live a long life. And so I'm now, it's not about because I have a younger wife twenty two. What just that Yeah She's forty two. Gorgeous sexy wife and you're so in love. Janine Brito, and hilarious writer, actress inccredible writer, incredible person. She's incredible. the best call out your relationship For most of us that know you felt like not only a miracle to come into your life, but just like was aspirational for us to think about wanting to have a part. It was a miracle and it taught me truly to stop always you know not believing that the happy ending can happen. And that's why I'm The world is dark right now and I still no matter how sad it makes me, I wake up and I go, it will write itself. It will write itself because that's the nature of life. It' you look at nature doing it, you know, there's a disaster and then there's the green coming up. and I really do believe that and that I saw it in real time with finding her. trying to figure out who to talk to about this podcast, who we should have talked about Paula L. Is it Michelle Obama Plose But no, but we were like, we have so many people I want you to know, I know you know this, but I just want to say out loud, like I can think of a dozen people that would in five minutes notice get on a zoom to talk to me about you. But we decided to go with your newest best friend, and that was Kim Kardashian And the new spokesperson for Sims She She's size inclusive. She is She she's a sweetheart. Boy what Ding the hell out of her. I know. And I really wanted to talk to Kim because Two things, I don't know Kim I Her wanting to talk to us about you, I was like I love this lady. because people who love Paula and people I'm speaking about you in the third person, people who love you and know how funny and talented you are too me, I'm like Okay, that's that's a a smart person who's paying attention That's the smart part I remember you saying that you worked with her, you started to work with her and her mom and you were like, she's really fun and easy to work with. Yes You guys are doing a movie together. We're doing a movie together. We're mid mid shoot. We're like about two weeks in And it's with a bunch of other comedy, it's a bunch of comedy ladies that we all know and love Um Fortune Feemster, Nikki Glazer Yeah Casey Wilson, Brenda Song and she is so blending in with them in this group and justust her existing was like an inspiration for it because we knew that she wanted to do this kind of idea And we were like, what would if Kim was just a normal person with a normal life and normal you living situation I and she was around girls that she grew up with. like what would be that thing? And anyone I talked to, including Lauren Michaels when she hosted We're like ally nice. You know, there's ye the fame is always equated with someone's an asshole. Right. And that is awful. tr Tue. And our next episode whichich is only available Yes on another website. The two of us will list those to you. What I love the most about her is she's an extremely ind. gentle person reallyally doing a great job, playing her part. What I love the most about her after all those years at SNL, having all those hosts is that She is always aware of what she's really good at and what she wants you to be great at that she knows you're good at. That's again. it's like let's meet. let's meet and do something fun And that is so valuable to me at this age because I just can't be with people that think they can do my job better than me. Oh, Paula I can't do it. Say Paul. I cannot.aula I was gonna put the chair around while you say it, say again. I cannot Yo, yo, yo, yo yo. I cannot with people who think they can do a better job than I can in the situation that we're doing right then. Now, they might be just as good at something that I'm doing. I'm not saying I'm better than them, but when people come in, when a host would come in and they have never written something in their life and they're telling you how to write the sketch. I have done that so many times in my life with people And I'm so spiritually exhausted with it. And the first time we met with her, Janine and I wrote this movie together. we came up with it together, drinking, eating soup a winter day and Janine and I just started like spinning it, like, wait, what if this? and what if this? And then we really loved it because it had a lot of heart and it was about female friendship and it was we're like, oh my God, I love this. ended up like zooming with her, she came there. I thought she'd have like an entrage of people with her on the Zoom, a lot of squares. It was just one square of beautiful Kim Kardashian just going, Hey guys, you know just being a lovely person and she's been so great on the set. We have had so much fun. You're absolutely right. People who know what they're good at and also like working with people who are good at what they do, That is a skill. and also, you know It is when we were talking to her One of the questions she has, which is such a sweet question is It's also told me a lot about u maybe what I sometimes forget or hopefully don't take for granted, but sometimes do, which is she was basically saying, do you think Paula is feeling the magic, the sparkly magic of what we have like I am You know, it was basically like I'm and she basically said, I'm having such a good time. I'm like, I can't believe I'm there. I'm new to doing comedy, but I've loved it forever. And I'm having fun Is Paula having fun? Like it was such a sweet. L that question. And the answer is hell, yeah. And I am in a no assole zone of joy now. This is our only again is joy. That's the only thing we can do now. Okay. And so the other question that Kim had was someone that you like L, you know is so hilarious that you can't barely get through a scene with them. Like who really tickles you? I like that old time true classic without the meanness under it. Well, I feel like I saw you do versions of that all the time. and what comes to mind is especially in Lauren's office, where we would have this big meeting where between dress and air or after a readrough where all of us would be packed in and Paula would come in and you just do some version of that with Lauren. he would He would just he's kind of a quiet laugher. he would laugh like this. and you don't see Lauren laughing I mean, when you're in comedy, you almost can't laugh anymore. You're tired of it. You're Yeah. And no one would make him laugh harder than you. and Paulo would you'd put two oranges in your bra. Yes. I would always he had oranges always in a bowl that is little tangerines and I would always put oranges in my bra or I would I've done a lot. And there's a picture in Lauren's office.. Would you want to describe what It's my nineteen eighties headshot. and I think it's one of the times that I lost a lot of weight and it's just that dreamy, it almost looks like a eighty soap soap st. It is very soapap. And I have my hair flipped and have a Ver metallic, almost like alligator print like, which now would probably be like a beautiful outfit ' everything has come back, but it's very eighties. And I gave it to him. I framed it in a very heavy like crystal frame, and I wrote on it, I'll never forget our time in San Trope And it's just this woman heavily filtered looking off. and he has it over by when everyone's sitting there picking the show It really does look like his own les It looks a little like a corpse. It's just like this but when you're new to the show and Paulo would do that, it was like watching I mean It was like it was like watching B would I How do I describe this? It was like Honestly it was thrill honestly, it's thlling to watch a woman come in and just make the big honcho Laugh Honestly, Paula, It made you feel like Oh, maybe he will think I'm funny. Like it, you Being fearless in those moments eararning all of the laughs and being the funniest made everybody else feel like Oh, there might be room for me here. Like there might be space for me here. I mean, if I analyzed it, I probably was always trying to get him to know that I was performatively funny because that was something I hid.ure. And so for years, it was very painful for me to be in rooms and just be very serious with him. And well, we worked on that and I put the joke in, okay, great. thanks. thanks, Lauren. And just walking out always very contained. And once I broke through that with him, I felt much better about You know what? I didn't get to be in the cast here, but like he knows that I'm a funny person. it's really interesting as we started this interview, like Midwestern girl doing the right thing You broke you keep breaking social protocol and you did it in that office at a time when we were all watching. you really did brereaking barriers for us that didn't make it feel really safer and safer for us in every way. And you can still do that. I hope so because now it feels so much better and I mean All of it is some's worse, some's better. But I do feel like in comedy, the women in rooms, when I go to SNL now and I see the writing stack, , much more diverse and like there's queer people and thank God, like it just makes you feel so much better And um One last thing I just wanted to say about who makes me laugh is Janine is one of those people that I never thought in a million years I would be with a comedy person. My ex was not a comedy person, lovely person and funny, but like not a by trade But she makes me laugh in that stealthy way that I enjoy so much. I mean, the two of you guys are so so matched comedically. I've never I've never 'a sometimes you know like people are like, my partner's so funny and you're like good, when S Now we are at three hours. Okay as you request. Yes. So I have two last quick questions for you. One is how are the dogs? The dogs are gr. Howven seen them in a month and a half. Janine just went home to see them. We have an old donkey, a very big white horse that I used to ride Verbina and five dogs, one in a wheel cart and who hauls ass, little tiny paralyzed dog And three cats. and they're all two snakes, I'm not done. Im two bs. Two snakes I was like, when did you get those snakeies? I can't get other other classes of animals 'cause they'll start eating each other. Repptiles are a whole thing Yeah. Well, I couldn't feed them the live animals. Exactly. You have to. And birs I hate cages. I love birds, but unless I can afford someday an aviary of rescue birds where I can walk in and they can all land on me like And you don't want something that's gonna to outlive you. likeike a parrot will outlive's true. Well, our donkey could live to be like fiftys old He's older now, but like we were like our old horse we're like, let's get her. She lost her partner horse. Let's get her a little donkey. We'll adopt an old older donkey. and then the donkey's like eighteen. How long do they? fifty years or fifty years. We get the rescue old dogs all the time and they'll call and they'll go, you know, we did bring her to the cardiologist And Noni is, you know, Nino is actually going to probably not make it for a few weeks. Do you still want him? Of course we want him a thousand good days in one day. like let's just give him a great end of his life. He lives like seven years. becausecause his' of expensive medications. Too much love. Too much love in medication Which is the not the name of my too much love And then the last thing is I wanna find a public domain song that we can harmonize to. Yeah. She' so good at it. okay. my God. What's a good public domain song. Let's see that we don't have is Aazing Grace? Yes, it is. Amazing grace. a good one of that. Okay, Paul That's a high What one should I sing? I'll do the higher. so you just sing the mel melody M. Aazace How sweet the sound That a r. Like me Hi L love But now W blind U see wasas great? That do A We did not rehearse that. We did not. It's not public domain, great. It's getting cut. What is it? It costs one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Okay, great. We're gonna cut it. I will put twenty dollars towards it Paul, I love you so much. Thank you. I love you so much. I love you so much for doing this. It's such an honor to be at the table. with you.ing, Paul are, you're the best table This is like, I love watching this It in here. V veryy expensive table. Big honor. It's a big honor. All all I love you, so Thankk you. Id love you. Thank everything Hal You're just so fun to be around Thank you for doing that. And You know, for this polar plunge, there's just so many things that Paula mentioned that she wrote on, G sketches that you should check out at SNL if you're looking to laugh. But I want to remind you about a little YouTube show that she did, notot little, big a big YouTube show called Hudson Valley Ballers that her and James Anderson, another writer at SNL who was mentioned in this interview, worked on. Paula and James just play two jerks, two funny Lovable jerks who live in the Hudson Valley and there's a lot of really funny cameos U Stupid people being with other stupid people doing stupid things. So check out Huds and Valley Ballers, if you haven't check that out and check out Paula on the Burbs. And keep listening to Good Hang. We love that you're here. Thanks for being here and see you soon. byye