- 20 hours ago
Ego Nwodim ('Saturday Night Live'), Kristen Wiig ('Palm Royale'), Maya Rudolph ('Loot'), Michelle Buteau ('Survival of the Thickest'), Quinta Brunson ('Abbott Elementary') and Renée Elise Goldsberry ('Girls5eva') join THR in Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter. The stars have a raucous and revealing conversation about ignoring industry expectations, the pressure to mine their personal lives and tap-dancing for the patriarchy in this updated roundtable format hosted by Yvonne Orji.
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00:00Coming back to Saturday Night Live after I had my daughter was transformative because I didn't, I gave no more fucks.
00:09I need to have a baby.
00:11I was just going to say, can I change my hair?
00:15Can I change my hair?
00:17I need to get pregnant.
00:18I will get you pregnant.
00:19Get me pregnant, please.
00:20But that's why I was saying, oh honey, I'll get you pregnant.
00:23Just stand there.
00:27Oh, hello there.
00:28Welcome to Offscript with The Hollywood Reporter.
00:31I'm your host, Yvonne Orji, and we are here at the gorgeous Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, California.
00:38As an actress and comedian, I am especially looking forward to today's amazing panel of six versatile and talented comedic actresses,
00:47some of whom I am fortunate enough to call friends.
00:50That's right, guys.
00:51They have and are continuing to pave the way for women in comedy.
00:55You're about to hear from the amazing, the illustrious, Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary,
01:02Michelle Batu of Survival of the Thickest,
01:05Renee Elise Goldsberry of Girls 5Eva,
01:09Ego Wodham of Saturday Night Live,
01:11Maya Rudolph of Loot,
01:14and Kristen Wiig of Palm Royale.
01:16They are, as always, on the record, but just a little off script with The Hollywood Reporter.
01:26Hey, Lacey, they're all yours.
01:29Thanks, Yvonne.
01:30Welcome to the Comedy Actress Roundtable.
01:32Let's get started.
01:34We're going to start with a question for everybody.
01:36What is the funniest or strangest feedback you've heard or read about yourself?
01:40The first thing I can think of is I won an award for being the number one vegetarian.
01:53Oh.
01:55I'm not a vegetarian.
01:56I think I was eating a pork rib when I read it.
02:00I think I lost.
02:01It was on my, me too.
02:03I think people just very surprised that they laughed.
02:07Yeah.
02:08Yeah.
02:09This is surprisingly funny.
02:10Surprisingly witty.
02:12Surprise.
02:12Surprise.
02:13Isn't that a delight?
02:15Yeah.
02:16Yes.
02:17I'm surprised you're surprised.
02:19Right.
02:20I think mine is Too Short for Comfort.
02:23I think that's really funny.
02:25So it sticks out.
02:26It was someone saying that they did enjoy my work.
02:28But part of what made them enjoy it was that I was too short for comfort.
02:31And I thought, that was funny.
02:34That is true.
02:35I love that.
02:35Yeah.
02:37I started doing podcasts before I was on SNL.
02:40Like comedy podcasts.
02:42And so people would come and find me on Instagram.
02:44And I remember one comment being like, I'm pissed off you look like this.
02:48And I'm like, okay.
02:50What did they want you to look like?
02:51I didn't follow up.
02:52You never follow up.
02:53You never follow up.
02:55I think the first time I ever, when I started SNL and I learned my lesson, I do not read.
03:00I don't look.
03:01I don't.
03:02Oh, yeah.
03:02But when I first got on the show, you have that moment where you're like, I don't know.
03:07People are saying.
03:08And it was like, comment, comment, comment, comment, comment.
03:10And one of them just said, she's ugly.
03:12No.
03:12And I was like, I mean, it was, it's okay.
03:16We used to, it was before social media.
03:19So there were like forums or something.
03:21It was like, I don't even know.
03:23But they were all like sentences, sentences.
03:25And then just like, she's ugly, period.
03:26And I was like.
03:26Mine said chipmunk cheeks.
03:28Yes.
03:31Yeah.
03:31So we're starting off on our own.
03:33Yeah.
03:35I mean, is that, that's good, right?
03:36That's how it she was.
03:37People are filling their faces.
03:40Yeah.
03:40Yeah.
03:40It's sexy.
03:41But the crazy thing is that you can't go searching for the positive things.
03:45I don't read the positive things because I don't want to, I don't want to get sucked into that reality.
03:51It makes you read nothing.
03:52It makes you read nothing.
03:52But then people will tell you what the positive things are.
03:55Your family will call you and say, you got this and they said this and they said this.
03:59The crazy thing is when it's silent.
04:01Then you know that there are not positive things.
04:04That's right.
04:05So then you go and look for them.
04:06Oh, don't hold it.
04:08It's not good.
04:09It's not good.
04:10Okay.
04:10So what is the most transformative role, sketch, moment of your careers?
04:17Oh, my God.
04:18It's starting off real life.
04:20Yeah.
04:20It's starting off life.
04:21These are good questions.
04:22Welcome to the room, baby.
04:24Okay.
04:24I'll go for the martini.
04:25Okay.
04:26Paribas.
04:26Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
04:28I actually didn't think of it because I just cheered with Eggo when I got to do that sketch with you.
04:34Because I felt like it was a moment where people who maybe didn't know me before Abbott, they realized that I could do comedy.
04:44You know, you guys know comedy is a spectrum, but beyond Janine and beyond what I'd done before, getting to do that sketch with you in the car.
04:50The traffic altercation.
04:52Oh, my goodness.
04:52We were just talking about that at work.
04:54Yeah.
04:54How amazing it was to see you come up with your own gestures for that.
04:59They didn't give you much direction for that, and that was so fun.
05:01I got to pop in and do truly one thing in that sketch, but it was so fun.
05:05It was so fun.
05:06You were incredible.
05:06Yeah, and that felt transformative, so I would say that one for me.
05:10Yeah.
05:11Yeah.
05:11I feel like I would guess it was maybe Hamilton.
05:15I feel like an easy guess.
05:17Thank you for saying it so I didn't have to say it myself.
05:21Honestly, every time I get a job, whatever job it is, it's always like, ah.
05:28And the funny thing is, whatever you do, people are like, I can't believe you could do that.
05:33Yes.
05:34That's true.
05:34You know what I'm saying, like, I didn't know you could rap.
05:36Yeah.
05:37You know what I'm saying?
05:38I didn't know you were funny.
05:39Yeah.
05:40And now it's like, is she a serious actor?
05:42Because I just think she's funny.
05:44It's just whatever you do is what you do in people's minds.
05:46That's true.
05:47It always feels transformative to get to do anything.
05:50So when it works, it feels transformative.
05:53Mm-hmm.
05:54I think for me, it's probably looking my first series regular on First Wise Club.
05:58Mm-hmm.
05:59On BET Plus.
06:00Yes.
06:00Now, Netflix.
06:01Ow.
06:02And, um.
06:02You know, I knew I could do the funny, but what was really fun and important for me is
06:09that I had sex scenes.
06:10Mm-hmm.
06:11And as a size 18, 20, we don't get to be sexy.
06:14We get to be lucky that someone finds us attractive.
06:17Mm-hmm.
06:17I own my sexuality, and I'm like, this is important, and we can make it funny, but it's mainly
06:24important, so let's go and get it.
06:25And so it was so amazing working with intimacy coordinators and directors who understood how
06:32I would be my most comfortable and then sexy.
06:36And that really kind of changed how people cast me and how, like, I saw myself, quite frankly.
06:43And I'm like, let's go.
06:45Yes.
06:45Big bitches are beautiful and worthy of love.
06:48Yes.
06:49Yes.
06:49Big bitch, get dick down.
06:50And that's really great.
06:51I had intimacy coordinators on that.
06:55I felt like that was before the huge push for them, so that's really nice to hear.
06:59Yeah.
06:59I mean, that's the great thing about working on an all-female-led show.
07:02Yeah.
07:03You know, where the showrunner is female.
07:05And you can go to your showrunner or your director who's also female and say, you know,
07:10Mother Nature might be calling next week.
07:11Yeah.
07:12And I see that this thing is on the schedule for next week.
07:14Yeah.
07:15So can we...
07:15And it's...
07:16Yeah, it's so nice.
07:17I've been in that situation.
07:19You know, it's important.
07:21And that's why hiring us matters.
07:25Oh, it's my turn.
07:27I mean, I think this will count.
07:29It was transformative in a personal way for me.
07:33I did a dance for Sia during the Grammys, like, years ago.
07:38Oh, that was wonderful.
07:40Yeah, that was amazing.
07:41And that was...
07:42I was releasing a relationship that was sort of like the...
07:46sort of the subtext that I had.
07:49And I didn't think I could do it.
07:51I was terrified to do it.
07:52And I wasn't wearing a lot of clothes.
07:54And I felt super vulnerable.
07:56And then after it was over, I just, like, I released this thing.
08:00And it was very transformative.
08:02Something shifted after that.
08:03In yourself, which I think is even cooler than for everybody else.
08:07Yeah, and we all know, like, being afraid to do something, you have that moment before of, like, why am I doing this?
08:12Why am I just not home?
08:13And then you do it.
08:14Yeah.
08:15And then you're like, oh, that's why we keep coming back a little bit.
08:18Yeah.
08:19I did it.
08:20Yeah.
08:20I did it.
08:21I just have to keep walking.
08:22Yep.
08:23Yeah.
08:24That makes me want to change my answer.
08:25I know.
08:27I know.
08:28Because I remember, sometimes it's not about the big job that everyone knows about.
08:32I was in, like, a small fashion show across the street from the soap opera I was on many years ago.
08:37And nobody was in the room that knew me, which is probably why I felt so free.
08:41And I remember walking around and realizing that the more myself I was, the more I didn't care, just the funnier I was.
08:50Yeah.
08:50I just kind of had a connection to power that was always inside of me for the first time.
08:55Put it on the top of it.
08:56You know what I'm saying?
08:58Nobody was there.
09:00Nobody gave me an award.
09:01It didn't matter.
09:02But it was the same thing.
09:03I just remember being like, oh.
09:05Yeah.
09:05Yeah.
09:06This is where it is.
09:08Yeah, dude.
09:10I love that.
09:10First, I was going to say SNL.
09:12I'm like, duh.
09:12And then I was going to say post-SNL.
09:17But then I was going to say bridesmaids.
09:19But then I was going to go back to, like.
09:21Say them all.
09:22Yeah.
09:22Yeah.
09:23Yeah.
09:23It's different, right?
09:28Like, transformation is different.
09:29Like, for me, coming back to Saturday Night Live after I had my daughter was transformative because I didn't.
09:37I gave no more fucks.
09:40That was different for me because I cared so much.
09:43And I was putting so many things in front of me that were not serving me.
09:49And so I was wasting a lot of time worrying about what other people thought and doing the right thing and being a good girl and being a good student and being a good daughter and working hard at SNL and writing my sketches.
10:02And then I was like, oh, great.
10:05This is all fluffy, light, nice things.
10:09Yeah.
10:10And it took that for me.
10:11That's not, like, the road for everybody.
10:14But that's what got me there, you know.
10:16And I had to be shaken out of the grip I had on.
10:22You think the shaking was the fact that you were another person?
10:25I had to stop being selfish.
10:26Yeah.
10:27Yeah.
10:27I need to have a baby.
10:28I need to have a baby.
10:29I was just going to say, let me change my hair.
10:34Can I change my hair?
10:35I need to get pregnant.
10:36I will get you pregnant.
10:37Get me pregnant, please.
10:38But that's why I was saying, oh, honey, I'll get you pregnant.
10:41Just stand next to me.
10:42But that's what I'm saying.
10:43That's not what I mean for everyone because we all know that the road to motherhood is not for every woman.
10:51Yep.
10:52And it's also not easy for every woman and sometimes not possible for every woman or not destiny.
10:58So it's not to say, like, the universal, like, get kids.
11:02Like, it's not like, what?
11:04That's how you say it, right?
11:05Yeah.
11:06That's what shook it out of me.
11:11But Bridesmaids was also transformative, not just because people saw it and received it well.
11:17It was transformative because it was the first time I got to enjoy making a movie that was funny and have fun with people that I thought were funny.
11:25I felt like that was the first time we got to do that.
11:29I didn't have experiences like that before.
11:31Or we would have fun and play at SNL, but it's rare to get to work and look at each other and say, this is really funny or I'm having fun or laugh with each other.
11:41That was transformative, too.
11:43Yeah.
11:43It was the Brooklyn Bowl.
11:46I saw your group.
11:47Oh, princess.
11:48That was transformative for me because I'm like, you don't have to do straight up stand up.
11:53You could do whatever you want and live your truth on stage.
11:57And so you love what you do so much that it affected me.
12:01And I was like, yeah, I can think outside the box.
12:04I had such a similar experience watching Amy and Tina's show in Vegas because they were just up there fucking around.
12:11Yeah.
12:11And I loved every minute of it.
12:13And they brought out Rachel.
12:14It was my Super Bowl.
12:16It was my Super Bowl.
12:18You know, I'm with a bunch of other comedy girl nerds.
12:21I'm drunk.
12:21I'm like, let's go, Rachel!
12:23It was so crazy, but it was so inspiring that, you know, okay, we don't have to be like in the trenches forever.
12:29Like, they just represented a sort of freedom to me that I hope to obtain someday because right now I'm in the shackles of the shackles.
12:40You went straight to shackles.
12:41But you're talking about being deep in it.
12:44And I think that that was one of the things that I was thinking about in terms of transformative is that experience, time, appreciation of what you do,
12:54which is what life gives you when you do something for a long time, will give you that.
12:58So that is coming because you are working hard.
13:06And that's like when you're in the middle of it, it feels like it's going to be like this forever.
13:12Yeah, man.
13:12And being able to enjoy it, appreciate it, and exactly what you picked up on with Amy and Tina's show is like watch people having fun and appreciating what they've got.
13:21And each other.
13:22That's, yes.
13:23Watching people enjoy each other.
13:24Yeah.
13:25The best.
13:25And that's coming.
13:26What beautiful answers.
13:27I'm like, I have to go last.
13:29Because I don't have a baby.
13:31I kind of regret bringing that up.
13:34No, no, don't.
13:34Because it's not universal.
13:35No, I know.
13:36And I feel like you are being like, hey, I want to be clear that it's not necessarily a path for every woman.
13:42And I'm not saying that that's the thing that's going to transform a woman's experience.
13:45I feel like you're so clear on that.
13:46I just want kids.
13:47So I'm just like, so, but I mean, like, so much of what you said, and we kind of had a conversation, the three of us had a conversation in December.
13:57I mean, your voice has been in my head for weeks now.
14:00Because I've been just thinking about you going, when I stopped giving a fuck, it's like when it started to feel great and truly just felt like play.
14:10SNL, the schedule is, you guys, is so intense.
14:13Grind.
14:13And we are in such a grind that when we have weeks off, such as this one, I, like, pop out and I'm like, what did I just do?
14:21It's another world.
14:22Yeah.
14:23It truly is another world.
14:25And I'm like, what just happened to me?
14:27And how do I regain my personhood?
14:29And so everything you said was so meaningful to me then.
14:32It's meaningful to me now.
14:34The thing that felt so transformative for me is an SNL sketch.
14:39Ironically, getting to do Lisa from Temecula the first time was so fucking fun.
14:47It was so much fun.
14:49And people who know me in my personal life or people who have listened to me be insane on podcasts are like, that's the most her thing I've seen her do on the show.
14:58And I go, five years.
15:01And, you know, some people go, you should write more things like that.
15:04And I go, baby, if you knew how the process works, it don't work that way.
15:07Don't work that way.
15:12That week was sort of like, I'm at my wit's end.
15:16Fuck it.
15:17I'm going to, I got seven hours of sleep on a writing night, which I don't think I had ever done.
15:21And I felt like, ooh, this is bad.
15:22But I was like, I've done everything.
15:24I'm an, I work really hard.
15:26I'm really diligent.
15:27And Lauren's always telling me, audience doesn't care who works the hardest.
15:30And I go, that's pretty simple, y'all.
15:31It's true in general.
15:33Yeah, it's true.
15:34And I kind of surrendered to the process.
15:36I did not write on that sketch.
15:38And that's like one of the first things that was a real moment for me at the show that I didn't even write on.
15:43And then the night of, we didn't think the sketch was going to go because it was bumpy at rehearsal.
15:48And when Tom Broker, who's our wardrobe guy at SNL, came by and was like announcing in the hallway, like, we're doing Lisa, get dressed for Lisa.
15:55And I kind of was like, really?
15:57Okay.
15:58It's the last sketch of the night, whatever.
15:59And I was getting to improvise because the chair wasn't supposed to fall.
16:02And I was like, I'm getting to be, I'm getting to do the thing that I do.
16:06Yeah.
16:07I'm so passionate about improv.
16:08So I was like, this was so fun and liberating.
16:11And I could not have planned for it.
16:13I could not have worked for it.
16:15I just had to play.
16:16Yeah.
16:16So that felt very good to me.
16:17Yeah.
16:17Well, sometimes we, you know, sometimes I get in my way all the time.
16:22So it's, in your case, it sounds like, you know, forcing yourself out of those patterns is obviously what was transformative.
16:30And sometimes the most transformative periods are the most painful or, you know, coming out of the hardest thing.
16:36So I get that.
16:38Michelle, I have heard you say that you're grateful to Netflix for, and I'm going to quote you here because it's too fun.
16:43Uh-oh.
16:44No, no, no.
16:45Believing in a bitch because I've been tap dancing for multiple networks for a good while and my knees are tired.
16:53Accurate.
16:55I didn't know you could tap dance.
16:56I've been tap dancing for the patriarchy for a good while and my knees are tired, but fish oil helps.
17:06Noted.
17:06What do you think the sort of pivot was about where all of a sudden it was, yes, we accept you and your ideas and this vision.
17:16Auditioning for multiple networks that have different types of comedy, chasing that for a good decade felt like I was also chasing the wrong person to be with.
17:25And I was constantly trying to be whatever they needed.
17:31And then I'd like do one for me at the end.
17:35And that's how I always got a callback.
17:37But the job would always go to somebody who was well-known or had more followers because everything's an algorithm or whatever it was.
17:45And so I was always the bridesmaid, LOL, for so long.
17:50And I couldn't understand why because I was doing everything I was supposed to do.
17:53I did everything, you know, I practiced.
17:57And, you know, I'm a fun person on set.
18:00You know, I like food trucks.
18:02I'm like, what is it?
18:04What do you do?
18:04Like, I'm dynamic.
18:06I'm charming.
18:07I want to know your inner child.
18:09And something really shifted when I realized I wanted to have kids and how hard that was.
18:16And I started doing IVF.
18:18And then I was traveling myself in a middle seat for a chemistry test.
18:22And then I'd have to get a note from the doctors to bring these needles for the IVF to put them through security.
18:27And then I'd have to go put, like, progesterone suppositories up.
18:30My coochie, wash my hands, go shake the casting director's thing.
18:34Hope it's not coming out in my pants.
18:36How's everyone doing?
18:37Oh, this is great.
18:38Do one for you.
18:39Did it.
18:39Started crying at the end.
18:41It doesn't say you're supposed to cry.
18:42Ah, no.
18:42It's a choice.
18:45Because I was so outside of my body trying to really make something else work in my life that was so hard.
18:50And I was going through so much.
18:51And I wasn't allowed to say anything.
18:53Because I was still supposed to be happy clown.
18:55That's kind of when I started looking.
18:58When I stopped really giving a fuck.
19:00Because I didn't have the bandwidth, too.
19:02Like, I literally had to leave and go cry and then, like, figure out, like, a good waterproof mascara.
19:08Because she was a mess.
19:10She was a mess.
19:12But the great thing working with Netflix is that there's so many different divisions.
19:16And I love to host.
19:17You know, I used to, I have a news background because my college professor told me I was too fat to be on camera when I wanted to be a journalist.
19:25Oh, thank you.
19:26Yeah, I hope he has a Netflix password.
19:28Or he might be dead.
19:29And so I did production instead.
19:31And so I loved hosting.
19:33And I, you know, I love acting.
19:34And I love stand-up.
19:35And so I just have a license to do me.
19:38But I really didn't even understand that I had license to me.
19:41I thought I was doing me.
19:43But my body and the universe was like, no, bitch.
19:46You know, have several seats.
19:47And so, you know, after, you know, five years of IVF and some losses, you know, we welcomed twins via surrogacy.
19:55Yeah.
19:56And that made me just so, like, when I say thankful, I mean, like, I am thankful to be in traffic with these kids.
20:05I am thankful, like, for every single moment.
20:07Like, it feels like nobody can yuck my yum.
20:11Yeah.
20:12You know what I mean?
20:13And when people are going through some shit, especially, like, on set, I'm like, please go take 10 minutes.
20:18Take 20 minutes.
20:20Gather yourself.
20:21I understand.
20:22You want a drink?
20:22I got some churrosite.
20:25Renee, I've heard you tell a story where you go home, you go to church, and there is a reverend who lists off all of your credentials and then introduces you.
20:39Yes.
20:39And you are flabbergasted.
20:40Yes.
20:41Why?
20:41So, it's 2005.
20:44I was starring in a soap opera, and I was in a Broadway show, The Color Purple.
20:51Heard of it.
20:51I've heard of it.
20:52And the first one.
20:53I've heard of it.
20:53So, I went home to visit my dad, and we were at church, and then the reverend started saying,
20:58We have a guest in the house.
21:00Oh, saints.
21:03Today.
21:04And then he started, you know, going on this list of this great, wonderful.
21:09And she did this, and she did that, and I'm looking around, like, who is in the house when I'm here?
21:15Like, I'm so excited.
21:17And at the very end, he says, Ron Goldsberry's daughter, Renee Goldsberry.
21:22And I'm shocked.
21:23I love that.
21:24Because, I mean, he literally said everything I was doing, but I didn't recognize myself.
21:28Whoa.
21:28Because the year I had, I had had two very painful miscarriages.
21:33One was in the second trimester.
21:36It was terribly emotionally painful.
21:39I mean, like, it was just so much that had gone on in that year.
21:42And so, I stood up, and I was like, Thank you, you know, and I sat down.
21:46But what I realized is that people don't do anyone a service in this world by reading these bios that are not representative of who we are.
21:56To tell, you know, Renee Liesko, she's a Tony winner.
22:00Like, this is how they say these things to introduce you.
22:03But it really isn't who you are.
22:04And quite honestly, it's not the most valuable part of who you're.
22:07No.
22:08That's what they want you to be.
22:09What's most valuable about me are the things that I survived.
22:13Like, I'm super excited to hear, Oh, you guys might want to have kids.
22:17I got stories.
22:17She got stories.
22:18Like, I'm pretty sure you can figure out how to win a Tony.
22:21Yeah.
22:22But what you might not know is how you keep going when you are trying to do two things at the same time.
22:29You have this many years, you think, to make it in your career, and you have this many minutes to have a baby.
22:34Yep.
22:34How am I going to do this?
22:36We got answers.
22:37I mean, maybe not answers, but we got experience.
22:40Yeah.
22:41And so I just felt so strongly, we have to do a better job of telling the world who we are.
22:48I'm so grateful for opportunities like that because I sit down at a table like this and I'm looking and I'm like, Oh my God, my publicists are killing me.
22:58I finally get to sit with these powerful women.
23:01They're like my heroes, right?
23:04And why am I here?
23:05Like, no one wants to hear about the imposter syndrome.
23:07But I tell myself when I walk out here, can I please find something to say that really is representative of what matters?
23:16Yeah.
23:17Yeah.
23:17You know what I mean?
23:18Like, nothing else matters but finding ways to connect to each other that, like, just help us along the journey.
23:24I hear myself saying back to my kids sometimes, you have to tell people who you are.
23:30You mentioned it earlier in terms of work about whether, you know, sometimes you're showing your dramatic side and people think, Oh, that's who you are now?
23:38Or, Oh, we didn't know you could be that.
23:40You didn't know I could be a human being that had more than one feeling?
23:43Because people want you to be who they want you to be.
23:47Or how they know you.
23:48Exactly.
23:49And usually that thing they introduce you with is, like, kind of the first thing you did.
23:54Yeah.
23:54Yeah.
23:56And I knew in my experience of being an other forever from the beginning, I had to tell people who I was.
24:05I had to figure out who I was.
24:06Yes.
24:07I got to keep figuring it out.
24:08And I was just going to say that.
24:09And I still figure it out.
24:11But for right now, for today, I have to let people know.
24:16Because people love to make assumptions.
24:18And, you know, and we want to preserve our humanity.
24:21And when people make those assumptions, it strips your humanity from you, which also takes away your ability to be an artist, which is ultimately why I think all of us are here.
24:30This is an art form, a craft, something that we wake up and, you know, you just do and you can't not do it.
24:38I've known who I am for a very long time.
24:40So, it got interesting to be thrust into a spotlight and then people telling me who I am.
24:44And I'm like, you actually, like, don't know.
24:47And thank you for supporting me.
24:49Thank you for your love.
24:50But, like, I might do some different shit tomorrow.
24:52Right.
24:53Yeah.
24:53And you might not like it.
24:54And that's okay, too.
24:55Yeah, right.
24:55But I do need you to show up and watch Avid Elementary.
24:58I don't know really shit about, like, do you know what I mean?
25:03And I like that.
25:04That makes me feel like I'm doing a good job.
25:05But I think it strips the humanity, especially of women, just because we are supposed to be so many.
25:13Someone, I think, Donald Glover recently described it as, like, it's high school to people.
25:18And it's like, you're the this girl.
25:19You're the that girl.
25:21You're the that girl.
25:22And that's how they see you in their heads.
25:24And if you get outside of that box, they almost get violent for you.
25:27You're like, what are you doing?
25:28What are you doing?
25:29That's now, I'm going, well, this is part of who I am.
25:31This is who I am.
25:32Don't forget, being on television, we live in people's bedrooms.
25:35Yes.
25:36They watch us from bed and the toilet.
25:39I did.
25:39On their phone.
25:41On their phone.
25:43Always on the toilet.
25:44I'm going to laugh, sit on the toilet.
25:45Oh, we've all done it.
25:47I've seen you all from the back.
25:50We had a really good conversation in that car.
25:53We did.
25:53As well about that.
25:54That car.
25:55People don't know about that car.
25:56Because I was going through a tough personal time, and Quinta, you were like, how are you?
26:03And then you were like, you know, people don't realize you're going to go live tonight in a few hours,
26:08but you have to deal with that and then show up and be this.
26:12And speaking to people putting you in a box or deciding what your bio is, it can be so frustrating.
26:20You feel so fortunate to be able to do what you do and to be on TV and perform what you're passionate about.
26:25But I'm like, I want you to know my humanity, too.
26:28Yeah.
26:29I am but a human walking on this planet who's doing this kooky thing, right?
26:33Just trying to live.
26:35And that, what you people have done is insanity.
26:38Like, when I was little, I wanted to be on SNL, and then I hosted SNL.
26:41I was like, I'm so saved.
26:43I was like, man, you guys have to show up.
26:45You're fully immersed.
26:46You have to show up every week on Saturday.
26:48It doesn't matter if you're having a bad day.
26:50It doesn't matter if, you know what I mean?
26:52It doesn't matter if you had a miscarriage.
26:54Guess what?
26:54No one cares.
26:55You better get on that sketch and say the damn words.
26:57And say the things.
26:58Get that on laugh.
26:59But to your point, I got to do a college show, like, in February when we were on hiatus.
27:05And it was stand-up for an hour.
27:06And my favorite part at the end, I got to ask the students, I'm like, anyone have any questions for me?
27:11And one girl put her hand up and was like, how do you get over a breakup?
27:14And I thought, I am so deep.
27:16And this is going to stick with me forever.
27:18I got to do my hee-hee-ha-hahs, which I love.
27:21And I was like, ah, a human moment.
27:23A human moment.
27:24I want to hug you.
27:25And I did.
27:25I asked for permission.
27:26I hugged her.
27:26And I told her.
27:27I was like, I now know.
27:29I can give you my advice.
27:30Yeah.
27:31So my hell, I can help you.
27:33Has some value.
27:34Yeah.
27:35I'm like, I can help.
27:36And that was so meaningful to me.
27:38And I'm like, I want to be able to connect with people in that way.
27:41And I love making people laugh.
27:43But I love the conversations we've had.
27:45I love the conversation.
27:45You know, that's what makes me feel most alive.
27:48I do go back and forth, though, because sometimes I'm like, actually, nobody talked to me.
27:53I don't know.
27:54Sometimes I'm like, actually, don't know anything about me.
27:56I don't know.
27:57I just, like, flip-flop between whatever.
27:58I like that.
27:59Protect your peace.
27:59Yeah, yeah.
28:00I was reading Instagram on the toilet.
28:03I'm sorry.
28:03I love that one.
28:04You're doing it.
28:04I'm busy.
28:05I'm multitasking.
28:06And somebody asked Gabrielle Union about her skin care routine.
28:10Yeah.
28:10And she was like, cut all the people out of your life that you don't need.
28:15Right.
28:16And drink water.
28:16Yeah.
28:17That's it, babe.
28:18Double tap.
28:19I'm double tapping that.
28:21And I'm talking about it.
28:22Because that's also really good.
28:24I used to do that.
28:25I used to, like, want to fix it and help people all the time.
28:27And I'm like, for who?
28:29So I'm a good person.
28:31Like, this is, I know I'm a good person.
28:32Yeah.
28:33Move on.
28:34Yeah.
28:34And know your boundaries.
28:35Yeah.
28:36Yes.
28:36Yeah.
28:37Boundaries aren't easy to set.
28:38They're not easy.
28:38Yeah.
28:39Especially, it depends on who you are, but they're not always easy.
28:41People don't respond well to them.
28:42That's part of the, like, when you, even if you feel like you can set a boundary, it's
28:45like, oh, what's the reaction to the boundary going to be?
28:48I feel confident enough to set this.
28:49Because that's when you see who they are.
28:50Right.
28:51Yeah.
28:52Kristen and Maya, you have both been in the position that Ego is in right now.
28:56I'm curious sort of what the advice you would give about, A, how to navigate a place like
29:01Saturday Night Live, but also how to navigate what comes after SNL and knowing when it is
29:07time to move on from a place like that.
29:11That's a good question.
29:12I don't think you can navigate it.
29:14That's how you navigate it.
29:16Like, I don't.
29:16Everybody's different.
29:17It's not a place.
29:19Like, I got this sense of the place when I got there, and I felt uncomfortable, and
29:26I was like, oh, that's the show?
29:27Mm-hmm.
29:28And I was like, oh, the moment I feel like I belong here is when I got to go.
29:32There's a sense of, like, you have to just embrace that, like, you're not going to figure
29:38it out.
29:39And I don't know if that's helpful.
29:41Yeah.
29:41It helped me because it felt like there was a math problem I wasn't getting.
29:44Yeah, and I love math.
29:46I really do.
29:47Me too.
29:47I really love math.
29:47Me too.
29:48And you just have to, it's so personalized.
29:52Everyone there has a completely different experience.
29:55Well, because you also have such an expectation.
29:58It's something that's a part of your life that you've been watching, and then you get there,
30:01and you think it's going to be something.
30:03Yeah.
30:03An expectation usually leads to disappointment.
30:06Yeah.
30:06I mean, you're like, what?
30:07You can't hear that.
30:08But then I remember hearing you say that, that you knew when it was, you know, it was time
30:13to go when you were comfortable.
30:15I didn't know.
30:16I think I thought, oh, this is going to be the end for me.
30:18I'm going to be there forever.
30:19And then I didn't know how to navigate getting out.
30:22But at the same time, what it's given me, I mean, I'm happy to talk about SNL, and I
30:29don't work there anymore.
30:30But it's given me a foundation that has been transformative.
30:36I mean, listen, we evolve.
30:38We evolve.
30:39We say the word.
30:40It's transformative.
30:42But it has given me skills that I use all the time.
30:47I problem solve in a different way.
30:50I mean, collaboration.
30:52Collaboration.
30:52You learn how to work with people more than you.
30:54And also, like, when people say, we can't do that, I know we can't.
30:57Yeah, yeah.
30:58And when they say we only have this amount of time, you're like, I can go from this
31:01costume to that in 45 seconds.
31:05Unreal.
31:05You tell me we have three minutes, that's a long time.
31:08It's a skill set.
31:10You are learning comedy combat.
31:12Yeah.
31:12And you have a skill set now that you cannot teach.
31:16It has to be learned.
31:17And you can take it with you anywhere.
31:19High altitude training.
31:20It is unreal.
31:21It's unreal.
31:21And I feel it.
31:22I live for the grind and the discomfort of it all.
31:25But then, of course, you want to be pissed about it sometimes.
31:27Like, it's uncomfortable.
31:28Yeah.
31:29But when you speak about expectations going in, going in as the seventh black woman on
31:34the cast, it was this whole, what's that experience going to be like?
31:37And I was like, I have relatively low expectations for what it's going to be.
31:42I was just like, I don't know that it's going to be great.
31:45And then moments where it feels so sweet.
31:47The highs feel so high.
31:48And then I'm like, oh, I want to feel it.
31:51I want to feel it.
31:52Give me that drug again.
31:53I want more of that drug.
31:54And that's the thing I've been talking to myself about.
31:56There is such peace in the surrender to the process, surrender to the fact that it is
32:01a puzzle you're not really going to solve.
32:04It's not really a math equation.
32:05And that pressure and discomfort you feel is the thing.
32:10I love this.
32:11Like, I love when especially women from SNL get together and have real-ass conversations
32:18about what those expectations are like and that schedule.
32:22And, you know, like all the things that happened to you like before, during, and after.
32:27You know, as a stand-up comedian, 23 years doing stand-up alone, very alone.
32:34The fact that they have that, it's like a sorority.
32:35Yeah, it's amazing.
32:37There is a special bond that you cannot even explain to people.
32:41I love how accepting and affirming you are to people that were not in that club.
32:47Because I feel like you guys are a strong gang.
32:51And you're doing a lot of wonderful things.
32:53And it seems like you go out of your way to be like, hey, I see you.
32:56I think it's because we're trained to sort of be underdogs.
33:01Like, we're the underdogs there.
33:03And then the beautiful movie star comes in and sprinkles us.
33:08And we say, thank you.
33:10And then they leave.
33:11And so you have this vibe of like, it's just, I'm nothing.
33:15I'll make you look good.
33:18And also being able to jump in with new people each week.
33:22Each week.
33:22Every week.
33:23I really am just fascinated by it.
33:25Yeah, because that, I don't know.
33:27I just think it's like the craziest thing in the world.
33:30And I grew up watching it, loving it, loving you guys.
33:32And then seeing in person is like, yeah, unreal.
33:36You don't get enough credit and you get credit, but you, none of you get enough.
33:41I don't care if somebody was on it for one season or it's an unreal job.
33:46I always say, don't tell yourself no before someone else tells you no.
33:48I say that to myself.
33:49I say that to them.
33:50I've said it out loud and I heard myself say it.
33:52Just get it done.
33:53Just get it done.
33:53Just get it done.
33:53But once you realize how the sausage is made, it's like, you might not want to, I don't want
33:57to yuck your yum.
33:58Go off and see if you want to do this.
34:00For sure.
34:01Yeah.
34:01Quinta, I feel like you had recently talked about wanting to adapt the guest.
34:05And you wondered whether that was something you would be able, that you would be trusted
34:10with.
34:11And you said, because you're a black woman, this is not a black story.
34:15Is that from personal experience or is that based on the experiences of those that came
34:19before you and, and, and thus it was an assumption?
34:22It was an assumption because similar to the boxes, we're talking about what you start out
34:27with or what people know you for.
34:29Cause you know, Abbott is not what I started out with.
34:31It is what people know me for, which I'm grateful.
34:34The guest was a book I read and I felt like I see the vision.
34:38I can adapt this.
34:38I really don't feel that way with books.
34:40I read a lot of books and I love them, but that was one where I said, Oh man, I have the
34:45bug.
34:46I have the bug to adapt.
34:48I have the bug to like direct.
34:51I don't really have that bug.
34:53And people always ask it on Abbott, but I don't want to direct Abbott.
34:56I'm already doing too much on Abbott.
34:57I want to sit there and do my jobs.
34:59But that book is about a flippant brain birded white girl who's running around the Hamptons
35:06and she's so naive.
35:09And I think it's so far from who I am as a person that I do wonder if it'll become a
35:15struggle to try to make things that aren't about me.
35:19Another thing that was interesting with making Abbott is it is inspired by my mom's story,
35:24but I don't believe that's what makes it good.
35:26I study comedy.
35:27I do this.
35:27It's a good comedy because I like comedy.
35:30I hope that I don't have to get caught in the trap of being the source material because
35:35I don't want to be the source material forever.
35:38I don't think there's freedom in that.
35:39Like if I'm supposed to keep making shows or movies about myself, that is so limiting
35:44and it goes into what we're talking about.
35:46I don't want to keep excavating my soul to make things.
35:50And I think it has become an expectation for people of color.
35:53And it's not an expectation for white people, white men.
35:58But I think for a lot of black women, they're like, give us your insides.
36:02And I don't want to do that anymore.
36:04If I want to make a show about a dinosaur, I want to be able to make a show about a dinosaur.
36:07And not a black dinosaur, just like a green dinosaur, just a regular ass dinosaur.
36:12That dinosaur could be blue.
36:13It could be blue, but that's a thing that maybe isn't that relatable, but I feel hyper-specific
36:20is like something that I feel I experienced in many other creators of color.
36:26Why do I got to bring my trauma with my mom?
36:28I know, but I had a manager say, oh, your mom's story is so incredible.
36:32Like we're going to make a TV show that.
36:34And I was like, that's a drama.
36:35I don't want to do that.
36:36I don't want to do that drama.
36:38That's it.
36:38I don't, I wouldn't even want that, I wouldn't even want to do that to my mother.
36:42I'm like, I don't think she wants her story.
36:44Like, you know, I was like, that's such a fascinating instinct when she's heard a bit
36:49about me, like, we're going to make that a show.
36:50And I'm like, it's not for consumption.
36:52It's just, people want to see you the way they want to see you.
36:57Yeah.
36:57They kind of have an urge to like keep seeing you bleed.
37:03Yeah.
37:03And I don't really want to do that with my career.
37:06I would really love to eventually make things that have nothing to do with me.
37:11For me, it's such an honor and a privilege to be a plus size woman writing stories about
37:16my New York with non-binary people and trans people.
37:21But I shouldn't have to have a meeting about code switching.
37:25Yeah.
37:26And explain to you why this black woman who was 53 is a millionaire and a boss.
37:32And, but she also says the N word and she's also bisexual and she's a lot of other things
37:37that you probably can't understand, but don't worry about it.
37:40Those people do exist.
37:42And so like just explaining that to people is so crazy.
37:47I know this is sounds crazy, but like, I'll sit there and watch Dune and I'm like, yeah,
37:52I want it.
37:53What is the Dune of my Rudolph's dreams?
37:56What is the, like, do I have to be so closely associated with my, does my personal story
38:01need to be so associated with my work all the time?
38:04Yeah.
38:04Like, I really hope not because I think that is limiting for the creative space.
38:09I think we're missing out on a lot of fun sci-fi stuff because if I walk in, they're like,
38:15tell us about being a black woman in the industry.
38:19I'm like, I'm trying to make the next Willy Wonka.
38:21Leave me alone.
38:22Do you know what I'm saying?
38:23And I also think that what's frustrating about it is that you are thinking those things
38:30and you may create something.
38:34And let's say it doesn't happen.
38:35We don't know what that project is.
38:37But I do think by doing that, it is going to find its way somewhere.
38:41We just may not reap the benefits.
38:43But somebody is feeling that shift because there are so many times where I've seen something
38:47done and think, oh, why didn't I think of it that way?
38:52Yeah, I didn't have to make it autobiographical.
38:55But you're absolutely right.
38:57That inherent expectation is usually there.
39:01And I think it's just a matter of how you deal with it.
39:04Do you ignore it?
39:05Yeah.
39:05Do you bypass it?
39:07Do you delve into it?
39:08One for them, one for me.
39:10Yeah.
39:10And any of it.
39:11And it's all correct.
39:13None of it's incorrect.
39:14Yeah.
39:15But everybody's correct is different.
39:17Yep.
39:18So what's everyone's Willy Wonka or everyone's do?
39:20And what's the thing that you would love to do that no one's yet asked you to do?
39:25I want to be in a heist movie.
39:26Oh.
39:28Oh, I could see that.
39:29I could see it.
39:31Y'all see me robbing a bank?
39:32Yeah.
39:33Absolutely.
39:35Okay.
39:35This is going to sound dumb.
39:36But Bluey I know about because of my nieces and nephews.
39:39I love Bluey.
39:40I love Bluey.
39:42It's so nice to put on before you go to bed.
39:44It's so lovely.
39:45The colors are made for dogs.
39:47The colors are made for dogs.
39:48It's so, I'm like, you know, I make a little Bluey or just something so silly and unrelated
39:55to me and I get to hide in the shadows.
39:58So my dream is to make like a Bluey.
40:01I'd watch your Bluey.
40:02I want that for you.
40:03I think you will.
40:04What's your Bluey?
40:06What you doing?
40:07What's your Bluey?
40:08I have so many unfinished projects.
40:13There are some things that I've been working on for the last five or six years that I kind
40:19of want to do before I do all the other stuff I want to do, which is, yeah, I'd like to do,
40:25I mean, I've been in Marvel.
40:26I'd like to circle back and have a superpower this time.
40:29Yes.
40:29You know, what's your superpower going to be?
40:31I really just want to have the gift of prioritization.
40:37Oh.
40:38I thought it's such an adult.
40:40I didn't say, the kids were like, this is the lamest person you've ever had.
40:44But really, I just want to know, because you know how much time we spend stressed out
40:47and worried about things that don't matter?
40:51Yeah.
40:51I just want to have the, go to bed.
40:55I love it.
40:56Which is why they're not calling.
40:57So yeah, for me, there's some unfinished things.
41:00I have a pop album of original music I want to get out.
41:03Yes.
41:04I have a documentary about what we were just talking about, which is, you know, the juggle
41:08between trying to have children and trying to launch the show Hamilton.
41:11That's coming out.
41:12I have biopics that I'm working on about women who the world needs to remember and know.
41:18I feel like it's a beautiful thing to be in a place where you're like, I did this thing.
41:26I have created this show that is speaking to my tribe.
41:31And you have to get there to say the really genius thing you just said, which is, and now
41:36I want to do something else.
41:38Yeah.
41:38So where I'm at is, I want to get there.
41:41Yeah.
41:42What I do love about this business is probably what people hate about it, is that it's unpredictable.
41:47And so I never know what's going to happen, and I love that for me.
41:51That keeps me interested.
41:52I feel like every day should be a surprise in a good way, in a productive way, however that
41:58means.
41:58And honestly, I feel like I'm doing it, and I just want to do more of it.
42:03You know, fat, black, brown, queer content, because now that I have these children, I just
42:11want to make sure that it happens with the arts, you know, that I'm putting in all the
42:17allyship and comedyship and femaleship into what I do, because this is how I express myself,
42:24and this is my legacy for these littles.
42:27What about you, Kristen?
42:29I am so grateful to be here listening to you guys today.
42:33I can't even tell you.
42:35Like, everything you guys are talking about is really, like, hitting different points of
42:40my heart right now.
42:41And what you said about going out of that sort of comfort zone or, like, the zone, I really
42:48needed to hear that because I've been trying to write something for a while, and I kind
42:52of put it away.
42:53It's not really a comedy, and I think I've been practicing how I talk to people about
43:01it in a defensive way to say it's not a comedy, but wait, just listen.
43:05It might be cool.
43:06I think because I'm writing it sort of on my own, and all of the stuff I've written
43:13has been a comedy, and people expect that from me.
43:17I'm already putting that thing in front of me of, like, are you sure you want to do this?
43:21Like, you don't really know how to do this.
43:22And I've been stuck with it for, like, months and months, and it's been kind of driving me
43:27crazy, and, like, I believe in these little moments in the universe where people connect
43:32with you, and I'm, like, I don't know.
43:34It just feels very, like, I have to figure out what my voice is and just put it out there
43:40and not worry about that stuff because the categorizing, I think, of things that we've
43:45all done, I didn't quite realize was such a blanket, and, you know, I think it's so
43:54funny because people sometimes are like, you know, you can't do this.
44:01Even if they don't say it out loud, it's, like, assumed.
44:03Sometimes I feel like if you haven't done drama, they make it seem like comedy is harder.
44:07And if you haven't done comedy, they make it seem like, I mean, if you have done comedy,
44:11they make it seem like drama is hard.
44:12Whatever it is, they constantly do that.
44:14And I just think it's bullshit.
44:17It is.
44:18It's totally bullshit, and it is so exciting for me to hear you say at this table that
44:25you are about to write something.
44:27Well, it's scary.
44:28I mean, even you said Dune.
44:29I was like, that's literally visually sort of this thing in my head, and it might be a
44:35little comedic, but the self-talk around it of, like, how do I explain to people, are
44:41they even going to say yes?
44:43Because I've done things that are dramatic on the page that I thought were going to be
44:47dramatic, and then you get there, and they're like, you're going to provide a little bit.
44:50And I'm like, but this is dramatic.
44:52And I've done dramatic scenes, and I've been in a screening where I do something, and then
44:56people laugh.
44:57And I'm like, no, it wasn't.
45:00You know what I mean?
45:00So I don't know.
45:03I tried not to think about what I was going to say and just talk.
45:08I'm so excited.
45:09I also just want to say, and I said this to you upstairs, watching you do Aunt Linda at
45:15table, okay?
45:16Yeah.
45:17We have tons and tons and tons of hosts at SNL.
45:19Everyone's wonderful.
45:20Everybody's incredible.
45:21So watching you do that at table, and I sit four seats away, four or five seats, I was
45:27like, this is an artiste.
45:30Yes.
45:30Yes.
45:30What made it so fantastic to me was the nuance in the performance, which comes from, I'm
45:35an artist first, right?
45:37Yes.
45:37And not that you need to hear it from me, but I should tell you, because I'm like, I was
45:41gushing to one of the producers.
45:42I was gushing to Heidi.
45:43I was just like, I feel like I learned something, and that is a person who is not just, I'm silly,
45:50I'm going to do hijinks and make you laugh.
45:51I was like, what made that so incredible to watch was like, you were acting.
45:55Like, yes, what you were saying was funny, but I was like, I know this woman.
46:01And we read 40 sketches at our table.
46:03I've been there for six seasons and seen tons of hosts.
46:07Everybody's phenomenal.
46:08But I just remember that performance.
46:10I'm like, you can do anything.
46:11At the same thing.
46:12It's the comedy table.
46:13Can we talk about how if you make someone laugh, all of a sudden, all the rest of the
46:19stuff, all the groundwork you put under is removed.
46:21But also, getting back to the, tomorrow is not promised, and I love that every day
46:26feels different.
46:28Like, this is, but this is what I'm talking, it's so amazing to be in this career and still
46:34feel crazy and nervous and anxious about something.
46:37I know you do a lot.
46:38Yeah, but that's like, but isn't that like the part?
46:40That's a great place.
46:42That's a place you don't wish it on yourself, but that's always a great motivational space.
46:47It's exciting, but I think, though, I'm excited to see what everyone at this table is going
46:53to not be afraid to do.
46:55Well, all five of these people are going to be in your movie, which is what they're going
47:00to do.
47:01We're going to end on a more of a lightning round.
47:04You've had a long day of work.
47:06What do you turn on your TV?
47:08Bravo.
47:09I'm not ashamed.
47:10You're a Real Housewives girl, right?
47:11Yeah.
47:12Bob's Burgers.
47:13Only Murders in the Building.
47:16Queer Eye.
47:17Yes.
47:18I watch that with my girls.
47:19You know what?
47:20Honestly, it's something I've never done in my entire life.
47:22I'm doing now.
47:23It's just so pathetic that I'm saying this, but I turn on Girls 5, Abba.
47:26You do?
47:27I do not watch myself.
47:30I do not watch, but I literally turn it on.
47:33That was a good old binge for me.
47:34That was a good binge.
47:35Because I didn't realize until season three that it exists for me.
47:41Yeah.
47:41Only because I have been sitting there doing that show all this time and still I come home
47:47and I question my ability to dream this ambitiously at my age.
47:52I mean, I'm doing the show about these women who are absurdly dreaming about getting back
48:00to be pop music stars after 20 years later.
48:03And they are ridiculous.
48:05That is there so that I remember I'm allowed to still dream.
48:09Yeah.
48:09You can be 50 and dream.
48:11Don't let the world tell you that it is absurd to do something new.
48:17Whatever.
48:17Who cares?
48:19Yeah.
48:19That song at the end that, what's her name song?
48:22Which one?
48:22What's her name on the show?
48:23I do get my wife.
48:24Sarah Bareilles?
48:25Yeah.
48:25She is.
48:27That song made me cry.
48:29Medium time?
48:30Yeah.
48:30I was on medium time.
48:31Sarah's voice makes me cry.
48:33Woo.
48:35Really got me.
48:35It's about medium time.
48:36Can we just say how great it is?
48:38It really was just this idea that there is a level of fame that's right in the middle.
48:44Maybe nobody knows who you are, but you got a job.
48:46Yeah.
48:46That actually has value and worth and don't let anybody tell you it doesn't matter.
48:50I mean, how beautiful is that?
48:52It's pretty great.
48:53All right.
48:53So what was the first thing when you get your first real paycheck?
48:56What's the first splurge?
48:58Crab Lake dinner.
48:59I took all my friends to a Crab Lake dinner the first time.
49:03All of my friends from Philly who all of us were broke, dead broke.
49:07Like bananas and cup of noodles every day for lunch, dinner, breakfast, whatever.
49:12And I took them all out to a Crab Lake dinner.
49:14And I still like to do that.
49:16Yeah.
49:16That's cool.
49:17That's beautiful.
49:18The money was spent.
49:19Okay.
49:20The money was spent.
49:22That's so funny.
49:23Actually, I upgraded from an HMO to a PPO.
49:26Yeah.
49:26Okay.
49:27You guys have more.
49:28Yeah.
49:28And I bought some hair.
49:33This is who I am now.
49:34I get mine back.
49:36I don't buy mine.
49:36I get it back.
49:37I don't need that shiny shirt from Amazon.
49:39I get that Indian.
49:40I get it.
49:42That's good.
49:42I get it.
49:43I marched myself into Tiffany's when I got the job at SNL.
49:50And Emily Spivey told me to.
49:51And I bought myself some gold bang gold.
49:54Yes.
49:55I love that.
49:57See, I bought gold jewelry too, but it was from Mejory.
49:59Because I was still scared.
50:00Yes.
50:01Yes.
50:02I was like, we don't need to.
50:03I had to have a friend tell me to do it.
50:05I was scared too.
50:06I was scared.
50:06Thinest little gold ring.
50:08I love that.
50:09Thinest gold ring.
50:10I can wash my hands now, put lotion on.
50:14This was a long time ago.
50:16Gold has really raised up significantly in value.
50:21Do you remember what this was?
50:22I don't remember.
50:24I don't think I did anything.
50:26I don't.
50:26That's okay.
50:27That's so, so sad.
50:28You still can.
50:29It's not too late.
50:29It's not too late.
50:31Go buy your gold earrings.
50:32I think you should buy that island.
50:36Think about it.
50:37I bought a little island because I was scared.
50:38I bought a little one.
50:40No one's on time.
50:41Yes.
50:41Next to Lenny Kravitz.
50:43We lift weights and leather pants.
50:44This is really fun.
50:47All right.
50:47What's the most used emoji on your phone?
50:50This one.
50:50Oh, no.
50:51Oh, really?
50:52You have everything.
50:53I do.
50:53I got this one.
50:55Oh, this one.
50:55Yeah.
50:56Mine's the laughing so hard I'm crying, so it's like side.
50:59Side, yeah.
51:00Oh, mine is the melting smiley face.
51:03Yeah.
51:03Because that is me.
51:04This is so, yeah.
51:05It is really good feeling.
51:06Yeah, this is.
51:07Mine's the yellow heart or the eww.
51:10I love that guy.
51:11That's how you do it.
51:12I love the yellow heart.
51:13I love the yellow heart.
51:13That was created based off of you doing it.
51:16It was pretty good.
51:17When my dad first started texting, he didn't know.
51:21He thought that was a smile, so he would text me and be like, hi, I love you.
51:26I was like, are you okay?
51:29Oh, my gosh.
51:30My aunt used to write LOL because she thought it meant lots of love.
51:33Lots of love.
51:33Oh, my uncle told him.
51:35Maybe he does.
51:37Wait, why did she?
51:38Do you have the same uncle?
51:39I thought it was lots of love.
51:41Oh, my goodness.
51:42Maybe you're my aunt.
51:44It's not.
51:45No.
51:46Mine is upside down smiley face or the.
51:49Wait, what's upside down smiley face?
51:52And then praying hands is up there somewhere.
51:53Yeah, yeah, yeah.
51:54Let's chat.
51:55In honor of Girls5eva, what would you each name your girl group?
51:58Oh.
51:59Maybe trans-for-mation?
52:01Yes!
52:01Yes!
52:02Yes!
52:03Yes!
52:03Yes!
52:04Yes!
52:04Yes!
52:05Yes!
52:05Yes!
52:06Yes!
52:06Yes!
52:07Yes!
52:07Yes!
52:08Wow!
52:08I can't do that!
52:09Wow!
52:10Yes!
52:10Yes!
52:11Yes!
52:11Yes!
52:12Oh!
52:12Oh!
52:13Oh!
52:13Oh, my God!
52:15You really?
52:15I'm sorry.
52:16Trans-for-five!
52:17Oh, my God!
52:18Trans-for-five!
52:19Wow!
52:19It's actually six, but.
52:21But that's how it works.
52:22It's not how it works.
52:23Yeah.
52:23I'm sorry.
52:24Trans-six-formation sounds.
52:25Yeah.
52:26No.
52:26We still go with four.
52:27We'll talk.
52:27We'll circle back.
52:28Oh.
52:29We can workshop it.
52:30Wait.
52:30You didn't ask me what I wanted to do.
52:32Next.
52:32I know.
52:33I was going to say.
52:34I want to do Broadway.
52:36Oh, my God.
52:36Yes, you do.
52:38What?
52:38I'm looking right at you.
52:40Oh, my God.
52:40I saw you on Broadway.
52:42I saw you on Broadway.
52:44Yeah.
52:45Sometimes when you see people on stage, you're like, I want, I want, I want to be that.
52:50I want to do that.
52:51I want to be her.
52:52Know her.
52:53That's what it was.
52:54Wow.
52:55Wow.
52:56The greatest thing ever about having done it is like, especially Hamilton, because everybody,
52:59all your heroes came to see it.
53:00Yeah.
53:01It's like the most amazing people in the world would say, I really want to do that.
53:04Yes.
53:05Yeah.
53:06But it seems so scary.
53:07It's so scary.
53:08Can I tell you how much scarier SNL is?
53:11Well, that's what they think.
53:12Right?
53:13Can I tell you how much scarier it is to do what you guys are doing, which is starring
53:18and writing and writing?
53:19It's so scary.
53:20Like, I guess that's what's so beautiful about what you said, is that you just need
53:23to know that whatever is scary, you've already been, you've already trained for it.
53:28Yeah.
53:29And you just don't know it.
53:30And I'm super excited.
53:31I mean, if you just have the bravery to say out loud you want to do it, it's done.
53:33Yeah.
53:34Do you know how many people are going to be calling it?
53:36I know.
53:37I'm like, watch out!
53:38I'm like, chocolate hasn't happened yet.
53:39Yeah.
53:40Honestly.
53:41Because she hasn't said it out loud probably.
53:42Yeah, yeah.
53:43And everyone here is so dynamic.
53:44Watch out!
53:45She knows.
53:46She did a commercial.
53:47I was like, I don't know.
53:48Yes, bitch!
53:49Yes, bitch!
53:50You better do it.
53:51And then, for you, okay, so The Circle was my pandemic show.
53:54Oh my goodness.
53:55Hey!
53:56And my sister's like, the girl who hosts this, like, she's mad fun.
53:59Yeah.
54:00And I'm like, that's Michelle.
54:01But she didn't know.
54:02So, whatever.
54:03I'm saying all this to say, all of you, I think, are the most dynamic women, and you
54:07can do whatever you want.
54:08And I know we're all comedy girls, and you make people laugh, and they forget about how
54:12like, dynamic you actually are.
54:13Mm-hmm.
54:14But look at, like, what?
54:15Like what?
54:16Like what?
54:17Like what?
54:18Like what?
54:19Like what?
54:20But I always go the way, every time I meet people that I'm just kind of enamored with,
54:23they're always better in person.
54:25I love it.
54:26And on that, thank you all for doing this.
54:28Should we do one last cheers?
54:29Yes.
54:31Transformation.
54:32It's a better choice than you!
54:37Very good.
54:38Cheers.
54:39You should be a writer.
54:40Oh, I'll try go.
54:41Yum.
54:44I gotta say, as an actress and stand-up comic, I felt right at home with these insightful,
54:51funny, supportive, and even, dare I say, dramatic women.
54:55You know what we call that in Hollywood?
54:57Fringe.
54:58Well, until the next time, I'm Ivana Orji, and this is Off Script with A Hollywood Reporter.
55:03I'll see you next time.
55:04Bye.
55:05Bye.
55:06Bye.
55:07Bye.
55:08Bye.
55:09Bye.
55:10Bye.
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