Are You A Charlotte? - Lexi is as unforgettable as 3rd Rock from the Sun with Kristen Johnston.

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

Are You a Lexi? Two-time Emmy winner Kristen Johnston joins Kristin Davis for a deep dive into all things Lexi! Find out why this was the role for her, even after she’d been offered numerous other roles. And party girls, keep those windows closed! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I survived nine months in captivity, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are the Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality,

Welcome home. Pro Society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island to serve the same level of discourse. Each week, we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and pop culture with your favorite writers, book talk creators, and plenty of overthought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. Listen to Pro Society on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Did you hear the new episode of The Hey Jonas Podcast? We are at D23, so we'll see who stopped by. The cast of Frozen stopped by.

Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Adina Mansell. I auditioned for Frozen. What? For Christoph. They said, okay, what are you going to be singing today? I said, I don't know. That must have been why you didn't get it. That's probably one.

Plus, John Stamos, Hayden Christensen from Star Wars and more. And I guess I can share that... No way. Listen to the latest episode of Hey Jonas on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi. Davis and I want to know, are you a Charlotte? We have the incredible Kristen Johnston here, you guys.

I'm very, very excited to see you. Me too. Oh, thank you. It's wonderful to see your success and you're on this new show, Leanne. I know, I know. Which is incredible. Thank you. I'm excited about it.

And we were just talking about the craziness of our business. Yes. And God knows you've seen a lot. You've been around. And you too. Me too. I know. And I love it.

I love it. I know. I do too. And also, I think, though, it is a weird time to be an actress like us. Like, the fact that we still work is like a miracle to me. Beyond. You're incredibly lucky. Beyond.

I mean, for me, I'm not on a show, right? So I'm always like, why? I don't know. What's happening? Yeah. But, you know, you've had an insane amount of success and more will come. But it's just an amazing miracle when you're in your 50s and you can, or 60s or whatever. Yeah.

And you, like, every time I drive onto the Warner Brothers lot, I'm like, thank you. so much. Definitely. I'm so happy to turn there. Like it's wonderful that A, you film in L.A. Yes. B, you're on the lot. Yes. The most beautiful and wonderful lot. I know. I love it. And whoever gets to keep it. Yeah. Please honor it. Yeah. Yeah. This is what we say whenever we bring it up because it's special to us. No, exactly. And also it is, you know, it's just a history. And when you, you are allowed to work. Yeah. Right now. Especially right now. Yeah. It's just an incredible feeling. It is so grateful. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely.

I'm just so happy too because this show is created by Leanne, who's a stand-up comic, who's not 20 or 30 yourself. No, no. She, it's her whole thing is that, I know, huge success in her 50s. She just turned 60s. So, yeah, it's amazing. Yeah. And also Celia Weston, incredible.

A gem. Have you ever worked with her? No, I'm just a huge fan. She's amazing. And, you know, this season is a lot of her. I mean, her character, it's a lot of focus on her. the father and me and Leanne, you know, figuring out how to deal with aging parents, which is, I think a lot of people are going to really love it.

I mean, yes, yes. And we found our groove. Like the first season, you remember from Sex and the City, like it's all like everyone's figuring out what works. Right. You know, how should we write for this one and that one? So now I think it's kind of all come together. Love that.

Yeah. I love that, especially because now shows series are very few and far between. And having Chuck Lurie, who obviously has so much experience and is so knowledgeable, like Michael Patrick, like they're the top of the field. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he knows comedy, which is so rare. Yes. So rare. But having them and having their commitment and like it takes them kind of like, oh, we have to feel it out.

Yeah. And being a part of that coming together is so amazing. Yes. And I feel like there's not that many circumstances where that gets to happen these days. No, exactly. Especially for sitcoms. some reason, all the ones I've been on, all the ones I've watched, it takes like a season for you to figure out if it's going to work or not.

100%. And so the first like six episodes of the first season, for me, were kind of horrifying for my work because I was still figuring it out. And she was figuring out how to do it. I mean, she had never acted before. So it was kind of helping each other out. And thank God, we had this crew and this writing crew, all people who worked together for me. million years. I mean, Chuck has the best of the best. It really does. Nice. So yeah. Yeah. I'm so happy for you. Thank you. All right. Let's think a little bit about, I mean, there's so many things I want to talk to you about. I was, when you were coming, I was like, I'm so excited she's coming because one of the things I remember the most about you. First of all, I remember third rock from the sun a lot.

And I'm old, obviously. But like, you know, for us, like, you know, we were back. It was, you know, the 90s, right? And it was a different time, a different place, a different world. Yeah. We were all in it and we're all still here, which is amazing. It is. Many experiences in the middle of it all. One of which that I think about a lot is when you did the women with Cynthia. Well, that's where I really met you. Yes.

Yes. Because I wasn't there on the day of Lexie Featherston. Oh, that's true. I remember that. Yes. I was not at that event, unfortunately. She and I were very close on that play because we shared a dress room, which if you remember. Yes.

Oh, my God. On top of each other. Yes. But she's also somebody, you know. know, she is a legend. Like, she's a real legend. She's a real New York legend. Like her, her acting, her, the theater she's done, her list is way beyond ours.

Like, she's amazing. Yes. I saw her on Broadway when she was doing hurly burly. Oh, yes, I did too. I was so jealous. I wanted to kill her. All of us, right? All of us, we were young.

Yes. I mean, we were like, how is this young lady doing this? I know. Could not believe it. So. And then years later, she did one of the most, like, moving things that I've ever experienced, which was I was in this play called the Baltimore Wall. So this was after we had done the women together. Got it.

And we were a huge hit before we opened. And then we opened and it's a really hard play. It's like a sister losing her brother to AIDS. And it's beautiful. And Paula Vogel wrote it. Anyway. And overnight, because of this bad review, we were a bomb. And we had the day after opening night, we had 10 people in the audience.

And it went from a sold out, you know, no one could get in. Awful. And it was horrible and broke my heart. But I looked down in the audience, a lot of my character had to do monologues. And Cynthia and her partner were in the front row, like rooting us on and loving it and crying and standing, oh, like alone. You know, and I just went, you know, that kind of actress, they're so rare. That's true. She's just amazing.

I'll never forget it. It meant so much to me. That's so nice. She is like a very, you know, she's very smart and she's very opinionated, right? But if she feels like there's something where, and she also knows everything about theater. Yeah, she really does. I mean, she goes to the theater every night. I know she does.

It's insane. And before Christine, she went with her mom while Anne was still alive. And I just remember being like, because we would be working. And if she could get out, she'd go. And I'd be like, I'm going to fall asleep. Yeah, I know. Come with me. I'm going to pass out.

I know. Like, how do you do it? Yeah, see, I love theater, but in smaller doses than that. I can't do a play every night. But she came and saw before we worked together, she saw this play. I did Shakespeare in the Park. And we did, oh, God, Sabina. What's the play?

I can't even think of it. Skin of our teeth. Yes, and I feel like I saw it. Probably. I don't know. It was one of my first shows. Shakespeare in the park. Me too.

I did three of them. It was the best. Incredibly magical. If anyone listening gets the experience to go to York in the summer and can stand in line. And tickets are free. You've got to stand in line, but so does everybody. So dreamy. It's so dreaming.

Oh, my God. It's magical. But we did this show, and she came with her mom and came up to me on the street like four years later, and she was like, you are the definitive Sabina. This part that's been played by a million brilliant actresses. That's amazing. kind of person. She really is. She's so great. So how did you ever meet her the first time? Do you remember? I think it was that. She came up to me on the street after seeing the skin of our teeth.

You didn't know her. I did not know. I mean, I knew who she was. Right, right, right. But yeah. No, it meant a lot. Cool. That's amazing. I know. So, this is a little bit out of order, but just in the, so you have this incredible career for so long. Yeah. And how did you come to be on our show? Okay. It's a funny story. No, they called me, you know, I know Sarah and I know the whole crowd, your whole crowd over there, those girls. Right. And Michael. I know him a little bit.

And so... Did you know him from L.A. sitcom writing or stand up? Maybe dinner parties. I don't remember, but I met him. And anyway, so they approached me about like five different times. Wow. And I was doing Third Rock at the time so I could never do it.

And then finally the show was wrapping up. It was ending. Yes. And he was like, we have one more idea for you. And I was like, I'm in. And yeah, so that's how it happened. Wow. I was going to play like, I think the Tatum O'Neill part at one point.

And then the Jennifer Coolidge part at one time. No way. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh. And so I ended up doing Lexi. Wow. I mean, and Lexi, wow. I know.

She made it a, she made a mark. She really did. She made a big mark. I mean, it was sad and dark. I know. I know. I know. I know.

That's honestly, it's the thing I'm most recognized by. No way. Yeah. On the street. Uh-huh. Are you kidding me? No. From everything you've ever done.

From everything I've ever done. Wow. Wow. thing. It's very, I mean, it lives in meme world, obviously. Yeah. It's perfect. It's so perfect.

Because of also what you're saying. I think everyone knows like that you are kind of, you're symbolizing the death of like fun New York, which at the time we felt, which is also kind of funny many, many years later. Like, why did we think that? Like it's funny and interesting. Yeah. When I watched that episode, what I think of is that we are ending the show and we are having all these feelings. Yes.

Do you know what I mean? Yes. And because the last two episodes are in Paris. Yes, that was the last New York episode. Exactly. For me, that is like the last episode. Yeah, yeah. Because the Paris thing is kind of like a little movie.

Yes, you're right. You know? And we don't go. Yes. So like it has a darkness to that whole episode. Yeah. And you symbolize the darkness and the crazy. The death of the show and the little while and the death of New York.

Yes. But it's funny because even during that time, I didn't think New York was over. Me neither. But it kind of was. I know in a way. They foreshadowed it. Yeah, an era. I know.

It was an era ending. You might be right. You might be right. Now, can I ask a personal question and you don't have to answer? I mean, I'm on your podcast, babe. Go for it. So were you sober yet? No.

Wow. No. I was a hot mess in real life too. Yeah. I wasn't high on the show. Got it. I mean. It wasn't that bad.

But yes. I was partying during that time. Oh my God. And what was your thought about playing this kind of washed up party girl? Listen, when you're an addict, you're so in denial. I'm sure I was like, oh. Yeah, let me try to get this girl. And meanwhile, look in the mirror.

No way. She lived in me. Wow. Yeah, yeah. Of course, I had no idea it was going to become this crazy thing. I mean, we can't even believe that we're still discussed. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

We would never have seen that at the time. That's true. Even though we were hugely successful in a wonderful way, obviously, that we never expected even that success. Yeah, yeah. saying. But the fact that almost 30 years later, I'm doing a podcast where we discuss it and all these young, young ladies. The focus of the podcast is this show. It's amazing. It's nuts. Like the zeitgeist it had. And has. Like the weirdness. And I do think that the writing is the key to all of it because the themes of the episodes hold up now to young women in their 20s can look at the episodes.

Oh my God. Now, listen, visiting New York now, everyone thinks they're Carrie Bradshaw. I mean, I mean, it's kind of a nightmare. I was at some... Oh, the village is unrecognizable. Oh, my God. It was some... It's beyond. Yeah, crazy.

Right? And all the girls like in their heels and their Valenciac. I mean, the girls have taken over the village. They really have influencers eating. Oh, everywhere. Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy. I rented an Airbnb for the last season of, and just like that.

Oh, I love that idea, by the way. You mean as your dressing room? No. Oh. Because I live here, right? So we were working. So I got one in the village. Oh, I was going to say, why don't we do Airbnbs for dressing rooms?

But anyway, that could be a different topic. It could be better. It could be better for sure. But we were, I wanted my kids to experience the village because, of course, in our minds. Yeah, it's still that. Like, I remember going to Rutgers and we would take the train in for the weekend to go to see the shows and walk around the village and we would go to village cigars and buy French cigarettes and sit on people stoop, and smoke them in the 80s. Yes. I mean, so many things, right?

So like in my mind, the village. has a history to it and is a special place, obviously. It's crazy. It's crazy. I didn't understand that I couldn't open my door. Yeah, yeah. Like, I would open my door in my pajamas to get a delivery. And they'd be like, oh, my God.

And they're like, oh. No, I mean, when you guys were shooting the first incarnation of sex and the scene, like, I lived in the West Village and we would see Sarah shooting, you guys walking down the street. Right. And it was just like, whatever. Totally. And we had, like, one light and a handheld camera.

So also production-wise, we were very lo-fi, which was wonderful, you know, in the olden days. Right. Yeah, but no, there wasn't, in the beginning, there was no attention. And then as time went on, eventually there was attention, but nothing like now. Yeah, no, it's crazy now. Because now it's more like an idea. Yes. Yes, people take it very seriously.

Definitely. Way more seriously than I think we did at the time. Oh, of course. We had no idea. And I mean, when I look back on it, and I, I understand why we ended the show. I didn't really want to end the show. You know, I'm like the one who would have stayed forever, right?

Yeah. But it is also funny to think like, oh, we just voluntarily were like, let's end. Yeah. Like, why? Yeah, yeah. Like, we're so dumb. Yeah. In a way.

But, I mean, it is very hard. Yeah. You couldn't, I don't know if you could keep that going. I think you're right. I think you're right. The way to end it, I don't know, it was kind of perfect, wrapped up in a bow and kind of, I loved that. Do you think? Oh, yeah.

I love it. I mean, I do think it have. allowed us to then do the movie whereas we kept going. And then do the following series. You know, it's so funny because this podcast, the title and people are always like, you know, are you this? I've told this story before, but

so many people have reached out to me saying I'm alexi. All my friends want to know and they're like, I'm Alexi. What? And I just want to say oh my God. Yeah. You poor thing. But they say like a badge of honor. Wow. I'm like, okay. Yeah, I cannot tell you how many people have said that

to me. That's interesting. Yes. What do you say as a now sober person by that? Oh, you know, I just think it's funny and like, may God help you, my darling. I mean, yeah. Sometimes I worry. But somebody having that kind of self-knowledge, I do love it too. I respect it.

No, that's true. And I respect that too. I mean, it's, you know, people obviously tell me all the different things that they are or whatever. Yeah. Or want to be sometimes. Yes. And I mean, it is, of course, very flattering at all that they would, you know, whatever. And I do think self, you know,

introspection about who you are, what you are is good. But the thing that worries me. Yeah. And this did worry me as another sober person. Yeah. About on the show, you know, obviously our characters drank a lot because we were playing these, you know, people based on real people and that was the world they lived in. And there's one point where either Newsweek or Time did an article about young women drinking.

And they put us on the cover and I was like so mortified, right? As a sober person. Yes. Yeah. Very awkward. Yes. Because, yes, my character drinks a lot, but I don't. And you show up at meetings?

Yeah. I mean, I'm not really a big meeting person because I was so young when I quit. Yeah, yeah. I went to a meeting in New Brunswick because I was in school. The whole time I was in college, I was trying to quit, which was hard to do. Yeah, that's really hard. It's trying to quit. Right?

That's amazing. At one point, thank you. At one point, I went to a meeting in New Brunswick, and it was literally heroin addicts. Like, it was very hard to the point where I was like, ah, what am I doing here? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, I just couldn't, I couldn't find a way to be there at that point in life, right? And I had this incredible therapist that I went too many times a week who really helped me stop. And then I had a boyfriend who was sober.

Oh, so you didn't go to, like, rehab or anything. No, no. I didn't go to rehab because I... That's so hard at that age especially. Really hard, I know. But that's how bad it was that I knew I had to stop. Yeah. I'm saying I knew inside me if I didn't stop, it was going to end really, really badly.

Yeah, I took a lot longer. Did you? Yeah. But you were successful. See, if I'd already been successful, I wouldn't have had the inspiration to stop. So you were trying to stop so you could have a career in a life. Yes. Yes.

And that's the only reason that I, that was the only thing that was more interesting to me than drinking was acting. Yes. But if I had somehow been able to do both. Right. Why stop? I mean, there really is nothing like fame and disposable income when you have that addiction gene. It is brutal. But yeah, I know a lot of people

stopped really young. And my God, their lives are great. I mean, it's really admirable. It is a lot of energy, right? Like you put a lot of energy into your addiction. And then if you can take that energy, put it into your career and or regular life. Yeah.

But I just have to bring this up because it's really on my mind. Did you see this thing about Brad Pitt starting to drink again? Yes, I did. I've known a lot of people who've done that. Yeah. Negotiated that way. Me too. And it never, in my experience, it has never ended.

anywhere but like kneeling begging for death. I mean, it's never been a success. Well, the thing is that I think that is upsetting a little bit is when you start telling people, you're kind of sober, but you do that. And it's like, so I'm just worried about the amount of people that read that and went, oh, me too. Maybe I can have a beer. No.

Because, you know, it was fun. I know. When we could control it, which was the first month or whatever. I know. Yeah. But it never ends a different way. It doesn't. It really doesn't.

That I've seen. I know. It scares me. Then people are like, oh, my uncle, you know, was sober and now he drinks a beer. But I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I haven't either. I don't know.

The only thing I've met is people in our industry who are successful, who say to me, you know, sometimes I think I might be an alcoholic. Yeah, yeah. Now I look back on this. Right? All the time. Right? Yeah.

And I'm always like, okay. let's have this conversation. Why do you think that? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And they're like, oh, but then I can do, you know, there's a lot of negotiating within that conversation. Those people end up being alcoholics. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Or sex addicts or some version, right? Well, look, as I said, I wrote this book about my recovery, my addiction and recovery. Yeah. And I say, look, we're all addicted to something. Every single person. Yeah. Whether it's shopping or tanning or cigarettes or, you know, whatever it is.

Food. Food is a big one. But you know what I mean? It varies. There's a huge, you know, world of it. So if you could figure out your way, I mean, I don't know. I don't see a happy ending for that. I mean, the thing that also made me think of it is that when you have had a lot of success and been able to do both, it makes it harder, I think, to quit. Oh, for sure. Because the key to it is humility. I mean, that really is the key to getting sober, I think. Yeah. You know, going to the heroin addict meeting that you don't necessarily feel at home.

man, going to a rehab that is full of, like, for my, in my situation, I went with a bunch of kids from the streets, you know, I was the oldest person there. Wow. You know, so I think that's important. I think it's important, you know, to be able to, like, just be humbled and be like, I am the same as everybody else. Definitely. So when you start as an elitist, you know, or an elite person, where you can afford promises

and you can afford all this gorgeous private treatment. treatment. I think one of the key elements to getting sober is lost. You know. It's a good point. You know, I think you really do need to hunker down and sit in the gross meeting that you feel weird at. Right. That's a good point. Yeah. The new Red Bull Dragonberry and Tropic Berry Energizers now at McDonald's, made with freeze dried fruit and an electric burst of flavor. The all new Red Bull Energizers now at McDonald's. This product may not be right for you. High in caffeine, details at McDonald's.ca.

At participating Canadian restaurants, excluding Quebec. When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are the survivor files. I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up, without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed, and I just started screaming.

They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. There's stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Prose Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsesives, and anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo, and every week we're connecting the dots. between books, the internet, and the conversations everyone can't stop having.

I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. From best-selling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, and that is a Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much,

you're in the right place. Listen to Pro Society on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages. On the new podcast, Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle.

I chose option B. I'm Julie Pinero, and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people, and they were like,

you smiled at us, not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind, or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I mean, for me, it was all different because also it was 8 million years ago, right? Like, it was the 80s. So I didn't know anyone in AA. I didn't know anyone to be telling me things like what you're saying, right? So I was just like lost like, I don't know how to do this. And that's what was so great about finding this therapist because he was able to help me deal with my own personal issues, right, that were leading me to be wanting to drink so much because I had started at 11, right? So, like, really young. And I don't know my biological father, but it seemed like his family had it, right?

So I had the gene. Right. But I didn't know the gene. I wasn't around anyone with the gene. Well, I was around other friends who seemed to have the gene. Right. In high school. They hadn't navigated the gene yet.

Exactly. Right. But like my parents weren't drinking is all I'm trying to say. It wasn't like it was at home. I don't come from a family. My mom and my dad, I don't think, had that issue. Right. It's interesting.

I think it does pop up sometimes. It does. It does pop up. But for me, I absolutely believe in it. Like, I 100% believe that if you. Genetic. Yes. Yeah, I agree. And, I mean, our genes are so complex and they just keep discovering more and more

things about them about disease relationship to them or eating or the different things. And, you know, why? not believe that and believe like I need to take that seriously. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a real thing that I need to take seriously. I need to not look at whoever it is because I've had so many people over time. Be like, just have one glass of champagne. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, totally. No. Yeah. Yeah. No. Take it away. It's poison to me. Hold it. I mean, that's what I try telling people.

Yeah, that's good. I'm allergic to it. I really am. Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Because there was that whole time, I want to say in the 90s or maybe the 2000s like California. sober. Yeah, that was like two in the last 20 years. Yeah. Yeah. I do remember that. And that's kind of,

I think, what he's doing. That's what it seems like, right? Yeah. Yeah. It's so hard, though, because look, I don't want to judge anybody else's. I am one of those firm believers that I don't believe you have to go to 12 step. I think it works really well for a lot of people, but it's not the only answer. And as I wrote in my book, you know, I asked this guy, this is when I was pretending to be normal. And I was at this like, you know, Hollywood party. And I was taught, it was an addiction specialist. I was sitting next to. Okay. Yeah. So I was like, you know, trying to ask him questions as a normal person as I, you know, had my two sips of my white wine, because that's how normal people drink. Anyway, so I asked him, I was like, so what is the best way to get sober? And he said, you know, there are so many different ways, but basically if pushing a peanut up a hill

keeps you sober, then push a peanut up the hill with your nose. You know what I mean? Like whatever works for you. Totally. So that's why I feel bad because I don't want to judge him. We're talking about Brad Pitt. I really don't because that may work for him. It brought up a topic that a lot of people feel very passionately about. It's true.

And I feel like that is good, right? But the thing that is scary is for people, maybe young people or people who aren't sure. Just to say like you're here, thank the Lord. Right. No, by the hair on my chin. Yeah. And I'm here, very different scenario. And, you know, by the time I did get to New York in the 80s, for God's sake, it was a good thing that I was sober.

Oh, my God. And I had to really avoid a lot. Like, at that point, it was wild there. That was when I was a waitressing and stuff. And, oh, my God. The Coke off the tables, right? Like late at night. Totally out in the open.

Right. Keys. I mean, it was crazy. It was a lot. I was waitressing as well. Yeah. Oh, my God. You poor.

Yeah. But you know what? It was okay. It was okay. Because, like, I could see it. You know, like, at one point, I had, I was living in Hoboken and there was like this, I think it was called the River Cafe, but not the famous one. Like, right when you got off the Hoboken.

Oh, I know which one you're talking about? You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, yeah. All the yuppie guys, the, you know, finance bros at the time would come there and they would drink a lot, you know, and they would start out in their suits and they'd be like, oh, they're so handsome. They're so shiny. And then they'd just be sloppy drunk.

And I would be like, thank God, I'm not doing it. doing that. Totally. And also, thank God, I got sober before cell phones and stuff. I mean, I would have been, oh, it would have been horrible. Thank God, none of my behavior was caught on film. Oh, God, yeah. Oh, totally.

I'm so grateful to that. We did have a whole life that we could just do kind of. Oh, whatever one wanted. And no one had to worry about it. So it's kind of great now. I mean, your behavior has to be a little more quiet. That's true. Or you will get publicly shamed.

Yes. That's true. That's true. But I do feel like people get away with a lot still. Yeah, they do. Yeah. But you know that when you were talking about all those bros being all shiny and new, the thing that when I got sober is when you are at a part, like I can't go to parties. I mean, I can stay for like an hour. Yeah.

But after a while, and it's not like I'm troubled by drinking. I don't care. I totally can hang out with people drinking. But it's just, it gets so messy. Yes. So fast. Oh my God. And so boring.

I know. That was what shocked me. I was like, was I this boring. Yes, the answer is yes. The answer is yes. Not you in particular. You're what I'm saying? But I mean, for sure.

Drinking is not like, like my kids are just like, because there's no alcohol in our house and they think that's how everyone is, right? So my daughter just turned 15. I'm kind of trying to educate now like, you know, I'm unusual and that I've been sober a very long time and this is how we live. And they're like, you mean people drink? And I'm like, people drink. Okay, guys.

They're like, alcohol? I'm like, yes, it's the cutest thing. They're also like, but people smoke cigarettes. Right. And I'm like, yes, like one time they were like, Mommy, look in the car. Someone smoking a cigarette. I'm like, yes. Oh, I wish they could always remain that innocent.

Oh, my God. It's so dreaming and adorable. But my parents didn't drink around me and look how I turned out. So you never know. You don't know. I don't want to cause fear. No, no, of course. I mean, look, I'm always, I mean, my thing that I deal with now,

because my daughter just turned 15, she's really. really amazing and kind of shy and everything. But, you know, she is going to go out in the world at some point. And I want her to feel like she could have a drink and the world's not going to fall down. Right? Yeah. Like, you know, I'm trying to find a happy medium somehow. Yeah, exactly.

No, it's so hard. I can't imagine that. I don't want alcohol to come in the house either. But you don't want to be super strict where they want to rebel. We're just going to go the other way. Absolutely. And I mean, there's going to be some rebellion at some point. So I try to just prepare myself for that, right?

The new Red Bull Dragonberry and Tropicberry Energizers, now at McDonald's, made with freeze-dried fruit and an electric burst of flavor. The all-new Red Bull Energizers, now at McDonald's. This product may not be right for you. High in caffeine, details of McDonald's.cai at participating Canadian restaurants excluding Quebec. When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived, and I've spent my life exploring. how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are the Survivor Files.

I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up, without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed, and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. They're stories about what it takes to make it out alive.

Listen to the Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Prose Society. the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsessives, and anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and the conversations everyone can't stop having.

I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. From bestselling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, then that is a Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to Pro Society on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages.

On the new podcast Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone. as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I chose option B. I'm Julie Pinero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people and they were like, you smiled at us. Not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind, or wake up to a new version

of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's talk about Lexi a little bit. Oh, I'd love to. So they'd offer you these other part. Were you happy that you'd waited? Did you, how did you feel about Lexi? Oh, God, yes. Well, first of all, I was so grateful I got to come on the show. I mean, it was ending. I knew Sarah for years.

Like, you know, I was so excited to be, have a chance to do it. I look at your room of people you were in. Yeah. Oh my God, Kansas Bergen. No, the great. No, the great. I was, you know, weirdly that night I opened in Wally Sean's play called Aunt Dan and Lemon that night. Aunt Dan and Lemon that we should.

Yeah. Yes. The night we shot Lexi. No way. We shot in one day. And that night I opened in Wally Sean's play called Aunt Dan and Lemon. That's insane. Is that crazy?

So he yelled at me that day. What did he say? Well, no, on set. He was like, you know, miss, I don't remember what his line was. But he was just like, there's no smoking. Oh, yeah, yes. Remember him? Oh, he's, because he comes up to you.

Yeah. He's really kind of in some ways the impetus for you falling. Yes. Because you're trying to find a place to smoke. Yes. Candace tells you, Kansas's character, tells you that you can't smoke inside. And you're like, but there is no outside.

It's snowing. Yes. And then you crank the thing open. And that's when he comes and yells at me. Do you remember where you filmed? Yes, it was Silver Cup, I think. Oh, you were in Silver Cup. Because it looks like Darren Starr's apartment.

I think they tried to make it look. Well, no, because I have to actually fall out the window. Oh, of course, of course. So there was a big mattress and everything. And they had a stunt woman do it too. I don't know which footage they ended up. I can't tell. It looks like you.

It's very believable. It might have been her too. So I don't know. I don't want to miss. No, of course. Of course. Miss call it. The reason I bring it up is because he lived in the, not Trump Plaza where Trump himself

lives, but like one Central Park. You know that's right in front of Columbus Circle? He lived there for a very long time. And we would have these parties there every year. And there were no like windows. You know what I mean? See, because so many people say to me like, how could they ever have windows like that? It took me right out of the scene.

Oh, no, no. There are windows like that. People don't understand New York stuff. Like also with Carrie's apartment in and just like that. That's the one, the Graham receipt park, the vintage one. Yeah. That's very, very realistic. Yeah.

And people were all on the internet like, why would her kitchen be so small? I'm like, you guys need to do more research. Yes. Okay. Please do more research. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, exactly.

The turn of the century, you know, apartments. You know. From the 1900s? Exactly. Oh my God. Exactly. Oh, my God. Anyway, okay, so that is crazy that you were in a play by Wallachon.

And also, how did we get Wallace Sean to be on the show? I have no idea. I have no idea. It's so great. I mean, look. I mean, he's the best. I think he and Candice are friends. Oh, it was probably Candice asking because obviously she ends up with him at your funeral.

I know. Which is so adorable. And he's a food critic. I also, they promised me the cover of New York Post that said Splat with my picture. And they never sent it to me. I'm so bitter about it. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I'm really angry.

If I can get a hold of it, I will. But you know what happened? I would owe you for life. Well, listen, they also promised me my wedding ring with Kyle. which I had picked out here in L.A. from the jewelry designer whose name, I'm not going to remember. I went to her house and had to convince her to send us jewelry

because she didn't really know the show or whatever. Was it real? Was it real? I love your show. Everything was like top tier. So spoiled. Yeah, I would get like, you know, one of those, whatever, fake diamonds. You got a real one.

No, we got the real. I mean, that one wasn't a big, when I do get like the Tiffany wedding, you know, engagement ring. It was real for a day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're not going to let me walk around the big, big rock. No. But this was like, I don't know, $4,000 maybe or something like that, right?

And I had picked it and our prop mistress, who I'm just going to not say her name right now, had promised me that I could have that ring. Yeah. And then when we wrapped, it was chaos. Yes, we wrapped the whole show. Totally. It's a nightmare. And like things were missing.

Really? Yes. Did you guys figure out who it was? I think someone figured out who. It was that I don't even want to get into, but I mean, it was a drama. It was a drama. Okay. It was a drama.

So that ring was gone. Yeah. Yeah, that ring was gone. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know where it went. But it would have been weird to keep anyway. I don't know quite what I thought. Was I going to wear a Charlotte's wedding ring around?

Yeah, yeah. But it's a good. Totally. I would have framed that sucker. Oh, it's so good. It's so good. But it's fine. Once is splat and what does the other one say?

I don't remember. Oh, right. Maybe they use the other one. No, they used both. Oh, they did? Yeah. just watched it last night. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Because, like, they were so funny. They called me. They were like, can you rewatch the episode to come on? And I'm like, you don't understand. I've seen every scene 5,000 times. You know what? Really? Well, on memes.

It's always on the internet. It does live. It's true. Yeah. I think for me, because I watched it at the time, but then I haven't watched it ever since, right? And when you do watch the whole episode, there's some scenes that aren't really that memeable, right? Yeah.

Yeah. So there's stuff you don't remember at all. Yeah. And this episode for sure. Yeah. I mean, of course I remember your part. Yeah. Because it's so, but like I don't remember

that you go in the bathroom Oh, really? Oh yeah. I didn't remember that. Yeah. And I didn't remember the Wally Sean part. And she comes in and she's so like, my life is totally together. And it just, I think that's the reason Lexi falls. Like, that's the last straw for her.

I think you're right. You know? I think you're right. Carrie Bradshaw's found someone. Totally. Oh, my God. Not even someone, but like. As a artist. Like what? And he's taking her to Paris. She doesn't tell you, but we know.

But she knows. It's the end of an era. It is the end of an era. Now she is the last one at the party. It's nightmare. It is sad. It is sad. And I feel sad for Candice too.

Candice's character. I'm just like, oh, and she doesn't have a plus one to her own party. I thought you meant Candice Bushnell. I was like, girl. No, I feel fine. Yeah. Totally.

Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah. We are on the video, but yes. I know what you're saying. Kansas is doing fine. We had her on the podcast.

She's all good. Oh, good. No, you know, remember when he said, I think, um, you got to ask Michael Patrick King this, but I think he based it on Amy Sacco. Oh, my God. Yes. Bunglo-Aid at the time. And a fabulous person, by the way.

I love her. I forgot. That's, so that's who I did. Oh, my gosh. I totally forgot that. She was the, she was the girl of the nine. 90s in New York. I remember.

I remember. She ran Bungalow 8 and all these other really top of the line clubs. And I hung out with her a couple times. Wow. She was hilarious. Well, we have that other episode where she goes, Carrie goes to Bungalow 8 and Willie's there and then she leaves. She's with them.

She's with them. Lori Bartlett. Oh, the best. Yes. Oh, he's such a genius. Yes. Right. He was on our show and he takes Carrie to Bungalow 8.

And then Stanford comes. I was in Stanford's jealous because she has another gay guy. And then he's not paying enough attention to her or whatever and she leaves. It's all very weird. But like that was when I'm really like, oh, we've got our pulse. We're taking the pulse of New York. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. No, I'm sure that's, Michael Patrick was writing about Amy Sacko.

I'd forgotten. Yeah, exactly. He's so interesting that actor. I love him. Murray's great. Oh, my God. Why doesn't he do this show? I don't know.

It's perfect. Everyone he tells him to come. Probably he lives in Australia or something. He might. Who knows. Who knows. Okay. So thank you so much for joining us with Kristen Johnston. Love to see her. And look for her new show. Leanne is season two is coming to Netflix on August 27th. So, so happy for her success. We love her so much. And she will be back when we get to the rewatch of episode 618 Splat. So stay tuned for more Kristen Johnson in a while. survived nine months in captivity, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are the Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories

about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your... podcasts. If your bookshelf and your for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. Pro Society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. Each week, we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and pop culture with your favorite writers, book talk creators, and plenty of overthought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. Listen to pro Society on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Did you hear the new episode of the Hey Jonas Podcast? We are at D23. So we'll see who stops by. The cast of Frozen stopped by, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Adina Menzel. I audition for Frozen. What? For Christoph. They said, okay, what are you going to be singing today?

I said, I don't know. That must have been why you didn't get it. Oh, you probably won. Plus, John Stamos, Hayden Christensen from Star Wars and more. And I guess I can share that... No way. into the latest episode of Hey Jonas on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, this is Hayes Davenport. And Sean Clements. We host the podcast, Hollywood Handbook. Each week, we talk to someone in show business and try to help them with their careers and see what they have to offer us. Everyone has a good time,

and no one gets mad at their publicists for letting them do our show. We've had a lot of great guests like Sarah Sherman, Adam Scott, Danny McBride, Ben Stillard, and a lot of other big shots that wouldn't be where they are without us. Listen to Hollywood Handbook on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.