Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Kristen Wiig

Episode Date: March 25, 2024

Actress and comedian Kristen Wiig feels warm about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. Kristen sits down with Conan to discuss sketch comedy’s “false positives,” odd jobs before landing on SNL, h...er favorite characters she’s developed over the years, and leading an ensemble cast in her new series Palm Royale. Later, Conan responds to a listener voicemail with a special request involving a birth. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (669) 587-2847.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, my name is Kristen Wiig. And I feel warm about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Okay, Kristen, I think that's just the temperature in the room. Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell. Bend the shoes, walk and lose. Climb the fence, books and pens. I can tell that we are gonna be friends. I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Hey there, welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend,
Starting point is 00:00:41 joined by my crew. You guys are my crew. Do we get a say in this? No joined by my crew. You guys are my crew. Do we get a say in this? No, you don't. You're just my crew. We pull off bank heists on the weekends. Oh, now I'm in. Okay.
Starting point is 00:00:53 You're the guy in the van who knows everything about software and open the vault. Oh, what do I get to do? Oh yeah, David Hopping is here as well. You're the muscle. You're the muscle. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:01:04 He, this is- is here as well. You're the muscle. You're the muscle. Yeah. He, this is. I'm really strong. Yeah, he said, lifting pages. Yes, whenever we're threatened by lots of security or something, you lift pages of an introduction script. Works every time. And toss it to the side. What's happening in the world of our podcast?
Starting point is 00:01:22 I understand there's been some chat on the socials and we need to address this. This is what I'm told. For instance, you'll notice that Sona isn't here today for the intro segment of this episode, but she will be for the interview. And I think you were saying, that can't happen. And I was saying, the audience knows that we record
Starting point is 00:01:41 different parts at different times. Sometimes we record things a little bit out of sync. Mostly we don't, but sometimes we do. And you said that this caused a bit of a theory to emerge from someone on the internet. Yeah, who was telling me this? I don't remember who was telling me this, but I think it was on Reddit that there was a discussion
Starting point is 00:01:58 going on about whether we change clothes to make it seem like we do everything linearly and in real time. That the actual forethought of us bringing in costume changes. And now I love that anyone who listens to this podcast regularly thinking that we would put that level of thought or preparation that we would think, wait a minute, this has to match.
Starting point is 00:02:24 We're gonna be chatting, but then we'll be talking to Kristin Wiig. So you have to put on your Oxford shirt that you were wearing then. And I have to put on my beekeepers outfit that we were wearing when we talked to Kristin. No! No. Cause this is on YouTube and people can see,
Starting point is 00:02:36 but the thing that cracks me up is most of the time you can see that we aren't wearing the same clothes. It's fascinating. And so like David is here with us today, but won't be for the interview and won't be for the third segment. I would like to point out, I don't do anything for the podcast,
Starting point is 00:02:52 but I do change my clothes multiple times a day. Like an Elton John kind of? Have you always done that? Yes, I have like nine different outfits. And I have a guy named Scott Kronick who's upstairs and he's, and just for no reason, even when I'm just here and basically doing clerical stuff, we're not even recording, we're not,
Starting point is 00:03:10 I have as many as nine changes. Oh my God. Yeah, because I, it's, I'm in show business. I see. You know, whatever, you could be a camp. I wouldn't understand. You wouldn't understand. No, I wouldn't.
Starting point is 00:03:20 You know, you've, of course, I know you've been in podcasting for a long time, but you could be a camp counselor. And then you over here. Hey. You know, you're not really course, I know you've been in podcasting for a long time, but you could be a camp counselor. And then you over here. Hey. You know, you're not really in show business the way I am. I have to constantly be seen as an iconic entertainer. I have Bob Mackie outfits upstairs every now and then.
Starting point is 00:03:37 I'll go out to lunch next door and I'm just suddenly I'm wearing a glittery skirt and a feather boa. You change at lunch. Yeah. You got anything by Botany 500? Yes, I do. Okay.
Starting point is 00:03:47 I should add that part of that theory was that they noticed that us back here, we wear the same clothes while you guys are wearing different clothes. Is that right? Oh, but you all- How did that happen? Right, so they were like, well, it must be because look, Adam's wearing the same thing and Eduardo's wearing the same thing and Blaze wearing the same thing, but they're wearing something different.
Starting point is 00:04:04 So why are you guys always wearing the same stuff? Are you guys doing costume changing? Yeah. Maybe you should. I wish I could afford more clothes. Oh, for God's sake. What are you doing to poor Eduardo? Give him a raise, give him a raise.
Starting point is 00:04:17 Or fire him so he can get a better paying job. Fire him so he can get a better paying job. No one's joining that one. Uh-oh, here we go. Okay, here we go. Okay, here comes, Adam is gonna join the fray. By the way, wearing the same goddamn sweatshirt he wears every day.
Starting point is 00:04:30 Are you like Mr. Rogers, you just have that hanging on a hook here at the studio and you put it on every time? Why are you wearing that same thing every day? Okay, first of all, I alternate between two hoodies that I keep in my office because it is freezing in the studio and when I'm walking around the halls. So you have two hoodies, okay keep in my office because it is freezing in the studio. And when I'm walking around the halls... So you have two hoodies. Okay, Zuckerberg. That works for me.
Starting point is 00:04:48 And I wear them in here because it's really, really cold. And then I take them off when I get out. But I was searching to try to find this Reddit thread, and I did find it here. I don't know if you have a better reading voice than I do, but you can see what... You have a wonderful... The Chill Chums record multiple intros a day
Starting point is 00:05:03 and switch outfits to look like they recorded on different days I was watching the two intros today where Conan confronts Matt about the mall walking podcast at the start of the second intro Conan says Today I learned about Matt's podcast implying that the two intros are filmed on the same day However by looking at the video we see that there are outfits all changed while the crew remained the same My theory is that they probably record a lot of intros in a day, which is true. It wouldn't make sense of them to only record 15 minutes a week plus the guest interview anyway.
Starting point is 00:05:32 But that's funny. I have one guess. Yeah. That this fan believes 11 people shot Kennedy. Yeah. Yeah. That's the kind of thinking that takes you down that road. Here's a peek behind the curtain. So for instance, today,
Starting point is 00:05:44 it's planned to go on the Kristen Wiig episode, but we're dressed in the same clothes if you watch the YouTube clip of the Melinda French Gates interview, because we did that interview today, but we recorded the intro for Kristen Wiig. And we know that this is today because this is the day you had the small stroke.
Starting point is 00:06:05 What do you mean by that? I also love the idea that we're doing this to commit the perfect murder. That's what this leads me to, is that we are shooting things out of sequence and changing outfits so that later on when someone says, Oh my God, pick anyone in the, you know, oh my, I'm sorry, David, it's gonna have to be you.
Starting point is 00:06:27 It's fine. But David's been murdered. And we can say, hey, that day, look, we have footage of us. That was the day Melinda Gates came in, or that was the day, and we're off the hook. And there's some listener out there with a like bare apartment.
Starting point is 00:06:43 Yarn. Yes, red yarn and calendar dates and pictures of our costumes. Right. And it's happening, yeah. Don't you think though that all the files have dates and times? It's like if they really wanted to find my murderer.
Starting point is 00:06:57 No. They won't go that far. Yeah, can I just say, David. They gave up so quick. David, don't take this personally. I'm about to take it personally. No, don't take this personally. I'm about to take it personally. No, don't. But they're gonna bag you, tag you, ship you back home,
Starting point is 00:07:12 and there will not be much of an investigation. You know what I mean? Sure. Countless young people like you come to the big city. I will invest in it. Your dreams don't work out. Thank you. Your next life has. And then you're just shipped home. Yeah, true crime. David's murder. Yeah. Somebody did say- You had shipped home. Yeah, true crime. David's murder, yeah. Somebody did say-
Starting point is 00:07:26 You had a stroke. Yeah, why can't- Stroke it! Are you okay, buddy? There's something in the air. Are you worried about at them times? The only thing that surprises me about this is that they change outfits for a mostly audio medium.
Starting point is 00:07:39 So people are buying into this theory. It's not true. No. But I guess me saying it's not true only makes it- It stokes the conspiracy. It stokes the conspiracy theory. That's great though. Let's let this conspiracy build and rise
Starting point is 00:07:49 and so it goes. Also, what I do applaud is people paying that much attention. I mean, I do appreciate that our fans are really paying attention. If we had uniforms, it's gonna be a problem. That's right. Hey, we're supposed to get-
Starting point is 00:07:59 I want uniforms. Follow up on that. And I will pay for the uniforms if someone can make this happen. I was supposed to do- Matt's gonna design them. I want us to wear, and again, the inspiration for this came from Jack White and Third Man Records where Jack has everyone
Starting point is 00:08:15 in his entourage wearing these cool outfits. And I'm like, that's what we need. We need everyone at Team Coco, KonaCo, whatever we call this thing now. I forget, there's so many entities at Conan Inc. I want everybody wearing a similar outfit, except for me, and I wanna wear Admiral's epaulettes. Just Admiral's epaulettes?
Starting point is 00:08:36 Just Admiral's epaulettes. Let's just say. Okay, next week we're not recording, I'll get on this. Good. Uh-oh, that's just, but why aren't we recording next week? Conspiracy theory. Oh, that's right. Cause we don't have a costume.
Starting point is 00:08:51 Cause Conan's in the Pacific Northwest, committing some insane crimes. Committering, committering, everyone's got it. Oh my God, it's catching. Oh no, all right, enough of our Tom foolery and skedaddlery. My guest today is a hilarious actress, comedian, and writer you know from Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids and Barb and Star, Go to Vista Del Mar.
Starting point is 00:09:13 She now stars in the new Apple TV Plus series, Palm Royale, I am beyond thrilled. ["Pom Royale"] Kristen Wiig, welcome. I am so happy that you're here because I remember when you got cast on SNL and absolutely adoring you and thinking like, this is the, I think this is like the funniest person I've seen. Yeah. No. And I say that this will not air.
Starting point is 00:09:49 Period. Period. We're gonna find another way to block it to all the other SNL people I've talked to, so they never hear that. But you're just so insanely funny. And I met you, we had you on the show, and I was, and just one time,
Starting point is 00:10:05 and we didn't get to really connect again. And so if nothing else, when I found out that you were gonna come in today, I was just, I thought this is my chance to tell you just how blown away I am by you. Thank you. As a performer, singer, songwriter, dancer. I'm just making up things you don't probably do.
Starting point is 00:10:23 Well, I do do those things. You're a dancer? Really? Good dancer? I mean, no, I used to, I've danced. Yes. You do, well, actually, you do a character, Gilly, and Gilly has an intro number and does a dance to it. And I love good physical comedy, and it's one of my favorite things. When you break into, first of all, and Gilly has an intro number and does a dance to it. And I love good physical comedy.
Starting point is 00:10:45 And it's one of my favorite things. When you break into, first of all, I think all characters, everywhere I was talking about this with Robert Smygle the other day, and we worked together at SNL. And we were talking about, yeah, I like him fine. But we were talking about a sketch that we wrote for Tom Hanks called Mr. Short-Term Memory and how we insisted, this is like 1988, that no, that it has to have a theme song.
Starting point is 00:11:09 And I remembered Lauren was like, no, it doesn't need to, sketches don't have theme song openings. And we said, no, it has to. And we had a whole animated opening where Tom Hanks' character gets hit by a pear sitting under a pear tree. Wait, it was animated?
Starting point is 00:11:25 It was like, yeah, he's like sitting under, you know, it's Mr. Short Term Memory. He never should have sat under that pear tree. Now he has no memory, but he'll never know. And you'll love him, whatever, he'll frustrate you so, because he's Mr. Short Term. Anyway, we wrote this whole theme song, and I always thought, I think it should be a law
Starting point is 00:11:41 that all sketch characters have a ridiculous theme song that wastes time. It's a good way to get rid of the nerves, I gotta say. Well, that's a great, oh, yes. Yeah, because you're like dancing and shaking, and then you're like, okay, huh, I don't know, because it's obviously a very nerve wracking job. Yeah, it is a nerve wracking job.
Starting point is 00:11:57 You wouldn't know it looking at your performances, but I remember you doing the ghillie dance, and the dance incorporates maybe nine different, very distinct moves that probably aren't supposed to all go together. Probably not. It's so funny. Thank you. It's so funny. That means a lot coming from you, Conan.
Starting point is 00:12:13 Well, I appreciate that, but I just, I was, your body of work on SNL alone, just not even getting into your other tremendous work is crazy, you're so prolific. And then to hear you say, well, it gets out the nerves. And I think it is nice for people listening and probably revelatory that they hear Kristen Wiig has nerves.
Starting point is 00:12:33 Oh my God, yes. I think if you, I would be worried about myself if I didn't, especially with SNL because it's live. Yeah, you feel like you want to throw up before every show. Yeah. You know, I mean, the good, I always say the good thing is,
Starting point is 00:12:47 cause you have dress rehearsal, so you kind of know what sort of works, but you know, there could be things that work in dress, and then you're like waiting for the, some sort of giggle, and then it's silent during air. That happens, that happens all the time. A false positive. Oh, there's nothing worse.
Starting point is 00:13:04 Is, yeah. happens all the time. A false positive. Oh, there's nothing worse. Is, yeah. Well, actually, in medicine, it's a very good thing sometimes. You're not dying. So sometimes it works out,
Starting point is 00:13:14 but a false positive in comedy, and what would happen sometimes, it's rare, but something can really do well at dress. Usually doesn't happen, but it's a different crowd. And then what happens is they do the air show and the air show sometimes, that's when all the executives got their friends in. Lauren has some pals there.
Starting point is 00:13:35 Just a lot of people are coming in. And so they're a different crowd, maybe a little more entitled. Maybe they've seen the show a bunch. It's just such a diff... I mean, I remember Charles Barkley was hosting and I wrote a sketch with Jillian Bell. And it was for the writer's room.
Starting point is 00:13:52 It got the best reaction I've ever had in the history of the time that I was there. I mean, like, people were clapping. We're like, oh, this is going to be, this is going to be a really great sketch. And when I tell you, when we went to dress, and you know when like the first joke comes out and like that's the sketch,
Starting point is 00:14:11 so if they're not gonna laugh at that, you've got about, it feels like 18 minutes of like silence. It was so silent. And I was just looking at other people in the sketch, like Andy and Bill, they're like looking at me laughing, like this is going so, it was just absolutely silent. I couldn't even predict that that was gonna happen. But it's good also because then it kinda like
Starting point is 00:14:33 keeps you on your toes, you don't expect certain things. But the way that it bombed was just for the books. I wrote a sketch, same thing for Phil Hartman. This is way back in the day. And he played this character, Mace, who was really tough and talked really fast. And he was Mace and he had done it at the groundlings and it was this, you're used to me and you're used to me good.
Starting point is 00:14:55 Whoever the host was, and I don't remember, but the male host gets put in a prison cell with him and the male host is, or whoever it was, has Mace as his cellmate. And Mace comes on as so tough and hard, and you're not gonna make it, buddy boy. There's me, I'm the king of this. And then, you know the way in those cells
Starting point is 00:15:12 are just an exposed toilet? It comes time, they're both there for a while, and then it's clear that Mace has to use the toilet, but he's embarrassed about using it in front of the other guy in this very shy human way. And he's like putting little pieces of toilet paper down. He's trying to do it when the other guy's back is turned. And whenever the guy turns back, he goes like,
Starting point is 00:15:32 you keep looking the other way buddy boy. And it was just all about this very common- That's so funny to me. No, and so we did this thing that we read it at read through and like tile was coming off the ceiling. People were laughing so hard and it's over and the applause tile was coming off the ceiling, people were laughing so hard and it's over and the applause and people coming up and you know, Lauren actually making eye contact
Starting point is 00:15:51 and I'll give you a gold coin, you know and you're just feeling amazing. And then dress rehearsal and it starts. And then there's the first thing, which is the whole sketch where you realize that Mace wants to use the toilet, the toughest guy in the world, and silence. Silence. And I remember I had called everybody,
Starting point is 00:16:10 you know, am I gonna have a sketch tonight? Oh, you did? Oh, of course I did. Of course I did, Kristin. It's a whole other level. Because I'm a writer, and I'm like, tune in, because you all thought I didn't have it. Well, you're gonna see a sketch tonight
Starting point is 00:16:22 with Phil Hartman called, you know. Watch this. Yeah, watch this. And then sketch tonight with Phil Hartman called, you know, Watch this. Watch this. And then just absolute silence. And then that thing where they say the last line, well, that's the way it goes. Long pause, then the band.
Starting point is 00:16:35 Doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom. And no applause. And then you don't even have to go in No, you know. To the room. You know it's never gonna make air. You wanna do an autopsy afterwards and find out. Like what, why did it work there and not,
Starting point is 00:16:51 maybe there's something about seeing it as opposed to just reading it. I still don't know. As you know, I just gave it up at a certain point and said, there's magic to this. Sometimes the magic is there. Sometimes it's not. I give up. I the magic is there. Sometimes it's not. I give up.
Starting point is 00:17:06 I can't explain it. There's no reason. Yeah, well, that's probably why a little bit of the nerves too, because you don't know what the audience is, if they're in a good mood or if everything's gonna hurt. But also it's interesting to me, I don't care who you are or what your track record is. You are always potentially 10 seconds away
Starting point is 00:17:23 from the worst humiliation of your life. Of course. And I almost feel like the more you've done it, then I don't know, you're kind of like, well, I'm due for something. No. No. You know what fascinated me about you is that
Starting point is 00:17:39 you were not someone who was aggressively doing improv and trying to act when you were a kid, right? No, it wasn't really in my atmosphere at all. There was no talk of like, do you wanna go to like a theater, it just wasn't, nobody was doing that where I lived. That's for me too, yeah. Yeah, and it just wasn't a thing
Starting point is 00:18:00 and I would always look at like, you know, I'm dating myself, you know, like a teen beat or a bop, whatever that bop, was it bop? Couldn't have just been bop. Dynamite, tiger beat. Tiger beat, bop. There was a bop, something bop. There was a bop.
Starting point is 00:18:14 But like those magazines, and it just looked so far away and like, oh, you have to like live in California. And that's just like a different planet. I just didn't even think about it. I think deep down I always dreamed about it, but I thought, doesn't everybody? I don't know.
Starting point is 00:18:30 It just wasn't something I... I relate 1000% to what you're saying, which is I'm thinking about this and I'm doing some shtick in the mirror by myself. Were you reading Tiger Beat as well? I was reading... He was reading BOP. I was writing letters to Scott Baio.
Starting point is 00:18:47 Dear Scott Baio. Such a chochie crush. Didn't we all? I still write them. But I just... It wasn't in my world. And I think what the internet has done, you can be in the tiniest little spot in Kansas
Starting point is 00:19:08 and you can do something funny and it can get a lot of positive feedback. And I think that's terrific. Before that, there were people like me long before you, when I was a kid, doing shtick in front of the mirror and takes and absorbing stuff on television and in movies that I saw, doing it in front of the mirror, but then thinking, yes, this is what all sad little boys do.
Starting point is 00:19:30 And then- I gotta go to soccer practice. Yeah, well, I didn't get to- Or I don't know. No, no soccer for me. Art club? That, mm. My paleontology club!
Starting point is 00:19:42 Hello, fellows, anyone? My paleontology club. Hello, fellows. Anyone? But yeah, there was nothing, you know, you just. I mean, I did like little, you know, I was like a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz. Right, right. In the back.
Starting point is 00:19:57 Right, right. Just cause my friends were doing it, but it wasn't, you know. But it's not like you could put that on a resume. So. I tried. What? Number one, munchkin. When I first came to could put that on a resume. So- I tried. Number one, bunch kids. When I first came to LA and you needed a resume, I'm like, well, maybe I should write this on here.
Starting point is 00:20:11 So you did, another thing we have in common is I graduate college and I come out to LA. I immediately tried to get into the groundlings into an acting class. And that's where I met the world of people, improvisers. And in 1985, I would tell people, yeah, I want to do improv. And most people didn't know what I was talking about.
Starting point is 00:20:33 I wouldn't have, yeah. I didn't even know what it was when I came out here. Someone was like, you got to go to the Groundlings. I think you'd like that. And I'd never seen improv before. And then I remember my first show, Jennifer Coolidge was in it, Mike Hitchcock, and they did improv.
Starting point is 00:20:49 And I was like, oh, I wanna, I think I wanna do that. I wanna try that. And then I just like signed up, but I had no, I knew Sketch obviously from SNL, but improv, I didn't even know that was a thing. Yeah, that's where I met Lisa Kudrow. That's where I met these, just so many incredibly talented people.
Starting point is 00:21:05 And I thought, okay, this is proof to me. I love getting up on that stage. It's a really small stage. It's an equity waiver theater, 99C, but it's where, I mean, as I said, Phil Hartman came from there, Paul Rubens, I mean, the list of people, Will Ferrell, you know, he left the groundings and was never heard from again. But I mean, the list is, I can't even begin to list it.
Starting point is 00:21:28 It's insane how many people. It changed, that place changed my life for sure. Yeah. Yeah. So you're up there, you're doing the Groundlings, and are you working a regular day job? Yeah. So you're up there, you're doing the groundlings and you're, are you working a regular day
Starting point is 00:21:49 job while you're doing that? Yes. What are you doing? I had many, many a day job. My favorite was I worked in a like a floral design studio. I did like floral arrangements. Oh my God. I was a server.
Starting point is 00:22:04 I worked at Universal Studios in the executive dining room. Oh, I used to work there and eat in that, well, not the executive one. Yeah, like the nicer one with the executive. I couldn't get in that place. Yeah. But it's funny because I see people and I'm like, hey, I waited on you.
Starting point is 00:22:23 That's so funny. So I had this conversation the other day where I, I mean, I think I do it just because this is how my mom taught me to be and which is, I really try to be nice to anyone who's serving me, but also way in the back of my mind is, they will be in control of show business in three years. And you don't, you know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:22:48 And so many people have later come up to me and said, yeah, when I was, Jennifer Garner waited on me. Oh, how cool. When she was, and this is years after she became a star. I don't think so. She just had a terrible gambling addiction. And no, she... People were like, Jennifer Garner.
Starting point is 00:23:06 No, there was a place where you could get brunch on the Upper West Side. And I was doing the late night show and she said I came in once and she said I was nice and everything, but then I then started to read the paper. It's like, no, we really need that table. And she remembered this years later and I was so embarrassed. Like you never know.
Starting point is 00:23:22 You never know. Who's going to be there. I know. I love that job.'s going to be there. I know. I love that job. That was a good job. Which one? The universal. I liked it.
Starting point is 00:23:29 It was like 11 to one. You had regular tables. You got to see like exciting people and my best friend worked there. What's funny is when you're on, you're on and you're absolutely stupendous, but I bet, I'm just guessing that when you were waiting on people,
Starting point is 00:23:45 you weren't giving them any hint that comedy was on the horizon for you. Is that fair? I don't, yeah. I mean, it's, yeah. I don't know, I was trying to be very professional at my job, but you know, occasionally I would say, like, dumb things and walk away and be like,
Starting point is 00:24:01 what am I doing? Because it was like, I was waiting on huge people and I would get nervous, but there wasn't really room for, I don't know, I'm not, I didn't really like yuck it up. Well, no, what I'm saying is during a, one of my fallow periods as a writer and I didn't have any work, I took a job at a temp agency and then I was just like typing up documents
Starting point is 00:24:25 and filing things and worked there for like a month. And at the end I said, well, actually my job started up again, so I'm gonna go back. And she said, what are you doing? I said, I'm a comedy writer. And she said, you're a comedy writer. Oh. And she wasn't being mean.
Starting point is 00:24:40 No, I totally understand that. She just said, I'm quiet, I'm efficient. I don't, you know, because I just thought I had this weird ability to put that away. I have exact same. I am not the person at a dinner party that will like tell this big, elaborate, funny story. I just kind of, I'm kind of quiet.
Starting point is 00:24:57 And there have been people who were surprised. That's what I did. Yeah. But you know, I talk about this a lot. There are people in comedy who are fairly perpetually on. I sadly know that I am one, much to the irritation of those around me. But like you've been out with me in the world, Sona,
Starting point is 00:25:14 and you will attest that- I know. I'll freely do 20 minutes of schtick for anybody if they so desire. You saying that boss didn't know that you were a comedy writer is, I don't even know how you would go a month without doing bits at any sort of work environment.
Starting point is 00:25:29 Heavily medicated. Okay, that makes sense. That makes sense. That's cool. But- You were back in the bathroom doing him in the mirror. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:25:37 He's been in the bathroom for 40 minutes. He's laughing a lot. What's he doing? I hear a lot of laughing and giggling. My wife to this day says she'll sometimes hear, like she goes to bed a little before me, but sometimes she doesn't fall right asleep and she'll hear me in the bathroom.
Starting point is 00:25:51 And I'm like, now she hear you. I'll get you, see. And she's like, what the fuck? Sick. You did like six things today. That should all be out of your system. That's just rude that you might even just wake her up, not that it's just weird.
Starting point is 00:26:04 Yeah. Oh, come on. Shake her. No, she wears giant ear muffs. Yeah. Hey, wake up. I just thought of a new guy. He's called Wake You Up Guy. He wakes people up who are sound asleep.
Starting point is 00:26:18 But some of my favorite people, and you are on this list yourself, Steve Martin, they, when it's time to go, they go and they're flawless and they're great. And then if someone, you know, invites them to a party, they think, wait, this guy, or Lando Kristenshaw, this is gonna be something, you know, and it's like, well, no, that's not who I am. Yeah, I've had people interview me that are disappointed. No, I'm being serious. When I was on SNL, I remember there were a couple interviews. It was the beginning.
Starting point is 00:26:50 I was nervous and I hadn't done a lot of interviews and stuff. I think they were kind of like, huh. I don't know if they expected me to talk in voices or make... But I'm also nervous and I you know, I don't know. I think people were like, she's not that funny. Well, the other thing is, what's insane is that what you do, sometimes they think people believe that, well, if you're a plumber, you can just come
Starting point is 00:27:19 and you can fix the plumbing. Oh yeah. And they think, oh, we'll get a comedian to come and he'll just do the comedy thing. And then everyone's gonna love that. And then we'll move on to the really serious funeral service. And I'm always asking a million questions,
Starting point is 00:27:35 like how big is the room? Who's at this thing? And then I have to try and tailor it to what is this situation? And sometimes it's just, no, there shouldn't be any comedy here. It's not, and I also shouldn't be any comedy here. It's not. And I also often think that an interview format,
Starting point is 00:27:49 like one of my favorite people growing up, Peter Sellers. Just brilliant. Oh, me too. Brilliant. And then I'm so fascinated with him and I've read all these books on Peter Sellers and all the information that comes back is he was devastatingly funny when he's in a movie or when he's doing his performances on the Goon Show or whatever he was devastatingly funny when he's in a movie, or when he's doing his performances on The Goon Show or whatever he was doing.
Starting point is 00:28:07 And then he was just sort of blinking and looking around the room when he was at a party, and he always carried a little camera with him because he was interested in cameras. He would explain his camera to a great length. But you didn't, you know, people wanted Inspector Clouseau at the party. And he's not gonna do that. Unless he's highly paid.
Starting point is 00:28:22 Right. Exactly. Um, that's what you wanna do is he's highly paid. Right, exactly. That's what you wanna do is you wanna be paid. So SNL obviously it was like such a, it must've been so clear to you that that's where you belonged. For me, it was where I wanted to be and where I love the puzzles you have to put together at that show.
Starting point is 00:28:41 You know, like when it's that meeting between dress and air and you have to like take off a minute of your sketch. I love that, like trying to figure things out and what jokes can go and I don't know, I love that sort of like, I don't know, how my brain works, all that stuff. And that, and just like the writers there, when I was there and the cast, I was so lucky.
Starting point is 00:29:02 And I don't know, I just felt like, didn't feel like work in a way. But I knew when I got there, I was there and the cast, I was so lucky. And I don't know, it just felt like, didn't feel like work in a way. But I knew when I got there, I was like, I'm gonna be here for seven years. I didn't wanna go longer than that. I don't know why. I just kinda felt like when you get there, you kinda feel like you're walking
Starting point is 00:29:16 into someone else's living room, like everyone else knows each other so well. Yes, yes. It's high school. It's a big, it's a scary high school. It is. And I'm not putting it down. No, no, no. Because I sometimes like- It's a big, it's a scary high school. It is. And I'm not putting it down.
Starting point is 00:29:25 No, no, no. Because I sometimes, when I talk about SNL, sometimes people will misinterpret it and say, it was frightening, terrifying in some ways. And also I kind of wouldn't change a thing. Yeah, it's not like anyone was mean, everyone was so nice, but it's like you're going to a new school
Starting point is 00:29:41 and everyone's been there forever. As soon as I got there, I was like, the moment I feel totally comfortable here is when I have to go. Because I feel there's something about the energy of that place and what you need to produce and how you need to like always be, I don't know, people watching on that Sunday that you're off.
Starting point is 00:30:01 I don't know, I just felt like there's something about that place where you just need to be a little uncomfortable. That makes sense. Yes, it does. Well, there's that old analogy that I think is so perfectly true, which is the oyster. You need a little bit of sand in the oyster to make the pearl.
Starting point is 00:30:19 You need the irritant. And I just think many times in life, I've been uncomfortable and not, and nervous, and something really good came out of it. And that's when you're really proud of yourself and you're like, wow, I did that. And thank God it's over. Not as Sennello, that was very hard for me to leave.
Starting point is 00:30:37 Well, I mean, just, I mean, it's ridiculous to even try to go through all the characters, but do you have a favorite? I mean, I know you've mentioned that before, but is there someone who really speaks to you? I mean, there's so many, I mean, the first time I saw Denise, prosthetic forehead and doll hands.
Starting point is 00:30:56 I told you I loved, I mean, I love Gilly, but her dance and Penelope and Jesus Christ. I feel like my favorite one honestly was someone I did an update, not even a ton of time, but her name was Aunt Linda. Yes, Aunt Linda. She was- The eye rolling alone.
Starting point is 00:31:13 Yes, because she was based on someone that was on a plane. And remember back in the day, they would show there'd be one screen and they'd be like the movie's starting and then you'd have to put your head, it would just start at that time. You didn't get your own personal one. You didn't get your own one.
Starting point is 00:31:26 And it was The Matrix. And she was so confused. The Matrix, The Matrix on a plane. She was just like, what? She's like, why is it flying? She was like, ah. She was so. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Starting point is 00:31:39 And she was so loud and I was like listening to her and writing down things she was saying. And she's like, now we're flying, ah. Like she was so loud and I was like listening to her and writing down things she was saying. And she's like, now we're flying. Like she was so upset and confused. And it just made me laugh. And so I did that at the groundlings, which also made it feel better when I got it on SNL. And we tried it the way that I wrote it at the groundlings,
Starting point is 00:31:59 but it didn't work in a scene because- No, no, it was so smart. It just didn't work. Because Lauren was like, I think people would be walking away from you constantly. It didn't work. Putting her at the update desk and her job, my favorite thing, it's sort of akin a bit to, I'm a wealthy society woman and I want someone
Starting point is 00:32:19 to set up my home beautifully for the big party. I've hired the three stooges. And three idiots who have no qualifications show up with saws and hammers and smash the whole house. What I love is they hired you to review films. And it's perfect because you have nothing but disdain. You don't seem to understand the movies. You just wanna make a wisecrack and it's just absolutely hilarious.
Starting point is 00:32:47 Also it looked like it's, you kind of had to, that all the different takes that you would do, the sarcastic takes that you would do. I think the ones that you can have a little more fun with and it is kind of different every time are always more fun, I think, than the ones that are like very rigid in how they react to stuff.
Starting point is 00:33:04 I don't know if that makes sense. If your character has one, I remember at the Ground ones that are very rigid in how they react to stuff. I don't know. Yes, if your character has one, I remember at the Groundlings, there was just this pressure. When I was there, you could see every student thought they had to have a catchphrase. Oh, really? Well, that was just a phase. And I think it was all because John Lovitz had blown up
Starting point is 00:33:18 as the liar on SNL. And that's the ticket. And having a catchphrase, and Dana Blend blew up as church know, and having a catchphrase and Dana then blew up as church lady and of course there was a lot more to those characters but their catchphrases were really huge, wasn't that special? Yeah, that's true, yeah. And so I just remember characters coming in,
Starting point is 00:33:37 you know, trying out scenes and everybody was like, yeah, that's a flapjack, I'd buy. And you know. Looking right out to the audience. Right out to the audience and then they'd say it like two more times and I just, Lisa Kudrow used to get mad at me cause she said, you sit there at rehearsal and people are trying this stuff out
Starting point is 00:33:53 and you have your head in your hands. Oh God. And she said, they can fucking see you. And I'm like, I'm sorry. Lots of flapjack, goodbye. Was that a real one? No. No. I know there was someone. So you can use it if you want. I know, I was like, I'm sorry. Lots of flapjack, goodbye. Was that a real one? No. I know there was someone-
Starting point is 00:34:07 So you can use it if you want. I know, I was like. I saw you writing it down. People had tics, like they, you know, slapped their thigh on. You know, slap your thigh, cough twice. And so it just looked like a Tourette's convention for a while there.
Starting point is 00:34:25 But one thing that I liked so much about the work that you did at SNL, and then again, you brought that to Bridesmaids is you can go so quiet. You can be so small and it's perfect. I think it's one of the reasons I get drawn in. You're not trying to blow me off the roof with your comedy a lot of times. And you can go big, but you also can go very small.
Starting point is 00:34:56 And then, you know, and then that was one of the things I thought that made Rides Maid so special was how quiet things could be. Doing that kind of comedy, it's like this little porcelain comedy that's beautiful. I don't know, I was just great. That's, wow, thank you for saying that. Well, I really, I don't know that it means anything.
Starting point is 00:35:13 No. I've never really been in a movie, so. It does, it does, it means a lot. Very poetic little porcelain comedy. I know. Well, it is. I like that. It's, I just think that many people can come
Starting point is 00:35:25 from a situation like the groundlings or SNL and think that you win when you go really big all the time. I just loved it as a fan of yours, that you're able to do that. Thanks. And that's all the time we have. I don't know what to say. There's nowhere to go after that.
Starting point is 00:35:39 That's like, that's such, I don't know what to say. Well, I want to say one thing that was about improv. Okay, yeah. I'm wondering if you agree with this. There's so many people who say to me, improv is such a scary thing. I prefer improv. There's no preparation.
Starting point is 00:35:52 You just show up on the day. Well, that's the thing. There's no- Exactly. You can't say the line wrong. Exactly. And sometimes you can get, yeah, it kind of depends on what it is, but like when I'm watching improv, I get more nervous
Starting point is 00:36:06 because I'm like, what are they gonna say? Right. Or what would I say? Or, oh God. And fear for the person. But when you're doing it, exactly. But when you're doing it, you're like, oh, well I'm just responding. I'm just, as long as I know who the character is,
Starting point is 00:36:18 I'm just kind of talking. Yeah, there's something very, I don't know, just liberating about it. I love when they tell me- And you don't have to like prepare, it's just, you just go. That's the best part. There's no memorizing.
Starting point is 00:36:29 I was curious, did you do Target Lady at Groundlings or was that something that you came up with? Yes, I did. Oh, you did, okay. Yes, those I think were the only two that I did there that got on the show. Did you ever get any kind of money from Target? No, Conan. Because I've been working on a character called Exxon Mobile Guy.
Starting point is 00:36:47 Oh! I know you got to think it's like United Airlines. Like, what do we use? Look to me. I'm Lamborghini Guy. Hey, I'm Lamborghini Guy. Sona, has there been any call from the Lamborghini people? Yes, cease and desist.
Starting point is 00:37:05 Hey, I'm Lamborghini! Hey, uh, I'm a Porsche man. What? It's a German car. Why you Italian? I don't know. I didn't think about it. That's the hook. Hey, baby, I'm Sam Rolex. What? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:37:23 Sam? His name is Sam Rolex? Yeah, we Sam Rolex. What? Yeah. Sam. His name is Sam Rolex? We're Rolex. These are characters I'm just thinking because- That you've been working on for a long time. Yes. And I didn't. I thought I was doing something wrong. Clearly you hit it with Target Lady.
Starting point is 00:37:38 And I'm going to- I'm Bill Ozempic, you know? Bill Sam. Oh, you don't think I'm good at coming up with good, funny first names. I think Sam's... It's funny, it's funny. Oh, Jesus. Because it's him.
Starting point is 00:37:58 I regret working with you on this whole thing. I really thought we would just click together and make an amazing commercial that would make me a lot of money. Thank you. I bet you didn't think you'd be apologizing when you came here to talk to me. I got credit.
Starting point is 00:38:14 You're just gonna make an apology to Conan for not earning him more money. Well, we won't give it away, but I was gonna bring up your guys' link because you guys live in a similar neighborhood, similar environment. Yeah. But we won't say it away, but I was gonna bring up your guys' link, because you guys live in a similar neighborhood, similar in violence, but we won't say we're on Catalina Island. That's right, yes.
Starting point is 00:38:30 Oh my God, today was rough getting here. I'm still seasick, yeah. I bought you a seaplane. Oh, I sold it. Yeah. Immediately. Yeah, he doesn't pay us. He pays us in planes.
Starting point is 00:38:42 Just if you see him... Which I thought was very... What kind of planes, Conan? What kind of planes? Don't you like your three-winged 1917 plane? Oh, I love it. I fly it all the time. Sam Plane. Yeah, Sam Plane. My name's Sam Plane. There we go. There it is.
Starting point is 00:38:56 This is good stuff. It's just plane. It's not a company. It's just a plane. I never said I was a good writer. I just managed to be a writer. When you left SNL, it was, I don't know, it was like everybody took a moment. It was such a nice sendoff, but I think that your plan
Starting point is 00:39:18 was to do seven years really, really superbly and then get out on a high note. And because you did that, you had this glorious sendoff. Colin Jost wrote that and didn't even think it was gonna make it. We were like rushing. We didn't know for sure. And it was, yeah, it's a moment I'll never forget.
Starting point is 00:39:42 It took me, I think a year maybe to watch it. I understand that. Yeah, it's a moment I'll never forget. It took me, I think, a year maybe to watch it. I understand that. Yeah, it was very hard, but it was the most beautiful way to go. I mean, it meant so much to me that we did it. But also all those stars participating. Oh my gosh, I know. I know. Mick Jagger was there. It was crazy. Mick Jagger sang you off with Ruby Tuesday. And Dave Grohl, who was the musical guest
Starting point is 00:40:07 on my very first show. Right. Which I thought was kind of cool. Steve Martin, John Hamm. And Arcade Fire was, right? Arcade Fire. I didn't memorize it. Okay.
Starting point is 00:40:19 I'm sorry. Yeah. But I just, I don't know, I just, it's kind of, I understand that it's bittersweet to leave that experience, but if you're gonna do it, that's the way to do it. It was hard. I couldn't watch the show for a while after I left. Because it's such an adjustment, as you know,
Starting point is 00:40:36 when you're there, it's not just like this job you left, it's the building that you spend 20 hours a day in. You've had the best experiences, you've laughed, you've cried, it's your family, and you're just there, just physically, like many hours of the day. And saying goodbye to Lauren was really hard. It was just, it was, yeah, it's your life.
Starting point is 00:40:57 I did a couple of seasons at SNL, and then I leave and I go to the Simpsons. Then I come back for late night and do that for 16 years. So if you add it up, it was 20 years in that building. And then I'm out here in LA for a while. And then that was like two years or something. Some time passed, not too long, and I was gonna go on Howard Stern
Starting point is 00:41:18 and I came back to New York and I walked up by Rockefeller Center and I was hit by every emotion you can have. And I'm very Irish and very proud of the fact that I don't experience emotions or acknowledge them, or I can sublimate them so much that I only realized later on that it came out of my sweat or something.
Starting point is 00:41:38 You know? You smell sad. Um, but I passed that building and I had every feeling that I had of ecstasy, sadness, terror, love, everything came back and it was almost too powerful. And then I went right in to talk to Howard Stern and he's chatting with me and it all, I just talked,
Starting point is 00:42:00 he was like, he was like my therapist and that's what we talked about. And- Also, cause knowing that it hasn't changed, there's something else about leaving a job and maybe those people aren't there anymore, like that building's gone, but everything is the same and you go back now, it's like, it's the same doors,
Starting point is 00:42:16 it's the same paint, it's the same, it's the same and the crew is mostly the same. So I think knowing that it's still existing is like, I don't know, pulls on you a little more. Because I'm like, I'm not there. Right. And there's part of, I can't speak for you, but there's part of me, a tyrannical tyrant in my brain that's thinking, it all should have stopped when I left.
Starting point is 00:42:36 Oh. They should have taken the building down. What's the point of going on? No, I understand that's very sad, but Egyptian pharaohs had the same idea. Okay. And, but Egyptian pharaohs had the same idea. But I remembered, I mean, when I took over the late night show for Letterman,
Starting point is 00:42:53 Letterman in his first year one night said to Paul, can you believe they're over there doing our show? And I remembered at the time thinking, oh, that was his apartment. And now I'm in it and he still feels like it's his apartment and these new kids are in there breaking stuff. And that's how it can feel sometimes a little bit is just you make it so much your own
Starting point is 00:43:15 and then you have to leave. And then of course other people move in and do things differently, but brilliantly. And that's how it is. Just keep moving. Keep moving people. That's your new is. Just keep moving. Keep moving, people. That's your new character. Keep moving.
Starting point is 00:43:29 Keep moving, people. With Porsche. Okay, now that's better. That's actually a great little tagline. Keep moving with Porsche. I will share. Well, we could do the commercials together. Okay.
Starting point is 00:43:43 But would we split the money? What would the split be? I mean, I would assume 50-50, but would we split the money? How would the split be? I mean, I would assume 50-50, but are you having other thoughts? Matt and I are here too. No, no, no, you're not really here. We're not here? No, I don't see you.
Starting point is 00:43:55 This eye, I have glaucoma in my right eye, so I don't have peripheral vision. But I see you perfectly. I'm gonna say you've had more experience in film. Talking. You're arguably the bigger deal. So I would accept a 70-30 with you getting the 70. I mean, you're a big deal. I think you're a big deal.
Starting point is 00:44:17 I'll just, I'll drive. I wanna talk about the latest project because I got to watch about the latest project because I got to watch, I've watched the first episode. Oh, good. Of Pomeroyal. Yeah. And it was, I was watching it with David Hopping, who's the assistant who filled in for Sona's,
Starting point is 00:44:37 done a brilliant job. Took over. Really took over. Oh yeah. And I don't even. I did, I did okay. No, no, no. I trained him.
Starting point is 00:44:44 The point here is not about you, Sona. The point is, saw the first show, an insane cast. Absolutely brilliant cast. Yes, yes. And I mean, it's madness. You've got Laura Dern, Alice and Janie, Carol Burnett, Ricky Martin, who's great. Oh my gosh, they're all, yeah.
Starting point is 00:45:04 The first thing that struck me is this thing, you're fantastic as always, and it's like, of course, but what's amazing is the look of it too. It takes place in 1969. Yeah. And it, I don't know what they did, but it's got this saturated retro color to it that is fantastic.
Starting point is 00:45:25 I mean, I haven't seen a show look like that. It just, it's got, it's like almost like a confection. Yeah, yeah. And the, our production designer, John Carlos, was just like, I don't even, his attention to detail. He would like, there would be a fish tank and he would specifically pick the color of the fish to go in the fish tank to match the room, like everything.
Starting point is 00:45:47 And he worked with Alex Freberg, our costume designer. So- The costumes are- The costumes are incredible. But they work together as far as like what kind of room they were, I mean, everyone does that, but like really down to like patterns and details and what kind of chair they're sitting on.
Starting point is 00:46:03 I mean, it was like, I'm like, I've never, I've never seen anything like that. I think it's why it works is that you have, the performers are all so good that they can overcome how stunning it is to look at. Meaning I think a lesser performers would get lost in, I mean, I was watching it and I was noticing that Alison, there's a scene where Alison Janney is talking
Starting point is 00:46:22 and her sunglasses, which are so vintage 1969 and so big, and you would love it, Matt, because it's all this very cool like period stuff. And her glasses match, are very loud, but beautifully match her insane 1969 outfit. And then it all blends in with all this color that's happening in the background. And I noticed myself thinking every now and then
Starting point is 00:46:45 when something's just produced so well, I think, man, these people know what they're doing. They really do. Because I always came from even the lesser child of an SNL, which was, let's crank out one of these a night. And so put a bear head on him from the bear head room. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:02 And I mean, it was very, we didn't light things. I mean, we did the best we could, but it was vaudeville every night and get it. And then, so I'm always blown away when I watch things. I've never been in the world of them using a light meter to measure exactly how my face is gonna look the best because no one gives a shit. But it was-
Starting point is 00:47:23 But I know you're up there so many people, like props, just looking around any of the sets and just seeing all the little things and why that's part of this person's character. I don't even think the camera even sees this stuff, but every day we would just walk onto set. And then the actors of course would come and you'd see what they were wearing.
Starting point is 00:47:42 And it was like, you know, five minutes of just talking about that. It would be hard not to steal some of those outfits. Oh. No, no, so no, oh, this from the admitted shop. I didn't steal anything. Oh. I don't steal.
Starting point is 00:47:57 I ask. How come you can't say that as yourself? You were doing a character. Well, because. I have never come at Edel Darsener. Well, just say it as yourself, you were doing a character. Well, because. I've never committed arson here. Well, just say it as yourself. I mean, I shoplifted when I was a kid, but I would never steal as an adult.
Starting point is 00:48:13 I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the episodes. It just looks great. And like Mindy Cohn is in it, and Julia Duffy, who is hilarious. Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, yeah, we got very lucky. I have a hard time believing you wouldn't have fun, even though you get nervous. This just looks like you would have a really good time.
Starting point is 00:48:29 We had the best time. Yeah, yeah. That cast, it was just every day. I mean, it was a long shoot, cause it's 10 episodes, they're an hour each. So it was like six and a half months, I think shooting. But yeah, it was great. And not a bad location to be shooting in.
Starting point is 00:48:43 Oh yeah, good old LA. it was great. And not a bad location to be shooting in. Oh yeah, good old LA. It was amazing. To be able to go home after work was a dream. Yeah. Have you, what's the worst location you've been in? Do you have, does it come to mind? The worst? Ooh, that's tough.
Starting point is 00:49:01 I've kind of liked everywhere I've gone. It's pretty good. Yeah. I would think I've always wanted to do, I liked everywhere I've gone. It's pretty good. Yeah. I would think I've always wanted to do, I mean, I think Adam Sandler's a genius because he's made two thirds of his movies in his like favorite beach in Maui. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:49:13 And it doesn't matter, it can be the life, the story of Abraham Lincoln. Yeah. It's Lincoln like, well, I might go to Washington and be president, but first I gotta get this coconut open. So smart. I might go to Washington to be president, but first I got to get this coconut open. So smart.
Starting point is 00:49:28 He knows what he's doing. He does. Well, congratulations on POM Royale. And Kristen, it is just a super honor to talk to you because you're off the charts, talented. And one of those people who I watch you and I think I don't understand how she can do this so consistently well, but I'm very happy
Starting point is 00:49:51 that you're out there doing it. Thank you. And I would like to tell you, I think you are one of the best in what you do. And when, I don't know, when I heard I was coming on here, I got very excited because you are such a comedic genius to so many people and I just think you're amazing. Oh boy.
Starting point is 00:50:11 You keep that in there. Okay. Well here's the thing, it'll keep me up at night one of the best. Oh God. Yes! All we need to do is find one little scene. You know what's not just one of the best?
Starting point is 00:50:25 Portia. Yes! I'm driving. She also said to so many people, she didn't say herself. Just write that down as well. No, people are people I know wanted me to tell. Okay. Wee!
Starting point is 00:50:39 All right, Kristin, thank you so much. Thank you, Kristen, thank you so much. Thank you. Let's do some voicemails. Let's do a voicemail. What was wrong with the first one? Because we're not doing more than one. Okay. Both of them sounded horrible. Can the doctor also check Gourley? I keep begging a neurologist to diagnose me,
Starting point is 00:51:07 and then I think while they're here, they can check out Gourley. Yes, voicemail it is. Let's have at it. Eduardo. Hi Conan, my name is Rebecca, and I live in Worcester, Massachusetts, which I know you're very familiar with, right?
Starting point is 00:51:20 I actually am listening to you right now, and I paused the episode because I got so excited. You said that your new podcast facility has a birthing center in it and I am 34 weeks pregnant. So I'm due on March 15th which is about five weeks away. So I didn't know if maybe since you are a doula, I could be the first person to give birth in your new facility. Thanks for considering that.
Starting point is 00:51:49 Bye bye. Well, I have a lot to say. First of all, congratulations, Rebecca. And my greetings to everyone in Worcester, Massachusetts. That is the town in sort of South Central Massachusetts where pretty much my entire family is from on both sides. And I still have a lot of family in Worcester and so many of my father, uncles,
Starting point is 00:52:10 all went to Holy Cross College. So Worcester looms large in my memory and in my heart. Rebecca, when I said that there was a birthing center here at the Largemont Studios, I was lying. There isn't an actual birthing center. I apologize. I think I got off on one of my crazy rifts or tangents. Maybe I was talking in an aspirational way. Do you recall me saying we had a birthing center? It was with Kelly Quirk.
Starting point is 00:52:38 Yeah. And who said we had a birthing center? Was it myself? No, maybe it was Matt. Well, it doesn't matter. But this recording studio used to be at OBGY. Wasn't it a- No. No, no. We were just making a joke on the killing quote. No, no, no, it was just a, it was an office,
Starting point is 00:52:53 it was a place where people met and did business. I'm talking before Jane Club. Wait a minute, this is interesting. Adam Sacks is getting on mic. Adam, tell us what the story is. So when we got the space, it was, immediately before us was the Jane Club, which was a coworking space
Starting point is 00:53:05 for working moms, kind of like a WeWork for working moms. There was a childcare area where working moms could bring their kids. But before that, I think it was owned, my understanding, owned by an OBGYN who worked, obviously, like crazy hours around the clock. And so this actual studio, before we moved in here, was shaped like, if you remember,
Starting point is 00:53:25 it was octagonal in shape. It had padded walls and they wanted it to be soundproofed and black and quiet so that when the doctor came home, she could sleep at any time. Oh, it wasn't for pregnant women. No, no, no. It was a personal home. It was for the doctor, the OBGYN, to to be able to sleep, because she kept strange hours. Got it. Yes. But either way, I think there was a very nurturing energy in this room, and we've carried that forward.
Starting point is 00:53:53 Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Can't any room be a birthing room? Do you really need the like sterile stuff? Can it just- Uh, excuse me. We just consult 180 years of proven medical history? Let's see, Dr. Lister. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:54:13 No, you need a sterile environment. But you know, I mean, what about like, there's a lot of women who just can't wait till they get to the hospital. We can be that kind of space. Say, do you want to give birth in an area that reminds you of giving birth in like a hotel lobby? You can come here where nothing is sterile. So what you're basically saying is someone should make a plan to come here and have a
Starting point is 00:54:35 baby in an unsterile environment. Yeah. I mean, if that's how we're going to do it. No, Rebecca, listen, first of all, I'm thinking of you and this birth is coming on March 15th, but you should definitely not have your baby here at our Larchmont facility. It is not a sterile environment. And in fact, boy are we slobs.
Starting point is 00:54:53 I mean, there is, right? No. We are. It's very nice and neat here. No, there's a kitchen right here. But also, Erica Brown runs a very tight ship. If she sees you leave a glass, and it doesn't matter if it's you or anybody,
Starting point is 00:55:05 she'll make you pick it up. That's true, but I'm constantly knocking food out of your hands, so there's probably crumbs everywhere. There are. Maybe stop so people could have babies here. That's finally a good reason for me not to knock food Thank you. out of a grown woman and mother of two's hands.
Starting point is 00:55:25 Yes, thank you. It's something that we could look into because we do have, well, no, we're pretty much using every room here now. I don't think there's a space in this facility that we could convert into a birthing room. But how would you feel about being a doula? Cause I think Rebecca mentioned that you-
Starting point is 00:55:41 I'm cool with that. So you could be there present at birth helping women deliver. Listen, I was quite present and involved in the birth of both of my children. I think I'm a natural doula. I did shriek the whole time. And I had to be physically restrained by orderlies.
Starting point is 00:55:58 But other than that, I think I'd be a fine doula. You'd be terrible. What are you talking about? I'd be cracking them jokes and making, doing bits. Oh, and delivering the baby as a character. Yeah, I'm an old gold miner. That's part of it. But also you're very squeamish about female bodies.
Starting point is 00:56:12 And you know, you're just kind of like so like repressed that you'd be like, do I have to look at your vagina when it comes out? Oh, I wouldn't be near the vagina. Just where the baby comes out. What? Do you know how it works? The stork chute.
Starting point is 00:56:27 Yeah. There's a door. What door? Where's the door? Upper middle back. I blacked out, but for both babies. And then they told me later on that's what happened. It's a mahogany door.
Starting point is 00:56:40 And it's got a little knocker. Drawn on in magic marker. Yeah, it's got a little knocker and door opens. in magic markers. Yeah, it's got a little knocker and the door opens. And the baby walks out wearing a top hat and says, let the life begin. No. I actually don't have the heart to break it to you. Let's go with that. That's good.
Starting point is 00:56:57 Yeah, I think that's a better story. I'm sticking with it. OK. Anyway, any birth that involves a mahogany door between the shoulder blades, I'm fine with. But I'm not getting near any vagina! That's not happening, Rebecca! That's not happening, Rebecca!
Starting point is 00:57:14 Anyway, Rebecca, thanking you and your new arrival, and very happy for you. Peace out. Conan O'Brien needs a friend. With Conan O'Brien, Sonam of Sessian, and Matt Gorley. Produced by me, Matt Gorley. Executive produced by Adam Sachs, Nick Leow, and Jeff Ross at Team Coco,
Starting point is 00:57:36 and Colin Anderson and Cody Fisher at Earwolf. Theme song by The White Stripes. Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino. Take it away, Jimmy. ["Sona of Sessian"] Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair, Stripes. Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino. Take it away, Jimmy. Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair and our associate talent producer is Jennifer Samples. Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnik. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Battista and Brit Kahn.
Starting point is 00:58:01 You can rate and review this show on Apple podcasts and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the Team Coco Hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.