Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Cole Escola

Episode Date: July 15, 2025

Cole Escola just feels so lucky that they get to play. Amy hangs with the 'Oh, Mary!' star and talks about being annoying instead of boring, having the perfect face for wigs, and their favorite restaurant, Uncle Gino's. Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: Amy Sedaris and Cole EscolaExecutive Producers: Bill Simmons, Amy Poehler, and Jenna Weiss-BermanFor Paper Kite Productions: Executive producer Jenna Weiss-Berman, coordinator Sam Green, and supervising producer Joel LovellFor The Ringer: Supervising producers Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin; video producers Jack Wilson, Belle Roman, Francis X Bernal Jr., Caroline Jannace, and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal Music: Amy Miles The ultimate wireless hack. Make the switch at https://www.visible.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Very excited that we have our guest today, Colescola. Cole is an incredible performer. They wrote an original play, Oh, Mary, which was a huge hit on Broadway and which gave them the Tony Award. And we're going to talk to them about a lot of things today, about struggling in New York City. We're going to talk about their love for Martha Stewart. And we're going to talk about what are they filling their days and nights with now that they've stepped away from their very famous play, which is still going on, by the way. which depicts a very insane Mary Todd Lincoln with zero research. Highly recommend. Before we get started, though, we are going to check in with someone who knows Cole, who has a question for them. And that person is comedy legend, incredible performer, and just the funniest lady around Amy Sedaris.

Amy? This is Amy. This episode of Good Hang. is presented by Walmart, school supplies. We all remember getting them. I remember trapper keepers and so many colored pens, but now I'm sure there's a million more things to get. And thankfully, Walmart has essential back-to-school supplies starting at 25 cents. Plus all the latest tech started at $9. Who knew? Hello Kitty pencil cases, Nintendo notebooks, food-shaped erasers, Chromebooks, keyboards, and more at low Walmart prices. They even have Lilo and Stitch headphones,

owned. Who knew? Shop walmart.com to score their favorite back-to-school tech and supplies. Well, first of all, hi, thank you for doing this. Oh, sure. Happy to be doing this. We're talking to Cola Skola today. And your relationship with them is, runs really deep. and it's very special. And I think a lot of people were very, very excited that they won the Tony and very excited to hear your name. I was just a surprise.

Yeah, that was so sweet of Cole to mention my name. Maybe because they owe me $5,000. I don't know. Do you think now where you are in life you could do, O'Mary? Me? Well, I was going to say, why? aren't you, you should do, oh, Mary. I don't know if I had the energy anymore for that schedule. I don't think I could do it, you know, eight days a week. I mean, I'd like to for, you lose weight,

you get muscle. I mean, that aspect, live audience, but man, that's a brutal schedule. That's for a young person. I was just at someone's pool the other day and a little kid challenged us, challenged us to all jump in at the same time. And my ears are still ringing. And it's just from jumping in a pool. Jumping in a pool. I woke up this morning. I was like, oh, I have like swimmers' ear.

Everything hurts. And all he did was just gently jump into a pool. What did I do? What did I do? And then you're like, oh, wait a minute. Yeah. I know, I was thinking about you because I was thinking I'm sure Cole would love for you to do, oh, Mary, and you would be perfect in it.

But I know that the schedule is wild. It's too wild. And the whole point would be to work with Cole. I work really well with them, and that's fun, too, to discover that. We work really well together. I know. So tell me about it. I mean, I know a lot of people saw them play chassis on your show.

So how did you start working together? I saw Cole orange juice commercial on YouTube. And then I worked with Cole on your show on difficult people. And then I was just looking for a good neighbor. And I was like, it didn't matter male, females. It's got to be this person. It's got to be cold. And, you know, always came in prepared.

Always came in with lines in their back pocket. Everyone loved coal on set. It makes perfect sense that you two love to work together and, you know, we're drawn to each other like magnets. Because I think the same thing about you, Amy. Like, you're such a real artist and such a genuine... Where you go? For listeners, Amy just leaned really close into the camera.

Got really like a moth to a flame. Ping, ping. Nipples. I guess it'd be ping, ping, down. There's never been anything self, in my opinion, about you. Never been anything that feels self-conscious or even kind of aware of what's kind of expected of you. And Cole is the same way. And because of it, your art feels so specific and satisfying and unique.

And that's nice for you to say, is that why I'm not working? Mm-hmm. Yeah. So you've never done a Broadway show? No. That's nuts. I've never done Broadway. Off-Broadway of dumb, but have you?

No. Okay. Well, sounds like we got to do something. Oh, that would be fun. Let's write something where it's just, it's a 45-minute show. It starts at 6 p.m. and we sit down the whole time. And wheelchairs.

Yeah, I bless that. Grab bars, speed rails, wheelchairs. So we've been asking people who know our guests, who are fans of our guests, to give me a question to ask them. I mean, my joke questions always, if you could have anyone over dead or alive, what would you serve? Because then you could judge person on what you would make for these people. And also, and I get interviewed a lot that I'll ask, like, what do we not know about you? And that's kind of hard because one thing about Cole that I really admire and also about young people is they're so, you know, they'll tell you anything. You know, you ask them a question.

They're so honest and open about it. You're like, oh, my God, isn't that private or, you know, like, well, what don't we know about you since you've been telling your whole life story? So that might, for me, it's I have high blood pressure, not high blood pressure, cholesterol. People would be surprised to know that about me. I always say Cole's an old soul, young spirit. I have that, the joke question, and the lesson. Oh, I was curious after all this entire journey, like if Cole had to write a memoir right now,

like what would the name of it be? Like, this is a huge success story, don't you think? Totally. That is such a great question. For people who are want to be performers, this story of O'Mary, the story of the show that Cole wrote started, and then one, the Tony is what is the best version of writing something for yourself.

Yes. Success story. Yeah. Success story. I wonder if there's going to be a movie. If it would be really, who would be good in the movie? It would be like, I say get Linda Hunt in there somewhere. Linda.

I want more Linda Hunt. Well, I'm so fascinated by what's behind you in your apartment because you have the best taste. Well, I'm doing a photo shooting here. today. That's my new miniature dollhouse that I decided to have built into my fireplace because I have a lot of miniatures. And so just put that together last night. What's your favorite miniature in that behind you there? Wheelchair, the wheelchair. It's well-made. It's handmade. It's beautiful crutches. You know, that they don't make any more homemade handmade, handmade umbrellas out of toothpicks. Ooh. Yeah, I have a really nice collection. Bear skin rug.

Those are the only things you'd grab if there was a fire. That's it. Yes. You're right. Thanks, Amy. Thanks for your time. Thanks so much. Great to see you.

Bye. This episode is brought to you by Visible. Some searches lead to answers. Others lead to niche conspiracy theories about pigeons. Thankfully, Visible is the wireless that keeps up so you can follow the weird wherever it goes. Get one line wireless with unlimited data, talk, and text. for $25 a month, taxes and fees included. Plus, Visible runs on Verizon's 5G network

so you get great coverage and a reliable connection without the premium cost. Ready for wireless that lets you live in the know? Make the switch at visible.com. One line wireless starting at $25 a month. Terms apply. See Visible.com for planned features and network management details.

Cole, I'm so happy you're here. But I haven't seen you. I've obviously seen you on stage and I've seen you on TV and I've seen you everywhere. but I haven't seen you in person in a minute. How is it feeling having just finished your run? I know we're just catching you. It feels insane.

We kind of joke sometimes here about like how we always talk about like hard work and acting is work and hard work. And in many ways it's not that hard. This is not that hard. No. But what you do is very hard. 8 shows a week is really like I used to think like, well, you have your days free. Totally. Like, oh, come on. But I, I, I will never, I will never think that way about Broadway people or theater people ever again.

It is the hardest job. So hard. So hard. And the hardest part of your day is at the end of your day. So it's like you can't even enjoy your day. Well, but I slept, I go to sleep at like 5 a.m. Okay. Talk to me about your sleep. Okay, so I'm kind of weird. I'm like one of those quirky kind of people. No, I mean, I do the show. I'm like vibrating, hyper. I eat after the show.

I have acid reflux, so I need to wait at least three hours. Which one is this mine? Is this mine? I just realized that I have that too, but I didn't really know what to call it, but it was like, oh, when I would be performing. Like, what's this burning in my throat? I hate that. Pass the marinera, please.

Yeah, yeah. So what did you have post-show? Was it a similar meal or different? It was, you know, not a lot's open at like 10 p.m. So it was either Indian food, which is great for acid reflux because it's very mild, you know. Yeah, just some cool spices. Just some spicy sauce. Amy Sedaris always says, hot creamy meal straight to bed.

So, yeah, that or like a bowl, like just slop. And the most chaotic bowl, just like adding ingredients, not considering what they will add up to. Yeah, how they're going to marry. I like oranges. So you get your bowl or your food. You eat and then you would then stay up until 5 in the morning. Yeah, yeah. Just like basically being on your phone, looking at TV.

Being on my phone, watching YouTube videos, Marco Poloing my friends. Do you use Marco Polo? Yes, I love Marco Polo. It's the best. I thought that it was a Gen X thing, but Millennials like Marco Polo? Millennials are dipping their toes into Marco Polo. Gen Z could not be more. Yeah, they're embarrassed.

They're embarrassed and Gen Alpha don't have phones. They're like, you're sick. Their phones are in their head. Yeah, exactly. They're implanted in their heads. Yeah. But I am, like, kind of obsessed with the fact that you have this open spaces, like, you're a wide open space now. Yeah.

What are you going to do? To be honest, I was really, I was really like, I got good hang on Monday. I'll just, that's my next, I'll get there, and then we'll figure it out. So, so there's a part of you that, like, wants that structure and you're going to have to figure out how to structure. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sort of, you know, like, um, when you get off of a. boat, for those of you that own boats, like we do.

Everyone, everyone listening owns a boat. You know, when you get off your boat, or one of your boats, when you get off your biggest boat, and you're like, you're wobbly, your sea legs. That's how I feel. I used to say that about S&L, like, leaving S&L was like a train pulling away. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And you kind of like got all the gravel kicked up and it sped away.

And you could kind of hear the chatter and the laughter. and also you are kind of like like glad you weren't on the train both those things because for people who don't know O'Mary is continuing on without you Yes, Titus Burgess starts tonight Wow

Again, yeah Right He did it for three weeks And now he's back for six And then after that Jinks monsoon And then after that you haven't announced yet We don't even know yet

So what is it like to create a character Good Yeah, great But, I mean, how do you pick who's going to do it? And I'm sure you're at a point now where people are emailing you and saying, I would like to do it. Yeah. Much must be interesting. Yeah.

I bet you're thinking about people who want to do it. What is that process like? It was, you know, the first, it really started after the first replacement, which was Betty Gilpin, who took this part and this job so seriously, like, trained for it. And, and, like, and I think people weren't lining up to take over the role yet because they wanted to sort of see, like, how it would go if someone else did it. And she was, like, brave enough to be like, no, I know this would be, like, the role of a lifetime for me. So I want to jump at it. And she was incredible. And it felt like really validating to watch, I don't know, someone love the part.

Well, you're playing a version of Mary Todd Lincoln based on no research. Yes. And it's this tour to force. That part allows whoever is playing it to swing for the fences. Yeah, yeah. And it's what I love, if I may, what I love so much about it and loved, and I saw you, only you in it. But, and I can't wait to see more people in it. But what I loved about it is it was like this place where you could go really, really big.

But it was very moving. Oh, thanks. Really moving. It's hard to do both of those things. Thank you. I think you do those things, both of those things really well together. Thanks. Yeah, I, that was my goal was like to, like, I even wrote it on my dressing room mirror.

Like, can you love me if I'm annoying? Oh, like, that's good. Yeah. Can you root for someone who's annoying? That's what I wanted. Because, you know, I'm sure you feel this way too, like, I'm annoying, you know, I'm too much. Yes. Yeah.

That is, in fact, a friend of mine has a game where she says, boring or annoying. Mm-hmm. So you categorize people into boring or annoying. Both are, no one wants to be either. No one wants to be either. That's a good one. Give me annoying, over boring. Absolutely.

Any day. Yeah, yeah. Give me someone who tries too hard. Of course. Yeah, absolutely. And I'm in the annoying camp. And it... So what I'm hearing is because the show has ended, this is like an existential nightmare for you.

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It would be for me too. It would be like, it's just like, what do I do with my day? What is my life? And you've hit the peak. You got the Tony.

Like there's nowhere to go, but down, babe. I know. Truly down or like, like leave the business. Across. Yeah, across. Like, just jump in a river and, you know. Change my name. Yeah. Don't bring my phone. Like, burn my fingerprints off. Did you feel, I hope you felt this way, but I know collectively people that were watching you win. We're really angry. They were, yeah. I mean, there was riding in streets. Yeah, I saw. It was like when the Eagles won the... The what?

Sorry, that's for the guys, for the dads, for the dads who listen. No, but you, but you, when you won, it felt like people, it felt like you were carrying the hopes and dreams of a lot of people. Okay, well... Did you feel that pressure at all? Not pressure, I felt like, um, the best part of the whole experience was like people that I, used that I have been performing with for like 15 years that like Joe's pub or the duplex or like or people that came to see the shows like so happy for me like that was the best feeling like I scored a goal for the team yeah everyone felt invested in it because it felt like they felt

like they were part of it and they saw it when it was smaller and then getting bigger and growing and it felt like this like you know it was a rare combination your show oh mary of feeling indie and small and private and just for you and the entire Broadway community and the entire country coming and feeling the same way too. It was a wild combo of both those things. The whole country came. We looked at the numbers. Yeah.

There was like four. Even like South Dakota. Yeah, there were four people in South Dakota who like. Said they were going to come. Yeah. And they still might. They so might. But yeah.

it's time to go away, I think. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Take a little break. Oh, I, like, if I'm sick of me, I can only imagine how my friends feel. I know that nobody actually knows who I am, but the people who do, they've had a lot of me this past year. But I've got to say, you have handled it pitch perfect, Cole. Like, you've been so funny, like, super funny. Like, self-deprecating. but not like falsely modest you've been in like it really feels like you've been feeling the oh my god i just no i'm now you're ruining it to work with people that you respect and like this is

my job i know like i get to play i get to play i get to come here and this is this is my work like who am i to complain i'm so lucky i'm so so lucky. Like, I don't even remember who got nominated. Like, the award is not the thing. No, and we were like, we were all rooting for each other. Yeah, I mean, the best part has been getting to know people. I actually hate, when they called my name, my heart broke.

I thought George Clooney, like. Like my friend. My friend. My friend George. Now he's going to Lake Como without this trophy. And that's like. And I get to have it, so I sent it to him. I sent it.

I did. You did. And you sent it from the heart. I sent it from the heart. Or I sent him a picture of it. Yeah, yeah. With my finger, yeah. Yeah, you're not going to give him the real.

No, no, no, no. No, he doesn't deserve it. It's too many. And famous, you ran up there famously. You really hustled up there. Why? They tell you you have 90 seconds from when they call your name to the end of the speech. It's so crazy.

So I was like, I want to. talk for as long as possible. That's my... That was your goal. It's always been my goal. Like, when I was a kid and they would ask, like, oh, what song do you want to sing? I would sing the 12 days of Christmas

because it was the longest song that I knew. And still the longest song. But so I was just like, well, I want to be able to thank everyone that I had in my head because I didn't write anything down stupidly. Such a good speech. Such a good speech. Thanks.

But I left so many people. people out. But that's okay because what you did is, like, I think you learn a lot about somebody when they give a speech because to your point, you were aware of the time. Yeah. You were trying to use it to your advantage. Yeah. It's shocking to me how many people get up there and they go like, anyway. And you're like, time is ticking. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't believe you are taking so much time. It's also that thing that I think it was on this podcast that Tina said to you about like that Steve Martin said So this is like

You gotta kill every time Yes It's like I do feel that Yes You have to be funny And you have to be gracious But you have to be Like you have to produce that moment

Yeah And you produced it really well Thanks So played a good game And we just feel really good About where we're out right now Numbers wise Just got to stay in it

And hope for the best Now I heard this straight Straight character You did on Colbert Yeah Do you have a straight woman, my age voice? Your age? No, just older.

Okay, like a boomer woman's straight. Yeah, yeah, yeah, like my mother. Yeah, what is that kind of character? Well, I'm a little bit hoarse, so my voice is a little lower than I'd like it. But we were going to go up Saturday and just see what Tracy and... and then we're going to cook and just sort of just nothing. For people who can't see Cole is touching their head a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you're right, just a little aggrieved and a tiny, like a tiny headache. Yeah, tiny headache just thinking about, just like talking. That's my favorite. I mean, when I was growing up, just hearing small talk between, women at the store was my just heaven Well you were raised

primarily by women Yeah Yeah by my mother And my grandmother And I loved my grandmother's friends And You know Complaining about health issues

Okay but you grew up in Oregon Thanks And And that's not I'm not trying to make you feel bad No You grew up in Oregon You got in a community theater

You made your way to New York Yeah. What was like the first, like, can you just paint a picture of when you first arrived in New York City? How old? 18. Yeah. I mean, fresh from my, like, hometown, you know. And then the first place I lived was the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side.

Now imagine an 18-year-old little gay kid coming to New York City and that is their first impression of New York, the Upper East Side. thinking like, wow. I can't wait to have fun. Old men. Old men. Wow. Oh, wow. These restaurants close at 6 p.m.

This is amazing. Yeah. And why did you end up over there? I went to, we can bleep the name of the school out. Okay. Boop. For one year, one calendar year. And their dorms were at the...

And why did you drop out of college? Couldn't afford it. like I couldn't even afford to take out any more loans. Was that stressful? Were you thinking like this is a nightmare that I can't. No, I was heart. No, no, no. I was heartbroken.

I was like, I didn't know how I was going to get back to New York because I sort of figured this out. The first summer I came back home, I was working at a church camp with my brother, mowing lawns, digging post holes, washing dishes. And, um, and, um, and, uh, Then I found out, like, they're not going to give you any more loans because you don't have, unless you have a guarantor. Right. And all the adults in my life were poor. Yeah.

And I hated them for that. I was like, it was so juvenile to be like, well, maybe if you'd make better of my choices, mom, I could live out my dreams. And now I'm like, thank God I don't have student loans. Yes. I don't have student loans because I could. I couldn't afford to go to school. I mean, rejection is God's protection. Thank you.

I love when you came up with that. I always say that. I came up with that. I remember when you came up with that. What did you do, though, at 19, then you just worked hard. Yeah, I worked at the scholastic bookstore playing Clifford, the big red dog. Wow. And, I mean, I worked at the cash register as well, but that was, I really came alive when I played Clifford. You know.

And you were living. with who then? Like renting a room from someone? Renting a room in a railroad apartment where a complete stranger had to walk through my room to get to his bedroom and often I had like

one season of Sex in the City on DVD and he would always I was always missing one disc and then it would appear back the next day and then it would disappear and it would He took it. It was a straight guy and he was like jerking off to it

Oh, I wonder which episodes. And this was like, I mean, this was what year, 2008? So, porn was available online. Yeah, he could have. But there was just something about. Just something about Kim Cottrell, I guess. Yeah, probably that. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, I get it.

Hey, I get it. We both do. We both get it. When did you first get paid to be an actor? I mean, other than Clifford, but. Well, but my first paying job was when I was, when I was 11. Really?

I was in like a regional production of the grapes of wrath. I made $50. Total. Okay. Yeah. I played Winfield Jode. Okay. My lines were, um,

Ma, Ma, look, over there. Great. Yeah. That's, that's, that's, $50. But I did come up with, um, um, I, I've said this already to Mo Rocca. I'm sorry for those of you. God, then we're going to cut it.

If you've already put it on Rocca. But I think you'll appreciate this. At 11, I came up with, there's a scene where everyone's like saying grace over food. And I came up with stage business of like opening my eye and stealing a piece of food. Oh, my God. Yeah. I have a similar story, which is when I was about that age, 10 or 11, I was Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. and I have to...

Great comedic part, by the way. Hilarious. So many laughs. And they, because it was the 80s, they just gave us a real dog. They were like, hold this real dog. You know, it was just someone's dog. And I had the dog the whole day and no one fed it. And it was, and I would never do that now.

Yeah. But someone just gave us a dog. I was 10. And there's a moment where Dorothy says, like, where the tornado starts. And Dorothy says, Toto, Toto, where are you? Yeah. And in the first show, I was holding Toto. And I got a laugh, but not the kind I wanted.

Right, right. They were laughing at me. Yeah. And you clocked that right away. I clocked it. So in the second show, I put the dog down, and I walked a few feet away from me. And then I said, Toto, Toto, where are you? And everyone was like, now that's clever.

And it was like, a star is born. But it's so true. That feeling when you're like, wait, I can do something else, the mischief part. Yeah, yeah. Well, did you feel like, was there ever a time where you were like, well, I don't want to be an actor because it's not fun? Because the way I felt was like, oh, being a performer means, you know, acting school and doing our town. And I was like, I don't think that's for me. So I guess I don't want to perform.

I think, yeah, I didn't know anyone who was an actor. Yeah. I didn't think it was a job that I could do. But I think even from a very early age, I was like, whatever I want to do, I want to be in control. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, like, I wasn't good at auditions. Yeah, same. Because it was like, I don't know if you don't.

No, whenever I get sides, I'm like, oh, you know who should get this. God. And I call my manager and I'm like, are they seeing Gideon for this? How about Taylor Trench? Because he would nail this. And also, as a writer, I feel like I don't, I need to know, I need to really trust the writer to, to, or like feel like I really understand the right. Because I think so much of acting, you have to be a little delusional and be like, oh, yeah, I know how to do this. Yeah.

I know what they're going for. When I read a script, I'm like, oh, I'd love to sit down with the writer and see, why? Now, why she's saying this? Yeah. I know. You have to, yeah, you just have to kind of overcome insecurity and just assume that everyone is supposed to be looking at you. Like, I actually know how to do this more than the writer knows. Yeah, I struggle with it all the time about, like, working for other.

We've, we've all witnessed that. We've watched you on sets sort of flounder. We're all just so on. We've heard you struggle. Come on, come on, come on. Oh, get those lines out. It would be a great scene where you're acting and you pan to the other side of the monitor

and everyone's like, girl. Sweat. Sweeting. Sweeting. You're like, you know it, girl. Yeah. Why just survive back to school when you can thrive

by creating a space that does it all for you, no matter the size. Whether you're taking over your parents' basement or moving to campus, IKEA has hundreds of design ideas and affordable options to complement any budget. After all, you're in your small space era. It's time to own it.

Shop now at IKEA.ca. We work together on a show called Difficult People. Speaking of great writers, Julie Klausner, and Billy Eichner, and Scott King, and we were all working together on a show, and that was a lot of fun. That was so much fun. That was like, and that was a situation where, like, I trusted Julie. completely and like the character was I just got it immediately and the character was Matthew this um basically demon twink yeah um yeah full of himself musical theater um villain yeah he was a

gay villain um in a way that like like the way that like you said oh you understand you you have a love for women Julie has a love for awful gay guys Yes Yeah Totally A deep love and respect

A deep love and respect And she is so good at writing That those kind of characters That you You know you're kind of rooting for And also afraid of Yeah Yeah

At the same time Like you don't want to leave the room While they're around They'll destroy you Yeah Yeah that was a really good experience That was so fun. Yeah.

And I feel like... God, we had so many laughs. This is what I'm saying. Like, we just get to play. We get to play. Yeah. I mean, but it's also hard. It's hard work.

It is, but it's like so rewarding too. And it's like, like when I think of like, you know, like where I came from and like what my parents did to like, how dare I complain? You know, how dare I? You know? And someone's like, ma'am, your coffee is ready. I'm just trying to hand you your coffee. I just asked you if this was your coffee. Thank you.

I appreciate it. I won't be tipping, but thank you. Yeah. Okay, so you have a... You know who I heard doesn't tip? No, I'll tell you later. Oh. I'm just kidding.

Did you have you ever waited tables? I was a... I was a buser. And then I worked, I was a, I worked at a bakery. I was a counterperson at the bakery. I feel like you would be very good front of house. I'm not because I don't, uh, well, I, I, So I also did sex work, breaking news, and that was...

And that's front of house. That's front of house. That's all how... That's front and back. Front and back of house. Yeah. Yeah, price difference, but you... What do you want?

You want the front of house or the back of house tonight? 50 bucks for the back of house. And you do a whole thing where you didn't have a reservation for them. Your name's not on the list. It's not on the list. again. Sorry. Yeah.

Yeah. That was way, way, way, way less demoralizing than service job. Yes. Like, because A, sex work, I was in control. Like, I named my price. It was also like the money for the time spent. Right. You know, making $100 in an hour.

And, you know, this was different time, okay? This was a long time ago. That was a lot of money back then, okay? That was a lot of money back then. This was pre-tony. This is pre-toney, okay? So I couldn't charge what I could charge now. Now I could get it easy, 140.

Of course. That Tony bump? Yeah, please, the Tony bump. But, like, that versus making $10 an hour, having people yell at you because their chocolate cake is dry. learning is like control, creative control, especially, control of your time, structure is very important to you. And therefore you use all of those.

I use people. Yeah. Yeah. I use people. That's the only thing we're going to pull from this is you saying I use people and we're going to put it on a loop like a boomerang. Just like keep injecting it throughout the whole episode. And why is that?

Seven times. I use people. Yeah. It's going to be like a Howard Stern clip. play over and over again, that Fred presses a button, and then it goes, I use people. No, but you took all the strengths to make the show that you made because it's like you created, I mean, it is so hard to write a show, and you've done a few of them. Yeah, I've been in New York for 20 years this year.

Yeah. And I probably started writing and performing like my third year here. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know it's, it's. And I just couldn't be more grateful for, like, Because that experience, it's like, I look back on it.

Wait, wait, I just want to say, like, keep going. Keep going. If you're out there and you're thinking, is it going to happen for me, it will. It absolutely will. Sir, we got your test results back. And I've been trying to tell you. Thank you so much. Yeah.

I need to, we really need you to see a doctor. But what I want, so I talk, so when you, when you thanked Amy Sedaris, that was a big deal for a lot of people. And it was, and you thanked many people in your speech. And for people that know Amy Sedaris's work, what it felt like was, I can't explain it other than this genuine moment of a friend who was there for you. and you thanked a lot of your friends who were there for you for a long time. Yeah. That's, it was really special to, to feel that.

I, yeah. I really want, I thought, like, who do I want to hear from the next day? Like, who, like, John and Claudette, like, all of my friends that I thanked were, like, what? They sent me a picture of their, like, jaws hanging open. Like, you, I can't believe you thanked me. But, like, I, like, my friends are my, the most important people in my life and I would you know what am I going to like you know pull up

some corny ass teacher from sorry you've never had a teacher never had a teacher not once you've never had a teacher you brag about that yeah yeah no but but also you saying that's so that's so interesting that you say that who do you want to hear from because also when you mention Amy and and John and Jeffrey and Claudia like you're also like sending a signal of like, this is the kind of artist I am. Because those kind of artists, Amy, specifically, Cedaris, you know, who, when I came to Chicago, she was the senior.

Yeah. Like, she was on stage. She was Queen Bee. She was Queen Bee. And she, like you, had this true artist vibe, which was, like, they, they make commercial work that people will love, but they're making it for themselves. Like, there's not a feeling of what should we do that's going to work

or it's interesting. It's just like, I just want to do what me and my friends will think is good. And we talked to Amy before this podcast. Oh, boy. Let me have some Coke Zero.

Uh-huh. And she loves you and talked about how thrilling it was to hear her name and how she was watching with everybody and it was very exciting. And your appearances

on her show were so stupid and money. Yeah, thanks. Incredible wigs on that show. Oh, my God. The best, yeah. Amy is such an expert on wigs. And I'm sure you are at this point, too.

I've given up a little bit. Okay, okay. I'm sure you know how to put on your own wig. For people who don't know how to put on their own wig, what are some tips? Honestly, some people just don't have a face for wigs. And I have the perfect face for wigs. You do have a great face for wigs. Look, I'm not saying I'm stunning.

You are stunning. But I'm not saying that You said it I'm not saying I have a lot of faults My teeth don't match None of them look like they belong together But my face

Is perfect for wigs And I can admit that It is every single wig changes your face Thank you And every single time you put on a wig I just feel lucky that I get to do it Sorry Sorry

It's just it's play It's play. Like, it's my, my job is to play? Like, are you kidding? Like, I show up. You're kidding me? Every day I'm like, pinch me. Ew, ew.

Ew. Yeah. But, I mean, yeah. But, okay, so you do Amy's show. Uh-huh. You thank her at the Tonies. And she had a couple questions for you. Okay.

Great questions, of course, because it's Amy a genius. She had two questions. One was, if you could have a dinner party for anyone alive or dead, what would you serve? I hate cooking. Well, I hate doing dishes. Yeah. And I'm also someone who, if the recipe says, like, it takes an hour and 15 minutes, I need four hours. Yeah.

because I'm doing every step like four times in my head, repeating it back to myself, Marco Poloing a friend, explaining it to them. Taking notes on that Marco Polo? Yeah, taking notes on that Marco Polo. I would make mashed potatoes. A big bowl of it. Big bowl of mashed potatoes.

And who would be at your dinner party? I know it's a hard question. Yeah. Alive or dead. The alive or dead part. Okay, Martha Stewart. Oh, but then I wouldn't want to... But you'd want her when she was dead.

I would want her dead, yeah. Half dead. Dying. Yeah. I would want to serve cold mashed potatoes to dying Martha Stewart. That makes sense. That's my dream dinner party. Her last bite.

I would get to say like, you know, I served Martha her last bite. Yes, and she was like, mm. I was like, um, cold. You know, she... I was obsessed with Martha as a child. I was Her show from the 90s You know where it was like in her home

Yes And she would be like While the pie's baking Let's retile the roof It was like She just assumed like You can do it There's time

Yeah It takes 45 minutes for the pie That's plenty of time for the roof Get up there That's the best thing about waspy energy Which I never knew growing up I wasn't around it And when I was finally around it

In college I couldn't believe how much the women got done in a day. Yeah. It was a lot of mucking about and getting things done. She's in a cranberry bog, you know, while her steaks marinating. Yeah. She's doing it.

She's really doing it. And then, but I would, I would, I was, I loved her show so much and I wanted to be like a Connecticut wasp, you know, but I would spend all of my birthday money on Christmas decorations because I wanted to, you know, copy her. Because Christmas was the most important holiday for Martha. Christmas is the most important holiday. But I met her

a year ago at this little dinner and we were sitting, we were alone at a table because no one else had sat down yet. And I'm like, don't talk to her. Leave her alone. She doesn't need to know how much she means to you. And she just looks over at me

and she goes, are you merry? And I was like, um, yeah. And she was like, I haven't seen the show yet, but I love history. And I'm dying to see the show. She hasn't come, but it's fine because that's, I have that. I have the memory of her looking at me from across the table and saying, are you married? It was like, yeah.

Anyway, so yeah, that's to answer the question I would serve her dying body. Dying Martha, cold mashed potatoes. Do you, this leads me to this question, which is you have so many people have come to your show. Yeah. And you are a big fan of a lot of the people that came to your show. Who stands out as people that was like, wow, I can't believe they're here? Well, Rosie O'Donnell was big for me because I would run home after school every day to watch her show.

And that's like, that was my only avenue to seeing Broadway performers was her show, you know. That was big Elaine May That was huge That's it Everyone else could fuck off for all I care Get out of here Get out of here Yeah

But you would greet people after your show is so tiring Oh I love it You do I do I do Maybe because I wrote it Yeah So it's like it feels from me Yeah

So maybe if I was just doing Just acting in someone else's show, I'd be like, can I please just go home? I felt a little codependent when I got the chance to see you after your show. Really? I felt a little codependent about like taking up your time

because I just felt, I know, but you were so generous and I was like, wow, Cole's being so generous with their time after the show because I just felt like, oh, you must be so tired. No, I have to get to bed. But now I know you had hours before you would sleep. Hours before I would sleep. And also, like, the thing, people after the show are like,

I know you hear this. a lot, but you're, I'm like, I don't, it's never enough. A, we're not performers because like, you know what, I'm fulfilled. I don't need any more validation at all. Now I just do it for you. No. And also, like, every show, I'm working my ass on. Like, I, I, I want to hear after every show feedback, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And so I was, I would, I'm sure that the stage manager and director were so thick of me, I would be like, just like I would come off stage gasping for notes, being like, scene three. I know I didn't get there. I know I didn't get there, but I think I stuck the landing at four, right? They'd be like, yeah, it was the show.

It was the show you've done it 500 times. It was just like the rest of them. But that's the way to keep it fresh. She's like, you're just constantly tweaking it. Yeah. And the other question Amy Sedera's head was if you were to write a memoir of your past year and a half and you had to title it today what would it be called enough already

enough enough already my year on Broadway the hard way a story of love and redemption keep going through the eyes

of someone who's seen it all and lived to talk about it or slash enough already bits and bobs okay I have a few quick lightning round questions to ask

okay what is your and this is just fun these are just this is just these are just for fun okay I can relax now so now it was very serious Yeah, I felt really sick.

Yeah. The earlier stuff we do have to send to the government, but we can just keep for ourselves. Oh, honey, too late. They're listening. Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever sent the wrong text? Oh, yeah.

It's a worst nightmare. I've sent, there was someone that I had a crush on who I was very attracted to, and I went to send a picture of him to my friend. Yeah. But instead I sent him a picture of himself. And then quickly Was like

I think I said something like I love this shirt Like where'd you get it Just sweating bullets Yeah Oh yeah Have you ever sent a screenshot of Convo

Similarly like a screenshot And then sent it to the person No no I don't think I've done that I've almost done that And I you know I've definitely heard tell. Have you done that? Yes.

And I've tried to cover it by being like, can you see this? I said anything saying, wait, can you read this as if something was wrong with my phone and I was testing my phone. Well, now I know, you got to cut this out because, yeah, eight of your friends right now are like, can you see this picture? That bitch, I really thought she was going. And they were like, yeah, I do. And you're like, oh, good, because my phone has been weird and I'm trying to figure. out if my picture, if my screenshots work.

Anyway, let's get lunch, please. Anyway, love you, love you, love you, love you so much. So happy you're back with that guy. Yeah, yeah. Okay, so what is your go-to, do you use eBay? Yes. What's your go-to search term? What do you search eBay for?

I guess my most use word is vintage. Yeah, or I'll just type in an actress's name and then sort by price highest first. To get the highest item. Yeah, because that's what's going to be, you know, like, oh, this was her couch. That's smart. That's how I've, you know, I have Marlena Dietrich's library card. You do?

Yes. I've talked about this. I told Mo. I told, you know this. Amy, come on. You already told Mo this. I told everyone. And by the way, that reminds me beautiful homage to Bernadette Peters.

Oh, thanks. You dress beautiful, beautiful. And you heard from Bernadette, yes? Yeah, yeah. And that was the most, like, beautiful I've ever felt. She said, I thought they looked absolutely lovely, although when I wore it, I wore my chest hairs in a different pattern. Perfect.

But more importantly, congrats Cole on the Tony. Yeah. What a class act. A class act. Nice class. Why is Bernadette Peters important to you? I mean, as a kid, she just was Broadway, you know? Like, and

I don't know. Just, I just, she's show business, you know? My dad used to say, like, make a joke, you'd be like, the only person I would leave your mother for is Bernadette Peters. That's, I, I, now, the term a little. And I was like, why are you telling me this? This is weird.

Picking me up for my soccer game. Like, not letting you, like, putting his hand on the door before you, like, you're about to leave. He's like, wait. The only person I would leave your mother for is Bernadette Peters. Have a good day at school. You're like, I'm six. I'm six. I'm trying to go to sleep.

You're whispering this into my ear. Julie Klausner is the one that I first heard the term, a little something for the dads. When she was doing on her podcast, a. Tony's recap of Aladdin, Aladdin had performed at the Tony's, and, you know, they had sort of like, you know, the girls sort of like shimmying. And she said like, oh, you know, a little something for the dads to show like, hey, Broadway's not just for, you know, the women and those gay guys. We got a little something for you, too, fellas. And I feel like Bernadette is, you know, she's got a little something for the dads. She has a little something for the dads. It works for

the dads. Gorgeous. Okay. Sorry, lightning round. Yeah, lightning round. Sorry. Sorry, not doing this fast enough. No, me. If you could cast a modern day politician as Mary Todd Lincoln, who would it be? Lindsay Graham.

Would probably, you know, he'd probably learn a lot about himself. That's right. He might like wake up and be like, oh, my God. Is that what he sounds like? Yep. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God, Mary. Oh, my God. That's what he would call it.

I've been so bad. I'm sure sorry, everybody. You know, playing this part has taught me that it's not okay to judge, lest ye be judged. I've been so bad. I better quit, but I'm not going to. I extended my run. I'm so bad. I hope I don't get spanked for it.

I bet one of you, a man better not spank me and I better not pay you to do it. And I don't like to be chased either before. Okay. What about a famous act? Who would play the role of O'Mary in a dramatic film? I'm sure you've thought about this.

I bet there's talks about making it. movie. If there are, honey, I'm out of it. I'm out of it. Amy Sedera suggested Linda Hunt. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Linda Hunt.

Absolutely. Incredible. Cherry Jones could do it. Cherry Jones. She can do anything. She could play Lincoln, too. That would be really chilling. She would be amazing, Miss Lincoln.

Or, yeah, a Muppet. Or a Muppet. Miss Piggy. That's Mary Todd Lincoln and then everyone else is human. That's a great idea. I actually cut this because I'm going to be talking to Disney tomorrow. I know someone at them. It's not Disney. Is it Disney? I think they're Disney now. Disney on the money. Guys, can we look that up?

I hope they had good lawyers because those Muppets don't know what they're signing. No, I don't. Yeah. Boo. That's the one that you turn. Yeah. Okay. Do you believe in psychics? Do you go to psychics? Have you ever had a psychic tell you anything that came true? I I always quasi-believe astrology and all that sort of stuff

But I actually don't believe it I'm a Sagittarius Virgo moon Gemini rising Okay I don't know much about it either But I am a Virgo That's my sun sign

And you don't know you're rising My rising is Aquarius Okay And my moon is Leo Of course Of course Had to go there Favorite New York restaurant

Ooh Uncle Gino's Is that real? No Um Uh Sunday 5 p.m.

Before the dinner rush Getting that corner table at Uncle Gino's Ask for Gino Um Ask for yeah He's always there He's always there Sunday early, get the corner table, and just sit and people watch.

I love to just sit and eat my pasta and just sort of people watch. Because, you know, actors, we absorb. ABCV. ABCV is my real answer. Okay, great. What is that? It's the, you know, ABC Kitchen? Yeah. They have a vegetarian, vegan restaurant. Are you vegan?

I am, I was vegan, and then I started eating eggs last year because I was so hungry from the shows. Yeah. Of course, you need your protein. I was, for some reason, I was just craving eggs like a snake. You're lucky you're not a 50-year-old woman because we need like 47 grams of protein a day. Do you really? Or else your bones just like crumble? You turn into a bag of dusty bones.

We have to eat 45 eggs today. Oh, my God. And then lastly, if you had to choose just one cult to be in, how would you design your cult? And what would be your... Like if I was the cult leader? Well, great question. Would you like to be in it or would you like to lead it? I would like to be like the first lady of the cult.

The Sheila to the Bhagwan. Exactly. You'd like to be the lieutenant. Yeah. The Mary Todd Lincoln. Yes. Yeah. And you'd like to keep like promoting the cult leader and being like, they're really important.

You have to pay. The one who's doing all the work. Hyping. You'd have all the power. With no, yeah, all the power, but no glory. Sort of just behind the scenes being like, we got them. You know, like in the back of a black car. I mean, I always love those cult documentary.

where the second in command is talking to us about how incredible the cult leader is and then they finally reveal the cult leader and you're like, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah, like, Jared? Yeah, Jared? That's the guy we're talking about. Wow.

Like, they're always described as very charismatic and like hypnotizing and then the picture is just like a guy. I mean, I guess those people are like agents essentially being like, yeah, they're the hype. You're going to, oh my God. You're going to love him. And I'm going to, oh, God, he's so hot. Just wait.

And then the last question is for today, what are you, okay, you've got free time. You're going to have to put some structure in your life now moving forward. I'm not going to ask you what's next. Yeah. Because I feel like it's too soon. Yeah. I just don't know, you know. But I want to know what are you watching, listening, reading, and what are you doing?

My kids. No. Oh, no, not doing, I mean, listening, sorry. You read it your kids. Can we cut that? I'm reading my kids. I'm listening to my kids. I just want to focus on my kids.

I'm having dinner with my kids. I'm having dinner with my kids. I get to just be a mom. Which is the most important role. It's the most important job. No, but sorry. What am I watching, listening to? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

What makes you laugh? Because you are, you're so funny and you have so much. funny friends and like what do you what do you laugh at really just my friends

like I wait for them to make me laugh on Marco Polo John Early does this bit where he will send me a Marco Polo as if he's meaning to send a message

to someone else but he but it's this elaborate thing where it's like he's secretly planning with all of the rest of my friends to kill and cook

and eat me Like, you know, like, you know, before the Tonys will send, like, a message being like, okay, so hi, Claudia. So, Cole Fully thinks they're going to the Tony's. So that's fine. I am a little worried about getting them out of the dress just in terms of grilling. It'll be hard, you know, like stuff like that. Oh, that is so fun. It makes me laugh so hard every time.

And it, it. Complicated bit. A fun, complicated bit. And it goes to show like what you said earlier, which is like your friends love you. Yeah. You love your friends. And you guys can deeply tease each other. Yeah. Like that's, that to me is like a big love language. Yeah. And it goes to show that like you're very safe around each other. Yeah. And it's just play. Sorry. I'm sorry. We'll be right back. There's no. We're not on the air. We're not on the air. This isn't live. Mark, back to you. Anyway, that's been Cole is full. Mark, thank you. How's it going out there, Mark? How's the weather? Are you doing okay during the hurricane?

People should know, by the way, it's like 102 degrees today. I know, and I'm in flannel. You're in long, princely-like flannel. Yeah. Cole, thank you so much for doing. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Thanks.

And congratulations on your huge success. I'm not going to say huge boner. Sorry, cut that out. We can't. It was in a part in the tape where we have to make it a sound clip. And I use people and huge boner. We have to make it another sound clip. I'm so sorry.

It's all right. Thanks. That was so great. Thank you, Cole. That was so fun and funny. And it's just for this polar plunge, I just want to point you towards more Coloscola content because there is so much funny stuff.

on YouTube, whether it's the orange juice commercial that me and Amy Sedaris and Cole referenced, or it's the serial killer documentary fake videos at Cole made with Jeffrey Self and others. And just there's so much content that they've made over the years that is so funny and stupid and weird. And so many different wigs. And they have a face for all of them. So check that out. And thank you so much for listening to this episode and every episode. And thank you so much for listening in general and for being so nice.

Okay, bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Katz-Belaine, Kaya McMallin, and Alea Zanaris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel, Lovell and Jenna Weiss-Burman. Original music by Amy Miles.