Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Sarah Sherman

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

Sarah Sherman knows that you can't show your feet for free. Amy hangs with the 'Saturday Night Live' star and talks about why we need a fourth 'Human Centipede' movie, playing a Russian tsarina in her... school's production of 'Into the Woods,' and what her Jungian dream analyst told her about pooping in a dream. Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: Mitra Jouhari and Sarah ShermanExecutive 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 and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; social producer Bridget Geerlings; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal music: Amy Miles Palmolive Ultra removes up to 99.9% of grease leaving your dishes sparkling clean. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://Allstate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:30 Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We are very excited about our guest today. It is Sarah Sherman. Sarah is a current cast member on Saturday Night Live and we could consider her a vet. She has just finished her fifth season. And I just want to file this one under not safe for work or for kids because we do get into some fun and down and dirty topics like, well, S&L, duh, and psychoanalysis and Long Island and her insane, why. Wildly Original new special Sarah Squirm live and In The Flesh on HBO. So listen for Sarah, but before we start, right? We always like to talk to somebody who knows our guest, who has spent time with them and who can speak well and give us a question. And we're going to talk today to Mitra Juhari. Mitra is an amazing actress, writer, producer. You may know her from episodes of the bear from the show she created Three Busy Debras.
Starting point is 00:01:33 She's a writer on Big Mouth. And she's just incredible talent. Came up with Sarah, her good friend. We're going to check in with Mitra who is on her lunch break and get a question from her. So hi, Mitra. It's good to see you. This episode of Good Hang is presented by Paul Mollive. Family time isn't just the big moments.
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Starting point is 00:02:49 Rum. A lot of people don't know Netflix has beautiful offices. really, really. They give you a free hanger. So. Incredible. You can hang anything on that. You can hang anything on that as long as it's not pants because the hanger is broken.
Starting point is 00:03:09 I hear giggles in the back. I wish I was in there. On top of Mitra being incredibly talented, she's also like a real deal activist, boots on the ground person. And I was thinking about during COVID when you, when you zoomed with my sons to Talk to them about the L.A. unhoused situation and what they could do about it. It was sweet. They were so cute and sweet.
Starting point is 00:03:38 I loved talking to them. They were so thoughtful and had such good questions and were really making me laugh. Remember that when we were all just like in that COVID bubble of just like, I guess we, I guess this is how we'll learn now. I was living with Patty and we were making some of the most fucked up cocktails. imagineable, like actively drinking them being like, this is disgusting. And finishing them. Patty Harrison, another hilarious comedian and actor. Okay, we've got Sarah coming in today.
Starting point is 00:04:15 That's why I'm sad. Another reason why I'm sad I'm not there. I want to be seeing her. I have so many questions for Sarah. Did you watch her special? Yes. I have questions for her too. Her nasty ass.
Starting point is 00:04:27 Her nasty ass special. You have known Sarah for a very long time. When did you two first meet? 2015. And our mutual friend Drennan, who knew her from Chicago, she was coming out to New York to do shows. And she guested on this show called Holy Fuck that I was a part of. And he was like, there's this freak coming named Sarah Sherman.
Starting point is 00:04:50 And I think you guys would really like each other. And then we like hit it off immediately. And we went on a tour with this great comedian and writer named Jamie Loftus. called the Sarah Meetron Jamie our Ugly Tour. And just like she eventually wrote and appeared butt naked on Deborah. Yeah, so we worked on a show together, three busy Debras on adult swim that you wrote and produced and you were the star of, along with other Debras. Sandy and Alyssa. That's right.
Starting point is 00:05:21 And Sarah was a writer on there, which is where I first heard her. And I was introduced to her as Sarah Squirm, which is the name she was going by at the time. which I remember thinking at the time it was unusual that a comic actor had like what felt like almost like a rock star name. Yes. And it makes so much sense because like she came up in these great music venues and like it was like, I feel like every time I would come to Chicago and do shows with her at the hideout, it was always like with these really interesting bands that I would like I've never heard of, would never have heard of. and she's like such a true fan of like live music and worked in radio and like just brings all of that.
Starting point is 00:06:03 So it makes sense to me that this like person who's working in these DIY spaces, both like in music and stand-up and art, would have this sort of like rocker character persona. Totally. My questions today for her are really like, when did that person start? When does that person come out? Because you know Sarah really well. And I've gotten to know her from getting to work with her. and her persona and her personality are like alike, but also very different.
Starting point is 00:06:30 Yeah. She's like, I feel like it makes so much sense that she landed in Chicago because she does have this like warmth and like, I don't know, familiarity with people that feels very Midwestern to me, even though she's not from there, but like she's just very cozy. People feel very comfortable with her, which you wouldn't expect from someone who's like material is kind of exclusively
Starting point is 00:06:52 about like her flapping labia. Exactly. Like for people that are learning about Sarah here, like her stuff on SNL is, you know, in the structure of SNL. But Sarah's material is like super scatological. She calls it body horror. It's like a ton of like dysmorphia on dysmorphia. Shocking. Shocking, shocking, shocking stuff. And I want to ask Tara like the cutaways to her audience during the special. I'm like, who is this audience? I have the same exact. So many men, so many men laughing and being like ritually humiliated at the same time. It's amazing. Perverts.
Starting point is 00:07:35 God, my favorite word, my favorite word. Would you say Sarah's your first pervert guest? Oh, absolutely not. No, but I love a pervert. I don't like a creep. There's a difference. Big time. And it's a fine line.
Starting point is 00:07:50 I mean, you know, and it's very. It happens. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying, but rarely are women creeps, but they can definitely be perverts. But if you're a perverted man, you have a high creep susceptibility, obviously. You've got to be really careful. You got to be really careful. But a fun pervert, I mean, they kind of feel almost, you know, this is another thing that I want to talk to Sarah about is like the way she is a fun pervert and then turns on her audience and yells at them for liking it. It's so real. Well, because it's like, it's such a relief to have someone, obviously in such a heightened way, but like talk about all these things that like I also am like horrified by in my own body or I'm like, why does it do that? Why is their hair there? What is that substance?
Starting point is 00:08:43 Having someone put words to it and show it in like such a nap, like it is so heightened, but it's also like how I feel looking at. like these parts of me. And she, like she really brings it to life in a way that is like actually very inviting, I feel where it's like, I'm disgusting. Aren't you discussing?
Starting point is 00:09:04 We're all disgusting. No, you're the disgusting one. Perfect way to sum it up. In watching her stuff, I'm like on the surface level, it's kind of like grotesque, almost performance art stuff.
Starting point is 00:09:18 But then underneath it is like this idea of claim. claiming the stuff that gets thrown at us all the time anyway, just kind of claiming it and like doubling down on it? Yes, the horrors of being a woman and having a body. So I always ask people to give my guest a question. What do you think Sarah would want to talk about, answer, smaller big, any story you want to prompt her to tell or anything you don't know about her yet?
Starting point is 00:09:47 Okay, I wrote down a few. Oh, you're not such a writer. I really overthought it. Why don't we get the room in here? Let's get the room in here and let's just keep pitching. Yeah, I got together about 30,000 of my favorite writers to put together a few questions for Sarah. Okay. I wanted to force her to talk about her child musical theater career because she was really,
Starting point is 00:10:17 she has so many stories about like liberties she took with the characters that she was given. Amazing. Thank you. That's great. Okay, I had two like bigger questions. If you had a zillion dollars to make any disgusting practical creation, what would it be? Whoa, great question. We might have to ask all these questions.
Starting point is 00:10:41 These are good. And then what is your biggest bomb and what's your favorite show that you've done? So it's like a, you know, best and worse because I feel like Sarah's had some like really high highs and some really low lows. So I think either of those I would be really excited to hear about. And then if there's time, where does she stand on the real housewives of Rhode Island? You know, if you're on, you know, if you're like hitting a wall conversationally.
Starting point is 00:11:07 Okay, perfect. I can't wait to ask her these questions. Really good questions, Mitra. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. talking to us on your lunch break. I loved every second.
Starting point is 00:11:18 Okay, bye. Thanks, Maitra. Thanks so much. Bye, honey. This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Checking Allstate First could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking your pockets before putting clothes in the washer. Oof.
Starting point is 00:11:34 Enjoy your freshly cleaned and completely destroyed earbuds. Yeah, checking first is a good plan. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you 100. hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings varies subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American insurance company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Woo-hoo. I should have, I'm going to kill my. I should have brought a little food for the wall.
Starting point is 00:12:00 It's okay. You don't need to bring it. I don't want that to be. I don't want to bring food for the wall. I didn't want it to people to feel like they needed to bring. I could, not to brag, I could have contributed to this. Like crazy. I can only imagine what you would have contributed to this. amazing. I actually, before we start, I wore these on behalf of you because I feel like you would like them. I wore a cheeseburger sneakers.
Starting point is 00:12:23 That should be on the food wall. All right, we'll put one on the wall. What is, let me touch it. It's a cheeseburger sneaker from, um... It's dolls kill. It's dolls kill. And I feel like I'm not going to lift my foot up because I don't want any perverts. Seeing our feet for free.
Starting point is 00:12:39 No screenshots would sell for a lot of money. Yep. And I'm wearing ice cream. Oh, my ice cream. scream. Oh, great. Okay. I feel good now. Okay. I'm not stressed. I was stressed that I didn't bring food, but I came as food. You came as food. I came as food. Sarah Sherman is here. Do you feel weird now that you're wearing one shoe? It's such a good question. Let me take that in. Yeah, I'm going to take the other shoe off. But now perverts are going to know that I'm barefoot the whole time. Can you see the feet? No, God, I would never let anyone see my feet. Have you seen? For free? No. Honey, for free? it looked like take me out to dinner first hello take me out to a plastic dinner first have you seen your wiki feet yeah and what do we what are we talking i'm happy about it okay i i you know i feel like
Starting point is 00:13:29 with body parts no one knows this more than you um like you have to some you make peace with some you feel neutral about some you have big thoughts about i like my feet i let how about you i have like I got anxious recently. Well, as you know on the show, we have to wear many different shoes, many different hats, many different shoes, many different wings. I'm always put in sort of, I think everyone's doing a practical joke on me by putting me in these big heels to the point where one of the writers, Asha Ward, shout out. Asha.
Starting point is 00:13:59 She puts like in the stage direction, like Sarah exits like, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, because that's my heel shuffle, like teat, tick, tick, tick, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click. Because I can't walk in a heel. I'm always clacking around. And so something happened to my feet Where I think one of my toes I have no Medical basis for this
Starting point is 00:14:19 I did not go to a doctor I did not look this up interesting I think that one of my toes is like It's a toe I love that we're talking about body stuff right away I love it You asked for it I know I did I asked for it
Starting point is 00:14:34 I don't know if I should look this up In my head one of my toes is just The bones are loose but inside of the toe sack Well, I have a whole thing about, you know, like, your feet, but your feet, now we're really giving it for the perves who love feet. But your feet, your feet health are very important. Like now because I'm getting to the age where I'm starting to read like. Barely 21. You're getting to the age of barely 21.
Starting point is 00:14:56 Barely 21. That what needs to stay healthy for you to like survive the next? And feet is a big one. Like, meaning you got to be able to take care of your feet, have good balance. have good balance. Do you have good balance? Can you balance on one leg? I'm saying this like so cockily. I feel like yeah. Yeah, right on. You did it. And I don't have, I'm going to say something great. Again, this is more feet thing. I have a huge arch. That's very, so do I. It's crazy. And it's good to happen. Okay. Because no only doesn't make your feet look nice when you want to eventually sell your feet
Starting point is 00:15:33 picks, which we're all going to be there. I have tried actually and I have failed. Okay, we're going to get into that. Sarah Sherman is here. She is our first S&L, current S&L cast member on the show. I wonder if I had all the scoop. Do I have all the sco? Well, you're a vet. Like, how many years have you been on the show?
Starting point is 00:15:55 Five. But you just wrapped S&L. You have a comedy special out. It's incredible. I cannot wait to talk about it. It's insane. It's quite insane. It's quite insane.
Starting point is 00:16:05 Right now you were in that like schools out, summertime. You just finish your last show last week. How are you feeling? How did your energy level? Where you at? I feel like I had so, when you hosted this season. That was at the very beginning, right? And not to suck your butt, but everybody goes,
Starting point is 00:16:22 who's your favorite host? I go, everyone goes, Amy Polar, like immediately. That's such a bad stuff. And I had a lot of questions for you. I was like, what? I felt, I would, like, every, it's so funny, as a cast member, you have such an experience. And then when you're a host, you have the experience, which is,
Starting point is 00:16:38 like you just wish you could immediately do it again. Yes. Immediately. And I was just saying to someone, my favorite times are always the in-between times. Interesting. I love the, like, the joking around between scenes. I like the beginning of the week. Yes.
Starting point is 00:16:56 The show is like the event, but I tend to remember and like the weird middle times. And I have such a fond memory of me, you, and Bowen. I know. sitting on a couch and really like getting to know you in a way that I don't think I had in a fast amount of time. Yes. Laughing nonstop. I know. And a lot of giggles.
Starting point is 00:17:18 A lot of giggling laughing. Thank you for saying that. Okay, so I was your favorite host. Great. I appreciate that. And my favorite, like, I wish people saw the table read. Like, that is when I am laughing. I'm like, and that was my favorite part of your week because, well, let's say, okay, the butt sucking is going to commence.
Starting point is 00:17:38 I'm usually doing that. Okay, good. Well, this is going to be a good hang with Sarah. I'm going to try to receive. I, you, like, obvious. It's like, obviously you're good at S&L. Like, obviously. But seeing, you know, how many sketches are at table read, like, 40,
Starting point is 00:17:54 you have a different, funny thing. You were doing, like, fun, new character voices for every sketch out of the 40, and it's, like, how many of those were cold reads? And you were just, like, like, the doll with the eye. Oh, yeah, that was a good sketch. Like laughing. Seth wrote that.
Starting point is 00:18:08 Laughing. He submitted a sketch for us and we didn't do it. I try to watch so that I can organically laugh if I'm not in a sketch. I try not to read those sketches ahead of time. Oh, interesting. Okay. So I watched the whole table read like. But that's very generous of you because you're actually providing an audience, which people don't usually do.
Starting point is 00:18:23 Like everyone's in their own world at those read-throughs and everyone's tired and everyone's like waiting for their stuff to get on. And so the fact that you could even do that means that you're like trying to actually stay present. like you're a generous person. And I think it's also a pathetic. Sucking butt right back. I'll take it. We'll human centipede ourselves all the way. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:18:44 Human centipede. I mean, come on. That's a good trilogy. There's three. I cannot believe that movie was made. The movies. There's three. I know.
Starting point is 00:18:55 There's three. There are three. Okay. Do you need me to talk about the differences between them? And for some reason, because I am so aghast at that movie, I get it constantly on my TikTok. Is it having a resurgence? Yeah. There's like a lot of.
Starting point is 00:19:06 clips about or like I just keep watching. Right. Because I'm horrified. Okay, sorry, I digress. You are making it happen. I'm going to use your podcast platform to do something. Tom Six. No.
Starting point is 00:19:18 If you are doing a human centipede four. No. Do not. We do not need a human centipede four. No. I'll do it. I will show. She won't. She will not.
Starting point is 00:19:28 Frontal. Full back. I'll do it. Black and white. No. No. No. No.
Starting point is 00:19:34 Absolutely not. We don't need it. Not now. Some of the best. We did it. Most important cinema It's been me. It's fucking disgusting.
Starting point is 00:19:40 And Tom, you are a freak. Okay. But you're on your summer break. Yeah. So you're like, what do you do for your summer? What are you doing? So I'm experimenting with something this summer. I don't understand how anyone can do anything while S&L is happening.
Starting point is 00:19:56 Right. I feel like, were you doing this? No. I can't, well, I even said because... I was all consuming. When, when I even said to you because you did work birth and it was about you being, the the sketch. and you host me about you being pregnant and giving birth of work.
Starting point is 00:20:08 And I was like, okay, so this actually was your life. Yeah. The fact that you were pregnant there, I can't even work there, like, if my contact is too dry. I don't know what your life is, and if you ever want to carry a child. But pregnancy is wild and funny and fun because you are completely different body, and you love body stuff, and you scare a lot of people by walking around. And it scares me. Yeah, it's scary.
Starting point is 00:20:33 And I'm like, what do you mean they're moving my organs around inside me? They have to stay where they are. So sci-fi. That there's a body inside of you. You're never alone. I can't even imagine. Like my body can't even take being at the job regular. Not that pregnant isn't regular.
Starting point is 00:20:50 New normal. New normal. Hey, watch it. Watch it. But like if I have like a bad burrito and I'm like bloated, I'm like, I can't write. Well, this is like, I can't believe. I mean is like, everyone knowing when someone has a stomachache, that's
Starting point is 00:21:06 new. That is new. That's new. You know what I don't like? And I'll say, I'll stand on my two feet, buckle my shoe and say, I don't like it. It's like, hot girls with IBS. It's like, I'm not proud of the diarrhea that I have every single day chronically. And we're about seven minutes in. We're about to diarrhea. Yeah. I was hoping we would. Well, to the morning. I just think that like more and more, there's an acceptance that everyone has a different way to work within the system. Yeah. And I, I would say that you being on the show is also, I think, another example of like how the show has smartly remembered that it is a variety show with a million different voices and different styles. And so there just was, I think, a little bit more, it was just like a more homogenous.
Starting point is 00:21:53 Same way to do it. Same people writing it, same people on it. And it just keeps changing. I actually think about this a lot because I'm like, this is not even to say it self-deprecatingly. I said that with an accent. I don't think I would have gotten on the show during your era. No. Yeah, no.
Starting point is 00:22:13 That's not controversial. But I would have, I would like to be a more talented sketch performer. Okay, let's discuss this. I find myself to be quite limited. Oh, okay. Do you know what I'm saying? Well, okay. So I'm thinking my lucky stars, I was not born, you know, I was born when I was born.
Starting point is 00:22:33 Okay. Sarah Sherman, let's go back. We're going back to Long Island. We're going back to Long Island. I'm 18 now. Just turn. 18 now. Carried a month.
Starting point is 00:22:46 Negative two. So you're in Long Island as a little. Yeah. As a little. As a little. Your mom is a public school teacher? Yeah. So was mine.
Starting point is 00:22:55 And your dad runs a children's clothing company. Fascinating. Fab. Like, of course that you love clothes. of course you dress. I know, but I'm like addicted. Okay. It is his fault.
Starting point is 00:23:07 Yeah. So he's like a garmento. Yeah. He is like old school Jewish Shmata business. So it's like everyone saw Uncut Jems was like the Diamond District in Manhattan. It's all those Jewish guys running around. Two blocks over is the garment district. And Shmata is Yiddish for rags.
Starting point is 00:23:24 So it's like all the same kind of Jewish guys running around with clothes. Right. Long Island seems like it is produced some really complicated. interesting characters. Well, I saw Uncut Gems. And I go, huh, that's about my dad. Just the vibe. Right.
Starting point is 00:23:42 So I stalked the writer. And I was like, you wrote a movie about my dad. And he goes, well, this is actually quite interesting. Because I'm from your neighborhood. I went to a high school near your high school. And my dad is in Schmata. So, yeah, I did. Whoa.
Starting point is 00:23:56 I know. Long Island. Okay. What is fifth grade, Sarah, look like? So annoying. I was like, because I was like the clothes thing. Like my dad was in Schmonte. I grew up around clothes.
Starting point is 00:24:10 So like I was addicted to the nanny, golden girls. And like my big thing, in middle school, when I started doing middle school plays, Miss Orange who ran the costume department would let me kind of raid the costume closet. Okay, this makes sense. And you were into that. Okay. We always speak to people who know our guests really well. We get a question from them and we talk to Maitra.
Starting point is 00:24:36 Oh, okay. So Mietra gave us a, she's the best. What did you do, girl? And she gave us a couple really good questions. Oh, okay. Throughout this interview, I'm going to pepper them in. Of course, Mietra, good girl, giving us so many good questions. Oh, I'm sure.
Starting point is 00:24:50 I'm sure the list is long. And this Miss Orange reminds me of one of those questions, which is you did a lot of musical theater as a kid. I did. And you took liberty with some parts. And Mitra, you know what you have done.
Starting point is 00:25:08 Mitra knows what she has done. She's helping out her friend. I just, I, let me explain myself. I'm going to defend myself here. I always wanted to be a comedian. Like, grew up watching it. Why do you think?
Starting point is 00:25:23 Funny family? Funny family. Funny family. Funny dad. funny, like, you know, love expression was like mean, bullying, funny, was addicted to, like, Seinfeld, S&L, brothers and sisters.
Starting point is 00:25:40 Younger brother, also funny, but I was kind of like a bully, but it was funny. So, you know, that's when bullies were funny. I know, right. And I had a big science room skeleton in my room. My parents were always like, why'd you end up like this? You're normal.
Starting point is 00:25:55 And I'm like, you got me a giant science room. skeleton when I was like You know my brother was like three on April Full. I loved April Fool's Day because that also felt like the comedians Day to Shine. It's like clowns Christmas. He was like three and I put this giant life size science room skeleton in his bed
Starting point is 00:26:15 and he woke up crying. You know, right. So it's like stuff like that. I loved April. My bat mitzvah was on April Fool's Day. Whoa. What was the theme? Did you have the theme? It was April Falls. It was April Falls. It was the theme. And the invitation was snakes in a can that I hand delivered everyone's house.
Starting point is 00:26:30 You learn so much about people when they talk about their barrensville. You really do. Like Ike Barrona's was in here and his was like, I like I like, like he was running, he was like running for, you know, president or whatever. You learned so much about what,
Starting point is 00:26:46 what their hopes and dreams are. Okay, snakes in a can, incredible. We'll be questions on every seat. And like, you know, you're on, in By Mitzvah, you're like on the Bima, the stage at the synagogue. I had it wrapped audience. of like 80-year-old old, old bald Jewish guys,
Starting point is 00:27:02 I was going off. That was my first, like, I crushed at my mom's up. Oh, my God. Do you remember any of your material? Of course I know. It's like, because it was my first, you know, I've been, what is it, chasing the dragon or whatever? Ever since, like the high was I went to a very conservative synagogue.
Starting point is 00:27:20 Okay. And it's like, the service is like eight hours intense Hebrew. I didn't know a word I was saying. And they go like, and now the system. of the temple would like to present you with your gift and like these two conservative women came up with
Starting point is 00:27:36 candlesticks and go great just when I always wanted and my mom was in the front going and then not to brag it was kind of the talk of the town for like a second I bet it was kind of like everyone was like everyone was killed turning to a camera
Starting point is 00:27:56 that's not there okay so what liberties did you take as a music theater kid what how did you interpret the parts you're so evil is this is this a non-pc story so i just wanted to be a comedian i wanted to be a performer so it's like i would do any play like i would do like i couldn't sing or dance but i'd do the musicals because i just wanted to do it and i could never get a part because it wasn't good but i was like in with the costume closet miss orange would let me like that's i got addicted to like 80s little like sequin jackets because like Grandma Yetta and the nanny would wear them and that's she let me keep the jackets.
Starting point is 00:28:38 Sweet. I know the one that looked exactly like Grandma yetta's sequin jacket. And so she let me kind of, I didn't have a part. I was in the chorus and into the woods. Oh yeah. Which was behind a screen. You were in the woods. I was in the woods in silhouette.
Starting point is 00:28:53 Sure. So I was just basically a little outline. Yeah. But I was in the costume closet. I found a red and black lace. gown with a firm hand muff. Oh, yeah. And I went to the director and I said, so this is my costume. I am, my character is the Russian Tsarina.
Starting point is 00:29:13 And so I'm just, I didn't really think I even knew what that was. I didn't have any words. I didn't have an accent. Nothing. And so in the play bill, it would be like all the leads listed. Yeah. And then like the chorus, a whole list of all the faceless people behind the scrim. And then Sarah Sherman will be playing the Russian Zarina.
Starting point is 00:29:31 that's incredible you created your own disorder but it's such a cop i mean that is the thing about you sarah is and like we'll get to it with us and l but like there is an innate confidence about you that and i say that because i i want you to know to me that's like the what distinguishes people on us and l right right whether the content doesn't matter it's like are we worried about you when we're watching you I'm never worried about you. Anytime you're ever performing. And it's not like cocky, like, because you're super self-deprecating all the time.
Starting point is 00:30:08 You're very honest. You're very, like, your feelings are right up front and center. But there is a confidence that I feel like you just were born with, this idea of like grabbing things and wanting them. I think I am so used to bombing, even though it sounds like I crushed my first time I bet. I'm so, it's like everything that has all, every bad thing that could happen to me on stage has already happened
Starting point is 00:30:34 kind of thing. So it's like, I don't even know if it's like confidence. It's like, I'm gonna crush this shit right now. It's like, what more could happen? I bombed at Madison Square Garden.
Starting point is 00:30:44 What more can happen? But ambivalence is confidence too. Yeah, sure. It is like this idea of like, I'm just kind of float a little bit, a little dissociation too. But like, I'm going to float above this moment
Starting point is 00:30:55 so that you're going to have to come find me. I'm not going to like be like like me, like me, like me. Right. That's the difference. But you went to Northwestern. And, oh, this is what I find so interesting when you talk about, like, I want to have more experience in sketch and improv.
Starting point is 00:31:08 You try out for, like, the sketch group, don't get in. Yep. Yep. Which was, like, I was, is devastating. That's devastating. And I had tried stand up. Like, I dabbled a little bit when I was, like, 16. Like, I was, like, going to do an open mic at, like, a barbecue restaurant.
Starting point is 00:31:26 Because, you know, I couldn't do a bar yet. Like, I dabbled a little. But that was my first big, like, you know, all I wanted to do is be a comedian. And when someone was like, my peers were like, no. I was like, you're kidding me? Yeah. And so I'm full of, I could be motivated by spite. But then you started a comedy show in Chicago called Hell Trap Nightmare.
Starting point is 00:31:46 Yeah. How would you describe that show? Like the first to. I like that you rolled your eyes. Because it's like, how did I even begin to. this is the first show is my friend's basement we were of course it was
Starting point is 00:32:03 Chicago has like an amazing DIY electronic noise crazy performance art comedy scene and like you know there was like comedy like there's all this improv in Chicago and whatever but it's like the funniest people to me were these like freaks
Starting point is 00:32:18 so like my friend Mike Sugarman was performing as under this noise moniker Shug and the first Helltrap Night Night Nightment at a stroke. The first Helltrap Nightmare was at my friend's basement, the poster was like a woman's face was see-through and you could see her teeth and brains.
Starting point is 00:32:35 Sure. Because I was like, you know, that's the trigger warning. Yeah. And, you know, I hosted, I did like 10 bad minutes of stand-up. And then my friend Shug came out in a trench coat in a wig, sunglasses, flashed everyone. And he had treasotaped to his dick. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:32:54 And was, you know, smashing, light bulbs, but that was music, of course. Yeah. And I think I did a, I don't even know what the, these bits were like, it was like a stretch to call it comedy. Like, well, it was like performance art, right? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:33:10 But with, like, the intent was to be funny, but yeah, when I, I chugged a can of room temperature clam chowder. I think the joke was literally like, oh, you're like a woman who's a tall drink of water, I'm a tall can of clam chowder and then chugged the whole thing and everyone's like,
Starting point is 00:33:26 cool. You know, we don't need to look back on our bits and explain them. They were just like moments. They were moments, babe. You were experimenting. Of course. But you were like, I mean, I think it's one of the things that you've brought to the show, like just your aesthetic, not only outside, but like your influences.
Starting point is 00:33:47 Like you are very, very interested in all types of media and art. I am. We talk about in your special, like, like Paula Poundstone fucked SpongeBob. You also talk about like... Like barely makes sense, by the way. And gave birth to what? Sometimes they just say stuff and I'm like,
Starting point is 00:34:08 eh, it's going on. But also Ren and Stimpy and like peewee. Yeah. What were your like, what kind of stuff were you, like when you think about all that stuff that jammed in your head when you were younger, what got in there? I think, like I always,
Starting point is 00:34:24 I loved doing art and making stuff and I also loved performing comedy and for some reason I didn't know that you could do both at the same time like when I had started so it was like 2015 like you know there's not like the internet and the way it is now
Starting point is 00:34:40 like I didn't realize I could blend art like I was doing all the posters for my show like because it's like it was very you know raunchy blue like horrific comedy so I'd make the posters be like lungs with nipples on it and be like you know what the show's going to be whatever right The letters are like a tampon with poop on it.
Starting point is 00:34:57 I wasn't that creative. But I was like, oh, that was like a trigger for any further. Awesome. My mom, by the way, to my special taping wore my old Helltrap Nightmare shirt, which was a uterus with ovary eyeballs and a severed finger shoved up into the, and a smiling, like, open gashed vagina with like a buttoll. Do you guys do, insert picture here? My mom.
Starting point is 00:35:25 Sarah! How does you, what do your parents think of your, like, how do they, it is so intense. It's intense. It's intense. And I don't mean to be massagistic because, like, if it's a man, it's, they get a different pass. But like, your stuff as a parent, because your parents love you and they love that you, they love the work. How did they, like, do they invite their friends to your show? Yes.
Starting point is 00:35:52 They're down. It is, it's literally like Paul Schrader Hart. hardcore the new, my daughter, no, turn it off when he has to watch his daughter doing porn. It is that. But, um, no, turn it up. But, um, they love it. They love it. They are really supportive and I do think I have to say that.
Starting point is 00:36:10 I think that's like what the confidence is a little. Okay. I think that that's true. I didn't want to say it, but like, I'm learning about like loving parents' privilege. Like, if you have parents who are like, you're great. That really creates a scaffolding for the rest of. of your life, obviously, when you try things where you're like, well, I guess my parents will still love me. No, I, there's not a threat of losing my family. Yeah. And like, maybe this is TMI,
Starting point is 00:36:37 but I did a bit, I've done a lot of like updates where I'm in a big animal costume and that is Lauren's idea. Yeah. Because I think I'm like, he's like, what am I going to do with her? She's crazy. She's like a wild animal. Uh-uh, I'll just make her be a wild animal. I don't think people know that he pitches bit. Like he was like, you're going to play a score. I'm like, okay. Whatever you want. You're my boss. Okay, boss.
Starting point is 00:37:01 He said, like, after I did, I think, a squirrel or some fucking animal, he said, when you did that, I could tell you were loved as a child. And I was like, oh. Clocked. Clocked. He has very. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:37:17 I remember me like, like, oh, yeah. Yeah. He, as the kids would say, he can read you really. Fulfill. Fulfill. Okay, so you have this way of performing and then you auditioned for S&L first when you're really young. Don't get in. What was that like? Well, like, was it a real audition? Did it like, did you go into the studio? Okay. It was, um, Sharna Halpern from I-O. Shout out, out, girl. Shout out, Shara. Let's talk about Sharna for one second. Sharnna Halpern ran Improv Olympic, a theater in Chicago now called I.O. Because he,
Starting point is 00:38:02 Olympics sued and made them change their name. The Olympics. The Olympics. That's right. And Sharna was the director who, in my case, just like put me on an improv team, said, hey, there's a woman named Tina. You're going to really like her. That's not.
Starting point is 00:38:20 Sharna arranged that marriage. And Sharna was in charge of so many of us and, like, launched so many careers. Oh, my God. I didn't know that. So Halpern, Sharnah got you in front of the. Sharnah, Shana, she's always had an eye. She knows. That's great because I would, I just wanted to do comedy. I couldn't get into the fucking college thing. And so I was like, oh, I'll go do it in Chicago stuff in Chicago. And I was like kind of a bad fit. And I'm like not again how I feel self-conscious about my limited range. It's like you kind of need a little bit of range for improv. And I was kind of not a good fit there. And I would also wear like, they would be like I'd have to get talkings too. It's like, hey, you're wearing a big shirt with the brain on it. It's a little distracting. I'm like, fair. Fair.
Starting point is 00:39:02 I was like I'm kind of a bad fit there but she was like you're gonna do the SNL audition and at that time I was like I was 22 and I was like that's a bad idea because I was doing these with the chorizo penis
Starting point is 00:39:16 whatever and I was like I just didn't and she was like you're gonna do that she's like you're gonna be great like if you need help with it and I was like well everyone tells you I didn't know anything and everyone's like oh you're your five minutes
Starting point is 00:39:30 has to be like characters and impressions or whatever So I did that. It was obviously terrible. Like it was just like I was trying to do what I thought the assignment was. Sure. And I bombed really badly. I wore like my, I remember what I wore. I know.
Starting point is 00:39:48 We're actually finding out I'm a clothes addict. All my memories are marked by like my outfit. Well, I would say that you're, like, work from the outside in. Yeah. I do. Yeah. And actually this is a problem at S&R a little bit. All right.
Starting point is 00:40:00 Well, now it's time. Now for season six, Inside Out. I've been trying. It's really hard. I would love to see you just in a, I would love to see you in a neutral dress, a slip dress, hair natural,
Starting point is 00:40:13 no makeup. Yes. Leaves blowing. Hello, children. You're homeworks late. Big recurring character. You're homework's late. Can I think,
Starting point is 00:40:26 can somebody write that down? It's amazing. But this is Warren's big thing with me. He's like, just let's just get it to it. And I'm like, for Sai,
Starting point is 00:40:34 well. Okay, it's okay. It's okay. Don't, don't beat yourself up. I mean, it's a lot to ask. It's a lot.
Starting point is 00:40:40 It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard to show any, especially when you're, it's like playing with, it's like practicing with your backhand. Like you're really,
Starting point is 00:40:49 your forehead's really strong. And you're like, I can score. And someone's like, now hit it with your back hand. You're like now? I know. I'm 33.
Starting point is 00:40:57 You don't think I was trying. Yes. And I try. Like, you know, Ashley Padilla started two years ago, and I'm like, oh, my God, like, character. And, like, every character she has is, like, an internal world. And, like, the jokes come kind of easy to her because she has, like, inside. She, like, knows what the character wants. And there's, like, there's a motivation there.
Starting point is 00:41:19 And I feel like I've been doing it all wrong for, like, six fucking years. Because I'm like, well, what if the wig is weird? And then you have to come, like, writing the joke because it's so much harder because you're, like, forcing it from. the other way around. It's outside in, so it's a little harder. I'm going to say something right now. I think you're not afraid of the failure. I think you're afraid of the success, because I actually think you can do it.
Starting point is 00:41:41 I actually think you are a good actor and you can't do it. You're afraid of being successful at it. So, like... If anyone wants to cast me, I'm not afraid of being an actor. I am free. People say that thing where they're like, oh my God, you're a stand-up
Starting point is 00:41:56 that's so brave. I'm like, it's cowardice. It is true. Yes, it is true cowardice. Like I, you know, so many things even in my special are like, people are like, oh my God, you're like loose and riffing. That's all written down. I think I would riff during my, I have a pre-plan bit.
Starting point is 00:42:18 I'm like, I'm going to find someone in the crowd wearing glasses. And I go, why do you wear glasses to the show so you can wear your pre-pessent? Sorry wrong. It's okay. We'll edit it. Here we go. Don't edit it. Show my failure.
Starting point is 00:42:31 I'm actually a vulnerable thing. Bluperable blooper reel. I'm showing my impits with, hey guys. Why did you wear your glasses to the show so you could see my pre-pubescent body better? You pervert? And everyone goes, oh! Do you think I thought of that on the spot? No. I wrote it down eight years ago and I've been saying it every day since.
Starting point is 00:43:01 Sucks. I feel like once you get the confidence of knowing that you're not getting fired from the show, basically, like, which is true. Like, you're at that point. Congrats, babe. You're at that point. I was crazy this season a little bit. Well, you might get fired from something you say, for sure, but not for lack of, like,
Starting point is 00:43:20 we don't need you. Right. But yes, you might get fired. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd be saying. HR did want me to talk to you. Yeah. Right.
Starting point is 00:43:27 Yeah. And I'm sorry for what I did and who I touched. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I have to say, like, what I find so impressive about you is you have managed to maintain yourself, your
Starting point is 00:43:38 POV and your sense of what you think is funny. Yeah. And you've worked within the system, i.e., like, you coming at Colin, an update is a perfect example where you're like, okay, I'm going to use this structure. I'm going to hit Colin, who's like the ultimate, like, alpha straight white punching bag, successful punching bag. And he can handle it. Yes.
Starting point is 00:44:01 And why it's so satisfying to watch, because to me it also, and you do this a lot in your comedy, especially in your special, where you like play around with what I like to call like the millennial threat, like this idea that like someone's going to get something wrong. Yes. But people are very scared to screw up. Yes. And I have. Of course, we all have.
Starting point is 00:44:22 Yes. But you are like pressuring the powers that be that they might fuck up. It's very exhilarating to watch because obviously it's also talking about like cancer girls or like misogyny and like patriarch and all that stuff. But it's not, it's just funny. Right. And it's like as mean as I'd be to Colin calling him a pedophile, whatever, whatever. I'm really mean to myself. Yeah. So it's, you know, but even that, it's like I got lucky on the show because he would, I had joined the show as a complete act. I was shocked that I was there. All my friends, like the inside joke was like, okay, Sarah's going to show up as a waiter and see you know, lots of water ma'am and they got fired. You know, that was the big joke with all my friends who were apparently like love me and are nice to me or whatever. But so I was like, so I was just happy to be there. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:45:10 And I wasn't expecting anything to happen. Like I was writing sketches, but I didn't really know. I didn't even have final draft until midnight on writing night. Like I didn't know about any of this. And then, so I wasn't getting any sketches on the show, but I didn't really care. But then Colin was like, why don't you come on update and do like yourself? And I didn't even know that you could do that. Mm-hmm.
Starting point is 00:45:30 There is some version of getting known on the show and it doesn't stamp you forever. but like where people see you as a person with the face. But I wouldn't have done that if he didn't say so because it felt like presumptuous or something. Like I really was there to be like a good sport and just do whatever the job was. Okay, but I just want to gently say to you that you should just take credit for that success because even though it wasn't your original idea, perhaps we all know that we're collaborating. We're all collaborating working together, but you have to deliver. One other thing I want to ask you about and then we'll jump off.
Starting point is 00:46:06 of S&L, but Louie. Let's talk about Louis Zakarian. What is there to say? Louis runs the makeup department, and he is incredible. It's crazy. Let's talk about him for a second and what he's made for you. What hasn't he? He does.
Starting point is 00:46:26 Prostetics and makeup takes time. And I think I've seen people describe the S&L makeup experience as a pit crew. There's like eight people putting on a bald cap at once. I've moderated Comic-Con panels for him where it's like it'll be a guy in a Grogu suit or whatever being like
Starting point is 00:46:42 sir what's your fastest bald cap application and he goes two minutes and you hear the crowd go yeah you see like every X-Men character and like a Blue Man group like they should make a TV show like the pit and they should make it in the makeup room
Starting point is 00:46:58 of Louis's room because the way that they like in the pit the way they like save people by like stabbing them in the heart and like, like that's how Louis has to do makeup. Yeah, he's ripping a bird beak off and putting googly eyes on my eyes and he's get out there. But by the way, he, he's having so much fun.
Starting point is 00:47:14 Like, he never says no. He's having so much fun. He films the whole thing. And it's like, we could have like 45 seconds to get me looking from Jessica Rabbit into like Ms. Grinch or whatever. And he still is like, one selfie. And it's like hilarious.
Starting point is 00:47:29 I know. He gets off on the thrill of it. He, he, like, my favorite. it, we did a thing where it was like it was supposed to look like me and Michael B. Jordan got stuck on a roller coaster and it like blew our like hair and mouth open. And I was like, I was like, can you make it look like I have a speculum in my mouth, like blowing my mouth out, but you don't see any plat, like it just has to look like it's naturally like that. And he doesn't say no. Right. Well, that's what an emergency room doctor is like, we'll see what we can do.
Starting point is 00:48:00 Yeah. We're going to let the baby die. I think so. And that's the same stakes for a comedy show. It's the same stage. It's the same thing. And that's, if there's any takeaway, it's that what you do is as important as people that work in the air. No one banged their pots and pans for me.
Starting point is 00:48:15 Exactly. This is another meet your question. If you had unlimited funds and you could make any disgusting creation, what would it be? I don't know if I want to ask you this question. Yeah, maybe let's say on S&L, so we have to say that it passes,
Starting point is 00:48:30 like you have, like. Because there have been, in that isn't this is another reason why I working outside in I love that taking that I'm gonna write my book about that um so you have fun with your book I'm taking outside in it's like it's such it can be such a hindrance because like me and Dan Bulla had like this idea for like maybe a sketch that's like at um like a facial spa or something and when they take our sheet masks off it just pulls the whole front of our face off. And for years, me and Louie have been like,
Starting point is 00:49:08 how are we going to do that? Because, like, when I first started the show, I was in, like, one sketch every six and a half months. So, like, but now it's like, maybe I'll be playing Trump right beforehand. Who knows, James, I'm coming for your breakfast nachos. So it's like, if I had unlimited funds, it would be, like, I would be able to do something like that really fast with, like, I just want to.
Starting point is 00:49:32 take my whole face off. Why do you want to? I don't know. It's really weird. And it's not normal. It is. Like when you say that, my brain pictures it. And I'm like, oh.
Starting point is 00:49:45 Sarah. You just made your life so much harder. But I know. But that is just, it also is like, there is a, there is such an incredible performance art, artist. Like, you have a Cindy Sherman vibe. You have a, like, you have a. Like you have a growth, you have like a, like a, a, a dance with the grotesque that's super interesting. And it's always like what level is like gross.
Starting point is 00:50:10 Like what does what grosses you? Does anything gross you out? The other day, literally, I like, you know how people like chew on their like sleeves or like. Oh yeah, like wet? Wet fabric on my teeth. Like I got grazed on the train on the tooth with my own sleeve and it like gave you a chill. That's like my nails on a chalkboard It's like stuff like that
Starting point is 00:50:33 Okay, but any kind of like your face peeling off You're down All good All good And then my last question In that S&L space is Because we all have them What does your S&L stress streams look like?
Starting point is 00:50:47 Oh I actually wrote a sketch about this Okay incredible It is Oh my God I wish I could remember the sketch Because it was like You know when you stay up all night
Starting point is 00:50:56 You're like I'm getting a Nobel Peace Prize What I just wrote Classic sketch Classic sketch. They always win the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm like if I read it, wrote it two years ago. I'm sure if I read it today, I'd be like, what?
Starting point is 00:51:08 You know what I mean? Yes. My stress dream is always writing night. Okay. And it's always, I get to, I'm at writing night. And the clock says it's like midnight or one in the morning, and I don't have anything yet. And I'm going from room to room with like my tin can being like, what do you wait with me? And everyone's like, no, I'm already busy.
Starting point is 00:51:29 I already have my thing for the week, and I'm going door to door down the hallway, and the hallway gets longer. Very, okay, Christopher Nolan, don't steal this one of your little project. Odyssey, too. Odyssey, too, the human centipy. Don't tempt me with a good time, Amy Pollard. And the hallway just gets longer and longer, and I'm like, does anyone want to write with me?
Starting point is 00:51:51 And that's, like, that's what I'm the most anxious about all the time. It's like bombing on live TV is one thing. bombing trying to get someone to write a sketch with you is a fate worse than death. I have one more stress stream. That was my first year. Okay. Which was there's a prop toilet on the floor of 8H.
Starting point is 00:52:10 I have this stream two times. There's a prop toilet on the floor of 8H. I know it's not hooked up to any pipes. I know it's a prop and I shit in it anyway. And everybody's looking at me like the last shot and murder on the Orient Express. There's like a shot where they're like all looking down at this dead body and you see the P-OV of the dead body looking back at everyone.
Starting point is 00:52:29 And I see everyone looking at me going, the toilet's not hooked on something. Why did you do that? And I'm going, I know, I have no idea what happened. And my Jungian dream analyst at the time said that when you poop in a dream, grouse. It's like you're putting work out there and you're embarrassed. I were tired.
Starting point is 00:52:51 And also, do you have a youngian dream analysis? Do you do a lot of therapy? I do. Many times a week. Oh, fun. Doesn't seem to be working. Online or in purse? I'm on the...
Starting point is 00:53:06 You're on the couch. Yep. I'm lying down on the couch. The whole time? Yep. Whoa. I'm doing like analysis. I'm doing analysis.
Starting point is 00:53:20 That's old school. Yeah. And I just noticed recently, because I don't look at therapist and sometimes I'll be like this. Male or female therapist. Of course it's a man. It's not fixed. It's a man.
Starting point is 00:53:37 It's not working. A woman would fix it. And I said something and I heard his laugh behind me and I went, he wasn't. He forgot he was there. Yeah, and I was like, stop. I don't know why.
Starting point is 00:53:55 That was so, immediately I was like, I've never looked at him and I was like Get it together You're making me think about Like my stress dreams for S&L We're less about like Will you guys
Starting point is 00:54:09 You know Like where can I Get in here and write with people Or like oh no my My My shit in my toilet You guys don't like Which is your work, your work
Starting point is 00:54:19 Gross, gross, gross But mine was disappointing Mine was about disappointing Like powerful things figures. It's a very gen X-E stress stream. So mine was always, mine was always about, I would often have it, which is I'd hear Jenna, Rositano, as we talked about the great AD calling me. And I would realize, oh my God, I'm not on stage. Like I'm missing my, my, um, cue. And I had it more than once where I'd be running down from nine to eight. And I'd pass everybody whose opinion I cared about.
Starting point is 00:54:53 And they look at you. And they would go like this. and like and it was everyone you could imagine it was people from my past it was people working on the show it was always of course Lord and like and everyone was just like wow like you really let us down
Starting point is 00:55:08 it's like Amy Poehler you are late for hot dog bar mitzvah where is your prosthetic butt your funny wig it's so crazy what gives us literal anxiety Trauma is like you running to go do like Mr. Butt and the hot dog hospital. And Lauren going, you're a disappointment to your father.
Starting point is 00:55:40 I'm like, wait. I have to go be the captain crutch the musical. It's so stupid. It's so stupid. Okay. And the last question that Mita wanted me to ask you, she had so many good ones was like the
Starting point is 00:56:00 and you're talking you've talked about it a little bit but like the biggest bomb and the best and the favorite show you've ever done because we talk about you must have
Starting point is 00:56:08 bombed big time and I'm kind of fascinated about your time opening with Adam Sandler who talk about what a I mean terrific lovely person
Starting point is 00:56:17 and like nicest person probably to be around and open for but the audience might not have been that ready for you He is so... Is that a good way to say it?
Starting point is 00:56:31 Thank and thank you. I'll take it away from here. Okay. Exactly. It is, okay, butt-sucking initiation. A computer enhanced butt-sucking right now. You and Adam, there have been other cats, like Fred, you guys are so minchy that it's like, I'm thinking of people who have, like, how could anyone do S&L without the menace?
Starting point is 00:56:57 Like I have Adam being like, you're doing great kid. Like I would have blown my brains out from here to the western seaboard if I didn't have him being like, you got it, dude. Yeah. He's so, every time you see him, how's your mother? How's your father? How's Hanukkah? What's going on?
Starting point is 00:57:12 I love you. How are you? So menschy. And like opening for him, I have bombed a lot. Yeah. Because people have paid good money to be there. They have hired babysitters. They drove all the way from Hackensack.
Starting point is 00:57:25 They are six drinks in. They are there to see Adam Sandler, not Long Island Presents. Sarah Sherman is someone. They don't know who's sweating up there. They have paid good money to see the wedding singer. Well, honestly, when I was watching your special, I was fascinated by the audience. Because I was like this audience. So your special Sarah Squirm, live in the flesh, live and in the flesh, live plus in the flesh.
Starting point is 00:57:49 Thank you. That was a big thing. Live plus in the flesh. And first of all, why is it? hair squirm. That was how I, like when I was doing these basement shows with the tree zone stuff, it was just like the poster was like, you know, I wrote written in guts. It was like a kid.
Starting point is 00:58:07 Also I was like performing with bands like piss, piss, piss, piss, moan, moan. Rest and peace. Alejandro, he has passed. That's a crazy thing to say. But like I was like, so I was like, I don't want to just be like Anne Sarah. And then there's Sarah. So like I was kind of like. Yeah, it was like your punk persona.
Starting point is 00:58:25 It was like, it was like. It was like x-ray specs or like Alice Cooper or something. And I like, it's very music. It's very music. It's very music. That's like the show. That's what like, it was the shows that I was doing because I was like, I just, you know, it was the vibe. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:58:38 And. Did you get pressure to, like, did people say it should be Sarah Sherman? So then when I got, so, so like I auditioned for, when I auditioned for S&L, you know, they, or no, I was doing. I was just performing at Sarah Swarm at the time and I wasn't really like thinking about it. And then when I got. So that's on all my S&L paperwork. They found me at a show as Sarah Squirm. So that's still on my paperwork.
Starting point is 00:59:03 So technically you've never been paid. I've never been paid. I don't work there. Yeah. My alter ego works there. Point to another ghost over here. My alter ego works there. And when I got the job,
Starting point is 00:59:15 Lauren called me and was like, you know, they were like, oh, Sarah, like Lauren's calling you. And I was like, hello? And he's like, we think squirm is a little distracting. And I go, say no more. And you know who liked that? Your parents.
Starting point is 00:59:30 Yeah. My mom is still this day. It's like, people will be like, hi, Mrs. Squirm. And she's like, no, that don't call me that. Yeah. They want to hear Sherman.
Starting point is 00:59:39 They want to hear Sherman. Yeah. And so when I was doing the special, like not, you know, people don't know me from stand-up, really, because I know the ticket sales show. Pittsburgh. Oh!
Starting point is 00:59:51 They're like, you know, everyone's like, it should be like Sarah Sherman, liven in the flesh, but I'm like, but that's not the character. Yeah, I get it. And it really helps set, like the table.
Starting point is 01:00:00 Like you said, like you set the table really fast. In fact, the table is set. It's set. It's got the foreshut in the flesh. The special starts with something I've never seen in a company special,
Starting point is 01:00:10 which is like, it's like, there's like a warning of graphic violence. There is. And it's like, there's a warning of graphic. Like, there's so many warnings. There is, you know.
Starting point is 01:00:19 And, you also start with John Waters. I know, which is the ultimate trigger warning. Yes, you're so right. If he's like got to put a stamp on something, you know that like there's going to be so much poop talked about for sure. And also just like he's like this, I mean, he's, what does he mean to you, John Waters? How did you get him? How did he?
Starting point is 01:00:48 You wrote him a letter. I wrote him a letter that was like, I did. drew like everything what's so helpful with visual art or like all this it's like you can provide your own trigger warning
Starting point is 01:01:02 always so I wrote like for the posters for Helltrap it's like there's a butthole that's bleeding with an eyeball like you know what you're getting into oh my God Sarah enough enough okay
Starting point is 01:01:15 so I wrote him a letter and there was like intestines all over it and I was like do you want to like you know there's this do you want to play the stage manager in my stand-up special, and I was like, your scene partner will be this, and then I drew a little picture of me as like the bones and guts on the floor, and I'm like, this is who you're going to be talking to.
Starting point is 01:01:30 And then I put my number at the bottom of the letter, and I was like, if you're interested, call me or whatever, and then I was getting end of therapy on a particularly devastating reed of a day. I had just bought a loaf of sourdough bread, and I was literally walking down my block, ripping off pieces of bread and eating it
Starting point is 01:01:46 like an animal or a raccoon. Good job, Lauren, you knew. And I got a call from an unknown number, Baltimore area code. Hey, Sarah, it's John Waters. I'll see you on set. What? Yeah. And I said to my producers, because I had written this stage manager character.
Starting point is 01:02:04 What a cool way to say it. I'll see you on set. No, I was like, that's an old school, fun way to say it. I'll see you on set. And I was like, do you want me to, is there anything you want to say? And he's like, I'm not writing it. You wrote it. I'm saying what you wrote.
Starting point is 01:02:17 And I go, that's professional. Yeah, yeah. He doesn't have punch-up. He's like, I'll be. I bet he had about like a two-hour door-to-door, right? Like, he was like, you got a heart out. We've got to be out here in an hour and a half. He was being hilarious.
Starting point is 01:02:29 And he was pitching jokes because he couldn't. He couldn't have. And guess what? They made it in. Yes. Okay? You want some vizine? Because my eyeballs out.
Starting point is 01:02:37 That was a John Waters' original riff. Yeah. It's like I'm the luckiest girl in the world. That's the crazy thing. I keep going back to Estenal, but you're bringing it out of me, girl. I if I didn't have SNL I would be a random crazy person but I want to say something
Starting point is 01:02:55 I don't find you crazy I don't think you're crazy that's why you're interesting because if you were truly detached in like in a way not to name names but like others sometimes like performers who are kind of in your milieu or vibe are then it's hard
Starting point is 01:03:13 then it's kind of hard to attach Sure. It is hard. It's like, okay, they're in their own, like, creative world, but like, I don't know. We're just going to kind of watch it from afar, but you aren't. So it's very interesting because you have command of what you're doing in a way that's... Right.
Starting point is 01:03:30 There is some. But I'm like, without SNL, would I have been able to do this crazy comedy special where there's like a clay butt that she parts out of ghost? Would John Waters have agreed? Like, I don't know. Probably not. Thank God. And for people that have listened all the way to the end, I mean, there is a clay. But that happens right in the beginning.
Starting point is 01:03:49 If you don't like it, turn it off. Turn it off. Speaking of comedy as we end, what do you, who are you listening to laughing? Because, you know, you do comedy all day for a job. Who, what do you watch? Yes. To laugh.
Starting point is 01:04:03 Like, what is your checkout? Like, is it a video? Is it a, are you watching old movies? Are you, like, what's making you laugh? Most recent, always Real Housewives. I'm laughing. The last question, Mieter had for you. are you enjoying Real Housewives Rhode Island?
Starting point is 01:04:21 Listeners, Sarah's just like... What is she... She's just... She's aghast at the obvious, yes. Did you grow up watching soaps? Yeah, I watched General Hospital, which was... My favorite show of all time.
Starting point is 01:04:35 Wait, weren't you on a soap? I begged to be on General Hospital, so I could bring my mom. And we met Sunny Carinthos and sobbed for days. Yeah. Okay, I just talked to Paula Pell, who also loves soaps and has not been on one, and I feel like Paul should definitely be...
Starting point is 01:04:48 I asked. I think they were like, are you kidding? And I was like, no. Who did you play on the soap? A woman. A Russian... Yeah, the Russians arena. The Russians arena. I love talking about what makes me laugh.
Starting point is 01:05:06 I was watching home movies the other day. Hysterical laughing. Like, ha ha, ha, ha. Of your family. No, I wish. Actually, that would be nicer. The cartoon. Oh, home movies.
Starting point is 01:05:18 Oh, yeah. Home movies. Okay, I don't know home movies. It's fucking funny. And it's very crude animation. My kids love it. I have, yeah. It's so funny.
Starting point is 01:05:29 Dying laughing. Oh, we've got our, we've got some friends in there. We've got some friends in there. Like, H. John Benjamin. Yeah. Okay, got it. Laughing. And it's animated to come created by Brendan Small and Laura Bouchard, who made Bob's burgers.
Starting point is 01:05:44 Got it. Got it. Home movies. Laughing. So are you a big animation, girls? girl? No. You're not. No. Because I bet people are like, you're like animation. Yeah. Like you look like
Starting point is 01:05:54 a cartoon, you fucking bug-eyed bitch. Jesus. Jesus. Sarah. Apologize. Sarah, you said it to yourself. I know. Apologize to my friend Sarah. Bad. I patted myself on the back. But you're not a cartoon person.
Starting point is 01:06:10 No. Because they like they can't emote or anything. Like I love Red and Stimpy. I'm not like laughing out loud. Yes. So I don't know why. You're loving it. Getting me. Yeah, that's good.
Starting point is 01:06:21 Getting my ass. And then... That's really funny. I just did... Do you know Hollywood Handbook, the podcast? I love Hollywood Handbook. I was... Okay, I...
Starting point is 01:06:30 Shout out to Hollywood Handbook. Those guys are hysterical. I saw them recently in a restaurant and asked if I could be on their pod. And I watched... And they were like, no. They were like, we're booked. And also, I watched you on Hollywood Handbook. And that bit went on forever.
Starting point is 01:06:46 It was so... It was 45 minutes. Yeah, it's just one long bit. Just one long fat joke. And it... Sorry. It was so... I love a bit that goes on that long.
Starting point is 01:06:56 I love it. And they were like acting like they hated it. I love it. They say, like, Sean will say one word. I can't... Like, I was laughing like a baby last. Like, I was going like... Laughing so hard.
Starting point is 01:07:11 Sweating through my pants. Sweating through my hat and my pants. I know. I think there's some delight. And it's kind of, it's, I'm going to, I'm going to bring us back. There is some kind of delight that you have that I share, which is if you get to be around like, like, like, minded and safe people and you guys are like playing, like, and going like just on the corner and edges of things, but it's with people that are like, not just like nice people that
Starting point is 01:07:40 you like, basically. There's no greater joy because it feels like you're actually like, I guess I imagine it would be like entering dangerous terrain with people who are really skilled that will take care of you. That's the closest. I mean, we're not athletes. My body is relaxed. But I love that too. I love a family that teases each other.
Starting point is 01:08:03 That to me is a sign of intimacy. Yes. And it's a sign of safety. It obviously has to be the right people in the right way. But like when that happens, it feels like a special kind of magic. And like, yeah, we're making fat jokes. Is that amazing? No, but it's safe.
Starting point is 01:08:20 Yes. You can, like, be a little scary when it's, like, safe. Yes. Oh, you're so right. Well, congratulations on being a vet. Was that an abrupt goodbye? What should we do? I'm going to put my shoe back on.
Starting point is 01:08:35 Oh. Oh, I forgot. Can you believe that I've had my shoes off the entire time? How did it feel? Did you feel grounded? It didn't feel bad. I don't mind it. It didn't feel bad.
Starting point is 01:08:44 I didn't feel bad. I didn't, yeah, I know what you mean? Like, was I grounding during that time? Like, did you, or the whole time you were talking to me, were you like... Are you a shoes off person in your house? People have to take their shoes off? I like my shoes on and I like Frankenstein boots all day. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:09:00 I'm not even wearing them right now, so you think I'm a fucking liar. I'm wearing little shudies, though. But let's not show them for free. Yeah. That's not show them for free. Yeah, you got to pay for that. Yeah. That's correct. A lot, because we're on TV.
Starting point is 01:09:12 Yeah, and AI's going to take your ready's job. So we're going to... The only thing robots don't have, human. feet. And when they show them, they have an extra toe. And that's kind of interesting. And if you were listening to the very beginning, Sarah has a weird condition where her big toe is just a sack of bones. Right. So if that's your kink, then you've got to go to her toe channel. And if you're only listening to the end of this podcast, weird, why didn't you listen to the beginning? Did you just like scrub through? And if that's your kink, then we're not kink-chaming you, but you might want to think about listening
Starting point is 01:09:44 a podcast's entire way through because it also might be satisfying. Right. Or I like to kink shame. I think it's weird when people like stuff. That's weird. Sorry. Sarah, thank you for doing this. Thank you for coming. Thank you so much Sarah Squirm.
Starting point is 01:10:03 Sarah Sherman. It was so fun to talk to you. And you're so fast and funny. And yeah, what a delight. And, you know, Sarah and I talked about a lot of people that we've had the pleasure to work with. but I just want to give a little shout out again to a woman in my life who really shaped my career
Starting point is 01:10:25 and I know a lot of people in Chicago could say the same and that is Sharna Halpern. Sharna was the creator and the person who started a theater called I.O. in Chicago with Del Close. And Sharna was just one of those people that if she saw something in you, she put you in front of important people and she puts you on stage.
Starting point is 01:10:49 And in my case, she changed my life. So thank you, Sharna, for helping me meet most of the people who I still work with today. And for those of you that are in Chicago, go see improv and go see it in any city. Support it today. And every day and support the arts. Okay, thanks.
Starting point is 01:11:09 Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Burman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Katz-Belaine, Kaya McMullen, and Alea Zanaris. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.

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