Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Amy Schumer

Episode Date: August 16, 2020

Amy Schumer made her name in stand-up comedy over the course of 15 years on the road with a brash, relatable and honest act. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Amy over Zoom to chat about that long career, what her life in quarantine has been like as a new mother and her latest projects. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. As you know, we've been sprinkling in to some of our favorite conversations over the last couple of years that we've been reposting, new conversations that I've done for Sunday today on NBC over Zoom. So while we can't be in the same room with people since back in March, we're still talking to them from my house to theirs. And this week I got a really good one I think you're going to enjoy with Amy Schumer. one of the funniest people, I think, on the face of the earth, and smart and interesting to talk to, and she's got a ton going on right now. She's up with her husband, Chris, and her 15-month-old son, Jean. They're up at their house, and they've just been hanging out since March, not doing much, except putting out another season of her show, which is called Amy Schumer learns to cook. It's on the Food Network. Her husband Chris Fisher is a farmer and an acclaimed chef. He comes from Martha's Vineyard where he grew up and worked on a farm. They're married now with a 15-month-old son, and their show is shot during quarantine with their own cameras.

And as you'll hear, their nanny, their babysitter who's up there with them, she's filming the show and it's a cooking show. So this great chef, Chris, is teaching his wife, Amy, who's not such a great chef how to cook. She also had out just a couple of weeks ago on HBO Max, the series expecting Amy, which documented in vivid detail. We were laughing saying all these shows that call themselves raw and unfiltered, usually aren't raw or unfiltered, but this really is. I mean, she shows all of it how difficult or pregnancy can be, and it's all in there, you know, and she strips it down, she shows it, she talks about it. So she was pregnant with Gene

and having a very difficult pregnancy all while, out on a 42 city 60 show tour. So that means sometimes she was doing a couple of shows a night while she was very, very pregnant, still working hard. So I think you'll enjoy this conversation on a lot of levels, funny, but also deep and interesting and probably relatable to a lot of moms and a lot of women out there who've been pregnant or who are struggling with going back to work. A really great conversation right now on the Sunday Sit Down podcast with Amy Schumer.

Amy, thanks for doing this. Great to see you. Great to see you. So let's talk about first quarantine. I know you've been doing a lot of cooking. I know you've been hanging out with Gene and Chris an awful lot. How have the last few months been for you? Really bad. You know, like pretty privileged.

Yeah. Yeah, and Gene's not in school yet. So I feel like we've had it a lot easier than actually everyone in my life. like all my, you know, girlfriends from home are texting each other because New York City schools are open. They just announced and, you know, so I've had a, you know, I mean, we're all feeling a lot of grief, but I've had, I've had some precious time with my family. Any cabin fever whatsoever for you? Not as much as I would think I would have. I mean, Chris and I were talking about it. Like, we haven't been apart for, you know, even a night, like a dinner for so long that it's like,

I wouldn't even recognize this person. We wake up at 6 a.m. and, you know, it's like this. I don't know who I am anymore. Like, like, we were yesterday. We were like, oh, my God, we slept until 8 a.m. today. Like, wow. And I was like, oh, my, I don't even know. My identity is gone.

No stand up. Well, I was going to say, especially for somebody who's made her live. on the road and has tour dates and just came off a tour. It must be wild to be that sedentary. It really is. But it is not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Like I really miss hanging out with my girlfriends and stand up. But I like staying home a lot.

I like, you know, also not seeing anyone at all. I think. You know, it's like, hmm, maybe I'll live like this forever. I think a lot of people have discovered that about themselves. Like, oh, I kind of like this a little too much, or at least more than I thought I would. Oh, I can just drink at home. So I mentioned the cooking. Let's talk about Amy Schumer learns to cook.

You've got a great partner on the show. Obviously, your husband, Chris, is a chef. I also love in the show that you call him chef. It's very formal, you know? Chef, would you pass me the hors d'oeuvres? Yeah. idea for that show come to pass? Food Network totally called and asked if we wanted to do it. I'd like to take credit for I was like, we wanted to entertain the masses during this horrific time,

but really it was they reached out and pitched it and we said yes right away. We were like, this will be really cool. And it was an opportunity to busy ourselves and, and, and, you know, somehow appear in people's homes to, you know, be of any sort of comfort. Like, that felt like a real, a real opportunity that we were privileged to have. And what did Chris think about the idea that he's now roped into your universe of sort of being on TV and performing in some way? You know, he's like so down for whatever. He said yes right away too. He was never nervous.

Just like he's, he's been in higher pressure. situations probably than you or I will ever understand just with his upbringing on Martha's Vineyard and being a farmer and dealing with farm animals and processing them. You know, he's just, but he was like, yeah, that's great. Let's do it. You know, just no, no hesitation. He's good, too. He's pretty calm and natural on camera, don't you think?

Yeah. Yeah. We're a good team. We're a good, we're a good duo. Because, like, I just, you know, I just make dumb jokes and he just doesn't laugh at them. It's like, you know, a true straight man. Yeah, he is. And just the sort of practical questions around doing a show like this in the time of coronavirus,

when you can't have a bunch of people in a crew in your house, you guys are, like, rigging up cameras, your nanny is sort of running the show. How do you pull it off? Our nanny, Jane, is our director of photography. she's from the Philippines and so they're very proud of her right now I think he's fully becoming a household name in the Philippines which is really funny because we're like Jane don't don't go changing on us you know don't don't be like I can't I can't she's a full-time student which is funny because so we're you know we're

with Jean till till one every day and then and then he's sleeping And, you know, she can like tap in and out. But so we really had to film the show and he was napping and when she didn't have class. And so it's just like, if he wakes up, like, he's gonna be on the show. And he's been on the show. Jane is a very good audience member.

Jane is a very good audience member. She's good with the camera too, I gotta say. We're better and better with the camera. And she is a good lapper, which I appreciate. Because we all hang out, we have dinner and watch TV every night. And, you know, most of my jokes, Chris just ignored. I could get a laugh out of James.

So you're already this early in the marriage, you're already at the point where your husband is just not even acknowledging the jokes. Because it comes for all of us. We know that. I think both of us, you know, Chris is on the spectrum, and I have some learning disabilities.

And so we both, like, we'll just, it's hard to get either of us to listen. So sometimes he'll laugh, like, a long time after I say something because it just sort of hit him. Yeah, it's good. It teaches you to, you know, learn a new timing. Time release humor is good. You sort of plant the seed and it develops and grows flowers later.

So are you actually getting any better at cooking? Like is the objective here to become a good cook? Or do you say, I live with a chef. I don't really need to know how to cook? Well, if it weren't for this pandemic and this television show, I never would have learned how to cook. But I have learned a lot of, you know, I'm not a great. chef now, but I know how to cook a lot more than I did. So I really don't have any excuse.

You know, at night I used to be like, okay, well, I guess you better start making dinner and I'll just go kind of look on the computer. Now I'm like, all right, what can I do? You know? And we've got to make sushi this year. Made sushi? Yeah, we learned how to make sushi this show. Really intimidating to me, but I actually posted a picture the other day of Chris's role versus my role. But I've gotten a lot better at that, believe it or not. I'm pretty confident. And now Chris and I are, you know, we're making sushi next to each other.

And it just looks like we're, you know, opening a restaurant. So what's your go-to dish? If I said big dinner tonight at your house, Amy is making what? I would have to say skirt. I would have to say skirt steak, crepe spinach, mashed potatoes. That's it. That's my staple. But I can make other things now.

And sometimes Chris will put a couple pots on, forget about it. And then I will kind of pick up where he left off thinking, oh, I think he meant to put these peas in. You know, I kind of guess. But it works. We kind of complement each other. And it's translating to the kitchen. I think the reason it works is because it feels real.

We were talking before we came on, there's so much that likes to tell you that it's real. But like almost everything you do, you just feel like you're watching you being you, him being him, ignoring you occasionally. You mixing up a few drinks because that's what you do well. And like it feels like an actual window into your house, is it? It really, really is.

And in terms, I mean, and we like, I think we get in fights, you know, we get like we bicker and especially this season. And they kept it in. And it's, yeah, it's very real. And I think people, I don't know, they seem to be reacting in, good way toward it just you know because I don't think people really want to see people's perfect homes and perfect relationships right now it's it's really good it's fun to watch and you've got a busy summer in terms of things that you're releasing things that are out there expecting Amy is also talk about real and

revealing holy cow I when I sat down to watch it knowing you and loving your comedy that opening scene of that first episode I'm like oh she's doing a bit at the zoo and then when you start crying I was like Oh, okay, this is something different. How did that project begin for you? I think it was probably a defense mechanism. Like if I was filming it, I felt more in control of it or something. I don't really know, but we just, you know,

Chris and I like to film funny things and edit them together on our own anyway. So we just had our phones and we would document it. And I was on the road and I was filming, you know, I was going to do a tour. Marcus Russell Price are my long-time cinematographer. He's filming it. And we just said, if we don't ever use this footage, it's fine. We don't need this documentary.

So then I met Alexander Hammer, the filmmaker, showed him all the footage. And it was like, is there a story here? And because we're cool just to have a cool home movie. And he said, I think there's really something here. And he started sending us cuts. And we were like, oh, wow, this guy's good. I mean, it was really, it's really all because of his work, if I'm going to be honest, you know.

Yeah. And we were really proud of it. And he would send us things and be like, is this too, do you feel too vulnerable about this, whatever? And we were like, no, just leave it all in. Let's, let's show a real story. It was important to me that we, you know, show the difficult side of pregnancy and also right after you have a baby, things like that are. really sensitive, like breastfeeding and C-section and, you know, just stuff that I know, I haven't really seen that much of on film anyway.

Because it's you, I guess I'm not surprised that you just put it all out there, that you were willing to expose yourself that way, which is a really nice thing about you. But were there any moments where you watched it and you were like, like it took you back to some of those places that were really hard. And as I said to you earlier, that most women who've been pregnant can relate to and point a scene or every scene and go, yep, that's what it's like. Yeah. Well, I would say, I think every couple should have somebody filming them a fight.

Because we get in a fight in this documentary, a couple. But I was like, I remember during the argument being like, I am so right and he is so wrong. And how can he not understand what I'm saying? And then when we watched the fight back, I was like, I'm not like totally proud of how I reacted. Right. But also, you know, forgiving yourself if you're real pregnant and real sick to, you know, have some emotionally trying moments. Yeah, I learned a lot about myself, not everything that I was proud of. And it was good.

It really is helping me evolve, you know. I said a lot of women can relate to it. The part they can't relate to is doing a 60 show, 42 city tour while all this is going on. Were there ever shows or moments where you're like, because, I mean, I'm talking about right before you go out on stage, you're sick. And then you have to go out and do an hour set for 7,000 people who paid to come see you. That must have been really hard. It was really, really hard. But I think probably every woman can relate, strangely enough.

Because for me going on stage and doing a show like that, even though it's physical and it's everyone's looking at you, it's still my job and I'm used to doing my job. And so if you're a teacher or a nurse or anything, like I really think that whatever your life is, if you are really sick and you're pregnant and you still have to work. And no one, no one gives you any leeway. They really don't. It's just you're expected to just perform and just do and don't complain. I mean, that's really how it feels. And I feel like people are getting a little taste of that during this pandemic. It's like people still want you to be as productive as you usually are. And you're like, okay, well, that's not really that realistic. You know, there's a set of new circumstances. And I think we do better to be honest about it and acknowledge. it a little more. The series is heavy and real, but of course it has your sense of humor.

The one scene I love in the first episode is when you get your ultrasound and Gene, we didn't know he was Gene at that point, but Gene was the size of a pee. And then you have a riff about lima beans and fat shaming. Yeah, yeah, I didn't want, I didn't want him to fill body shames that he was going to grow up with a bean that so many babies have before. Hey guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Amy Schumer right after the break. Welcome back to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Now more of my conversation with Amy Schumer.

So Gene's what, 15 months now, I think? How has he changed your life, Amy? Oh, man. I mean, come on. It's it I mean he's just life is so much more beautiful it's uh you know it's so deep to fall in love with your child and um and and yeah and I don't know it's like this you know I've gotten to spend I was supposed to be working during this time like a lot of us and so I wouldn't have been seeing him that much but I'm with him all day every day for the most part and it's in like the best thing in my life. Yeah. Cool.

It makes you confront your own, your own stuff because it's right there looking at me. Yes. Yeah. Has it been more difficult than you thought it was going to be, given how hard your pregnancy was? Has being a mom been different than you imagined it would be? No.

It's been easier, actually. The thing that's, that surprised me, is just how vulnerable you feel because of how much you love them. And but, you know, but also I think I was worried. You just don't know what it's like. You know, I, my best friend just had a baby and she's a comedian, Rachel Feinstein. You know her.

Yeah. You know, and she's like all these concerns and there's so much you want to say. And it's my best friend, but it's like there's just so much you can't explain until someone just has, you know, meets their child. And so it's not, it's none of the things. worried about it is like oh am i gonna am i gonna be like have to be with them all the time and i'm gonna want to be doing other things and that has not been my experience this is also coming from someone who has has help you know yeah yeah i just you know how much i want to hang out with

and everyone's everyone says the same stuff it gets better it gets better and you're like shut up but every you know and then all at first your your standards are so low you're like oh my god, I think the baby recognizes me, you know? I'm running over and being overwhelmed and blowing their arms around you. And you're like, oh, my God, this has to be the best feeling in the whole world. You're going to blink and Jean's going to be a teenager. My daughter just turned 13. I know that's a cliche, but what I've found also about parenting is all the cliches are true.

They're all true. And, you know, I understand and appreciate you wanting to say that because you want to just say, appreciate every second of it because it goes fast and it's already going fast. Is there a part of you as someone who doing stand-up has lived an itinerant lifestyle now feels like, I don't know, I don't know if I can go back out and do 60 shows in 42 days or is it okay because Jean can come with you on the road sometimes and do you see yourself back out on the road again like that? No, not for a while.

I don't. I mean, he's never been on a plane. Yeah, he hasn't been on a plane. Just the way life's gone. And I've been really appreciating not having to fly every weekend. I mean, for 15 years, I was on the road. Every weekend, sometimes every night, a different city. And so it's not good for you physically or mentally.

I'm feeling really good about roots being down. And genes treated you well for the first 13 months. I don't mean to rush you along, but do you and Chris talk about more children at this point? Or are you just focused on gene? Yeah, we went through, we did IVF and we got one regular embryo and then we got two mosaic embryos, which means there are some abnormal cells as well as normal cells. And IVF is really tough on me. Not just me.

I mean, I think it's, I mean, it's so hard. Like, I don't think I could ever do IVF again, and women go through it, many cycles of it, you know, because we're sort of the ultimate reward. And so I decided that I can't be pregnant ever again. Hyperadmousis, the disease that I had during this pregnancy, it's almost 90% that I would have it with my next pregnancy. And only one three babies make it. or I'm sorry, one in three babies don't make it. Right. So I don't like those odds.

Yeah. You know, we thought about a surrogate, we thought about, you know, just different options, but I think we're going to hold off for right now. I still feel just like a complete open wound from this first pregnancy. Yeah. And it's all laid out. out in expecting Amy. We were talking a minute ago about a funny moment

at the time 100, and it got me thinking that this summer has been five years since train wreck, July of 2015. Yeah. Does that, obviously, that movie changed your whole life. Does that feel like a long time ago, or does that feel like it just happened? It feels like a long time ago.

Yeah. It was such a cool time and such a joyful experience. experience and that. But yeah, it does. It feels like so much has happened since then. Well, you won the Emmy that year. You

wrote your book the next year. Big bestseller. It felt like you... I remember when you came in on the Today Show for Train Rec. And it was the biggest thing. It was. That movie was the thing of that time. Did you feel your life changing in that moment? Not the Today Show

moment, but in the moment that movie came out. Yeah, it was such a big deal. Like, I mean, it was funny was that it was my first movie, you know, other than just playing like a little supporting role. So and Judd Apatow just kept saying to me, it's not always like this. This isn't like we were, we had a really good, we premiered South by Southwest and the audience like went crazy for it. And he's like, it's not always like, like was just keep trying to give me some frame of reference. And it was just a huge world press tour and all this stuff, you know, that it was just shocking. It was like it was hard to kind of remember what your identity is or what it, who you are.

And I really like, you know, five years away from it, having my feet firmly on the ground and understanding what being famous means and that it means nothing pretty much, you know. This is all about your relationships and your friends and family. And also an opportunity to use your voice to, you know, promote causes and give a voice to the voiceless, which is an opportunity. Has the fame side of it been weird, though? I mean, the fact that you're a stand-up comedian, you've got your friends, you walk wherever you go, you're into clubs, and now all of a sudden you walk out and paparazzi's outside your apartment. Like that had to be a weird switch that went on for you. It was weird, but the fear of what that meant was worse than what it actually meant. You know, it's like, you don't know.

It's like there's no book to read. Like, here's what to do when you get famous very quickly. So it really was all fine in retrospect, but it was definitely stressful and scary when it was happening. Also, it's like, because there's no rulebook, you just follow the guidance of the people guiding you. And so it was like, we're going to be on the cover of blah, blah, magazine, you know? And they're going to like doll you up and, you know, and it's like you go through this cycle.

It's like where you all of a sudden you're like kind of dressed up, like how a famous woman is supposed to be dressed up. And, you know, it's like if you're doing a morning show, you dress like you're a host on the morning show. If you're doing a late night show, you're just, and like you kind of lose your identity in there until you go, actually I am a person and I'm not all these other things that you're you're kind of made to feel like you need to fit into. I love listening to you.

It might have been on Conan's podcast. Just talking about coming out the other side of that, being sure of yourself still now and saying, I don't want any of that. I don't want to be that thing that I'm supposed to be. I'm going to be me and here it is. Yeah. I just, I mean, it's. It's really satisfying to get a grasp of that. And I mean, everybody has had that sensation of it just comes with getting older.

You're out, like maybe shopping. You're like, oh, I'm going back to where, whatever. The season is changing. I need some clothes and you go and you're like, who am I? Like as for women, anyway, I've been standing in a store like, who I wear? Like, who am I? know. And so now it's like I feel like I know, you know, instead of trying to be something else, it's like just I'm someone who like sweatpants and t-shirts. Well, I think that's actually a great

example for a lot of people who are your fans, really, and who look up to you. So thanks for doing that. And thanks for spending some time with me, and this was really fun. I appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me on. Good to see you. My big thanks to Amy for a great conversation for taking some time during quarantine away from Big Geno, 15 months old, to sit down with us. The second season of Amy Schumer learns to cook premieres August 17th on the Food Network. My thanks as always to all of you for tuning in. We will continue to add more of these virtual interviews for you to enjoy. But for now, be sure to check out our big library of conversations with all of my guests over the course of, let's call it, three years or something.

So there's some great ones in there. So if you're sitting around dog days of summer in August, just kind of take a trip through that library. I think you'll find something you really like. And, of course, don't forget to tune in to Sunday today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. Thanks again for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast.