The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Ilana Glazer and Miranda July: Authentically Representing the Overlooked Stages of Women’s Lives

Episode Date: May 31, 2024

Jon Stewart and Ilana Glazer chat about Glazer’s new film, ‘Babes,’ which provides a much-needed and accurate portrayal of pregnancy and motherhood. And filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist Miranda July discusses with Desi Lydic how the topics covered in her new novel, “All Fours,” like perimenopause, traumatic childbirth, and female sexual freedom, often go undiscussed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Stewart here. Unbelievably exciting news. My new podcast, The Weekly Show, we're gonna be talking about the election, economics, ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. You're listening to Comedy Central.

Hey there, it's Michael Costa. The Daily Show is on a break this week. But don't worry, we handpick some of our favorite recent moments from the show, in case you missed him. We'll be back with brand new episodes next week. Until then, enjoy today's episode. Right back to the Daily Show, my guest tonight. She is an actor and a comedian.

She co-wrote and stars in the new film, Babes. Please welcome Alana Glazer! First of all the know I love you. I just love you, John Stewart. I love you, Alana. And boy, this movie is so good. Thank you. And it's so funny.

And you're so good in it. And I'm just, I'm thrilled the death for you. Thank you. Yeah, it's, are you excited for it? It's coming out, When is it coming out? It's coming out in select cities, May 17th, and expands. And expands the 24th and... Did you yourself personally select cities, young lady? Oh, no. Just the demographics, you know. So Alana Glazer didn't say, I would like to go to Louisville with my movie. It's, no, the relationships, so it's yourself, it's Michelle Buttoe and it's

Hassan Menage plays her husband and he's the most wonderful husband. It's not believable. They are such a delicious couple and also like, Michelle keeps saying it's giving such queens. We look like we grew up in queens together, you know. It really does. I have to to tell you. It's it. It. It. It. It to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the their the relationship it's the relationship it's the relationship. It's their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it also like Michelle keeps saying it's giving such queens we look like we grew up in queens together you know it really does I have to tell you though like at the I'm not gonna give it any way but like I did get a little like teary yeah good like it oh yeah baby we want to why would you do that to me feel your feelings I was feeling what about your feelings what about only is this about the mom, you're the mom, you had your mother's day? I was actually, we were doing a Q&A screening in Lincoln Square. I was with Julie Louis Dreyfuss.

I was like, happy Mother's Day to me, dog. Um, so I got to, yeah, yeah, she did. That's lovely. That's lovely. So she doesn't live there. Um, at the Lincoln Square AMC? No. That's what I'm wondering. No, but I'm so glad you liked it. Yeah, it's really, and how did, was it strange to sit in the theater and watch it go down? Didn't skidaddled after the Q&A.

You don't watch the people watch the movie? Well, you know, I've seen it a bunch of times times times times times times times times ti ti thi thi thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th, thi, thi, thi, that, that, that, that, that, that, the the that, th've seen it a bunch of times we did the test screenings too and it was like in Burbank or whatever they they lured people at the mall to come see the movie and you know give us feedback and I've just seen it so many times and I just watched it in LA at like a little private screening and we have tomorrow the premiere so how did they do? How do they they lure them? How they they they they they they they they they they they they they they their so? they they their so? they their. they they they they they they their. they they they their. they they their. they they they they they their. their. their. they they they they their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. they were. to to to to to to to to to to to tomorrow. to tomorrow. to to to tomorrow. to to to to to to to to to to to their. to their. their. their. So I did that once and what do they do to lure them because I think they should use gummies. Yeah, I think they use gummies. I think that's legal now. I think I think people need work. They lure them with employment in an employment based insurance system. That's right. And they like to have the opinions. Do they, after something like that happens, do they come, does the company come to you and they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they. they. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. the. the. the. the. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. I they. like to have the opinions. Do they, after something like that happens, do they come, does the company come to you and

say, Phil, from Kips Bay, for sure, said, do they really? Yeah. Oh yeah, they definitely care about their, um, the people's opinion, which I do too. And like also you take some stuff for the grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain grain for the grain grain for the grain grain grain for the grain grain grain gr grane for the grain for the grain for the grain for the grain for the grain for the grain the grain the grain the grain the grain the grain their their their their their their to say to say to their to their their to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to say, to say, to say, to say, to say, to say, to say, to say, to say, to their their to their their their their their the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of the grain of toe. to just don't usually see women talk like this or experience pregnancy through their own voice so I could see why you think it's gross but that the that's the perspective the relationship between you and Michelle yeah so lovely and easy just natural and we've been friends for 20 years oh for real for truly 20 years. So you know she is like The hugs are real. Oh, big titty just oh we are just we are just just Michelle loves top titty meat.

Our top titty meat just spilling over just 20 years. She she is effervescent. She is effervescent. She is. She is effervescent. She is vibrant. She is effervescent, she is effervescent, she is... She is effervescent, she is vibrant, top titty meat, John Stewart, you know what I mean? But you know, to be honest, to be honest, to be honest, this is how women talk, to be honest, like, this is how women talk. Yes. And, you know, when we first sent this script out, I wrote this with, um, the, um, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, like, this is how women talk. And you know, when we first sent this script out, I wrote this with the, my mom just called you backstage the number one mench. You're like number two compared to Josh Rubinowitz, who I wrote this. You wrote this script with him.

He's number one. He's number one. And, you know, when we were, and Susie Fox, our producer, as we were writing this and collaborating it, we put a list together of the most surprising and absurd experiences we were having becoming parents. And we couldn't believe that these things hadn't been covered in film, you know? Right.

And we send the script out sort of to the industry or whatever to see if anybody wants to make it. And, and, you know, some th th th some th some th some th some th some th some th some th some thi some thi some thi some thi some thi some thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi. thi. thin thin, thoomoomoomoes, thr-a, theat, and we tho-a, and we th. tho tho-a, tho-a, tho-a, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. to, to, to, to, to, to, to, too. toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. And, toe. And, to the industry or whatever to see if anybody wants to make it. And, and you know, some people got it and then some people found it like really gross, really blue and it's like, no, it's just real. This is how women talk to each other and this is what pregnancy is. You know, you get... That is the thing about it as you watch it as someone who is non-woman. I don't know if that's the term. . tha term the term we're using now. Whatever you say becomes the culture baby. It was, yes. You ate and left no crumbs.

Oh. Oh, ha! Oh, ha! Oh, ha! My daughter talked about it. And she has me say it at times out of context. Nice, nice. It's brutally embarrassing. But it really, the repartee, the way that you guys that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, the that, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, theat, theat, theat, theat, the, theat, the the theat, the th really, the repartee, the way that you guys talk, the friendship that around it comes so naturally to the characters that it's incredibly infectious.

And you just also the fist, you guys are like the just dirty, dirty, Le Vernon Shirley. Like it is so, like the physical comedy as well is also such a big part of this. Yeah, I mean, I think like women are dying to just be themselves, you know? And it's like, weirdly we're in this time increasingly where our bodies are more and more policed. And it's just funny what people are like, this is a calm shocking and I'm like girl have you expected to a woman? You ever laugh with a woman you know? Can I? It is I gotta tell you like and then if you guys do this

can I give away at least there's one line can I say John Stewart you can do whatever so but my favorite is the whole thing she has this incredible sort of relationship with this gentleman and it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's this it's this it's this th th th th th th th the th th the the th th th th th the the thin th thin thi thi thin and the the the the their their their their and their and their and their and their and their and their and their their and their their their th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I's th. I's th. I's the the the and the and the and their the and their their the and their their the and thee and their you're their you're their my favorite lines is the whole thing. She has this incredible sort of relationship with this gentleman. And it's it's really this lovely kind of walk through your evening. And it ends with, they're both obviously feeling very amorous. And Alana turns to him and says, let's ruin some towels. I was just like, score! It's so awesome. Thank you. And shout out to Stefan James who plays that actor and the incredible cast, Oliver Platt,

Sandra Bernhardt, John Carol Lynch, Hassan Menhaj, the Lucas Brothers fan favorite. Lucas brothers are, they're really funny. Incredible and Dragon is played by Elena Uspenskaya. Can you believe Dragona? Dragon was, yeah. First movie ever. Can I tell? What?

Yes, girl, first movie ever! Are you serious? Slade. Crushed it. Goes back to her like, that you and I have. Then they, dude, I imagine the Oppenheimer people did that. They'd come around and they'd go, you know what he said to Einstein and then the audience be like, I don't know what the movie is. Should I give a summary? Do you want to give a summary? I'll give a summary. Please, okay, so... Yes.

So, um, this movie is about two best friends who are in very different points in their lives. Dawn, who's played by Michelle Butow, has two kids and a husband, and my character Eden is single and a free spirit and gets knocked up and decides to keep the baby and their friendship is tested thereafter and hilarity and the clumpedness also pathos also pathos mad pathos mad mad mad pathos crumbs no crumbs no crumbs I just love you so much and you're so good and everything you do is just filled with just bangers after bang. It's like just the lines are so funny and your stuff is so good and and for God's sakes woman. Oh it is my honor. Come on. I'm glad you're my hero. Stop it. John Stewart here.

Unbelievably exciting news. My new podcast, the weekly show. We're going to be talking about the election, economics, ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the daily show. My guest tonight is an accomplished filmmaker, writer, actor and artist. Her new novel is called All Fours. Please welcome Miranda July. Oh, thank you for being here. I like this desk. Do you? Do you want, do you want to take it home with you? Yeah, it's such a weird shape for a desk. Okay. It is. My book. It's, um, yeah, great segue.

I am so happy that you're here. I loved your book. It's exceptional. It's so funny and honest and brave. I was very leisurely enjoying it over the last two weeks. And then I got to that point in the book where I only had like 20 pages left and I started to panic that it was almost over. So I saved the rest for Mother's Day. Oh perfect. And I locked myself in the bathroom for some alone time so I could enjoy the rest of your book. I could not imagine a better way of celebrating Mother's Day.

It's truly. It's phenomenal. You're like, I'm still in the shower. The water's not running. It's phenomenal. Congratulations. I don't want to spoil it, but give us the synopsis of the book. Well, do you have secret desires, Tessie?

Okay, don't say. You sound like the book. I feel like you could do the voice of Omni. I mean, yes, why do you have? I know everything. Take all my money. I mean, yes, why do you have? I know everything. Take all my money. The book is, it's really for every woman who's aging and has secret desires and anxieties about those desires and is wondering what's going on with her body and her marriage

and just her whole self and I mean you I don't know what you were doing there in the bathroom but I wrote it for you. It does feel that way you you made a very specific choice to not name your main character, your narrator of the novel. Be honest, is it me? Because I wonder. I left it open so you would be able to, yeah. I mean I feel like the secret thing that you're wanting to know is, did I have a very hot emotional affair

with a young man who worked at the Hertz rent a car? Well, I would never be so bold to ask, but did you? And tell me everything. I mean, you have to read it and just kind of into it. What I appreciated so much is the fact that you explore all of these different topics that are sort of unspoken in our society. You talk about perimenopause, you talk about the trauma involved in childbirth, you talk about finding sexual freedom and intimacy in

all of its forms. Why do you think those things aren't talked about very often? I know, I, why aren't they? Like I was looking, like I was like probably right, I started writing the book when I was 45, but probably at like 40, I was looking for that book. Or like honestly, I would have taken a pamphlet. Yes. Like I was that desperate. And I mean, all I could figure was like, oh, what's coming must be so humiliating that

it's like out of respect to us that we don't talk about it. You know? It does feel like that. Do you think that the conversation is changing? Do you think more women are talking about? Well the thing is like so that was happening this like absence right like this cliff like there's a cliff on the cover because that's that's kind of a mapless place that we're talking about. But meanwhile, in real life, me and all my friends were having these really incredible conversations about our bodies and our marriages and our, we were questioning everything. It was exciting, like heart pounding real, not boring times. And and so I thought is there something bad that happens if you write about that? Yeah. I guess we'll find out.

I mean it really it really spoke to me in so many ways. One of my favorite parts was when you talk about having a conversation with another character, I should say your character, not you, your character, had a conversation with someone and they said, people are either parkers or drivers, not both. You can be one or the other. Explain what a parker is and what a driver is, and which are you? Okay, so I always feel like there's this other kind of person

who just can have a good time more easily. It's like another kind of woman who's just like chill. Yeah, I don't know her. And then there's, and those are drivers, right? They can do a cross-country drive and it's just like, you know, a fun time. And then there's parkers and they need a discrete task that's nearly impossible and for which they will receive applause. Which is, I mean, you don't end up here if you're not a Parker.

Not to know either of us, yeah. Yeah, so that's the, I mean, I don't know, everyone can decide in their own heads at home, which kind they are. You, I love that you have described this as a coming of age story. And it made me wonder, like, why do all coming of age stories have to be about teenagers? Why can't a coming of age story be about a woman in the middle of her life?

Right. I know, and it's so funny, all those teenage coming of age, which is literally also what every love song is about to. The unspoken thing is, there's a hormonal change that happens at this age, but we build all this meaning on top of it, right? You know, all this and it's beautiful all the stuff that that time of life means. There's also a hormonal change that happens at this time of life, but no story. Right. Like what is the love story about now, you know? And I think it's like not just a benign accident that there's no stories.

Like I think, you know, maybe we're just supposed to think we're done now that we had our kids or, you know? God, I hope not. No, no. I think I'm like just barely old enough, older than you to be able to say like, no, don't worry. I'm so grateful that you wrote this book. It really, it spoke to me. I think it's gonna speak to so many other women.

It is such a fun read. It is saucy, it is funny. I'm so happy for you. Congratulations. I can't wait to see what you do next. Thank you for being here. All four. Available now. Rana's your eyes. Explore more shows from the Daily Show. the Daily Show, wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Fairmount Plus.

This has been a Comedy Central podcast. John Stewart here. Unbelievably exciting news. My new podcast, The Weekly Show. The Weekly Show. We're going to be talking about the election, economics, ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart. Wherever you get your podcast.