The Three Questions with Andy Richter - Rachel Dratch

Episode Date: February 4, 2020

Recorded live at SF Sketchfest, actress/comedian Rachel Dratch joins Andy Richter to discuss coming up through Second City’s Touring Co, becoming a mom, and knowing what you want in life. Plus, Rachel shares the true story that inspired Wine Country and the origin of her classic SNL character Debbie Downer.

Hi guys! Thanks for coming out! Thanks for coming out and eavesdropping on this intimate personal conversation that we're about to have. This podcast, I'm sure, well, I mean, Jesus, who would come here if you didn't know what it was? Does anybody not know what this podcast is? This guy here. Well, I'll tell you what it is. It's called The Three Questions, and the three questions are always the same. They're where do you come from, where are you going, and what have you what it is. It's called The Three Questions, and The Three Questions are always the same. They're where do you come from, where are you going, and what have you learned? It's basically a way to trick people into doing a therapy session.

I'm just trying to get some of the money back from all the money that I've poured into therapy for the last 25 years. I learned the language. I might as well use it. But, you know, I have people approach me to do a podcast for years and years and I You know and I'll be asked to be on somewhere. It's like Let's talk about old cereals like breakfast cereals I don't give a shit about old breakfast cereal But where people come from and where they're going and what they've learned that I care about So that's what this podcast was just an excuse for me to talk to people

I want to talk to about things that I want to talk about and the person I'm talking to today is the old dear friend of mine we sort of came up together in Chicago and the improv scene they're doing drugs hanging out and she's a hilarious actress comedian Rachel Dratch give it up for her yes the hug from the people who've just spent the last 20 minutes chit-chatting backstage. Hi, Rach. You're going to need that. Hello. Okay, hi. Hi.

Hi. Hi. Okay. Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for coming out this afternoon. I mean, missing the football game. Is anyone watching it on their phone while they listen to us well hi Rachel I should talk to you okay these people thank you so much for doing this sure you're here obviously have you

done sketch fest yeah I've come here many years in a row yeah I kind of lost track but yeah it's my annual pilgrimage here, yeah. Right. Is it to get away from your kid, basically? That, and yeah, and I have a couple friends in the area, so I use it as a double excuse. Yeah. Oh, and I have done this for years, too. It's a nice reason to come to this beautiful city and hang out for a minute, yeah.

Well, so you... I'm getting comfortable. Hold on. Oh, wow. Casual. It's like the Wendy Williams show or something. My leg will fall asleep and then I'll change position. Okay.

So, let's start. You're from New England, yeah? I am, from Massachusetts. From Massachusetts. Yes. Woo! Yeah. Elaborate.. Yes. Woo! Yeah. Elaborate.

What kind of town? Yeah. Okay, I'm from Lexington, Mass. If I ask you a question, it's helpful if you actually expand a little bit. I'm from Lexington, Mass, which is where the Revolutionary War began. What? For your mystery buffs. Really?

Yes, historical town, yes. Wow. And let's see. Okay. Yeah, that's where I'm from. I have a lot of friends that are still there that i go back a lot yeah yeah is your is your family from there originally um yeah well my dad was from boston and my mom's from like you know westchester and they met in boston and that's where yeah that's where the whole dratch clan is in the boston area yeah and what did they do um, my dad was a radiologist,

and my mom was like, what is this? Master in urban affairs, you know, professionals. But my dad was very, very funny, too. Yeah. So he was like comedian caliber funny, I would say. Yeah, yeah. So he was definitely a big influence.

And then I also had this group of all my girlfriends, and they were also really funny, I would say. Yeah, yeah. So he was definitely a big influence. And then I also had this group of all my girlfriends, and they were also really funny too. So I just had a lot of funny around growing up. And are you an only child? No, I have a younger brother. A younger brother. Dan, yeah. He's a comedy writer too.

Oh, he is? Yeah, yeah. Oh, really? What does he do? He's written on a whole bunch of stuff. Yeah, he's in LA. Oh, cool. Yeah.

he do? He's written on a whole bunch of stuff. Yeah, he's in LA. Oh, cool. So is it... I mean, it's nice to have a household where, being funny, there's a priority put on it. Is that just your dad? I mean, is your mom like a real boring

turd? Well, I think she doesn't like it when I was like, my dad was funny, because she wanted to be like, I'm funny too. My dad was like the extreme funny. But it wasn't like it when I was like, my dad was funny. Because she wanted to be like, I'm funny too. But it's dad. My dad was like the extreme funny. But it wasn't like we were like, let's make up sketches at home. It wasn't like that.

It wasn't like we all knew my brother and I were going to go into comedy. It wasn't like it was just regular atmosphere, I'd say. But then, yeah, that was sort of valued. And then on top of that, he was funny. My parents were also into watching comedy. So, like, I watched SNL when I was, you know, in third grade, I think, of the first cast. Yeah. So I got kind of into that, too.

Like, they had, they would always watch, like, Carol Burnett and Laugh-In and everything. So it was always kind of, like, high value on that. Right. Well, and it's nice, too, because I think I think, well, I mean, it's changing now, but there was little girls for years were not really encouraged to be funny. Right.

Little girls aren't supposed to be the class. I mean, like I say, it is does seem to be changing. Yeah. But I think, yeah, just watching Lily Tomlin and Carol Burnett and the first cast of SNL and everything, like, it never occurred to me that girls weren't, shouldn't be funny or whatever.

Right. But I know you mean, like, in school and everything, it's like the boy class clown falling back in his chair and girls were supposed to, like, laugh at that, you know? Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, that was, yeah, I was, I just always thought girls could be funny. And then, like I said, I had funny friends.

Yeah. So. And what kind of kid were you? I mean, were you a funny in school? Well, I was super shy. No, I was super shy when I was little. Yeah. And then, yeah, I wasn't, like, maybe, like, junior high, high school,

then I became sort of, like, class clown-esque, I guess. Yeah, yeah. Like, piping up little quips from the back kind of thing. Uh-huh. And then I was also really into theater, like just, you know, school plays and stuff. So that was sort of a combo of like theater and, yeah, disrupting class and stuff like that.

Yeah, yeah. Was being funny sort of like a way to get out of being shy, do you think? Ooh, you're going deep, Barbara Walters. That's not bad. Let's see. funny sort of like a way to get out of being shy do you think this is this is supposed to be about your journey of discovery and Cobb's comedy Club. All right. Yeah, I don't know. So theater kid then. What kind of plays did you do in school?

Oh, well, I went to summer theater camp. Oh. Yeah. Which one? It was just this little like rinky-dink thing in the next town over. But like I never was like, I'm the lead and everything. I was like, you know, no lines in the play. Like I was that.

Yeah, yeah. So I had many, many experiences of that on the way up like like it wasn't wasn't like you're destined to be an actor it was just like you know you're around yeah you're around yeah exactly yeah um and but then like um yeah then I got like a few got a few good parts in high school guys we're really going back intriguing things yeah and then I was sort of I was but I wasn't someone who was like I'm gonna be an actor I was just sort of like oh this is fun like that would be cool but it wasn't like you know you're gonna do this yeah so then yeah then I went to college and I was in an improv group there, and that's where, like, pop. That's where, like, it all.

That's where I was like, okay, I'm going to try this, but I'm just going to, like, give it a shot just so I know I gave it a shot, and then I can go back to Boston and become a therapist, which was the other thing that I wanted to do. Wow. Yeah, I wanted to be a therapist, and I still do sometimes. Yeah, I actually sometimes do too. I know, because I heard you say that. Like, I really like, like therapist. I still do sometimes. Yeah Like I really like like hearing my friends issues and then be like well Have you thought that maybe it's because of this and then when they're like, yeah, and I'm like it just gives me a little charge

Amateur I have an amateur practice on the side. Yeah And that like I love that stuff. Yeah. Yeah Yeah, well no and I mean and it's so useful And that, like, I love that stuff. Yeah, yeah. Well, no, and I mean, and it's so useful. It's such a, you know, my 14-year-old daughter talks about how she'd like to be a therapist. And I feel so proud about that,

because it's such a, you know, like, at being at 14 and being like, I'm interested in promoting mental health. Like, it's a pretty cool thing for a teenager. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you. But, and she's also like, and I, you know, it's also just, I think if you're naturally intuitive

and you want to, you know, you want to talk to people about stuff, that's good. And you want to hear all their secrets. Right, exactly. That used to be a part of it. Now it's about professionalism. Right, right. Yeah, yeah.

And also, as you get older, the secrets get, oh, they get exhausting. You know, as you get older, the secrets get, oh, they get exhausting. Yeah. When you're young, secrets are delicious and when you're old, it's like,

I don't want to know. Shut up. Yeah. Well, what kind of therapist were you going to be? Oh, just like a regular one.

Just a regular one. Like a regular, like. Not like, yeah. Not, yeah. Not like solving murders

and stuff. No, no. But actually, when I moved to Chicago, Yeah. Not like solving murders and stuff. No, no. But actually, when I moved to Chicago, I did... Like, I was still really torn. So I moved to Chicago. And so I was in this improv group. And then one summer, we went to Chicago because one of the guys was from there.

And we checked out Second City in the Provolympic. Just to go and see it. Yeah. Yeah. And then I was like, okay, I'm going to try to move here after college. Yeah. And give it a shot. But when I... like okay I'm gonna try to move here after college yeah and give it a shot but when I but so I did and so okay so I I auditioned for classes there which I heard

were really easy to get in everyone gets into the class there at Second City Second City and then I didn't get into the class and I moved there with a friend who was in my same member group and she got in and I did I remember like I got the call you know well whatever she got the call she got in and I like still hadn't gotten a call and then so I was just like oh my god what about it like it was one of those things where you know you put everything in your car and you drove out together and and then I was I mean like dreams shattered you know yeah but so that was just like one of many you know of those like sure sure whatever yeah so then I you know stuck it out and I'm like you

know I've gotten a little play and you know there's so many little plays you could get into in Chicago so um anyway what was my whole thing about this about this oh so then I was still like well maybe I'll still become a therapist you know so I I even worked at a mental health well I don't know what you call it I was gonna call it a it a mental hospital. It's probably not PC, though. But I worked in a mental health facility. Thank you. Yeah, doing activities and stuff with the patients. Was that your job when you came? That was one of my jobs.

One of your jobs. What were some of the other ones? Oh, you know, like I worked at California Pizza Kitchen as the bar back because I couldn't cut it as a waitress. Why not? I don't know. They just wouldn't, like, they gave me one shot. They wouldn't let you? They gave me one shot.

They're like, get back behind the bar. Yeah. I couldn't carry a lot of plates on my arm, for one thing. Well, yeah. I was probably also slow. I don't know. Anyway, yeah, that was one of my jobs, and then a lot of temping, and la la la. But then eventually, I got into the touring

company at Second City. That took, like, three years. Oh, and I did Real Life Brady Bunch. But then eventually I got into the touring company at Second City. At Second City. But that took like three years. Oh, and I did Real Life Brady Bunch right before that. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know when I quite met you, but I met you like ImprovOlympic, I don't know, somewhere like right at the beginning.

Yeah. Like age 24 or something like that. Yeah, you were an ImprovOlympic and you and Kevin Dorff were dating at the time. Yes, we were. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's how, Kevin Dorff were dating at the time. Yes, we were, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's how, Kevin Dorff is an improviser. Yes. Comedian.

And so, yeah, that was, I just remember that at that first time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The early 90s, yeah. And had you gone back to audition for, had you been through the classes at Second City? Yeah, so I did the classes and then I auditioned for Touring Company. Didn't get it the first time. I wrote this book. I don't know if you knew I wrote a book, but I wrote

this book and I called myself in the book two-time dratch because it always took two times to get anything. So yeah, I auditioned for Torco and then eventually I got that too. So I toured for like two and a half years. Tell people what that's like eventually I got that too. But yeah. So I toured for like two and a half years. Tell people what that's like.

I never did that. Okay, so when you get hired at Second City, back then, well, there's the Groundlings in LA and then there was Second City. And now there's a whole improv scene in New York, but back then there wasn't really much of one. So everyone came from all over the country to Chicago to pursue this improv dream. wasn't really much of one so like everyone came from all over the country to chicago yeah to

pursue this improv dream you know and um so yeah second city tour called like you're not out on the road for months and months you like go like let's do a show in indiana and get in a van like for so it's more like that like a couple times a week or like that kind of thing you pile into this van and go do shows in like a town hall or like a college cafeteria sort of thing yeah yeah and is it i mean does it feel like show business uh yeah because you're just so psyched that you're oh my gosh i'm in second city yeah you know i'm in this college cafeteria but i'm like second city so i'm in a van in a van yeah yeah and you know so and there's a lot of fun people you people that you're performing with

so yeah it still felt like showbiz you made 65 bucks per show and so most people had another job too I remember that being like at the time I never did Second City I just did ImprovOlympic

which you didn't get paid in fact you had to pay for classes and because I had a pickup truck Second City I just did ImprovOlympic which you didn't get paid in fact you had to pay for classes and because I had a pickup truck it used to carry things around for Sharna Halpern who ran it she and eventually was like well I guess you're not gonna pay for classes anymore are you and I'm like well yeah now that you use my pickup truck twice a week no I'm not going to pay for classes but Second City was the place that you'd get paid.

And I do remember that there was a power to that. And it was something... What does it end up being? Like $600 a week or something? Something like that. But you could totally live off that in Chicago at the time. But how could you have another job?

Just went for the tour co. You could do whatever. Temping or whatever. But then once you get hired for a stage, then that's kind of it, and you're all set. And you got on the main stage? Yeah. The main stage right away?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And I did four shows there. Yeah. Yeah. How long had you been in Chicago at that point? Well, by the time, I don't know, like six years or something?

By the time Mainstage, yeah. Wow. I don't think I was there at that time. I think that when you got on Mainstage, I think I was already gone. Conan? Were you already there? No. When did you start on Mainstage? 95. Yeah, yeah. Conan had been on for a couple years. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And so, I mean, that's gotta still, you know, that's got to still, you know, the shows in Second City, they're written somewhat, but they're also improvised, yeah? Well, they're written, most of the, like, they're written and then you improvise afterwards every night,

so you'd get really good at improv because you're improvising every night, so you'd lose that fear, you know? Yeah. So you just, like, after, I mean, the first year I was up there, I didn't feel so confident, but then after you've been up there, well, you just fear, you know. And so you just, like, after, I mean, the first year I was up there, I didn't feel so confident. But then after you've been up there a while,

you just feel, you know, really comfortable. And so you get really good, I think. And you're playing with the best people. And so that was super fun. But the shows themselves, like, you write, like at SNL, you would sit at a computer and, like, you know, think of your idea and write it with someone on the computer.

But at Second City, you'd have an idea or someone would shout out a suggestion and then you would just be on your feet and put up a scene. That's how we wrote all the scenes for there. Back then, they videotaped them and then you'd get the cassette and watch how it went.

And transcribe it. And then be like, oh, that part worked, that part didn't work, let's try this again. That's how we would write the scenes. And was there anybody in that group now that people would know? Yes. Well, and spit it out. Oh, my gosh.

Well, Tina Fey and I were in two shows together. Heard of her. Adam McKay was in my first show. And let's see. Oh, my God. Oh, Scott Adsit. And I'm probably forgetting a bunch of people right now. But anyway, Stephanie Weir.

Yeah. A whole bunch of really talented people. But anyway, Stephanie Weir, yeah, a whole bunch of really... Talented people, yeah. And when I was on The Touring Company, Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell were all in the same cast together. And so I could watch them and be like, oh, my God. Yeah, it was a pretty amazing time.

And thinking back on all the people that just, you know, were in Chicago fucking around and, you know, hanging out and never. And I don't I don't I wasn't that aware of many people that had, like you said, like, I'm going to be on SNL. Yeah. You know, I never thought like I think people got to town. They're like, that's my goal. But then you have to just kind of forget about that and like do whatever's in front of you at the time sort of thing. So I didn't know anyone that was walking around saying that. I remember the first improv class I ever took was at ImprovOlympic, which Del Close, who's like the guru of improv, that was his group, and Sharna Helfrin ran it. And the first class I took,

which I actually took with Kate Flannery from The Office, who's still a friend, but there was a kid in that class that I didn't find out until a couple classes in had moved there from Arizona just because he wanted to be on SNL and I went I took the classes that kid was Joe Piscopo no he I know he wasn't timing was not right but anyway and he didn't he never got on SNL

I mean as far as I know um he didn't and But that was so almost kind of daunting to me because here I just was taking classes because they were local. I mean, you moved there, but not for SNL. What was in your mind? SNL was this crazy dream, like, oh, my God, what if you ever got on SNL? But no one would have to be like, I'm going ever got on SNL but it wasn't no one would have to you know be like I'm gonna be on SNL but you know

one thing though I always think like if any parents out there have kids that want to be actors like you know you're always supposed to discourage them right but but like everyone we know that stuck with it I think is working in comedy like for the most part I think like the percentage of like like for the most part. For the most part. I think the percentage

of, like maybe they're writers or whatever but like I think the ratio of success is a lot higher than you hear about when you're like, what your kid wants to be an actor? Like there is a way to do it. Right. Like if you don't get scared off by it. Right.

Yeah. Well and I also think I mean not to be a, but we're all good. You know what I mean? Like, we all knew each other because we were in the same circles because we knew what we were doing. And, you know, and then we sort of, that's like, there's like a magnetism to that, to like actually being able to do this thing. And then since we're all friends, like we all hung out together in this big kind of comedy fraternity sort of thing. So then one person makes it and brings up a few other people

and then another person. You like to work with those people. Right, exactly. Then you all kind of bring each other up the ranks. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Because it's, yeah, that's the best. Well, and especially, the way I got the job on the Conan show

was just because there was this guy's replacing Letterman, and Robert Smigel was, like, asking around, who doesn't have a job? And I was one of the people that didn't have a job. And, you know, there wasn't a resume or anything. It was just, it was just, I, Robert and I knew each other from hanging out and from you know drinking too much and driving around LA but well now at what point does second or the second city sort of start to you start the SNL kind of opportunities start to happen well okay so when I just got on the main stage like SNL doesn't come through like every year they're gonna come take somebody like you never quite knew when you know like whatever guffman lauren will show up mr guffman yeah yeah yeah so um so when i first got on

main stage like they came through and they they took like almost everyone but me and like a few other people to go on a ship. And so in their reality, since I was kind of new up there, I didn't have a lot of characters. I wasn't really like... I wouldn't have taken me either, I guess is what I would say. But at the time I was like, oh, I guess

this isn't going to happen. It's kind of easy to take that negative reinforcement and be like, well, that's who I am then, you know? Yeah, yeah. So, but then I was in. You mean the continuation from just, you know, second time, like, two time kind of thing that you were saying? Well, yeah, but, like, it's, I mean, when you're, like, trying to be an actor, it's, like, sometimes if you're not like you know feeling fully confident you could be like

okay i guess i won't get beyond this you know yeah like you know but um but anyway then i was there on the main stage for three years and then they came back and then that time i got to go audition and um but then i didn't get it that time then i got to audition a year later and then i got it yeah what was that first audition like oh my gosh it was like I mean well like I didn't get it that time so I can still say it was like dream like pinch me moment yeah because um first of all they call you

in at like whatever they'll say show up at three or something so you show up and you go is this in Chicago or in New York no this is in New York you're like on the stage but you're so like high that you don't even like afterwards I was like oh that was the stage where the person comes out and does the monologue. But that's where you audition and everything. But so they'll call you and say like three o'clock.

So you show up and you're like, okay, I'm ready. Like, here's my stuff. I've gone through it like a million times. And then, but then you wait in this little room, like they put you in a dressing room and it's almost like a psychological test or something. And then like you wait, like I think, like, two hours until I went. He does that to everybody. So then, like, I kept going through.

And, like, sometimes, you know, I'd go through it, and I felt like, yes. And then other times, I'd go through my stuff in the little room, and I was like, oh. And so, like, I was, like, the last one to go that time. And I feel like it just happened to be when I was, like, in a good spot on my little, like, waiting wave. feel like it just happened to me when I was like in a good spot on my little like waiting wave and um so I did my I did my thing and I felt really good about it like and then you know as I said I didn't get the job but I like it felt good knowing like okay I did the best I could like it's not like I left like oh I screwed that up like so that was actually a good feeling you know to be like well I put it out there, and... Yeah. What form does the...

I never auditioned for X and O. So, I mean, I don't know if they've changed over the years, but maybe it's exactly the same, but you just go in, you do basically like three characters and three impressions. Or, like, if you're this amazing impressionist, you go and, like, do a ton of... You know, you can kind of, like, twist that around a little.

But, yeah, so... And I wasn't really, I didn't have many impressions. I don't even remember what I did. I think I, I don't even remember what I did for that one. But I think back then Ally McBeal was a big show and I did Calista Flockhart for that. And then the characters, oh my gosh. Well, I did do the Boston thing.

Yeah. I think, because I'd done that at Second City. And then two other things that like never even made it on the show. But then I did do the Boston thing. Yeah. I think, because I'd done that at Second City. And then two other things that never even made it on the show. But then I didn't get it. And then the following year, I got to go back. And I'd done this show with Tina called Dratch and Faye that we had done this two-person sketch show. Yeah.

A written show or an improvised show? A written show. Yeah. And that was super fun. We did it in Chicago, and then we did it in New York. So I think that sort of kept me in the... Tina was already a writer there. And so that sort of kept me in the loop, maybe.

I don't know. Was it during the summer or something? Yeah, during the summer, yeah. You did the show. That's great. So then I went back. When I went back, then I had already done my A game. And you'd think, well, couldn't you have thought up

more characters during the year? But I guess the answer is no. So then I had to do my second stringers. I was like, well, you saw the really good stuff last year. Like, here's something. So I didn't feel as good that time. But then, oh, so then they're like, OK, they'll let you know by August 15th or whatever. So then August 15th comes and goes.

I didn't get it. But that time I was like, yeah, ready to you know move on from this dream and so but then I got a call like two weeks later on my answering machine guys because it was that year and then I got to go meet with Lauren and the meeting was kind of mysterious like you know this is flying out every time too, right? Well, yeah, but I was in New York then. Oh, you were? No, wait, where was I?

I don't know where I was. But anyways, yeah. But anyway, so I had this meeting with Lorne. Like, you don't really know what this meeting is. Like, is this because I got this job or is this like another round of interviews? And then, like, you just chat with Lorne. Now, I heard later it's so that he's making sure like you're not

cuckoo that's what i've heard like he wants to make sure like you're not a wacky you're not crazy but i'm not really sure what that meaning is but then then i got you know a calling then they're like okay they'll let you know by the end of this week okay so it's like the last minute of the last day of that week whatever it was. And then I got the call. And that was probably one of the coolest moments of my life, I would say. Yeah. And at any point during this, are your parents

worried that you're not going to make a living at this? Or are they pretty supportive? So the way that I operated in the whole acting thing, and I think maybe they just took like, took my lead on this, is I wasn't, like, I don't know anyone that was, like, I'm giving myself five years. Like, do you know anyone that really did that? Well, I mean, you hear about them, but I don't.

Yeah, but it's sort of like. They're not friends. Well, the way I am, I think everyone else is, like, depending on, like, if I made progress this year, then, like, I'm going to, like, stick with this, you know? Yeah. And I just realized I say the word like a lot, and it's going to be all over this, and this is being recorded, but anyways. That's all right. Okay, know that I'm saying like a lot.

Okay? So if you're making any progress each year, then you stick with it. So that's how it kind of works. So the fact that I had already been in Second City, they were, you know, oh, she's an actor. You're doing it. Yeah actor yeah yeah so it wasn't like this has to happen right has to happen yeah do you think were you did you how much younger is your brother he's three years younger and did he did that sort of inspire him you think to um no because he wasn't really into performing and he kind of came into the writing thing like sideways sort of really yeah so I don't think I inspired but um but yeah yeah now what it how how much time do you have between getting hired and now did you live in New York when you got hired

um well I had moved to LA after Chicago yeah and that was it what do you mean after Chicago like we're just like with, yeah, so I left Second City. And then I was like, okay, I'm gonna go out to LA. And LA was just kind of like dead for me. I mean, I thought Second City was gonna swing all these doors open, but it didn't happen like that. And so I wasn't really doing anything

there. And that's when I went to go do the show with Tina after, you know, nine months in LA. Went back to Chicago? Yeah, yeah. But I was intending on staying in L.A., but it wasn't really my thing at the time. So, yeah. So how long between getting hired and starting work? Oh, then you start,

you know, whatever, two weeks later. Oh, wow. You're out there, yeah. And what's it like when you start? How do you know what to do? Oh, my gosh. Well, you don't. Is there somebody that sort of like... No, it's like a baby being thrown into the pool basically yeah i mean i was lucky because i knew tina and adam mckay yeah um so they kind of show you the ropes a little bit but then at the same time everyone's doing their thing you know it's very intense there and so yeah i mean you know writing

night you're sometimes i remember just walking on the halls and you're hearing these cackles come out of various offices like ha ha ha and then you're like I don't have any ideas you know and so it can be I mean the most fun part of SNL was performing and the live aspect and it's a show you've watched

since you're little and you know just the iconic nature of it for me but then the hardest part was the writing and thinking up characters because you know you might think when you see characters like oh you just sit at a desk and then that just pops in your head but that's i mean i don't know anyone that really works like that it's more like you're whatever you're walking down the street and you have this epiphany maybe once a year of a really good character. I think that's how it works for me.

So I would kind of start to go through life, you know, oh, maybe that would make a good sketch. If something weird would happen, like, oh, write that down. But if you showed up for writing night with no ideas and you're just sitting there, you'd start to be like, how about something about a chair?

You're looking around the room, desperate, totally desperate. And then if start to be like, how about something about a chair? You know, you're looking around the room, desperate, totally desperate. And then if you have, like, maybe sometimes, you know, you're not in the show much, right? So then going into that writing week, then you feel more pressure. I've got to get something on the show. And then you're not in again.

And then it just builds up, and then that's not good for comedy thinking, you know? Because it's just like a panic, white-hot panic, of must think of something. Yeah. And how how do you do you handle that stuff well no no no no I mean like if you're not in a show very much on Saturday how much like how many days I'm getting anxious just thinking about this yeah I'm feeling a physical but I mean because SNL is just, I mean, it's the dream job. And it also has all this stuff that I'm talking about. Yeah.

And, you know, it's still like, I mean, everyone in the cast was, it was really an ensemble. I mean, the cast obviously rolls over and there's different people. You know, I was there with like Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon at the beginning. And then the end is, you know, Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig. Like people are coming out, but there is a feeling of camaraderie, and there is a feeling of I don't like writing by myself, so you have these people

that you click with and write with, and so all that is the good positive part. And then, yeah, if you go through, you know, you can kind of feel like you might get shit-canned any week. Yeah, yeah. So that's kind of the scary part.

That place, I mean, I've always heard, because I mean, I've known so many people who have worked there. And I know for a while, because the Conan Show started in 93, and that's, we were, you you know we're basically on the same campus as them and it seemed to be a really tough place for women at that time and it was I mean and was it that for you when I was there I've heard like not to take away anyone because I've heard that from the past yeah and I think that was probably true well and it was also the cast at the time was dominated by male stand-ups not even like actors you know what I mean and stand-ups don't necessarily play well with others right so it was like it seemed to be kind of a very male me and me only kind of atmosphere yeah but that was all before i was there in like a much

more evolved time i think yeah and what i never felt that what do you think why do you think that is it just like a natural evolution do you think there was a point no maybe it was just like the guys we had or something or like you said you know um maybe they started to bring in more women like maybe it started i I mean, right now, like the women are so strong on the show. I mean, they have been for many years, but I just mean, like you don't differentiate, you know, now when you see us in it,

like, oh, the women are the men. Because it's just such a good mix, I think. Well, and I do think that too, that was you and Tina and Amy Polar you know I think really just being as strong as you all were you know probably well thank you

no I mean it's like it's like there was just an undeniable talent that sort of like well not to like de-toot my own horn but then before me before me it was Molly Shannon and Sherry O'Terry and Ana Gastar. Before I got there, I thought they were all super strong. No talent button.

Maybe I think with that new thing, when there was Will and Sherry and that whole crew, I don't know, it just felt very even. I also think, too too they were all sketch performers as opposed to stand-ups. And there were years where that show was mostly stand-up comedians with like a Phil Hartman

thrown in. Which I just don't think is it's not conducive to the kind of sketch comedy that I like. Right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So what, and what, I mean, as you go through there, how do you, how do you know how long you're going to stay? How do you, how long, how do you, like, sort of navigate, like?

Well, the contract, I think now is seven years. Yeah. And then some people stay beyond that. Yeah. And that's a whole thing what does that mean no like i i were there seven years or seven years yeah yeah and then was it

your decision or if i may ask a little muddy but i don't want like i don't mean like i don't want to go here because it's like this big scandal thing it's just like if if i bring this up then it's going to get quoted on every internet up, then it's going to get quoted on every internet thing and then it's going to like, revive. I see. You know what I mean?

But it's really not a big deal. Right, right. So you were ready to go do something else? Let's just say I was ready to go and leave it at that. All right.

I don't know if this is going to be like boring or fun or what, or it'll be on every internet thing, but no, so I was... This is the whole 30 Rock.

Right now it's sounding pretty interesting. Okay, well, so the whole 30 Rock thing, which I just am so... It's just like a dead horse to me. Oh, right, right, right. Because I was on 30 Rock, but then I wasn't. But then when we said, oh, what if I went back to SNL? Like that was the year

that they were like not letting people stay beyond the seven years. Oh, I see. So like me and Chris Parnell and Horatio were all gently guided. Oh, really? Out the door. No.

But like I just don't want to be like, revive. I understand. So anyone on the internet listening to this, please don't make this a bullet point in some sort of magazine right now. Because I don't want to talk about it anymore. But no, that's what... But it wasn't like...

Whatever, okay. Well, now... It wasn't like, whatever, okay. So. Slow. But I mean, when after that, because you had a part in Dirty Rock that then became Jane Krakowski's. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you did.

Then I did little parts. Yeah, little parts and through there. Yeah. How was that, I mean, how did that part of that but part of your life feel oh well okay there's two answers to this one is like we got time having been having been like in the biz as we are I really didn't I didn't have any you know bad emotions about the part changing because I totally saw why that was happening and I was

excited about doing the little parts. So I didn't feel any like, what? I didn't feel this crushing blow. But the part that sucked was that it was blown up into this big thing and it would not die. My leaving SNL

was just accompanied by all these stories.L was just accompanied by all these, like, stories. You know, it was just this, like, I was just a player on SNL, but then suddenly I was, like, in all these stories, and it just left this, like, yuck. She was supposed to be. Exactly. And then she wasn't.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I got, then the parts that were coming my way were, like, you know, just not very flattering parts after that. And I went through, like, many know, just not very flattering parts after that. And I went through like many years of that, but then that went away and now I play regular people. And so this is why I'm reluctant to talk about this, because I don't want to revive that story around myself. Well, that's what I'm here for, though.

I know. Really? That was like 10 years here for, though. I know. That was like 10 years ago. No, more than 10. That was like 2006. Oh my God, that was like 14 years ago. Ah! Time keeps racing.

So, yeah, after all that happened, nothing was really happening after SNL. You think after SNL, then I'm going to be a movie star, but that didn't happen. So then I started doing things

that I didn't have time to do when I was the busy actor, so I did all these random things. And then I started writing these little stories. Not stories. I started as an exercise. What do you mean random things? Well, I was like, I'm going to do yoga three times a week

and take Spanish class. Like that kind of thing. And then there wasn't a lot of work coming my way. And then I decided to try to write, if something funny happened to me or humiliating, I would write it as a little essay. And then I had this little stack of essays. And then I brought, there was a lit agent at my agency.

And so she liked them, but she's like, okay, where's this going to go? Like, what's the arc of this? And I didn't really know. So then they just sat on a shelf for like a year. And I was doing, you know know little parts here and there and then then I got surprised pregnant and then I was like oh this is the end of the book and so so then surprise pregnant is the best kind of pregnant it really, and then also had a baby. And I have a nine-year-old son. Nine-year-old son.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's all in the book. And then everything started to pick up again. Right. And also I was really into being this. I had my son when I was 44. And I was just like, oh, my God. Because I wanted kids, but I wasn't going to have a my own, just, I mean, now knowing what I know,

I would say like, go for it, you know, but about how much I like being a mom, but I wasn't that type, whatever, I was like, I'm not gonna just go have a baby on my own, so I was sort of wrapping my head around, you know, not having kids and just accepting that, I guess, and so then, now I had this baby and I was like, really guess. And so then now I had this baby, and I was, like, really into being a mom

because I kind of liked that I wasn't working, you know, 12 hours a day on a show. Right. So everything just flipped. And, yeah, I really enjoyed that part of life. And then everything, yeah, and then slowly the career sort of started to flow back, too. Yeah, yeah.

And now I have it all Now she's a sketch I mean, you know, I think when you're younger whatever not to get all well, this is the point of the show I guess yeah, I learned but what I've learned is like I think when you're younger, you know I used and I think a lot of us I've heard a lot of my comedian friends saying this like we wanted to you know make it and improvise every night like I mean I would go watch improv

like all the time perform it all the time that was the priority it was such a high it was just so fun to be with all those people and everything and then like you know you want to make it in the biz and earn a living off and then but now that you know like SNL was my dream job and everything I feel like I had this And then you want to make it in the biz and earn a living off it. But now that SNL was my dream job and everything,

I feel like I had this big check for myself of how fun that was. And anything beyond that is also really fun too. I still love doing comedy. But just having time to do the other things in life. I'm not as whatever, lack of a better word, hungry to be in my own series. That doesn't matter as much to me anymore. Also,

nothing like having a kid to take your mind off yourself. That's true. It's one of the sort of like I mean it's a beautiful thing about having a kid is that you're caring for somebody else but it also is like whoo now i can stop caring about this fucker right here yeah let's put all our hopes on the next generation

instead yeah yeah my uh my ex-sister-in-law said when she had a kid this great, I've said it on here before she said like when you have a kid it's really evident who the baby is like it's not, you're not the baby anymore so it's like you really gotta take care of this kid

yeah and what's your boy's name? Eli and what's Eli? there's another Eli in the audience apparently. Oh, so that's funny. So I wanted to give my kid a name that there wouldn't be like three Elis in class, you know? Yeah. But right when I named him Eli, like everyone named their kid Eli.

So there are three Elis. But no, he's fun. He's definitely funny. And he says he wants to be an actor, but I have not encouraged him. I know, I know. I don't want a kid actor. But he is really funny. And he's fun. He's very positive, funny.

Yeah, yeah. Can't you tell my loves are growing? Well, I mean, I guess we'll go to the where are you going portion of this. I mean. I didn't know that was part of it. Yeah, yeah. Where are you going? That's the second question. Jeez.

Okay, not to like punt on this question, but I've always been... I don't have plans. Yeah, yeah. I don't... Here's what... Okay, I want to have this done, this done, this done. Right. But I mean, it could be like a house by a lake. Oh, okay.

I'll take a house by the lake then. It could be a motor home. Put me down for one of those. Okay. It could be a late-onset astronaut. Late-onset astronaut. Where am I?

Okay, well, I mean, this is like a career answer. I'm starting, I have a few writing things happening. But that's a career answer. So... Are they books? Are they screenplays? Well, I don't know if they're..., but that's a career answer. Are they books? Are they screenplays? Well, one's a screenplay and one's a series.

I don't know if they'll happen. They're supposed to happen, but you never know. Oh, they're already, yeah, yeah. Well, yeah. One's a kid's animated series, and I'll leave it at that. Okay. And the other is a movie, potentially writing. And they're all in the works? They're in. Okay. And, yeah, there's a movie. Yeah. Potentially writing. And they're all work.

They're in the works? They're in the works. Yeah, yeah. But you still never know. Oh, you never know. So that's why. And she's, oh, you know what? I love doing theater, but I don't like, like, when you have a kid,

it's just the schedule is super demanding. So once he's a little older, I do want to do Broadway sometime, but I don't sing sing, so it would just be like a comedy, or like the person that can't, doesn't really have to sing. And I don't know, I'm trying to just like,

I know this sounds super cheese ball, but just like be in the moment, because I don't know, I have a little kid, and I'd like in the moment because I don't know, like I have a little kid and I'd like to spend a lot of time with him and, you know, enjoy the little kid years. Yeah, yeah. So I haven't really thought of like down the road.

Yeah, yeah. Down the road. Do you have a good answer for that? What? No, I asked the question. No. No. I mean, I know.

No, I asked the question. I mean, no, well, I mean, for me, I, you know, like I am going through a divorce. So it's like it's, I sort of feel like I ripped my life down to the studs. And I'm kind of like. Rebuilding. Yeah, yeah. So I have, yeah, I mean, as much as I have plans and stuff, I realize like, oh no, I'm just, you know, I had, because one of the weird, you know, one of the weird things when, like one of the weird things that I think that like accompanies disappointment is it's

not the loss of like what's in the present or what was in the past. It's the loss of a future that you had thought of, you know. And I was married for 25 years, and there was a future that I had pictured forever that doesn't exist anymore. And that's where I really feel like about this particular question, where am I going? I don't have a fucking clue. I mean, I'm still on the Conan show

and that's about it. I got kids. I got two kids and that's about it. I mean, beyond that, thank you. But beyond that, it's really hard to know. And I've always been struck by people who knew what the hell they wanted out of life.

Were you that kind of person? Did you know? No, I was more just... Well, I mean, when I was little, I was a good student. I guess I would call myself an achiever when I was younger yeah now like when you're an actor then you have all this free time a lot and then you have to at first that really freaked me out like oh wow but now I'm just like okay this is fine like it's like

it's turned me a little lazy like yeah it's hard to have a totally unstructured day I don't mean like it's hard I know if you're going to work, you're like, that sounds awesome. But what I mean is to keep yourself from just like frittering away your time. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You know, if you, like if you, yeah, anyway, okay, whatever. That sounded really obnoxious. But it's a sporadic schedule and you have to have your brain adjust to that. Yeah, yeah.

That's what I'm trying to say, yeah. But personality-wise, do you think that... Are you somebody that needs a collaboration, and is that what drew you to improv as opposed to other kind of things? I like a collaboration. Yeah, yeah. But then lately, like a few things, you know, to think of an idea to do something,

that just has to be you and your own, you know, so I don't know. But yeah, I like, I like collaborating better. Yeah. Yeah. I, that's for me, I always have been, I, the notion, that's why I, like, I've never really, I've done standup, but I don't like standup. And I just came to the conclusion, I don't like to be on stage by myself. No, I don't either.

It's not, it's not that much fun. It gives me fear and paralysis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's always, because for me also, too, improv, I don't know if it was the same for you, it's like the show was sort of beside the point. It was the hanging out with the funny people. And in Chicago, a lot of times, you'd show up at a show,

and it'd be like, the boiler's out. You know, which just means it's 40 degrees in the venue and you can't do a show. And then it was like, well, we're all together. Let's just go out and drink and be funny, you know, and not have to waste it on an audience or anything. So, well, I am going to open this up, since it's questions, to the audience. If you guys have any questions for us, there's a microphone right there. If anybody wants to come up and ask us a question. Nobody? Well, that's a bummer.

Go ahead. Nobody? Well, that's a bummer. Go ahead. Yeah, if you wanna just go up and wait and ask a question. First of all, thank you so much. I really respect both of you. Oh, thank you. And I just wanna ask, what would you say to your,

Oh, thank you. And I just want to ask, what would you say to your, I guess, what would you say to your 16-year-old self now? 16-year-old self. First thing I would say is, like, just try a little harder to learn to like cardio. Just try a little harder because I'm fucked I'm

god damn machines I can't do it how about you you've stumped me with that question I don't know well I tell you one thing that I I would not I would tell myself to not waste so much time being afraid of just I don't know

what even you know like like I was always a kid that kind of was like I was a smartass but I was always terrified of getting in trouble. And I think too that, you know, as I went through, you know, whether it was like relationships and dating or there was decisions to be made about where to go to school or what to do, spent so much time being scared of what? I don't, you know, I mean, I was well fed and had a nice place to live and, you know, I don't know what the issue there was, you know?

And, yeah, and I think also too, like, don't be afraid to say no. Like, as I've gotten older, saying no, like, I've always noticed in kids, no is like the first step of autonomy. Like, it's kids, little kids' favorite word is no. And it's just because, you know, when a baby's born, they don't even think of themselves as separate from their mother. They think of themselves as the same. So one of the first steps towards autonomy is like, no, I'm not going to go to bed.

And I think that especially in career situations, I used to be like, well, all right, yeah, okay. And after a while, it's like, no just you just say no and and if you don't feel right about something I mean not to be a dick about something but like you really don't want to do something or it doesn't fit you it doesn't feel right you know don't be afraid to say no so I also just like I just thought of a few teachers that like if I had listened to them then I would have just backed off the whole theater thing.

If a teacher seems like a hard-ass maybe crazy person, then you don't have to listen to what they say as truthful. I think when you're a kid or even in college or whatever in your 20s, you take that person as their word is

authority and they're right because they're the teacher. But if you have that sense that something's off about them, then listen to your gut, I would say, on that. Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Another question. Just had a quick question. Rachel, we love all the characters that you played and everything.

Can you describe the process a little bit? Like when you guys came up with the lovers in SNL, working with Will Ferrell, and just kind of the back and forth that you guys... Sure. Okay, so the lovers actually came from this professor at college. Because the lovers, those two professors, like they were professors.

And so a friend of mine was taking a course and this English professor, I didn't even have this woman as a professor, but she told my friend, like my friend was going off to winter break, and she said, what are you doing for a break? And my friend said, oh, nothing, I'm just laying low. And she's like, that's good. Just read a book, take a bath, eat a bonbon, spend time with your lover. And so that became this like big quote with me and my friend.

And so we would always say lover to each other. And that was way back when I was 21 or something. And so lover kept batting around. And then Adam McKay heard me saying it once, and he put it into a scene, and then Will Ferrell and I went off and wrote those guys as a whole scene, just because of that one little comment. So, yeah. Go ahead.

So, this question is about the movie you did, Wine Country. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so I heard that it was kind of based on a true thing that you did do this trip, but that in reality your trip was in Sonoma, not Napa. Right. And then you changed. Oh, right, because I'm in the country. I'm in the Napa-Sonoma country right now. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah. It's relevant. You better represent. I know. And I was wondering if you changed it to Napa just because you thought nationally that was more recognized. No, I think it was just like the shooting locations and yeah. Because Sonoma's got some nice shooting locations. Oh, I love Sonoma.

I love Sonoma. I love Sonoma. So what Sonoma. I love Sonoma. This guy has an axe to grind. I love it. He's not even a fan of either one of us. If you own a winery, I will show up and ask for free wine. But that was for the locations?

Yes, so the real story... So I love wine country. And so the real story... So I love wine country. And so the real story is we did go on a trip for my 50th, those ladies, and we went to Sonoma. And then while we were on that trip, I don't know if it was Amy Poehler or Emily Spivey, but one of those two had the idea, like, we should do this as a movie.

So then they actually went off and wrote it. But I do think it was because, like, I had nothing to do with the production. I mean, if I had made it, it would have been in Sonoma. But no. No, but I had nothing to do with the production. So I think when they go off and scout locations and all that, it has to do with stuff I know nothing about.

But Wine Country 2 will be in Sonoma. Can you name some of the wineries you went to? Oh, yeah. So let's see. Oh, for the movie, you went to? Oh yeah, so let's see. Oh, for the movie, we went to Artessa. I'm talking about on your actual trip. Oh, real trip we went to, oh my gosh. Oh, I'm going to forget it. Oh, but, oh.

Oh my God, it's like on the tip of my, oh. I'm going to remember it by the end. Because we had an amazing time and there was a, one of the servers there was an opera singer only we didn't know it so he busted out and sang happy birthday in an opera oh my god what's this place called

what? no okay yes when did you first realize you were funny? ooh today Okay, yes. When did you first realize you were funny? Ooh. Today. Today.

Well, like I said, I was super shy. And I don't know, maybe in like seventh grade, I had this English teacher named Miss Westcott, and she was funny. And so that's when I started like chiming in little like comments from the back and I don't know maybe around then maybe around 7th grade but then like even

doing plays like when I was interested in theater I just was not good at drama like I wasn't good at these serious scenes but then when it was a comedy scene I felt like oh I know how to make this thing funny and I even now like I love getting a script. More for theater,

even when you're in front of an audience and you realize doing the show night after night, like, oh, it's so weird. If I turn my head like this, it gets a huge laugh. If I don't do that, just all those little machinations, I love figuring all that stuff out. Do you think that

are you good in life with like... Like in real life? Yeah, like you're making a choice on... No, no, no, no. No, I mean like on stage when you say like you're not good with drama, you're better with comedy. In real life, are you afraid of serious things? No. Are you a non-confrontational, can't, you know, kind of...

Well, I don't, like, I mean, I don't know if that's a good question, but no, I mean, I feel like I'm a real person, like, I don't feel like I'm, you know, avoiding emotions. Yeah, yeah. But I don't think I'm the best person to portray that, like, you know. Oh, so it's just a...

It's more performing, like, I'm not the person to be like, my house! Whatever. I find it hard to cry on cue and all that stuff. Plus, it's much more joyful to me.

Honestly, finding it hard to cry on cue is probably really healthy. You know what I mean? Being able to cry. The only person that I ever knew who really could cry on cue really well was my cousin Amy and she did it just usually to not get

busted for weed. And she was amazing at it. And we would say to her, like, cry. And she would just go, and tears would just start flowing down and it always unnerved me me I felt like that can't be healthy I can't be good for your mental health here we go next question trying to think that vineyard still it's driving me crazy

Ernest and Julio Gallo that was it Manischewitz Manischewitz wineries Rachel when you were talking about like the negative reinforcement you felt at That's it. Manischewitz. Manischewitz wineries. Rachel, when you were talking about the negative reinforcement you felt at Second City, and you were kind of at this crossroads between therapist and performing, how did you encourage yourself to keep creating, even when it felt like it wasn't paying off? Well, it wasn't like, I mean, there was enough paying off

that it wasn't like, I mean, there was enough paying off that it wasn't like, oh, like, you know, fail. It was just more like, hmm, that's a good question. I mean, it's just sort of like, how much do you love doing this? Do you want to keep doing it? Because, like, if it started to feel not fun, then I probably would have stopped. But it was still fun. Like, even when, you Even when you get little rejections along the way. I mean, even now,

auditioning, you can audition for like 20 things and then get the next. You're used to not getting parts by now. So it's more just like, is it still fun and am I still enjoying this? Because if I wasn't, then I might have gone the other direction, I guess.

And it's better than working. Really better than having a job. You have free days to sit around and think of what you're going to do. Hey, what's going on, guys? Hi. Doing a podcast. Thanks for doing this. Podcasting.

Good to see you. Podding. Rachel, I just wanted to ask you what your favorite character was you ever did up there. So, I mean, on SNL, there's sort of stages, because I was there seven years, so

any character that's getting on, that's your favorite at the moment. So when I first got on, the first characters I got on was the Boston thing. And then I loved doing the lovers in the hot tub because what I loved about that too was like at SNL you're like,

you know, open on a hot tub and like there's a hot tub, a real functioning hot tub on like live TV. That was just like weird. But no, I think, you know, my favorite was probably the Debbie Downer

where we all started laughing. I mean, that's the one people come up to me. Was that the first one? That was the first one. That was the first one, yeah. At Disney World. And I don't even know why I started laughing. I flubbed a word, and then I don't know.

But it just makes me laugh. You would try not to laugh on that show because it was sort of a cheap way of getting the audience on your side I remember before I was ever on the show and they would break I would love seeing them break on the show but it's not something you want to do on repeat there so I would really try not to laugh but that one was just so out of control

because people would say, is that show really live? I love when things go wrong on the show. I'm making a quote mark for you listeners. No, when things go a little off on the show, it reminds you, like, this is really live. And we can't go back and do this again, you know. So that was probably my favorite moment, even though it was kind of, you know, unprofessional, I guess. It's a really, it's, I mean, if you haven't seen it. I actually just saw it, like, a month ago. yeah it's a really it's I mean if you haven't seen it I actually

just saw it like a month ago and it's pretty goddamn hilarious that first Debbie Downer sketch was so good was that now who who said you're Debbie Downer was that your yeah Debbie Downer your idea Debbie Downer was my idea that I I had this well I don't even know if we have time to talk about how I thought of it, but anyways I thought of this character. Okay, so I was on this trip and I was in Costa Rica on this trip

and there were these... Must be nice. Exactly. And there were these like communal tables and so someone, we were just like chatting and someone's like, where are you from? And I said, New York york and then someone was like were you there for 9-11 and like here you're like i was on vacation like that and um and like everyone so the conversation sort of went to a little bit of a halt and then we had to get it back going again by the way like 9-11 had been three years earlier

too so then like but i didn't think of it then. Then, like, a week later, for some reason, that popped into my head as a character named Debbie Downer. And then I went to Paula Pell, who's a writer on the show, who's amazing, and so we wrote that together. And at first we were trying to set it in an office, and it wasn't flowing, like, we couldn't get it working. And then I think Paula thought of, you know,

this should be somewhere really happy where everyone's having fun. And so then we thought of Disney World. And then as we were writing it, you know, we'd think up a downer line, and then one of us, I forget, would go like, just like us. And so then we were like, what if we put that in the script? So then the first time at the read-through table, we had the music guy set up these cues

so that every time we did it, there was this giant trombone thing. So anyway, that's how we thought of that. But Paula was definitely whatever. What's the word I'm looking for? Paula was definitely... The driving force? Yeah, she was definitely part of that creation.

Is your Debbie Downer in you? Are you an anxious person? Well, I have Debbie Downer within me. At any party, I could be like, if someone's like, oh, it's so nice out today. I'm like, that's because of climate change. But I withhold it, but I have like 10,000 of those a day.

But I don't say them, so Debbie and I are just in my way of like saying them all. Hi, so my mom actually went to high school with you, so like I'm such a big fan. Me or Andy? You. Oh really? Yeah, her name's Tracy Shoup. Tracy Shue? I know Tracy Shue. Really? Yes. That's your mom? So happy. Yeah it's so funny. Oh my gosh. I've been like the biggest fan girl since forever. Oh my gosh. But I guess is there like an eclectic moment in high school that kind of have like transcended into your like different sketch comedies? Well okay so I mean high school like a lot of those Sully and Denise Boston scenes were based on high school so like we, so I mean, high school, like, a lot of those Sully and Denise Boston scenes

were based on high school, so like, we would, like, I mean, there was, like, the high school, whatever, woodshop, and the prom, and we'd always throw in real teacher names. I don't know if your mom, whatever, tell your mom to listen to teacher names because they're all from our high school. Or maybe they're from our junior high, but anyway,

yeah, and like, you know, the house party, we would, like, list all these people we went to high school with. So there's all these little references in there. But that was definitely based on high school. Yeah. Awesome. Well, thank you. Tell Tracy I say hi.

Hi. So my mom didn't go to high school with you. She went to high school in communist China. Super fun. Wah, wah. Wah wah. There she goes again. I love to know what goes on in your head before you go on stage for a show. What do you think

of to motivate you? What excites you? What pumps you up for a show? You mean like an improv show or like a show show? Yeah, like improv or sketch or like fear. Well for improv, okay, so I used, I mean maybe you feel the same, like I used to improvise all the time and I would just be like, yeah, I got this, but now like I do it maybe once a year or something. So, you know, improv is all about conquering the fear and I gotta say the fear kind of never goes away. Like if you, I mean, but I'm not'm not like you know having dry heaves backstage but I mean I am sort of just like uh it gives me a nervous feeling to perform and sometimes I'm like why am I doing this to myself

it's torture yeah but the thing that I love about is you know you're with other people and you know that they all have your back most of the time you know like unless the whole thing goes off the rails but um yeah so I don't know I feel like when you've been doing this long you don't get as scared and no not as good but definitely for improv I know because I I'm the same way I rarely do improv and I mean I it had been a number of years. There's long form improv games that have a monologist and then people do scene work and I for a long time did the monologues and I can stand up in front of a group of people

and blab as me now very easily but doing improv scene work is nerve wracking. It's just terrifying at this point. And it was the same way. I was doing it six nights a week, and your brain is like a muscle. You're like, okay, yeah, let's do another hour and a half show. But if you don't do that,

I've always said when people will say, do you want to come and do this improv show? And I'm like, why would I leave the house to be nervous I can stay home and be nervous you know but it's but it did I recently had to do there was a fundraiser at the UCB theater in LA and the idea was is that rather than having monologues people would sing a song and then you'd improvise based on the song. And it was kind of like Amy Poehler came back to do it, and it was most of the original UCB people were there.

And it was literally 30 seconds before we were done. I thought I was just going to sing a song, and then everyone would improvise around it. I realized, like, oh, no, we're all singing and improvising. And it was literally 30 seconds, and I hadn't improvised in like four or five years probably and luckily it was only 30 seconds before so I couldn't either I couldn't get nervous like fuck it I just got to do it and then we did a two-hour improv show and the thing that struck me after I because I did fine it was fun

show and good and at the end of it, I was like, nope, I don't need to do that again for another five years. That was enough of that. I mean, I guess I got my fill when I was young. Thank you. Thank you. How many more people we got in line?

Okay, that's good. We'll stop it there. Also, I remember the vineyard. Oh, good. save it for the end oh shit that would have been the big button what was it? Linmar Estates?

no? Linmar Estates people are nodding there's a place thanks for your enthusiasm we had fun we had a good time there Linmar Estates it sounds a little bit like a trailer park Thanks for your enthusiasm. We had fun. We had a good time there. Yeah.

Linmar Estates. It sounds a little bit like a trailer park. No, it's beautiful. It's a beautiful setting. Like Linda and Mark. They started a trailer park called Linmar Estates. Linwood? Linmar? I don't know. But it was beautiful. Okay, hi. Hi. Hey. So you talked a little bit about working at a mental health facility

when you were, like, earlier in your career. And I wanted to hear more about, like, quote-unquote survival jobs that you had that you felt, like, helped you be creative and write and do improv on top of, like, making money to survive financially. Because obviously you don't get paid when you do comedy for a very long time. So, okay. So, I mean did i did a lot of temping and then um yeah waitressing i just wasn't good at as i mentioned but but what i always tell people that ask me this question is is to i mean when you're trying to do this don't get a like a real job what you would call what i mean is like a career type of job.

Because then if you're somewhere where you have to be there like nine to five kind of thing, then I feel like those people, like they weren't quite as available and then they weren't quite as sort of, I don't know, desperate or whatever it might be. They kind of were the ones who like veered off and quit sort of because they had, you know, more of a career focused job. So anything that you could be more flexible, I would say to do that, if you're really serious trying to make it the comedy thing. Thank you.

What would you say? Well, I would say definitely, there's a lot of, I mean mean I went to film school and I know people in the film business who have just done the film business and they don't know it's why there's so many movies

about movies is because they don't know anything else so when you work a shitty job where you have to do what you're told by somebody that is beneath contempt that's a learning experience that you can bring to your work you know I mean it's out it's out in the shitty jobs that you that they're where the material is it's not it's not you know an improv class or it's not I mean it's even well I mean you know and even in comedy like in comedy clubs like there's a lot of comedy about comedy and it's I don't

it's not my favorite thing you know so sure go ahead yeah I was wondering like in your time in comedy, whether it be improv in Chicago or, like, doing SNL or doing Conan, was there, like, any, like, weird, like, pre-show ritual that you guys had or something, like, maybe a mantra or something like that that you would say before you go on stage or before you, you know, do a show? Jeez, I wish I had some, you know, professional ritual thing, but no. I mean, I think when you're starting out, you did a lot of like zip, zap, zap, and energy circle. Yeah, there are games that, yeah. Fall trust circles and all that,

which is probably very admirable and what we should be doing now, but now you're just like, what? It's time. Let me get on my phone. Yeah. That kind of thing. No, I did, yeah.

Early on, there were like games that you were supposed to do and the answer warm-ups yeah like yeah physical and vocal warm right and you're just awesome idea that's what you learned theater school wise right but and I have been like going back to do improv I have done improv with groups that I was like kind of had been affiliated with where it's people kind of my age or similar and they actually do all that shit and I'm like what the fuck are you doing can we just have a drink and talk before we go out there but no I don't and you know and after a while too you do something so much like it ritual isn't necessary.

You know, it's, you know, I mean, I don't mean this to sound, it's clocking in, you know what I mean? It's your work, and so you're going to work, so yeah. So, thanks, thank you. And we got two more questions. Hi, so somebody already asked my question, but I still wanted to talk to you guys. And I had a question for Andy, actually, because Rachel answered what was your favorite role or whatever.

But Andy, I've followed you for a very long time, starting with Cabin Boy. And so I wondered, like, what's been your favorite role? And then also for Rachel, I love Billy on the Street, and I wondered, is that obstacle course, did you really end up in the water and it looked really cold? So if you could talk a little bit about working with Billy. So sorry that it's a two-part question. Oh, that's all right. I like both of you, so.

Thank you. Yeah, the Billy on the Street, those obstacle course are real. They wouldn't show me it beforehand, so when I'm running through, I'm really seeing everything for the first time, which I love about it. And so, yeah, I didn't know that crawling through the burrito, it was going to be all slimy. It looked fun.

And it was really cold slime. Yeah, so that was super fun. And then, oh my gosh, I did one, the last one I did, I had to actually swing across this thing on a, that was kind of scary. It looked really easy, but it was scary. But anyway, I love Billy on the Street so much. I also couldn't name 20 white people once, too. I saw that one.

And you're watching, you're like, why can't you... You're up there, and you're like... Because I saw him tell someone to name a woman, and this person couldn't name a woman! I kind of get it, because he's so in your face. Your brain just freezes.

Yeah, yeah. That is kind of a dirty trick, that bit. Name five mothers. It's like, ah. Yeah. And for me, my favorite... I loved you on Strangers with Candy.

Oh, thank you, thank you. Yeah, that show was just the best. That show changed my life. Well, I'm sure your parents are very happy about that. They're very proud. I taped it on my VCR and brought it home for them to watch. Oh, really? Yeah, because I was in college.

Yeah, a boozer, a user, and a loser. I have a sweatshirt that says that. I love it. That was really fun. And it was funny because my ex-wife was on that show. She played Coach Wolf on that show. Yeah, and she was pregnant with our first kid during that. Are you worried about how much I know?

I love... No, that's all right. It's embarrassing. She was pregnant with my our first kid during that which I love no that's all right which she was pregnant with our first child and she was kind of supposed to be the lesbian coach and then they just had one marriage yeah one season she was pregnant and they just didn't even really talk about it but I liked I did a show called Andy Barker PI. Again. Thank you. I actually have a screener of that.

Oh, you do? One of my connected friends gave me at the time. Yeah. Yeah, so. No, that was a, that was a, that was a, I really, that show is. I'm not hiding in your bush. No, that's all right. That's all right.

Oh, no, it's nice. that's alright that's alright I know it's nice I that show is that show was a perfect example of something that of a good product that was squandered and it was and it was it was basically the long and short of it is that after the pilot was made the the person in charge decided not to pick it up. And then somebody above him was told, hey, this show is created by the guy that's going to host the Tonight Show. Maybe we should give him a few episodes. And so they gave it a few episodes. But it always ended up being on the person that had initially said no as to whether it went through.

So it was sort of like, I think this guy was like, okay, sure, make your six episodes. Fuck you. I said no. And that was just kind of, and it was a real shame because it was an amazing cast. It was a great cast. It was a really fun show, and I really enjoyed doing it. Okay, well, thank you so much. Thank you so much.

All right, and here's our last question. No pressure. Well, that was's our last question. No pressure. Well, that was, the last question was a tough question to follow. My question is, and I'm guessing that's obvious, the question, the answer might be a little obvious, but is there a moment in your past where you look back and go, we wouldn't be here tonight if it wasn't

for that random occurrence or that one thing that happened to us. I mean, SNL, Conan, those might be the obvious answers, but I'm wondering if there's something, like an opportunity that you look back and go, you know, that was that door that opened that I wasn't expecting or choice or decision that I made. I was there at that one specific time and at one day, and here we are today. Ooh, that's a... Do you want to go first it's a good question that is a really good question I mean I can think of but not like a moment but

more of a like a larger moment was just for me it was Chicago as just moving to Chicago and all the people that I met, both the actual individual people, like lifelong friends, who were also comedy, seeing these amazing, improvising with these super talented people every night, learning a little bit from each improviser.

I love just seeing people's different styles and just getting immersed in that and then um just uh yeah like I just have such fond memories of Chicago and then then we all kind of launched out of Chicago but we still have this connection like I mean even being right here with Andy like like you meet someone that went through the same you know Chicago process it's like you just have a shorthand with everyone both like you know artistically and also just you know life experience it's like you guys were it's very comfortable in a like a sorority together something like that um so I guess Chicago would be my biggest sort of large moment yeah Chicago what about you? For me, I think it would be,

there was a show that we did in Chicago at the Annoyance Theater that you were in, the Real I, Brady Bunch. And it was, for those that don't know, it was just Jill Soloway, did Transparent and her sister Faith. They were in Chicago at the time. Faith was a accompanist for Second City. She played piano because the classic improv in the Chicago style had a piano player that was scoring,

improvising scoring as it went on, which nobody does that anymore. I know. You're just reminding me. That was so cool. Yeah. And there were only like three people in town that could do it. Four people maybe. And like one of them wasn't that good.

And when you'd get that person, you're like, oh, shit. But they had this they had this idea to do this show the real-life Brady Bunch which was just stagings of the Brady Bunch on stage with adult actors playing it as straight as they could and this would it that was probably like in 1989 or something, 1990. And it became a huge thing. And also, when I heard that they were doing it, I thought it was the dumbest thing I ever heard.

And I stood in the back of the theater to watch it, and I don't know that I've ever laughed harder at a live show as I did at that. It was really funny. It was really talented people doing it. And it got to be a big thing it was like at the time there was this wave of 70s disco eat nostalgia it got to be a thing it was a cash cow for the theater and they took it to New York to the village gate and the guy that had I just been doing bit parts in it at

that point because everybody showed up because we got pizza and beer so like we did two shows on Tuesday nights that was where we did them and there was pizza and beer so everybody came just for the food basically and also and then you did bit you know small bits in different shows there was a game show that accompanied it to fill out the show and when it went to New York uh the guy that was playing Mike Brady didn't want to go he wanted to stay back and run the theater and I just asked Jill I said hey can I play Mike Brady you know I mean I look so much like Robert Reed and uh but they got me like a $14 wig and and she was like she was like yeah sure come along and from doing that in New York, I got an agent.

I mean, I played Mike Brady, which was Honey, I'm Home. I mean, the other people had the better roles, but I got an agent in New York from that. And when that, the Brady Bunch went from New York to L.A., and I had an agent affiliated with the New York agent. And so then I just started to because when I was in Chicago I think I went on one audition the entire time I was in Chicago I just did improv and I so I it wasn't until I got out of Chicago that I

actually started to audition so I think that just taking that on myself to say hey can I go to New York and do this show I don't know that I would have been I probably be right in advertising right now if that were the case yeah it's I it's interesting I'm in my 50s now and I look back and I can think of one or two places in my life where exactly what you just said occurred and I was wondering what it was your in your life so it was Chicago for curious when you moved to Chicago um Rachel did you when did you like was it an an epiphany or was it something that you were planning? You said earlier, I think that you said you were planning for it and you made, it was like a quest. You went there to go to Chicago, but what got you out of the house

to actually get into the car to drive to Chicago? Well, so I went after, I mean, I had graduated college and then I did this children's theater tour thing and then I was like, okay, I'm gonna go in the fall, move out with this friend. And it was, as I said, it was just kind of like, I wanted to know that I'd given it a shot. And I picked Chicago just because it was back then like the comedy

capital. Like I wasn't gonna go to New York. I wouldn't have known what to do in New York. I'd seen these two theaters. I was like, I'm going to go try to get into that theater. And when I got there, it was like, as I said, so many people from all over the country, like 23, 24-year-olds, had moved there to do the same thing. So then once you hooked into that community, then I moved there knowing pretty much nobody. And then you had this built-in social life, too. So it was like while you were all learning about improv, you were also having fun just hanging, too.

But yeah, like I said, I just wanted to know I tried it. So that's what got me in the car. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. That's it. That's our time. Thank you so much, Rachel, for coming. Thank you. Thank all of you. That's it. That's our time. Thank you so much, Rachel, for coming.

Thank you. Thank all of you. You want to plug any other Sketch Fest shows you're doing? Oh, well, tonight I'm doing Celebrity Autobiography, which is a super fun show, and this Trailer Park Improv Show, which is my yearly mishmash show with these people we We only play together

this one night of the year. We don't see each other throughout the year because we all live in different places. And that's Trailer Park Improv Tonight. Keeps it fresh.

Yeah, that's it. When I go back. All right. Well, thank you so much for coming. Thank you. And spilling your guts. Yeah.

And thank you all for coming and supporting the podcast. I'm really enjoying doing Yeah. And thank you all for coming and supporting the podcast. I'm really enjoying doing it. And we will be with you next time on The Three Questions.

Thank you so much. The Three Questions with Andy Richter is a Team Coco and Earwolf production. It's produced by me, Kevin Bartelt, executive produced

by Adam Sachs and Jeff Ross at Team Coco, and Chris Bannon production in association with Earwolf.