Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We just have such a pro. We have the Queen. We have just the hilarious, incredible, inspiring Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining us today. And we talked to Julia about so many fun, good things. We talk about season four of her podcast "Wiser than Me." We're going to talk about her Emmy domination and how she just beat me year after year. We're talking about how many photos we have on our phone and spoiler alert. I have more. And you're going to hear her reject my idea that she is LeBron James of television. So great episode coming up, but before we start, we always like to check in with someone who knows our guest, who has a question to give me to ask our guest. And we have an incredible, sweet, super talented, hilarious, Tony Hale joining us. Tony, who you might know from Arrested Development, Buster Bluth, what a character. He played Gary on Veep, incredible character. He is the voice of fear and insight out to incredible character. We love Tony. And let's check in and see if we can hear him from his incredible studio, Tony. This episode is brought to you by Zoom. Many of us have been there. The calls were you zone out for one second and miss six key points. The quick check-ins that are anything but quick, because here's the thing. Every conversation creates work. With Zoom though, the conversation itself can actually move work forward. Zoom is now a full system of action that can actually complete work from the context of your existing meetings, calls, and chats. No more post-call panic. No more inbox avalanche. You talked about it. Zoom got it done. Visit zoomahead.com to learn more. Are you in a booth in a recording booth? Okay, this is a little booth I made in my house. And if I really showed it to you, you'd be like, "Oh, that's sad. Tony needs help." First of all, everyone now, you're nobody if you don't have a booth in your house. Really? I'm ahead of the game. This feels like a COVID thing. Did you build a wall and you make it soundproof and you start a podcast? I'm proof-ish. If I really showed it to you, go, "Oh, I get it now." He's in the witness protection program. Oh, it's so good to see you. We first met on the set of Arrested Development back in whatever that was. Yeah. Actually, was that, I think-- Was that the first time? I think we might have first met when Martel was on SNL because my wife was a makeup artist on SNL. But I was just the guy next to her that was like, "Oh, I'm not gonna say anything to Amy. No, no." And so I don't know if we actually met, but I just kind of probably stared at all you guys. So your very talented wife, Martel, was a makeup artist during my years at SNL. And then we got to know each other on the set of Arrested. And I mean, Bustard Blues, what-- we need a movie about what's going on in his head. Yeah. There was a lot going on in his head. And he could barely get to the pharmacy, but he just said, "Oh, man, somebody was asking me the other day about just the codependency." You know, that's in that show between me and Lucio Bluth, who was played, you know, wonderfully by Jessica Walter. And there is a scene in there, which is such a beautiful picture of the codependency where she's on House Arrest, and she can't smoke. And so she tells me, she goes, "Bustard, come here, come here." And she says, "She makes me inhale the smoke out of her mouth as she smokes, and then blow it out in the balcony." And then she takes another drag and then blows it into my mouth, and I've got an exhale in the balcony. And I was like, just like a baby bird getting a worm out of his mouth. And I was like, "If that's not a picture of dysfunction, that, I mean, that is crazy." Well, to me, that's a picture of a loving son taking care of their mother. You know what, Amy? I think this is a side conversation with you. That's what a son should do for its mother. You're absolutely right. My mother would agree. You have created such great, codependent dysfunctional relationships in the work that you do. Because Lucille and Buster, I mean, is, and then the relationship you and Julia have on Veep is how, when you explain your relationship to Selena in that, like, how do you relate, how do you sum up the relationship you guys have together on the show? Your characters. I worship. She was Jesus to me. I was, I don't even think I, I mean, I, she literally called me a bitchy mime on the show because she didn't really want me to speak. So she had, she gave me no value, but I just had these crazy rose-colored glasses and just, I never heard it. I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me. So it was just, and she knew it. She knew it and she abused it. It looked like you two had an incredible working relationship. Like, it just looked like you loved working together. We really did. And she, the one thing, I mean, you did the same thing on, on Parks and Rec, but it's, you, you, whoever is number one on the call sheet, which means whoever's the star of the show, they typically set the tone of the experience. And sometimes, unfortunately, that's, I haven't had this experience, but you know, sometimes it's like, everybody's walking on eggshells and there's a lot of ego and entitlement, which just sucks creative energy out of the space, and it's just not a gift to anybody. And then sometimes you have like you or Julia, where you walk in and it's just, it's, it's open. We're all in the same team. There's a kindness. There's a respect. And let me tell you right now, it is a gift for the next seven years that we have that show of what she gave us. And we just loved her and we just became friends. I mean, she's also work is not her number one priority. Her family is, she is a life outside of it. And I know just the humanity of Julia was really just awesome, awesome to be around. Yeah. And you know, you, I think you, because you're a deep thinking person, too deep, too deep. Some people say too deep. So that's the rumor. Tony Hill, too deep. Damn it. That should be the name of my partner. Deep, too deep to what would be the book, it would be Tony Hill or somebody's or I'm talking to somebody and they start saying something, I go, not deep enough, you got like, go deeper. Go deeper. Actually, go deeper, go deeper, go deeper, not deep enough. I'm like, bye, bye, go deeper. And then in it's go deeper, comma, get back up to the surface. You've gone too deep, way too deep. So I ask my zoom guests to give me a question to ask my guest and I'm wondering if you have a question, big, small, deep, not deep for Julia that you think would be appropriate. One thing that I always love to witness with Julia was her relationship with her mom. She really loves and respects her mom. And I, I've, we never really talked about, we talked about our mom a lot, but never really talked about much her growing up and growing up what she remembers, kind of how her mom cultivated that foundation, you know, because it's such a cool thing to watch now. And I'm like, oh, well, like, what did your mom do right? You know? Yeah. It's a great question. What did your mom do right? Yeah. That's actually a, I think that's kind of, that's kind of like the theme of your fifties and sixties because you're, listen, I love to generalize. So I apologize in advance, but if your twenties and thirties are like, who am I not? And I don't want to do this and like, what didn't get right? Then as you get older, you start to realize what else, what, what did I, what the people who raised me? What did they, you know, they're doing the best they can? What did they do? Right. Yeah. Yeah. And you can, you can really see it with the fruit of that with her, with her relationship. And, you know, both of you and I are parents and I want, I want that kind of longevity that she has with her mom, man, what an awesome gift. Yeah. You're so right about the fifties kind of having eyes to see things, which is such a gift. That's, that's too deep. That's that we wouldn't be. We've gone to, yeah, that's the second week of too deep, which is my favorite dessert is Q on five. Thank God. Let's get back up. You know what? I mean, I'm not trying to change lives here, Tony. You know what I mean? We're trying to have a laugh. This is a good hang. So sorry. And look, I took you down. I put the weights on our ankles and I brought us down. I was about to go into like dessert, the sugar does hurt my stomach, but I do, I want to keep it up. I'm not going to say anymore. So also maybe if I follow up the quote, maybe if I asked Julia the question about her mom, I should follow up with what your favorite kind of pie. I will say what's her favorite dessert? I want to say I think it might be a really good chocolate cake, but I don't know if that's true. Well, I feel like I would trust you knowing everything about Julia after Veeb. Yeah. I didn't know anything about politics on that show, but I knew what designer she was wearing. I knew what Julia was wearing. I knew who just had an affair that she was talking to. I knew all that stuff. You kept tampons in your bag just in case. Different colors. Several. That's a real man. Thank you. I'm in. Thank you. Why they haven't put me in a Marvel movie? The guy that's the opposite is back. Me, me, me, I got it. I got it. I got it. I got it. I got my, I got, I have, I have, um, anti-bacterial wipes too. Um, well, um, I feel like you should be in a Marvel movie. And also you're in Toy Story. Toy Story 5 is coming out and you're in that. Toy Story 5 is coming out forky, sweet little forky, man. Forky was the best. That's so great. Yeah. Forky has a lot of questions. And, uh, what's his, what's forky's game? Like what's, what's going on with forky? Yeah, we're getting too deep again. Yeah, here we go. Going down. You're like, forky is like, why are we here? Forky's like, why we're here, but also the fact that he like came into the world, being like, I'm trash. I'm just trash. And what he's like, no, you're more than trash. You, you're made for a purpose. Come on. Oh, that picks our man. That picks our man just get you. They just get, they just get you every time. So I think that'll come out, uh, this summer. And this, this, this, this theme of this one is toys against tech, which I think is a really cool. Oh, yeah, that's, that's very cool. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I, um, as long as, uh, as long as you guys don't come after my phone. Come on. You can say all you want about tech, but my phone is my best friend. So what if when the movie comes out like the SWAT team just goes to your house and good, Amy, give me your phone. Whatever the very tech just wins. It's like, yeah, no more choice. Amy is really a spokesperson for AI when everyone's concerned big time. AI, yeah, we need AI. Okay. The ambassador, AI's ambassador polar. Tony, I love you. See you later. Bye. This episode was brought to you by Visible. When your phone's plans as good as visible, you've got to tell your people. It's the ultimate wireless hack to save money and still get great coverage and a reliable connection. Get one line wireless with unlimited data and hotspot for $25 a month, taxes and fees included, all unverisons 5G network. Plus now for a limited time, new members can get the visible plan for just $19 a month for the first 26 months. Use promo code switch 26 and save beyond the season. It's a deal so good. You're going to want to tell your people switch now at visible.com. Terms apply limited time offer subject to change. See visible.com for planned features and network management details. Julia Louis drives this here and we've started our interview by comparing how many photos we have on our phone. I would call it a competition if you don't mind. Well, I want to talk about this because what I like about you is you like to win. I do like to win. I know. I love that about you. Let's let's reveal the numbers of photos we have on our phone. I'll go first. Go ahead. 82,000. Oh, shit. That's not winning or losing. Is it winning or losing that I have 82,000 photos on my phone? Wait, you mean it's a round number like that? I know it's 82,014. 82,014. What do you have? I'm 56,276. Chop chop. Screw you, Amy Polar. Now, you know what it means is that we have not asked a young person to plug in our phone and to transfer our photo somewhere else. But I want to have them on my phone. Me too. There you go. But we should be downloading them somewhere else, right? Don't they do that automatically in the cloud? I'm literally the last person asked. Somebody called Bill Gates. We can get them on the phone because now when I get a new iPhone, I hand it to my 17 year old child and I go fix it. Do it. I guess I don't even know how to do it. Do it. Do it. You don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it either. But this is making me anxious. I need to take these all off of you. I want there's certain pictures I want to have. Agreed. But and let me ask the Gen Zers in the room. Do you guys take your photos off your phone at some point? Never. Never. See, we're young and hip all of a sudden. Okay. We're really sounding old though because I feel the same way like I sweat. Technology makes me sweat. That's right, mother. It does. Yes, mother. Yes, mother. Yes. Speaking. Are you comfy by the way? You need anything. Okay. Great. Oh, let's turn off that phone. Hold on. Julia's phone is ding. Did you get another picture? Did you get another picture sent to you? I'm up to 56,600. Okay. By the way, my phone is also on. Oh, hang on. I just want to finish. Okay. Anyway, now it's now it's it's silenced. Okay. Yes. I want to start by asking you about podcasting because we're both podcasting now. I know. I didn't really ask a lot of people for advice before I started this podcast and you should have called me by the way. I know. I didn't ask any man because I tried not to ask man for advice. Smart. But what do you think makes a good interview? You've done great interviews now. You've done many of them. What do you think makes a good one? Well, I mean, it sort of depends on what the the concedus for what the conversation's going to be. You've done this right because good hang lets you know exactly what it's going to be. We could be talking about the photos on my phone for the next 45 minutes. That's right. You probably will. And we might and that's like that is dynamite because that's there's an ease to that. Unfortunately, for me, you've made it hard because you love hard work. Well, I don't know about that, but I have made it. I mean, it's definitely rewarding, but it does I'm talking to older women about the wisdom they have acquired in their life and would they share it with us. So that requires me to do a lot of research. I really need to come to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation that isn't just, you know, your normal fuck around. Yeah, or plug your this that and the other. Yeah. And and I it's why I love your show and I've told you that like I love the deep dive you do. I do feel like I get this very, you know, big picture perspective from the women and the lives that they've led. Oh, thanks. I'm going to glaze you for a while on this. This is what the kids call a glaze. I'm glazing it like a sugar thing. Yeah, so all about sugar. I'm gonna tell you how great you are. So buckle up. Okay. There's a word. There's another word that's out now that I can't put it is that I was going to respond. We know it went out of my head. And if we know it, it's out. There's no way. So glaze is not cool anymore. Of course it isn't. If I'm saying it. So now I have to say, I'm dead. Yeah, exactly. I'm dead. Seriously, bet, bet, Julia bet. But but you how much research do you do for your show? Like do you a lot, baby, cake? Why do I work so hard? I don't know. Have you gotten the memo to work? Do you see how? How? Why are we working so hard? I don't know. Well, you say you're not working hard. I'm getting to what you are. You have, yeah, you are. Everyone's shaking their head. You are. You're pretending like you're not to be cool, but you're working super hard. But I'm gonna tell you, you're but it is, it's an indication, I think of a bigger thing that we all are used to doing, which is being a very good student, like just like working hard. That's true. Yes, that's true. And has that been something you found in your life? You want to do well and be a good student? Basically, I want to do well. Yeah. And also for me, with this podcast, it was really born out of my own curiosity. In fact, I came to you and talked to you about this podcast. I know. And I remember thinking this sounds hard. I know. And she passed, ladies and gentlemen. What if we didn't like, that's what she said. Who is coming up that you're ex? Who of you? Who of you interview that you can plug? Well, I can plug the following. I can plug Jane Curtain. Please. Please. Let's talk about Jane for one second. Let's just sit here and think about Jane. Well, you know what? It was a really first of all, obviously an honor to talk to her, but it was a great opportunity to go back and look at her work and particularly her work on SNL back in the day because, of course, she was one of the original cast members. And to understand the effect, speak for myself, that had on my life. Yeah, ginormous. Yes, ginormous. Totally. And, you know, I, and I watched that first episode, and Janice Ian is singing, I learned the truth at 17. And I was 14 watching the show when that premiered. And these were my people. Yeah. And so, same was true of Carol Burnett. Yeah. You know, you sort of don't, to a certain extent, these people that have these cultural icons who've had proper influence, they get into your bloodstream without you're knowing it. Totally. And it's, and it's, you know, that thing that you have to see it to be it. It's not conscious. It's not like you say, "Oh, there's a woman on there." But you just see people feeling this role and you just becomes part of your DNA that that could exist in your life in your world. Right. Yeah. Completely. So yeah, incredible. Yeah, incredible. By the way, you may know this, but something I learned talking to Jane that was kind of extraordinary, because you and I are familiar with the, the schedule of SNL, which is grueling. Yeah. Jane was not hired as a writer. And immediately she made the decision that she was not going to come to work on Monday and Tuesday. I swear to Christ, she's like, "I'm not here to write, I'm here to perform, let me know." And you're paying me as an actor. I'll be here for the table read on Wednesday. And the great thing about that was she's a really good cold reader, according to her. And so she'd nail it and then she'd be in sketches. But she was not doing that drug-filled all-nighter life. Wow. And I just, that she had the sense to realize that she was protecting herself. FYI, she was married too. Yeah, she all, Jane seemed like the reasonable cast member. Because she was. Yeah. Yeah. I told this to Martin Short, Marty Short, when he was on show, we were talking about the SNL 50th, which stirred up so much for everybody. I mean, it was, it was. That was a lot of, there were a lot of feelings in that studio. I know. And I can speak for myself that parts of me really regressed, like back to, you know, some version of what I was like when I was there. And also, the young part of me was, like, star-struck by the people who, you know, I grew up watching. And I, one of my tenderest moments was I was talking to Lorraine Newman, who I don't know that well, and I worship. And her and Jane got ready together. Yeah, they're like, and they got their hair and makeup together. Yeah. Before, and it just made me feel so happy, because I just wanted them to be friends forever. And they were. I know. They are. And then they held up Gildes picture at the end. It was so touching. I know. Um, you know, Julia, even though I consider you, you're, I, I consider you whether you'll accept this or not, like, I don't accept it. I know it. I don't. I'm not going to accept it. I'm just not. I'm going to say something good. Okay, go ahead. Big sister energy for me. Oh, really? I feel like in the same way you saw Jane, I was 11, 12 when you were on SNL and you were a baby. You were like 21 or something. Yeah. So you were not that much older than me, but you were definitely a new woman on the show. And, you know, I was always paying attention to who was new on the show. And you looked really young, which I loved because I was young and wanted a young person on the show. And I have to say, like, when I was getting preparing for this interview, there's a million ways that we can talk about all the million things that you've done in your career and your life and who you are as a person. And I've got to the lucky to get to call you a friend. But you are like the LeBron James of TV. Yeah, I, I mean, I think, but I, I'm not gonna, I'm not accepting that man. Well, here's why I say that. You're not accepting. And I think that's smart to not accept it. Actually, I take it back. Yeah. Yeah. But no, but the, but you have been, you're pretty good. Just say you're pretty good. It's fine. Three, this is, this isn't going to stand the metaphor. And I'm just, I'm pleased that I came up with this from a sports perspective because, um, because you're such a sports. I'm so much a sport. He had, I mean, this is what this podcast is about sports. Yeah. Like, let's go deep into the draft, into the draft and football. Let's get in there. The Kelsey. Let's go into there. Let's get deep in. Okay. No, but because you're LeBron, because you have one championships for more than one team, you're, you have been a huge legacy shows. More than once. Yeah. That's very unusual. It's very unusual. And that's a lot of good luck, you know, really. And so, so great. But not really LeBron. Okay. Okay. Okay. But, but what is your, we started talking about winning. We were comparing photos. Yeah. What is your relationship to winning? Because I like that you like to win. Like, I like, I like, like fun competitive women. Well, first of all, the fun is all caps because, yes, because there's another kind of competitive woman totally that we don't care for. That's right. It has to, the fun part has, it has to be like, in good fun. Well, here, I'm going to tell you a story about you that I like so much. Okay. So, um, you and I have down a couple of times done bits around award shows. And, and when we're competing against each other, that's right. So anyway, what I have found over the years is that it's very good to focus on what to do if you win or you lose. Mm-hmm. And Amy Polar is very fun to come up with bits with. I love a bit. Love a bit. I don't know, award show that because it used to be fun. It used to be like, I know. Goofy and how it's so serious. Yeah. And, and by the way, we took speeches seriously, but from a comic point of view, if you win for a comedic role, try to be funny when you give a speech. Or how about even if you win for more dramatic role? How about that great idea? Turn it on the tab. Flip it. Flip it. Anytime anybody does, they look like a genius. Genius. No, for really. You look like a genius. It's true. So we did a couple of them where we, my, I think my favorite, one with you, but you tell me what's when we, we pretended to switch acceptance speeches. That was my favorite. Oh, you went up there. Good. We gave each other a hug. And then we pretended to like, oopsie, switch speeches. And then you went up and you started thanking people from Parks and Rec. And then we had a moment of like, oh, fuck. Yes. And the camera cut to me. And those were the years I have to say there was so many great women always in our category that came and went. Julia was always there because she always crushed us all every year. But, but, um, and like people were really game to have fun. Yeah. Completely. And I don't remember anything other than the fun times of those bits. Yeah. Me too. I really, I was always so grateful that you were because there were certain people that weren't down to do those bits. And they won't be named. But we did try. We did. We tried to finagle other people. And they didn't think it, they didn't want to do it. I know. I think some of them were nervous, like genuinely nervous. Okay. Fine. You can say that. But okay. I want to start though. I want to go back a little bit because I feel like we talked a little bit about this in person, but we kind of had similar sketch, Chicago beginnings. Yeah. Like we, we were in a group. We were the only girl in the group. Yeah. And our group kind of moved to a new city to like make a start. And in your case, practical theater, practical theater company moved to SNL together. Yes. You were on TV from Northwestern. Yes. So what year was that? 1982. Yeah. And we were doing a show in Chicago that was a big hit in Chicago. And, uh, and all the people in the show got hired. There were four of us. Yeah. Three of us were on SNL. And the fourth person Paul Baross was hired as a writer. Yeah. And you all moved to New York and just started together. What was it like to have four or five of your closest friends to start that show with? Well, it was tricky. Yeah. Not because we didn't get along. But because we were a group of people who were met with a lot of animosity. Yeah. And by the, by the people whose friends had just been fired. Right. Right. And if I can imagine it because I was myself the same way, there's like a pluckiness to a sketch group. Like a sketch group is like improv and sketch is like, stand up was cool. And improv and sketch was kind of nerdy nerdy for sure. And, you know, so it was like, Hey, guys, we're here. And I'm sure everyone was like, okay. Oh, no, but you're going to, I don't know if you know, maybe you know this, but when they they had us at the first tape. Oh god, I can't even. Oh, no. It was just so excruciating. There's this room. On the 17th floor with fluorescent lighting and, you know, folding tables. And that's where they do the table read. And in that same room, they had us, these new people coming in, do part of our show that we were doing in Chicago for the writers and cast. Oh, wow. Yeah. In fluorescent lighting. Oh, wow. And we came out to your point. And it didn't land. It did not land. Yeah, even saying it, my armpits are going bananas right now. So anyway, that's how it began. It was a terrible, inauspicious start. And you were there for a couple of years, three, and you were there during a period of transition. I mean, Lauren was not there, Lauren was not there, did every song was there? What a strange window to be there. Oh, baby, it was bad. Yeah. It was not great. It was not great. But fabulous learning experience. Yeah. It was hard and it was a little crazy making, but I, I came away from it sort of stronger. Yeah. And Met Larry David, who you then worked with again on Seinfeld and Seinfeld, still similar kind of thing, like didn't had an inauspicious start. Yeah, it was a four episode order. It was like they were just trying to sort of burn it out. But when I was doing research, oh, look at you working hard, very hard. You are the person I've worked the hardest for. Uh-huh. That's total bullshit. But go ahead. It is true. Yeah. I've worked the hardest for Michelle Obama. Yeah. Smart. Yeah. Smart. But like Parks and Rick, Seinfeld was always close to being canceled. People weren't getting it. It was like, we don't know what we have here. Yeah. The third year, it started to take off. Yeah. And was, was Elaine written as a man at first that character? No, but wasn't it four men? And then they changed it to Elaine? I didn't. You don't know? No, I don't. Do you want some weird way to ask it? I like it when it makes me laugh. I don't think I'm tired. I'm tired. Elaine was, you were playing Elaine as a man, yes? No. Of course. But wasn't the character they brought you in because they were like Julia and because they did a pilot. Yeah. And then apparently the network told them you have to put a girl in the show. So there's a tape out there somewhere where there's another person in, no, not in there is not a regular man in the pilot. Correct. Wow. Yeah. It was a different time. And so they said, you know what? You need a girl. Yeah. So I came in and I've never watched the pilot of Seinfeld, by the way. And so I would. I'm not in it. Why would I bother? Yeah. And so you refuse to watch anything you've got in. That's right. That's right. Yeah. What was the name of the show? You were in it. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. So that's what happened. So they put me in. So I was in the episode two onward. And I feel like a success in the comedy world in the sitcom world is often like kind of measured by whether or not people will dress up as you for Halloween. Oh. Because I think Elaine is a popular Halloween costume. It is. It is. And it's an easy one to get together. Like it's just, it's a dress and a blazer and a curly haired wig. God. I'd love to go back and fix that look. Yeah. I feel me. There's some early, Leslie, no styles from Michael. I didn't put enough thought into that. Yeah. But we weren't really thinking about that. No, we were acting and we were in our care. No, but I actually remember, because like when friends came out at some point when we were doing Seinfeld, not in the beginning, we sort of, I can't remember what the years were. But and all those girls were so sexy. Yeah. And I remember thinking like, I fuck, I should have been sexy. Yeah. I think that all the time. Seriously, I can't tell you how many times I'm like, oh, I forgot to be sexy. No, I'm totally. Yeah. I'm shit. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. This was such a mess. And you reminded of it when you see other people were like, oh, that's also something I could have tried to be. I seriously. Yeah. Like a mid-drift. Anything. Anything. But that's why we love Alene. We love her because of that because she feels like us. She feels like someone we would know and love. Like she feels like our funniest friend. She feels like, you know, I mean, I think and she's so funny and it's just it wouldn't work if Alene was paying attention to that. It never would work. It might work. That's true. She just went through like a really slutty, sexy phase. That's so slutty. Just coming in like in tight jeans and like how they all dressed. Yeah. I know. Anyway, because it's not dwellable. Okay. Sorry. Oh, you had two boys, did you were you pregnant? Oh, right. I forgot. Yeah. I had two babies during that time. So the sexy thing, although, you know, look to me more today. I know. But I didn't even know about that. I didn't know about like, you know, going like that with your big tummy and looking hot. I just, you know, I was just wearing huge like picnic tablecloths. Yeah. But that style is back now, you know. 90s. 90s are back. Oh, listen. If anybody in America is listening to this, please don't do the 90s again. I'm going to disagree with you. Okay. Well, you're wrong and I'm right. No. And so just leave it at that. You're being triggered. But I'm telling you 90s, like that, the, the floral with like a chunky shoe and a tight and a blazer, fucking jackpot, like you pass you and Jen Aniston. When you look at pictures like Rachel and Elaine, everybody's dressing like that now. And I don't know what to say. I'm just so fucking sorry. I really, really am. But I will tell you one thing and I've told this story before, but when I was pregnant with Charlie with my second son and I was really pregnant and I was about five or six months and I got pretty big. And Jerry comes up to me and he says, Hey, we got an idea on the right of this. Oh, no. And he said, um, how about this idea? How about Elaine just gets fat? Incredible. What an idea. What an idea, Jerry. So I burst into tears, of course. And of course, I will say the following though in retrospect, it might have been great. It might have been funny. It's a funny idea. It's a funny idea. Yeah. And it's a funny idea, hilarious. And it would have been funny. Because you know with a big tummy and you're like putting a belt on it and you're pretending you're not pregnant. You're just getting fat. But when you're not feeling in your own body, it's it's like it didn't, it didn't work. I remember on Parks and Rec, I had been pregnant on twice on that show too. Uh-huh. And sorry, I had started when I had just given birth for my first kid and then I got pregnant with Abel, my youngest a few years later. And I remember my character Leslie was going to become pregnant on the show. And I said, I did some version of like bursting in tears where I said, I cannot be fake pregnant. I've just been really pregnant on both SNL and Parks and Rec. I've been genuinely pregnant and you can't make me now wear a fake stomach. Oh, so it was always like after you did him birth. After I gave birth, they were like, let's strap that belly right back on. And I was like, no, no, no, how about this? How about after I gave birth to Charlie? And I'm picking up our, my other son Henry from like camp. And I'm picking him up and this mom comes up to me and she goes, oh, when are you two? Yeah, no. You're the greatest kids. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And there's such talented boys and really nice men, talented men. And they're still my boys. Yeah. And I love your relationship with Brad, who's a wonderful person. Yeah. And you guys are like a really beautiful example of a loving, funny, supportive marriage with two very talented people. FYI, we're separating, getting divorced. I'm just going to announce it here. Yeah, I just thought, this is the time, I mean, you brought it up, I might as well. Well, you know what? Good. Easy to come. Easy to go. And I worked with your son Charlie on, on Moxie, a film that I made and he was a total doll. You know what? I have to tell you something about that. That was the first professional job he ever had was you gave him that job in Moxie. And I am so grateful to you for that. Not because you gave him the job course, but yes, but because I'm so grateful because you're a good person. And he didn't have an experience with a jerk of which there are so many. And it was very informative to him. So I just want you to know that for real. And this is totally me telling you, thank you. And even though I'm actually I'm tearing up, but it really I really mean it. I love him. I love him. He's such a nice kid and talented. Okay. Um, we talked about time, Feld, Avengers of old Christine, incredible show, Carrie Lizer. Love. She's your kind of person. She is an incredible show runner. You've worked with great show runners. Yes, I have worked with great show runners. Yes. Armando Ainucci, who's creator of VEEP. How did did that part, was that part written for you? Ish. Yes. say, I mean, initially no, I just heard about the concept that, you know, unhappy vice president. And then, um, and I was like, ding, ding, ding, ding, and then I met with him and then he started to ride it after that. Yeah. Yeah. Because I loved the idea. Yeah. And I loved his work. I mean, Julia. Yes. That show. That show was so much fun to do. I have to say, I still miss it. Yeah. Do you miss doing parts? I miss the people. Yeah. I miss the people a lot. I mean, I have a lot of them on here because I miss them so much. Like I miss it. It felt like, and it feels that way with V2, like the chemistry of the people, the funniness of, like the laughing all day. All day. So we do a thing on the podcast where we have people come on before our guest and talk well behind our guests back. Talk well. Yes. You've not listened to this podcast. Let me explain something to you. You, you called me to do something for Ina Garn, but you didn't say, talk well. Yes, I did. No, you didn't. I did too. I said, no, you said, come up with some questions for her. But I'm not talking well. I introduced you. I said that we're going to talk well behind Ina's back. Did I not? No, you didn't. I'm being gaslit by this enterprise whenever I'm never, I am never talking to you again. And by the way, Ina, who was on our podcast, you, you came on to do an incredible little, you know, segment segment in the front. And Ina and you are buddies. Yes. And when I was talking to her, she was saying, you guys were ready to go on a trip together. Yeah, we did. Please tell me about it. Tell me what you ate. Tell me just tell me what you ate. We went to, she very generously took me and Brad to a restaurant in Paris called caviar caspia. Yeah. And frankly, I don't even like caviar. What? Yeah. And it was delicious. Was everything did everything have caviar in it? Kind of. It was like caviar and potato and champagne. And it was very, yeah, just exotic. And it was in Paris. So, you know, what else do you need to know? She was so nice. She brought champagne and strawberry. She was the best. God, was I supposed to bring something? It's just weird that you did it. And I guess like, I mean, if it's, it is weird that you didn't. If my assistant well is listening to this right now in the green room, could you say, could you put some more photos on my phone, please? Naturally, it's getting in. Could you put more photos on my phone right now? And also, can you go and get some chocolates and quickly get some chips? Could you rip up the thank you note? I was about to send to Jill. So, could you please just bring anything? Send flowers to myself because I'm clearly not going to be getting anything. Also, Amy Paul. I distinctly said that and polka dots were only fun. The thing is, is that and could it have been that I came out here wearing this blouse. And you did not see what she had on. Okay, anyway. So, I spoke to someone who knows you really well. And that is Tony. Oh, my Tony. I know. Tell me about. Tell me how much you love Tony. I love Tony. He's the best. He is the greatest guy. What do you love about him? What's so great about Tony? He is deeply funny. Yeah. Like deeply funny. He is profoundly generous. He is incredibly neurotic. Perfect. He worries about everyone. Yeah. So, if there's a group of people and somebody is off or not fitting in or having a hard time, he can only focus on that. Yeah. And which speaks to his kindness. Yeah. And I just would do anything to work with him again. I want to find a way to work with him again. You guys were so great together on that show. Everyone on Veep was great. But Selena and Gary's relationship was very special. Very special. How would you sum it up when you explain it? Have you ever seen a like a trellis with a plant growing throughout it? That's their relationship. Co-dependency to the max. Max. In measurement times a thousand. Yeah. That plant is not going to live without the trellis. And FYI, the trellis doesn't give a shit about the plant. Yeah. Like the trellis actually is like, could somebody cut this plant off me? Yeah. Like this plant might take it down. But also makes me look better. So, what can I say? Yeah. I mean, the way in good metaphor. It's really good because you're, I mean, Selena was like, I'll submit narcissists. Yes. And which, by the way, couldn't be more fun to play. Oh, I bet. What was fun to play? Why was that fun? What did it allow? What did it allow you to play around with and do that you don't get to do in your real life playing her? Focus only on myself. Yeah. And, yeah. And, and appalled that if anyone is not focused on me. Yeah. And take no responsibility for anything. Yes. Never apologize. Never apologize. It's always your fault, your fault, and your fault. Oh, she just never, ever looked inward. Right. Ever. Yeah. She didn't know what that meant. Yeah. Yeah. So that was fun. Well, Tony had a great suite. Of course, loving question. He loves you and adores you. And he, his question was like very tender, just like Tony, but he was saying like, what he loved about you as a parent, he watched you be the kind of parent that you are. And it really inspired him as a parent. And also he was very moved and is very moved by your relationship with your mom. And his question was, what do you think your mom did right? What did she give you? What are you like happy that you got from your mom? It's such a sweet tender, such a tender question. I know. I mean, there are obviously many things that I got from my mother, including this wide jaw of mine. It's gorgeous. But I would say that my mother is a very cute, intellectually curious person. And I think some of that has rubbed off on me. And, and also my mother has a very good sense of humor. When you were growing up, was she watching stuff that influenced you? I know a lot of comedy came from my mom, like what my mom was watching. What did your mom watch? Well, Carol Burnett, Ronnie Python, SNL, like my parents had that on in the house. Did your mom watch that kind of stuff? Yeah. Well, yes. And I mean, I vivid, there was a show on when I was little, like really little, like maybe two. And it was a show called Suppy Sales. Oh, yeah. And also Captain King Guru. Yes. And we used to watch that and howl. There was something, and I think it was on Suppy sales, or maybe it's Captain King Guru, where ping pong balls would fall down. And, you know, when you're two, that's like drop dead funny. Yeah. No, you know, maybe it's kind of the jack in the box, kind of a joke. Yes. And we would start. My memory is that she was laughing as hard as I was. My guess is that maybe she was laughing because I was laughing. Yeah. But yeah. But I remember sort of feeling like I was partnered with her in enjoying this extraordinarily funny ping pong bet. Yeah. Laughing does do that with our families. I mean, it's a, yeah, it's a binder binder. And also you learn a lot about somebody by what they laugh at. Totally. Like I know, I learned, I learned, you know, I got, I don't I don't think it was the first time we met. But when you came back to host SNL, it was a big deal for all of us who were on the cast at the time that you were there. Very excited. And we got to like spend some time together. And I remember being so pleased that we would laugh at the same thing. Like it felt like, oh, I just felt excited that we were enjoying the same things in the same way. Totally. Yeah. There was real immediate sympathy. I remember that very well because when we were, we were in the, we were, must have been rehearsal day or something. And we were in eight age. And I was at the page station thing. And you came up to me, you just went like this, you went, okay, run. And so I just ran. And we just went running down the hall. I was just some dumb bit. But I thought, oh, I like this girl so much. We were just, you know, yeah. Tell me if I'm wrong. But I think when you came back to host that year, you had a really good time. I had a ball. I had a ball. And by the way, if you can believe this, speaking of male female things, I was the first female cast member to ever come back and host. Wow. See, Daisy. Yeah. And that was 2006 or something. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. And you were coming into a cast that was like, there was a lot of really strong, talented women performing together. And it was a good vibe at least. - That's what I was picking up on. - It was the first time I really had fun during the show. - Yeah. - I mean, what was so nice about hosting back then with you guys was to feel the female power that was evident. - And long over too. - And so that is a good feeling. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's why I like talking to these older women too. Anyway, I think it's pretty critical to have these conversations into here from these really interesting people. - Well, I mean, Julia, you do that to me. You inspire me every time I see you engaging. Like I feel very inspired by you. Like I feel very like you turn on a switch for me often where I see you doing something and I'm like right, right. That's the kind of engagement I'm supposed to be doing or like being reminded that I'm doing. Like you definitely do that for me. And you do that for me professionally too. I see the moves that you make professionally. - I'm like, damn, so smart, so interesting. Like you are, I'm always looking to you. - Oh, wow, that's so nice of you to say that really makes me feel good. - Yeah, I really feel that way. - I really appreciate that. Thanks, Amy. - You're welcome. - What a good hang this has been. - This is it! Okay, and then my last, I have two questions. One that's fun and one that's a little bit more serious. But like, what I take away from your show, I want to take away from knowing you is like the incredible, total joy and privilege it is to just get older. Like there's so many people that aren't here that want to be here, like how great to be alive, basically. - It's so great. - And as we get older, it feels like adulting, this term adulting, like it just gets hard because you know the hard parts of life are the juiciest parts, like the challenge parts that we have to get through are the, that's the meat on the bone. It's just getting through can be rough. - I know, and you've had a tough, you've had to get through illness, loss of your house, like loss of people in your life. Like it's not easy and we all go through this. Like everybody listening knows what this feels like. They have versions of it in their life. - Grief. - Grief. What is the thing that on the other side of certain types of grief you've learned about yourself? What has it made you, 'cause is it just as simple as like I'm happy I'm alive? - No. - Yeah, I know. Like you shared with the world when you were going, when you were treating your cancer, your breast cancer, and it was very helpful for a lot of people. It isn't something you needed to share you did. - Well, I had, you know, I was kind of backed into a corner on that one because we had to shut our show down. It's funny how that worked out, 'cause normally I would not have done that very private. - Yeah. - But because we had to shut the show down Veepe at the time for a year, I had to say, you know, 250 people weren't gonna be working or whatever it is. - So, right. - So I had to make a public thing about it, but the good thing about doing that was that I did have this incredible experience of people reaching out to me, asking me for, you know, asking me about my experience going through the breast cancer, you know, for advice, and I was able to help and there was something unbelievably comforting about being able to do that on the other side of this trauma. - Right. - There is a lot to be said in self soothing by soothing others. - Yeah, you know, for real. I mean, it's a, that's a, and I don't mean to sound all polyannish. I actually think it's true. - Yeah, I agree. That like to be, to be of service to others is the way to get yourself up out of the basement. - The doldrums. - Yeah, that's so true. And then we need, we're in such short supply of it right now. And the other way that I think that, and I think you're the same, that takes me up from the basement. The elevator is laughing. - Well, a hundred percent without it. - You're dead. - It's so true. Like you have to laugh. - You have to laugh when it's the worst you have to laugh. - And those are my favorite laughs when it's very, when everyone is, you know, it's like church giggles, basically, like funeral laughs. Where like you have up someone who loves you enough to know they're gonna take a swing here to get you up out. And you have so many funny friends. - Yeah. - You must have had so many moments where things were dark for you and someone kind of scoops you up with a laugh. - Oh, totally. Well, when I was actually, when I was going through chemo and I had a lot of girlfriends come and shove into this tiny little room, you know? I mean, like the size of this table. And everybody was there. And I was high as a kite. And, and, and I was doing this thing called a cold cap. - Oh yeah. - So it's a thing that they do that you can do if you're getting chemo if you choose. And it's this ice cold thing you put on your head and it's supposed to help you not lose your hair. So I did that. So I had this huge like weirdly shaped turban on my head and you know, I'm kind of like that. And everybody's around me making fun. And here was a dream dream dream dream dream dream. And at one point, I remember I sent a bunch of my girlfriends out 'cause I was like, I lost some was, wait, none of my clothes fit. And so I was like, I need, you know, hi. I need new jeans. And so I sent everybody out. I don't know where they went. And then it's on FaceTime. And I'm telling them which ones to get. It was fun. It was hilarious. - So fun. - Yeah, really was. And what do you, and I asked all my guests this, what are you watching, listening, reading? What are you, what are you laughing at right now? - Well, there is nothing I love more than those videos of either dogs like that one dog who keeps attacking an apple slice. - Don't, don't know it, hold on. - It's, it is attacking an apple slice. - Yeah, he's just going bananas on top of a bed. How do we find that? We're, you know, how we find it? We type in dog attacking apple slice. - I think it's, his name is, it's our phones are off. Remember, we're going to have to turn them back on. - No, mine isn't off. - You never turned your phone off. - Puppy shares apple slice? Now if that seems too nice. - Oh, here we go. Spud on Instagram. - Okay. This dog is just attacking this piece of celery. This dog is a maniac. The dog is growling, it is the size of a rat. - It looks, and it is furious at this piece of food. And it is bearing its teeth. I mean, it's scary. - It's scary. - But it's, it's not going to hurt anybody. - Oh, this is a strawberry. - No, it's a strawberry. - It's a war. Anyway, that makes me very happy. - But do you watch a lot of videos, YouTube videos and like, and I think what I, I'm, I love Survivor. - But let me just ask you something about Survivor. - I also like Amazing Race. - Okay, Survivor and Amazing Race, those kinds of shows. Do you think you could do well on them? - No. - No, really? Is there, when you watch it, is there a part of you that you think like, I, this is what I would do? But you don't. - Yes. - Okay. - What I would do is pretend to break my leg and get airwacked out. - Have you watched a loan? - Yes, incredible. - Incredible. - Okay, let's talk about a loan. - So for people that don't know it, I think it's on National Geographic Channel. - Maybe history channel. - And it's just, I mean, there's a 45,000 seasons of it. - And the 45,000, and I think we watched every episode during COVID. - Yeah, fantastic COVID show. And for those who don't know, the premises, 10 or 11 people are dropped somewhere. It always feels like Canada, but somewhere. And they have to survive the elements and survive being alone. And the psychology of how people figure out how to, not only find food and shelter and outlast their competitors, but the psychology of what happens when people are alone is fascinating. I'm for sure would go crazy. But don't you think you would do on a loan? Are you out of your mind better than a, really, you don't think you would do better than some of the other, yeah, no. I wouldn't be able to get any food. I wouldn't be able to kill any of that. - Yeah, so that would be one problem. - And then the other problem would be, I don't think you'd be able to sleep. 'Cause you know, they got bears up there, man. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - That's true. - I mean, I don't know what headspace you're in right now, but there's no way you're making it on a loan. - No way. - I'm not saying I'm making it. I'm just saying-- - I'm not saying, I'm saying you're not making it one night. - Not even one night? - You're gonna be too cold. - You have to make it my pride. - My pride would do one night. I would, okay, one night. Not really. But I love alone. - I love it, why do you love it? - Because I think it's an extraordinary challenge. - Yeah. - I think it's a legit. you know, and it's, and as a, you know, survivor, it's got all of these things and these games and so on, which is gobs of fun, but it's all fabricated. In this case, you've really got to stay alive. And you don't know when other people have peeled off. They don't die, but they tap out. Yes. How much do they win? A million dollars. A million dollars. And what I love about the psychology of that show is the way, because I relate, is the way people start to give up before giving up. Oh wait, talk about that. Because they start to, and I just, I, I love it because I recognize it, right? Which is when you start to talk yourself out of something, but you're not talking yourself out of it yet, but you're just playing around with the idea, because it's such a mental game. You have to just take the highs and lows and like, right? But when people are like, yeah, it's just, you know, my family, yeah, I'm sure my family's missing me. Oh, yeah, it's always men, you know, being like, my wife is probably struggling. And you're like, oh, here you go. Just a little day or two before I just thinking about, that's right. I mean, I, I do want the money, but will my kid ever be, ever have their third birthday again, you know, and you're like, here he goes, get ready. A couple of days to know he's going to tap out like that kind of bubbly stuff I love human behavior. And it's like, it's so good. I want to watch alone with you. And I want to watch the new jury do do with you. And oh, wait a minute. That would be fun. That would be fun. I would like to watch TV with you. Okay. Weird. I want to come over and I feel like getting in some kind of comfy situation with you and Brad get under some kind of not that way. Just no, I just get blankets and get blankets. I feel like there'd be a good snack like a chip, like a delicious salty chip. Yeah, but we need some yummy. We need some desserts happening. Are you sweet over savory? I like it all. Yeah, but I love sweets. Okay. I'm more more savory. So we can have sweet and a chip and some kind of chip. Okay. And we watch one of these shows and we I'm picturing it now. Have you ever had dill pickle chips? Yeah. Don't do it for you. Doesn't do it for me, but I love the idea of them. Oh god, it's making my mouth water. Just talking about it. Let's get some of those. We'll get some of this, but you don't like them. So we'll find something else. Do you like a salt and vinegar? I enjoy a salt and vinegar. Me too. Yeah. Love that. Love it. And also I'm a basic Doritos bitch. Really? I know. Not a sponsor is now not after what you the face you just made. That's that's the slogan. I'm a Doritos basic Doritos bitch. Really? Love you, Julia. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for having us. Love having out. I knew it would be fun. I didn't know it would be this much fun. I can't wait until I reach 70 so I can come on your show. Yeah. Thank you so much, Julia. That was so fun. It's always so fun to get to be around you and and laugh with you and do bits. And for this polar plunge, I just want to mention one of the guests on Julia's podcast, Wiser than me, who I just love. And that is the author Anne Lamott. And if you're listening, I love you. And if you don't know Anne Lamott's work, she is a very prolific and successful author who's written books like operating instructions and bird by bird and tender mercies. Many works of fiction, her latest book somehow thoughts on love is out. And she's just a really candid, funny, deeply funny, tender, big thinker. And I don't know. I just love her. And hope I get to have her on this pod someday. Check out her podcast with Julia. Check out Julia's podcast. Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are great. We love podcasts. Okay. Thanks. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman and me Amy Polar. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalane, Kaya McMollan, and Alayah Zeneres. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original Music by Amy Miles.