Jenna Fischer

My wife's in-laws came to visit, and they're in their 80s and they're Irish.

And they didn't, they wanted to put them up somewhere.

And so we got an Airbnb

and we went to it.

It was right in the little town, and it was spectacular.

It was just amazing.

And they loved it.

And so they had privacy in their time.

They could walk around the little town.

And we didn't have to put them up here and have someone say, Do you know, could I, where would I get a towel if I needed a towel?

You know, that kind of thing.

Where do you keep your shale?

Could I get a washcloth, please?

But anyway, where do you keep your potato?

They were really,

this goes to Ireland, you know.

No, but they're, they're incredibly sweet and they had a great time.

You already have an Airbnb.

That's right.

While you're away, your home could be an Airbnb.

Your home might be worth more than you think.

Check it out.

Find out how much at airbnb.com/slash host.

We are supported by Ring.

With Ring, you can see more and do more with doorbells and cameras that help you see more, to exciting features that help you know more, to the app that lets you connect more.

Pan around your home for the perfect view with Pan Tilt Indoor Camps 360-degree coverage.

Type what you're looking for and find it almost instantly in your recorded events with Smart Video Search.

And get quick video preview alerts to know what's happening without even needing to go into your phone.

These things are amazing.

I mean,

you put them up, you sleep really well.

With Ring, you can see more and do more.

Learn more at ring.com.

Some features require a subscription and are available only on select Ring devices.

Exclusions apply.

Learn more at ring.com.

David, Jenna Fisher.

Jenna Fisher, the lovely Jenna Fisher, who's pretty universally liked out there.

I mean, very sweet, very talented, very fun and charming.

Famous for the office.

She's done a lot of movies and a lot of other things, but she was Pam

on the Office, the Smash

for all 98 seasons.

Yeah.

That show just kept grinding it out.

There's a spin-off now we talk about.

We don't only talk about the office, of course.

She does plays.

She's doing a new one we're talking about.

She talks about, I asked her about Nick Schwartz and about Will Farrell.

She loves SNL.

And I hit her up after the interview.

And, you know, I think she had what we had.

She's always like, she's like exactly what we say.

Did we ask the right questions?

Was I interesting?

Was I fun?

And we always finish and going, I think we did that wrong, whatever.

But she's very sweet about it.

She wanted to do a good job.

She listens to the show.

She has her own show.

The office ladies.

And she.

She tells some really funny stories, interesting stories about her struggles before she got on the office.

And there's a whole arc of story involving Molly Shannon.

And that's a very interesting thing.

I like that story.

And sometimes when we finish the podcast, we keep our laptop open.

So I ended up talking with her for a half hour afterwards.

She's very easy to

talk to.

So anyway, I hope you enjoyed this one.

Jana Fisher.

I was just asked by our producer, and it's a profound question.

When you're driving around,

a long drive, two-hour drive, whatever,

what's your entertainment?

XM news, music, podcasting,

or

just rap, phone calls to pay back.

You have 10 seconds.

It's not music.

I do not listen to music.

My first car did not have a working radio, and I just got used to driving in silence.

And it's my preference.

But now I would say

news, podcasts, or phone calls.

So I love the idea.

I literally could go like just the silence, two hours, three hours, just

silence.

Jesus, it's chasing

healthy, by the way.

I don't know.

I drove from St.

Louis, Missouri, all the way to California with no radio.

Just open windows, also

in the trunk.

My first car was really just, it just moved you from one place to another.

There was no luxury in the car.

Not even in that air conditioning.

But yeah,

what year of car?

I don't remember.

I think it was like an 86.

I mean, it had originally when it was built had these features.

They just didn't work anymore.

So you do the office all those years and then you buy a used Buick from 1988?

I mean, I'll talk to Corel if I have to.

Or

to call Grand Families.

Okay, go ahead.

No, no, no.

So I had a Mazda 323 hatchback.

Sweet.

And that was the car I drove across the country.

Okay.

And then I upgraded to a Volkswagen Jetta, which was my favorite car maybe I've ever had.

It was awesome.

But then when I got my big office paycheck,

I got a stupid car.

Okay, yeah, Rolls Race.

It was, I walked into a Mercedes dealership and they had a little sedan.

They only made like seven of these and it had like the engine of a race car, but in like the body of like a C-class Mercedes.

So it was like cute and compact, but it, I was

a hundred percent an asshole driver.

Like because I could cut around anyone.

I could, it was, oh, it was great.

Did you keep it?

I leased it and I gave it up after the lease.

Lease.

And I I went more practical.

We all have that story.

You want me to go first, David?

Because it's similar to yours.

Okay, got a little money, some movie, whatever, got extra money, went to a Mercedes dealership, bought a

convertible little Mercedes coupe.

Like, oh, wow, this is awesome.

Drove it for three or four days and realized when I had the canopy up, I was looking through a plastic windshield in the back.

So took it back, traded in for a SLE or a big, a 420 SLE.

And then I started getting people paying attention to me.

I lived in the valley when I would go to like 7-Eleven or a gas station.

So then I went to Honda.

I just wanted a lo-fi car.

That's my story.

Well, the problem with LA

is that you get this awesome car and then you can only go like 32 miles an hour in it because you're always stuck in traffic.

So it's kind of like after a few years, I was like, oh, the best I can do is like whip down the on-ramp.

Yeah, 300 horsepower.

And you're just And then that's exactly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

When I moved out, I got something when I first paid check and I went

and I had no car.

So I got a car.

Dana knows the story.

$6,000 Honda.

I didn't go flashy.

I only had six.

And then I drove it to the improv and then I brought it out.

I brought my buddy out to show him and it was stolen.

What?

How long?

You had it for like a night?

One day.

You went one place.

And Kevin Nealon drove a car eerily similar to that.

I'm not saying he had anything to do with the robbery, but it was kind of weird.

But my first car was a Volkswagen bug.

Are you going to go to first car or first car when you got an extra paycheck?

Me?

No, you are.

We know your story.

We know my story.

Yeah.

David, you got it.

Oh, I had my fair share because I do like cars, but I...

I my neck gives me trouble.

So every time I get a car I love, it just starts, it's just too painful.

And like Jenna said, when you're starting and stopping all day, it's not like you live in the Midwest and you can floor it and there's big parking lots.

Like when you go to Wendy's in Arizona, there's like 300 parking spots.

And when you go here, there's one at Kmart.

And you go, are we all sharing this?

You can't believe when you get to LA how little there's some businesses have absolutely no parking.

So I don't know what we're supposed to do.

So that kind of threw me.

And I realized I didn't need big fancy cars.

I could just tell people I had them.

I didn't really need them.

My first car was also a manual transmission.

Oh, boy.

And my left foot would like truly ache at the end of like driving all day in LA because you were constantly just going like in and out of third and fourth gear.

There was like, you never made it to fifth gear in this car.

God, no one has a stick anymore.

No.

It's a, you know, this was the cheapest car.

Like the manual transmission was the cheapest car.

My dad's very practical.

He was like, you'll get this car.

Now teach you how to drive it.

Firm.

This is all you need.

You don't need any frills.

Yeah.

I mean, St.

Louis.

Yeah.

So do you, you've been to St.

Louis, I bet?

I'm going to St.

Louis to do a show.

Have you had

pizza in St.

Louis?

Emo's Pizza in St.

Louis?

No.

But

I like it as a town.

I like walking around.

I like that stadiums are really close in.

you know not jenna do you know what chesterfield is chesterfield is where i grew up oh is it really chesterfield is where my family lives now

yeah i actually grew up uh in like manchester slash chesterfield in an unincorporated area uh but yeah chesterfield for sure why Because that's where I'm going for my tour.

And they said, I was with Nikki

Glazer this weekend, and she's from St.

Louis.

And she goes, Why don't they put on your tour St.

Louis?

No one's Chesterfield.

I go, Oh, I don't know.

I don't even know what.

I mean, if you're from St.

Louis, you know what Chesterfield is.

You know.

Okay.

Yeah.

It's not like, yeah, it's not downtown.

I mean, St.

Louis is downtown.

You're going to be in the burbs.

You're in the suburbs.

That's fine with me.

And I think it's a great place.

I've been there before.

I think it's new.

Anyway, we'll set up comps for everyone you know from high school.

Other than that, great.

Great.

You know, you're saying

what you say.

My high school ladies are going to come out for your show.

It's super fun.

Dana and I had a question.

First of all, I'll tell Dana a little pre-question that you don't know.

All right.

Let's try to

keep our guests off balance, like with questions she's not asked all the time.

Oh, yeah.

We're here to, we want to surprise you.

She's going to come out here digital.

I love it.

Great.

Everyone loves that.

I thought of doing this with Dana and then I called Jenna, right, Jenna?

Do you remember this?

Yes, of course.

Yes.

And you were very sweet.

You took the call and you kind of walked me through how it works and what you did.

And it really gave me a little boost to say this might be fun.

And if it has to be a Dana, it has to be.

That's fine, whatever.

And so, and then Dana had a question:

Do you really need a part?

Has it ever gone through your mind?

I could have done this by myself, and then the money doubles.

Has that ever gone through your mind?

Or, or maybe Angela.

But

that.

Dana and I think about that all day, every day.

People always ask us forever, why?

You know, why us?

Why now?

Are you really friends?

Do you get that?

I mean, you guys are famously really close friends.

But with Spade and I was like, what?

The Tommy Boy guy and the Waynesworld guy?

I don't know.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, also because Angela and I were frenemies on the office, our characters were not friends.

And people are always very surprised to learn that we are best friends in real life.

I could not have done the podcast without her.

I am all like structure and order and spreadsheets.

My version of Office Ladies Podcast would be very informative, but also way less entertaining.

So Angela brings all of the like

funny and all of the quirky and all of like the weird observations.

So we're actually, we're a pretty good pair.

Yeah, I think that's smart that you did that because there is kind of safety in numbers.

Dana is way better at this.

And I don't think I could do it by myself.

I think Dana really, really drives it and makes it easier to do it for me.

But jokingly, it's fun to joke around with him too because he's a funny guy, obviously.

And we have a good time with that.

And I think you guys have a real friendship.

So

people like to hear that you're friends, even though it doesn't seem like it on the show.

You guys, I love your podcast.

Like you have no idea how excited I am to be on

your podcast right now.

I listen to you guys.

I think you are so good together.

Dana, I can't believe you're talking to me right now.

That's kind of blowing my mind.

I'm a huge Saturday Night Live nerd.

The greatest part about being on the office and being on NBC was that I got to breathe the same air as Saturday Night Live people.

This is like that we would have to be at the same corporate parties together.

And I was a total groupie.

That is who I gravitated toward.

It was just the coolest.

And, but that's going way back.

I actually have a crazy story from my very early days in LA.

Let's hear it.

And Saturday Night Live.

Okay, so I made my living when I landed in LA as a typist and a transcriber.

And you know how you'd have to go to those events.

They're called like the Television Critics Association, and you would sit on a panel as a cast and you would introduce new cast members.

This would be for any show.

Well, my job was to go and sit in that room and take notes and then go back to a hotel room, a hot hotel room filled with like 12 people and 12 computers and then listen to audio and transcribe these

like press events.

Wow.

These conversations.

Yeah.

Yes.

And if we got our work done on time, by that evening, we were allowed to go to the quote-unquote parties, which, as you know, are really just cast members of TV shows mingling with reporters who are trying to get sound bites.

But we would get to go.

We'd get to eat the food, drink the drinks, and just watch all the famous people.

Well, all I wanted more than anything was to go to the Saturday Night Live party.

I wanted it more than my little new heart in LA could stand it.

And so

I knew what night it was coming up and I started planting the seed the day before.

I started pretending like I didn't feel good

because I was gonna make an excuse that I was sick so that I could get off work on time and then sneak into this party.

But I, I had, I needed the hours, you know, so I planted that seed.

The next day, I was like, man, I'm still not feeling good.

At three o'clock, I'm like, I'm so sorry.

I got to go.

I got to go home.

The guy was like, fine.

I had planted a change of clothes in my car.

I went, I changed into a cocktail dress.

I sneak into the party.

And I can't even tell you, it was amazing.

Norm McDonald.

I'm looking at him in the flesh.

I can't, my mind is blown.

Then I see Molly Shannon and I think, I'm going to do it.

I'm going to go say hi to Molly Shannon.

And I walk up to her.

She's giving sound bites to the press.

And I say, Molly Shannon, I am a new actress in LA and I just admire you so much.

And I just wanted to tell you

just what you mean to me.

You know, the stuff you say.

Yeah, sure.

She looked at me,

took me by the shoulders, looked me deep in the eyes and said,

don't give up.

Whatever you do, don't give up.

It took me 10 years to get on Saturday Night Live.

And my best advice to you is just know it'll happen eventually if you just just stick with it.

Okay.

You guys.

Sounds like the Molly we know.

Yeah.

I was about to say that.

Right.

She's amazing.

And I went and I like, I had this encounter with her.

And then I turn around.

And my boss from the transcription room is standing there along with everybody else who got off work on time and they came to this party.

And I was like,

am I fired?

And he goes, you are fired.

And I was like,

He fired me.

But it was fine, guys, because I met Molly Shannon and she gave me that advice.

And I went home and I told my mom.

And every time I had a hard day for the next 10 years, my mom would say to me, Jenna, don't you forget what Molly Shannon told you.

She said, don't give up.

She said it took you, it took her 10 years.

You guys wait for it.

10 years later.

I'm at the premiere of Walk Hard, the movie Walk Hard that I did with John C.

Riley.

Yeah, right.

I shit you not.

Guess who's at that party?

Molly Shannon.

Molly Shannon.

Your boss.

And I got to go up to her and I got to say, Molly Shannon,

here's this story you told me 10 years.

And she was like, and look, it's 10 years later.

And here you are.

And I got a picture with her.

I made the photographer come over and like take a picture of us.

Is that the greatest thing ever?

Does Molly know

as she heard this story?

Or did you Yes, I told her that night at the Walkhard Premiere.

Wow.

Unbelievable.

Yes, and

I wrote a book, and I wrote that story in the book, and I have a picture in the book, too.

Mm-hmm.

You know those mornings where everything feels like it's moving 100 miles an hour?

Emails are flying in.

You're trying to hit your protein goals.

Somehow you're already running late?

Yes.

Same.

That's exactly when I hit pause and I head to Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Whether I'm craving something bold and fruity or warm and savory, Tropical Smoothie Cafe makes it easy breezy.

I'll grab a peanut paradise smoothie, 22 grams of smooth peanut buttery protein, or mix it up with a PB protein crunch bowl, packing a punch at 32 grams of protein.

And when I'm in a breakfast sandwich mood, their sausage, egg, and cheese, dilla, or the all-American wrap are always hot, toasty, and packed with the protein I need to actually power through my day.

Not just survive it.

The best part, I order ahead in the app, swing by, and grab it on the go.

No waiting, no stress, just me, my smoothie, and a much-needed mental getaway.

Every smoothie, bowl, and wrap is made to order, filled with better-for-you ingredients and serious good vibes.

So go ahead, manifest a more refreshing morning.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

You're on Tropic Time now.

Hello, it's Lena Dunham.

I host a podcast called The Sea Word with my dearest friend and historian of bad behavior, Alyssa Bennett.

What is up?

It's a chat show about women whose society is called crazy.

We're going to be rediscovering the stories of women's society dismissed by calling them mad, sad, or just plain bad.

Listen to and follow The Sea Word with Lena Dunham and Alyssa Bennett.

Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

Well, when I met David, he was 19.

I said, you hang with this, and in six months, don't give up.

Because in six months, no, David was out of the blocks fast.

If it was a sprinter, he was like, boom.

Dana said, you're going to move to LA, and in six months, you'll get crabs.

And I go, okay.

Police Academy.

Hello.

He got a movie.

I got a movie early on.

That's the police guy movie that I

made.

I had $6,000 to buy the car that got stolen so i was back to zero

wow yeah great story um you still type 85 words per minute that's nothing to sneeze at i do i do 90 accuracy it's all in the accuracy anyone can type garbage

you're 90 right yeah i mean right you want to type words anyone can just type nothing

through uh teaching

uh a typing teacher my father for for decades

Can you type?

Can you guys type with all your fingers, or are you like two-finger typers?

I can't do anything.

If you see a non-taught young person, like in their 20s,

they're really fast.

And I don't know if it's technically using all their fingers, but

you know,

we picked it up later.

But I'm fast.

But I don't.

Jenna, I have a good question that ties into Tony Live.

When you did Blades of Glory, you wound up getting to have sex with will farrell right

uh yes that's right i had a sex scene with will

one of the best all-time goats of snl for sure yeah that was nuts but also by the way amy poehler was in that movie oh that's right so just playing my sister wowie and will arnett was in that movie um yeah i mean

that was

that was terrifying That was terrifying.

And Will was so polite when we shot that scene because he had to like grab my boobs like several times.

But what was crazy about it was I probably had on more clothes in that scene where I look like I'm just in like a nighty than I normally wear.

Like they, cause they put you in like spanks and then a corset and then a thing and they painted my body with makeup.

I mean, I felt like so covered.

It was crazy.

He has a go and grab your boobs through your stuff, but it's like that kind of thing.

You can't even feel it because you've got 18 layers of.

Yeah, it's like I was wearing body armor.

So I was kind of like, maybe like wink when you grab them because I can feel nothing.

Judge me.

Pre-dates intimacy coordinators.

There was no one there.

There was no.

There was just

like your

director going, let's do this.

Yes, exactly.

Was Swartzen in that?

Do you know Nick Schwartzen, that little fool?

Yes.

Yes, he was.

Oh, my God.

We are friends with Nick, and, you know, it's a real roller coaster, Jenna.

I'll tell you that.

It is.

I found him lovely on the film, but what do I know?

No, he's great.

He's so funny.

Hall pass.

We haven't even gotten to the goddang office.

Look at the show.

I have a question about the

office.

What is it?

The question is, is for you and your partner

re-watching.

all these episodes and talking about them.

Yeah.

What how is your perception, if it it at all, changed about the show or what did you learn about the show or

if anything?

Because it is now officially a phenomenon in the way it travels around and then explodes again.

It's evergreen and it's a unique show.

And

yesterday I was watching

The Office with Ricky Gervais.

Very different.

I mean,

you say it came from that office, but

it has its own complete original thing.

Greg Daniels, one of the great writers.

So what did you guys, what do you feel about that thing after doing hundreds of podcasts?

Did you go through every episode at some point?

Yeah, every single episode, all 201 episodes.

And then a lot of interviews with cast and crew.

Writers.

Writers, exactly.

My biggest takeaway from having re-watched it was that it's really good the whole time because I think there was this lore, especially among the cast and the creatives, that maybe we like hit our peak in season three or season four.

And also this belief that like the two seasons after Steve left, we were just treading water and maybe they weren't as good.

But when I watched everything, like some of my favorite episodes were in seasons eight and nine after Steve had left.

Like there were still these amazing storylines.

And also, I have to say now, when I look back, my, some of my favorite episodes were also in seasons four through six.

Like Dinner Party was season four.

Michael Scott Paper Company, that whole arc was in season five.

And that, like, just great TV.

And, um,

but yeah, I think, you know, some of the award nominations stopped after season three.

So I think maybe we got in our heads and thought, oh, I guess we're not creating as great.

I think that just happens no matter what.

That's great.

Yeah, you're not the new shiny object anymore.

Exactly.

And that's kind of slow down.

I mean, when you're watching yourself and you're watching the thing, and then you come on and stuff, and it's something you did years ago, do you ever sometimes, because you sound like you're a normal actor, comedian that's sort of like a little self-critical, how was I?

Do you ever kind of look at yourself in a scene and go, damn, I nailed that?

Why did I feel insecure?

Or, or what's that like?

I mean, I have both reactions.

Sometimes I watch it and I'm like, I'll never do work that good again.

Shit, that was great.

But then there's other scenes where I just cringe, where I'm like, oh, God, I remember how I struggled with that and I couldn't do it.

And now here it is for everyone to see.

And I guess I just have to move on.

So I've had both reactions.

And I don't know the complete specifics of this, but you, it's, first of all, it is always an ensemble.

How great Corel is in that part is, you know, everybody knows that.

But it always was an ensemble.

And so many people came out of it and now have these long careers.

But

it's,

I forgot my train of thought.

Sorry.

Have you ever seen something?

Jenna, when you can watch it and say, I was in the pocket because sometimes you watch it and you go.

You're just in the pocket of going, this is a great scene.

This whole idea of this episode is working.

And when they whip the camera back, get a great look, whip back to you, perfect timing, get a great look.

And when you see it, you go, because, you know, you can only feel the camera when you're shooting and you don't really know.

And then you go, God, they nailed that.

Boom, boom, edited well.

Everything about this is just, that's why people really get

enchanted by, I mean, and also just your face is so part of the office and it's so cute.

And they always cut to you.

And you all, and you have these little storylines.

It's really, I see why people get hooked on it.

No matter when you turn it on, you can just grab any episode.

I remember what I forgot, which is, was how much, if any, improvisation was there?

Because it comes off very improvisational in totem, but I know there wasn't completely improvised.

I know that's a pretty cool word, right?

So were you allowed to kind of go, you guys, could I try this?

You know, do you mind if I do, you know, that kind of stuff?

Yeah, it was really collaborative.

And,

you know, so many of the writers were also actors on the show.

So they were with us and they would be sometimes pitching alternate jokes right there on the set.

That was kind of fun.

So that was neat.

And we did a lot of improvising, but I don't know how much of it actually made the cut.

We got to play and have fun, but I would say like 90% of what you see on the screen was written on the page down to like

they would write in ellipses for our speech.

So you knew to kind of pause because they knew they were going to whip the camera during that pause and so they could get back to you.

So there was a very elaborate choreography of whipping the camera a little too late so that it seemed, and you'd have to give handles.

Yeah, so it seemed like they didn't quite do it right.

Yeah.

Yes, exactly.

And so a lot of times when we would do a rehearsal, they would say, Jenna, will you give a handle before your next line to, so we have time for that camera whip?

So that would be, we would add things like, um,

well, they'd find you so that they could find you

like in the right timing.

But, um, so great.

It also seems very real.

A lot of the non-verbal acting and those cutaways to a character that isn't saying a line, but just sort of nonverbally doing some kind of attitude and stuff.

It, it, it was immediately just felt so new.

I'm not going to say fresh.

David would use that word a lot, but immediately, I think for comedians as well, uh, watching it going, this looks cool.

This looks fun.

This looks different and really funny.

It doesn't push at all.

You know, it's the end.

We had two camera operators with cameras on their shoulders, and both of these guys were from Survivor.

So these guys had like walked through the

whatever, the wilderness with the survivor people capturing survivor.

So this is where they came from in the documentary world.

And camera A, Randall Einhorn, who was also our cinematographer, who went on to be a director and is now, you know, the executive producer of Abbott Elementary and all those things.

Randall was our A camera and his job was to get all of the dialogue.

And then Matt Sohn,

he was our B camera.

And then his job was to get all of those things you're talking about, Dana, all of the acting that was happening in the background.

So whenever a scene was happening, we were all in the background of each other's scenes all day long on set, the full 12 hours.

Steve Carell included.

I can't can't tell you how many times steve core had to sit in michael scott's office just to be in the background of jim and pam looking at each other piece of them yeah because we're gonna see a piece we're gonna see a piece of you is like something we can

put on a mug yeah um that'd be actually be a be a great cast gift um

yeah and so he would grab and push in on all of the you know anyone who was in the background of a scene and get their reactions in real time it was such a cool way to work yeah and you have to stay alive though you do Every scene.

But it keeps your energy up.

Yeah.

You know, because that's the hardest thing for me about acting in movies is like the long amounts of downtime between when you're actually acting.

It's just like, oh, God, I got to ramp up again.

Yeah.

And it's just, you know, I don't know if this is the correct way to say it, but if you feel like if you...

you're discovering something new in the moment, it's really nice.

It does keep your brain alive.

And in traditional movies, what I was doing, you know, you do the three masters at 7 or 8 a.m.

or whatever.

And then by five or six o'clock, you start and, oh, don't.

You, in the master, eight hours ago, your left elbow was up and you opened the cup door at this point.

It's the antithesis of what you guys had, at least the way it felt.

It popped.

It felt real.

For sure.

And we did not have marks.

You know, those

for people out there, like you put tape on the ground and then you have to stand on it because that's how you're going to be in focus.

But we had no marks.

And if the boom dipped in shot, we just kept it in because, you know, it worked in the world.

And

when I finished, when I, you know, going back to Blades of Glory, Blades of Glory was the first big movie I did after being cast on the office.

And I repeatedly kept

looking down the barrel of the camera.

Like I would do a scene

with Will and Amy, and then I would like give a look to camera.

I'd be like, fuck, I can't do that.

And also, I suddenly had to hit a mark.

And I was, I was so stiff, it was really stressful because I'd been in this other world.

You can watch when people on movies, sometimes have you ever watched, someone looks down when they walk in, look for their mark, and then they look up.

I love it.

It's so horrifying.

I want to say also,

I was going to say the show is fresh, but it's funny that the term fresh is stale.

But also, it's a problem.

I'm going to bring it back.

This was fresh and the new one called The Paper

on Peacock.

Have you seen that?

Do you know much about it?

Okay, I haven't seen it, but I got to go to the set.

Angela and I got special access to the set and got to talk to all the actors.

We got to see it.

It's really cool, but we're not allowed to say anything.

Oh, yeah, I think it's in the can.

Like they finished it.

It comes out in September.

Oh, interesting.

September on where?

Peacock.

I don't know.

Peacock, right?

Peacock.

You don't need a fly on the wall to get the story on next level protection for your dogs.

In fact, the only thing you need for that is NextGuard Plus, a foxaloner, moxydectin, and pyrantal chewable tablets.

From birthday parties to costumes, social media accounts to puppy vacations, next-level pet owners will do anything for their dogs.

And when it comes to their health, that means giving them next-level protection too.

That's why there's NextGuard Plus Choose, your one-and-done solution for monthly protection that kills fleas and ticks, prevents heartworm disease, and treats and controls roundworms and hookworms all in one tasty, beef flavored soft chew.

My dog Junebug loves getting her monthly Nexguard Plus, making it simple for me to protect her with a delicious chew she always enjoys.

NextGuard Plus packs a whole lot of powerful protection into one tasty chew, making monthly dosing easy and enjoyable for both of you.

Used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurological disorders, Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections prior to starting a preventive.

So the next time you're at the vet, ask about NextCard Plus Choose.

AutoTrader is powered by Auto Intelligence.

Put simply, their tools and data sync to your exact budget and preferences to tailor car buying to you.

Want a pink mid-size SUV with the 22-inch rims and a V8?

How about a two-door convertible with a premium sound system and heated cup holders?

Nothing's too specific.

AutoTrader, powered by Auto Intelligence, helps you find your dream car at the right price in no time because they do all the hard work for you.

Imagine going from no clue to new car in no time.

Learning that fully loaded fits the budget.

Finding the car that gives you the feels as much as the deals.

Want your car delivered the same way as your lunch order?

Yep, that's a thing.

With AutoTrader, powered by Auto Intelligence, you're in control from your first search to the moment you sign on the dotted line.

It's the totally you way to buy a car.

Visit auto trader.com to find your perfect ride.

So with John Krasinski, like the Jim and Pam narrative was became such a big thing.

I talked to some people in their early 20s today, told them I was going to interview you and on the office.

They go, I go, she was Pam.

Oh, Pam, you know, this is like a famous character.

And Jim and Pam.

I'm just kind of curious because John Krasinski.

I find it really, really interesting how he came up with with that horror film, The Quiet.

What was it?

The quiet.

A quiet place.

A quiet place.

And it's interesting when actors just all of a sudden you see them and like,

wow, this guy can really direct.

And did you see any seeds of that in him intellectually or just the way he was around?

Was that a surprise to you when he came out directing?

It was a surprise to none of us.

I didn't think so.

John, I would always say to John, I think you're going to be like our Tom Hanks.

Like, remember how Tom Hanks did Bosom Buddies and he was like a very famous, successful TV show.

But, like, when you think of Tom Hanks, you don't think of bosom buddies.

You think of everything else Tom Hanks has done.

And I was like, I think the office is going to be your bosom buddies, like, your going places.

It's very clear.

And did he look down at his, at the ground and go, oh, shucks, Jenna?

Or how did he?

He did.

He did.

He's very, yes, he's very humble in that way.

You know, like that would be, if I say that to him, that's very embarrassing to him, you know, like he doesn't want to be like fussed over like that.

It's just, but I was like, no, it's true, mister.

Well, it's a Herculean task to direct a movie.

I mean, just physically and mentally.

But Dana fusses over me all the time.

Fusses?

Yeah.

You fuss over me.

I want to hear more about you being a telephone psychic when you got.

Yeah.

She worked as a car wash.

I did work at at a car for three summers, and that was my best

job.

I worked at Long John Silver's.

That was my first job.

I worked at an ice creamery serving ice cream, and then I got the job at the car wash.

All of those were on this road called Manchester Road on

in St.

Louis, out in the suburbs.

And I got fired from Long John Silver's.

I got fired from the ice creamery.

And my dad would say, oh, you're just looking to get fired from every business on Manchester Road, I guess.

But the car wash stuck and that was great.

There was great money.

I was outside just drying off the cars, you know, how big are you simple in that world?

Because I try to tip well, but okay, this is gorgeous, Jenna.

Yeah.

Like back then, well, and by the way, they would always make me give the gentlemen back their cars.

Oh, you have to like,

yeah, you got to stand at the car and wave.

Yeah, oh, yeah.

You know, in your little shorts and your little cutoff shirt and like, your car's ready.

And I would,

I would, I'm not, you know, not to brag, but I would get a five sometimes.

I get five bucks.

Fiverr.

But then I had to put it in like the group bucket.

Oh, no.

Cooling tips.

Cooling tips.

Yeah.

You're in your.

I mean, a few of them made it into my pocket.

I'm not going to lie.

Now,

what percentage of you is really a psychic?

Do you think some of you?

I would say 0%.

But do you believe in

the potentiality of psychics at all?

Or do you think it's all just they creep me out?

Like, I don't want a psychic to tell me what's going to happen to me.

I like to believe I have free will.

You know, I don't want to have

that.

That, that just will give me nightmares.

I saw one psychic one time and it still haunts me.

Yeah.

It will change what you'll do.

The second they tell you something, you'll make a different decision.

That's what I feel.

Like, you will do this and this.

They go, okay.

They'll say, oh, random example.

You'll get married within the next 10 years.

So you meet someone and maybe you give them a different chance than you would before.

You're like, I think this is the guy I'm going to marry.

You know, that's exactly right.

It's weird.

You change every little thing changed a little bit.

So you can't really get the same outcome.

It feels.

I went to a psychic in college.

And my big question for her was, am I going to marry this guy I have a crush on?

I was obsessed with him.

Am I going to marry him?

I can marry him.

She said, no, you're not.

You're not going to marry him.

She said, But you're going to be famous one day.

I said, I am.

I want to be an actress.

I'm going to be famous.

She said, You're not going to be famous for acting.

You're going to be famous in the world of religion.

Yeah.

She said, I was going to be a famous religious leader.

Well, she had it with acting.

She says, Here's a review.

Here's a review that I brought.

Office ladies is a religious experience.

This was from the St.

Louis Dispatcher.

No, I made that

Dispatcher.

If you want to have fun.

You have a play, by the way.

You've done plays.

It looks like from your prep here, you've done plays, but you have another one coming up Ashland Avenue?

Ashland Avenue, world premiere at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.

Yeah, I'm heading out there in August for rehearsals, and then the play opens in September.

Tickets on sale in June on 27th.

Now, doing a play, Dane and I were just talking about this before you came on.

Doing a play.

is it more exciting or is it just something that I couldn't even imagine getting you wrapping my head around the full script that you have to memorize?

Does that take days, weeks?

Or are you good at that?

It takes weeks.

I think I'm okay at it.

Plays are my favorite thing.

I was a theater major.

There's no money in doing theater.

but it's where my heart is.

And what I love is that you get to tell the whole story and go on the character's complete journey every night.

You don't have to like prepare it and then you shoot it out of order.

And, and I also just love that it like it lives and breathes with the audience.

And, and each play can only be seen one time.

Like each performance is slightly different.

And you have it and then just like only the people who were there got to see it.

It just is like really magical to me.

And I love it.

It's all I want to do moving forward.

I want to just be a theater actress.

It's interesting.

I've gotten more into plays the last 10 years, just in London.

I'm not an intellectual in New York and stuff.

And it's interesting the curtain call.

And then they stand and there's a standing ovation.

And then you can tell by their body language how they felt, especially when they're walking off.

Like sometimes they're slumping and sometimes you see someone literally twirl around almost like we or high five males.

You know that you saw one that had that chemistry.

Like you said, they're not always at that level.

That's why you have to.

Right.

They're like fingerprints.

Dana, I think you'll agree.

Stand-up is,

you know, I go on the road going mostly to places Jenna lived.

But when I go on the road,

you do a show and everyone goes, oh, I saw your show.

I saw your show.

But you remember that city and you go, oh, that one went pretty well.

Even though it's just microscopically different.

Yeah.

But you know, sometimes you get off and you go, I could not get it going perfectly.

And some nights you're like, from the second I went out, it was perfect.

I said everything right.

I had the right attitude.

And so plays are like that, where whoever comes is going to see that night's experience and it will be a hairdresser.

The audience is the partner in many ways.

Is it

a drama?

They steer it or is it a pure drama?

It is a comedy, but it will also break your heart into a million pieces.

So what it's about is

it's about a guy who owns an old like TV shop in Chicago on Ashland Avenue.

And um he's a guy who used to have a dozen tv shops in chicago but you know mom and pop shops have gone away for the big box you know places and so um

and so he's being honored by the city of chicago for being a small business owner i play his daughter and basically it's a play about this man dealing with uh being in his 70s and basically life is kind of telling him we don't we don't really need what you have to offer anymore He's like dealing with his own relevancy.

Like the thing that he's good at is owning this TV shop and selling people TVs.

But it's like, Matt, you know what?

We don't need that anymore.

And so what do you do with that when the world is kind of done with your skill?

And so it's kind of heartbreaking, but it, it's also a comedy.

And then as his daughter, who has grown up just

being in this TV shop as well, and it looks like it's going away, like I have to decide, well, I'm kind of getting a chance here to do something else with my life and strike out on my own.

And what does that mean to me?

Do you, do you feel like they, uh, the audience is, obviously they're familiar who you are from the office and then they want to come see you.

And so how different is this character?

compared to Pam.

This character is, is different from Pam, for sure.

Um, and that's something like, you know,

that that's my whole career since Pam is that most people just want to see more Pam.

It doesn't totally bother me.

But

I think I'm going to be, I think you'll be able to go on this journey even, you know, I think it'll be okay.

I would say, you know, because I,

an audience, I'm doing stand-up, they, they do want to see characters that I did on SNL.

And I just totally,

of course, I'll do them.

They're my hits.

The only thing worse than not, than having hits or a hit show is not having having a hit show.

So

there it is.

That's right.

Yeah.

So it's a good problem to have.

And I think that from reading your prep, guest prep, you know, you've just done a lot of stuff since the office.

So it certainly was a starting point for you.

Do you still just love it?

Do you just love performing like you?

I do.

Yeah.

I do.

I do.

You know, I think I'm a mom now.

I have two kids.

And one of the things that was really hard, though, was

just the amount of focus and frankly, like self-involvement that is necessary to be an actor or a performance artist.

But it's true.

Like

you don't want to go all the way into narcissism because that's a real bummer.

But

there is a type of selfishness and self-involvement that is necessary for being an artist because that's how you create.

That's how you get in the space to create.

And,

but that is, that lane is not compatible with the kind of parent I want to be.

I want to be a, you know, a kid-focused, kid-centered type of parent.

And so I have changed the things I've said yes to or the things I do acting-wise since I had kids, mostly so that they were, that they were kind of like more softballs, you know, like things I could do without getting too dark or self-involved or selfish,

Things that I could completely leave at work.

I wasn't bringing anything home with me that was going to like bleed into their lives.

Oldest time, oldest show business, all those kind of conflicts.

And one thing that occurred to me recently, why it's sort of emotional or personal, like I have a lot of good friends who may be real estate agents or different type of jobs, but we are our product, our physicality, our voice, who we are.

And so it's a personal thing.

You're out there doing the play.

And if you're, if it's not going well, you didn't feel you had enough time to prep, it's just personal.

So I think it is really common and difficult to balance the emotion with the family versus just how personal it is as a performer and artist.

It's like.

And when kids come along, you're just now suddenly it's their world and you're, you can't even help it.

It just goes away.

You're like, now I'm lasered on this and I can't be like I was, you know,

that's exactly right.

That's like in part of your life where it changes.

There are some people in showbiz.

I think Beyonce has her daughter touring with her, who's like 12.

There are some people who just take, do that kind of lifestyle, but who's richer than me?

That's different than giving

your kids kind of a stable, old-fashioned lifestyle.

Well, I remember I talked to a family therapist like early on because I like therapy.

And I was talking about wanting to have kids and trying to figure out how am I going to balance that with, you know, being an actor.

And she said something that really stuck with me.

She said, well, there's kind of two types of families.

You can have parent-centered homes or child-centered homes.

And she's like, and there's no,

there's no judgment which one you want to pick.

But in a parent-centered home, if you have a career, your children will orbit around you and your career.

And if you go to a movie, you bring them with you and you have tutors and they sort of like just go into your life.

She's like, but in a child-centered home, you know,

you center it around the children.

And if you need to go do a project, she was like, imagine like your family is flowing like a river.

And rather than diverting the whole river to the movie, you just, you take a little stream by yourself.

You do the movie and then you rejoin the river later.

But the goal is to keep the river

doing its thing.

And I really liked that.

And I thought, yeah, I want to do that one.

Could you, I don't know if you want to do it publicly, but could I get the number of that therapist?

sure she's great solid bullet points that was pretty good little help

what do you call that an analogy a metaphor i don't know it's one of those things

it was great it was great she also said like you know something that's hard though is um she said when you she said when you pick the person you want to have kids with she's like you're gonna want a person who agrees with you um because there's nothing worse than one parent who wants a parent-centered home and another parent who wants a child parents you know a child-centered home.

And then she also said, People who have grown up in parent-centered homes have a very hard time creating kid-centered homes because they're like, hey, wait a second.

I'm the adult now.

It's my turn.

Yeah.

So it's

right.

Like you grew up like revolving around your parent.

You, and then if you revolve around your kid, you're like, when was my shot?

Yeah.

I thought that was all, it was just so much to chew on, right?

Yeah.

Well, the 60s was so different, you know.

I guess it was a parent-centric, it was, you just were so much more independent.

Like, I was walking to school at age five, you know, and there were no helmets, you know,

and so it's become very child-centric, you know.

It used to be children should be seen but not heard, and now it's adults should keep their mouths shut when we're watching, you know.

And Dana, you wear a helmet now, though, when you go to the mailbox,

but that's his own choice.

That's my own choice, It's a fashion choice.

All right, Dana, you know, I'm always dragging around and

I always got a five-hour energy on me.

I know that.

Yeah, they're either in my sock, in the car, they're somewhere.

You keep them everywhere.

I give them a little slurp.

I don't really shoot the whole thing like some people do on an empty stomach.

I think I eat a little bit.

A couple sips, just like coffee.

Just keep something going every day.

I don't.

I'm actually,

I don't want that much energy at once.

It's five hours, so I kind of, you know, that's what most people do.

But I sip it overall.

There's a lot of different flavors.

Yeah, there's one called Confetti Craze that tastes like a good birthday cake, which they're all pretty good, but this tastes like a hot and buttery flavor here to let you be unapologetically extra and unstoppably energized, actually.

Big birthday energy wherever you go.

The shots are reasonable.

You don't have to chug a full bottle or anything.

You just run around with that big birthday energy.

Yeah.

And

you can plan your confetti party at www.5hourenergy.com or Amazon.

That's available now.

You know what I mean?

So

you can get on 5Hour Energy.

That's the number five, hourenergy.com or Amazon.

And lease your big birthday party energy.

As much caffeine as 12 ounces of your fancy coffee, but zero sugar and zero sugar crash.

So yeah, and I'm not like a coffee guy, so this is kind of better for me.

You're a five-hour energy confetti craze guy.

Five-hour energy confetti craze flavor is available online.

Head to www.5houenergy.com or Amazon to order yours today.

You know how it goes.

Getting super into something that can lead to watching it, listening to it, reading about it, maybe even picking up something to go with it.

That's where Prime comes in.

Amazon Prime isn't just fast, free delivery, though to be honest, that's a lifesaver.

It's also Prime Video, Amazon Music, and so much more.

Whatever the interest, it's on Prime.

Lately, there's been a dive into new recipes, catching up on lifestyle documentaries, and building the perfect playlist to match, and Prime has been part of it all.

It's like a one-stop shop for any passion, whether it's fashion, food, family, or discovering the next favorite show.

So for anyone always exploring something new or rediscovering something meaningful, Prime is right there.

Whatever you're into, it's on Prime.

From streaming to shopping, it's on Prime.

Visit Amazon.com slash Prime to get more out of whatever you're into.

Amazon.com slash Prime.

Jenna,

two more things before we let you go.

But one, I thought when you do a play, I think of this when I do stand-up on the road.

When you do a play, I think what would scare me is you have to feel good every day.

Like you have to go there and prep yourself.

It sounds stupid, but to stand, to sit, to go through, to be fully alert for those two hours or whatever, that's kind of a hard thing.

Does it ever even cross your mind or you're always just kind of popped to it?

No, I mean, I have a bunch of like rituals and superstitions that I do.

Oh, yeah, you do.

Yeah, do you guys?

I have like, I have like a vocal warm-up.

I have like a body warm-up.

I have a meal that I like to eat because I know that it's not going to make me feel too full or too hungry or sick or anything.

Yeah.

You know, stomachache.

No, I'm definitely not experimenting with any kind of new food.

Yep.

Yep.

Do you have that?

Yeah.

I mean, Dana and I were just talking last week, like before we went on stage, I get an eyelash in my eye once in a while.

It happened last week again, Dana.

And anything can happen right before you walk out and you're like, I can't pee, I can't can't eat.

I can't do anything.

I have to feel good for the next hour straight.

There can be no distractions.

And it's very weird because your life, you can always poke at your phone.

You can look at this.

You can go restroom and you go this, and it plays even longer.

And just to feel like you got a grumbly stomach or your back hurts or something, you're like, oh shit, can I do this?

Do I call in somebody?

You know, so weird.

I had a shooting pain in my left leg, kind of inside my left leg.

Like, and so all of a sudden, my left leg was inoperable.

I was playing in front of 2,000 people and I was, you know, and I'm like, okay, can't

got to go with this, you know, incorporated into the act, you know, and then it worked itself out.

What I was interested in also, besides, we all do that.

I think it's great.

You have the certain show day prep, but the gentleman who is playing your father, what is his name?

Fran Guinen.

So Larry David was just talking about when he does, usually whatever he's doing.

I don't know if he does stand-up or whatever.

It's just the fatigue goes away once you there's the audience you know and then i think in a play you're holding on to him he's holding on to you and that connection can hopefully make the part of your brain going how am i doing how's it going all that go away at times right that's the electricity of it if you get so involved in the scene with your partner that it feels exhilarating, right?

When you know you're connecting and the audience is with you.

That's what you live for, right?

Yeah.

I mean, that's the dope dope of

the whole thing of live performance.

I mean, that's the thing we're chasing.

That's the high you're chasing it

every time.

And even if your prep doesn't go as well as you want or you ate too much, you still always have that possibility of that happening.

Yes.

Yes.

And also, if they get something wrong, the audience doesn't know this.

They could misalign you cover form.

There's little things that are like teamwork things that are fun to do that you get through the end and someone's like, hey, you saved me.

I spaced out.

And the audience doesn't really know what's going on, but you guys, you forgot a prop.

There's little things that keep it alive, but that's kind of the fun teamwork of it all, like in a show also.

That happened to me during a show.

The I did a show off Broadway and me and this other actress were on stage and we're only on stage for like four lines because we don't like each other.

And we're waiting for the same guy.

We like the same guy and we're waiting for him to walk in and break the tension.

And he didn't come on stage.

He didn't come.

He just missed his entrance.

And we're, and so I started improvising, which then the playwright was like, oh my God, I can't believe people thought I wrote those lines.

That was just like terrible.

Improvisation.

I'm like, what were we supposed to do?

We're just sitting there.

No one was coming on.

It's an art piece if you sit in silence for 12 minutes waiting while they find the guy at the deli next to him.

I like it when someone has didn't silence their phone or is talking to the phone and then the actor on the broadway show breaks character he's in some kind of clown suit or dressed as a bear i will kill you motherfucker you know i don't you know just that clown suit

live yeah now jana uh

my last thing for you is i like that when you auditioned for

the office

Allison Jones, who's a casting director we probably all three have run into along the way.

The best.

Said, dare to bore me.

I think that's interesting.

I read that.

I like that because most people are trying to give you the biggest pizzazz of a lifetime in an audition.

Well, I had been auditioning for Allison for about five years before the office.

I got my first speaking role on a television show.

It was Spin City,

the Charlie Sheen years.

And I had three lines as a waitress.

And then I would, she would bring me in for other little things.

And finally, when it was time for her to cast the office, I had a good enough relationship with her that I could say, hey, Allison, do you have any advice?

I really want this one.

And she said, yeah, my advice is don't come in looking hot.

Like, don't come in all done up.

And by the way, usually the note was, okay, you're playing a pediatric nurse, but like hot.

Or like you're playing a school teacher, but like really hot.

So like usually usually the note was look hot.

Mortician, but hot.

But super hot.

Like she's really, really hot.

And I'm like, okay.

So she was like, don't come in like looking hot.

Don't come in with a bunch of makeup.

Overdone.

Yeah.

We want real people.

And then she said, we're going to have you improvise during the audition.

And my advice is dare to bore me.

And I was like, okay, great.

So I went in and I read the scene.

And then Greg Daniels said, okay, we're going to improvise.

I'm going to just ask you some questions as if I'm a documentary filmmaker.

And I had that note in my head.

And he said,

do you like being a receptionist here?

And I just paused and I said nothing.

And then I said,

no.

And that's all I said.

That's funny.

Because I thought it would be funnier to watch me think of all the things I wasn't going to say than to say any of them.

And then also, though, she's like a deeply honest person.

So she can't lie and say she does like it, but she's also not going to say any more.

Wow.

And I think that's what got me the job.

Greg told me that's what got me the job.

That is so cool.

Dare to bore me.

That was dare to bore me.

It was so scary.

It's so scary.

Because you want to just go for the fence.

I know.

It is so hard to just have restraint.

That's like for me, the hardest thing about acting is just holding inside.

You really are working with people that are all doing it, and it's so fucking funny.

It's amazing.

It's just an amazing, amazing thing to have been a part of.

It just, I still can't believe it.

And just what it means to people, too.

Like, that's so cool.

I know that the office has gotten people through hard times in their lives.

And,

you know, once in

long ago,

I fell down a set of stairs in New York at Boudicon.

It was during like an NBC event.

I was there with Fred Armison, actually.

And

I fell down this set of stairs and I broke my back in four places.

Oh, geez.

And

while I was recovering, I

watched the Larry Sanders show.

And it was like, better than any pain medicine.

So like the fact that I can, like, I can be part of something that is that for other people.

Like I know what it means to have a thing that like gets you through something.

It's really cool.

Wow, that's full circle because I believe that Ricky Gervais felt like he was influenced by the Larry Sanders show.

And then he does the British office and then you go to the American office and then you break your back and then you're watching Larry Sanders.

I don't know where this keeps going, but it's there's something kind of cool about that.

That was a show.

That's a nice magic.

We were both on it.

Were you on it, David?

We were on.

Also, we all worked with Greg Daniels,

who is a shout out to him, who's a great writer.

That obviously SNL.

I remember when Greg Daniels and Conan O'Brien walked into the offices.

And SNL, fresh out of Harvard, looked like they were sophomores in high school, little haircuts, kind of nervous, looking around.

Yeah, great.

And they were roommates.

Yeah.

I know.

It's amazing, really.

And

in those SNL years, you liked it's like we were propped up by guys like that, and and Bob Odenkirk and Smeigel and Downey and Frank, yeah, just so many good writers.

It's kind of nice when, and I'm sure you just do this, you're not trying to get kudos about it, but if someone says to you later, because not everyone is really friendly when you walk into an environment like that, and they'd say, Oh, you were so nice to us.

I go, Really?

I was.

I think I was just like, How are you guys doing?

or something.

But some people are like, More competition.

We don't need you.

You know, it's a little, it can be a little cold at SNL.

No one's really telling you where you should stand or what you should even do.

That's what we learned.

A lot of people are like, they didn't even know, no one told them anything, you know, about the show, and they just had to figure it out for themselves.

But anyway, well, it's an interesting environment.

I got to

be on the show as part of Steve Currell's monologue once.

And

I was, I mean, again, like I told you, I'm a Saturday Night Live groupie nerd.

And so this was, I don't even remember what I had going on.

I got like 24 hours notice.

Do you want to come fly in?

And I was like, yes.

I came in on a red eye.

I was like, anything.

And to be in the bowels, to like get to be there for the rehearsal.

And then how like, oh my God, it really does change from the rehearsal.

That was nuts.

And just, it was so scary.

And my line changed.

and then the cue card changed.

And then how we went, all went into Lauren's office.

And you're like sitting on the floor, like waiting to hear like what things made it and what didn't.

And I couldn't believe I was invited.

I was like, I'm just the, I just have like one sentence in the opening monologue, but I was like privy to all of the inner workings.

It was so awesome.

It is.

And then that night at the after party,

I

held Lauren Michael's focus for 30 solid minutes.

Whoa.

And I still to this day, it is one of my

best

small talk moments ever

because I'd met him many times.

I had come and I saw when Christina Applegate hosted and when John Hamm hosted, I came as our guest and I would sit and I would run into him and shake his hand and all this sort of stuff.

And

but for whatever reason, at this particular after party, I

got in in a whole chat with him about how I like to prep for the apocalypse.

And he was very interested in this topic.

And we spoke for like a solid 25 minutes.

And I wanted to keep talking to him.

I wanted to keep going, but I knew that I had to say goodbye.

And I did it.

I left at the right time.

And I'm so proud of myself.

That's it.

And now I never want to speak to him again.

I will never speak to him again.

I will not ruin it.

Six years there, I didn't get 30 total.

It was pretty.

I'm telling you, I'll never, I never, ever want to run into him again.

That was a good subject matter for him.

Something that he would be like, just doesn't talk about every day.

You first have to make sure that you procure a fair amount of slim gems in the event of an apocalypse.

I put Triscus.

I mean, did he respond at all?

I mean, you really talked about your preparation for the apocalypse for 30 minutes straight.

For a good amount of time, but then we also talked about the movie The Edge, which is my favorite movie.

And, you know, it's a survivalist movie.

I love movies where people have to survive things.

I've seen it at least five times.

And that's a movie.

We told Alec Baldwin that, that friends come over, relatives, oh, let's watch a movie.

And once in a while, I go, have you seen The Edge?

They go, no.

I go, it's just kind of a surefire, great.

entertaining film.

No one can not lie.

Dano, what one man can do, another can do.

That's from the movie.

What one man can do, another can do.

I'm telling you, that's gotten me through like big life moments.

I love this movie.

And so we talked about the edge, which ended up leading into survivalist stuff

into prepping.

And he, he was really interested in my currency plans.

Like, what were my plans for currency during the apocalypse?

Did I have gold bars?

Like, and you know what?

To be honest, I hadn't thought of it.

I hadn't gotten as far as currency.

It's funny.

When I was there in the fall doing Biden, just behind his decks, I saw this whole duffel bag, you know, it's really big, you know.

And then when he lets it go, he goes to the bathroom, it was just all the survival stuff in there.

He goes by and he pushes a wall and it spins around and disappears down the slide.

I want to be ready.

He was influenced by

my prep.

That Tony Hopkins had that line, right?

What one man can do, another man can do.

Is that Tony Hopkins?

Yes, correct.

And Al

Baldwin was Al Baldwin.

Baldwin was great in that.

So was Tony.

Oh, my God.

People change names.

Jen Jen was great on our Jen Fisher.

Does anyone call you Jen?

No, no one's ever called me Jen.

Well, get ready for it because we have a lot of followers.

By the way, people may not know, but we're on the same network.

It's almost like television now.

So that's kind of cool.

This is jury duty for Jen.

And I, just for people who are watching this or might want to see it.

So are you in a studio somewhere?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm at your New York

um studios yeah i'm here in new york uh this week and uh so i came into the new york studio and are you and angela usually in different places when you do the podcast and sometimes together or always no we're usually together um odyssey our company that we both work for um has a studio in hollywood and we usually record there in person together and you guys are all set up at home like you guys have cool setups but we sometimes go in person we've been going in person i i kind of feel like like in person

or something.

It changes a lot.

When I was doing SNO, I was just in a hotel room doing it.

That's one of the advantages of this is that you can do it remotely.

But David has a little studio.

I just have this stupid mansion.

But Jenna, thank you for joining us.

Tell Angela hello, and we appreciate your time.

Oh, guys, I don't want it to end.

I love you.

I love you both.

I love your podcast.

Thank you.

This is so cool.

This was a highlight for me.

Oh, wow.

Everybody.

Well, that's really nice.

I just enjoyed talking to you.

I just find

you're always sweet and fun and just like you would think.

Podcasters, actresses, and all kinds of things you do.

But if you do this, well, I think you do get a little more

adept at doing it, you know.

conversing and letting it go where it needs to go and asking questions.

So usually we have a podcaster on, it's an easy show, you know.

Yeah, right, because you know what you're hoping to get when you're doing it yourself.

Yeah, and it doesn't have to be electric every moment.

You don't have to push it.

It just is what it is, you know.

So, if we seem rusty, it's because we've only done 2,000 of these.

Okay.

Ashlyn Avenue.

Ashland Avenue is the play, and she's doing it in Chicago.

In Chicago.

Tickets on sale June 27th.

And it starts, when, in August, you said that?

I think September 15th.

Okay.

Yeah.

September 15th.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Bye, sweetheart.

Very good.

Don't hang up.

This has been a presentation of Odyssey.

Please follow, subscribe, leave a like, a review, all the stuff.

Smash that button, whatever it is, wherever you get your podcasts.

Fly on the Wall is executive and produced by Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jenna Weiss-Berman of Odyssey, and Heather Santoro.

The show's lead producer is Greg Holtzman.