Rachel Dratch

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Hi, everyone.

Welcome to another episode of Good Hang.

I am so excited about this episode.

It is the great Rachel Dratch, my friend for almost 30 years and America's favorite.

And we are going to talk about so much good stuff.

We're going to talk about growing up in Massachusetts.

We're going to talk about our love for the musical Annie.

And we're going to go behind the music and do a deep dive into the

famous clip that kicked this podcast off and that has kept us laughing ever since.

So get ready for a great interview.

And before we start, we always like to talk to someone who knows our guest, is a fan of our guest, has a question that they want to give me.

And I'm very excited to

talk to Kevin Cahoon today.

Kevin is a dear friend of Rachel.

He is an incredible actor,

musical theater pro.

Tony nominated for the great musical Shakt, and you can catch him in a million other things.

And Kevin is zooming in to get things started.

Kevin, hi.

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I feel so lucky.

The luckiest.

I get to see you on this Tube thing.

I know.

I wish we were having margaritas with Dratch.

Hey, listen.

Wouldn't that be great?

That's a good hang right there.

That is.

For listeners,

I've had a few margaritas with Kevin and Dratch over the years, pre-show, post-show, because both of you were on Broadway.

Well, listen, anytime I can hang out with you.

How are you?

I'm so great.

How are you?

Where are we talking to you from?

I am in Texas at my mom's place, rural Texas, outside of Houston.

It's a sunny day.

We've had four days of torrential rain.

And I'm dealing with these wild hogs.

I know this is crazy, but they're wild feral hogs that show up in the middle of the night and they tear up your property.

They travel in packs of 30 and I've set up alarms all around.

And I think they're working.

But last night we had a few come and the alarms went off in the middle of the night, which there's nothing more terrifying.

And I'm good with animals and I grew up with a lot of animals and I'm fine with animals.

Not these animals.

Not a fan.

Almost.

It's worth a Google if anyone wants to Google Texas wild feral hogs.

Well, I mean,

the thing that I was so excited to talk to you about today is that

you,

like many of us, deeply love our guest, Rachel Ratch.

Beyond.

Tell me how you two first met.

We met doing a musical called Minsky's in LA, written by Charles Strauss and Susan Birkenhead and Bob Martin.

It was coming to Broadway, a star-studded cast, and it closed in LA, which is, you know, the great showbiz tale.

But what you take away from experiences like that are the people, and you usually have one or two from each show.

And I fell in love with Rach immediately.

What's not to fall in love with?

And

she had told me she had gone to a psychic that I think you had bought her this psychic reading for her birthday.

That's right.

I should talk to her about that because if she's open to it, because her and I both went to the same psychic at the same time when we were both pregnant.

Yes, that's right.

And she had gone to, we had before the show, we would go, I would go to her dressing room and we would have a day catch up.

What'd you do today?

Who'd you see?

Where'd you lunch?

And she had said, I went to this psychic and the psychic told me that our show was going to close out of town.

And we were like, they're crazy.

That'll never happen.

We're moving into the St.

James Theater.

Well, the psychic was right.

But anyway, that was probably 15, 16, 17 years ago.

And it has just been the most nourishing, fulfilling, steadfast.

friendship that I could have ever, ever imagined.

And then I've gotten to have new friends like you that I have met through Rach.

And you know that they're a good friend when you meet their friends and those friends become your friends as well.

So it,

it's just been the most rewarding friendship I could have ever imagined.

I hear you.

I feel the same.

I feel like there's a few friends that, and it's proven to be true now that Rachel and I have been friends for almost 30 years.

There's a few people that you know

in

success.

and in quote failure in good times and in bad times they're going to weather that storm with you and that's not always the case with everyone.

Sometimes people are better when things are going badly, right?

They're like, they like that.

And sometimes people want to hear when you're succeeding.

That's what they, when they want to be along for the ride.

But Rachel Drach definitely is there for both if you're lucky enough to have her as your friend.

That is so true.

And she's a wonderful gift giver.

She never forgets an occasion where she's going to bring you a little something.

You know, I did a Broadway show that ran nine months and she was there opening night.

She was there closing night.

She was there in between.

She came again.

She brought friends.

It's just, she is a cheerleader for those that she loves.

She is a champion.

She'll go to bat.

She just, life is a little brighter when Rach is around.

Cahoon, let's talk about Shucked, which is the show you're talking about.

That's true.

Yes.

I loved you in it and loved that show so much.

You were so dear to come.

So

it meant the world to me.

And let me tell you what, Amy Poehler, you're one of those friends because not only did you come to Schuck, I did a production of La Casha Fall in the fall.

You came to La Casha.

You are there.

I mean, you're,

you know, you birds of a feather fly together.

You guys are just exemplary friends.

Oh, friend.

Thank you for saying that.

That means a lot.

And I love, I mean, it's not hard work to go to a really fun show and watch you.

Before we get to your question, I do want to, I'm going to talk to Dratch a little bit about her, her Tony Nom and her show POTUS and how, I mean, because I know from being her friend, how

positive an experience that was for her.

Like great women that she became really good friends with, a Tony Nom, a hilarious part.

Do you remember that time and what she said about that experience when she was working on that show?

Well, here's the incredible thing, and it's so rare.

She got a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut.

Damn.

Ever happens.

That is like remarkable.

And I've seen Rachel on stage so many times at the public, Shakespeare in the Park, Manhattan Theater Club.

She is always the standout.

And when you do a Broadway show, whether you want to admit it or not, there's always a part of you that thinks, maybe,

just maybe that childhood dream would come true.

That show that I watch once a year in June, maybe I could be a part of that show.

And then when it happens, it is just, it's the most,

it's the biggest embrace you could ever imagine from a community that you've always wanted to be a part of.

And, you know, a lot of people probably,

know Rachel from television and from film, but her theater career is just as sparkling and just as dynamic and diverse as her impact on TV and film.

Yeah, she's played so many different types of characters.

It's actually a good question.

She's played like men and dogs and people and like mothers and robots and whatever.

She can do it all.

She can do everything.

That's why you hire Rachel Dratch, you know?

It's so true.

It's so true.

We should all be as versatile as Rachel Dratch, you know?

Okay, so Kev, what do you think?

I mean, I could talk to Dratch and Will probably today forever about so many things, the past, the present, the future.

Anything you think I should ask her today?

Yes, it was hard to pick one question.

I have two that I think are

sparkly.

One is about the theater, because I feel like a lot of people don't realize that Rachel Dratch was a theater kid.

and she went to theater camp and her dream and ambition was to be in plays and in musicals And then her career took a brilliant detour.

I would ask her, little Rachel Drash going to theater camp, what were her three beacons of light in the American theater?

A musical, a performer?

Who was it that filled her with, I want to do that?

That's what I want to be when I grow up.

Such a good question.

That was the one question.

And then this is something that inspires me about Rachel.

She brought us all Debbie Downer, one of the most iconic American comedic characters.

When Rachel Dretch is thinking about feline AIDS and North Korean train accidents and insurrection,

what is that catalyst that gets her out of her doom and gloom and brings her back to reality?

That would be another question.

Debbie would want me to point out that it is good that you brought up feline AIDS because it is the number one killer of domestic cats.

Well, that's true.

Listen, we've talked about feral hogs and feline AIDS.

What's next, baby?

Texas, baby.

These are such good questions, Kevin.

And she, I don't think she knows that I'm talking to you today.

I did not tell her.

Okay, good.

I didn't tell her either.

We just had a little, we had a little kiki yesterday and I was zipped lipped.

So oh man, I'm so happy because she's going to be so happy.

These are really good questions.

And

I think nobody loves a good question more than Drash.

Like if you ask Drash a good question, she's like, that's such a good question.

She will say that.

I guarantee you.

And I had told Blake Lee, who was on, who's a dear mutual friend of ours.

She was on for Dakota.

I told him not five days ago, Amy, I was like, you were so incredible on Amy's podcast.

It's so fabulous that you were on there.

It is so chic.

What a cool thing.

I'm so proud of you.

And then my phone dinged and it was you and

it just, I can't thank you enough.

Are you kidding me?

Thank you for taking a break from fighting the hogs.

And

if, you know, if you are eventually eaten by them, just know that our time together was so special to me.

It was.

And I cherish every single minute.

All right.

I can't wait to see you in New York, friend.

I love you so much.

Love you.

Thanks so much for doing this.

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Rachel Dratch is here.

Are we starting?

Is it official?

Yeah, and we need to talk about

it.

What do you got?

Let's get started here.

I'll get started.

You've seen it.

You've seen them before.

This is my new trademark, everybody.

Smithsonian.

You are going to look at the Smithsonian.

Academy of TV is a good one.

This is my.

By the way, I didn't tangle this.

This is how it came out.

Where I was storing it.

This is the.

These are the ones.

This is in their natural state.

World famous.

Rachel Drash headphones.

It was a shot fire and her around the world.

These headphones is where it all began.

The chaos

beginning.

Oh, wait.

Now.

Now that I'm with Amy,

everything's all right.

Okay, we don't even use these, but I have to bring the

Drash is a historical item.

Okay.

Of course, Drash brings a prop.

Brings the prop from home.

For people that didn't see our first episode of Good Hang, Drash was in the group that was talking about our guest, Tina Faye, and boy, did we have a

God.

That was like probably my biggest laugh of the year.

I just watched it again on the way over here, and we're going to get into it today.

Of course, we are.

People need to hear the behind the music.

Where were you when you were you when you saw the clip?

I mean, I owe you money for that clip.

I owe you money for that clip.

But it really was like, it started off the entire vibe of this show.

Like, I'm so grateful for it because it started off exactly what I was hoping, which is, I was hoping that this would be like fun and easy and a laugh.

And that was the deepest laugh.

It was such a good laugh.

Like, I mean, imagine like your best laugh ever.

And then it's, and then it's, like, recorded for you to watch again.

Like, that, that never happens because you can't plan that.

No, no.

And also having Fred and Seth and Zarna there.

And there's really no better,

I would say, like, partner than Seth when Dratch is Dratching because he's so good at keeping like

things moving in a way or something like that.

He was making me laugh so much.

So often.

He's like, Dratch, we're probably going to cut all this out.

And then when I was like, I'm holding everything up.

And he's like, no, this is how she wanted to start.

Like,

he was the perfect foil.

A comedy foil.

Also, the thing that gets me, which is such a like improv and such a good example of what a good listener you are, is that at the very end, you clap, which is what we asked you to do 15 minutes before to get started.

God, that clap.

End it with the beginning, people.

Let's just

comedy 101.

Okay.

Second copies of this podcast is Drash is swirling her ice drink.

Okay.

But it is like that.

I have to say it when I was thinking about what to talk about today.

I was like, we have had

deep laughs.

We have.

It's like the hot, and you love, you love to laugh.

And the way Drash has many kinds of laughs.

And you have, like, I know people have done your laugh to you.

Oh, yeah.

Also, when you go into like a level two laugh when you're going down deep, you go,

like you get very old school.

Oh my gosh, you.

Wait, I just need to say, though, that when that was happening, that I didn't know that was going to be used for on-camera,

which I didn't tell you.

You did not tell me.

I looked back at the texts.

I'm very sorry.

No, no, I don't mean that.

I mean, it was the best thing ever.

But I just mean for people wondering, like, why'd you order food, right?

When I was there was a podcast.

Like,

we could argue still with audio.

Why did you bark?

Well, because I thought it was like a half hour of time.

True.

And then it came very quickly.

And then my dog barked.

And then

my dog's name is Ruffles.

And Ruffles started barking.

Anyway, sorry.

Go ahead.

Do you remember?

I think we talked about it.

There was a hilarious, whoever is the TikToker who did this.

Somebody posted, there were many clips of it, and then someone went and looked at your chart.

Yes, my, my horoscope, whatever, zodiac.

Well, so I'm, what's a Pisces?

I didn't know this word.

Stellium means all your things are in the same sign, like every single thing.

But I guess there's one little thing.

But this woman, she did my chart on TikTok, and she was laughing really hard.

She's like, how is this woman surviving with everything in Pisces?

She's like, she is, she's somehow she's making it work.

But then I guess there's like one thing in Capricorn.

She goes, this Capricorn is holding the whole rest of it all together.

It's doing the work of you know 10,000 men or something.

And that kind of Pisces final boss.

Yes.

And I have wondered if I other people were talking about ADHD, I guess.

Yeah, and I have wondered if I have that as an adult.

I don't know.

I don't know.

But that, if you look at that clip, you're going to be like, yep.

I feel like it's like, I mean, we talk about it like in you know, the Pisces being a shorthand for

like, you know, it's in its best chaos.

I'm saying.

That's what I'm saying.

But we're opposite.

We are

science.

Amy's Virgo.

By the way, I don't know much about science, but I just know about the either.

I don't know.

I do like astrology.

I think it's cool.

We like astrology.

We like Enneagram.

We like anything that is about personality stuff.

But what's fun about talking about Pisces and Virgo is Pisces are kind of the fish that are floating through life, and Virgo is the virgin setting the rules.

I don't know.

And, but I find find like we do do.

I mean, I, I, I feel like you do definitely have a dream-like approach and an adventurous approach to life.

I would say that, yes.

Yes.

I think you are like a curious traveler

and, and you definitely don't.

She's shy.

I get shy.

She got shy.

Did you see what happened?

Curious traveler.

I'm trying to be myself.

I can't.

See, Drash, just, it was like a cloud, a shy cloud came over.

But you are kind of shy.

I am shy, yes.

It goes without saying, we've been friends for 30 years.

We are often mistaken for being the same person.

Or like just the other day, someone, we were in a public bathroom and someone's like, I saw your sister in the bathroom.

Like, they think we're sisters.

But you and I

do definitely have like, if life was like a rom-com, like we would be like growing up next to each other.

Yes.

So Walking by each other in the mall, probably.

So talk to people who don't know.

Like Early Dratch, where did she grow up?

What was her life?

Early Dratch grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, next town over from Amy, but we didn't know each other.

Although, well, we did work in the same ice cream store, which we always have to say, called Chadwick's.

And if you don't know that, you're not even living under a rock.

But anyway, but yeah, grew up in Lexington.

And I don't know, I was shy when I was little, but I was always, I mean, I watched SNL when I was in third grade at someone else's house at a sleepover, like their older brother was watching it.

And I was immediately like, what is this?

But I definitely was, I mean, I don't know about you either.

I don't, I wasn't like, I'm going to be an actor when I grow at all.

No, I don't know.

It was just for fun.

I always knew that was a job, really.

It was sort of like maybe a little dream at the back, like, oh, when I saw Annie.

You know, the musical, I'm like, how are they up there?

Where did I get one of those buckets?

You know, like, Annie, Annie is, there should be a documentary about women our age and how we were affected by Andy.

Yeah.

So,

but yeah, and then I did school plays, but I definitely was not like the queen of the drama club, you know.

I just did it for fun.

You did get a superlative, though, and it was.

I did.

I got class clown.

Did you get class clown?

Or did you guys do those?

We did class clown, but I didn't get it.

I didn't get it.

What?

I'd like to know who did.

I was a second runner-up for most casual.

Beautiful.

When's I most casual?

It's like, what did that even mean?

I don't know if it's in manner or dress, but didn't even get casual.

Second runner up.

Just a purloh.

Kind of casual.

Class.

Class con.

But

then, let's see.

I don't know.

I then,

oh, and then also, well, my dad was very funny, as you know.

Yep.

Paul Dratch.

Paul Dratch.

And

so we just kind of had like, you know, he would do like kind of, oh, this is funny.

I, I ran into someone whose dad had gone to high school with my dad back when I was in high school, you know, at the house.

Yeah.

And then she said, oh, my dad said your dad used to always do impressions of the teachers when they left the room and have everyone laughing because he was doing yeah so like i i just sort of had that it was in my blood no but i mean it was sort of like yeah in the atmosphere and then you did school plays i mean getting class clown you got to be funny in real I guess like in junior high I started to kind of like pipe up one-liners from the back of the room kind of thing but um much to the chagrin of teachers I'm sure but um but then when I got to college then there was an improv group there.

And then I was cut.

Like, I didn't even know what improv was back then.

Now it's like.

So, you're in high school in Lexington, Massachusetts, which a shot heard around the world that we just mentioned.

Like the birthplace of democracy.

Right next to it was Burlington, Massachusetts, where I was from.

And let's be honest, they were not different at all.

There was maybe, right?

Oh, my God.

Look at Jack.

She dressed black.

Last time she said it.

Well, I was going to say, I exaggerated for effects.

Okay, okay.

I exaggerated for a fall.

Okay, okay.

We shared a mall.

We shared a mall.

I often hung out at the Burlington Mall.

Yes.

We probably passed each other.

We did.

I think we did.

The Brighams or something.

Like, we definitely, I felt like we had very parallel lives, like short, blue-eyed Massachusetts girls who

were good students, but wanted to be funny.

And

the Lexington, I always used to joke that Lexington is like for Parks and Recs fan, like Parks and Rec fans, Lexington was the Eagleton and Burlington was the Pondy is how it felt.

Like we thought Lexington was where the rich people were.

And we're all at Burlington.

Burlington, oh, I didn't think about it.

No, I'm just kidding.

I'm like, how do I, how do I get Amy to see?

No, first of all, I worked at Caldor's, which is in, across the Burlington line, I crossed town lines to work at Caldors with the Burlington Bad Girls.

And our teens played each other.

Our teens played each other on Thanksgiving Day.

And so since then, we always call, well, now they don't anymore, but we used to call each other up on Thanksgiving.

Yeah, we used to.

Truck at Burlington.

Yeah.

We used to try to trash talk each other

on Thanksgiving.

And then you go to Dotmouth.

I went to Dotmouth.

Ivy League, Rachel.

Yeah.

And very, very like.

What was your experience there?

Like, did you like it?

Well, great question.

It was, but I went back in the 80s and it was very conservative back then,

which I didn't even really know what that meant.

But it was just like, it took me a while to find my people there.

Like, you know, I had friends at the beginning and everything, but then the general ethos of it, I didn't feel like I really matched with.

Right.

And then I saw the improv group, like some friend of mine from like acting class or whatever is like, come check this out.

And as soon as I saw it, I was like, not like this, but I was kind of like, oh, I feel like I could do this.

This is exactly, but this is, we have very similar stories because same thing.

I went to Boston College.

I was trying to figure out how I fit in.

Big,

I didn't know that part.

Big sports school, like, and lots of

private schools.

Cool people, which, as much as we joke about Alexander, like, we didn't have like that prep school vibe of like, no, we were

kind of what kids.

Yeah, that was a big vibe.

I can remember going into people's dorm rooms and being like, how do you know how to get your dorm rooms so ready so fast?

And they're like, I was living in Deerfield.

I spent three years at Deerfield, and that's how.

But I didn't know that you felt that way, too.

Yeah.

And so I saw an improv group my freshman year.

My mother's fleabag.

Yes, and yours was.

Said and done.

This was nothing like those improv names.

Improv group names, yeah.

Our friend Brian Stack, who is a performer at Second City, used to like love to talk about good and bad improv names and like how they would either be really goofy, like pun filled, or they would be very like serious and pretentious.

Oh, I haven't heard this listener.

Like, there was one, and if, if anyone's listening, and I, as part of the group, I, I enjoy your work and I respect your work.

But, um, one of them, he said, was called Society's Mirror.

No,

is that real?

Good question.

I don't know.

I'm, and there's no way to check.

Like, I could look at it on my laptop, but

I think it's out of batteries.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

So, you, did you do, were you in said and done?

So then, yeah, so then I got into said and done.

And then I was like, oh, like, these are the fun people, you know?

But you were a theater kid.

Well, I mean,

I don't know.

I just did, like, you did plays, right?

Did you do plays?

Did you go to theater camp?

I did go to theater, summer theater camp, yes.

But not like one of those, like, I'm not saying this to be like, it wasn't like those ones, like the real ones.

It wasn't like professional, like, you know, kids that were real.

It was just like suburban Boston, like, you know, whatever.

But, um, but yeah, then I,

that's where I met our pal Alec.

But, um, yes.

But yeah, I wasn't like, like, the star of anything.

Like, I wasn't, like, rolling in and then, like, the lead and everything.

I started out like everything.

I started out, like, the chorus.

And then you move up a little bit the next year.

Yeah, that kind of thing.

Yeah.

And, and I think, like, me and you, like, we didn't really know anyone that were actors or writers going us.

I just never thought that would be a job.

Right, right, right.

Did you have like an idea as a kid what your job would be?

I mean, like every kid in third grade, I wanted to be a marine biologist.

Like, like, like us all, right?

But no,

I mean, I don't want anyone wants to be a marine biologist.

What do we think we're going to do?

I think we're going to like play with dolphins and save the nature.

I mean, I actually legitimately was like very in and still am like.

nature like a career for in saving nature was like something I actually when I was little like then when I got then as you know I wanted to be a therapist

But I also, like, every time I'd see a movie, I was like, oh, like, I was just really intrigued, but I had no idea how you ever did that.

And I also, to be really like, not self-definite, it wasn't like I had felt like I had special skill in acting or anything.

But I loved like

cracking jokes and doing,

but yet you don't think you're so funny.

Like, because it's like, not like, well, I'm an actor.

Like, not like that, but just like, I like comedy and I like watching it.

And, and like, I had a group of funny friends, too.

So we would always like, you know, I mean, legit funny friends.

So that was also sort of like practice.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

Okay.

So you get to Dartmouth, you graduate.

And what was your degree in?

It was drama.

And then I minored in psychology.

Right.

And then, oh, so my improv group,

sophomore summer, we're on campus and we took this little like trip because one of the guys from the group was from Chicago.

So we went out to Chicago for a week just to like check out Second City, Improv Olympic, and just like, you know, go to all the little sites there.

And then I was like, okay, maybe maybe when I graduate, I'll come back here and like try this, you know?

And I sort of just wanted to try it more to know that I'd given it a shot.

I don't know how you were about this, but I was kind of, all you hear is like, it's so hard, you're never gonna make it.

Like, that's all you hear when you, so then I was like buying into that.

And then I was like, okay, I'm just gonna go out and try Chicago.

And then I won't make it, and then I'll come back and be a therapist in suburban Boston.

And, but then, like, very, okay, and then, like, I mean, I don't know how much you did go to, but right when I got there, I did not get into classes at Second City.

Like, I heard, like, everyone auditions gets into classes.

And then I didn't get into classes.

And then I was like, oh, like, what did I do?

You know, but then I just stuck it out.

And then I took class like later.

Like, everything I did, I kind of didn't get the first time around, sort of.

Oh, interesting.

Interesting.

Like,

like that.

And then, like, touring company, I auditioned and didn't get in.

And then, like,

well, SNL, I auditioned two times.

Like, just, but then you kind of get used to that, I guess.

I don't know.

But, um, but anyway, yeah, so then I eventually got into the classes and then did like little theater things there and eventually got into the touring company.

So you get to Chicago and do you remember when we first met?

I do.

Well, in my memory, we were in the lobby of Second City and you had just moved there and you were in the touring company, I guess.

I don't know if you were in it yet or just coming around to check it out or something.

But anyway, I remember meeting you and I remember you being really friendly and like, I would just say like sunshiny.

Like it's not, you don't always remember meeting someone for the first time, but I do remember, at least in my mind, this was the first time.

And I just remember you were like very, like, like you are.

You were very friendly and smiley and, you know,

cute little blondie.

And I remember meeting you, but different times.

I saw you.

So I arrived and you were kind of the junior to my freshman in Chicago, I would say.

And I saw you on stage.

You were in Lois Caz,

an improv show, very like kind of famous improv show named after a woman.

A woman that worked in the office or something.

I don't know.

Yeah.

Sketch and improv and comedy, it's just like music, right?

Like it's like, oh, go check out this cool band.

Like, oh, these two people are singing together.

You know, you just were like watching groups and trying to figure out what was good.

What did you like?

And Lois, the show that you were in

was just like, oh, these are the cool, good improvisers.

Go see them.

And I remember, so the first time I saw you before we met,

I saw you on stage.

And I just remember, you know,

I think like when you see someone on stage for the first time, it's very, it's a very interesting dynamic.

Like you're just like forever looking up to them, like it feels like.

And I just was like, oh, she's so funny.

Like just loved being,

like watching you perform.

Like just, and, um,

and, you know, subsequently, like, we got to know each other in Chicago and I was your understudy for

touring company

for sure.

Yeah.

So what is touring company for people who don't know?

Well, it's like your first step to getting into Second City.

And you're not out on the road like for big, long times.

You're just like, you're going to Indiana for the weekend, like that kind of thing.

Yeah.

And it's just sort of like cutting your teeth.

And I mean, you get paid of minimal sums.

You're like, it's your first, like, I'm a working actor, you know?

Yeah.

And it's sort of your first step to moving up the little ladder there.

Yeah.

So we didn't get to tour together because I was only filling in when you were.

And then Amy struck out and moved to New York and started UCB, which I told you before that I was always just like, what are you guys doing?

Like, I didn't know you guys that well, but I was just like, what are they doing?

Like, they're on track to, you know, you were already very successful in Chicago or like

successful, like

known to be good improvisers, whatever.

But then like you definitely would have moved up the ranks at Second City, but you guys had this like pioneer spirit.

of moving here and starting this kind of like if if we're if the dratch and polar rom-com is happening this is where the left we kind of separate for a little bit to go find our own right because i moved to new york you're on main stage in a very famous show at second city and then you meet tina when oh so then tina joined then the next show then they changed it to three men three women which was like revolutionary

like what i know but um three women together

i know but then tina came in for the next show my second show on main stage called citizen gates and uh she was of course hilarious from the get-go and then we did two shows together and then and then I started to get more comfortable up there and like being better at creating characters and all that and then Tina went off to write for SNL after the second her second show and then I stayed there how many more years did you stay I was um well I was four years on the main stage

and uh and it was such a fun job I mean it might have been like my favorite job ever yeah like to take us back to what it was like a day when you were on the main stage oh my gosh gosh, what was that day like?

Well, I mean, I remember like you'd sleep really late, much later than I do now.

But I just, well, but then you're writing the show.

If you're rehearsing, you're writing the show by day, so you're in rehearsal all day.

So, and that, but you never wrote like how we did at SNL where you were like at a typewriter.

What a typewriter.

Okay.

Word processor.

When you were at a.

I think I got a good one here.

When you had a paper.

Give him all paper.

I'm on a paper, Schultzy.

Ah, ding.

Okay.

computer is what they're called now.

But no, like, you, it's not like SNL when you're like, oh, let's think of something.

We're in an office.

It was all on its feet and, like, just someone had an idea.

Yeah.

And you just, and then you'd try it out in front of the audience.

Or the audience would give a suggestion.

And then a scene would really hit from an audience suggestion.

Let's try that again, but let's change this.

So that's how we wrote the thing.

And then eventually like the show would be done and it'd be set.

And then you just do the show night after night.

But the show is like sketch like for those that don't know, like SNL.

And then afterwards you'd improvise every night pretty much.

And that's how you get really good at improvising by just night after night after night.

Because if I had improvised right now, I'd be like,

I'd wait, linger in the back line.

If you keep doing it like well-oiled machine.

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So talk to us about your honor.

You get to SNL what year?

99.

Right.

Yeah, fall of 99.

And I was the only new person that year.

Well, the only new actor.

Ali was a new writer.

But yeah, so you just get like who's on the cast when you get to the next one.

But when you just said SNL, I just got a little tense.

You know, this show comes out on Tuesdays.

And to me, I just realized, I was like, oh, this is like

a new way to

change Tuesdays for me because Tuesdays used to be writing night at SNL, where it was like the dread of Tuesdays.

Like, oh no, this is the night where I have to try to get on the show because you audition basically every week and I haven't written anything yet.

And I'm, I'm so tired.

And I'm going to let the host down.

I'm going to let every myself down.

Now that there's like this show comes on Tuesdays, I don't know.

There's just something like, but yes,

I think people are aware of the dread, but what just came up for you?

Which particular type of dread?

I don't know.

I just thought of like walking in there

and like picturing the hallway.

And I think I thought you were going to like go to the audition, but no, then I'm like right in that hallway.

I'm in the hallway, Amy.

I'm in the hallway.

Stay in the hallway.

Stay in the hallway.

Stay there.

Rachel, I can see you.

Feel your feet on the ground.

Here comes Lauren down the hallway.

Okay.

So you're there, Bye.

That's hard being the only new cast.

That was hard.

I cannot tell a lie.

That was hard because that place is like, well, I think, you know, some people, like when Will Farrell came in, I think is the year that like a whole bunch of new people, they were like the freshman class.

And then you're all like in it together.

But when you come in new, like no one's like, you know, here's how this works in here.

And it's just, you're kind of just like, hey guys, what's, you know, wandering the halls kind of.

It definitely.

I mean, it feels like the high school version of like your tray in the lunchroom.

Like, where do i sit yeah for sure

um i mean tina was there so that was good because she knew how already you know she knew the system obviously but like i had someone to write with yeah because some people come in there and they're great but if they don't know how to write like also the writing for snl is very different from writing for second city yeah like a scene that killed a second city you couldn't get it on snl because it's just a different like and at the time you're like but this is awesome and why don't you but now like with more wisdom, I'm like, well,

why wouldn't it work?

Just because like a scene in the theater like could take longer to get going.

You didn't need to have like, laugh, laugh, laugh.

Like, it's like people in the theater are just like into seeing this character kind of do their thing.

But at SNL, it had to be like, you need laughs like off the bat.

You need to know what this is right away.

And

I don't know, just one thing though.

Do you remember the first scene on SNL that like you got were getting laughs and you thought like, it's working.

Like that felt like no.

Gosh.

I don't remember the first, because I remember the first few times I got on, like, I wasn't even, I like left my body.

So I don't remember, like, this is going really well.

I was just like, I'm on, like, that kind of thing.

Yeah.

Well, the first, very first show I wasn't in, like, the, you know, season premiere, whatever.

Right.

And like, you've told all your friends, like, I'm on.

And like, everyone's watching it.

Your scene gets cut, like, it does.

And then the next week, the same thing happened.

The scene got cut.

So it was like the third week.

Who was the host?

Do you remember?

The one that I got on was,

I should know this.

Oh, my God.

Well, I know the first one was Jerry Seinfeld.

Then it was Norm McDonald.

And then it was

does not compute.

Oh, my God.

I don't know.

No, it's funny.

The brain remembers trauma.

So you remember the two shows that you were on?

Dana Carvey?

I don't have to go.

They're going to do those three guys in a row.

What year was it, Dratch?

It was 1999, third episode.

Okay, this will be a fun game.

Dana Carvey.

Okay, and I'm going to have you guess the musical guest because that's always fun too.

Oh, my God.

See?

1999.

I don't remember anything.

No.

1999, SNL

hosts.

And don't worry, we're going to keep all of you.

But let me tell you one cool thing, though.

Let me tell you.

I just heard that.

Wait, let me tell you one cool thing, though.

Please.

Please.

The very first musical guest was David Bowie.

And when I was, I've told this before, but when I was getting my photo taken for like the very first opening credits, like it was on the stage, you know, like in 8H.

And David Bowie was, it was Thursday, he was rehearsing with the band.

So like, I'm getting my picture taken, and he's right over there singing Rebel, Rebel.

I mean, I've chilled every time I think about that because that was just like,

I mean, I don't even have words for like the surrealness.

That's very, that's like to have a soundtrack of that moment for your life and it's David Bowie playing.

Steph Bowie, icon, yeah.

So I remember that.

Should we tell the black crows?

One time, so I don't do drugs at all.

So that one time, the black crows were the musical guests, and someone in the music department came up to me.

He's like, Hey, do you want

that's my drug offer voice?

Hey, do you want

whatever you call it?

Not a joint, but just like a hit off a joint.

I see.

And I was, I don't know, I've tried it a couple times.

It's never really worked.

I've never really dug it.

And then I was like, okay, sure.

So I took like one puff off of this Black Crow's pot.

Am I going to get sued?

The Black Crow's pot.

The Black Crow's Pot.

I took a hit off the Black Crow's Pot.

and my

cousin was visiting me, my cousin Zach.

And I came back to the table and I was like, oh, I guess this is like, I'm really high right now.

And I was so embarrassed because, like, it was my little cousin.

And I never, ever, ever

get high.

And then I came back and I was kind of like,

I don't really remember if I told him or not.

Oh, he didn't, but he might not have told me.

I don't even know.

But

that was my one, like.

I remember you telling me you couldn't get up from your chair.

Oh, I don't remember that.

But it's possible, it's not that you were kind of stuck.

I was just like, really, like,

anyway, and that's why I don't do drugs.

I mean, no, I'm just not into that feeling, I guess.

No, you're not into that feeling.

Only if it's from the Black Crows.

And then, yes, Chris, Chris Robinson, call me.

Call me.

I just love that that was the

first same thing.

Also,

it wasn't like I was like partying with the butt crows.

It was like second-handed made it down to the music guy, and I was told it was from the butt crows.

But it's so interesting that you took the hit that you at least knew.

And I was feeling a little jaunty that night.

I don't know.

I don't know.

No, but drugs is not your thing.

No, not my thing.

No.

No, I like a margarita.

I really like a margarita.

I know you're looking at yes.

Or perhaps you like to sail to the

Pino Grigio Islands.

Amy and I will occasionally sail to the Pino Grigios.

We'll text each other and say, shall we take a trip?

To the Grigios.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then when you were at SNL, like, I feel like we got,

I was thinking today about all the stuff we got to do together.

And we got to do a lot of dumb.

So fun stuff.

Oh, my gosh.

You know, and I was thinking, it was like, I mean, in many ways, I wish we had,

I wish we had more time together when I was more experienced there because I was new and kind of stressed.

And you were the, again, the junior to my senior.

And I felt like I loosened up more and figured out how to like just have more fun as I got older there.

But we did get to do some fun stuff together.

First of all, you were in the original Debbie Downer, and that was so fun.

I mean, just to be laughing there with you.

Well, you bring this up, and, you know, I ask this question to people on this podcast, and I truly feel like it is because of Debbie Downer that I ask this question.

Again, I owe you a lot of money.

And thank you for, thank you for building this podcast with me.

But

Debbie Downer, I've said it many times before, was and is the thing that I go to

also maybe now replace

the clip on this podcast.

I watch the clip a lot of times.

And I just wanted to clarify, I don't go like watch my work.

Like I don't go watch like a movie I did because I just like to have it in my head.

But that, it's like I said it was like seeing your biggest crack up.

Yes and just like I have to laugh every time I watch it and Debbie Downer was like that for me during very dark times because it was the combination of us all having fun

you

your

like the way in which you were physically trying to hold it together like the way like the laugh was like um something you were trying to hold in combined with

zoom in

and sound effect.

And we've watched it so many times.

Like, Emily Spivey knows every single, like, this is the part where your lip starts quivering.

Cause there's one part where at the very beginning, I'm going, gig, gig, gig, gig, gig, gig, gig.

And then there's the part where something falls backstage.

I look away.

My eyes start over there.

Like, we know every single moment.

It is.

It's like the Debruder film, like frame by frame.

Yes.

And it proves, it just, it got me, it's such a serotonin boost.

before we move on tell to us about the like who did you write Debbie Downer with and how did it start?

Like the origin of the origin of

people will want to know so um well it really started because I went on a vacation by myself

That had been suggested to me by a therapist

one-on-one Amy interview.

No, I said it like once or twice, but usually I leave that part out for the masses.

But no, not like this, this number one podcast, masses.

But no, she was, she just like, she kept saying, like, take a trip by yourself.

And I was like, why?

Like, I don't want to do that.

I could go with friends.

Like, I don't want.

And I just kind of took it as like.

doctor's orders.

Like, I just sort of like, I'm doing this.

And I like self-propelled myself to the jungles of Costa Rica.

No, but I wanted to pick somewhere that it wasn't going to be like honeymooners.

I wanted to pick somewhere that was like maybe just like, I don't know, somewhere kind of remote, I guess.

So it was like very remote.

It was in the Osa Peninsula.

You had to take like the big plane, then you take the smaller plane, then you take the two-hour Jeep drive.

I mean, I was going deep out of society.

And each time they were like,

it was like Barbara Patti one.

Well, no, so I picked this, it was like this eco-lodge thing.

So I went there and um, and then it was just like a, it was, so there was like these commune, it wasn't like a lot of people there, and it was actually really cool.

Like, and I did meet really cool people.

And I met these two sisters that like at the, like they were older, but they're like my age right now.

But, um, I mean, the age I'm now.

And they were sort of like, they sort of told me like the rudimentary

fundamentals of what is later known as the secret.

Like, did you, did I tell you when I was a host?

People should know, Drash knew the secret before anyone knew.

So when I was, and I learned it from the jungles of Costa Rica, from two white ladies that were from Colorado.

But anyway, so

they like, they were just weird, you know, because you're like, chatting, and I gotta say, like, hats off to the suggestion, because I never would have talked to strangers if I was with a friend.

Right.

You know?

Right.

So I'm like having this conversation.

And these women were telling me about, like, you know, basically like what's the law of attraction, I guess.

But they put it like, you know, if you, if you think on positive things, positive.

And if you're if you're focusing on lack, you'll attract lack, basically.

But then it almost like the whole thing got like sealed because then we were on this, like, you know, you could do like nature walks or whatever.

And we were on this like walk on the beach, like with the little, like, it wasn't like a group.

It was like, whoever's here and wants to go on this thing.

And this woman was saying, like, there were these like.

beautiful birds overhead, these like scarlet macaws, and this like way up in the sky.

And this woman goes, I want a feather to bring home for my daughter.

And I swear, like 20 seconds later, from like

way, way up high, this feather starts to just go bloop, bloop, bloop, and it falls down.

We all like kind of see it like

and it lands like right at her feet.

Whoa.

Amy doesn't believe in any of this stuff.

I do.

I do.

Okay, no, that's cool.

That's cool.

I believe in manifesting.

That was cool, though.

So then I was just like, sold.

I'll join your cult.

No, but then that, okay, this isn't anything about Debbie Donner.

This is just other stuff on that trip.

But anyway, but then the Debbie Donner story is that when later it was like sitting at dinner, like you're with Rando's that are there and um

people just making chit chat and someone said like, where are you from?

And I said New York and then they said like, oh, were you there for nine eleven?

And it was like three years after nine eleven.

It wasn't like it just happened.

It was kind of and then I was kind of like, uh

yeah, and then like it's kind of like just like in Debbie Donner, you had to like get the conversation back because it was like vacation times.

Right.

And then like about a week later after I got home, I was like out listening to some band, which isn't something I usually do.

But I think that's kind of interesting because like doing something you don't usually do and then your brain is kind of like, I don't know, you're not on your usual channels, I guess.

Yeah.

But then I just had that idea of this kind of based on that like someone like the Debbie Downer popped into my head.

I was like, yes.

And then,

which this is kind of just talking talking creativity I found at SNL, you couldn't just go in there and like, okay, let's think of a scene.

Like, it had to be like moments like that.

Like, and to me, that only happened like once or twice a year, which is why, like, you might sit there at home and be like, why is in there?

Like, like, SNL, man.

But it's like thinking of really original characters that kind of like hit on something.

It's not something you can like steer the ship on.

It's like, to me, like, it has to like

vibe out with you.

Yes.

You have to be like you have to to your point you have to like keep the channel open and be like find the muse and like yeah find you it just can't be like yeah churned out exactly and how but then so then i then i took it to paula pel who we wrote with often and is hilarious and everyone knows paula now because i love paula's like out there more in front of the camera but um but anyway and then we were on writing night we were trying to write it we set it in an office and it just kind of wasn't really flowing we it just wasn't really jiving and then we were like maybe we need to put her somewhere really happy So then we thought of Disney World, of course, happiest place on earth.

And then and then while we were writing it, like when like, of course, Paula was cracking me up with these one-liners and everything.

And then we started just going,

like, just for ourselves.

And then we were like, what if we put that in the scene with the actual trombone sound?

So then for read-through, we had, I don't remember if we had like the live person or someone just had done it, but then at read-through, like, it killed.

But then you never know, because sometimes something can kill at the table.

And then when we were in dress rehearsal, Jamie and Horatio were kind of laughing and I was thinking like you guys like I feel like this could work like yeah keep it together guys and then like on air I just flubbed one of the lines and then I don't even know I guess I was like so nervous sure and then but you were on you but thankfully you just like like like the good Pisces fish like you just like you went along for the like

it was it's so joyous watching it because it is just the com it's like what real live TV is supposed to feel feel like like it just felt like a special moment in time

and

also

I'm I mean you are such a good performer that you are able you were able to like do it and have and enjoy doing it at the same time it was like just it's very sometimes when people are stressed it's stressful to watch like it's not good to watch i feel yeah i mean but you don't seem stressed in that moment well i love watching performers that like this is what like, you know, I feel like I've had so much time now that I'm older to like think of like, what makes a good comedian and everything like that.

And, like, I love watching people, like, you can tell that underneath it, they're also like laughing inside.

Like, I mean, better to keep it inside.

But I mean, like,

and I feel like you have that.

Like, I was just talking about you.

I forget like in what.

context, but like, you are always like, you can see the joy of performing.

Like, there's two levels happening.

There's like what you're performing and then this sort of joyful like under bubbling that's also happening.

Like I just like Steve Currell just popped into my mind as like someone that like you can see the fun how

Will Farrell

mischievous

dance underneath it where they're having fun.

Circling all the way back to Debbie Downer and all the way back to the question that I ask my guests.

This brings up the person that I spoke to earlier before this podcast.

Oh.

So, you know, we always like to talk well behind people's backs.

I talked to the great Kevin Cahoon about you today.

You did?

Oh, my God.

I was wondering who my person was gonna be.

And because I want him to lead us into Broadway, which we're going to next.

Okay, yeah.

This Virgo has a plan.

Okay.

And I'm taking you there, bro.

I'm taking you there.

I got no.

Okay.

I'm aware of the time.

I'm aware of the time.

I could hang all day.

No, I'm just kidding.

But, but I talked to Kevin

and

he had a couple really good questions for you.

And one was, what, what, and it's, and it's this, it's a similar question to what we ask on the podcast is like, if, uh, like,

when you're feeling that, when, when Rachel is feeling like that Debbie Downer feeling, what do you do to get yourself up out of it?

And that's a question we ask here, which is, what do you watch, listen to, how, when, when you've got derblues, as we like to call it,

how do you get up out of it?

What makes you laugh?

You know, for me, it is, it is a lot of Debbie Downer and clips.

I mean, it is a lot of you, Rachel.

That's so nice.

It is you.

Like, you really get me out of the dumps.

You really do.

You're like an elevator that helps me get up out of there.

Uh-oh.

Tears.

Tears.

But you really get your shooting way up.

And it's because of the laughter.

You do that for me.

Is there anything else that like you like to go to to just like

the bottom of a tequila bottle?

The worm.

I eat the worm.

I ate the worm.

That was such an 80s thing.

Like she ate the word.

I know.

I know.

Now there's no worms anymore.

No, there's no worms.

Let's see.

I forgot that you asked this.

And like,

I feel like I don't have like healthy

serious.

I mean, honestly, the real thing that elevates me is like meeting, like, meeting with friends out in New York.

Like, that's like, that's my honest answer.

Yes, you like.

The Margs nights and

like meeting with my lady friends.

That's like,

because like, I feel like I have this great, you know, group, various groups of people, but they're all like fun.

But then, like, I love a friend who is really fun and like sees the joy in life and like can laugh through like the foibles and all that, but also has the side that's like,

you know, the amateur psychologist, like, you know, that we can help each other out.

And if you're if you like I like if you show up to a friend and you don't have to be anything other than what you're feeling because like there's certain friends where you can just do that you can come in and you'd be like, you know, I'm not gonna be bringing my a game and like that's fine and I like not having to exert extra energy to pretend I'm like somewhere I'm not and I hope that like I'm not for other people too.

But um that's exactly how I described you by the way to Kevin.

Exactly that, which is you are a friend like in good times and bad, in sunny weather and stormy weather, and you just can always show up as the version of yourself.

That's exactly how I described you.

Well, that's what I like in others, too.

So

this isn't like a joy thing.

This is more like a

mind set thing.

No, like a settle your mind.

Like I like doing those word puzzles in the York Times.

Like I like, that's my like, my like ritual as I do all those because it sort of makes me like forget all the

you can't be like emotional when you're trying to think of the word.

Well, I would say as a person that has now known you for 30 years, has vacationed with you, has, you know, our kids are friends, like we are in a lot of different ways in life together, that those kind of like quiet, puzzly moments is a dratch recharge.

Yeah, that is a recharge, yeah.

Because you are a very interesting combo of introvert, extrovert.

Like you are very extroverted and especially on stage, but you're everyday, like you definitely need quiet time.

I guess so.

Would you say no?

Yeah, I don't know.

I think I used to need

less of it.

I think now I'm a little more like, I just need like the recharge moment.

Yeah.

Okay, Kevin also had a question too that leads us into Broadway.

Okay.

And

you were in an incredible show called POTUS.

Tell us about that experience, what it was like working with those women and what it was like being nominated.

Well, I mean, it was a lot.

Like

the mindset of it was, so it was this comedy with all women.

and um I just got like called up to do this show with Susan Strowman who I had done a few readings for and um the part was very much like the clown in the show so I got to do a lot of like physical just like make up your own bits and all this stuff and um it felt very much like being back at Second City like in the best way and also I love like just I mean the theater schedule is no joke as any Broadway person will tell you but um because you know you have to kind of like sign your life well like you're not going out on the weekends, all that stuff.

But, um, the thing that I love about theaters, it's just you and the audience.

Like, there's no one saying, like, um, we think this should go this way.

Or like, of course, there's a director in developing this part, but once you're up and running, it's just like that feeling, that connection of you and the audience.

Like, and that was like harkens back to Second City, like, oh, how long am I holding this laugh?

Or, oh, if I do this little tiny thing, it gets left.

Like, you don't even, I love all that stuff.

So, um, it was just very freeing and fun.

Yeah.

And, and you loved the women you did it with.

Yeah, yeah.

You guys became very disparate group that was all like meshed really well together.

So where were you when you got your Tony Nom for your Broadway debut?

Well, you know, the nominations come out like in the morning and you can just like watch it online.

I was just like, okay, I'll check this out, you know?

And then like they said my name and then, you know, your phone starts going off the hook.

And I mean, that was something like, you know, as a comedian, like comedy often doesn't get like award stuff.

But all that to say, like, I didn't didn't expect, like, getting nominated was never anything that I thought would be happening.

Because when you're in comedy, you just don't really think that.

But the Tonys are an exception, I think.

The Tonies often do give it up for good comedic performances.

Yeah, that's true, yeah.

I think they really are, like, they really respect the craft.

They do.

The craft, yes.

So Kevin had a question about you

being like young Rachel.

Like, what were some theater performers, some musical, some some shows that like, what were, I think his question was like, what are the top three

pieces of theater that you like really inspired you when you were young?

Ooh, you know, like maybe scratch some little sparks.

Well, I guess as mentioned, Annie.

Can we just for one second talk more about Annie?

Because Annie.

So many female parts, so many parts for girls.

Right.

Like that alone, like a lot of shows just don't have a lot of parts.

It's like there was, you know, Rachel and I were both in Once Upon a Matt.

Amy had the lead and I had the boring part.

But we weren't in the same production.

We were in the same production.

Both of our schools.

I was in the sixth grade production.

Oh, this is funny, though.

And Amy was in the high school.

Yes, high school.

When you were senior, yeah.

And Amy, if you know Once Upon a Mattress, Amy played Winifred, the princess, the clown.

The clown.

Right?

Yeah.

Carol Burnett originated in Broadway.

And I played this character, Lady Larkin, who's the boring part.

But let me also say this, that

because it was in sixth grade, the only only comedic hook that Lady Larkin has is that she, well, she's pregnant, and so they're in a hurry to get married, you know, because they're in the castle.

So they need Winifred to get married.

Well, in sixth grade, they take out the pregnancy, of course.

So

I had nothing to play.

There's no there.

I'm just a lady in waiting.

And

I wasn't pregnant.

And by the way, I don't even think I knew that the original characters, but they changed the lyrics because the real lyrics were,

well, in a little while, you and I will be one, two, three, four, like kids.

And they just like, you and I will be together.

That's what they changed it to.

And you're like, I got nothing to play.

I got nothing to play.

So, okay, okay, so

Annie, of course.

Orphans are also orphans.

Orphans.

One other thing is, with Annie, everyone's like your age.

Like, literally, if you're 10 and they're 10, so you're like,

how do I get in this?

Like, that kind of thing, right?

and and also a dog

we love a dog did you have the album oh my god I knew every single song and I wanted to play every part and I loved it so much okay so Annie so Annie then also well of course this is probably the same too

like Gilda Radner Carol Burnett Lily Tomlin yes I mean just those and they were on stage like they were they were on stage I mean I only saw them obviously like I saw them like I mean when I was really little little my parents watched laugh in and I remember Lily Tomlin being Edith Ann in the giant chair

and that's the truth

Sorry, yes,

and then

Carol Burnett of course, yes, and like oftentimes we get asked till we're blue in the face about women in comedy, right?

And like I just think growing up seeing them, you're not thinking like oh, these are women in comedy.

You're just like, this person's really funny and they're being really brash and bold and they're, they're you know not afraid to look weird and here she is with the curtains as a dress and just like you know she's like the center of it all and um

like you know gilda radner making all her faces and everything like yeah so

i just think you're just seeing that and you're not delineating you know and then like I mean, the first season of SNL, that cast, like, I did watch like, you know, John Blushy, Steve Martin.

That's why, like, when Steve Martin hosted SNL, it's like, oh my God, Steve Martin.

Like, I still have that when I see Steve Martin.

I'm like, when I'm hanging out with Steve Martin, no, that never happens.

Not true, I've seen it.

But anyway, I think

seeing them

was influence, but not knowing it at the time, of course.

Fame,

fame, which, of course, we all had played that on the piano.

Well, out here on my own.

You can play the piano.

No, but I was like plunking it out, but out here on my own.

Oh, Coco.

When I'm down and feeling blue, everyone wants to hear this.

I close my eyes so I can be with you.

And then what was the third one?

And then I would say hair.

Hair.

Hair.

I don't think enough people are talking about hair these days.

No.

The musical.

No.

Hair is so funny.

Oh, yeah.

Like the music and the movie.

I think like the movie.

The movie.

Because that was the first, like, I mean, I just remember, like, excuse me.

That had like

major like tragedy in it and sadness.

And,

but also, like, yes, I remember seeing that at the Lexington movie theater.

And

it must have been nice.

It was nice.

We had plush seats.

We ate gold.

We ate gold covered popcorn.

HC had a chandelier by your own body.

We ate golden.

popcorn and we drank champagne.

We showed the movie.

She was on the side of a barn.

Side of the mall.

Inside of the dress barn.

That's where we showed our movies.

Inside of the dress band.

Oh my God.

No, but I remember hair was like

emotional, but also just the music so good.

So good.

And yeah, anyway, I think

they should do a new production of hair.

But there's no parts in it for us.

Like it's all new by all young.

There's going to be some like old lady who tells the kids on the show.

Get out of here.

Get out of my lawn.

No, not the phone.

Get out of the park.

I'm walking my dog.

You should cut your hair.

That could be us.

Yeah, that could be us.

Or like a businesswoman who comes in and goes, listen, people.

Yeah.

This, this bunch of hippies could really make us some money.

And they go, get out of here, lady.

That's what I would put.

A New Yorker who comes in to ruin the vibe.

Right.

But you have played so many different things on, on, on, in, like, you have played, like,

you played a man.

You played a, uh, you were one.

We love a Marco Polo because we are women of a certain age and we love to Marco Polo each other.

You were Marco Poloing me one time wearing a having a mustache.

A mustache.

In a production of

Was it Anything Goes?

No, you were playing.

Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls.

You were playing Dolls.

Yes, I played a dude.

Yes.

Yeah.

But you've played a lot of different things

on stage.

Well, I mean, as have you.

So we are, but the makers of merry.

We are but clowns for your pleasure.

No, we don't.

We don't win, Oscars, but we shall make you laugh.

No, we are here, but to be the fool.

We are but fools.

Drash and I always say if we were back in those times, we would definitely be not only jesters, but we'd be the maids.

Oh, we'd be the maids.

We'd be the maids.

Yeah.

We'd be the maids at the bottom of the

scholarly mates at like scrubbing things.

I think that's the role that I think I'm born to play is like some, because I would love to do, I'm going to put this out there, a Broadway thing, like a real,

really funny Broadway thing.

And maybe I'm playing this person.

Scrubbing.

This is my aspiration.

I just

want to say,

scrubbing.

scrub on Broadway.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I want to scrub my way to a Tony.

You listen?

You listen, you big Muckety Mucks.

I had the Jonas brothers on and we were singing Les Miz.

Oh, yeah.

And they were like, you would be really good

in Master of the House.

I was like, I know.

Oh my gosh.

I'm 20 years old.

I'd be the old lady.

We had Master of the House.

By the way, you can cut this, but we won't.

But I got to audition, got to.

I made the mistake of auditioning for Les Miz on Broadway for that part.

And I'm like, you know, I can't sing, right?

And they're like, just go in.

And then I like, I even went to like a voice lesson.

But like, that part is like, you really have to sing.

And it's an incredible part.

And incredible female actors have played it, incredible singers, but it, and it's definitely the most comedic part of Lei Miz.

But you have to have a good voice, which I like just realized when I was in front of these people in the room.

Just like, I mean, because they didn't just give me the master of the house song.

There's another another song that's like very complicated.

Yeah.

And I just like,

like I skulked out.

I will stitch you making merry without song.

If it please you.

If it please you.

I can't be singing for the king again.

For me to not sing.

Yes.

Cut you was just like, how do you like your potatoes?

We could do a duo.

A duo.

We could do a

pay maids.

By the way, that would be a very funny idea for a show.

It's like, you know, upstairs, downstairs, it should be like called downstairs.

Downstairs.

And it's just us.

We're just washing clothes.

And we have dirt on our faces for sure.

100%.

We've been having grooves this morning.

Okay.

And the last thing I just want to talk about, because we talked about it a little bit,

is your woo-ness.

Because we're going to talk about your podcast, your great podcast, Woo-Woo.

and amy was a guest on it and absolutely one of my favorite episodes you need to listen to amy on woo-woo there's so many great stories on there and you have you are very open to psychic uh experiences you are not judgmental in any way i would say that oh that i'm not judgmental okay yeah yeah yeah and you have um i would say you are also a little bit psychic but or you and like you have that channel open speaking of channels um what is that woo-woo world

so i started this podcast called woo-woo And

I always say, I'm not really woo-woo because I don't, like, I don't live my life like, I gotta ask my psychic guy.

I don't have a psychic.

But anyway, I always feel the need to say, I know, but I always feel the need to say, like, I'm not like super woo-woo.

But then I started doing this, and it's making me definitely making me more woo-woo with the stories I'm hearing.

But the reason I thought of doing it is because I just had sort of collected these stories from friends over the years.

And I was like, oh, these stories are really cool.

Would you come on and tell this?

So that's kind of how it started.

And then you came on, which was really fun.

And you're not like a huge woo-woo believer, but you're not like totally shut down.

No, but Amy came on and talked about the Enneagram, which she lives her life by.

I mean, for those who care, Rachel is an Enneagram nine, if you haven't noticed.

Yeah.

The ultimate nine.

The ultimate nine.

Peacekeeper.

Peacemaker.

But,

but, yeah.

So I guess what else do I say about it?

Well, I was going to say that There's a couple woo-woo things that have happened with us.

I feel like a little tiny woo with most of my woo-woo things have happened with you.

And we were pregnant at the same time.

Our sons are close in age and I'm happy to say like real friends, which is so great.

And we, I can remember a very like hot summer where you and I were waddling around the city, like both really pregnant.

And you can tell from our height, like we didn't,

we carried out front.

You know, there's not a lot of.

So I just remember us being like going to movies, like

watching movies because it's so hot out

and going to a psychic to talk about

our our kids and you brought me to this really cool psychic um who um

you know like just

you just have introduced me to a lot of just like give this version of life a try I guess is the best way to say it.

Yes.

It's kind of like, why not believe

that that thing was not a coincidence?

I don't know.

Yes.

I think once you're, it's almost like we were saying

writing sketches.

I think once you're kind of open to it, then you start to see things.

Like you just, I don't know.

I don't want to say like you get messages or whatever, but I just think the more open you are, the more woo-woo you might become.

Do you think that like that, has anything happened lately that has felt a little like in the woo-woo world for you?

Well, first of all, as Amy said with the pregnancy thing, that

a psychic told me that I was going to have a kid when I was 43 and I wasn't even with anybody.

Yeah, that was a good idea.

And then that happened.

So that was, so that was my first little, like, this is really strange.

But

you write about it really well in your memoir.

The cubicle walks in your bar.

And let's see, I don't know, something lately.

I'd just like to hear your, like, like, is there any vibe you're getting right now?

Like, what's the vibe of this room?

The vibe of this room is great.

It's good.

Okay.

And you're going to be able to do this.

Outside this room?

Not good.

Things are not good once you leave this room.

The vibes are not good.

So true.

But this room is a good hang and it's fun and bright and cheery.

But you, but I feel like you do that.

I'm like, you're really fast at being like, this isn't a good vibe.

This isn't a good hang.

That's true.

This isn't a good thing.

You're really good at reading people fast or, or experience rooms or people.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're like, I don't like that.

I don't get a good feeling from that, yeah.

And I'm, and I start to like, again, older, I get like listen to that.

Like, if you're, if you're, if you get that feeling of like, eh, like, you're allowed to not hang there or whatever, I don't know.

And last question: uh, are you afraid of zombies?

Would you, in a zombies movie, what, how would you?

This is my new question.

I'm just, I'm just thinking about it right now, but maybe I'll ask people moving forward because Dr.

always inspiring me.

I might just freeze.

Is that what you're about?

I think you're about to switch.

Well, I was going to say it kind of gets into like conflict style.

Oh, gosh.

Yeah.

But it is.

Sometimes

I think with conflict, I freeze.

Which isn't always the bad choice.

You don't like, you're not fanning.

I just noticed it about myself, though.

So if zombies were coming,

I guess I'd freeze.

You'd turn into a statue.

Yes.

And you'd hope that they went by.

We can't end on this note.

No, we can't.

We can't end on this note.

We're going to cut them.

We can't end up.

You know what?

Let's sing the song from Chadwick's.

Oh, okay.

The chant?

So Chadwick's was an ice cream place that Dratch and I worked at.

Not at the same time.

Not at the same time, but I have to say, probably the highest percentage of SNL people from any ice cream place.

Probably.

Two.

Yeah.

It was a purple building.

Okay, I'm going to do a lip balm break before we sing.

Do you need any?

No, I think I'm okay.

Okay.

So it was a purple building.

It was a purple building.

It was a tiny ice cream.

You had to wear a styrofoam barbershop quartet hat.

We often off and had a kazoo.

We often had a kazoo.

And I feel like we were both attracted to the drama and the showmanship.

Not drama, the showmanship of Chadwick's.

Because when it was someone's birthday, you got a free Sunday.

Yeah.

And they did not check.

So people came in a lot

with birthday Sundays.

But then there was

a little

birthday chant that you did.

And it went picky thing like this.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're happy to have you here at Chadwick's today, but we're especially happy to have Amy

because she came here to celebrate her birthday.

So the sound of the drum, please join us singing Amy a loud, embarrassing happy birthday.

Then they would order a giant ice cream, and it was called the Belly Buster.

And it was carried out by

two men holding a stretcher thing with a big bowl in the middle of it that had...

Oh, and then this was a separate thing.

If you ordered the belly buster, there was an announcement for the belly buster.

And it went.

And it went something like this.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're happy to have you you here Chadwick's today

to introduce you to the belly buster

ten scoops of ice cream five different toppings mounds and mounds of whipped cream cherries and nuts Chadwick's own belly buster and then we'd like do like drum drum

and then the two guys would come up the thing in the structure like pretending to struggle under its weight And then it would land at the table.

And if you ate, rumor had it, the lore was that if you ate the belly buster by yourself, you got it for free.

That's right.

Do you remember that?

Yep.

And there used to be like teen boys

vomiting and drinking the ice cream juice in an attempt to get it done in time.

The vomit was separate from the ice cream juice.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

The teen boys were trying to get it done.

And I don't think I ever saw it happen.

I don't think I did either.

Laura, but Laura said.

Now Chadwick's no longer exists.

Nope, it's just in a landfill filled with ghosts.

They just

interviewed for my podcast.

The ghost of Chadwick's.

But that's a good ending.

That's a good ending.

That is.

Okay.

Okay.

Love you, Druchi.

Love you.

This was fun.

So fun.

Thanks for doing it, buddy.

And thank you again.

I really do owe you a lot, always in my life and on this show.

So come back anytime and bring your headphones, always.

Hold on.

We're going to wrap it up.

Okay, there.

Well, now

we're still kinking.

This isn't a good ending.

Okay.

It is still hard for you to get them on, though.

Okay.

Here we go.

What the?

Oh, here we go.

Nailed it.

Dratch out.

Thank you, Dratch.

You are the best.

My baby Druch, my little Ray Ray.

Thank you for coming on.

You know, we talked a lot about a lot of things, you know, the idea that, you know, life can be a series of interesting and unexplainable events, and it can be really woo-woo if you let it.

And so, as part of this polar plunge, I do want to just remind everyone to check out Rachel Dratch's podcast, Woo-Woo.

Her and her co-host, Irene,

they listen to people's

interesting, ghosty, spooky stories.

They get into that

those chills that you get when something weird or unexplainable happens.

And so check out that podcast.

I

have gone on the podcast and I have said that I've never seen a ghost and I'd like to keep it that way.

So I'm fine with that.

But if you have seen a ghost, contact WooWoo and not me, okay?

But good for you.

And it's not a competition, but I am glad I didn't.

Okay, thanks for listening.

Bye.

You've been listening to Good Hang.

The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler.

The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite.

For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spilane, Kaya McMullen, and Aalaya Zanares.

For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman.

Original music by Amy Miles.

And I ever want to watch a really good hang.

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