Ashley Padilla

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We are really excited about our guest today. It is Ashley Padilla. Ashley is so talented, so funny. In her 3rd season at SNL, just an excellent cast member who we've all fallen in love with. And we are gonna talk about a lot of fun stuff today. We're gonna talk about the wonderful Diane Keaton. We're gonna talk about getting arrested and mouthing off to cops. We're gonna talk about how lucky we are to have comedy as our job and how we pinch ourselves every day.

We're gonna get into a lot of good stuff. Um, but before we do, we are gonna talk to somebody who knows our guest, who works with our guest, and that is Andrew Dismukes. Another hilarious performer and writer, Uh, on SNL, um, a good Texas boy who has a real New York coffee order. So let's, uh, check in with Andrew. I believe he's speaking to us from a poorly lit hotel room. Andrew. This episode is brought to you by Uber.

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Get up, what do you say? I don't ever wanna watch the really good thing.

Andrew, what are you drinking there? What's your coffee coffee order?

I'm in Appleton, Wisconsin right now. I did some stand up, so nice hotel coffee, the food was terrible.

You went down and got it and brought it back up to your room. Fantastic. How do you take your coffee?

black, straight up. Yeah, yeah, I'm a I'm a real one. Yeah, pretty serious stuff, well, yeah, I'm a tough guy. I'm a tough New York guy.

Andrew. I was. I was so happy that we were talking today and realizing that I need to get you into the stewed. Cause I feel like I, I are you a New York guy. Did you grow up in the East? Or I don't know enough about you? No, you're not.

I'm from Texas originally, but, you know, become, you know, I've become a New York guy in my I mean, heart.

actually, you have, cause you've been what? He, you've been living in the city for how long now?

Yeah, uh, nine years now. Dang It's crazy and I and I've seen like none of it. Every time people ask me, like, what my favorite restaurant is, I'm like, there's one like two blocks from my house that's great.

And do you have a set tonight? Standup set tonight? or? or did you just, uh, do one last night?

Uh, did one last night flying back home, uh, later

How did it go?

crushed, crushed. Let's just say it, there's no, no, no,

No one?

no two ways about it. Crushed, yeah,

And did you change some minds? you changed some and that's well, lives?

that's what it's really all about, is it's about touching hearts and changing minds. And we did, we did. Yeah, yeah,

and I and I know I have heard that people have asked you to stop touching their hearts.

and I said, Well, too bad,

HR has asked you to stop touching so many hearts.

I'm just trying to, I'm just trying to change people. They're like, Well, you're literally touching their hearts. I thought that's what I was supposed to do.

I'm very excited to talk to you about Ashley today. Because, um, you two have something that you just kinda can't manufacture, which is chemistry. You two have a way of of being together in the world as performers that feels very natural and fun and playful. How did you 1st meet?

Uh, we 1st met at the show, like her 1st episode. Um, and just pretty quickly. It was clear that, like, Oh, this is somebody who has got chops like crazy, and I think specifically both like performer and writer chops. Like, um, she's such a confident performer and so able to bring like real acting to the sketches she does. But then also like what she writes, you're also like, damn, you're good at both of those things, that's crazy.

And did you start writing with her right away,

No, really, uh. Her whole 1st season, we didn't collaborate much. I think we maybe wrote one or two things that didn't make it to air. Um, but yeah, the 1st real collaboration was the weekend update thing. The the the couple who just hooked up, Yeah,

And your tie is askew

my tie's askew. It's very steamy. is very. Her Yeah,

hair is got that bed bed head thing. And you guys are talking about the Super Bowl. Yeah, I mean, that is my favorite thing about. Weekend update features is what the characters are talking yeah, this about.

is who you got to talk about this and they're doing a very bad job. It's like just the worst run show in the world. That's like the premise of Weekend Update is they have the worst booker of all time.

Yeah, they have terrible guests. Um, and what do you like about writing with her?

I I think what I like the most about Ashley's writing and writing with her is like, uh, her ideas are all like about playing the realness of the scene. And so that's just fun to create in that space where it's like we're playing real emotion to comedic effect, rather than like, uh, being kind of over the top, silly. It's just a fun energy to get into.

Yeah, I wanna talk to her about that. Today. Is that, you know, she's a really good actress, and so she's like, acting everything very naturally and very real. And it's funny because she puts herself in very insane and she's often like, very incredulous as a character. She kinda can't believe what's happening to her.

Yeah, I think about the like fart sketch that she did, which everybody loves a fart sketch. But it's so funny the way she plays it. Where it's like, this woman is very legitimately upset that it just happened. It's not like, Ooh, I farted. It's like, Oh my god, I farted. Like, I just love that, I, I, I love that approach that she has.

me too. The if for people that don't know, she plays a, um, a woman who, um, her coworkers try to surprise her. They turn on the lights and she farts as soon as she sees them, and it's just like, downhill from there. She cannot get past it. Um, and then there's like 2 min of her asking everybody what they make, what their salary is.

So good.

Played very real. Um, do you have a question for Ashley today? Uh, anything big or small that I could ask her.

I feel like groundlings, specifically when people come to SNL from groundlings, it's that it feels like that. It feels like those people are so equipped for SNL off the jump. Um, thinking like Mikey, Heidi, Ashley, as well as like former cast members who come back and host. It just feels like that's the most mapable training ground for people in a really interesting way. And I guess I'm just curious, what it would like if she has any insight in, like, what was it that she learned in groundlings, or what was it that groundlings specifically instilled in her?

That made her be, like, so ready and so equipped? What's the thing she learned in groundlings? Um, or just from that time in her life that she feels like, has applied the most to being on SNL?

Ah, great question. I mean, what if we found out the groundlings has, like a mini SNL set and they just run drills? That Quick

would be the the. I wouldn't changes. be surprised. Yeah, they, uh, yeah, I'm just so impressed with her. Like, so quickly, I'm like, what's the secret? how did what? what did you learn? Like, please tell me,

She does do a thing that I think good and y, and I think you do this too. And is that, you know, in sketch, you have to be grounded, but you also can't be like, too, too internal, too interior. You know, I'm sure, like actors come on the show and they're they get kind of quiet and they really wanna. And you're like, Oh, no, you have to be loud, right?

I I think, especially just in that room, like I I think people have talked about it where it's like, doesn't have the best acoustics. Like there is a thing of like, sometimes you'll do a sketch and you'll be like, I don't think anybody in that room heard what I was saying. I think everybody in the audience was like, Oh wow, they just went and did like a silent little play, and, uh, we didn't enjoy it, but, They did uh, they a little whisper did it, play.

they did a little whisper play. So yeah, being still able to being able to be micro, but also like, yeah, play, play. Big enough to get laughs in that room is very important, and she does do that very well.

Yeah, right on awesome. Well, it was. It's great to see you. The last time I saw you, I felt like I. I was dressed as a man and I was holding a tortoise because

That's true. of something Yeah, if we

that you wrote.

had a sketch where you were dressed as a man and holding a tortoise,

Well, thank you for that,

um, and and thank you for doing that, we really appreciated of it.

course. And I will, uh, the the tortoise wrangler, who, you know, um, was very nice. Uh, did warn me that the tortoise could and would most likely bite And me.

you handled it like a champ and we really appreciated that. Cause we, she, the the wrangler, did said that, and we were like, and you're cool with that, right? are you cool with maybe getting bitten?

Totally. Um, well, thank you for talking in from your hotel room. Um, good luck with the coffee.

Thank you.

Please don't turn any lights on, just stay as stay in the

I'm gonna stay in the dark, dark. cause this is just sort of where I like to be. This is just where I'm most comfortable. Yeah, with a hard light coming so in on my chest, I think that's best for Zoom. And I'm sure that your producers are really happy that, uh, I, I, that this is my configuration.

well, we're gonna. We're gonna use those Zoom filters, we're gonna put on funny sunglasses, we're gonna put Oh, I was on like a

saying, kind of like a cool, beret. And you made him sound like a cool, tough guy. Yeah, nice,

like a cool tough, yeah, like a New Yorker.

right? Like in New York, I got sunglasses on, like a New Yorker, cause I'm cool tough guy.

Andrew, thank you so much for doing this. Ashley's gonna be thrilled that we talked and it's so great to Thank see you. you, Amy. Enjoy Yeah, thank you so talking to Ashley much. Okay, buddy, bye, Bye thanks, Woo hoo, folks. As we head into fall, we welcome yet another season of change, changing leaves, refreshed wardrobes and new routines. But one thing that doesn't need to change your phone, the smartest upgrade this season isn't a new phone, it's a better wireless plan.

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woo hoo.

I'm so glad you're here.

This is surreal. Come on, Come on, oh,

I'm so excited.

this is so crazy. Yeah, I know What?

people don't know that we're. We're talking on a very stormy and rainy morning.

It's very rainy.

I mean, I don't know if people care about the weather outside when we're. I guess every day you're like, today's forecast, potentially, but I was like, maybe it's too stormy, maybe Ashley won't come. I got scared, Looking out the window, like, not today, not today.

I can't do this. Sorry, Amy, it's raining.

Okay, are we good with Ashley's? Gotcha,

Just your microphone. Oh God,

Wait, oh, you can. I can move this

Okay, let's move. later. I know we go sc, we can scoot, we can scoot through here. I can

can I take a sip of this move. The yet?

no, it, there's, it's lighter fluid in there. Oh, Oh fuck, baby formula, it's for the cameras.

just do water, it's for the cameras. I'm so sorry There's no way.

you can't drink anything.

Okay, I trust you.

Yes, of course, you can. Okay, very good. So moving

And it has a little bit of a dance moving in it. Did you see the laptop

Ashley's episode? here we go, They're just kind of moving

moving it. and And weirdly, the laptop is the only thing you can see.

the whole time, it just Well, it's gets closer fun, it's fun, to camera.

cause look at this, dun dun. I can't imagine if I was just on it too the whole time And you're and it's just like,

on Facebook, right? You're on Twitter, being like, ever been so bored in your life? I love Facebook more than that, you're on Facebook. Right?

Ashley Padilla is here. I'm so happy you're here,

I can't believe it.

I'm thrilled you're here. And congratulations on being one of the captains of the show. Wow, coming And from the captain, ma'am, and also, Ma'am, and also you

please don't touch me. except don't. M Oh, please

Uh, oh, I don't wanna don't. I'm talk about my life. sorry, please No, no, no, don't. I'm interviewing no, no. you. Oh But the cast is so good right now, the show is so gelled. Congratulations on having an incredible year,

thank you.

your 2nd year, 2nd season of the show. And I guess what I wanted to start with is that I don't. You know, I don't know a lot about you. Very mysterious, actually, and you like to keep it that way. So great talking to you.

bye bye anyways. It's still raining outside, so yeah, rain You talk about, is getting harder.

you talk about the rain, but but um, you're a private person, or I would say you don't have a lot of

It's not that I'm private, okay, tell me it's that I'm so scary boring. And I thought, I'm gonna reveal this last night in bed, going to bed, thinking about today. And I had an image of us sitting there, no talking, and you going. So. And I was like, No, Ashley, that won't happen. She'll have questions, one. for sure, she'll, She'll think of something, she'll think of something,

she'll talk about the weather, something she'll she'll think say that it's raining she. outside.

I had a nightmare that you were like, okay, Ash, because there's nothing to share,

That's not. Everyone has something to share, everyone you got to, does so, but. But one of my kind of themes of today is that you entered the show kind of as a grown ass woman. Like with your skills and your readiness for the show and us getting to know you on the show seemed to have matched, in my opinion. And that's very, very cool and satisfying to watch. And also you have something that I really, really love.

Uh, when you talk about your job and your show is a real gratitude for how cool it is to get paid to do comedy on TV. Like, I,

it's crazy. no, it's crazy. I'm I scared if I say it out loud too much. People will be like, Hey, she's right, get her out, get her out of here, or pay her nothing. What the hell I do worry about that?

cause. Because to be a a successful actor on a TV show that is so beloved that people are responding to your work, it's a. And even just, you know, I was looking up the number again, cause I always get blown away by the fact that there's only been like 180, 170 something cast members. It's like, a, it, it's a club, it's it's an airplane,

crazy, it's an airplane.

so to be on that show, I guess. What are the still kind of pinch me moments? Two years in that feel like,

This you speaking to me? It really is so crazy. It's like there's, uh, pinch me moments every day, cause it's so silly. Be because what you said, I mean, I've, I've been practicing this craft for so long. Even in childhood, doing it without you realizing you're doing it right, just being an idiot and funny and people saying you're annoying. And it's just like it was so natural to me. And so to do it for a living is crazy.

I know It's a pinch me moment all the time.

what kind of little kid were you?

I was loud and really funny, I think, and I think, you know, my my uncle, I think, could my uncle Chris, he, he's the one who really got me into sketch comedy. He did, he would. I did a thing called the sign Spinner, I came up with this girl named Esther, the sign spinner.

oh, like the person that's outside of the

sign spinner. And she was a character named Esther who would she sign? Spinned for for fun, cause she loved it, so she'd make signs for different restaurants around town and do it for free. And they're like, get out of our we don't. And it was this thing we came up with. And he, like, recorded it with me and

shoot, how old were you then?

edited it with me. 13. So he was the one who was like, you have something and I like comedy and let's make this. And he was like he was the man, he played the manager of this place. That was like, get out of here, and I'm like, I like doing this. And I was thir. And I remember being so proud of myself that I could keep a straight face. Like you'd be like cut, and I'd be like, I didn't even laugh, I well, didn't even laugh.

thank you. You You could not sound like you. It keep it.

was hilarious the whole time,

I was just playing the whole time and I was keeping it in and I wanted to laugh.

were you watching sketch at the time? Like, did he? I don't know A lot that I was of people I have cool

watching sketch.

uncles who, like, introduced him to music and comedy. What were you watching at 13? or what were you into?

I was watching The Office and I was really obsessed with it. I was really obsessed with Dwight Schrute and I wanted to. That's kind of why I wore the glasses as Esther, and like, I was obsessed with him in a big way. Because he was doing the thing I wanted to do, which was being crazy and committing to it. And what was crazy and funny was that he was doing it out of his own truth as a character.

So he wasn't trying to go for the joke. What was funny was that he was, he thought this was serious and it was that, yeah,

Well, that is what is. I think is so interesting about your work is like, I do think you come to it from an acting place, hm, hm, I right? So did

love that.

do you? Did you wanna be? Did you consider when you were a young person? Like, did you say I wanted to be comedian? or do I wanna be an actor?

I don't think I knew the difference, I just knew same with Steve Carell. I mean, like his, the laughs he would get. I'd watch The Office. She used to, and my mom always got me the UM season for Christmas, like I knew it was coming, every Christmas was the new season in, like the DVD set. Because I would sit and watch it for hours. Because that's the whole without realizing it. That is what they're all doing, they're all just acting really well, and Steve Carell as well.

Just all his little inner work that he's doing is getting the laugh. He's barely sometimes has lines, and he's getting a laugh. So I, I didn't put two and two together. I just think it's. It just was natural. It was like, Oh, that's how I get. The laugh is when I am so locked in. I remember there was this like once I, I remember there was this thing I did for a friend, my friend Sierra. We went to a museum, I don't know why.

We were just like having a a girls day. As you do, you go to the museum,

And drink grape juice and you drink play the timelines.

grape juice, you know, okay, so, you know, and we were doing that and we were at the museum. And I was making her laugh because I was acting like the bench in the middle of the place was a piece of artwork. And I was like, it's real. And people started watching and she's crying nearby. And I remember writing down later at Groundlings in class. Like, the bench is beautiful, believe the bench is beautiful, believe it is.

There's art all around this girl, but she thinks that's a piece of art, believe it's beautiful and it. It's like, just suspend people's, but I don't know it's a joke, you don't know you're funny, the character doesn't know they're funny.

hm, hm. Never.

It ever.

So did you come from a funny family? You have three siblings. What is your birth order? I'm 2nd, so Lindsay's Okay,

the oldest, it's me, and then Sammy and Teddy, and they are. They would attest to this, they're, they're all funnier than me. and funny They mom, my mom is very funny.

you're very close to your mom and your M. I love that your mom was like, you should go into comedy. That doesn't happen a lot where someone's mom is like, think about comedy, she's like, I I want

know, right?

you to be an accountant

Could you imagine if it didn't work out? I was like, what would you do? I I want don't have a

you to be an accountant.

back up plan. I'm like, Yeah, you made me go groundlings. Yeah, she googled comedy class and was like, Okay, so Go there.

what did she do for a job? She worked at Adobe Hm, hm and worked her software.

way up software and worked her way up. Like, didn't go to college, single mom, four children dang. at my age now,

oof, what?

what? It doesn't make sense, yeah, and so for her to do that. I mean, all four of us have unique talents, like we're all like, my sister has a hair salon, my little sister is a tattoo artist. Like my little brother's a great screenwriter, also working as a nurse, but he writes these movies like he like everyone. And she just watered those plants. She wasn't trying to make you not do it, she wasn't trying to go.

No, go, do this, Ashley, go play football or whatever your parents make you do.

yeah, go play football. I got lucky Yep, it, she but

didn't make me do that.

we all kind of learn by people modeling for us. What did you learn about work by watching your mom work so hard?

That she could, uh, she was just a hustler, she still is, she's just a hustler. Like even at Adobe, working her way up at that company, you know, she, she became an executive producer of Like the Live events. So when we would go, I did hair and makeup for a long time, that's how I would make money, and she would hire me to do hair and makeup. Me and my sister. And at these big events and you just, you're on the headset and she's like, what?

And I was like, what a powerhouse like. She just knew what she wanted and like, was like, and all these, like, love everyone that works there. A lot of men and she's like the one telling and like producing, and it was just so cool. And I do think it influenced me and also her saying, Go do this like you can do it. But I just never had any fear. I never wondered if I was too small for the world or like, that never crossed my mind, incredible, cause she was such a great example of that.

so cool. I mean, she says, Okay, let's look up comedy clubs, yeah, I and

could. It could have ended so badly, it's so crazy,

and she's like, you and I are going to a comedy club and you're gonna do comedy for your mother.

it's crazy.

Did you think that you were? This was gonna be your job? No way I was Yeah,

so, no way, no way, no, and I w I. I was so scared for life, like I was. I didn't go to college, I went for a week at community college. I left on a Friday, I went on a Monday, left on a

you were like, I left, Friday. you were like, I left something in my car. I'll be right back.

Oh my god, I wish I should have done that. Instead, I pull aside Oh, you're, yeah, a teacher who is not in charge of that. I go, I pull him aside and I'm like, I can't do this, I don't know what I'm doing. And he was like, So you need to go to the administration, you don't? I'm teaching biology or whatever. And I sobbed to him and I said, I just can't do this, this isn't for me.

Because I was sitting there going, I just got out of this, I just got out of high school that I hated and almost

what? yeah, what kind of student failed. were you? Oh, awful, I'm s. I'm shocked, awful, I'm shocked, you s, you're so smart, I'm shocked that you.

But I had no interest in anything they were putting out with that.

You were like, I'm never gonna need I said, When this.

am I gonna need this? You tell me, and I will submit this homework, because tell me

I'm trying to figure out your, uh, don't worry, we'll cut this. Jenna, I'm trying to figure out your enneagram you just sneezed, number, your z,

what?

because you're such a. This is very challenging. Wait, what Well, but not being a good student,

bad girl? not just not being a good student, bad girl

tell me more, What do you mean? How did you get in trouble? arrested. No, finally, we got She's got seven minutes.

a record.

Talk to me, Padilla. Disorderly conduct. Was it some kind of what was it? Uh, shoplifting?

okay, okay. Here's what I was charged with, all right. Obstruction of justice, resisting arrest. So my mother pulling in as I'm cuffed on the cop car, cuffed on top of the cop car, she pulls in single mother pulls in in her boyfriend's truck. my headset's still on, 1 s. She gets out and she's looking at me, like talking to the cop. And he's like, So sh, we found her in the Rosebush. My extensions, crazy. I've got my like flip phone thing with a keyboard and I'm like, my mom's, my mom's here, these cops.

Basically, I was like, leave, I was like running from a party,

right from a party.

like there had been a hit and run down the way and me. And I can't say his name. I had my fake chanel, he had my fake chanel. Oh my god,

Did they care that it was fake? Did they that's get?

why I got arrested. Get over here. No, they. They arrested me because I hid in a rosebush for, I think, 4 h. And when they pulled me out, I said, I said, and they wrote this down, they wrote this down. It was in the police report. I said, It's about time you motherfuckers caught me. Ashley, For who? Why is that? four? I love Who was that for? Was I on camera? I mean, Down time?

what cause, you know what? cause what? You doubled down, cause when you were like, you were nervous and you were like, I'm gonna go extra cocky, I can relate, I went I can relate. You were so cocky like, whatever,

I was gonna shoot up here 16 about time.

so 16, it's about time you guys caught I said, me. That was by the time the like,

motherfuckers caught me, they they they cuffed me, dang, they cuffed me. And I was like, please uncuff me before my mother gets here, and they were like, Fine, and they like, uncuff me. And I said, How'd you guys know that I was there? and they were like, we had the place surrounded. And this bo young boy who ran with me had your fake Chanel.

what? ha? Did he also get arrested? Yes, he did, Oh yeah, he got arrested. And so did you go to court where charges dropped?

well, this is where it gets interesting. If it wasn't already, they were like, because you're 16 or something, we're not. This can be removed from your record if you go to court ordered therapy with your mother.

And your mother was like, I'm busy, Excuse me, that's, that's punishment for her.

I. She had to sit there and I remember, Love you mom. She had these like red nails, blonde hair. She's a working woman, she's sitting there. And the therapist was like, I want you guys to draw for me. And my mom was like, No, and she's like, Okay? And I remember she like, didn't, she like, flipped me off in the magazine, like, I'm not doing that. And I drew something and they said, draw yourself and draw a house, that's what they said to do, Whoa, and I drew a house and myself.

And I sh, it was not Amy. The woman says, Now, why did you draw yourself smaller than the house? And I was like, be, because I was like, and my mom's like, the clock, the clock's ticking, and I didn't try it. And I was like to fit in the house, and she's like, No, you feel small. Like it was like crazy, and I was likeAnd. I mean, while I'm like, my mom has to, I'm already in trouble and my little brother had to come.

I don't know why. He was like, I'll draw, too, and he was drawing. And he drew a castle with a man named Fred getting electrocuted on the on the side of the castle. And she said, I'm gonna keep this one for the files. And my mom was driving. I'm like, great, now they're gonna take Teddy, now the court's gonna take Teddy. It was like

this is, you were a bad she deserves an girl,

Oscar, if that's what we should give her, what is an Oscar for being a mom? She had to deal with some shit.

okay? So then she was like, take some, take some of your comedy fun. She was like, channel some of this into a a professional experience. Yeah, stop, Okay, stop,

stop, stop. stop. And like, I went and got a job at Sephora and they gave me a job. I mean, I just loved having a job that I actually liked. I was probably just in, I was just in bliss. And like, there was a rule you had to, like, wear five articles of makeup at the time, Ooh so I learned to do makeup. I became like an educational manager. I was like rising up, like my mom did at her job, I was like rising up.

I didn't go to college and I was like, getting responsibilities. And then

so you like to be the boss?

I like to get the most out of everything. And I think sometimes, especially in worlds like that, where there's like, you know, steps. I just like being the best at everything I'm doing and not against anyone else. I'm not trying to be better than them. I'm just like, how much more can I do, you know,

That's why probably things like school, you're like, there's nowhere to grow here, there's nowhere to grow you're like, what's past? An a?

and and what, what, what? I'm sorry, I still, I stand by that. J I'm like, doing all of that. Oh my god, yeah, unless you know what you're doing and hi, are you? I'm just go to school,

oh, I don't know, I you don't know if you believe that,

know what?

I don't know if you believe that when you say that,

I guess I'm just like,

I'm sorry. I don't believe unless you're interested you.

in it, unless you're interested in it, because to absorb information, you have to want to know that's true, right to retain the information.

cause you didn't do theater in high school,

No, I did one play because during bad girl, bad girl times,

did you?

I didn't. I didn't submit, it's like you're supposed to submit y the the classes you wanna take, and I just didn't do it. So there. My mom's phone ringing again, they're like she didn't do this, and so she had to come down to the principal's office. And we had to, like, fill out a thing together. And they were like, she was like, what's left? and they're like, theater, and she was. I was like, No, please don't make me, and I did it.

And I remember I. L. I didn't even tell anyone. And I was like, in what was it called? The Emperor's New Clothes? Is that what it's called? I don't know You were there, I remember the Emperor's you were

New Clothes. scouting in the audience, Yeah, there was, yeah, and it was in the audience.

and I got the role of like the lead, like princess. And I like, remember, go like floating down the aisle. I came from the audience to the stage, loved it, then pretended never happened. I was like, put that away, that's crazy. Yeah,

So loved it. When you got it, you were like stepping into it. Here we go. So you not so much introverted, very extroverted.

very extroverted, very loud, but just, yeah, not knowing you could make money on it. I guess

Yeah, sure, I mean, you did, you know anyone who was an actor? Or, yeah,

no, and then, you know, you get to I. I worked at Sephora and then my my longtime, my like high school boyfriend, who I love, he's the best. We broke up and I, I became so depressed. And there I was with money, an apartment. I did the thing I, I very quickly did the thing that, like, you're supposed to do, you know? And when I saw it didn't make me happy, I was miserable. And now I don't have this boyfriend.

And I just felt so sad. And my mom was like, What if you try? you're funny? what if you tried this thing? Cause I'd made it to the top at at Sephora in the way that I could. And like, I just, yeah. I felt so unhappy. And there was this quiet little voice in there that was like, wanting something more, but I didn't know what it was. And so I felt awful about myself. You're almost just like something's wrong with me, like nothing's satisfying me.

And then my mom said that, and then I, I went,

You find your people at groundlings. And for people that don't know who, you know, groundlings. It's an improv and sketch group and, uh, hugely i influential for so many people, like Incredible, Alums came out of there. What were you doing for money when you were taking classes? were you waiting tables? makeup, uh, makeup The makeup?

and working t. Yeah, in restaurants, yeah, I was doing weddings and and makeup jobs, and I did like music videos. Or like, just like I, I did this, I forget who the artist was. This I can't even say. They paid me in like gold card, cash, just like a thing of cash. And when I 1st got to LA. I mean, it was just

just whatever you could do.

just whatever I could do. When I 1st got to LA. I got a job at the church key. It was like this American style dim sum place and I had to dress up as a Pan Am stewardess with a little hat, a little outfit and heels. And I once came in with flats and they were like, No No, They were like, Kenny, go to your car or find something, and I had to go buy heels.

And I came back and I pushed around a dim sum cart. That where I made liquid nitrogen alcoholic otter pops, so I'd take the otter pop, which one would you like? Put it in the thing, pour liquid nitrogen. No gloves, cause I wanted to look good burning myself, I'm burning myself and I'm tw. I think I was 20, because I remember they, like, let me do it, maybe

So you go to groundlings. How do you get the audition for SNL?

I. I'd been working for for Diane Keaton actually for a long time.

okay, so let's talk about Diane. So you were her assistant, and where? how did you two meet? How did you get that job?

When I moved to LA. My mother's friend's sister was her main assistant and was like, let's grab coffee, and we had a coffee. And her name's Stephanie, she's the best, she's taught me everything, her and Diane have taught me so much. It is crazy. Uh, uh, I can't believe it, even looking back, uh, like, even just down to, like, getting me my 1st real purse. You know, I had a fake shoe like I love, I love fashion and all that stuff, and they just they're just the best and like, they just taught me so much.

And um, I meet with her and she goes, you know, we're always looking for someone to do errands and all that stuff. And at the time, I didn't, you know, Diane Keaton? I knew her as the mom from Family Stone. I did not watch Annie Hall, I had not seen The Godfather and all that. She made me watch those movies, she did. She said, You haven't seen Annie Hall? You're gonna go home and you're gonna watch it and tell me what you think.

And I did, and I watched The Godfather and she asked me what I thought. She was so incredible and it really did start as like a small job, just like, come, and, you know, help at this party. And I did, and I remember them sort of like chatting, like, Oh, what are we gonna do? And then and then she was like, Well, what about you know her? does she does she? is she working? And so I did.

I took on that job and it started with the kids, and then it turned into, like, Oh, well, can you run Diane's Instagram? and I was like, Okay, and then that turned into, well, you gotta, you know, spend time with Diane. You guys gotta look at videos and make stuff for her Instagram. And then it just all snowballed, and slowly it it became my whole life at a time. Like reading scripts and and working on projects.

And we eventually sold a book together. And

Okay. So when you were, when you're running her Instagram, which was often in all caps, was that her writing? Okay,

She was like, make sure that's

in caps?

yelling at the audience. It's so funny because it's, it's, it's so crazy how quickly it became my own. Like, all right, yes, that's like, like it was normal. It. She's so special. she is, she's Yeah, it's

really one in a million, she's so original. Like she had this thing that how would you describe? how would you describe that thing she had? that's be like, magic. Yeah, Yeah, it w.

it's freaky.

It was so delightful and playful, and, uh, eccentric. I isn't really quite the right word. It was just like, very, very original, how she's she moved through life.

very special. She just floated around like a butterfly, she was like a butterfly, and she really was. Even working with her, she was like, Oh, look at, look at this. Like she taught me to see the world around me, the shapes. As silly as that sounds, she'd go look at the building, she would stop, she'd pull over, Do you see this? my god, the tree, the way the light comes. She got me to, like, notice everything as if I was with a child.

It's so crazy. It was wonder like a child, but she kept into her 70s and that's what's rare. It's not that she was any different than anybody else. She was just willing to to to stick with that and keep that wonder. That goes away at some point because it taught me that it was even going away in myself, but she brought it back. And now I see those things, I stop and I go, Oh my god, I love the way that that shape is.

And like, those are the, though, that's my daily life now because of her. And I see pictures and I love images, and even making the book with her. Like, you know, every page and every image, and like, what's better? And why does this need to be black and white and and not have color? Why? Why do you like this contrast? And I, it's like, it's such a gift, it's crazy, it's like school, that's the school, right?

That's the stuff that I'm going, holy shit, I'm retaining everything. wow. And and Yeah,

what? What book did you make together? what? what was fashion it about? hm, hm,

1st, because her and I have a love for collaging and pictures, and she got me into that. And we tried to sell a collage book that no one was interested in. I mean, I'm going, it's it's Diane Keaton. Everyone's like, you're crazy if you think we are making this book because no one's gonna buy it. And the just getting the rights for the images will be crazy. Cause the mouth belongs to someone tell us about else, and the eyes.

A And we're going make it happen. And she was so pissed that no one would make this. But as I was doing research for that book, I went, Oh, hold on now, why don't you have a fashion book? And I showed her all of the images I bra. I came to work one day, I remember I was so nervous, and Stephanie kind of gave me the sign. She's like, show her this, cause Stephanie had been kind of trying to tell her for a long time to do this thing.

And it came with images because that's her language. And I was like, look at all of your outfits, look at everything you've done, look at, you know what I mean? And when I showed her

I know.

all of them, she went, Okay, this is good, and we pitched She was like, Okay, it.

I, I am very stylish,

That's when we showed Ritzoli, and then that's when they were like, All right, we'll, we'll make this. Yeah, I couldn't believe she let me design it, she let me design the cover, she let me design the book, she let me do everything. And I went, but I've never made a book before. And she's like, you, you will figure it out.

so cool. She no doubt it's Yes, how weird, amazing, amazing. Actually. I know ugh, what a loss. she's so special Yeah,

and she, she really cared about me. She would come to groundling shows when, like, why were you there? yeah, going to comedy, I always said to her, I said, you please don't shouldn't come to leave me. this, Yeah, and I mean it. And she was like, I'm coming and I'm gonna wear a tutu and a big old hat. And I said, I even said the 1st time she came, I said, Please, you know, I just don't want you to get mobbed, is what it was.

I just felt like, ugh. I also kept the two very separate, right? You're being a struggling comedian, you know? And then I go to this icon's house. I was living a double life. And then when the two would come together, I remember she was like, I'll lay low, I'll lay low, and I was like, Okay, great. I'm looking through the thing when she arrives and she's in the biggest tutu, biggest ex excuse me, excuse me, getting her tutus, getting on people's, excuse me, excuse me.

And every time she's laughing, Yes, every sketch,

I mean, she really was a fairy Godmother, and she dressed like a fairy

that's a good. She dressed Godmother. like a fairy Godmother, she was a fairy God. And I was just like, and everyone backstage, Diane Keaton's here, I know she's here.

So she helped you get the audition, she like, she encouraged you to audition. She basically She's believed that you could do it and she's She believed therefore,

I could do it, but I will say, I mean, everyone believed in me, uh, but. But nothing was happening and so I was going to quit.

yeah, talk, talk to me about that. You were just you were I was doing, uh, tired, yeah,

it had been. I mean, like you said, you're like, you came into SNL kind of f fully formed. But it's because I, I. I respect what people are doing online with the comedy, I'm not good at that. And so every time the opportunity came up, it was like, Well, do something online, do front facing comedy, do all that. I resisted the urge because it just wasn't for me, and I went well, if that's not for me, I kind of associated it with, well, then.

I guess I'm not willing to do the work, which wasn't true. I was always doing the work, I was doing live shows. Just who's in the audience? Not, you know, no one that can really make a career for you. no Guffmans, It's there's no, there's no Guffman,

where's the Guffmans?

where's Guffman? We're waiting. So I, I just felt tired and I was like, Fuck this, I, I, I decided I. I was more willing to decide to live my life. I was like, I'm done, I'm done with the will, I get the will I. I just made a book. I was like, there's other ways to make money and be creative. That's what she taught me, and I was like, I'm done, I'm just fucking done. I'll figure out something else.

I just wanna be happy. And and that does not lie in waiting to see if this commercial is gonna call me after pinning me. You know what I mean, like, I, I was like, No, I'm just done. And that's when, you know, Naomi Odenkirk, who is

yep. Bob Odenkirk's wife, very famous manager.

she is unreal, she. We went to breakfast and she was like, What do you do? like, what have you been doing? You're like traveling with Diane, like, what is your life like? And I'm like, I guess I just, I'm like, I don't know, like, I'm just not doing it anymore, I guess, like, I don't wanna perform live anymore. I was losing that interest because it I hit my, I hit the ceiling of what I could do.

I made main, I like, did everything, and it was just like, All right, I guess this is this path is done. I love performing, but this is no longer serving me to become a better person within myself. I felt stunted. And then she said, Well, let me try one more thing. And let's do this party of three show, which was me, Chris Kleckner and Alex Bonifas. She's like, we'll do your best stuff, cause I didn't wanna do it alone.

And she's like, pick your friends, they're dear friends and we're always in each other's stuff. So we did a show and then that kinda caught some momentum. And then we were in Netflix as a joke, and then it was SNL wants you to showcase. And then I was, I was like, Okay, and they came to party of three, and then they asked me to showcase after the show. So I performed. They just see me and then I ran over to UCB Franklin and did it.

What impressions did you do? Oh God, I know,

I did Diane, I did Diane, actually, because I was like, I don't do impressions. Who am I around the most? Diane? And she's so funny, I did her like voiceover, I did, like her, doing a voiceover for like, Planet Earth, where she's just yelling that they're hurting each other, cause she's so they're hurting each other. Um, she's just so funny and that that was an easy one. And then, oh my god, I don't even know what else I did.

I, I, I'm not good at impressions and that's something that I've always been like, well, then I guess I'm not good for SNL.

Oh, isn't it funny? because it's, uh, I, I'm not good at impressions either. And if, and it's like, you, it's a weird thing where y. Someone's like, So just also, I guess it would be like if you're applying for a job and they're like, also just do a little bit of um, painting, you know? And it's just you're just also you just have to do three paintings

my lawyer, I just need you to do three paintings, just three.

and you're like, Okay, I'll do, I'll right. Three do the best I can at painting.

and do it at the opening before you even go into your lawyering, do the cold open,

Do the paintings 1st, before do the paintings we talk about the lawyer, and 1st, on your way to, um, doing the painting. Walk past f40 people who are really good at painting,

really good at painting.

make sure you take a look at their photos.

That makes me feel so much better. Because I. I made the mistake of thinking once I got the show, that they were like, surely they're not gonna ask me, I'm bad at it. No, they're gonna ask you, and they're gonna ask you a lot, they're gonna tell you.

what have you done? what have you? What political impressions have you done on the show We shouldn't so far?

call them impressions, we just shouldn't label it as an impression.

Okay, political characters who have you played? I who have you played? did Christy Noem, Oh yeah, Christy Noem, that's right.

I did Pam Bondi, who Both of them, you? both of them I watched yours, gone, I know, I total know, I know, gone. and then I did Caroline Levitt. All of them just s, not even scraping the surface of what I watched you and Tina, cause I had I did. You both did it,

and then you had to go and do both of them.

I had to go do both of them. And just more iconic women, cooler women from the show, did it, and then, and then me. And I was like, I Oh my god, was like, Why are you guys making me do this? and I was like, Can you make me come back that was and do one?

like when, that was like when Forte had to do Bush. Um, after Will Ferrell left, Pharrell, it's so not um, Pharrell. okay. But did you bring any groundlings characters to SNL?

Oh yeah, I did. I did my haircut, uh, sketch,

You did for your audition? oh yeah, that was Oh, that's the yeah, I cool,

did haircut, I did.

God, that sketch.

I did Kathy a bit, I did this woman, Kathy for, um, Jack Black. But she sort of changed because that's what's been interesting is that I brought so much to the show. Like, came in, like, I've got all this stuff. And then you realize it's just such a different medium. Even though they're both sketch, you gotta be a little punchier, you need to like,

well, it's funny you say that because so we do this thing in the show where we talk to somebody who knows our guest so we can talk well behind their back. And we talked to Andrew today, Andrew Dismukes. Oh, that's so He was in his hotel sweet, that room

is so sweet. drinking black coffee, I think we were just like drinking, like, you know, whiskey or something. drinking I was like, Yes, whiskey out of a and he's totally bottle. bad. I'm like, He was doing badly, Oh my god, yeah, and he's so

f. We were very worried about him.

So he asked you for some money? Yeah, it's

It was really appropriate. inappropriate, it's Um, great. no, he had just done a show, he was we. He was drinking black coffee in a hotel room and we were talking about you. And he is so lovely and and works so hard on that show and loves working with you. he's the best And his question for you was what at Groundlings helps you prepare for SNL? Because we were kind of joking that, like it, in many ways, it feels like a mini SNL camp there, like

it is.

people get really prepared. But you're saying that it also it, it did and it didn't. What did it do to help you to get ready for the show? And

I mean, it forces you to write for yourself. If there is anything I could ever tell, like young comedians, but also just like young women, because especially for myself, like, I mean, gosh, even Diane, I mean, like the scripts she was getting versus what I knew she was capable of. Someti like, just like the writing for women sometimes bothers me in a way that I cannot.

let's talk about it for a 2nd. What? What bothers you? Cause I, I, I know what you mean. It's like,

I just feel like sometimes we're not as portrayed as complex, yes. I was gonna say aggressively, because I'm like, we're just we got shit going on, it's complex, it's deep, it's, it's so nuanced. It's like I have so many things about me that I wanna see on screen and and in comedy, and and. And I do wonder sometimes if, um, to get there, we just need to be a little more willing to write for ourselves. And that's what th.

That's what Groundlings did for me was you do not get on that stage unless you are writing something for yourself. I mean, you might be in some people's stuff, maybe, but like, it's the same at SNL. It's like you can wait around all day for someone to write something for you, or you can just write it yourself. And it, I feel that way with movies as well, like, I'm so lucky to be now, like, getting to do movies, but I'm still writing.

I am writing so much and I will never stop because I have to speak for myself. And it just creates this confidence. And that's what it prepared me for was showing up and going, all right. None of these writers know who I am, and nor should they. They've got their own shit, they have to write the cold o like they're right. They're doing stuff, they're busy, busy, they're writing for Amy Poehler. Where, like, it's like, they've got a host,

they've got a host.

they're not going. What is Ash? like? No, so then I went, All right, then I'm gonna write. And then that's what makes people wanna work with you is they're like, Okay, she knows what she wants to do. And that's where it's. Oh my gosh, like Allison Gates, Kent Sublette, like showing up and helping me make it more SNL, more for television. It's gotta be a little punchier, it's gotta be choppy, it's gotta like the cuts, camera cuts.

And like, you can't do what you do at Groundlings, where I can linger, cause there's no time constraint, it's like, we gotta get to But you it.

know, you have an interesting quality that's really awesome to watch, which is you do not rush and you take your time and you have great timing and it. It's thrilling because we all know the construct of that show. There's like, just not a lot of time. And so the luxury of having a little bit of time, taking a little time, it, it's. It feels transgressive and when it's done by somebody who knows what they're doing, it's really fun.

it is my favorite thing to do. I will. It's like, my my, it's just so like. I remember, even with the haircut sketch, there was a talk about cutting stuff and the 1st thing to go is, you know, those pauses at the begin. Well, let's just cut your entrance, but but please let me have that because I need to say hi to the audience real quick. In a way that's like, let me show you what I'm feeling and then we'll get into it.

Because I like watching people behave and to behave. It's not rushed. To feel nervous or anxious, or embarrassed, being embarrassed takes a little time. It's like that feeling, it's just I love it and it like, ugh, and then now they're on your side, I hope it, because they're in on the joke with, you know, and then those other jokes pop. That's that like song that I like to play is like, it's just a bit of a dance, I like it

God. It's so true about behavior, because we don't really often remember what sketches are about. Like, the idea is Oh my like, what, god, yeah, I don't even remember the idea. Like someone's mad at someone about whatever. It's these like little human behavior moments that are so funny and weird. You're so good at them. I mean, thank you, that sketch, the s, the s. There's a sketch where you were surprised by your coworkers, you're uh, for your birthday, and good.

you fart, you fart, and

I could not believe that got on television, and that was put on TVs.

that's right, it's on TV forever. Families And is all that you're moaning after we. s. like, in terms of the the real estate of the sketch, it takes up a lot of time. Your reaction to, like, what did I do? What just happened? How am I gonna get through? This is all conveyed in like a, uh, like, 20, maybe 25 seconds of moaning.

and that was not really in rehearsal. That's where I want you to apologize to everyone is I something took over there, and that's where the audience is like, I'm sure you felt this. I mean, it's why we love live is like you can rehearse something all day. But until you're in front of a crowd and know what they are gonna give you, they loved the fart. So I went, well, shit, let's sit

here we go.

here, let's sit in the pain of this. I love arrogance. Oh my, what Oh, me is funnier?

too, me too.

What is funnier than someone being like, Happy guys, I farted. What you guys wanted? What? It's like, J I tota- I also Fuck off.

played a character who very it was very cocky about the fact that she farted and was like, she accused people of being jealous. There was a show called Rock of Love, which was like, like a dating show, and I played a one legged character who f farted when she jumped around. And she was like, He So I farted jealous, she said, jealous, and everyone was like, No, we're not jealous. It is the epitome And

of why I wanna do comedy I know, for the rest and it, and it of my life.

would be so fun to do hopping around on one leg, being Me like, cause I was a I. She considered herself a real catch, and you know what, that's all it takes.

that's also my favorite is when someone's like, you want a fight? No, you want some of this? no, totally, I love I want none that. of it. That is fantastic.

You and Andrew work so well together by He's, he the way.

does the. He's what we're talking about. I mean, his stuff is grounded in realism, like he's like, and he writes but it's absurd.

a lot for the show,

That's all he's. He's got a very clear voice. Yeah,

and do you feel like starting? You started at the 50th year? Was it weird? 50th season? Was it weird to start with, like, EV, like every person coming back, ev- all the time?

I and mind you, no one knew who I w- like, the like. Emil and Jane are so proactive with their careers that they had a following. They were coming in, you know, they had fans to watch them. People tuning in were going, Who is this woman? What is she doing? And I was going, I don't know, I don't know. And then I would sit in my dressing room and I was like, Oh, man, who hired me?

Do they know I'm here? And then to the point where when I came back for this last season, I was sitting in my dressing room the whole first show, not in a single thing. And then I did my sketch last sketch of the show and

which is often the best one.

it can be. It's sort of like a hail mary. It's like, Yeah, they're, they're. I do. I did love that slot, and it the the more you get on the show, the less you get that slot sometimes, which I do, I. That slot is fun.

yeah. And I also wanna talk to you about your haircut because it's such a bold move to cut your hair in the middle of a season.

I think they'd all say that too, you Did you have know, we didn't

to get? say you could do Did you have to get that. permission? Like, I mean, you're It's unfair like,

what I did to these. It, it's you didn't, you begged unfair.

for forgiveness, you did not ask for permission, I you just did went shorter it.

than I said I was going.

What's your relationship with Lauren?

I just really, really admire him. I just think he's so smart and I can't believe someone was put on this earth to give people like you and I. I don't know if you think this, but like, being funny is so insane, like, it's it's like, what are you here for? You make us laugh. I don't know, not to diminish, but it's like, at the end of the day, it's I know, like,

I believe me. It's like, uh, uh, I mean, it's. It's so funny.

I mean, there are really important jobs in the world. And then we're like, jealous, I'll take my money now.

Totally. You're like, Dude, I mean, I, I, it's It's sick, true, like,

it's sick. it's a We should be work on the cop car waiting for our moms to pick us up. It is sick. what we do.

It's sick. It's so true.

It's not okay.

And we treat it very, uh, people Oh, we're like, treat it like it's very important, and you it's

cut the 2nd fart, we can't cut the 2nd fart, the 2nd fart makes the 3rd fart work. I'm at my desk by midnight.

that's that's why when you watch shows about people making comedy, it makes me laugh so hard, cause It's it is so serious. Everyone takes it, but it is

taking stuff seriously, that's what we love. But to go back to the it's like, Lauren found a way to give those people jobs. You gave us a place to work. Holy hell,

but, uh, let me get back to your haircut. Sorry, long thing, but you cut your hair incredib- looks incredible.

hey, thank you.

Do you love having short hair?

Oh, yeah, I've had it before. That's where the haircut sketch came from, was me shaving it too short and pretending I liked it and that it was what I meant to do. And I was like, This is ooh, a buzz, this is good.

I'm kind of obsessed. The politics of hair, like hair means something on the show, That's why like, you know,

I shaved it, or, I mean, originally,

really, why? What do you mean?

because I don't like being told what is feminine. Do you know what I mean? And there's something inherently like, like, long hair is, it's like, No, what's no? When do I feel the prettiest? Because people, whenever they meet me, your hair is so beautiful, it's so long. It's like, I don't really want that to be the 1st thing you think of. It was like, swor- I like to be open and fresh and like, vulnerable. It makes me feel vulnerable because I can't hide.

And like, I like feeling open and like you can see my face. And I was, uh, I was wearing so many wigs, and yeah, it just feels a little like, I don't know, dom, like, not dom. It's like

Well, you have an interesting absurd. play with mask and femme stuff in the way you dress, too. And Diane, of course, is like that, kind of like, what is your relationship to, like, what is typically masculine or typically feminine? Would you p- do you like to play around with that?

yes, and it's crazy how much of an influence Diane was on that. Because making the fashion book, we have a photo together where we're wearing the same exact outfit. Cause I showed up to work dressed like her, not even realizing it. And we took a picture, and when I went into her office the next day, it was framed, she printed it out and framed it. And it's this image. I'm like, Holy shit, you taught me that.

Like, I don't have to be in this world for a man's approval, which is something I think I was doing for a long time. And that's s. That's so sad to say it out loud, but it's just the truth. I don't know if it's the, you know, well, welcome to the father issues, I mean, like, right, patriarchy. right, in a I was always like, Oh my God, vulnerable to take my makeup off and like, have my hair done and be hot.

So what? For

to by the way, for who? for who, to who? to who, and

who?

for how long?

for how long? For how long? so long, because Because mama I tight, tight, t I have to go to bed, bed, tight, tight, done, done. seriously, fuck Fuck, fuck off, seriously, and this is even fuck off, fuck you, I'm yes, and done.

hotter than ever, though, actually Okay, honey, hotter. I mean, it looks incredible.

okay, thank you. It's funny, cause I feel hotter because I'm myself. I mean, I told Jody. Jody was like, Jodi. Mckuso, who She's

runs the SNL hair department, who the the Bron, who Bronx best speed is basic based on,

sweat, a weather. And I said to her, and she was like, Your hair's the prettiest she, and she's the best. I mean, she was so supportive. And she was like, you know, she didn't know what I looked like with short hair. So she's going, What are you talking about? You wanna chop all your hair off? And I'm like, I finally got so dramatic. This is what's funny, right? The I went, my soul says I have to do this.

And she's probably like, just do it, idiot. Like, what? God, stop texting me. I was like, please, she's like, do it,

do it.

and I feel immediate. Because it's also the thing you're saying, maybe with the challen- it's like, permission. It was the permission part, too.

Yeah, I think it's really interesting and I think it's very cool. Thank Th- it just goes to show you, liberating, it liberating. And also just, eh, getting back to the initial theme of of you is that you have a s, you're, you have a s. Like, you're. You're self-possessed in a way that's very inviting. It doesn't feel like you're an island and no one can know you or that's get around with you.

nice to know that.

It's really, really, but but there's just something about you that feels like you kind of have a sense of who you are and what you like. And you write that way, you perform that way, and it's really intoxicating thank to be around. You're you, thank welcome. So you we're gonna end with, uh, impressions. down down to camera No, we to did, we did camera. How ten impressions, are you doing but you know what we

this?

used to do? We used to play a game, we used to play a game where you had to do an impression of somebody in

Why are you doing this to me?

10 s, or you die. You're gonna kill Okay,

me legally. so Is that the paperwork I signed on the way in yet?

so you will give each other someone to do

Are you serious?

yes, and you, yes, and you have to do it. It does not have to be good. It only a 5 second impersonation. You said ten, Oh, I said, ten, you changed okay, I it when you realized changed it to

you had to do it too. You're five. Yeah, like, five, oh, we can do five, five, five.

it in five. Yeah, okay, 5 second impersonation of, and I'll just throw out a name and then you can throw one out for me. It's really fun, it's really fun. Okay Okay, let me think, okay, ready? And you can't think, you can't think about it, you just have to go. Doesn't matter. Austin Butler whoa, There we go, we got him, we got him.

whoa, that's true. I what were you thinking? Whoa, should I bring him into the show? Should I do it? should I bring it to season three?

okay, give me one.

Season three? I called it cause it's my season It is your season three. Ooh, 53. three. That was disrespectful. 53. Um, Joan Cusack, Okay, You guys, you guys, oh okay, okay, okay, ready, go. So we're go, just doing voices, here we go, one, so we're just doing two, three, like, ready. Shakira you nailed All right, it, Shakira, what?

all right, give me one. You I'm go, I'm gonna die, you have to give what is his me one. name? what is his 10 s, name? Um, uh, go, nine,

Tommy Lee Jones, No, Tommy.

oh my god. Uh, yeah, you're gonna get into outhouse, doghouse, henhouse, every outhouse. You better check every outhouse, doghouse, henhouse around here. Fucking shit, You gotta

that was him.

catch the guy. No, this isn't funny The fugitive, we're anymore, looking for the fugitive.

that was him. This isn't even funny anymore. So you do do impressions, you did this to embarrass Ivanka me. Trump, go, Walked. I'm like, literally the fact that I'm getting fired from the show I'm on after this, she can't do impressions. Whoa, what is that? what, what, what? Okay, oh my god,

fuck, that was good. There were those were really good.

thank you.

You know who I do

So are yours.

think you could do? You know who I think you could do well, though, is Laura Linney.

I get that a lot.

You ha- you sound a lot like Laura Linney.

I get that a lot, and I watch videos of her because people have said that. She's amazing,

she, she is, I mean, she, she's so like, she's so Um, let's do great. Laura Linney impersonation. You could do it. This one you can do.

well, now I can't do it. I just do a wah again. Okay, let's What is it?

h- let's have Laura Linney talking about, um,

God, I just watched a video of her.

of, uh, about her, um, drink. Like, she just, eh, she just had some delicious coffee. I mean, I feel like,

just went, Mm, delicious. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh, this coffee is so delicious. Oh, oh, god, that was for you, Laura. Laura, we love We love you.

you, Laura, we love you. Oh my god, Oh my god, oh my god.

you made me cry.

Okay. Oh, I have to ask you one more question. What are you listening to these days? Watching, reading? What do you do to like? Space out, check out, laugh? I'm always taking suggestions from people. Is there a video that you frequent? Yeah,

I am so big on, like, survivalist shows, ooh, like, like, to the point where me and Allison Gates, we write a lot together, head writer at SNL, she's amazing. We work outside of the show together as well. And we were on a Zoom the other day, supposed to be working, fully supposed to be working. And we set that aside to have a vulnerable conversation about do we? And talk to talk to our teams. And like, really lay out the game plan of if we wanna go on Survivor together, we are so serious about it in a scary way that we need to stop talking about it.

Because both of us want it. So we watch these shows and there is one that I just got put on, too, called Extraction. Have you s heard of this?

I think I might have heard of it, but not really. Tell me more. I'm gonna put you Looking it

in the scenario.

up, I have a laptop and You it's coming into frame.

you in your head, pick two people that you that you trust and love. Now picture that they're in a headquarters. You, Amy Poehler, are put in the wilderness. They can see you on screen, you can talk to them and say, I need food and water. But you're fighting other families, and they're fighting other families in the headquarters to get you what you need. Because their loved one is out in the wilderness, too. So they're doing their own game and you're going, I need water, and they're like, we're tra- they can't talk to you, only you can talk to them.

So you're going every time you get a box and there's nothing in it, you don't know that. They just played a game in headquarters where they can't get you water, so you're like, and then you go, I wanna be extracted, and they can decide if they wanna pull you out or not.

or not.

They can leave you. Please go on it with me. It takes four months of our life.

okay, I I have a couple questions about this. It feels like you could just set rules before, which what is like, they do. So like, right,

then they start crying and go, I know I said that I don't I, that know. when I said I wanted to be extracted to to wait two days, but please, please get me out. And then the family goes, No, she said, to wait two days. And though that was the conversation me and Alison were having, it was like, Do you want me to extract you? And I was literally dead, so you're like, I don't know. Whoa, it's a fucking you have to watch it two seasons and it's r- a Where new trailer.

is it on? It's on, oh, it's.

I think I watched it There's also on Hulu.

a movie called Extraction by Chris Hemsworth.

Don't, I mean, watch that too, if you want. I haven't seen it. Extraction TV show Yes, oh, extracted extracted. extracted.

Okay, let's just look at a, um, I just wanna look at a clip of it.

God, it's so good.

I have not had any food in six days. I should have applied for the floor. Rob Lowe wouldn't do this to people.

Your objective is to choose which survivalists receive crucial support.

Oh, some don't get supplies.

Yes, some are without fire for weeks, begging to go home.

my child has not had

It was a s right,

fire all week.

cause that's what I think, too. It's a lot of mothers, so they're like, My child, my child, he's and it's like, a sleeping bag.

M ma'am, your child's 35,

Yes, that is a good point. They're all in their 40s. Ma'am, ma'am,

ma'am ex- oh, and then they have a oh, this is satisfying. They have a giant button a giant that says extract.

track button, and they have to go hit it in front of everyone. It's very Ashley, good. You're amazing,

thank you for doing this. This was so

you're the best. fun, you're I see why people laugh so good so hard at impressions, at you. You are so funny, you're so funny,

you're so good at impressions.

you are so good at impressions. We are so good.

Thank you so much, Ashley. That was so fun and so funny, and it's just a joy to talk to you and get to know you more. And, um, you know, Ashley talked a lot about one of her mentors, Diane Keaton, her fairy godmother. And I just feel for this polar plunge. I wanna remind us all of some of the many great films that Diane made. Check out Marvin's Room, if you haven't seen that. It's so good, and Meryl Streep is in it, and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, and it's such good acting.

Uh, uh, Reds, an incredible movie with Warren Beatty. It's beautiful performance, um, uh, from Diane, um, uh, Crimes of the heart, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange. I mean, just Diane, we miss you. Thank you, Ashley, for that fun talk. Thank you so much for listening today, and we'll see you soon. 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 Paper Kite.

For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, Aleya Zenieris, Bridget Geerlings, Paige Garbarini, Belle Roman and Drew Van Steenbergen. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.