Comedian Janine Harouni's 'Man'oushe'

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Comedian Janine Harouni's 'Man'oushe'

Release Date: December 13, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Janine Harouni
Location: Soho Playhouse, New York City

---

Introduction to Janine Harouni and Her Show

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart warmly welcomes comedian Janine Harouni to discuss her one-hour comedy show, 'Man'oushe', currently running at the Soho Playhouse until December 21st. Janine, hailing originally from Staten Island and now based in the UK, brings a rich tapestry of personal experiences to her performance, blending humor with heartfelt storytelling.

Alison Stewart introduces Janine by highlighting her exceptional ability to portray various characters through accents, reflecting her Staten Island roots and Lebanese heritage:

"You can tell comedian Janine Haroney is from Staten island in part because she's really good at the accent." [00:37]

---

Crafting 'Man'oushe' – Themes and Personal Narratives

Janine's show delves deep into themes of motherhood, navigating fears of becoming a mother, a challenging pregnancy, a miscarriage, and her complex relationship with her parents. She emphasizes honesty in her storytelling, aiming to create a cathartic experience for her audience.

When discussing her approach to sensitive topics, Janine shares:

"I feel like it was, for me, the only way to do it. I would feel fake if I was getting up and not being honest about what I was thinking about, worrying about." [03:16]

She explains that using humor to address her fears and anxieties allows her to connect authentically with her audience, providing both levity and depth.

---

Performance Under Unique Circumstances

Janine recounts the challenging experience of debuting her show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival while being eight and a half months pregnant:

"Big mistake." [02:20]

She describes the physical difficulties of performing at such a late stage in her pregnancy, including navigating the hilly terrain of Edinburgh and managing morning sickness on stage. Despite these challenges, she found a silver lining as her unborn son would often fall asleep during her performance, providing her brief moments of respite:

"The only time that he fell asleep was when I was doing my show. So it was actually very nice to have that break." [02:39]

---

Exploring Heritage and Family Influence

A significant portion of Janine's comedy revolves around her Lebanese heritage and family dynamics. She fondly recalls her grandmother, a professional singer in Lebanon, and shares anecdotes that highlight the cultural nuances within her family.

Discussing her grandmother's illustrious career, Janine reveals:

"She starred in the first ever Lebanese movie called the Bride of Lebanon." [08:08]

This legacy influences Janine's own storytelling, as she grapples with balancing personal aspirations with familial expectations. She reflects on her grandmother's decision to emigrate to the US, leaving behind a flourishing career to prioritize family life, paralleling her own fears about balancing motherhood and career:

"The show kind of wrestles with that pressure that you feel as a woman to have a career and have dreams and still make space to be a parent and have a family and do all of those things." [10:08]

---

Mastering Accents and Character Portrayal

Janine's talent for accents enhances her storytelling, allowing her to embody a range of characters from her Staten Island parents to her Lebanese grandmother and Irish husband. She shares how this skill has opened doors for her, including casting opportunities:

"Casting directors who were doing the Batman movie came and saw the show, and they were looking for someone to play a sex worker in this Batman movie. And my impersonation of my mother, apparently, they were like, she'd be perfect." [11:35]

Her ability to switch accents seamlessly adds depth to her performances, making her characters relatable and vibrant.

---

Handling Edgy Topics and Audience Reactions

Janine doesn't shy away from controversial subjects such as abortion and miscarriage. She discusses the polarized reactions she receives from different audiences, illustrating the societal divisions mirrored in her comedy settings.

Reflecting on performing in Raleigh, North Carolina, she notes:

"Half of the audience booed, half of the audience stood up and clapped. It was a microcosm of the division that's happening in this states right now." [12:49]

Janine emphasizes her approach to tackling sensitive topics with humor, aiming to create a safe and inclusive environment for all audience members:

"I want everybody in my shows to feel very comfortable and very wanted there." [13:34]

---

The Influential Role of Adam Brace

A pivotal moment in Janine's journey was the sudden passing of Adam Brace, a close friend and mentor who profoundly influenced her comedic style. Adam taught her the art of blending deep, personal narratives with humor, a technique that defines her show.

Janine shares touching memories of Adam:

"He was just the best. He knew how to write. He knew how to take someone from a joke writer to a storyteller and how to write about personal things that are meaningful and how to make them funny." [17:24]

Her tribute to Adam in the show underscores the importance of authenticity and emotional resonance in her comedy.

---

Embracing Motherhood

Janine candidly discusses her transition into motherhood, highlighting the initial anxiety and eventual fulfillment she finds in raising her 15-month-old son. She contrasts her expectations with the reality of early parenthood, acknowledging the challenges and joys that come with nurturing a child.

"Now that he's 15 months old... I see that this is what I thought motherhood would be like and I'm really, really enjoying it." [05:34]

Her honest portrayal of the complexities of motherhood resonates with many, showcasing her ability to find humor and love amidst the chaos.

---

Collaborating with Her Husband

Janine's husband, Andrew, plays a supportive role in her performances by opening for her. Their collaborative dynamic enhances the familial atmosphere of her shows, making the experience more intimate and relatable for the audience.

"He has unbelievable taste and he's somebody who I can turn to and say, is this funny? And he'll say kind of, but maybe punch it up with this joke or that." [24:14]

Their partnership exemplifies the balance between personal and professional life, further enriching Janine's comedic narratives.

---

Cultural Differences in Audience Reception

Comparing her performances in the UK and New York, Janine observes distinct cultural responses. She notes that New York audiences are more vocal and emotionally expressive, enhancing the live experience, whereas British audiences tend to be more reserved.

"British audiences can be very reserved, very quiet. And so it's really special to be doing the show here in New York." [24:44]

This insight highlights how cultural contexts shape the reception of comedy, influencing Janine's delivery and interaction with her audience.

---

Conclusion

Janine Harouni's 'Man'oushe' is a compelling blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, drawing from her rich cultural heritage, personal experiences, and the profound influence of mentors like Adam Brace. Through her honest and engaging performances, Janine invites audiences to reflect on universal themes of family, motherhood, and resilience, all while delivering laughs that resonate deeply.

For those interested in experiencing Janine's unique comedic perspective, 'Man'oushe' is available at the Soho Playhouse until December 21st.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "I feel like it was, for me, the only way to do it..." [03:16]
• "Big mistake." [02:20]
• "She starred in the first ever Lebanese movie called the Bride of Lebanon." [08:08]
• "The show kind of wrestles with that pressure..." [10:08]
• "He was just the best. He knew how to write..." [17:24]
• "Now that he's 15 months old... I'm really, really enjoying it." [05:34]
• "British audiences can be very reserved, very quiet." [24:44]

---

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Janine Harouni's 'Man'oushe', highlighting key discussions, personal insights, and the emotional depth of her comedy. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to her work, this episode offers a profound glimpse into the intricacies of culture, motherhood, and the power of authentic storytelling.

Transcript

[Kodiak Ad]

You don't have to go at your goals alone. Kodiak's in your corner with whole grain protein packed flapjacks that taste like a reward. And with mouth watering flavors like buttermilk, double dark chocolate and blueberry, you'll forget they're actually good for you. Get 20% off now through December 31st on Kodiakicks.com flapjack and use code flapjack20.

[WNYC Studios]

Listener supported WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. You can tell comedian Janine Haroney is from Staten island in part because she's really good at the accent. In fact, over the course of her one hour show, Janine transforms into a variety of people, from her Staten island parents to her Lebanese grandmother, to her Irish husband. They are all essential characters in Janine's story, which focuses on motherhood, her fears about becoming a mother, her difficult pregnancy, an experience with miscarriage, and her relationship to her own parents. It is funny, it is occasionally raunchy and it's very touching. Oh, and when she debuted the festival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, she was eight months pregnant. Jeanine now lives in the uk, but she's back in New York at the Soho Playhouse, right around the corner from her offices here at wnyc. Her show is called all right. We've been having a discussion about how you call this.

[WNYC Studios]

Well, I'm mispronouncing it Janine, by the way, everybody, hello. Hi.

[Alison Stewart]

How do you say it?

[WNYC Studios]

It is minouche or minutia. But is it. But my family, it's a nickname for me and they just pronounce it manoush. But many Lebanese people have corrected me and so I do apologize. But I am pronouncing it in the show the way that my family say, yeah, manoush.

[Alison Stewart]

So what does manoush mean?

[WNYC Studios]

Well, it's, it has many meanings, but it's a food. It's a food in Lebanese culture that's kind of like a pizza. And my grandmother nicknamed me it. And it's also, I've recently learned from an audience member, a nickname for a woman's private parts. And so I don't know why my grandmother nicknamed me that. And she's passed away, so we'll never know.

[Alison Stewart]

We'll never know.

[WNYC Studios]

We'll never know.

[Alison Stewart]

You originally performed this when you were eight months pregnant? Eight and a half months pregnant at the Edinburgh Fringe.

[WNYC Studios]

Big mistake.

[Alison Stewart]

That is crazy. So was that a mistake?

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah. I don't know if you've ever been to Edinburgh. It is A city of. I was. I was walking up and genuinely, my husband was pushing me up hills and then holding me from rolling down. It was. It was an absolute nightmare.

[Alison Stewart]

So what was it like to be on stage eight and a half months pregnant?

[WNYC Studios]

Do you know what's weird is my son was a real kicker when he was in the womb, and the only time that he fell asleep was when I was doing my show. So it was actually very nice to have that break. And then we joked that when he was born, if he wouldn't sleep, I just needed to do my actum. It would just knock my son out. I guess he's not a fan also.

[Alison Stewart]

Maybe he just heard your voice over time and over time and just was like, okay, I'm gonna just. I'm gonna relax now.

[WNYC Studios]

Oh, that's a nicer way of putting it. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

On a serious note, though, how did it feel to make all these jokes about pregnancy, about your miscarriage while you were pregnant on stage?

[WNYC Studios]

It felt. I'm the kind of person, whenever I do a show, I kind of just tell everybody everything about my life. So I feel like it was, for me, the only way to do it. I would feel fake if I was getting up and not being honest about what I was thinking about, worrying about. And for me, the best way to break through fear and anxiety is to make light of it. So that's my way of dealing with things. And I kind of hope that audience members take that away and feel a bit of catharsis when they see the show.

[Alison Stewart]

A lot of the show is about motherhood. And you're very honest about how you were a little reluctant at first. You weren't sure about whether or not you were going to lose your career. Your. Hello, sir. I mean, when you were thinking about the show, what was keeping you from.

[Janine Haroney]

That next step of motherhood?

[WNYC Studios]

When I was thinking about the show, I guess I was turning 35. And I think everybody puts this thing in your head that, you know, you're getting old now, you've got to have a baby. And for some reason, 35 in my head was, you know, it's now or never kind of thing, which is obviously not true. But we're put under so much pressure as women. And so I thought I got pregnant, and it happened quite quickly. And I think for me, I didn't feel great straight away. And also, your hormones are going crazy when you're pregnant and you're dealing with all of these new symptoms. Like, I had terrible morning sickness, and, I mean, I couldn't do My job, I had to cancel gigs all the time because I couldn't sit on the train to get to work. And so I started to feel really resentful of the fact that I was the one. If we wanted to have, have a baby, myself and my husband, I was the one who had to do all of the work and my husband just had to have one fun night in December. And so I started writing about that because I think a lot of people can relate to that. It's the, the injustice of, of being the one to carry the baby is, is great. And I feel like my husband will never get over how upset I was the entire time that I was pregnant.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, now that you are a mom, what's something about motherhood that you couldn't know or understand before?

[WNYC Studios]

My son's 15 months now, and I.

[Alison Stewart]

Think that's a cute age.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, it's a really cute age.

[Alison Stewart]

There's a reason that people's kids are like 15, two years apart. Cause they're really cute.

[WNYC Studios]

Right. I see everybody gets fooled and are like, I can do this again. And then they suddenly have a terrible two and a newborn to take care of. I will not be fooled. I'm a one and done. Me too as well. Yeah. High five. High five. So my son is 15 months and everybody told me when I was pregnant, you're never going to know love. Like the love you feel when you meet your baby. And for me, that didn't happen. I had this newborn baby to take care of. There's no feedback with a newborn. You know, he doesn't even know I'm there. They can't even see you for the first few weeks, whatever it is. And I was so anxious all the time that he was. I had to take care of this thing. And I'd never taken care of a baby in my life before, so I did not enjoy the newborn stage. But now that he's 15 months old and he's a, he's a big boy, he's like, he looks like a three year old. People are very confused when they meet him. Now that he's more solid, he is starting to see the world. And not only do I feel love for him and meeting this little person and seeing his little personality, it's such a nice feeling to see how much this little boy loves me and my husband. And I think if there's anyone out there who's not enjoying the newborn stage, I am with you. I am not a woman who likes babies. And I learned that through having a baby, which that wasn't very fun. But now that I have a 15 month old, I see that this is what I thought motherhood would be like and I'm really, really enjoying it.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Janine Haroni. Her new comedy show is Manoush is running at Soho Playhouse through December 21st. I don't want to give it all away, but we learn about your grandmother, but we do learn that she was a professional singer before coming to the United States. We actually have a little bit of her singing. So let's take a listen and we can talk about it on the other side.

[WNYC Studios]

What was her career like?

[Alison Stewart]

What was her performance like?

[WNYC Studios]

So she started very young. I think she was maybe 13 or 14 when she was discovered in Lebanon. And at that time, I think Egypt was really big in music and movies and Lebanon kind of had this budding industry. And she signed this contract when she was 16 years old to tour the world and she was really well known. She was actually, I don't say it in the show, but she was in the first ever. She starred in the first ever Lebanese movie called the Bride of Lebanon. So she had this really big career over there. And when she was 16 or 17, this record company paired her up with this young singer who was completely unknown. Her name was Feyre's.

[Alison Stewart]

When you said that and the audience went woo. The whole audience at the same time.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, because if you don't know, Pheruz, Pheruz is one of the most famous, most beloved singers in the Arab world. And she was paired up with my grandmother, who was the more well known singer. And they did all these duets together and they still remained friends for all of my grandmother's life. I mean, I joke in the show that my grandmother would tell everybody, you talk to her for one minute and she'd be like, you know, Feroz was my backing singer. But you know, really, she loved Feyre's and they had a really nice relationship, but she had this really big career that was happening in Lebanon and then she got the chance to emigrate to the US and she kind of left this career behind so that she could have a nice life with her family and have her kids, would have more opportunities in the United States and she eventually brought all of her family over. And so the show kind of wrestles with that pressure that you feel as a woman to have a career and have dreams and still make space to be a parent and have a family and do all of those things. And so that's what I was feeling when I was pregnant because I Was really worried, you know, how am I going to juggle all these things? And I'll tell you how. It's impossible. It's impossible.

[Alison Stewart]

Yes. That's the answer.

[WNYC Studios]

That's the answer.

[Alison Stewart]

In the show, we learned that you're from Staten Island.

[WNYC Studios]

I like the way you say that.

[Alison Stewart]

Staten Island.

[WNYC Studios]

Staten Island.

[Alison Stewart]

What are some of the ways that I know that you're from Staten island even though you haven't lived there in a while? You live in the UK now?

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, I. Well, I think I have a weird. Everybody tells me when I come home that I have a weird sort of transatlantic accent now, which I'm completely not aware of. And I absolutely hate it whenever I hear myself back. And I. And I'm not trying to do it, listeners, just so you know. But, yeah, no, you can take the girl out of Staten island, but you can't take the Staten island out of the girl. I will argue with a stranger on the street if I think they've cut me in line for something or. Staten Islanders are unbelievably tough, but at the same time, they'd give you the shirt off their back. So I hope that I carry that with me into the UK where people are very confused at my aggressiveness.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, how do your jokes go over among Staten Islanders when they hear you?

[WNYC Studios]

I think they all really relate to it because my parents are very typically the Staten island parents that lots of people grew up with. They were born in Brooklyn. My parents. Then they came over on the Verrazano, got a little bit of land on Staten island. And, you know, they're lovely people who are completely insane and absolutely overbearing, but I love them to death. And I think a lot of people relate to that.

[Alison Stewart]

You were.

[Kodiak Ad]

You could.

[Alison Stewart]

People can hear you do your Staten island accent. They heard you do your grandmother's accent. You're really good at accents. When did that come about for you?

[WNYC Studios]

I don't know. I think. I think I've always had a kind of ear for it. I just like characters. I like meeting people who are big characters and. Yeah, yeah, it's funny. I did my first show that I did. I impersonated my mom a lot in that show. And these casting directors who were doing the Batman movie came and saw the show, and they were looking for someone to play a sex worker in this Batman movie. And my impersonation of my mother, apparently, they were like, she'd be perfect. So my mom's very proud that you can see me in the Batman impersonating her as a sex worker.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's say, how would she give directions?

[WNYC Studios]

First off, she doesn't know where she's. She's like, I don't drive over bridges. I'm not. I'm not a driver. I'm not. I mean, I'll help you, but I don't know where I'm going. And you won't know where you're going. And do you guys want to come in and have some coffee? Like, she's just all over the place.

[Alison Stewart]

That's so funny. The name of the show is Minutiae that's running at the Soho Playhouse through December 21st. My guest is Janine Haroney. In the show, you make some edgy jokes about certain topics, one of them being abortion. The show I was at this over on, I think it was stage right lady didn't like it. Oh yeah, she did not like the abortion jokes at all.

[WNYC Studios]

I'll tell you where they really didn't like it. North Carolina. I did the show in Raleigh, North Carolina. Half of the audience booed, half of the audience stood up and clapped. It was a microcosm of the division that's happening in this states right now.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you. How do you decide when you're going to go for it?

[WNYC Studios]

I generally just go for it. I feel like I've done this, I've done the show dozens and dozens of times and all over the world. And so I think just go for it. Because the thing is, I'm joking. It's a joke. You know, I think people have become really sensitive, maybe especially with a topic like that, and I think the best way through is to just laugh. You know, I've never had anyone walk out, so that's good. But yeah, I think just go for it.

[Alison Stewart]

What do you do when an audience.

[Janine Haroney]

Member has that sort of reaction to you?

[WNYC Studios]

I think just what I did in the show that you were in just sort of pointed out, make a little fun of it and have a nice time. You know, I want everybody in my shows to feel very comfortable and very wanted there. I think there's a very like male energy to stand up comedy that you definitely see on Instagram when people post crowd work clips where they're taking down the audience or whatever it is. But I think it's better to just just be a bit nice. You know, people have come, they're guests at your show and I think I just want everyone to have a good time.

[Janine Haroney]

Are you into the. Do you like the crowd work or no?

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, I love it because I think otherwise the show gets very Boring. You know, we're at a live show, so it's nice to acknowledge the things that are happening in the space. It's nice to talk to people in the audience. And I always incorporate a little bit of crowd work in every show that I do, so that even a few people have come and seen the show more than once, and then they're having a different experience. Yeah.

[Janine Haroney]

Oh, that's interesting. You know, a lot of people's comedy these days has been confessional. Thinking about Hannah Gatsby and your show, it deals with grief and loss and all kinds of sort of deep emotions. Why do you think we're seeing more comedians willing to share part of their lives as part of their shows?

[WNYC Studios]

Well, I think a lot of those shows that are confessional that we're seeing in the States are coming out of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and those shows have been happening there for years and years. That's sort of the standard show that you would go and see would be this really confessional show. And I'm not sure if that's because in British culture, things are very suppressed. You know, we're not. They're not as sincere and open as we are in the States. And so I think maybe a way to express that is by making a show. And there is definitely a need for people to express that or to see themselves reflected back on stage. And so I think part of it comes from that, and I think the other part of it comes from we're living in an age where if you're doing observational comedy and you come up with a joke, if you Google it, I would say there's a likelihood that there's 15,000 memes that have already made that joke and have gone viral on TikTok and Twitter and Instagram. And the minute you have that joke, it goes insanely viral, and then it's dead. And so I think for creating a show that has a long life, you're going to have to talk about something a bit more personal. And the universality comes from the specificity of your life. Because I think we all go through in this world a lot of the same things, a lot of the same issues. And I think that's why people are talking about personal stuff.

[Alison Stewart]

How do you get the balance right between those sincere moments? Because they truly are. They grab you, and then just comedy moments.

[WNYC Studios]

You only get it right by getting it wrong. A lot of times I must have previewed the show maybe 50 times. I left a lot of previews crying because I just did not know, because I'M talking about such heavy topics. I talk about a miscarriage that I had. I talk about the loss of my director and friend Adam Brace. And it's. You want the audience to know that they're in safe hands, that we're going to go there, but at the same time, there's going to be levity and release from that emotion. And that only happens by doing the show a lot of times and learning, okay, that's a wrong step there. That's a right step there. And piecing it together.

[Alison Stewart]

You talked about Adam Brace, and it was so sad he passed away. As you said before he passed away. How did he help you with this show, help you create the show that we're seeing?

[WNYC Studios]

He was just the best. I met him on a comedy course that I did at the Soho Theater in London, and I hated him straight away. I don't think he liked me either way. Sidebar.

[Alison Stewart]

Wait, stop. Tangent. You hated each other?

[WNYC Studios]

Well, I think we were just, you know, quite adversarial. Just in the first time that we met, there was a weird we argued about a bit of mine that he said wasn't gonna work, and I insisted would. And then I found out after I left, I was like, that guy's so full of himself. And I left and realized that he had directed Just For Us by Alex Edelman, which at that stage was in very early infancy. I'd just seen it at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And I walked away from that thinking it was one of the most amazing shows I'd ever seen. So I sent him a very sad little email where I was just like, hey, it was wonderful meeting you, and blah, blah, blah. And he said that he liked that I wasn't afraid of him and that I argued back. And then we spent the next five years arguing with each other and making two shows. But he was the best. He just. He knew how to write. He knew how to take someone from a joke writer to a storyteller and how to write about personal things that are meaningful and how to make them funny. And everything I know, I learned from him.

[Alison Stewart]

What's a part of your show that really honors who he was?

[WNYC Studios]

What he loved the most, I think, was the kind of comedy that could take you to a really deep, dark place and then make you laugh really hard almost immediately afterwards. And so even in the show, I was writing a show about pregnancy, and when we were halfway through, Adam passed away very sudden from a heart attack. And then it became clear, like I said, when I get up on stage, I just want to Be honest about what I'm thinking and feeling. And so I started talking about him on stage. And, I mean, I'd never lost someone that I was that close with before. And so the show got very dark. And every time that I found a way to take it from talking about Adam's death and making it fun and funny in a strange way, I always think that Adam would have loved those kinds of jokes, and that's how he was in life. He had such a dark sense of humor, and I think he would appreciate those jokes.

[Janine Haroney]

In the show, you talk about having a miscarriage. Did you feel ready to tell people about your miscarriage?

[WNYC Studios]

Oh, my God. The first time that I ever talked about it on stage, I pressed the microphone. I was so nervous. I pressed the microphone so hard into my chin that when I came off stage, I was bleeding a little bit. Oh, wow, there is.

[Janine Haroney]

You've been so scared. That must mean it. You were so scared.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, but I don't even know why. I mean, I found it easier to talk about my friend who passed away than the child that we lost. And I think there's so much secrecy around miscarriage. You know, you're not supposed to tell people that you're pregnant during the miscarriage window. And then when you do, if you do have a miscarriage, it's. There's no funeral. Your parents don't fly in. You know, you might not even tell anyone about it. And that secrecy, I think, creates so much shame around something that I think people should be open about, because when I did choose to be open about it and just tell people, the amount of women who told me that it happened to them. And I mean, strangers. I mean, a yoga instructor, a woman at the hair salon, People I had met that day, we would have these really intimate conversations, and I would leave that feeling better because I knew I wasn't alone.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Janine Hironi. Her show at Soho Playhouse is running through December 21st. It's manoush. You talk about your family a lot in this show. In past shows. How do they feel about being a big part of your comedy?

[WNYC Studios]

They are really good sports about it. I feel very lucky because I do. I poke fun at my parents a lot. And also, I think they know that they are obviously elevated versions of themselves in the shows. I'm kind of just taking the funny parts of them and exaggerating it. But they're really good about it because in my first show that I wrote, my dad is a huge character in it, and my dad is, you Know, a son of Arab immigrants and a Trump supporter. That makes for terrible Sunday dinner conversations with my family. But he was really good about me exploring that and poking fun at that, because I also think I poke fun at myself, too. I don't just point the fingers at other people. I think I come down quite evenly on us both being fallible.

[Alison Stewart]

I watched one of your older specials, and it was largely about when you were in a car accident.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, I thought show.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, that's right. Very funny about your dad in the car accident. You were, you know, you had to go home and be part of the family again. They had to take care of you. How did you think about your future differently at that point in your life?

[WNYC Studios]

I mean, I thought. I didn't think about my future at all. I'd been in a car accident. So. That's from a show called Stand up with Janine Haroney. Please remain seated. That I filmed for Amazon, but that's now available on YouTube if anyone wants to check that out. And I was in a car accident that paralyzed my leg for almost three years. And so I was not thinking future plans. I was 21 when it happened, and I was just every day trying to get through. You know, I had neuropathy, so my leg would feel like it was being electrocuted and on fire at certain points in the day. And I was trying to wake it up again, which, spoiler, I'm walking fine now. So the doctors were very, very good, thankfully, that I was able to see who did all my surgeries. But, yeah, I think when you go through something like that, you are just focused on the day. You're very present because there's a lot to deal with day to day in your show.

[Janine Haroney]

Your husband, Andrew, he comes out and actually opens for you a little bit.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah. Yeah. Is that all?

[Janine Haroney]

Was that the first night or was that always he.

[WNYC Studios]

He's got a big career as a comedy director, and so whenever I can get him to come and open for me, I take those opportunities because he's very funny. And also because the show. I talk so much about him. It's really nice for the audience to get to see him and know him. Cause it feels like a nice family affair. So he'll be opening for me for the rest of this run, which is really nice because I've. I've taken him away from his job and now he has to.

[Janine Haroney]

How does. How do the jokes hit differently when he actually is your opener?

[WNYC Studios]

I think. I think people feel like they know him by the time he gets off stage because he tells lots of stories about us before I come out. And so I think they hit a little bit harder. Yeah, because he's not just a character they're creating in their minds, he's somebody that they've met. So it's a really nice touch, I think, to have him open. Why?

[Janine Haroney]

Are you good collaborators?

[WNYC Studios]

Well, tell that to my couples therapist. No, I trust him more than anything. He has unbelievable taste and he's somebody who I can turn to and say, is this funny? And he'll say kind of, but maybe punch it up with this joke or that. And we do that for each other. And it's just, I think we've been together for eight years now, so we just have a real shorthand.

[Alison Stewart]

You're performing here in New York. Are New York audiences different than, say, British audiences?

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, well, British is a big term. So I toured all over the uk, so obviously there's lots of different parts of the uk, But I would compare New York to London. I'd say they're really comparable in that New Yorkers and Londoners are both very smart, they're very well read. The difference is I think New Yorkers are up for a good time. You know what I mean? I think it's a hard city to live in. And I think when they come out for a show, they're there to laugh. And so it's really, it's really nice. And also they're not afraid to show their emotions. So when the show has those emotional bits, it's. The New York audiences are so much more vocal. There's gasps, there's people talk, more in the audience. It's very strange. British audiences can be very reserved, very quiet. And so it's really special to be doing the show here in New York.

[Alison Stewart]

The show is playing at Soho Playhouse through December 21st. My guest has been Janine. Thanks for coming to the studio. We really appreciate it.

[WNYC Studios]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Kodiak Ad]

You don't have to go at your goals alone. Kodiak's in your corner with whole grain protein packed flapjacks that taste like a reward. And with mouth watering flavors like buttermilk, double dark chocolate and blueberry, you'll forget they're actually good for you. Get 20% off now through December 31st on kodiakkicks.com flapjack and use code flapjack20.

[WNYC Sponsorship]

Since WNYC's first broadcast in 1924, we've been dedicated to creating the kind of content we know the world needs. Since then, New York Public Radio's rigorous journalism has gone on to win a Peabody Award and a Dupont Columbia Award, among others. In addition to this award winning reporting, your sponsorship also supports inspiring storytelling and extraordinary music that is free and accessible to all. To get in touch and find out more, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.