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Amy Poehler
This episode is brought to you by Trip Advisor. Do you ever land in a new place and you go, okay, now what? You know. And you're just like, I guess I'm in Europe, but which church should I visit? Thankfully, TripAdvisor's Things to Do has yous Back. With more than 400,000 experiences to choose from, like guided hikes, snorkeling, sloth spotting. Yes, sloth spotting. There truly is something for everyone. The best part, Everything to Do is backed by real traveler reviews. So wherever you're headed, plan less and do more. With TripAdvisor, you use code AMY10 for 10% off. Things to do terms apply. Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Good Hang. This is an exciting one. I'm starting this episode in Los Angeles and then I'm getting on an airplane and I'm flying to New York where I go to that studio and talk to Abby Jacobson and Ilana Glaser, the stars of Broad City. The just the sweet we us most wonderful, talented women who in many ways helped my company, Paper Kite, grow and expand into what it is today. And I cannot wait to talk to them. We're going to talk about Broad City, the show, of course, and getting that made and what it was like to do it together. We're going to talk about female friendships. We're going to talk about, you know, life as a millennial and how it's changed and what is nostalgia. And hopefully we're going to get to all of those things. But I always like to start these episodes with people who know our guests, who have good feelings and thoughts about our guests and want to give me questions to ask the guests. And I thought no better people to ask than the women who run Paper Kite Productions, the co heads, the co presidents of Paper Kite, Kate Arend and Kim Lessing, who work with me every day and who are going to join me in this studio to talk about Abby and Alana. So, ladies, welcome. This episode of Good Hang is presented by Walmart School Supplies. We all remember getting them. I remember Trapper Keepers and so many colored pens. But now I'm sure there's a million more things to get. And thankfully Walmart has essential back to school supplies starting at $0.25 plus all the latest tech starting at $9. Who knew hello Kitty pencil cases, Nintendo notebooks, food shaped erasers, Chromebooks keyboards and more at low Walmart prices. They have Lilo and Stitch headphones. Who knew shop walmart.com to score their favorite back to school tech and supplies? Jade, Aaron and Kim Lessing sharing a laptop today.
Kim Lessing
That's how we work.
Kate Arend
We just had the one.
Amy Poehler
Let's all work on.
Kim Lessing
Hold on. Amy, we have to run your company. One second.
Amy Poehler
And send, send. Sorry. Okay. I'm so excited to interview you guys because we are here in the studio and next door to Paper Kite offices, which you co. Run and we're talking to Abby and Alana about Broad City. And I just felt like it was such a great combo because in many ways, you represent Millennial and Zillennial. No. Or Gillennial. Jen. Y. Jen. Not.
Kate Arend
I'm so cusp.
Amy Poehler
You're cuspy.
Kim Lessing
But it's not. What. Gen Z.
Kate Arend
But not with the Z.
Amy Poehler
Anyway, we represent, like, what you two represent. Teamwork in many ways. And I want to talk about that. But also, you know what. How important that show was to Paper Kite and its growth. So before we start, tell everybody what you do here at the company. What's your job? So.
Kate Arend
So Kim and I, as Amy said, we're the co presidents of Paper Kite Productions, and we are in charge of the many incredible shows and movies that Paper Kite makes. Everything from Broad City to Russian Doll. Difficult people. Harlem.
Kim Lessing
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
We're producers.
Kim Lessing
We don't produce as a team. We actually produce separately. And we really take on projects based on our passion for them, our availability. Like, we really. We really are. We like to describe ourselves as the engines of projects, the connectors of projects. And we really love. We really love every second of doing it.
Kate Arend
And we've both. We've been here working with Amy for 10 plus years, and we'll never leave.
Kim Lessing
That's right. She'll have to drag us out of here.
Kate Arend
We have the keys to this.
Amy Poehler
Well, you do really have all the secrets.
Kim Lessing
Yeah, and they're bad. I'm so nervous.
Amy Poehler
But, like, I was just trying to do the math of the timing.
Kim Lessing
Oh, we both started on Broad City.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. So tell me how you started on that show and like, what your memories of the early Broad City days.
Kim Lessing
Well, I actually started on the Comedy Central side.
Amy Poehler
Right.
Kim Lessing
So I was like, thrilled to get this job at Comedy Central because they were making Broad City. And then I ended up leaving Comedy Central to come work with you, and I got to work even closer to the ladies on Broad City. And it was like I knew I was in the right place because I felt like I was making something that actually genuinely represented my life and genuinely represented the types of friendships I was having.
Kate Arend
So when I first interviewed with Amy, I had just watched season one of Broad City, and I Remember being like, holy shit, I've never seen queens like this on TV before. Like, no one's ever existed like this on television. My age, doing the kind of stuff my friends and I do, speaking the way that we speak. And my first day of Paper Kite, Amy and I did notes on a season two episode, and I was like, is this real life? Like, what is happening?
Amy Poehler
And that was your first day?
Kate Arend
Yeah, or maybe my second.
Kim Lessing
But, yeah, I got to, like, send my boss at the time my notes on the cut. One of the first cuts of. I think I started on season three, actually, and she used some of them. And I was like, I've made it an entertainment. I was like, I'm in. I'm so happy. But we used to do a lot of like, are you Abby? Are you in a. Are you who's who? It wasn't a hard one to.
Amy Poehler
I want to talk about it. Because what was so cool about. What is so cool about the. That show is it creates these versions of, like, Friends and, you know, much like, you know, back in the day, like Laverne and Shirley or even the Golden Girls or Sex and the City, like, when you start being like, are you an Abby or an Alana? I think underneath that is. It proves, like, the writing is good that you've identified what version of you.
Kim Lessing
It was such a specific friendship that it was completely and utterly universal. Like, you just. It. Everyone was either an Abby or an Alana.
Amy Poehler
So what are you, Kim?
Kim Lessing
I'm obviously Alana because I'm, like, head over heels in love with Kate and always have been and always try to touch her butt. It started with me being like, can I?
Ilana Glazer
Yeah.
Kim Lessing
And then she's sorry. I mean, I would never do that at work.
Amy Poehler
That's not okay.
Kate Arend
But, like, when we left the office.
Kim Lessing
But when we left the office, it was like, on the way to the.
Amy Poehler
Call.
Kate Arend
In the parking lot.
Amy Poehler
So, Kate, you are an animal.
Kim Lessing
She's also a deadhead.
Amy Poehler
Totally.
Kate Arend
Yeah. And we both love Oprah, so that kind of stuff.
Kim Lessing
And you guys have that crazy Oprah connection where you both like her.
Amy Poehler
So for people who don't know about what we do. Right. So we're a film and production company. We do all different kinds of projects. Animated, unscripted, we do half hours. We do hour long dramas. But Broad City, we use it a lot as an example when we're talking to creators about, you know, young creators who have an idea and want to transfer it. And could you speak a little bit to how we use that as an example?
Kate Arend
We Always say, like, Broad City is our North Star, and it is the North Star. I think if you were a young female creator in comedy in the last 10 years, that's it. Like, they did the thing that everybody wished they could do that men had been doing for a long time. There was truly. Like we said before, no one liked them. So we always refer to them as kind of. They're enmeshed in our ethos as a company.
Kim Lessing
Yeah. And they have a lot of elements of things that we really resonate with, like, scrappy underdogs, women who love each other, people that are, like, with have, like, messy edges. And also two characters that really want something. Like, what I always related to about Abby and Alana is even though they were, like, silly and messy, they always really went after the things they want.
Ilana Glazer
Like, they went after with such passion.
Kate Arend
And they took such good care of each other, which is such. Friendship is so important to us. We had a conversation day one. If there's any sense of competition or jealousy, we have to talk about it. We have to get it out, because it will just sit in and fester and make it stressful and miserable. And communication just. We were smart enough to know then that it was the thing that was gonna get us through. And today, 11 years later, it's still. We're so brutally honest with each other, and then we say thank you to the other person that we can be so brutally honest with each other. And, yeah, I feel like Abby and Alana were like that totally.
Kim Lessing
And just the other day, for example, Kate was like, you interrupted me a thousand times, and I was like, thank you so much for letting me know.
Kate Arend
We both cried because it was so nice.
Kim Lessing
I was like, I'm so glad you feel comfortable telling me. She was like, I'm so glad you're going to stop.
Ilana Glazer
It's true.
Amy Poehler
But, you know, we talk about it a lot here. Like, you know, a workplace is. I like to say, it's not a family, it's a country.
Kim Lessing
And I like to say it's a family.
Kate Arend
We reject that, but that's great.
Amy Poehler
And lovers are family. It's a bed full of lovers, full.
Kim Lessing
Of lovers who are all related. A family of lovers.
Amy Poehler
It's a family that everyone borrowed money from each other.
Ilana Glazer
That's right.
Amy Poehler
No, a workplace is a country and has. It has its own culture and language and set of rules. And so one of the things I think that our country believes in is that in our experience, female friendships are a natural resource. They are, like, the most important things in our life. And for the most part, they're not like these competitive, awful, like, you know, experiences. They're often like the most supportive experiences. And I feel like you're talking exactly about that. That women often come together and help each other in real time. And that helps is like, you know, like rooting for other people's success never gets in the way of your own, basically.
Kim Lessing
But that it's hard to remember that sometimes. And I think a lot of work environments are not conducive. Like, ours was easy. You're our mentor. Like, it was easy to be like, let's team up. You know, it was. But it sometimes takes a lot of work. But I think there's never a time when it's not worth it just to try. It's like reach out a hand and be like, let's be. Let's be a team instead of enemies.
Kate Arend
Like Rising Tide. Yeah, Rising Tide Boats. Right. Like, I think, I actually think you said that once and I. It was the first time I'd heard.
Kim Lessing
You invented that quote.
Kate Arend
I think, I think you're right.
Amy Poehler
You know, I have a laptop. Let's see who can find who said that fast.
Kim Lessing
Okay.
Abby Jacobson
Okay.
Kate Arend
Get to work.
Kim Lessing
Can move over. Hey, I can do it faster immediately.
Amy Poehler
Friendship lifts all boats is an aphorism associated with. Well, we know. Oh, it's attributed to John F. Kennedy.
Kim Lessing
There is no way. There is literally no way that could get so much credit. He doesn't deserve.
Amy Poehler
How dare you.
Kim Lessing
I know you're upset.
Amy Poehler
First, I was Catholic. There's nothing wrong with jfk. Literally.
Kate Arend
So handsome. Relax, guys.
Amy Poehler
My grandmother had a picture of Jesus and JFK in his house.
Kim Lessing
We had such different grandmas.
Amy Poehler
So that brings me to Million Dollar Advice because we're talking about the podcast that you two are doing. We're gonna, it's gonna be. The new season is gonna be launching very soon. Tell us about what that podcast is.
Kate Arend
Okay, so our show, Million Dollar Advice, is a work advice podcast where we have people call and email in and we answer their work related questions. So it can be anything from like, how do I deal with my shitty boss? To Kim's dying for a question about what to do if your coworker owes you money.
Kim Lessing
I feel like there's. There's questions you guys are not asking us about. Like, you loan someone money for something and they just haven't paid you back. How do you ask? Like, how do you ask? When's it. When's it too soon? When's it gone on too long?
Kate Arend
Right.
Amy Poehler
Great question, but good question.
Kate Arend
But Basically, Kim and I, because of this amazing communication and partnership that we have, we almost. We're like, we gotta share this because we're in on something.
Kim Lessing
I mean, our advice is so good.
Amy Poehler
It's million dollars.
Kim Lessing
It's at minimum, million dollar advice. It's so good. And, like, and we get each other through everything. And people don't have this kind of, like, work friend, work savvy.
Kate Arend
They don't have an Alana to their.
Kim Lessing
Abby and or Kate to their Kim, some would say.
Abby Jacobson
Right.
Kim Lessing
So we want to do that for people. And, you know, our first season is, like, full of the types of questions we're interested in answering, and we're hoping for that money question.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. So we're making more.
Kate Arend
How can people Send in questions milliondollaradvicepodmail.com and they can send an email, you can leave a voice note, whatever your fancy is. And we'll get back to you and.
Kim Lessing
We'Ll figure out if you want to call in.
Kate Arend
We'll solve all your problems. We'll fix your life.
Kim Lessing
That's the thing. It's like you're wondering, like, how do I fix my life? What do I do? It's, like, so easy. Email milliondollaradvicepodmail.com and it's gone.
Amy Poehler
Okay, perfect. And then I'm gonna get an airplane. I'm gonna fly to New York.
Kate Arend
That's great.
Amy Poehler
What question do you think I should ask Abby and Alana?
Kim Lessing
I have a good one.
Amy Poehler
Okay.
Kim Lessing
I think I have a really good one.
Amy Poehler
Okay.
Kim Lessing
So when you make a show together, it's like having a. A new baby. Like, you're all work all the time. And I was curious, like, what things they did to fill their friendship cup and make sure that they were still, like, in love in the, like, staying in love during, like, the most. The hardest, longest hours.
Amy Poehler
Great question. Million dollar advice. We're going to check that out. We're gonna talk about it more. Abby and Alana, we're gonna see them in New York. Thank you guys so much for coming across the street to this studio from our offices.
Kate Arend
Thanks for having us.
Amy Poehler
This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Summer is here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered by Uber Eats. What do I mean by almost? Well, you can't get a summer blockbuster delivered, but you can get a block of cheese. A cabana, that's a no. But a banana, that's a yes. You know what I like to order from Uber Eats? Batteries don't eat batteries. But I often need batteries and you can get batteries from Uber Eats. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now for alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details. You are a little raspy today because of your Broadway performances. That's right. Congratulations.
Ilana Glazer
Thank you so much.
Amy Poehler
And I cannot wait to talk about it. It's very exciting. Abby and Alana are here today. My children, wives, sister, partners in crime. I'm very excited you guys are here. Thank you for doing this.
Ilana Glazer
We're so excited to be here.
Amy Poehler
I was thinking about our talk today. There was just so many things to talk about today and I was like, so excited.
Kim Lessing
Oh my gosh.
Amy Poehler
Like, I have a paper and everything for people that, you know, Broad City was a long running show on Comedy Central that Abby and Ilana wrote and starred in and directed and produced and created. And it was and is like this really important show for a lot of people. And I was thinking about the last scene today. What happened in the last scene and what were you trying to say in it and has it lasted?
Abby Jacobson
That scene came back as a vision to Paul W. Downs. Do you remember that?
Ilana Glazer
That's right.
Abby Jacobson
He came in, we were writing, we wrote part of season five in LA in the Airbnb. And Paul came in one morning and he was like, I had a flash of the last moment and I think this is the scene we're talking where Alana exits the subway in Union Square and we've FaceTimed. Right. And. And Alanna's walking through the city and then the camera leaves Alanna and sees the other pairs. I just got chills.
Amy Poehler
I know.
Abby Jacobson
And he was like, that was like the thing. And that was what we kind of had always talked about, which is just like we're one of like thousands and millions of pairs and we had just been following us. But the New York of it all was like we were showcasing like, oh, there's Abby Nolana's everywhere.
Amy Poehler
Yes.
Ilana Glazer
And you know, we end on, do you know Marie Fouston and Sydney Washington, the standoffs. But to end on Marie and Sydney was so perfect. Just cause they're so delicious and they're such an iconic pair themselves.
Amy Poehler
Yes.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah. So I think what we were, you know, trying to say is that we followed Abby and Alana, but everybody's got their. Everybody's. If you're in your own life. Oh, you're having your own adventures and your parties and New York is such a always this like infinitely fruitful backdrop for the Craziest shit to happen. I can't get over it. I've been here 20 years. I can't get enough. I can't get enough.
Amy Poehler
And what it was and still is, is that what you. What you did with that ending, I think is you gave the show back to the people that loved it. And that's why I think that the. You know, the DNA. Cry, cry, cry. I love to get people to cry. I think it felt and still feels like one of the big reasons why that show sticks around is exactly what you said, is people, they are the main characters of their own story. Everyone is. And everyone feels like they're living a life that feels very much like Abby and Alana's life. Like, how am I piecing together a life in real time? And the fact that that ending was, like, passing the baton, it's very deep. And I think it has to do a lot with what we're gonna talk about today in your work. So for those people that don't know, let's go back in time.
Ilana Glazer
To little tiny babies.
Amy Poehler
Alana's 19.
Ilana Glazer
Wow.
Amy Poehler
Right? And Ab, you guys met. What age? And where did you meet? How did you.
Abby Jacobson
2.
Amy Poehler
22.
Abby Jacobson
This is so funny that this. Well, I knew this.
Amy Poehler
Wow.
Ilana Glazer
19 years ago. My dog.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah. This is actually. This is crazy that I did this last week. We met in a.
Ilana Glazer
Did what last week?
Abby Jacobson
Oh, I'm gonna get to.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, copy that.
Amy Poehler
Ayahuasca.
Abby Jacobson
I did ayahuasca last week, and I went right back there to 22. No, but we were in an improv practice. Like, we were both taking classes at ucb. I had just graduated college, moved here. You were still at nyu. You know, you take classes at ucb, and then you're like, we gotta form a practice group after school or at night after your day job. Our mutual friend Tim Martin, I remember, he was like, I'm in this class with these two brother and sister, and they're great. Like, can they come and practice with us? And we were like, yeah. And Elliot and Alana came, and I was like, this girl's on Arrested Development. This crazy.
Amy Poehler
Like, how does she have time to get off of Arrested Development?
Abby Jacobson
It just ended. And I was like, it makes sense. She's in New York.
Ilana Glazer
Makes sense. You're on, like, a huge network show, and then you go do practice.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah, like, she's definitely my practice group.
Ilana Glazer
Just to make sense.
Abby Jacobson
Well, I mean, this is a good career group. This is my side. And then we go to McManus that.
Amy Poehler
Night, which is a bar nearby the theater.
Abby Jacobson
And we're sitting at the bar, you and me. And it was like other. It was only guys in the group except us. And we're talking. We're like, where are you from? Where you from? And I was like, smitten with this person. Like, everyone that meets Alana is. I was like, this person is unlike anyone I've ever met and not like any of my friends. And we were just like. And she was like, I'm from Long Island. And I was like, whoa. Two of my best friends from college are from Long Island. And she's like, I'm from Smithtown. I was like, so are they. And I was like. And then I said their names, and you were like, I know them. And I was like, this is not the girlfriend development.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, my God. I'm literally crying.
Abby Jacobson
But I remember you were. I'm gonna cry as well.
Amy Poehler
Wait, Alana's crying? What's making you cry?
Ilana Glazer
When she said smitten, I started crying. Oh, my gosh, that's just so sweet. And I remember, you know, dramatically falling under the bar, you know, these two same people. It's like, where Jews were from the Tri State area. Like, not that big. Yeah, we're from, like, two and a half hours away. I was changed that Abby knew these two people.
Amy Poehler
I knew what you were saying. What was underneath that is, like, that. The universe. It's why it's so thrilling to look back at how things come together, because the smallest changes in our lives go in a completely different way. And what you were noticing, like, the universe was giving you some signs of familiarity, basically. Like, it's. You know, if you believe in past lives, it's like, oh, we knew each other before. Like, that's the universe. Just, like, making sure you have something to talk about. So you spend five more minutes talking. So then you spend 15 minutes talking. So then you do a show together.
Ilana Glazer
Right, right.
Abby Jacobson
Wait real quick. So on Friday, I was in Chelsea, and I. Where I was going, I'm, like, confronted with McManus.
Ilana Glazer
Wow.
Abby Jacobson
Wow.
Ilana Glazer
When you said McManus the first time, I, like, almost made a joke. It's, like, so rude, but, like, a dumpster with bars, like, you know, nailed in.
Amy Poehler
It's not exactly a bar in New York City for people that are listening. That used to be kind of the place where everybody after improv shows would hang out. And it was like, green paper tablecloths at the time.
Abby Jacobson
And the French fries, leather seats.
Ilana Glazer
It's just like. Yeah, it's like ass grooves. And it's never been Changed out. Like, you're sitting in. But we weren't at bars in McAnus. Like, it's never been updated.
Abby Jacobson
Like, the people in the back were, like, unattainable. Like, at that point, we were, like, up at the front looking like.
Ilana Glazer
There was this hierarchy at UCB that we never climbed. We only climbed it outside of UCB through Broad City. But, yeah, the further back you went.
Amy Poehler
It McMahon's like an invisible velvet road.
Abby Jacobson
But I walked in. I went in the side door. Wow. Like, it's crazy sticky floor. I went in, and we went there so much after that moment. But I walked in. We even shot in there. We shot, like, the Cocktail cold open in McManus. We needed to shoot there. But I walked in and just remembered that moment I just said of you and I at the bar.
Amy Poehler
Wow, that's a real time travel moment. And so you meet, and you're like, you're not Alia Shockwat. But I will have you two be in a scene many years later in Broad City. But you say, okay, I see something in you. I love being with you. We like being with each other. And then you start creating. What is the. Do you remember, like, when that creative content stuff started?
Ilana Glazer
Like, you know, I think being in this improv group, it wasn't like we got so much duo time. There was something like a grit that was like a tension that was not the same. The difference between us that, when rubbed together, you know, created this spark, this, like, difference. The differences about us that we were like, that's funny. That's funny. And I think also as women and as young women, it's. You're kind of safer together. So it's. It's like. You're gonna cry. Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Abbie's crying.
Ilana Glazer
I love it. It's so good. Why do we get our makeup done?
Kate Arend
You know what I mean?
Ilana Glazer
Get our makeup done. Yeah.
Abby Jacobson
We're not gonna get through any questions.
Ilana Glazer
Let's cry the entire time. And I'm gonna get one on deck. Tissue on deck.
Abby Jacobson
I'm feeling sick.
Ilana Glazer
But it's like, you know, I think it's so much about sameness when you're young, when you're a young woman. But we were, I think, secure enough with each other to recognize our differences. And it tickled us. And beyond our sense of humor, that was both, you know, Venn diagram shared and different. It was also, like, our work ethic. We were, like, desperate to make a spreadsheet, you know, and we're like. We had these ideas, and we were, like, desperate to list Them neatly.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Abby Jacobson
I mean, truly neat.
Amy Poehler
Like, I mean, that is, I think, a lot of, like, your. When you get out of college in that time period where you're like, I need to give myself a job. I need to be busy. Because I've, you know, up until now, schoolwork has kept me busy. And, like, the course or whatever that I've been on has kept me busy. But you're like, now I have to structure my own busyness. I have to create busy things.
Ilana Glazer
What. Something that just. That's coming up for me is all three of us having worked so much in food and service, you know, and there's so much busyness in that.
Abby Jacobson
You know, I just texted you about Steamers Landing.
Ilana Glazer
You just texted me about it? Oh, yeah. I was like, what was the.
Abby Jacobson
What was that place you worked? Was it actually called Steamers Landing?
Ilana Glazer
Like, disgusting. Even if they still exist.
Amy Poehler
I bet the French trials are good, though. In Steamers Land.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah. But in. In Broad City, Paul and Lucia had changed it in a script to Dumper's Post. And I remember we were at the office and we were, like, first reading a script that they got back to us. I fel to my knees, like, bent over a couch, fell to my knees. Dumper.
Amy Poehler
And we're talking about Paul Downs and Lucia Agnello, who went on, are now creators of Hacks and who, you know, wrote and directed and produced with you and us, Broad City. So, like, they also have their, like, baby versions of this experience.
Ilana Glazer
That's right.
Abby Jacobson
Well, we. So we did this improv group for, like, two years before doing anything. Broad City. But it was. It was the two of them, actually, who. We made one episode of Broad City, the web series. And we were like, again, as Alana said, so organized. So organized. And it was the two of them who saw it and emailed us and loved it.
Ilana Glazer
The first webisode came out, and they were, like, emailed us doing it separately.
Amy Poehler
So when you guys were in your second season of this web series in 2011, I was down the street living in the West Village, and I get a text from Upright Citizens Brigade teacher. Was it Will Hines?
Ilana Glazer
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
And he said, hey, check out Abby and Alana. They're doing some great web series stuff, and they wanted to know if you want to do it. And so I watched a bunch of your stuff, and I thought it was really funny. And it was shooting right down the street from my house, and you two asked me to come do a small bit of. We were, like, running away. And I remember oranges fell on me at one point. I don't remember anything about the plot. What was the plot?
Ilana Glazer
There's barely.
Amy Poehler
It doesn't matter.
Ilana Glazer
We were running.
Amy Poehler
We were running.
Ilana Glazer
We were running, and we were trying to get toward.
Abby Jacobson
Spoiler a cookie.
Amy Poehler
The plot was very broad city. We were running to get a cookie. And then after that, as far as I remember, very soon after, you sent me an email that saying. Saying what?
Abby Jacobson
I remember this very well. That last episode of the web series, we knew we wanted it to be the last one. It was more production value. We worked with this director who. It was just bigger. And we emailed you with the cut maybe of it and said, this is our. We've been thinking, and we want to go to LA and pitch this as a show. Would you ever consider being the executive producer on it?
Ilana Glazer
We were also, like, kind of excited that we were, like, pretty much the same height and when we first met and it was just like, this is funny, you know? Like, yeah, we all love being short. Literally seeing eye to eye. And I remember being like, well, we might send it to Jonah Hill. And we knew we were gonna ask you, but we weren't gonna ask you on the spot that day.
Amy Poehler
I'm just here to say it was a genius move to say you were gonna send it to Jonah Hill. Incredible move, girl.
Ilana Glazer
Your face I will never forget. She goes, that's what you did.
Amy Poehler
I remember being like. I remember being like, whoa, whoa, whoa. What? I remember just being, like.
Ilana Glazer
She was, like, pissed immediately.
Amy Poehler
Immediately. Like in the race, like, taking, like, immediately. Because I am competitive. But I remember thinking, like, no, Jonah Hill can't have broad. Like, so.
Ilana Glazer
And this was not a ploy. We really were like, I think you're Jonah Hill. You know what I mean? Whatever. But I remember your expression. I don't know.
Amy Poehler
I remember just thinking later, like, you know, it's always smart to. It's like, in relationship, it's okay sometimes to be like, you're not the only one circling here, honey.
Ilana Glazer
I'm dating, babe.
Amy Poehler
I'm dating.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
You think I'm just waiting around.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, I'm not gonna. Okay. We're.
Abby Jacobson
Okay.
Amy Poehler
So you sent me the email, and I was like, let's go. We're in. And we started developing together.
Ilana Glazer
Wait, can I just say one thing?
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
Your response to that email, I think, was the biggest celebration of the entire 10 years.
Abby Jacobson
Like, I remember it was. It was on my. I caught.
Ilana Glazer
I think I called you and I was like, shooting some short film, and.
Abby Jacobson
She was like, upstate in the middle. Now I Was like, you clearly didn't open your email. Open your email. And like, we were freaking out. I was like, I think I had to leave a party. I left a birthday party. It was like. It was.
Ilana Glazer
Honestly, that was it. Like, I remember all the other milestones, but you saying you're gonna it, like, that was like your hero believes in you. That was crazy.
Abby Jacobson
And then you remember when we met? Okay, you were like, well, let's meet about it. And we're like, okay, let's meet about it. We met before. We met for like, a good hour. We were like, okay.
Ilana Glazer
Just to get a. Just to like, pre vomit, you know. We were like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Abby Jacobson
And we were like, what's it gonna be? Like a community face.
Ilana Glazer
Just in this hallway, like, before we met, I was like, this forever, kiddo. Amy Poehler. Like, you can just picture what your parents saw you as in the doorway at 8. Like, you're always that like, hey, guys. You know, and, like, the way you just walked down the hallway to greet us. That was how you walked down the fucking street. She's like, hello. You know, like, all sunshine. You're wearing these, like, cute sunglasses and a dress. And it's just sunshine and this like, ooh, your, like, heart is on your sleeve and it's you at 8. And we were like, that. It was surreal. That was, like, really, like, trippy. The whole lunch was like, as though I was tripping my butt. Ass off.
Abby Jacobson
We had an after it as well.
Amy Poehler
Anna and I spent a whole day.
Abby Jacobson
Together around the meeting because I remember we were like, she watched every web. Like, you came with the legal pad. You were like, we gotta make a teaser. We made the teaser from the web.
Ilana Glazer
Episodes and the legal pad going through our silly little webisodes, what you thought of each one. And we were like, humma mama. We were like, what is going on? The thoughts and the, I don't know, real opinions.
Abby Jacobson
And we were at. Which. I'm not gonna say where. We were at a restaurant where we were like, this is clearly Amy's favorite restaurant.
Ilana Glazer
Got like, you know, those, like, sort.
Amy Poehler
Of like saying hello to everybody. Hello, George. How's your wife?
Ilana Glazer
Oh, my God. And we're like, we'll just get toast, you know, like, we don't even know how to order this. You know, what do you get? Well, we'll get that. You know, like, just not even knowing how to have, like, be a person.
Amy Poehler
It's so funny. I mean, I have just nothing but like, exciting bottom of show mountain memories of it. And, you know, the reason, one of the many reasons why I'm so thrilled that we're talking today, is like, to put it in perspective for me. Broad City made me feel like a real producer. I had been producing on Parks. I had produced other things and stuff that I had done. And, you know, we had technically produced our UCB show, even though we didn't know what that was, that was what we were doing and our sketches at snl. But Broad City felt like the child that made me the mother. And it's still. When I think about it, I feel so proud to have been along for the ride and just being helped, helpful in any way. But I learned so much from watching the two of you. I learned so much from, like, trying to advocate for the show. I learned so much about what kind of stuff I wanted to make.
Ilana Glazer
You know, I'm just fully crying.
Abby Jacobson
Oh, my God.
Ilana Glazer
This is it now.
Abby Jacobson
Oh, my God.
Kim Lessing
And then plus the voice, it's, like.
Ilana Glazer
Gonna seem so insane, but it's like, dude, like, it's just like, you. I don't want to cut you off.
Amy Poehler
No, no, please.
Ilana Glazer
But it's like, you know, I remember this one time that we had lunch or whatever, and, like, you talked about the sexual politic of the show, and.
Abby Jacobson
I was like, I remember. Like, then we'd be like, out talking, and I'd be like, well, what we're really trying to do is the sexual politic of the show.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, my God. Can I have, like, a full tissue? This gross half tissue, but talk about.
Amy Poehler
Sexual politic for a second. Very. I've said this before. Immediately what I learned. And this is why I love, like, the best thing about getting older is, like, being less and less certain about everything. If you're doing it right, you just know you're supposed to be. You're supposed to let go of the grasp of the things you think, you know. And that is what I think young people do, people younger than you do. And even just the very simple way in which you guys approached your own bodies, your own bodies in space, your own bodies in the show, the way you approached. I mean, I remember Barry specifically saying, you know, if you don't want to get in your underwear for this scene.
Abby Jacobson
And the pilot.
Amy Poehler
And the pilot, if you guys feel uncomfortable and you're like, we wrote it. We are the ones writing that we're in our underwear. And we're so comfortable with how the dynamic is in the scene. We're so like, thank you. Good looking out. But you're kind of missing the point. In a way. And there was a lot of that for me where I watched how you two reminded me of, like, what I. What was, like, an old story or, like, old programming. Like, I think it's what Brad City did a lot and still does.
Abby Jacobson
I will say on that. I don't know how fully comfortable I was in those scenes, but I think that was also, like, okay, over here. We wrote it, and I, like, loved it so much, and I knew that, like, Abby, as actor, will have to deal with that when we get to the day. And for me, that, like, I feel like that, like, Broad City was in a moment for me of, like, a little bit later, like, huge growth. Like, I feel like I grew up a little later, I'm gonna fully cry. And in so many ways, because of Alana, which is so, like, the Abby and Alana. That's what's happening. It's what's happening. Like, the confidence, like.
Ilana Glazer
Like, I think, first of all, like.
Abby Jacobson
But the confidence, like, of that dynamic of, like, Abby is the insecure one, and Alana's got this, like, bravado. And that's, like, something that I was, like, learning right alongside the character, because that was real, you know, like, us being. Us being. Sorry I'm laughing. We. We are. But us being the hottest women in, like, any room is like, that was, like, not how I approached going out. And we. I would go out with Alana as a friend, and that would be, like. And I don't know if that was, like, a fake it till you make it, but that was, like, the charge of, like, yeah, you know, we are. And. And my ass is the, like, the hot. Like, my ass being a hot thing was. Oh, not something I ever thought we'd focus on so much.
Ilana Glazer
I still love it.
Abby Jacobson
And then I was like, I. Only through Alana, that, among many other things, was such a huge change for me, and I think so us being in her underwear, I was able to be like, I might not be comfortable, but I know this is so right, and this is so powerful and so funny.
Amy Poehler
I mean, I think that's what female friendships at their best do is they provide this. The opposite of a funhouse mirror. They provide this beautiful mirror that you get to look in and see this version of yourself that your friend sees. And you're right. It's very. It's. That's aspirational. It's kind of manifesty. But it is like, you are sexy if you say so, and you're beautiful if you feel so. And everybody is beautiful and sexy and in their own way. And sometimes you just can't. You have to have, like, a surrogate feel it for you.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
And that's what you do for each other in female friendships. And that's what exactly what Abby and Ilana did constantly. It's just. And it's good for comedy. Like, pumping each other up is funny.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, it's so funny. And, you know, to the point before of what I was saying about sexual politic, you just validated us as women, not as girls. Everybody called us girls. Even the people working for us, you know, they called the girls, whatever. You called us women at such a young time, where I was like, damn, I suppose we are. And then, you know, like, with comedy, I mean, it's just. I just will never. It's just the fucking best. Comedy is just the fucking best.
Amy Poehler
Why is it the best?
Ilana Glazer
Because it's like. It's this cosmic container that just lifts you up off the ground of, like, the systems we're rooted in and just connects people so efficiently. It's so efficient, you know, just whatever. Obviously, farts are the funniest. Someone farts.
Amy Poehler
I disagree. I'm not the biggest fart is funny fan.
Ilana Glazer
Like, if somebody farts in a context where they're not supposed to, you don't giggle.
Amy Poehler
I don't think. Ish. It really depends. Like, that was actually a big thing for us on the set of Parks and Rec because, like, people would fart and I'd be like, don't fart.
Abby Jacobson
Just, like, in the. In life.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. Like, on stage.
Abby Jacobson
I don't like that.
Ilana Glazer
That's not what I'm talking about.
Amy Poehler
I mean, if they accidentally fart, I feel a little codependently worried about them.
Ilana Glazer
No, I mean, like, if somebody farts as a joke to invade your space with odor, that's not cool.
Abby Jacobson
That's like sibling.
Ilana Glazer
Yes.
Amy Poehler
That's like, not shenanigans.
Abby Jacobson
We don't like that. Okay, so I remember a good broad city fart. I'm meeting your parents. It's at, like, your Shiva. And Bob Balavan picks me up, and we're like. And we're adding a fart there.
Amy Poehler
That's what I'm talking about.
Abby Jacobson
Did I change your mind?
Ilana Glazer
I'm talking about professorial, masterful fart comedy.
Abby Jacobson
That was really thoroughly thought out and intentional.
Amy Poehler
But you're right, a little squeeze that comes into a little like. And like.
Abby Jacobson
Like, we added it. It was cute.
Ilana Glazer
That's right.
Amy Poehler
Maybe if the farts are cute. If they're cute.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, for sure. But I'm also Talking about, like, adding a sound effect or when we did.
Abby Jacobson
Add the sound effect.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we gotta make that.
Amy Poehler
I hear you. And then just to stay in the. To get us on the air, you write a script, we go to fx, we try to make it at fx, they pass, and we kind of have a moment where we have to regroup.
Abby Jacobson
I remember just going back to what you were talking about. Maybe, like, when you felt like producer. I remember you would be the one that would have to deliver that news to us.
Amy Poehler
I did. I learned a lot.
Abby Jacobson
Yes.
Amy Poehler
That was in real time. I was learning on the job. You know, I was like, all of us. Like, sometimes at Fake Teammaker, you have to kind of pretend. And I remember thinking, right, my job here is to never let anyone feel like, you know, we're not gonna solve this problem. Cause that's just. You're supposed. You're supposed to keep the ship in the water and, you know, you know, and other people can steer it, but you have to make sure it doesn't sink. And so I remember not quite knowing where we were gonna go next, but feeling like I needed to make sure that you felt like we were gonna go somewhere good.
Abby Jacobson
I think we did.
Ilana Glazer
And you did. Yeah. I'm remembering now. Another lunch at a place that we never would go, but we were like, totally. We'll meet you there. And it's Gonn Balthazar. Anyway, so we, like, met for lunch. Oh, my God. But you were like, so, you know, lucky for us, Comedy Central had wanted us, which isn't always the case. And you were like, FX is like a cold boyfriend. You don't even want them.
Abby Jacobson
No.
Ilana Glazer
Anyway, never changed. You don't want that boyfriend anyway. And it was like, yeah, I don't. Yeah.
Amy Poehler
And that time Comedy Central, maybe, to let people know we were in such good company. Who else was on the air during that time?
Ilana Glazer
Key and Peele.
Abby Jacobson
Key and Peele. Workaholics who had a similar, like, web to tv.
Amy Poehler
Amy Schumer Inside Amy Schumer Kroll Show.
Abby Jacobson
Maybe Nathan for you.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, that's right. Early Nathan Fielder. Yeah. It was such an incredible time. Kickstart the school year with Apple gift card. You can send it via email or send a physical card to your loved ones. Inspire their curiosity with a world of apps, boost their productivity with Apple products like iPhone and iPad, and help them unwind with the newest albums on Apple music, subscriptions to their favorite streaming services, and access to over 200 games and more. Visit applegiftcard.apple.com for details and send Apple gift card this Back to school season.
Kim Lessing
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Amy Poehler
Why do you think it's come? You know, it's like sprung back in this way right now. It must feel good to have people still come up to you and say they love it and say who they think they are.
Ilana Glazer
It's also like such a newly as we are like becoming like literally middle aged adults. It's like such a sweet, such a sweet connective thing when people talk about it. When we were younger, they thought we wanted, they thought we improvised it. We were like, we work so hard to write this over and over and over again. You know, it's just improv. It's slapped together and that we're like stone, like if they're meeting us on the street, that we're stoned in that moment or whatever.
Amy Poehler
They think you're stoned.
Ilana Glazer
We think we're the characters from the show. And like what it is now is it's just reached this like such a warm, sweet like bed for connection.
Abby Jacobson
I don't know if you experience, I mean when we're. We haven't for a second been out together, but that's a whole other thing that people are like, what are you guys doing on the street together? But like my wife Jodie, like, she's like, this is unlike anything, like to have someone witness it. She's like, you get this like this wild positive affirmation, like coming at you that is so rare. That is like a really. I feel very thankful all the time for that.
Amy Poehler
Before we move off of the broad city section, I do want to just for like people that are big fans. Hottest day on set, Coldest day on set. Any memories of like when you were very hot, very cold?
Ilana Glazer
Everything was so sweaty, literally sweaty.
Abby Jacobson
And I don't know why I was always wearing skinny jeans. So really added to it, babe.
Amy Poehler
It was the time we were.
Abby Jacobson
Alana sent me something where like something happened and I was like, you know.
Amy Poehler
What'S gonna happen when. You know what's gonna happen when you're 70? This is because this has now started to finally happen. Skinny jeans are gonna come back around and people are gonna. But people are gonna be like, this is so cool. These really tight skinny jeans and you're gonna say, you know, I used to wear. It's wild.
Ilana Glazer
Like, here's hoping.
Amy Poehler
I mean, remember skinny jeans? I mean, what. What I'm trying to think of, like, good outfit, jegging.
Abby Jacobson
They're still going out. They're still. I still see people in them.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah. I see millennials being like, fuck you. I don't care. I'm wearing skinny jeans. I feel organized in them. And I'm like, get it.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, well, that's what I mean. It's just now it's like all the way around to if you're wearing skinny jeans, you're a confident person.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
You're. You know.
Abby Jacobson
But I also had these straight down bangs for a lot of the show. And I remember they would get. They'd be fully soaking wet.
Ilana Glazer
Bangs.
Abby Jacobson
Marcela, dry the bangs.
Ilana Glazer
That's so funny.
Amy Poehler
Guest stars. Who comes to mind as people that when you just, like, pops into your head is like, oh, that was a fun day. That was a good moment. That was. There's so many great people that came through the show.
Ilana Glazer
RuPaul just cracks me up. He was so, like, studying his lines and saying them to himself that I was like, damn.
Abby Jacobson
And I would say, Kelly Ripa. I mean, just the way. Just her being. That version we wrote of her was of kind.
Amy Poehler
She was sad.
Ilana Glazer
Kelly Ripon, too. Like, her joy was like, oh, my God. Like, she really wanted to be there. And it was, like, so contagious.
Amy Poehler
And do you remember Lady Gaga tweeting about the show, how important that was?
Abby Jacobson
Yes. We were in the writers room.
Amy Poehler
That was a season two, end of season one.
Abby Jacobson
She was like, oh, my God, they used my song. My favorite. I think it was, like, my favorite show used in my song.
Ilana Glazer
And we met her. She, like, asked us to come or, you know, invited us to a. To a performance, and we, like, went on her bus and, like, the thing she was doing.
Amy Poehler
She went on her bus.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah, it was like, right outside the performance or whatever. And she was so kind being like, you remind me, when I watch your show, I feel like I'm not famous and I'm young again and, like, just running around the city before all of this, which, you know, she was clearly grateful for, but also was clearly quite heavy. And it was so many years ago. It was like, before. Now she's like, such a woman.
Amy Poehler
We got her song. I mean, how did we even afford her song? How did we.
Abby Jacobson
How did we do that?
Ilana Glazer
I have no idea.
Amy Poehler
We paid for it, but how did we get it?
Abby Jacobson
I think she liked. It was like, if someone. Someone involved liked the show, someone's manager or something. I don't know. Whoopi.
Ilana Glazer
Whoopi came and did a Whoopi.
Abby Jacobson
Bg.
Ilana Glazer
Wordless background. She did Sister Mary Clarence.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah, that was wild. That was wild.
Ilana Glazer
And I remember, like meeting her and being like. And she comes in the trailer. She is such a badass. Like, so herself the same. She's exactly who you'd think she is. And we were just acting totally cool. And we were also in stages that were illegal and an abandoned building, essentially. And I was like, well, she was leaving. And I was like, thanks so much. It meant so much to me. And then she left. And I immediately turned around and wept and cried in rubble in Bushwick. Rubble that we were filming in for some reason, because she was so. Not only did she do our show, but like, such a real ass bitch. Such a. Like a comedy girl. Real woman.
Abby Jacobson
Oh, my God, Shania Twain. I think about that a lot, actually. Cause we got her to say, man, I feel like a smoothie.
Ilana Glazer
I think about that. So game. So game.
Abby Jacobson
She was like. That was like so crazy.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, she did that for.
Ilana Glazer
I mean, you're pointing at me.
Amy Poehler
You. Oh, wow.
Abby Jacobson
I'm like, that should be a show. That was the bear.
Amy Poehler
We did the bear before the bear.
Ilana Glazer
You did the bear before the bear.
Amy Poehler
We did the bear before the bear. You're right. And for people, there was a scene where I was in the back of the kitchen and there was a whole drama with me and Seth Morris, another.
Ilana Glazer
You guys were exes.
Amy Poehler
We were exes. And we just created a little bit of a thing. And you're right, you know what the bear stole. The bears stole from Broad City. You heard it here first and you directed that. Yeah. I mean, what the fuck?
Abby Jacobson
What the fuck?
Amy Poehler
So we do this thing where we talk to people about our guests before they come on. And I was really trying to think about who I wanted to talk to and what organically came up for me was Kim Lessing and Kate Arend, the producers, co heads of Paper Kite, have worked together for 10 plus years. They are millennials. And they started when Brad City was. I think Kate's second or third day was. We were doing notes on like episode two of Broad City. So I asked them what they would want to know from you and from a workplace perspective. They were curious. How did you two keep your relationship, your actual intimate friendship, healthy while you were working together? And like, as you've gone on to work on other things, like what. How do you keep your workplace healthy? Knowing what you know now and how did you do it then too? How do you like to work and what do you bring into your work to keep it healthy?
Ilana Glazer
As incredible as it was to make Broad City, it was like we would like always make sure to have a little time up top to connect and catch up. LOL. Catch up from 12 hours ago or whatever it was. But like, you know, but like, it just, it feels like so, I don't know, so human to now have dinner and just be. Lately we have been like crying so much. It's been so.
Amy Poehler
It's.
Ilana Glazer
It's so juicy and delicious and nutritious and sweet. But at the time it was very much slotted in to catch up. And things would always make their way into the comedy, which is cool, but it's not the same as it being its own just for the sake of its own beauty, you know?
Abby Jacobson
And I think we knew that the catching up, it was like, the catching up was essential for the thing. Like, we knew that, like, it's so derived from us, so we had to kind of catch up and be like, okay, that's write that down for this thing.
Amy Poehler
What helped you during those times? What was the stuff you like? Did you pick your battles? Did you?
Ilana Glazer
Well, I think something also was like, I'm thinking about it too. Cause there was tension, like rise and release of tension constantly. And I think a lot of it was like boundaries and space and being like, see ya later.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah, yeah.
Ilana Glazer
And like taking the space.
Abby Jacobson
Well, we didn't like, hang out. I think when we were doing it, we weren't like, we would see you on Monday. We weren't like friends anymore.
Ilana Glazer
During Broad City, we couldn't.
Amy Poehler
So it's almost like you had to put that a little bit aside. Just like, not like, not let it atrophy, but not give it a lot of oxygen while you were doing the show.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah, it was very like after school club, you know what I mean? In that it's like this thing of like slotting in 45 minutes to talk before we focus. It's like it wasn't. It is so, like, it feels so beautiful now to like, just not have a task at hand, you know?
Abby Jacobson
But during that time, even though we weren't on the weekends, I would be like, you know, if something was happening, I'd be like, alana, I'm going on a date. Like, what am I? What do I wear? It wasn't like, don't speak to me. It was just like after truly like 12, 14 hours of Monday through Friday we were like, like, let's not do dinner on the date.
Amy Poehler
Who did you go on the date with and what did you wear?
Abby Jacobson
Well, I do. I honestly will remember. I remember, like, this is post bread city. I saw you the day before I met Jodie.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, my God.
Abby Jacobson
And I was, like, telling you what I'm gonna wear.
Amy Poehler
Your beautiful wife, Jodi and Alana. Wait, tell us that story.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, my God.
Amy Poehler
You were going on a date with Jodi.
Abby Jacobson
We were in la, and you were staying at Liz's house. And I was like, I'm going on a date by going on a date. It was, like, so deep. Covid of. She was, like, coming over to my house to the best patio, and I was like, I think I'm just gonna wear, like, I know what I wore. I was like, I think I'm just gonna wear this sweater and, like, black. I don't know. Like, we were still doing that. And you were like, yeah, like, don't do too much, you know?
Amy Poehler
Totally. What you wear on a date's really important.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Because it's a lot. It says a lot. I'm excited. I'm not excited. I don't care. I want to have sex. I don't want. Like, there's a ton of things happening. And it worked because you bagged. You bagged that babe.
Abby Jacobson
Yep.
Amy Poehler
You have a beautiful actor. You did. You bagged that babe. That babe was obsessed.
Ilana Glazer
And y' all are so beautiful and romantic. Like, you're such a beautiful couple. Oh, my God. So, like, also hot.
Amy Poehler
Hot.
Ilana Glazer
Hot as fuck.
Amy Poehler
Beautiful. And both of you have had a very busy 10 years. You become a mom. Both of you have gotten married. Like, you've both done a ton of different projects that you're writing, creating. Like, there's so much that's happened, and I guess I was curious, like, Alana, motherhood is a big creative center in a lot of your work. You talk about it a lot on stage. You made a movie about it. Babes, you have this way in which you're, like, peeling that onion a lot. And what's it brought? How has it expanded you and your work?
Ilana Glazer
It just has organized everything for me appropriately. Things are just, like, in their right place now, like, in my heart. And it's been so creative. And work also, like, is work. It's not. And it's a creative context, but it's not like, how I figure out who I am. It's a part of who I am. Yeah. I just feel correctly organized.
Amy Poehler
That's very cool. Ab what about the past that's very cool. What about you, A.B. the past 10 years, with all the different projects you're working, working on and worked on, how has that, like, changed your creative? Because, I mean, I'm curious about you as a fine artist, too. I mean, you're like, you're. You come from a fine art world. Like, people don't know. For people who don't know.
Abby Jacobson
What.
Amy Poehler
In what way do you express yourself that way? And is it always changing?
Abby Jacobson
I don't think that that much anymore.
Amy Poehler
You're good at drawing, girl.
Abby Jacobson
Thank you.
Amy Poehler
Do you want me to say it?
Abby Jacobson
I did.
Amy Poehler
I went to art schools. You went to art school. I went to art.
Abby Jacobson
And I like, I. A big goal of mine would be to do. To get back into painting and do have, like a show.
Amy Poehler
What do you like about painting?
Abby Jacobson
I think I'm in my head a lot, which I think is something that we really bonded over. And it's very meditative for me. But, like, I've painted two and a half paintings in the past two years.
Amy Poehler
You should say you're the painter. That makes one painter a year. And then everybody comes and watches you finish it. That's what a guy would do.
Abby Jacobson
I know. I'm dying to do it. Like, I think it's just like, he'd.
Ilana Glazer
Be like, it's like, so cool that.
Amy Poehler
I'd be like, I only do two and a half. And everyone be like, he's a genius.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
A withholding genius.
Abby Jacobson
You're right.
Ilana Glazer
God, he's genius.
Abby Jacobson
It takes me a whole year to do it.
Amy Poehler
Exactly. And can I ask you about Prelude?
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Can you talk about it?
Abby Jacobson
Oh, my God, yes. I forgot I told you all about. Oh, and you did the thing.
Amy Poehler
I did the thing. Do you want to talk about it a little bit?
Abby Jacobson
Yeah. We're in the thick of it right now. Okay. So Prelude is this fellowship program I created with Mika Tennon, who's like my partner. And it's an eight month program where there's 10 fellows that we select. And it's early, early, early career storytellers. And so there's 10. We set them up with mentors and there's ongoing programming with. They have mentorship every month. We have program every month that I run the program. Every month I have people come in and talk where I ask them questions. Amy kicked it. Kicked it off, which was like, they still talk about that. They still, like, cannot believe that you came, of course. And so I'm realizing that, like, for me, like, the success is that they have confidence in themselves and that's like, the best that we can. Like, that would be, like, my goal. They all leave feeling like they have confidence and that they have. They know that, like, someone believes in them, which, like, truly just to go back full circle, which is like, what you did for us. Like, and I said this to you on the day I'm gonna cry again when I had you like, that you believing in us and what we were doing, like, I think is what, like, has fueled us to do everything we've done since. And I'm like, if I could do that for them, that is. Yeah.
Amy Poehler
That is so cool, Abby. And it really does feel kind of like the. I'm crying again. Everybody who's listening, crying again. And I just want to ask about goodnight and good luck because, Alana, it's very exciting. Like a Broadway debut is. It's such a singular goal. Did you have it? Did you ever have that goal? Did you want to be on Broadway? Like, I am accentuating the way Broadway.
Ilana Glazer
I know comedians, a bunch of comedians.
Amy Poehler
I'm not even supposed to be Broadway.
Ilana Glazer
Talking about Broadway, it wasn't really in my, Like, I didn't think about it as. Especially since I had a child. It's so time consuming. Like, and since I've, like, kind of got my stand up and touring, like, now I, like, get it, how to do it, how I do it. Like, so Broadway, like, you're so, like, in someone else's control. I just hadn't thought about. Was such an incredible experience. You know, it reminds me of. And then also before that, the early days of comedy, you're just seeing the same people night after night after night. George Clooney was the co writer and star of performance.
Amy Poehler
How is our main marriage performance?
Ilana Glazer
An angel.
Amy Poehler
An angel.
Ilana Glazer
He is an angel. He is my hero. He is my hero. From, like, the personal human being to the public figure. He is. Oh, my gosh. It was such a. Such a privilege to perform his writing.
Amy Poehler
And, you know, AB we don't have to get into it, but you had a beautiful relationship in League of Their Own. What was the best takeaway of that show?
Abby Jacobson
Ugh. I was just talking to Darcy about it.
Amy Poehler
I know. The great Darcy Cardin.
Ilana Glazer
The most kissable.
Amy Poehler
I know. And just so.
Abby Jacobson
She was kissable. So funny. Because I was like. Cause I kissed Paul so much on Broad City. And then I was like, I guess I'm gonna kiss another one of my really sisters.
Ilana Glazer
And we kiss our friends, but it also. We kiss our friends.
Abby Jacobson
I found, like, I don't know, Like, I don't know. I think I'll do that forever. Of, like, you're. I'm in love with my friends and, like, there's already that chemistry there. But I guess in the middle. In the middle of Broad City is when I was like, oh, wow. I think I like women too. Which was like, obviously Lana was like, very much there for me during that.
Amy Poehler
Yes, of course.
Abby Jacobson
And then I was like, like everything else. I want to put that in the show.
Amy Poehler
Right.
Abby Jacobson
And that was very much in the show with Clea, who.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Abby Jacobson
Like, that was so fun. And I was so happy that that lined up. To get to have that on Broad City. That was like, truly us, like, getting to explore what was happening to me was happening with Abby and, like, differently, but the same, which was incredible to be able to do that. And then on League, like, I loved making that show. It was very hard in a lot of different ways. It was a period show. It was a like baseball. It was the inner workings of Amazon is not Comedy Central. That was. There was a lot more money. And at the end of the day, I was like, I'm writing this ensemble and everybody, like, it is just a bigger sort of like, friend group. And so I was like that, like, to expand that into, like, a group was, like, incredible. And then to get to write this love story with Darcy was like, it was a dream.
Amy Poehler
People really responded to that relationship and that story.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah, it's been a really cool. It's kind of like on the. Like, on the street kind of thing. I'm like, I know what. Which one you gonna say? Based on what you look like and.
Amy Poehler
Having made comedy for so long, what's your relationship to comedy now? What do you watch, read, go to? Like, how do you make yourself laugh right now? What's making you laugh? Who's making you laugh? Like, what? What's the place when the world is getting really intense that you like, where do you escape?
Abby Jacobson
I have a hard time.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Abby Jacobson
And so I have two things, but I have a hard time finding them, so I'm very interested. Okay. So I just saw this just last week. I saw Kate Berlant's new show.
Ilana Glazer
Oh, wow.
Abby Jacobson
The great Berlanth. I mean, I haven't laughed that much in a long time.
Amy Poehler
Oh. So live Kate Berlant.
Abby Jacobson
Recommend that she's on tour, I think, Right. Starting now. And then the show I'm watching that. I'm obsessed with that. Like, Brooke told me about.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. Brooke Posh.
Abby Jacobson
Brooke Posh.
Amy Poehler
Instrumental in the early Brad City.
Abby Jacobson
Big boys.
Amy Poehler
Big boys.
Abby Jacobson
Big boys.
Amy Poehler
No name, guys. Okay, hold on. Googling right now.
Abby Jacobson
It's so good. It's on Hulu. It's from the uk. Okay. It's so. And it's like the mix of, like. It's so funny and really heart. Like, there's heart. It's like. It got me.
Amy Poehler
Okay, so it's a sitcom.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Two boys from very different ends of the spectrum of masculinity become best friends at Brent University Freshers Week. In their first year at university, they explore, experiment, and try to discover themselves.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah, I never read the description. That's what it is.
Amy Poehler
All right. And, Alana, what are you listening to? How do you check out or laugh or.
Ilana Glazer
I've been really. It's like, I wanna see Kate's show. I really love what my friends are making, like, hacks. I've been. I still have to catch up on season four, but that's been really killing me in a good way, where I'm just like, ugh, this is so good and so funny. I'm, like, living. I'm dying. You know what I mean? And also, the last time I laughed so hard was at. Oh, Mary. Oh, my God, I just died. I'm starting to get into old movies, though. I just watched Prince of Tides.
Amy Poehler
Okay. Not Barbra Streisand.
Ilana Glazer
David wants to watch all of Barbra Streisand stuff because we have biographies for little kid books. And we're looking at Barbara and reading her life story, and we're like, let's just watch the catalog. And she's excited. She's so stunning.
Amy Poehler
Prince of Tyranny.
Abby Jacobson
She directed that. She directed that. And Nick Nolte.
Ilana Glazer
Gorgeous.
Abby Jacobson
Yeah.
Ilana Glazer
And to see. First of all, she's so hot and beautiful. And I'm, like, looking up in Wikipedia and doing the math. She's, like 53 in it. And she directed herself and is like, yeah, I'm fucking gorgeous and so Jewish.
Amy Poehler
Looking like a psychiatrist. Loewenstein.
Abby Jacobson
Would she say Prince of Toys?
Kate Arend
Would it be toys?
Abby Jacobson
Toys? She would.
Ilana Glazer
It's just. Get it, bitch. Get it. Fucking get it.
Amy Poehler
No kidding.
Abby Jacobson
She has a bio that just came out. Autobiography.
Amy Poehler
And her. And you should hear her do the.
Abby Jacobson
The book I heard was the audiobook.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
She's incredible. Barbara, we know you're watching and listening. Barbara, please come. Please.
Ilana Glazer
Dude, that would be a dream.
Amy Poehler
Such a good guest, Barbara. Tina and I did the movie Sisters. Her husband, James Brolin, played our identity. And my parents visited the set one day, and my mom was like, I wonder if Barbra Streisand's ever gonna come. And I was, barbara's not gonna come visit. You know, on Long island, the set of Sisters. Her husband is an actor. And she did. And it was the day my mother was there.
Ilana Glazer
Yes, dude.
Abby Jacobson
Wow.
Amy Poehler
She came to visit, you know, just came to drop by and see her gorgeous, loving husband, James. And my mom was like, I told you. And I was like, this doesn't happen all the time. Don't get used to this.
Abby Jacobson
Did they have a moment?
Amy Poehler
They did. I mean, they had like a little hello. She was lovely and very, very lovely to us. And you're right, we don't talk. Barbara, when you come on, let's talk about the things you've directed. I want to talk to you just.
Ilana Glazer
As a director, like, truly, it was so cool. And, you know, learning, like, how to light yourself as a woman in your 40s and your 50s and your 60s, just be like, just like, make it soft. Just like, feel. She is, like, irresistible. We were just like, she is so hot.
Amy Poehler
I had a broad city moment the other day that I was. That was. It felt very broad city. Speaking of lighting yourself, as I was. Was shooting something and I was looking at the monitor and I said, can I just take a peek to see where you are at with lighting? And the young director of the piece said, oh, don't worry, you look great. And I was like, can I give you a little feedback? I think when women, especially my age, ask for the monitor, saying, don't worry, you look great is not helpful. Like, it's not like we're being vain or insecure or like we're just like, trying to tweak just what, like, we would our voice or performance. Like, we kind of. We have a sense of, like, how we're gonna feel comfortable and how we wanna come across. Like, lighting is a big deal. I don't think he understands. This person understands. I think he's actually trying to make me feel better.
Ilana Glazer
I totally get it. But it's just like, lol, bro.
Amy Poehler
Lol, bro. I mean, omg, lol, bro.
Ilana Glazer
And then a little.
Abby Jacobson
Did you get to see.
Amy Poehler
Huh?
Abby Jacobson
Did you get to see Finders?
Ilana Glazer
Of course. All you do is you go like this.
Amy Poehler
I mean, it's always. It's always. And this is very broad city. It's always like, how much in the moment do you want to, like, correct? And how much do you want to just, like, you know, it is. I mean, I think what we're talking about today is the reason why people love the show is they feel like there's, like, people Looking out for each other, sticking up for each other, taking care of each other. There's a community in the show. There's, like, a vibe. And then what that does, it allows you to do that for yourself. And then you become your own advocate for yourself. That's what the characters.
Ilana Glazer
That's right.
Abby Jacobson
I had a broad city moment on Saturday, too. I don't know if it has a big culmination like this, but I went to a premiere and I went alone. Okay. Which is wild. And then I went to the party after, and I was like, I'm gonna schmooze and all those. And I knew someone. And I was like, okay, we're eating, we get a bite, and then we're going up to the bar. I was like, let's get a drink. And we go up to get a drink. And they were like. They were like, you know what? I don't wanna hold the martini. I have to pee. I'm gonna go pee. And I was like, all right, well, what do you want? I'll get it. And I get the drink. And I wasn't. Oh, look at me at this. This premiere. I get the two martinis. And then they never came back.
Ilana Glazer
I. Julie was like.
Abby Jacobson
I was, like, standing with two dirty martinis, and I was like.
Ilana Glazer
And I was, like, looking like a true drum.
Abby Jacobson
And people would come up to me. And then I told Jodi later, I was like, oh, God, like, people will come up to me. That I knew. And then people come up to me that love Broad City, me holding the two martinis. And I was like, I'm fucking Abby. I'm fucking Abby. And I was wearing a thing where, like, I kind of had to keep adjusting it. Finally, I was like, this one looks better. And I was like. Started drinking. I was like. I abandoned.
Ilana Glazer
And then how many minutes would you say that you were double fisting martinis?
Abby Jacobson
I would say too many.
Ilana Glazer
Give me a number.
Abby Jacobson
I would probably say 20, yo.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah, okay.
Amy Poehler
Well, I was like, she's gonna come.
Ilana Glazer
Back here in one of my.
Abby Jacobson
And then I was like, this is good martini. They made it. Like, they made. I didn't pay for it, but I.
Amy Poehler
Was like, sorry, Abby.
Abby Jacobson
Like, it was. So they made it for me.
Amy Poehler
What am I gonna.
Abby Jacobson
I'm Waste the martini.
Amy Poehler
And then I was watching me, and I don't want them to think that I'm.
Abby Jacobson
And then I was like, I abandoned it. And then I was like, I'm leaving.
Ilana Glazer
In the spirit of, like, self improvement. If it was 20 this time, how many minutes will you Give it next time.
Abby Jacobson
You know, there's no world in which I'm getting the drink. When someone goes to the bathroom the next time, I think I'd be like.
Ilana Glazer
That'S a good correction.
Abby Jacobson
I'll see you when you get back. I'm gonna get myself a drink.
Amy Poehler
And Alana, have you had an Alana moment recently? Is there something that happens where you're like, oh, this is an Alana moment.
Ilana Glazer
I have one that I can't say that I'll tell you after.
Abby Jacobson
Oh, you can't. It's it.
Amy Poehler
Naughty, naughty.
Abby Jacobson
Have you had an Abby moment?
Amy Poehler
Us filling it in might be more fun. Kind of like what you were talking about with your show. Like us filling in what your moment is, babe.
Ilana Glazer
Yeah, let's leave it at that. But I'll tell you after.
Amy Poehler
Okay, well dot dot dot IT I love you too. Thank you so much for doing this. We love you too. I love talking about the show. I love talking about what's next.
Ilana Glazer
You always were, you always will be. Not from not. Oh, Amy Poehler. She's an icon. No, from the fucking. In the flesh. Delicious. Forever 8 year old person that you are, mother that you have always been to us, big sister, just friend. You're just incredible. We're so grateful.
Amy Poehler
Thank you for letting this 8 year old be your producer.
Ilana Glazer
She did it. She did it good.
Amy Poehler
Thank you, guys. Thank you. Abby and Alana, thank you for coming and doing the pod. It was so, so great to talk to you and it's just a delight always to see the two of you together. And today's polar plunge is brought to you by Wayfair, here to help you make your home your happy place. So as we plunge today, I just want to remind everybody about the podcast that Kim Lessing and Kate Aaron mentioned at the top of the show. Two women who run Paper Kite Productions, the company that is my production company and that made Broad City and many other things. They have a show called Million Dollar Advice and we would love to hear your questions about your workplace, questions that they can answer. So please send them into million dollaradvicepodmail.com milliondollaradvicepodmail.com and also head over to wayfair.com and find something that's just your style today. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair Every style, every home. Bye. You've been listening to Good hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weisberg Berman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by the Ringer and Paper Kite for the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, cat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Alaya Zaneris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles. Mama, Papa.
Abby Jacobson
Moi pronto.
Amy Poehler
De la vuelta classes Amazon gastamenos sonrimas.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer Episode Summary
Release Date: July 22, 2025
In this heartfelt and engaging episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Amy welcomes Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the creative forces behind the critically acclaimed show Broad City. Filmed in New York City, the conversation delves deep into their collaborative journey, the significance of female friendships in the workplace, and the personal growth they've experienced over the years.
The episode begins with Amy Poehler introducing her guests, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, highlighting their pivotal role in the growth of her production company, Paper Kite Productions. Amy sets the stage by outlining the topics to be discussed, including the creation and impact of Broad City, the dynamics of female friendships, and their reflections on life as millennials and "Zillennials."
Notable Quote:
Amy Poehler [03:27]: "We're here in the studio and next door to Paper Kite offices, which you co-run, and we're talking to Abbi and Ilana about Broad City."
Abbi and Ilana introduce themselves as co-presidents of Paper Kite Productions, overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes not only Broad City but also other significant projects like Russian Doll, Difficult People, and Harlem. They emphasize their passion-driven approach to selecting projects and their commitment to fostering creative endeavors within the company.
Notable Quote:
Ilana Glazer [04:05]: "We're producers. We don't produce as a team. We actually produce separately... We really, we really love every second of doing it."
The conversation transitions to the inception of Broad City. Abbi recounts her first impressions after watching the show, noting its authentic representation of female friendships and millennial experiences. Kate Arend shares her astonishment at finding characters on television that mirrored her own friendships and life dynamics.
Notable Quotes:
Abbi Jacobson [04:28]: "I knew I was in the right place because I felt like I was making something that actually genuinely represented my life and the types of friendships I was having."
Kate Arend [05:16]: "I remember being like, holy shit, I've never seen queens like this on TV before."
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the importance of female friendships both in the workplace and beyond. Abbi and Ilana share anecdotes illustrating their deep bond, characterized by brutal honesty and unwavering support. They compare their relationship to that of their characters, Abby and Alana, highlighting how effective communication and mutual respect have sustained their friendship through the demanding process of creating and producing a long-running show.
Notable Quotes:
Kim Lessing [07:42]: "We always refer to [Broad City] as our North Star. It represents our ethos as a company."
Kate Arend [08:27]: "Friendship is so important to us... we have to be brutally honest with each other."
Amy delves into how Broad City became a benchmark for Paper Kite Productions, serving as an inspiration for young female creators. The guests discuss the show's unique portrayal of scrappy underdogs and the relentless pursuit of personal goals, traits that resonate deeply with Paper Kite's mission.
Notable Quotes:
Kim Lessing [08:08]: "They have a lot of elements that we really resonate with, like scrappy underdogs and women who love each other."
Ilana Glazer [08:24]: "Abbi and Alana were like our mirrors—messy, determined, and deeply caring."
Transitioning to their own endeavors, Abbi and Ilana introduce their podcast, Million Dollar Advice. This segment explores their initiative to provide work-related advice, drawing from their extensive experience in the entertainment industry. They emphasize the importance of mentorship and confidence-building, mirroring the support they received from Amy.
Notable Quotes:
Abbi Jacobson [11:55]: "Million Dollar Advice is about giving people confidence and showing that someone believes in them."
Kim Lessing [12:12]: "Our advice is so good. Minimum, it's million dollar advice."
Abbi and Ilana reminisce about pivotal moments and guest stars on Broad City, sharing behind-the-scenes stories that highlight the show's authenticity and comedic brilliance. They recount episodes featuring personalities like Kelly Ripa and Lady Gaga, illustrating how these interactions enriched their creative process and deepened their connection to the show.
Notable Quotes:
Ilana Glazer [45:30]: "RuPaul just cracks me up. He was so, like, studying his lines."
Abbi Jacobson [46:01]: "Lady Gaga tweeting about the show was monumental. We even met her!"
The discussion shifts to their personal growth over the decade since Broad City. Abbi talks about her venture into painting and her aspirations to hold an art exhibition, while Ilana reflects on motherhood's impact on her creativity and organizational skills. They share how their experiences have shaped their artistic expressions and professional trajectories.
Notable Quotes:
Abbi Jacobson [54:16]: "A big goal of mine would be to get back into painting and have a show."
Ilana Glazer [53:33]: "Motherhood has organized everything for me appropriately... it's been so creative."
Amy and the guests discuss the poignant ending of Broad City, emphasizing its message of individuality and community. They reflect on how the final scenes served as a passing of the baton, allowing the audience to see themselves as the protagonists of their own stories.
Notable Quotes:
Abbi Jacobson [16:29]: "We were showcasing that there are thousands and millions of Abby and Alanas out there."
Amy Poehler [17:07]: "You gave the show back to the people that loved it, which is why it sticks around."
A recurring theme is maintaining healthy relationships in a collaborative and often high-pressure work environment. Abbi and Ilana share strategies they employed to keep their friendship strong while handling the complexities of producing a television show, such as setting clear boundaries and ensuring open communication.
Notable Quotes:
Kate Arend [50:41]: "Boundaries and space were crucial... being like, see ya later."
Ilana Glazer [50:53]: "Taking space was essential to not let stress fester."
As the episode draws to a close, Abbi and Ilana express their gratitude towards Amy for her unwavering support throughout their journey. They discuss upcoming projects, including Ilana's Broadway debut and Abbi's Prelude fellowship program, underscoring their commitment to nurturing new talent and exploring diverse creative avenues.
Notable Quotes:
Abbi Jacobson [55:29]: "Prelude is a fellowship program for early career storytellers where we mentor and support them."
Ilana Glazer [58:24]: "Having people who believe in you is what fueled us to do everything we've done since."
This episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler serves as a celebration of collaboration, friendship, and creative resilience. Through candid conversations and shared memories, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer offer listeners an intimate glimpse into the making of Broad City, the sustaining power of female friendships, and their ongoing contributions to the world of comedy and beyond.
Notable Quote:
Ilana Glazer [69:02]: "You are an icon... we're so grateful."
Highlighted Quotes with Timestamps:
Amy Poehler [03:27]: "We're here in the studio and next door to Paper Kite offices, which you co-run, and we're talking to Abbi and Ilana about Broad City."
Abbi Jacobson [04:28]: "I knew I was in the right place because I felt like I was making something that actually genuinely represented my life and the types of friendships I was having."
Kate Arend [05:16]: "I remember being like, holy shit, I've never seen queens like this on TV before."
Kim Lessing [07:42]: "We always refer to [Broad City] as our North Star. It represents our ethos as a company."
Abbi Jacobson [11:55]: "Million Dollar Advice is about giving people confidence and showing that someone believes in them."
Abbi Jacobson [16:29]: "We were showcasing that there are thousands and millions of Abby and Alanas out there."
Amy Poehler [17:07]: "You gave the show back to the people that loved it, which is why it sticks around."
Abbi Jacobson [54:16]: "A big goal of mine would be to get back into painting and have a show."
Ilana Glazer [53:33]: "Motherhood has organized everything for me appropriately... it's been so creative."
Ilana Glazer [69:02]: "You are an icon... we're so grateful."
This episode not only provides a nostalgic look back at Broad City but also offers valuable insights into sustaining creative partnerships and the enduring power of friendship. Abbi and Ilana's reflections are a testament to their growth as individuals and as collaborators, making this episode a must-listen for fans and aspiring creators alike.