Loading summary
Amy Poehler
Hey, everyone, this is Amy Poehler. This is the first episode of my podcast. Thank you for being here. I like to be five or six years late to any trend. It only gets better from here, but. Or it only goes down from here. I don't know. We'll see. I just want to make it clear. I am not an expert. I'm not a therapist. I'm not here to change your life. I don't care if you get any better. I don't have advice for you. I just want us to have fun and lighten up a little. And, I don't know, I want us to feel like there's. There's a way to have laughs amid all of the craziness that is life. So if you're listening to this while you're working out or folding laundry, or maybe you're sitting in your car avoiding your kids, maybe you're listening to this, I don't know, in your, you know, in law's basement, next to the Bowflex machine and it's Christmas and you're questioning the choices you've made in life. Whatever it is, this is a show here to, to have fun and make you laugh. And I'm not here to judge. Okay? So my guest today is Tina Fey. Tina is my wife, really in life. She is my comedy partner in many ways, and she has, you know, I talk about it in the podcast a little bit, but she has been along this journey with me. We've really experienced a lot of things together at the same time in life. Sometimes I feel like Tina and I are kind of a group with two members and we've had a lot of parallel things happen at the same time. Kids and TV shows and career. And we're lucky enough to still like each other and want to tour together. So, uh, we're gonna talk and hang out, and like any good hang, you wanna make sure that anyone's invited. So without further ado, here are some of my fave people. Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, and Zarna Garg, a great standup and friend who's been joining Tina and I on the road and see if they have any questions for Tina, anything they think I should ask her. And honestly, I just wanna check in and see if they think this is a good idea.
Tina Fey
Woo hoo hoo.
Amy Poehler
This episode, founded by the Toyota Grand Highlander, Life's journey brings constant change, filled with exciting surprises, new chapters and grand challenges. And the Toyota Grand Highlander is more than a vehicle. It's your partner in embracing all life throws at you blinked and the kids have grown up. The third row can fit three adults. From daily routines to life changing adventures. The Toyota Grand Highlander is up for every grand challenge. Learn more@toyota.com GrandHighlander to Toyota. Let's go places.
Tina Fey
Your data is like gold to hackers and they'll sell it to the highest bidder. Are you protected? McAfee helps shield you blocking suspicious texts, malicious emails and fraudulent websites. McAfee Secure VPN lets you browse safely and its AI powered tech scam detector spots threats instantly. You'll also get up to $2 million of award winning antivirus and identity theft protection. All for just $39.99 for your first year. Visit mcafee.com/incancel anytime terms apply. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Upgrade your business with Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet. Shop pay boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning fewer carts going abandoned and more sales going cha ching. So if you're into growing your business, get a commerce platform that's ready to sell wherever your customers are. Visit shopify.com to upgrade your selling today.
Amy Poehler
Get up. What do you say?
Tina Fey
Wait.
Amy Poehler
Dratch's Zoom is in the dark.
Rachel Dratch
Dratch is in a haunted New England attic. It's very Dratch to join and then carry her laptop into every room in her home.
Amy Poehler
I'm planting it now.
Rachel Dratch
Dratch is putting her headphones on. In a way, there's a 30% chance she strangles herself.
Tina Fey
I know.
Amy Poehler
This is a very typical Dratch entry. Dratch's headphones look like, you know, when you were trying to untangle Christmas lights.
Rachel Dratch
Yeah, I didn't even know this kind of cord could tangle like that.
Tina Fey
I'm holding up everything.
Rachel Dratch
No, no, this is what Amy wanted.
Amy Poehler
Just the sound of untangling headphones is great for like a first podcast and stuff. All right, ready to rock. Maybe I should reintroduce everybody since we're all on mic here. Zarna Garg, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Rachel Drot. Welcome to Good Hang. Thank you for being.
Rachel Dratch
It's great to be here. It's been a great hang so far. I mean, everything that's happened before the intro has been great.
Amy Poehler
I mean, it feels like it's been real smooth.
Tina Fey
That's on me.
Seth Meyers
You can hear this microphone. Okay. Does it sound all right? Check, check.
Amy Poehler
Can we just go down the line and have everyone clap? We really need you guys to clap.
Tina Fey
Oh, I didn't hear Zarna. Okay, okay, okay.
Amy Poehler
We really need to get this clap right, guys. Okay. Seth, it's not picking up the screen.
Seth Meyers
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.
Amy Poehler
The doorbell ring. Amy, this is the episode. This is it. 100% Zarn. I don't.
Rachel Dratch
This is. I think it's very unfair that Dratch is using this time to record an episode of Background Noises with Rachel.
Tina Fey
Dratch.
Amy Poehler
Dratch. Who is at the door. That's interesting.
Tina Fey
I ordered food.
Amy Poehler
I ordered food.
Rachel Dratch
I haven't heard an old timey doorbell like that.
Tina Fey
Wait, wait.
Rachel Dratch
One more.
Amy Poehler
One more thing, one more thing. The batteries are out of my recorder, so everything went.
Tina Fey
My phone.
Amy Poehler
I'm getting my voice, but I don't.
Tina Fey
Need to have a microphone, right?
Rachel Dratch
Dratch, we're probably going to edit you out of this.
Amy Poehler
This is the most embarrassing Pisces.
Rachel Dratch
Also, Dratch, if you ordered from a second restaurant, you should tell us that.
Amy Poehler
I did it.
Rachel Dratch
I did this once.
Amy Poehler
I didn't do a bang ban. Look it already. It's been a good hang. Okay, I'm ready. Oh, my God. Okay, so my first guess is Tina. Tina Fey. And you all know Tina really well. So I guess my question to you is, what would you want to hear her talk about on this podcast or any podcast? She doesn't do a lot of them.
Seth Meyers
Her dad was really good at caricatures.
Amy Poehler
Mm.
Seth Meyers
So are there any other artistic talents that she got from her dad? Because Tina's good at caricatures too, like drawing. But how do you put that into, like, a question for her? I guess it's more like, did she get that from her dad or like, how much? Like, I remember him being really funny in his own way, too.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. She is an intimidating presence, Tina. Like, you know, people are nervous around her. I was nervous around her when I first met her. I wonder if she ever gets asked, like, she's intimidating in the way that a man would be to me, but I wonder if she ever gets asked, like, the girl questions like, what dress are you gonna wear? That's interesting. She deals with at all. Or do people just go to her like, oh, no, this is not a Tina fake question.
Rachel Dratch
Do you want me to ask her the dress question?
Amy Poehler
Ask her the dress question. Set.
Rachel Dratch
I'll ask her.
Amy Poehler
And can you do it? Can you whisper it in. In, like, a phone call late at night? Can you say, what dress are you gonna wear?
Rachel Dratch
Hey, Zarna. Zarna wants to know.
Amy Poehler
I know you guys. Your time is limited, so I won't keep you much longer. But just before we go. You are all doing tons of podcasts, hosting them in them. Like, what. What advice do you have for me as I launch?
Seth Meyers
I just know from knowing you that, like, whenever you ask people questions in real life, you really are interested, and you're just on, like, the cliff of, like, giving a hint as to what your opinion is. Just not too much, but just enough so it, like, it's really. It just draws you in. So there's no advice. I'm just like, every time you ask me a question, I'm like, ooh, I think Amy's really asking me a question.
Amy Poehler
Is it? That sounds kind of leading the witness a little bit.
Seth Meyers
No, no, no, no, no. It's more like, this is going to be a fun conversation. So, for example, this is not a real thing, but you'd be like, so you really like landing in London? Like, that's like, a good airport to land in. And I'm like, oh, this is about to be a conversation about what you don't like about.
Rachel Dratch
I also think you're very good at not letting. Sometimes you help turn people away from the negative narrative that they might want to lay out to you. So you're really good friend and that you listen. And I think you can tell when people just need to, like, unburden themselves or something. But I feel like more than maybe anyone else I know you're very good at saying, can I invite you to look at this a different way?
Amy Poehler
That maybe offer you some feedback?
Rachel Dratch
Not even feedback. It's more like, I just. I. You know, it's not like this is how you should, but, like, you're telling me something and I see how you're seeing it, but, like, can I just ask you to maybe see it this way where you won't be as hard on yourself and you won't be as sad about it? I don't know. I feel like you've always been very good that way.
Amy Poehler
Thanks.
Seth Meyers
But, you know, you don't. You have, like, a regular voice that you. You're not using right now. Do you want to do your real voice?
Amy Poehler
Oh, yeah, I'll do my real voice. Okay. Hey, guys. Oh, it was so hard to do my other voice.
Seth Meyers
That's right.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Rachel Dratch
It hurts.
Amy Poehler
It hurts. Anyway, so great that you guys are doing this today.
Rachel Dratch
I love you. And I have to go.
Amy Poehler
I'm so sorry. Go, go. I love you. Thank you for doing this, Seth. I have to go, too. Everyone's gotta go. It means the world that you guys did this. Thank you for letting me, like, start this is like the ground floor. Thanks for being there for me with this and so many other things. I can't wait to see you all in person very soon. I really love you guys. Thanks so much for doing it.
Seth Meyers
Love you.
Amy Poehler
Love you all. Okay, bye guys. Bye. Thank you. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Uber Eats is delivering game because you can't watch eight hours of basketball a day on an empty stomach. I love to watch TV on my couch and then never get back up. And so once I'm down it's hard to stand and I definitely don't want to drive and get food. So Uber Eats delivers my food to me and then I shuffle over to my door in my pajamas and I grab the food. So whatever you're craving, Uber Eats has deals on all your game day favorites. You never have to miss a single buzzer beater. Get game day deals on all your favorites, only on Uber Eats. Order now. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Uber Eats is delivering game day deals because you can't watch eight hours of basketball a day on an empty stomach. I love to watch TV on my couch and then never get back up. And so once I'm down it's hard to stand and I definitely don't want to drive and get food. So Uber Eats delivers my food to me and then I shuffle over to my door in my pajamas and I grab the food. So whatever you're craving, Uber Eats has deals on all your game day favorites. You never have to miss a single buzzer beater. Get game day deals on all your favorites, only on Uber Eats. Order now.
Fred Armisen
I'm William Goudge, a Vuoric collaborator and professional ultra runner from the uk. I love to tackle endurance runs around the world, including a 55 day 3064 mile run across the US so I know a thing or two about performance wear. When it comes to relaxing, I look for something ultra versatile and comfy. The Ponto Performance Jogger from Vuri is perfect for all of those things. It's the comfiest jogger I've ever worn and the Dreamlit fabric is why I'll always reach for them over other joggers. Check them out in the Dreamlit collection by going to Vuori.com William that's V U-O-R-I.com William where new customers can receive 20% off their first order plus enjoy free shipping in the US on orders over $75 and free returns. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.
Tina Fey
All right, we're going to officially start and begin.
Amy Poehler
And we need everyone to clap.
Tina Fey
Personality on. It's not working.
Amy Poehler
We just need a clap. We need you to clap and then count backwards from 10. 10. Tina, thank you for being on the first official podcast that I have ever done for good Hang.
Tina Fey
It is my absolute pleasure.
Amy Poehler
I really, really appreciate it, buddy. You have done many things for me over the years, including getting most of the jobs that. Helping me get most of the jobs that I have and the career that I have. But this means the most.
Tina Fey
This means the most. Okay, great.
Amy Poehler
But I am kind of nervous.
Tina Fey
Why?
Amy Poehler
Well, I mean, I guess it's funny to talk to your friends that you've known for so long and then interview them. I guess we should probably. I guess we should probably picture this as, like. I'm gonna picture that there's a room full of, like. I'm gonna picture, like, there's an audience.
Tina Fey
Okay. Because not just Jenna.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. Because it's the only way I can get off. No, I'm just kidding.
Tina Fey
I have to step on your neck and talk to you. You know what else? Sometimes when I hear things like this, back I go, oh, why was my voice so nasal and annoying? So should we just take a little minute to just. Just. Let's warm up our voices.
Amy Poehler
Do you remember the character that Keenan did on SNL where he was a guy saying, just fix it. Remember? He was like a. He was like a New Yorker that just kept going, fix it.
Tina Fey
No, I don't remember. I remember him saying, let me hold that baby. Do you remember that character did that air.
Amy Poehler
I don't know.
Tina Fey
It was a really funny. It was almost like a premise for a short story where he was just like a sweet old man in a train station. And then somebody was. A young host was there with her baby, and he was. She was, like, chatting with him, and then he just goes, let me hold that baby. And it was. Her dilemma was like, I don't actually know this man. Like, should I let him hold my baby? What if he runs away? What if he smashes it like a basketball into the ground? Let me hold that baby.
Amy Poehler
Okay, but you don't do a lot of podcasts.
Tina Fey
I don't do a lot. I'm very. I'm very selective. You are my podcast work.
Amy Poehler
I appreciate that. And you were so good on Bowen and Matt's.
Tina Fey
Oh, my gosh. Thank you.
Amy Poehler
It was so funny.
Tina Fey
Thank you. I. That is one podcast that I do listen to and enjoy that and draft anything Drash says. Those guys are funny. But I felt a Lot of pressure. I went in there, I knowing, like, you have to do that one minute thing at the end. And I, I something I think about a lot and I fall short of it constantly. But a million years ago, was a writer still at snl, and I remember Steve Martin came to do something on the show. He wasn't hosting, but he came the show and he had just, he had just been on Letterman the night before. And I said, oh, hi, how you doing? I said, oh, my gosh, you were so funny. Letterman last night. And he just very matter of factly said, oh, well, you have to kill every time. And that has haunted me every day since. And he's right. And it's like, oh, right. Like if you're a beautiful actress from, I don't know, like Melrose Place. No, just whatever. Like, you're just a beautiful actress. You can go on and be like, I went to the store once. But if you're a comedy person, you have to kill every time.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
Oh, God. Have you ever.
Amy Poehler
I mean, I think I know the answer to this, but I feel like I've never got, really gotten a job from an audition ever. Ooh, you feel like you've gone into an audition for something and nailed it and been like, I got it.
Tina Fey
No, no, never. Because again, I'm not really so interesting on paper. Like, I remember going to commercial auditions in Chicago and we had friends. At that time, Chicago was a thriving town for commercials. I don't know if it still is, but there were, you know, huge ad agencies were based there and they would shoot things in Chicago. And a lot of people that we worked with at Second City would get a lot of work that would pay for their whole year. You know, I did a little bit of voiceover work. I had a pager, remember? You'd have a PA Be like, guys, my page is blowing up. I might have a voiceover audition downtown. I gotta go.
Amy Poehler
There was a casting director in Chicago who shall not be named, who was a commercial casting director. And I had kind of wonky teeth. So it was this kind of thing where we'd go out for this. Remember the term bite and smile?
Tina Fey
Yes.
Amy Poehler
So you'd pretend to bite into a hamburger and then be like. You'd smile. Yeah, yeah. And it was. It could change your life if you got a.
Tina Fey
You could pay for like three years of your low rent.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. And I knew right away that there, with my teeth, I was never going to get a bite and smile. Like, there was no way a brand would be associated with my teeth. And this casting director, just to get to know people, would ask them, what's your most embarrassing moment?
Tina Fey
Yes.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. And I had a full. Like, I got probably nervous in that moment, but I was like, no, thank you. I, like, didn't want to tell her my most embarrassing moment because, by the way, that's insane.
Tina Fey
Like, that's, that's a, that's one of the, that's a tiny micro version of when we try to explain the 90s to younger people of like, how so many things, you're like, oh, that lady would literally be fired and tried in front of a jury for asking you that in the workplace. I had a bite and smile type thing where it was a McDonald's audition and everything always was like, okay, so take, you know, two trains and a thing and get way out to wherever this audition is. And then you get there and you. And it was for some new kind of happy or drive through meal, whatever. And I went all the way to the thing and I got there and I realized as we were going into the session, like, oh, this, this commercial is for a person pulling into a drive through. And I have this, you know, SC scar on the left side of my face that's way faded now, but it was much more prominent then. I was like, similar to the teeth thing. I was like, guess who's not gonna book this? Pulling up to the drive through with my short hair with the perm on top and a big scar. And. And so I just remember in the thing, just being up, like pulling into the, in the chair, like scooting like I'm in the drive through, being like, I'll have the fish fillet meal and my scar will have an orange soda. And then just leaving.
Amy Poehler
You were like, you're not gonna reject me.
Tina Fey
I'm gonna reject you, reject you. It's like, what are we doing here? I traveled 45 minutes each way.
Amy Poehler
I mean, we talk about work a lot in. When we're together. I think we work together really well. What is your relationship to work and has it changed?
Tina Fey
I. I think it has changed. I am a work based person. Like, that's. If I were an animal, I would be like a carriage horse, I think. You know, just like, you know, they say like, oh, no, these. Some are like some kinds of dogs. Like, no, they want to work or they'll go insane. So I am, I am that kind of animal, I think. But I also, I have just, just recently, really recently found that I have. Because I went through such a stretch for so many decades where it Was like, you go to work for 12 to 13 hours and then you come home and you, you know, you try to be with your family till they go to sleep, and then you're like, then you got to do your homework. And I've only in the last year or two had windows of time where, like, I don't have homework tonight. I can just be a person in this world and maybe, like, watch a program.
Amy Poehler
Do you feel like you can actually enjoy it in that moment?
Tina Fey
I can. Although it's still. You know, I think any other writer would say this too, that the only. The closest I can get to joy and peace is like, the 36 hours after I've turned something in. Because that's the only time when you're like, I did it. I really. I don't have any homework, but I'm still a very good, good carriage horse because I did my work.
Amy Poehler
Yes.
Tina Fey
And then after like 36 hours, it creeps back in of like, okay, I'm gonna get notes back. Or I'm.
Amy Poehler
I should go.
Tina Fey
Skip ahead to the next thing I will say, though I did go back to work this fall on a set for the first time in a long time. And it was actually. And I. And I worked hard to build it to be the. A really healthy set and really, like, humane hours. And it was nice to be among other humans and making something. I also was extremely purposeful about bringing together people who I believed were good people who would not make any trouble for me.
Amy Poehler
Yes.
Tina Fey
And it really made a difference.
Amy Poehler
I feel like that's the. That's success.
Tina Fey
Right.
Amy Poehler
That's a luxury is getting to be. To realize I only, if I can, wanna work with people who I know will not think that chaos is how to be creative.
Tina Fey
It's how to be creative. And, you know, I think as so many TikTok stories, we won't go into which ones, but people are, like, hearing about movie sets and being like, that's crazy what's happening there. I was like, that's not that crazy. Like, that's pretty. Like, movies are about just people going crazy and acting out and then one or two people trying to harvest series of photographs of those people that can be assembled into a film. But it's mostly poorly behaved, crazy people being indulged by various parties.
Amy Poehler
And we have seen and worked at places and this is no big scoop. Like SNL is one of them, where people come in with their system of how they like to work and they're like people when they're nervous or insecure, are Often not at their best. And the way they act is wild because they're nervous or insecure.
Tina Fey
People get insecurity, makes people behave wildly. I even have learned to realize that we talk about relationship to work. That I have now learned that I get very, very grouchy and nervous when something has to be written because it is like having a stomach flu. And you're like. It's the sick you feel before. You either eject it one way or the other, and it just really gotta come out one end grouchy until it comes out. And I can at least see that pattern. But doesn't prevent it from happening. But I'm like, okay, here's what's happening.
Amy Poehler
I feel that way about when I'm in a situation where I don't feel like there's a strong leader. Like where I'm being directed by someone who doesn't quite know what they're doing. Or there's. But there's no one telling us what to do. Like, there's no one in control. I have that grouchiness where I feel like I'm going to. I'm either gonna have to take over here or I'm gonna have to dis. Like, you know, check out.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
And I've been in a couple projects where, like, week one, I'm like, oh, no. Like, we don't have a captain. Like, this ship is going down and you can see months ahead.
Tina Fey
Yep.
Amy Poehler
How do you. Yeah, I don't. You know, how do you. You just kind of. I guess you just watch funny videos in your trailer.
Tina Fey
Yeah. I think the one way is. Yeah. You shut down, and the other way.
Amy Poehler
Is you try to clumsily take over and make people uncomfortable.
Tina Fey
Yeah. Those are the only two. Those are the only two options. They really are.
Amy Poehler
I know, but, like, hold on. I'm gonna take a lip balm break. Do it up, because I need. My lips are dry.
Tina Fey
This is brought to you by Lip Balm, the concept of lip balm. The lip balm foundation promoting all lip balms everywhere.
Amy Poehler
I mean, I guess this is friendship. Is. Is. Is letting your friend.
Tina Fey
I know about this because I have a middle schooler.
Amy Poehler
I love laneige. I mean, the question is, like, how well do you have to know someone to let. I mean, I'm not their finger.
Tina Fey
I'm not trying to do that. I just.
Amy Poehler
Okay, you don't want to.
Tina Fey
I don't want to.
Amy Poehler
Interesting. Well, I'll think about that all day.
Tina Fey
I'm afraid I will wipe off what little colors.
Amy Poehler
But you're Not a germaphobe.
Tina Fey
I'm not a germaphobe. And I think it's a real unattractive quality in someone else when they're like a germaphobe.
Amy Poehler
Especially in a man.
Tina Fey
In a man. It is such a disgusting deal breaker.
Amy Poehler
Like a man who's worried about, like, I don't shake hands. It's like, you're a man.
Tina Fey
Shake hands and then go wash your hands, you freak.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, you're the one with poop on your hands. Like, who said anything about poop on their hands until you did? I don't know. I. But there's. We know a couple people that are germaphobes jobs. We have to watch out. That's the thing we have to watch out for in our 50s is the thing that was like our cute eccentricity becomes our genuine mental. Mental illness. Yeah, the thing that's like, you know how they don't like to drive?
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Well. Well, I was.
Tina Fey
I got. My license had expired, and during the pandemic, you were like, you. It was before the pandemic, you were like, you got to get your license back to me. You're like, you can't be one of those older ladies that doesn't drive. And I'm like, you're right, you're right, you're right.
Amy Poehler
I do feel I love to drive you. You.
Tina Fey
I do. You do.
Amy Poehler
You're good at driving, and I love it. And your.
Tina Fey
The name of your car is named Karen because she's a white Subaru.
Amy Poehler
And I said this before, which is I feel like Amy came this close to being a Karen.
Tina Fey
Yes, like that. Yeah. Because as you've said, like, a lot of the actual worst Karen's were in fact named Amy.
Amy Poehler
In real life, the woman that called, the guy that was bird watching was named Amy. At the same time, Amy Coney Barrett was up and running, or getting up and running. There was a lot going on with Amy's. We were. We missed it by an inch.
Tina Fey
Yeah. It's a. It's a real.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, but is there anything you feel like you see me doing that you should. Like I should be careful about.
Tina Fey
Warn you about. That's a good question.
Amy Poehler
I think that is what women do for each other is they say like, hey, you know, like, you know the pills that you take for your. For flying, you shouldn't take them at.
Tina Fey
When you're not flying.
Amy Poehler
When you're not flying.
Tina Fey
Oh, my chair made a fart sound. That wasn't me. No, I feel like I know what I. What you should tell me about, which is the. Especially coming out of the pandemic, my mumbling talking.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, you're mumbling.
Tina Fey
And sometimes. And when I'm thinking really fast, like it really is even I'm like, wow, what's going on there? Like, I have to work to fully form my words.
Amy Poehler
What do you think is going on there?
Tina Fey
I think I stayed home a lot in the pandemic and muttered to myself and I hope that's it and it's not a precursor to some kind of mental decline.
Amy Poehler
It was like her muttering started when.
Tina Fey
She was 53 and then she became one of the Crumb brothers from the movie Crumb. Everyone pause the podcast. Go watch Crumb real quick. But I'm trying to think if there. I. I don't.
Amy Poehler
Well, I know that I like I play this game with my friends. This would be a fun game to play together, which is like, what is the version of you that's like your biggest fear you will turn into.
Tina Fey
I know mine exactly.
Amy Poehler
Okay, what is it?
Tina Fey
How do I say this without saying it? I want to write it down and show it to you. And you can, by the way, I.
Amy Poehler
Have my computer here, you know, because that's what people do with podcasts as they have their computer.
Tina Fey
Cuz you're playing Candy Crush the whole time and you have one window open.
Amy Poehler
With I wish we could do the whole podcast where I say really like the wrong information about everything and then I pretend to look it up and I verify it in front of you. Oh, also, I wish I was just smoking weed the whole time. What if I just start lit up a joint. Okay, okay.
Tina Fey
Now how do I articulate that? I would say there's a certain type of strident older showbiz.
Amy Poehler
Yes.
Tina Fey
That's like, listen to me, honey, I don't give a. And I'm like, oh God, but that's so not you.
Amy Poehler
You're a mutterer.
Tina Fey
I'm a mutterer. So it's not. But there's also something about the look of it. That's as often as I say, like, I'm gonna cut my hair. And my friend Guy who's been doing my hair for 30 years, he's like, no, no, you may not.
Amy Poehler
Well, you have the best hair in the business. People should know this.
Tina Fey
This is grandma.
Amy Poehler
This is all Tina's hair.
Tina Fey
This is all my hair. Thank you. And much like skinny people who are mad about Ozempic in the. In the early 2000s when all these started wearing tracks, I was like, what? You could just have what I have. This is all I have.
Amy Poehler
It is. It is the most incredible real hair.
Tina Fey
Thank you so much. We just did this. I just did this show called the Four Seasons that's coming out in May, and there's a scene. It's based on this old movie with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. And there's a scene in the old movie where Carol Burnett. Carol Burnett is very angrily brushing her short hair, which is so. It's like the most 1981 thing ever. Like, first of all, we know, like, you don't vigorously brush short hair, it's gonna look terrible. But she's in the scene, she's fighting and she's brushing her hair. And I put the. That. Just a little bit of that in the. In the show. I just poked myself in the eye and. And I kept saying, Colman Domingo was directing that episode. And I kept saying, like, Coleman, I'll tell you what, a lot of these movie stars, they can act better than me, but they can't brush their hair on camera because they're all wearing wigs, and they're all wearing. And so I, like. I was like, insisted in the edit that couple shots of me brushing my hair stayed in. And then I went to the mix, and I was like, oh, did you turn down the. The sound. Sound of my hairbrushing. Turn it back up.
Amy Poehler
And that's. That's what producing.
Tina Fey
That's all. That's what producing is. It's insanity and narcissism, and it's like.
Amy Poehler
Turn up my hair.
Tina Fey
Turn up the sound of the brush going through my hair.
Amy Poehler
And people go, we don't need it. And you go, we do need it.
Tina Fey
We do need it.
Amy Poehler
But you have incredible hair. I feel like you should have a hair campaign. And also, I always am pushing you to have a glasses line. Why do you not have a glass?
Tina Fey
I don't have a glasses line because.
Amy Poehler
I have to say, you hate money.
Tina Fey
I do kind of hate money. I'm. As we know, I'm terrible. I'm terrible with money. Only in that I'm like, you are not terrible. No, I'm not terrible. I don't waste money, but I don't get excited about money. If, like, if I. If I'm safe and my. I have enough money to live, I. I have a problem with rich people having a side hustle.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. You mean like a podcast or something?
Tina Fey
No, that's. As you're doing work. I'm saying if you. If you sold, like, where would my line be for you? Where would I draw the Line.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, I know what you mean. Like, if I had a. If I had a.
Tina Fey
If you.
Amy Poehler
Yeah, you know, if you already have.
Tina Fey
Like, $200 million and you're like, also, I need you to.
Amy Poehler
But, Tina, that is. This is where you have to learn from Gen Z. I'm sorry. And we have to.
Tina Fey
They don't care. They don't. They don't.
Amy Poehler
They don't judge it. Well, get. You should stop. Because this is the thing that you have to have a million. You have to have glasses.
Tina Fey
Yeah. Well, I have my line of children's medications.
Amy Poehler
I told you. That's so treacherous.
Tina Fey
No, guys. By the way, one time, a million years ago, I remember seeing. And I won't name this actress, but someone could figure it out. I remember seeing an 80s actress promoting her line of homeopathic children's medications. I was like, why on this earth would I trust an actress.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
For pediatric medications.
Amy Poehler
To give to my child.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
You're saying you worry about turning into a woman as we get older. As you get older. That is like a strident, opinionated, here's how it works, babe.
Tina Fey
Right.
Amy Poehler
Kind of person.
Tina Fey
Yeah. And just fighting everybody.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
And just.
Amy Poehler
Because I just think. I just think as an exercise, it's fun to think about our personalities. Like, what? The thing that, like, got us here, that are here sitting in front. Like, you and I are lucky enough to have a lot of years behind us, hopefully more years in front of us in working, getting to try all this different stuff. We're at a point in our lives where we get to. We're like, in this juicy middle where we have either parents who have passed away or aging parents. We have kids who are, like, coming into their own. We're right in the middle of life. Let's be honest. We're more two thirds than middle, but we like to say we're middle. Although I'm gonna live to 100 and God forbid. Wait, you don't want to live to a hundred?
Tina Fey
No. Unless there's some amazing.
Amy Poehler
There will be.
Tina Fey
Okay.
Amy Poehler
We'll see, like, new lungs. There'll be a whole thing.
Tina Fey
Money only can fix your 80s and 90s. So much.
Amy Poehler
That is the thing. We've traveled on. We've. We've hung around a lot of wealthy older people, and the. The thing that they cannot get over is that they're gonna die.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Like, that's the thing.
Tina Fey
But who's that? But who's your guy? Who do I call? Yeah.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. And it's like, no one. You call God.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
You call him on the phone and say, yeah, but.
Tina Fey
Sorry, I.
Amy Poehler
And he says, welcome to hell. And God says, welcome to hell. Okay, but do you want to talk about four seasons for a second, by the way? Because it is coming out, and Colman Domingo is a prince on this earth.
Tina Fey
An angel on this earth.
Amy Poehler
God.
Tina Fey
So talented, so beautiful. Gorgeous inside and out. Like a beautiful human being. Yes. So we're doing this show, the Four Seasons, on Netflix. I'm very excited about it. It is based on this 1981 movie that was written and directed by Alan Alda, another angel on this earth.
Amy Poehler
Can I tell people that I said hello to Alan Alda at your house? Recently, Alan Alda came to my house. That was pretty cool.
Tina Fey
Alan and Darlene Alda. It was a real lovely wife. Momentous occurrence.
Amy Poehler
I mean, Alan Alda was huge in our lives.
Tina Fey
He remains huge. Yeah. And he. He's such a big deal. Like, you can't even imagine what a giant. Do you remember the Super Emmy?
Amy Poehler
No.
Tina Fey
One year. One year they gave out a super Emmy. So it was like you was called a super super. It was called a super Emmy, and he's the only person that ever got it because it was like, they won, like, best show, best directing, best screen script, blah, blah, blah, blah. And the super Emmy goes to Alan Alda for Matt. And everyone was like, okay, that's enough of the super Emmy.
Amy Poehler
They only did it once.
Tina Fey
I think they only did it once.
Amy Poehler
And is it. Was it bigger than a regular.
Tina Fey
You have to have. You should call. He should have him on the podcast.
Amy Poehler
He has a great podcast.
Tina Fey
He. I've listened to his podcast. It's one of the few that have penetrated my fortress. I would love to talk about it because it was a truly joyous experience, top to bottom. Like, one of the things I'm most proud about of this whole thing was that so many people, actors and crew came up to me were like, this is the most pleasant job we've ever had. And it was, like I said, it was built as intentionally as possible to be all good souls. And it's Coleman, a beautiful Italian actor named Marco Calvani, Steve Carell, Will Forte, Carrie Kenny Silver, and Erica Henningsen. And it's basically that little ensemble is. Ensemble is pretty much, that's it. Very few day players, very few. Like, no real. Very few guest stars. And so it was a really cozy environment, and it's a very, very gentle program that I am kind of just can't wait to. To see if people are interested in a gentle. A good hang. It hopefully is The TV equivalent of a good hang. Because it's just, you know, there's some story, but there's no zombies, there's no mysteries.
Amy Poehler
Great. That's exactly. Truly what we're trying to do here. Because I can. My nervous system. Two things. My nervous system cannot take it compared to the rest of the world.
Tina Fey
Yes.
Amy Poehler
And also I feel like there's this weird sometimes. I mean, you are the exact. You're the example of not doing this. I think you like. Everything you make is hard jokes and hard comedy and always really, really funny. But a lot of times women specifically are asked to, like, be, like, nurturing caretakers in spaces. Like, be teachers. And when we were thinking about this podcast, it was like, all the guys get to just goof around and have fun. And it'd be straight comedy escapism. And our stuff has to be. I don't know about menopause, which also is important.
Tina Fey
Yeah. This is. I mean, for the. For the people who want 100 jokes per minute, this is a departure. These characters are funny and. But it's all completely human scale.
Amy Poehler
Ooh, I love that.
Tina Fey
Again, we shall see. And I. I feel like it is just a little science experiment where people might be like, no, but TV doesn't really.
Amy Poehler
Like, there's no TV anymore. Right. It's all just like articles about tv. Like, TV itself is listicles.
Tina Fey
It's AI generated listicles.
Amy Poehler
It's tick tock about TV shows that aren't on. So what is the thing that you do? Where do you go to escape? What is like the video that you watch, the person that you watch? What is making you laugh?
Tina Fey
I have a couple things that I like to watch. One of the things I like to watch is. And again, I'm gonna keep referencing TikTok. I am not a public account. You will. Don't find me, don't look for me. Don't.
Amy Poehler
If anyone's pretending to be you. They're fake.
Tina Fey
It's fake. Yeah, that. But I like to watch videos of people either doing or learning or trying to teach Beyonce's homecoming dance break. So either someone who can do it or I love it when it's a person who. You don't expect them to be able to do it. And then they do it like they're holding.
Amy Poehler
Holding like a laundry basket.
Tina Fey
Yeah. So they're just like, yeah, they're a mom in their. In their laundry room. And then they do it. I have tried to watch tutorials to try to do. I'm not a great dancer and I. I know that if I was given from now to the end of my life, I could not learn the first 16 counts of that dance. Yeah. But I love watching people do it. And then the other day, I was watching a. A whole bunch of people doing it. And it took me one guy was like a really beautiful ripped guy in, like, shorts, no shirt, doing it. And I was like, oh, this is a new layer of this. And then the algorithm was like, oh, you. You watch that. So you just want to see videos that are just like, rugby build. And it was just like, guys with a rugby build. And I was like, I think I do want to watch this.
Amy Poehler
Yeah. Paul Mescal started that. Like, he's the ultimate famous rugby build. And then. Have you seen in rugby where they have to pick each other up with their underwear?
Tina Fey
No.
Amy Poehler
So in rugby, there's a move where they. The men to get the other one taller. You know, like to basically. It's almost like if you're. If you're hoisting somebody up.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
They grab basically their shorts and underwear.
Tina Fey
So weird.
Amy Poehler
And then they. That's how they get it up. And there's videos. And I'm not saying that my algorithm has necessarily taking up on this, but I have seen them enough to now I do get them where men. Where men grab each other by the waist. It's very feminine. It's actually like it almost.
Tina Fey
Yes.
Amy Poehler
It looks like a lift.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
But they grab each other and lift each other up, and then their penis, their dicks are right in the line of their face. But it's totally fine.
Tina Fey
I mean, it's fine either way.
Amy Poehler
Of course it is. I just mean it. Everyone's happy. There's no. Everyone's doing exactly what they want to do.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
And it's in. These are in slow motion.
Tina Fey
Yes. Yeah, I wasn't mad about that. That change in my algorithm and. Okay, so another thing that I really do. The only other television program that truly brings me joy is my weekend Local News in the Morning.
Amy Poehler
Wow.
Tina Fey
I love. And by the way, they know this, and they're probably like, stop talking about us. It's getting weird. I love NBC 4 Pat Battle, Gus Rosendale. It is, I find, to be the most truly informative, nice program on the whole week. Here's what you get, Amy. You get your news. You get your national news briefly. You get your local news. Mostly local. Right. Okay. Then you get Produce Pete.
Amy Poehler
Oh, I love Produce Pete.
Tina Fey
Nice old Italian man comes out, tells you what's in season, what to make with it. Incredible. Then it used to be more frequently. Before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, he used to be in person. Bill's books. Nice gentleman named Bill come, tells you what he read, what he liked about it, what he recommends that you read. Before the pandemic. They also then used to. To sometimes be like, here are some animals that are up for adoption. I feel like that's gone away. But that's it. And then the weather and the traffic and. And Pat Battle and Gus. I believe they're friends. They have a wonderful rapport.
Amy Poehler
You don't know what their deal is.
Tina Fey
I mean, I don't think they're more than friends, if that's what you're implying.
Amy Poehler
I would never.
Tina Fey
But I feel like they. They like being co workers.
Amy Poehler
What a great.
Tina Fey
Have I. Pat Battle? Have I. Listen, one time, it was like a hurricane or something, a blizzard. Pat Battle went out on the street in her hometown. She went out where she lives in New Jersey, and she was helping people push their cars.
Amy Poehler
That's cool.
Tina Fey
That look. That is what America should be. Okay? It's a. It's Pat, it's Gus, it's produce. Pete, It's Bill's books. We help our neighbors. That's the America I want to live in.
Amy Poehler
If you've got Battle in the last.
Tina Fey
Name, you gotta listen. Have I invited Pat battle to events 100%, like, too many times. Does she show up? Yes, we have a good time. Great.
Amy Poehler
So you've met Pat Battle.
Tina Fey
I've met Pat Battle.
Amy Poehler
And. And what was that? Like, did sparks fly?
Tina Fey
I mean, she was like. Thought it was pretty funny that I keep bothering her and I'm obsessed with her. But Pat Battle's in an episode of 30 Rock.
Amy Poehler
Oh, really? Ask yourself.
Tina Fey
Yeah, we did one episode where Liz Lemon gets invited to, like, a Women in media luncheon. And then, of course, like, the gag is that they can't. They have a big screen and they can't figure out to get it to work. And then all women are all, like, turn it on and off again. And. But it's like. It was like, hot Battle. Gayle King. A couple other news ladies, and Andrea Martin played, like, the lady who was running it, and she. Her character has a breakdown in the middle of the thing, and she's talking about how her husband left her, and she's like. Like, I just remember she had some line where she was like, I put it. My Andrea Martin impression. Get ready. Okay. I put a sweater on a body pillow, and I took it for a canoe ride. Like, everyone. All the women lose Their minds at the Women in Media luncheon.
Amy Poehler
Tina, that makes total sense to me. That. That is your, like, fun.
Tina Fey
That makes me feel nice. And I'm also. I'm drinking coffee. I'm with Jeff. It's the morning.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
Everything hasn't gone to yet. And then weekends. All the weekend plans are all possible.
Amy Poehler
But the news. But that's new. But the news.
Tina Fey
Local, Listen. It's local. It is. It's local.
Amy Poehler
But even the locals.
Tina Fey
Oh, everything's on fire. Yeah. But then it's also, like, there's a food festival on City Island. Produce.
Amy Poehler
Pete's like, check out these artichokes.
Tina Fey
He's like, betty's gonna make this squash pie called mutagoots.
Amy Poehler
Speaking of Betty, people should know that that's what I call you. That's my nickname for you.
Tina Fey
You called me that in front of Colin Jost the other day, and he seemed very delighted. He.
Amy Poehler
I can't believe he didn't know that.
Tina Fey
Well, we're.
Amy Poehler
Right now.
Tina Fey
He's not thinking about us.
Amy Poehler
No. He doesn't know what we call each other. Jost who? Talk about. Talk about an ark. Jost. When we met Jost, did you say.
Tina Fey
A narc or an arc?
Amy Poehler
An arc.
Tina Fey
Okay.
Amy Poehler
Talk about a narc.
Tina Fey
What a narc.
Amy Poehler
I was smoking weed and Jost called the police, and I was like, fucking narcissist. No. Talk about having an ark baby. Jost, as we used to call him, we met him. We went up to Harvard. The Harvard Lampoon.
Tina Fey
Oh. See, that's where we met him.
Amy Poehler
That's, I think, where I met him.
Tina Fey
Did you meet him? I have a terrible memory. I remember I hated every minute being at the Harvard Lampoon.
Amy Poehler
Me, too.
Tina Fey
What a bunch of dorks.
Amy Poehler
Maybe we should just tell the story. So the Harvard Lampoon invites you up and they kind of roast you.
Tina Fey
They invite you to come up, and then you go there and then a bunch of, like, snively little worms.
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
Like, by the way, like, try to roast you. And they're not good at it.
Amy Poehler
No, they're not good at it. But you and I, of many times over the years, many times have had this moment where we've turned to each other and loved or hated something at the same time. And this was definitely example where we both were like, we're not. We don't like this. And they make you go through this kind of initiation. And, I mean, I. I wasn't in a sorority in college.
Tina Fey
No, me neither.
Amy Poehler
And I don't get it, so. But they made you Go through a whole thing, and then they brought us into a big, giant room and they kind of roasted us. And we had. We had. I think we had a lot of fun in how much we, like, did not engage and didn't like it. And. But. But baby Jost was there.
Tina Fey
He was the beep. Okay.
Amy Poehler
I don't remember him. We didn't get a Jost roast.
Tina Fey
But no, he was.
Amy Poehler
He was always. But he went on to.
Tina Fey
I don't remember any of the actual people that roasted us.
Amy Poehler
I remember the face of one guy.
Tina Fey
And does he. Has he gone on to work in comedy?
Amy Poehler
I don't believe he has.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
I. Since then. You know why? Because I. You and I both have, like, blue collar.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
I guess. Rage. What would you call it, like. Or at worst, chip on her shoulder.
Tina Fey
At best. You're not better than me.
Amy Poehler
I remember having two more Harvard experiences, and both involved, what I felt like, sniveling guys roasting me. Because one was the Hasty Pudding, where you really do kind of, you know, what you're getting into, and they kind of come out and roast you.
Tina Fey
Yeah. Why isn't everyone just, like, no, nerds. Thanks. No, thanks. Why does anyone go, I don't know.
Amy Poehler
But I really did my homework on that one. And I had really good jokes that I was proud of, and I really crushed them. And then I was asked to give, like, one of those speeches at Harvard and one of the kids. I mean, I've gotten this more than once. And I hope this isn't awkward for you. For me to say it in front of you, but definitely, like, people like to say, like, you're, you know, you're the poor man's Tina Fey. I know. And so. But this kid said it before, right before I went up, so I gave him the finger, which everyone was shocked about. And I don't know if it was the right. I mean. I mean, I did it, I guess, but I go, fuck you. And again, I was like, you're on a dais, Amy. Like, this is a.
Tina Fey
This is.
Amy Poehler
But then fuck Harvard.
Tina Fey
Yeah, fuck Harvard.
Amy Poehler
Fuck Harvard.
Tina Fey
Yeah.
Amy Poehler
I mean, those fucking assholes. But thank you for inviting me. It was a real honor.
Tina Fey
Don't lose my number forever. Go fuck yourselves.
Amy Poehler
It definitely is the kind of thing where, like, people go to award shows and they get mad that they're getting the award. It's like, if you really. If you really don't like it, don't go. Don't go. But I did go and was happy to give a speech. Okay. Lastly. Yeah, just to kind of get started on this podcast. I had on Zoom, I had Dratch, Seth and Fred and Zarna, and they all got on a Zoom. And I said, I'm interviewing Tina. What should I ask her?
Tina Fey
Oh, my gosh.
Amy Poehler
And it was great because everyone was very excited. And of course, I just want you to know the most hilarious thing was Dratch could not get her laptop to turn on or her headphones to work. And then while we were recording, the doorbell rang, and her dog's dog started barking because she had ordered food. So there wasn't much content that we can use.
Tina Fey
So were there questions for them?
Amy Poehler
But the one question. There were a couple questions, which is, what makes you laugh? We went into that.
Tina Fey
What makes me laugh? We didn't really get into that. We watched for comfort. The thing that made me laugh the hardest, most recently, was this clip of Bobby Moynihan from. They did these really great SNL documentaries, and it was a documentary about auditioning for snl. And it was people. And you were in it. You were great in it. And they talk to people about the process of auditioning, and then they show them their audition back. And people get emotional. People, you know, they've never seen it or like, oh, my gosh, this is from 50 years ago, or whatever. And they showed. Made Bobby watch his audition back, and he's doing a character that's in his audition that's just beyond inappropriate. And he's watching it, and he's watching it, and he goes, oh, no. And then he just goes, oh, Bobby. And the way he says, oh, Bobby, the way he calls himself by name is so gentle. And so it made me laugh so hard. And I think it should be the TikTok sound that people play. Like, when you have to. You have to see a piece of comedy that you're like, okay, we did. We realize now that that's not okay. You just show the content and just hear the voice of Bobby going, oh, Bobby. And that's how you apologize for problematic content in the past. You just put the oh, Bobby sound over it, and it means, I see it. I'm sorry. Let's all move forward.
Amy Poehler
I know better now.
Tina Fey
I know better now.
Amy Poehler
I do better now.
Tina Fey
I'm an ally who makes mistakes.
Amy Poehler
Oh, Bobby.
Tina Fey
Oh, Bobby. Oh, Bobby. That really made me laugh. I couldn't stop watching it.
Amy Poehler
You can make that. Get that audio. You should trademark that audio and get. Make merch. And then the other thing that Zarna had, Zarna was like, you never get asked. Tina never gets asked Girly questions, which is so funny. I mean, do you feel like you don't get asked girly questions? I know. Like. Like.
Tina Fey
Like, what's my skin care routine?
Amy Poehler
Yeah.
Tina Fey
Nothing. I mean, do nothing. Nothing, Nothing. And then expensive lasers.
Amy Poehler
Fred wanted to know. Fred's like, oh, also, by the way, you know, Fred does a great Tina impression. No. You've never seen it?
Tina Fey
No, I've never seen it.
Amy Poehler
What do you mean? I feel like he's done it to you. He does a thing where he's like a mum. He mumbles. But when he comes up, the thing about Fred Armisen, his impressions are never, like. They never make you feel bad.
Tina Fey
Yes.
Amy Poehler
At least in my experience. Like, they just feel like they're kind, which is hard to do. But he comes up with, like, a script. You've seen this? I maybe.
Tina Fey
I don't know.
Amy Poehler
The physicality. It's more physicality than anything else where he comes up with a script. He goes, hey, buddy, just wanted, like. And you're giving a thought with the script, holding the script to your body, and you can't hear what you're saying.
Tina Fey
Like, what percentage Tina Belcher am I?
Amy Poehler
Well, remember Shy Ronnie, Andy Sandberg's character on that? Maybe there's a little shy Ronnie. Anyway, Fred wanted to know. Last question. Maybe we can talk about this before you go. Is your dad, like, a really good artist, really good at caricatures? Do you have any of that artistic ability?
Tina Fey
I wish I had more. I think both my daughters have it. I. I do in the summer. I go to Fire island in the summer, and I like to paint portraits in my free time. And they are terrible. And they're like. They're getting slightly better, but not. Not at a rate that would impress. Like, they. They're terrible. But I look, because it's. The only thing I want to paint is to try. I want to try to capture people's faces, people like, that I love. And I should take some classes because, of course, the problem is I don't draw the head right. And then they come out. Like, sometimes I kind of like how wonky they come out. But no, of the four people in my immediate family, I am the least talented at art. My daughters are very talented. Jeff is very. Can draw and paint. But can I just quickly, my favorite. The story of when my dad, who loved coming up to visit snl, it was like, Fred's one of his first few shows, and my dad was coming up and visiting, and he was, like, standing in 8h while we were getting ready to rehearse update at that, like, 5:00 time. And Fred was in a costume for some other sketch. He was in a tuxedo and my dad had not met him yet. And he just came up to my dad and was in a tuxedo and just came up to my dad in character, just going, this is rainbow room. I look for rainbow room. See, I can't tell the story because I can't. I shouldn't be doing this accent. But Fred, I guess, can do it.
Amy Poehler
We'll get a robot to do it.
Tina Fey
Get a robot to do it. But it was so funny.
Amy Poehler
And your dad was like, oh, he loved it.
Tina Fey
And he used to paint little portraits, little caricatures of Fred as, like, Ferracito, as Prince. And he would mail them to me and I would give them to Fred. And I think Fred still has one, which is, I think what, what made him think of that question.
Amy Poehler
No way.
Tina Fey
He was Fred's biggest fan.
Amy Poehler
Oh, Don Fay has great taste. Like, he was a smart artist.
Tina Fey
Cool guy.
Amy Poehler
Really cool guy. And coming back around, if, if, if Fred has Don Fay originals, I have in my children's bedrooms, I have paintings done by Barbara Jost, Colin Jost's screen.
Tina Fey
Awesome. So it's back to Jost.
Amy Poehler
If you are listening to this when it comes out, Tina and I are gonna be on the road.
Tina Fey
Yes. Look for us at a, at a theatrical venue near you.
Amy Poehler
We have a bunch of dates and all over the US and it's been so fun and we're gonna have our buddies out there with us.
Tina Fey
Is it Tina, Amy? Tinaamie.com, tinaandAmy.com youm would think I would know. You would know.
Amy Poehler
I think so. I think it is tinaandamy.com I think so. But go check it out. Check out our dates. Come see us, and hopefully we'll continue to work together for another 30 years. I hope so.
Tina Fey
Me too.
Amy Poehler
Love you.
Tina Fey
I love you, too. Thank you.
Amy Poehler
So, you know, that's our first episode of Good Hang. Thank you, Tina, for coming. I did actually learn, I did learn that she learned things that I didn't know after 30 years that she obviously is in an emotional affair with her local newscasters. And that's a problem. And I should let her husband know. We are at a point in the show, the end of the show, where we're going to do something called the Polar Plunge, which is really simply, I'm going to talk about stuff that makes me laugh and, like, where we're finding joy and lightness these days. And so to add to that, before we go, I just want to say that check out my favorite sketch on snl, the one that I return to over and over again during COVID during tough times in my life when I was feeling, especially down, the first Debbie Downer, the Lindsay Lohan episode, when they're at Disneyland. That that sketch, to me, is the perfect example of how a good laugh can completely change your day, your week, your life, and why it is so funny to me is that the great Rachel Dratch, whose comedic stylings and physical comedy we experienced at the beginning of this episode when she couldn't get her headphones on, when Rachel is trying to stick the landing and get those jokes out, and we know that it's gonna be followed by the sound effects, and the audience has this moment where we're all in it together, that moment is still thrilling to watch. So do yourself a favor, because, yes, Rachel cracks up. And you know, when people crack up, it can be funny or sometimes it can be annoying or whatever. And, you know, I grew up with Carol Burnett and, like, loved watching the play that they all had and how they were all trying to kind of get each other to laugh. But what's so funny about Debbie Downer in that scene and why I truly watch it for a serotonin boost is because Rachel knows what's coming and she tries her best to keep a straight face and that she's, like, bursting like a silent film star. And anyway, that's what's making me laugh today. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weisburn, 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. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Uber Eats is delivering game day deals because you can't watch eight hours of basketball a day on an empty stomach. I love to watch TV on my couch and then never get back up. And so once I'm down, it's hard to stand. And I definitely don't want to drive and get food. So Uber Eats delivers my food to me and then I shuffle over to my door in my pajamas and I grab the food. So whatever you're craving, Uber Eats has deals on all your game day favorites. You never have to miss a single buzzer beater. Get Game day deals on all your favorites. Only on Uber Eats order now.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Episode Featuring Tina Fey Release Date: March 18, 2025
Introduction
In the inaugural episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Amy warmly welcomes listeners to her new podcast, setting the tone for a laid-back and laughter-filled conversation. Amy emphasizes that the podcast is not about self-improvement or advice but about sharing fun stories and enjoying good company. She introduces her special guest, Tina Fey, whom she affectionately refers to as her wife and comedy partner. Together, they aim to create an atmosphere where listeners can relax and laugh amidst life's chaos.
Notable Quote:
Amy Poehler [00:00]: "I just want us to have fun and lighten up a little."
Technical Bloopers and Banter
Before delving into the main conversation, the episode features amusing technical difficulties as friends Rachel Dratch, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, and Zarna Garg attempt to join the podcast. Their playful interactions and minor mishaps, such as Rachel struggling with her headphones and unexpected doorbell rings, add a humorous prelude to the episode.
Notable Moments:
Deep Dive Conversation with Tina Fey
Section 1: Work and Career Insights
The heart of the episode revolves around Amy and Tina discussing their professional journeys, particularly Tina's illustrious career in comedy and television. They explore the challenges and triumphs they've faced, emphasizing their mutual support and collaborative spirit. Tina shares anecdotes from her time at Saturday Night Live (SNL), shedding light on the pressures of comedy and the high expectations placed on performers.
Notable Quote:
Tina Fey [16:35]: "If you're a comedy person, you have to kill every time."
Section 2: Personal Stories and Anecdotes
Amy and Tina delve into personal stories that highlight their friendship and shared experiences. Tina recounts memorable moments, such as interactions with notable figures like Alan Alda and humorous incidents from auditions gone awry. These stories not only showcase Tina's wit but also offer listeners a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of show business.
Notable Quote:
Amy Poehler [17:50]: "You did a little bit of voiceover work. I have a pager, remember?"
Section 3: Current Projects and Future Plans
Transitioning to their current endeavors, Tina discusses her upcoming Netflix series Four Seasons, praising the collaborative and positive environment she fostered on set. Amy expresses her excitement about Tina's projects and shares details about their own touring plans, hinting at future collaborations and continued creative ventures.
Notable Quote:
Tina Fey [34:14]: "It's just the most 1981 thing ever."
Laughter and Comedy Philosophy
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around what makes Amy and Tina laugh. Tina shares her appreciation for genuine, heartfelt humor, citing specific clips and moments that resonate with her. They discuss the impact of laughter during challenging times, with Amy highlighting her favorite SNL sketches as sources of comfort and joy.
Notable Quote:
Tina Fey [50:22]: "I know better now. I do better now. I'm an ally who makes mistakes."
Closing Remarks
As the episode draws to a close, Amy reflects on the essence of the podcast—embracing humor and shared experiences. She thanks Tina for being the first guest and expresses her hope for many more delightful conversations in the future. The episode ends on a heartfelt note, reinforcing the bond between Amy and Tina and their commitment to bringing laughter to their audience.
Notable Quote:
Amy Poehler [54:26]: "We have a bunch of dates all over the US and it's been so fun and we're gonna have our buddies out there with us."
Conclusion
The first episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler successfully sets the stage for a series centered around laughter, friendship, and entertaining conversations. With Tina Fey as the perfect inaugural guest, listeners are treated to a blend of professional insights, personal anecdotes, and genuine humor. Amy and Tina's chemistry promises a podcast that not only entertains but also offers a comforting escape through shared stories and hearty laughs.
Notable Quotes Overview:
This detailed summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting key discussions, anecdotes, and the dynamic between Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. For those who haven't listened, it provides a comprehensive overview of the episode's content and the engaging rapport between the hosts.