Hildy's Happy Hour | Annie Mumolo

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hildy's Happy Hour | Annie Mumolo

Episode Information:

• Title: Hildy's Happy Hour | Annie Mumolo
• Hosts: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy, and Steve Mallory
• Release Date: April 11, 2025
• Guest: Annie Mumolo
• Description: In this episode of Hildy's Happy Hour, Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, and Steve Mallory sit down with the multi-talented Annie Mumolo. They delve into her career, personal anecdotes, and insights into the creative process behind her successful projects.

---

1. Introduction and Welcome (00:01 - 02:48)

The episode kicks off with a warm welcome from Melissa McCarthy, who introduces the hosts and the guest, Annie Mumolo. Ben Falcone humorously shares a snippet from his past: “I grew up on a soybean farm” (01:18). The hosts engage in playful banter, celebrating Steve Mallory's birthday (01:43) and setting a lighthearted tone for the session.

Notable Quote:

• Ben Falcone: “I grew up on a soybean farm.” (01:18)

2. Guest Introduction: Annie Mumolo (02:48 - 04:04)

Annie Mumolo is introduced as a writer, producer, actress, and activist. The hosts highlight her role in season one of Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire, mentioning her characters such as Ilsa the Dryad, Countess Malina, and Countess Lamina.

Notable Quotes:

• Melissa McCarthy: “Who was a she wolf?” (03:10)
• Annie Mumolo: “I do so much skeet shooting. The season this year has been definitely pentathletic, huh?” (02:21)

3. Annie’s Early Career and the Groundlings (04:04 - 07:00)

The conversation shifts to Annie’s early days with the Groundlings. Melissa recalls directing Annie during her time there, discussing the audition process and the dynamics within the company. They reminisce about the challenges and the camaraderie that comes with collaborative creative environments.

Notable Quotes:

• Melissa McCarthy: “I was here when your daughter was born and she's 18.” (04:23)
• Annie Mumolo: “I do balloon animals. I may have been a clown, Pocahontas, Little Mermaid.” (09:08)

4. Humorous Anecdotes and Personal Stories (08:00 - 16:00)

Annie shares a particularly memorable and challenging experience from her time as a children's party entertainer. She recounts an incident where her mermaid costume malfunctioned during a party, leading to an embarrassing yet humorous situation. The hosts and Annie laugh over the story, highlighting the trials of performing for children.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “I deshelled in front of the entire party and then quickly put myself back together.” (12:31)
• Melissa McCarthy: “People like creeps. That's a takeaway from Bridesmaids.” (32:10)

5. Transition to Voiceover Work (16:00 - 23:00)

The discussion moves to Annie’s transition into voiceover work. She explains how a family friend encouraged her to create a demo, which led to agent interest and the beginning of her voiceover career. The hosts commend her for finding a way to monetize her passion.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “Make your own stuff so that you have control and a say in how things are seen through.” (45:53)
• Melissa McCarthy: “We all proved that because we did it for free for so long.” (46:55)

6. Creating Bridesmaids and Initial Reception (23:00 - 31:34)

Annie and the hosts delve into the creation of Bridesmaids, discussing the initial skepticism from industry professionals. They talk about how word-of-mouth and social media buzz defied expectations, leading to the film's massive success. The emotional impact of seeing their work receive acclaim is palpable throughout this segment.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “History is all based on the perspectives of the people who write what we read about.” (41:36)
• Ben Falcone: “It's a Twitter movie. It was word of mouth.” (28:28)

7. Behind the Scenes and Creative Process (31:34 - 43:12)

The hosts explore the collaborative creative process between Annie and Melissa, highlighting how their shared history at the Groundlings influenced their work on Bridesmaids. They discuss improvisation, character development, and the importance of chemistry among actors to bring authentic and humorous moments to life.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “The comedic stuff is rhythmic.” (34:00)
• Ben Falcone: “The more you make your own stuff... you have control.” (46:43)

8. Advice for Aspiring Creatives (43:12 - 51:27)

Annie offers valuable advice to young writers and creators. She emphasizes the importance of following one's own voice, creating content regardless of external validation, and utilizing accessible tools like smartphones to produce work. The hosts agree, stressing that perseverance and authenticity are key to creative success.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “Say your thing. Do your thing. Don’t count on anyone else to make anything happen for you.” (45:47)
• Ben Falcone: “Don’t wait till it’s going to be perfect. Don’t make anything in any way.” (46:55)

9. Personal Interests and Hobbies (51:27 - 54:46)

The conversation lightens as the hosts inquire about Annie’s personal hobbies. She shares her love for tackling the New York Times crossword puzzle with her partner, Ian Gomez, and balances this with her bustling household and numerous pets. This segment showcases her relatable side and the importance of downtime amidst a busy creative life.

Notable Quotes:

• Annie Mumolo: “It’s my new porn. The New York Times crossword puzzle.” (49:28)
• Melissa McCarthy: “I completed the Mini crossword in 13 seconds.” (52:11)

10. Closing Remarks and Birthday Celebration (54:46 - 54:46)

As the episode nears its end, the hosts extend heartfelt thanks to Annie for her participation and contributions. They celebrate Steve Mallory's birthday with humorous affirmations, wrapping up the episode on a joyful note.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Falcone: “Happy birthday, Steve Mallory. We're glad you were born.” (54:17)
• Melissa McCarthy: “From now on out, every day. Better than Bogey.” (54:42)

---

Key Takeaways:

1. Collaboration and Friendship: The enduring relationships among the hosts and Annie foster a creative and supportive environment, essential for successful projects.

2. Embracing Imperfection: Bridesmaids’ unexpected success underscores the value of authentic, word-of-mouth-driven content over industry expectations.

3. Creative Persistence: Annie’s journey from performing at parties to successful voiceover work and screenwriting highlights the importance of perseverance and adaptability in creative careers.

4. Personal Authenticity: Following one's unique voice and vision is crucial for genuine and impactful creative expression.

5. Balancing Life and Creativity: Personal hobbies and relationships provide necessary balance and inspiration amidst demanding creative endeavors.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Ben Falcone: “I grew up on a soybean farm.” (01:18)
• Melissa McCarthy: “Who was a she wolf?” (03:10)
• Annie Mumolo: “I deshelled in front of the entire party and then quickly put myself back together.” (12:31)
• Annie Mumolo: “Say your thing. Do your thing. Don’t count on anyone else to make anything happen for you.” (45:47)
• Melissa McCarthy: “People like creeps. That's a takeaway from Bridesmaids.” (32:10)
• Annie Mumolo: “It’s my new porn. The New York Times crossword puzzle.” (49:28)

---

This episode of Hildy's Happy Hour offers an insightful and humorous glimpse into Annie Mumolo’s multifaceted career and personal life. Through candid conversations and shared laughter, listeners gain valuable perspectives on creativity, collaboration, and the journey to artistic success.

Transcript

[Annie Mumolo]

Suffering is inevitable and it sucks, but we're still expected to thrive. Everything Happens is a podcast for people who are tired of coffee monk platitudes and want something with a little more teeth and a lot more heart. Each week, Duke professor Kate Bowler talks with guests like Glennon Doyle, Sharon McMahan and Coach K about grief, absurdity, and the beautiful, terrible days we actually live through. No hustle culture, no silver linings, just real talk and good company. Listen to Everything Happens wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, everyone, I'm David Duchovny. Join me on my podcast, Fail Better, where we use failure as a lens to reflect on the past and analyze the current moment. I speak with makers and performers like Rob Lowe, Rosie O'Donnell and Kenya Barris, as well as thinkers like Kara Swisher and Nate Silver to understand how both personal setbacks and larger forces impact our world. Listen to Fail Better wherever you get your podcasts. Lemonada.

[Ben Falcone]

I grew up on a soybean farm.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Well, hi, everybody. Welcome back to Hildy's Happy Hour. How are we? I am one of your hosts. Was that. Did you do crickets?

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, crickets.

[Melissa McCarthy]

He did crickets. Dude, that was a burn on me. I'm your most important host, Ben Falcone, along with Melissa McClatchkin and of course, Steve Mallory.

[Annie Mumolo]

Hi there.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Happy birthday, Steve Mallory.

[Ben Falcone]

Steve Mallory's birthday.

[Annie Mumolo]

This whole time. I didn't know that.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And aren't we all just the luckiest dolphins in the pool?

[Ben Falcone]

We really are.

[Melissa McCarthy]

To welcome to our show this week.

[Ben Falcone]

Week, the one, the only.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Let's say it all together.

[Ben Falcone]

Now. We've just sorted it. Andy Mumalo.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Annie Mumelo.

[Ben Falcone]

Writer, writer, producer, actress, activist.

[Annie Mumolo]

Sure. Damn straight.

[Ben Falcone]

Bowler.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Skeet shooter, pole vulture.

[Annie Mumolo]

I do so much skeet shooting. The season this year has been definitely pentathlety, huh? Yep.

[Ben Falcone]

And listen to that. Burbank. What do you call them? Sky Beast.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sky beast. We're in the. We're in the beautiful flatlands of Burbank this week talking to our friend, the one, the only, Annie Mamelo. So I'm just gonna get us started. We're gonna do some softball questions before we get into the real hard hitting stuff.

[Annie Mumolo]

We're gonna go deep, guys.

[Ben Falcone]

Somebody's gonna cry.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Someone's gonna cry. Okay, first of all, Annie.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Welcome to the show.

[Annie Mumolo]

Thank you, Ben.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We just recorded some of our show, Hilda. And Annie is so funny. She plays Ilsa the dryad. She plays.

[Ben Falcone]

We've got her.

[Annie Mumolo]

What up?

[Melissa McCarthy]

Where she's working. She was Earth to Death Castle. Which Is my favorite name from season one. Season two is on the way. By the way, who was a she wolf?

[Steve Mallory]

The killer.

[Melissa McCarthy]

She was a she wolf. And in season two, she is also playing Countess Malina and Countess Lamina and also Ilsa the Dryad who's so pissed off at Fennec.

[Ben Falcone]

So pissed off off at Fennec for being on her. Also, I just want to say looking forward to every everything from season one. They killed everybody got a lot of people got killed off. And they love them so much that Ben and Steve Mallory, whose birthday it is today, birthed this day into the world.

[Annie Mumolo]

This day.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Birth canal much.

[Ben Falcone]

We were all sad that they weren't going to come back. So these knuckleheads just made everybody have a twin.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yep.

[Ben Falcone]

So now it's a lot of people named like Fennec and Renick and Darrell and Burrell and we wrote so many.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Of Bring them back.

[Annie Mumolo]

Wait, and what's the one from today though? Or one the year today.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We actually did Farmer.

[Annie Mumolo]

Sorry. Nicholas and Dick first. I. I blew the.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, well, Nicholas has a harder time in life just because of his name.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, he.

[Annie Mumolo]

Sure.

[Ben Falcone]

Because it sounds like Dickless now.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Annie. Yes, Annie Mamalu. We've known each other for quite a minute because we were there when your daughter was born and she's 18.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, my God.

[Ben Falcone]

So we've known each other for quite.

[Annie Mumolo]

A while before that, guys. Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yay. Cool.

[Steve Mallory]

No problem.

[Annie Mumolo]

It's been a long time.

[Ben Falcone]

Issues in your 20s? Cause I'm 22.

[Annie Mumolo]

Like. Yeah, we went through. We did. Well. We knew each other before pregnancies.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yes, sure. So I was here. So I have a question. So we were all. We all met at the Groundlings as people who listen to the show would. That is a recurring theme because it was sort of like at least my grad school.

[Ben Falcone]

It was my college.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Most of my adult friends are somehow affiliated with the Groundlings or work or something. But I don't have like, a lot. I'm not like, I hang out with Bill and Biff from college. You know, I hang out with Annie and everybody from Groundlings. Yeah. I was your director.

[Annie Mumolo]

You were.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Is that right?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes. I think it was two. Wasn't it? Two sessions. Two, six months.

[Melissa McCarthy]

So at the. In the Groundlings, right?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Here's my question. Because I can't remember and because I like, have sort of. So when you're the director of the Sunday Company, you have the gift and not trauma. Trauma of calling people to let them know if they're going to get in the Groundlings or if they're asked to leave the place altogether.

[Annie Mumolo]

Right. And you didn't make that decision. It just got voted on. But you have to deliver, right?

[Melissa McCarthy]

You deliver the news.

[Ben Falcone]

So you even get a. I don't even know if the director got a vote.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I believe the director, as a member.

[Ben Falcone]

Of the company got a vote.

[Annie Mumolo]

But.

[Ben Falcone]

One vote.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But you get your one vote. And, you know, you have your favorites and you try to, you know, pitch everybody because you want everyone to do well. Here's the question. Did I call you to say you got in the ground?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, you called me. Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Was I great?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, you were great. Then. Oh, Jesus, I don't remember such an incredible job in that phone call.

[Ben Falcone]

Wow, you just asked her. Do you find me pretty.

[Steve Mallory]

Just give him a little bit more. He's almost there.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No, because I, I actually. Because I. I have sort of, like, blacked them out.

[Annie Mumolo]

These.

[Melissa McCarthy]

You know, I know I'm. I thought it. Because it was the same time as Kristen and Kent Sublette, Right. Who's a head writer on snl.

[Ben Falcone]

And also it was like, watching those shows, you're like, they're gonna get someone. I don't have to be concerned about conclusion.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But I. So I called and. And I. Yeah, you were.

[Annie Mumolo]

I was lit.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, you were, like, more relieved. You weren't like, woohoo. You were like, I was relieved.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah. And because. Yeah, because you don't. Obviously, you're at the time, it feels very.

[Ben Falcone]

Feels like the. At that moment, it's like, yes, this is the biggest thing ever.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes, it does feel like that. And. And so, yeah, you're. Everyone, you know, beforehand is always. Everyone's nervous and you have, like, a final show, and then everyone knows when the calls are gonna come in and all of that. And so when your phone rings and it says your director's name, you, like, you lose a little bit of your insides.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

And then you answer the phone and.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Then you, you know, and I don't know if I should say this, but Rash was the one who called me and do you know, he. He with me.

[Steve Mallory]

Did he really?

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, he goes, hey, hey, pal, I'm sorry. And then, like, Nat was like, you got it. It was like. I felt like it was a horrible.

[Ben Falcone]

Like, the nicest human ever. Oh, he did. You dirty darkness.

[Annie Mumolo]

That might be the most sinister thing Jim Rash has ever done.

[Ben Falcone]

That's like. That's the literally, like, most mustache twirling thing I've ever heard.

[Melissa McCarthy]

He's such a good actor, though. And he was doing such bad Acting that. I thought maybe this was good news, but he let me. He let me, you know, stew, for a second.

[Annie Mumolo]

I feel like your call to me was kind of quick. It was like, hey, this is, you know, one of the easier calls I get to make. And then I think he was like, oh, okay, cool. And then we were. And then I was like, what do we do now? Are we all going to like, I got to go. I have other calls to make.

[Steve Mallory]

Ben hung up. Second you said, oh, my gosh, Buzz.

[Ben Falcone]

Is this where we all get a compound and, like. Yeah, and the cannonball into pools.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I remember after getting in the ground links, and I was like, well, clearly I'm going to have a better car. And, like, then I was, like, going back to my waiter job and still had my Honda Civic with the ding in the door. And I was like, I cannot afford to get this ding fixed.

[Annie Mumolo]

I know. I remember my parents asking me, does this mean you get paid now for the shows? And I was like, no, no, I'm still working three jobs. Yeah, sorry, what were your jobs?

[Steve Mallory]

And I was working.

[Annie Mumolo]

I remember I worked every possible job a person could ever work in this town. I waited tables at, like, four different restaurants. I worked. I actually used to work on the same street of the Groundlings at that restaurant called Chianti Restaurant. It was, like, so long ago. Yes, but guys, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt came in there.

[Steve Mallory]

What did they order? What did they order? That's all I care about.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, my God.

[Steve Mallory]

What did they get?

[Annie Mumolo]

No, they were so nice. They. I don't remember.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Attracts.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, they're both nice humans. They're wonderful humans.

[Annie Mumolo]

I don't know him, but I know her. I mean, met her, and she's so nice. But now. But. But, yeah. So worked. There was a children's party entertainer, meaning. Hold on.

[Ben Falcone]

Elaborate on that.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, yes, I did balloon animals. I may. I was. I went in various. I played various characters. I was a clown. I was Pocahontas. I was the Little Mermaid. Yep. And you'd go to parties for children, and they would. You'd make balloon animals and do magic tricks, and it was mostly humiliating.

[Steve Mallory]

Wait, could you give us one horror story? Is there one?

[Melissa McCarthy]

Do you have a horror story?

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, I have one that I've sort of told a lot of times, but it is kind of the hardest one. I was the Little Mermaid. This one day, they, you know, they just kind of send you. You go pick up the costume. They send you. Your. Your direction, your. Where you're going and stuff. And I Was like, okay. So I put my costume on and my dad was like, you're not leaving the house. Because it was just. It was like two little shells and a, like a string and then a fin. The, the. How did you walk mermaid tail with. Well, it has a little. It had a little hole in the bottom. Little slippers, you know, my mermaid feet. And then I drove to a neighborhood that was pretty far from my house. And as I, as I pulled up to the party, a van pulled up, no windows as the door opened in the back. And I was waiting outside because I was a few minutes early and about 12 adult men just started piling out of the van and loading like kegs of like bringing beer out and bring all this stuff into the party where I was going. And I was like, okay, I. I'm sure it's, you know, it said it was a two year old, you know. So I. Her name's Ariel. And they wanted. Okay. So I was like, is this. I was. Wasn't sure. I did go in. It was a. It ended up. It was a huge party with lots of adults. There was a two year old. Okay, but maybe just two year old.

[Melissa McCarthy]

One with a bunch of dudes with beards.

[Ben Falcone]

I did imagine that they stood up in the corner and they're like, yeah, look at. There's a two year old. And it's like that's an inanimate object.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, it was. And then by. So the, the real, the real button on it for me on that day was I went to go at the end of the magic show, which I did for all the. The adults.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Hold on, wait. So you're Ariel but you're doing magic?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, I was doing. I had to do magic tricks for the kids when they were there, but they weren't there. Mermaid. Yes. I picked up then at the very end, the mother said, will you take a picture with Ariel?

[Ben Falcone]

And I was like, of course.

[Annie Mumolo]

So I went to pick her up and my shell top decided to shift over.

[Ben Falcone]

Deshell.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes, I was. I deshelled in front of the entire. And then I quickly put myself back together.

[Steve Mallory]

I'm just gonna.

[Annie Mumolo]

And I went super quickly.

[Steve Mallory]

Play its sound effect.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yep.

[Steve Mallory]

Sorry, I just needed that right there. Go ahead. Sorry.

[Annie Mumolo]

That was perfectly appropriate. I left there. I was finished the quickly got out of there, went to a gas station, had to pump gas in the costume and cried the way home. And then I. That was my last party. But I. That was the sort of the low point. I mean there were some that were, you know, although kids are A lot of kids don't really love clowns, so I would get the whole clown thing on and then get there and just. I've got screaming children.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Gacy.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Clowns are scary, so.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Were you a scary clown? What. What kind of.

[Annie Mumolo]

No.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I mean, what was your name?

[Annie Mumolo]

I don't remember. I don't even know if anyone even ever asked. Who cared. They're just like, the clown's here, look. And then the kids would. The baby would start screaming, and then I would just. Hopefully I get a tip at the end of this and I'm gonna.

[Steve Mallory]

Could you still do a balloon animal if I needed one?

[Annie Mumolo]

I can do some. I can do a poodle.

[Steve Mallory]

Oh.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, yeah. I can make a. I mean, some of the basic ones I still remember.

[Ben Falcone]

You still got it.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, I still got it. I still got it. Guys, listen, it's always an option. Hi, I'm Emily Deschanel. And I'm Carla Gallo. And we're here to bring you Boneheads, the official Bones Rewatch podcast. That's right. We're watching all the episodes of Bones, starting with episode one, and we are the right people to do it. I play Dr. Temperance Bredon, and I met Carla 16 years ago on set. I played Daisy Wick. Tune in every Wednesday to hear all our behind the scenes stories, conversations with cast and crew, and our favorite moments. Boneheads from Lemonada Media is out wherever you get your podcasts. Hi there, it's Julia Louis Dreyfus.

[Ben Falcone]

This fall, my podcast, Wiser Than Me is back for season three with even more wisdom straight from some legendary old ladies. These chickadees have a lot to teach us. Every word is a lesson in living unapologetically and focusing on the stuff that really matters. From Lemonada Media, Wiser than Me, Season 3 out now. Find it wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe to Lemonada Premium in the Apple podcast app and listen to every episode of season three A.D. free.

[Melissa McCarthy]

You started. You. You were doing voiceover, as I recall, around when I met you, and you were. Obviously, you're amazing at voiceover.

[Ben Falcone]

And somewhere you're weird with voiceover.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, you're so good at it.

[Ben Falcone]

Like, and you always have been. You were like our first friend that was, like, working, and we're like, oh.

[Melissa McCarthy]

My God, she goes to places and does voices and they pay her money. And I'm like, what the. How did she do.

[Annie Mumolo]

That was weird. That happened by accident. Really? Really. From the Groundlings. Yeah, I was making. I made a. Yeah, I liked the idea of it. But I didn't really know. And then we have. We had a family friend who said, you could. You should do this. He's like, make a demo, and if you make one, I'll take it to my agency. And I was like, okay. And I at the time was like, making a lot of my own short films and stuff like that at the time. So with my boyfriend at the time. And then we also made a voiceover demo just for fun for me. I did a bunch of stuff on it, and I gave it to the guy and he took it in and the agents called me, and it was sort of the first thing that ever happened where I thought, oh, I, I, I did something. Yeah. I mean, I was working so many jobs and I was like, you know, go. Then it was, it was sort of felt like it was actually becoming fun. Now you know where it was. Oh, there is, there is a way to do what you like.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

For money.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sure.

[Annie Mumolo]

But it, yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And that was before SAG and after were together. So you had to, like, one of them would. I forgot. One of them paid better. And you'd get your check. And you're, like, so excited for the work. Yes, to this day I still am.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, yeah. I was gonna say I still get any day that I get my residuals checks for 7 cents. I'm like, I'm killing it.

[Steve Mallory]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

Like, I did nothing. I did something seven years ago for that $0.07. Yeah, I know. I think people think you're still getting, like, eight, like, crazy amounts of money. I'm like, no, but it's still just like, thanks, guys, because we spent, we all spent years doing it for free. So that 7 cents, you're like, thanks, buddy. I appreciate it.

[Annie Mumolo]

True. It's true. We did. I mean, that's the thing is, you know, my grandmother.

[Steve Mallory]

Kids shows, too. You did kids shows?

[Annie Mumolo]

I did a lot of kids shows. Yeah. I, I, I. The longest one I did was Curious George and I. For Universal. That's one of my, that's my favorite one.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Say, but what did your grandfather say?

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, my grandfather used to always say, like, if you can find, do something you love and get some idiot to pay you for it, but truly, you know, you can. And I, but I really took that to heart and I was like, wow. I, if I could do something I love and actually make money, but it's, it's, if, if you could do something that you would do for free and for no money and, and you end up getting paid. It's, it's a lucky you Know. Bonus.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Absolutely.

[Ben Falcone]

Which I think we all proved that because we did it for free for so long. And I think if I was still, like, doing something else, I would still be doing shows or putting up a play. Like, I'd still do it. I really love it with my whole heart.

[Annie Mumolo]

It is. Think of you guys. How much we. In the shows, how much we put into just details of our costumes and all this stuff. And we. You have to go to the thrift stores and put your costumes together.

[Ben Falcone]

And.

[Annie Mumolo]

And it was. We weren't. We got. Not. We didn't get paid, but it was just. It didn't. It was like, not even on the radar.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No.

[Annie Mumolo]

It's like, no.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I have to have a gigantic wig because I'm a scientist.

[Annie Mumolo]

This wig is not right.

[Ben Falcone]

The internal question of who has the lab coat this week?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

One or two or, you know, there was always, like, a couple things. And God almighty. That attic upstairs was.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, my God, I was just thinking of that.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, like, we. None of us should have had to shop because there was enough clothes for 700 people, but it was like a.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Rat infested turd factory.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes. Upstairs attic of the Groundlings with where costumes go to.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Which I. I read it used to be a Scientology thing where they kept the clear machines. Is that true?

[Steve Mallory]

What? Oh, is that right?

[Ben Falcone]

I don't know. I've never heard that. I. I pause for fact check. We'll insert this later.

[Melissa McCarthy]

All I know is there a sound effect for fact. One night, I had about three wines, and I looked it up, and I. I thought it said it used to.

[Ben Falcone]

Be that wine for Ben is code for cocaine. I had three kilos of cocaine that night.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Decided to sleep.

[Steve Mallory]

I heard the building was a brothel.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's all Brothel. And then the scientologist got it.

[Ben Falcone]

I'm gonna combine them, and it was cleared brothel for Scientology. And I'm gonna get a call in about 35 minutes.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

From headquarters.

[Melissa McCarthy]

This is.

[Annie Mumolo]

You're just gonna get taken. You're gonna disappear when we leave here and.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, God, then I have to go to Florida.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. Clear water. Get in that boat in clear water. Now. Our fans are myriad of fans, and I. I think we have at least 40 of them. They. They would be 40 billion fans. They would be mad at me if I didn't mention bridesmaids, which is a story about an air marshal who.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, my God.

[Annie Mumolo]

An air marshal met a bunch of.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Women on a plane who did some stuff, and then he got poodled poodles. It's how I remember Those wrong dogs. What were they? Were they.

[Annie Mumolo]

They were dogs. The love of his life showed on me.

[Ben Falcone]

That's true. It was the kanga. Guys, if you want a man, put on a kanga and an ill fitting pant and a sports sandal and lift.

[Annie Mumolo]

Your leg as high as you can onto the. Just position your leg onto a chair somewhere and lean in.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Now, you were maybe gonna have a bigger part in that, but you were.

[Ben Falcone]

You were 12 months pregnant.

[Annie Mumolo]

I was. I was 12. Yeah, I was 12.

[Melissa McCarthy]

So you were. But.

[Ben Falcone]

But Annie was 11 and a half months pregnant still like with her laptop like, like on the floor literally, like pounding out rewrites and with like a. They'd bring out like a printer and like connect it to like. It was so crazy. And I was like, you should. I don't know that you should be on the floor. What's happening? And I should have died just cranking.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And then you were like, oh, we should do the, the thing that we shot, I think in judge trailer with the sandwich meat. And you found a six foot sandwich or whatever. You found like yelling, no, I was.

[Annie Mumolo]

Possessed during that time.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

With like some. I was possessed with survival, but also from the survival gods.

[Ben Falcone]

I remember you guys coming in and, and saying, judd wants us to write a movie. And it, it was, it was equivalent to you being like, we haven't told you guys, but we both can fly. Like, because we were just like, we were all like, what do you mean you're writing a movie?

[Melissa McCarthy]

Like, well, had been on a show, but like so many of us, like, I was still waiting tables and. No, I was, I was writing small.

[Ben Falcone]

Part on the show. Nobody was like, you're creating it. Somebody's come to you. And Kristen and then bridesmaids really came about because you had been through like 32 weddings in like a year and a half. Like, you were. That's your fault for being so likable.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Did somebody actually send you like a, an invitation where like a butterfly flew out or something?

[Annie Mumolo]

There was an invitation that was similarly designed that I can't really reference.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, cool.

[Annie Mumolo]

But it's based on a true story. That part of it and the part amazing when.

[Ben Falcone]

When Kristen pulls up in the.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, that was exactly the car I drove. There was a lot of stuff that came. Obviously you start with like, they came out of real experiences that I had for sure. I feel like every bridal party almost had the same personalities, a combination of people. It was the same personality types. So some of them were easy to, you know, to put into and Then a lot of the stuff that we initially wrote on our first draft, I remember we. Some of the stuff that we based on true stuff, real people and stuff. He. He said. We gave it to him, and he said, yeah, this is just too broad. This would never happen. And I was like, oh, you. Don't you even know?

[Steve Mallory]

You haven't been through trenches.

[Ben Falcone]

This is a documentary at this point.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, it was.

[Ben Falcone]

It was.

[Annie Mumolo]

It was a documentary. I mean, it was just. It was so easy to do that first pass. But then, of course, we spent six years nearly rewriting it and turning it into what it was after that, because it. You start there, but then you have to go and, you know, you got to keep on. Keep revising, guys. Yeah, the writing is never done.

[Melissa McCarthy]

It's an organic being, and it is movies in the theater.

[Ben Falcone]

When did your kids, like. At least for us, just being in it. But, like, you created it and it's your story and Kristen's story, But, like, when. How old were your kids when they first saw it? And then they were like, wait, what? Because it is so iconic and it's such a huge. I mean, it's people's. Like. It's people's happy place. They watch it again and again and again.

[Melissa McCarthy]

13 years old. So, yeah, still. It's still out there.

[Steve Mallory]

When did Grace watch.

[Annie Mumolo]

I prohibited my children for as long as possible until they started hearing about it from their friends who were then saying, I saw your mom's movie. And I. Whoa. I just hit the mic. I saw your mom's movie. And I'm like, you're 10. How did your. What is going on at your house? No, I don't want to be judgmental of parents, but. But, yes, when kids were 10 years old, they were seeing the opening scene, the Bridesmaids, which is just Christian, get Kristen getting thrown around on the bed. So of course, Grace was like, mom, can I. You know, when I. What is this? You know, because she was only three. She had no memory. Vinnie. I was pregnant with my son Vinnie at the time. So he doesn't even know. He's. It's not even a part of his. Yeah, he doesn't care. When she. I think when she was. Did she see the. Viv. I don't know. God. Did they see it before?

[Ben Falcone]

They may have.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No, Viv didn't see it until. She didn't. 50.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah. I don't think Grace did either, though.

[Ben Falcone]

At one point they may have. They may have been together.

[Annie Mumolo]

I have to ask her. But at one point, she came to me and said, I saw it. Oh, she looked like. You know, she was in the kitchen, like she had a secret. She was like, mom, big smile, saying, I saw the movie. Then I thought, okay, I wasn't there. I didn't. I wasn't even a part of it. But that was her introduction to what I do for a living. And I was a little ashamed.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Did she think it was funny?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, she thought it was funny. And I think. You know how it is. Like, I think it's really hard for your kids to put together what. When you're at home, what you are versus what you do out there.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

And I think they still don't almost really connect it unless they're physically present or something on certain things. But. But yeah, I was. She. She saw it. My son Vinnie hasn't seen it. He's 14. He hasn't.

[Steve Mallory]

There's no hockey in it. Why would he.

[Annie Mumolo]

There's no LA Kings references in it.

[Steve Mallory]

If there was a single hockey player.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Why can't you make a movie about hockey?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, mom, gosh, I. I'm living it.

[Steve Mallory]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

I'm living it because my son is the biggest hockey fan, LA Kings fan on the planet.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Well, I love it.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, yeah.

[Steve Mallory]

He's also a great hockey player, so that's fun.

[Annie Mumolo]

But did you. Because I remember not to go back to the bridesmaid scene real quick. Do you remember when I came to your house? Because I went to the first. You know, you make this thing and you vomit this thing out. You don't even know. You go through the process. For me, obviously a huge trauma, because I was 17 months pregnant.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yep.

[Annie Mumolo]

And then you put it out, or they start editing it. And we had. And then we went to her first test screening. And I remember coming straight to your house. I don't know if you guys remember this, but you weren't. You weren't home. Actually, I definitely don't remember. You weren't. Like, I came to you and I said, if anyone sees this movie, I don't know if anyone will, because at the time, they were saying, we don't really know what. But if anyone does, your life is gonna change. Do you remember that? I remember I warned Melissa. I was like, you're. Holy shit.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, wow.

[Annie Mumolo]

It's coming. They're coming for you.

[Steve Mallory]

But changed. Not a good way, I'm assuming.

[Annie Mumolo]

No.

[Ben Falcone]

No.

[Annie Mumolo]

Like, no in a. Yes. It was. It was positive.

[Ben Falcone]

Do you remember? I do remember that. And I was like, what? I also. There was something in it. Like, we all thought it was really funny. Most of us in that movie had been at the Groundlings working together.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

With the wonderful additions. Like, we didn't know Rosie before. And like, we. Who else was a ground? Like, oh, yeah, Ellie.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

We didn't know Rose or Ellie. Wendy, Wendy, Rebel, but we knew Wendy was a ground like Wendy, but it's.

[Ben Falcone]

Like they all folded in, you idiot. Oh, my God. But I remember the weekend it opened and I. Well, first I'll backtrack that. I was just like, this is so. This is what we're already doing for free on. On Melrose, the Groundlings. And I was like, we find it really funny. And I didn't know if. I was like, I don't know. I don't know if that'll. It'll work. I'm like, it's really funny to me. And then I remember opening weekend, we all felt really good about it. And then there was like, hubub coming. They're like, metrics are coming and it's not going to be well. Were they telling you that?

[Annie Mumolo]

They told us it wasn't.

[Ben Falcone]

We were with Paul.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, we were.

[Ben Falcone]

We were at dinner with Paul, Keegan.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And Lori on opening night.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

And they were like, look, we just want you to be prepared. And I was like, yeah, I think it's going to do great because it's really funny. They're like, we know how to read these things. It's not going to do well. I was like, yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And also.

[Ben Falcone]

But you don't know what word of mouth is. I'm like, we made a really funny movie. I think people are going to love it. And they're like, we're just letting you know, y. It's not going to do well. I'm like, well, nobody has a crystal ball. And then literally, we watched it as we were having dinner. Paul was tracking it in his wizard ways that he does. And it was just.

[Annie Mumolo]

We were a Twitter movie. It was word of mouth. It was a Twitter movie. Paul texted us and said, if. If you right now. Go on. At that time, they had live Twitter where it was like, live feed. So as things. If you typed in a keyword, it was feeding, you'd see the. Yeah, I keep hitting my microphone. You would see it. He said, go and type bridesmaids into the live Twitter feed. And it was just going like, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. It was crazy. But we were told the same thing. I mean, my agent friend called me that morning who's a friend from high school. He's like, I do this with my clients. All the time. But you're my good friend. I just want to let you know. You know, it's really hard, and I'm sorry that no one's gonna see this movie. And I was really disappointed. You know, it was Friday morning. Something I thought, well, you know, they told us it wasn't tracking well, and then Paul contacted us and he's with you guys.

[Ben Falcone]

Not true.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, we actually went.

[Ben Falcone]

We went. Yeah, we went driving around to theaters, and we would jump out and run into the theaters and just hear people.

[Annie Mumolo]

That was a crazy experience. Yeah. To see that thing turn around.

[Steve Mallory]

There was a weird. Like, someone on one of the. One of the entertainment news things like Deadline or Variety wrote something that was kind of scathing, like, this isn't gonna work. It was the only time I've ever. I've never written a comment to anything online ever. And on, like, SAT on Sunday, I wrote a thing. I'm like, apologize. It was just the comment under her review.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, that's because I'm like.

[Steve Mallory]

Because you said all these terrible things to try to, like. I don't know what you were trying.

[Ben Falcone]

To do without seeing the movie.

[Annie Mumolo]

Trailers are not just for the record, usually representative, because a lot of time, the creative people don't even have control over what the trailers are like.

[Ben Falcone]

No, it's done by someone else.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

They're trying to get high knees in seats. I have the cutest picture of me and Annie late at night, I think, in Woodland Hills. Like at the Sherwood Country Club.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes. Shot the engagement party.

[Melissa McCarthy]

The engagement party, yeah. And I was barely. I was. Maybe I didn't even make it into that part, but I have a great picture and I'm going to show it to our. To our legions of fans.

[Steve Mallory]

48 billion.

[Annie Mumolo]

I will not forget seeing the reaction to the two of you in the first test screening, Seeing the reactions to the whole movie, but the explosive. And then the cut. The whole thing just with Melissa. And then the cut to bet you with the puppies. I mean, it was just like, so. It was shocking to me just because, you know, you don't know, and you don't know.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I remember still Paul, the delightful Paul Fig. I was like. I was watching all you guys on your side doing your. All the Wilson Phillips and business. And then Melissa, you know, sort of forcefully points to me. And I think my first response was to, like, kind of kindly wave, and he's like, no, go. Like, yeah. I was like, ew, I don't want to do that. And then I did it, and I was like, oh, people like that. Okay, cool.

[Steve Mallory]

And that's why you're a creep.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, my gosh. People loved. People loved it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

People like creeps.

[Ben Falcone]

So. People like creeps. That's a takeaway.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's a takeaway from Bridesmaids.

[Ben Falcone]

If you're looking for a tattoo. People like creeps.

[Melissa McCarthy]

People like creeps. A few years after Bridesmaids, now we're getting into like 2016. We cast you in a little film called the Boss.

[Annie Mumolo]

That's right. We went out to Atlanta.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We did. And I don't want to brag for you, but you're so funny in the Boss.

[Steve Mallory]

So funny.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And I actually.

[Ben Falcone]

It's always so funny, it's irritating.

[Melissa McCarthy]

It can be irritating for us. The. The what? I. I have an actual question which is why we're all here.

[Steve Mallory]

Yeah, that's a good point for our podcast.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. Because we're. How do you.

[Annie Mumolo]

I get nervous about the question.

[Melissa McCarthy]

As a comedic actor.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

How do you prepare? Like, so your character, Helen Krieger. Helen Krieger, she's just an asshole, right. And she and Michelle Darnell, who's a super flawed asshole herself, trying trending towards redemption. But I still remember screening that movie just knowing that once I got to getting you two together, getting the exposition going. But once I got you two together and just got you two fighting and just fucking so mad at each other that I'd be okay. Like, there's always that thing when I'm in post in a movie where I'm like, if I. Once I get here, I'm good. And that was for that movie. How did you prepare for the role of Helen Krieger? Like, do you like. For me, I barely prepare. I just like Susan Sarandon once told me, like, I listen, I'm not an actor. I'm a listener, which I'm like, bullshit, you're an amazing actor.

[Annie Mumolo]

But yeah, I mean, but.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But I just mostly listen. Did you have like thoughts of like, you know, here's what I want to do with this character. This or that?

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, it's, it like we, it's. It's interesting that because like we're saying with our histories together at the Groundlings and everything, it was so much fun to be able to do the work with your friends.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sure.

[Annie Mumolo]

So. And know what is going to ignite, you know, the scene partners. So I was very excited to just kind of do that with Melissa, you know, to that for that. And so I think I. On that one, to me, it's. It's always a musical thing. I don't know if this sounds weird, but the comedic stuff is rhythmic.

[Ben Falcone]

So I think I agree with that.

[Annie Mumolo]

I kind of read and I look at the script and then I kind of think of the rhythm of this person. I don't know if that makes any sense.

[Ben Falcone]

No, it doesn't make sense.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Jimmy Burrow says.

[Annie Mumolo]

What's their frequency that they operate on, especially with comedy?

[Ben Falcone]

It's. Yeah, if there's a. There's a rhythm. And if you break the rhythm, it's like super musical.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Helen's rhythm that you were able to encapsulate. She is so tight.

[Annie Mumolo]

Tight, so tight. So hately.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But I found myself, like when Michelle Darnell shoves cookies up her butt. I was a little. I felt bad for Helen, you know.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Even though she deserves to have cookies shoved up her butt. Which was improvised by you, too.

[Steve Mallory]

Annie improvised the line. There's one inside me.

[Annie Mumolo]

There might have been. There might have actually been one.

[Ben Falcone]

I remember you saying. I was like, if I ruined this take because it was so. I was like, oh. Oh, my gosh. I was like, there's times where you're just threatening yourself when you're doing a scene with someone who's so funny, but you know they've just hit a home run. And also, Annie. You literally never know what's coming out of Annie's mouth or what she's gonna do. Genius. She is an open nerve ending that just. And literally, we've been doing this for a hundred years. You don't know what's going to come out of her mouth. The fear of, like, screwing it up because you're about to start laughing. So I just tell myself sometimes. And you're funny as. I'm literally like, I'll murder you if you.

[Annie Mumolo]

That was. No, I. I mean, I feel like that about every. Every. All. Everybody. You guys. All of us. All of you guys. And as well, you just. You don't know. That's the fun of improv is. You don't know. But not that. That was most. That was mostly not improvised. But the. That's how it. That's the fun of it, you know, and not knowing. Much fun. I. I do remember thinking that on that one, that I think this woman comes in hot wherever she comes in. You know what I mean? She just always comes in, like, at a 10.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

So if you just saw her getting something from the snack table at the meeting, you would kind of be. You'd already be concerned.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

Just seeing her do her normal business.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I don't want to.

[Ben Falcone]

Her coming into a parking Lot is like. It's already, like, just. Just clear. Clear the way.

[Steve Mallory]

I like the fact that you were. You were the only character that wasn't intimidated immediately by Michelle Darnell. Like, the second she got in your face, you were right back. And I'm like, oh, this is where it gets.

[Annie Mumolo]

That was the fun part of that. That was fun.

[Steve Mallory]

It was awesome.

[Annie Mumolo]

I recently found our sketch that we did. We did a sketch. Do you remember the one we did at the Groundlings where we played the women who are running a daycare center?

[Ben Falcone]

I have the video.

[Annie Mumolo]

Do you have the video?

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, my God. Where you pose with our children with guns?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We were both.

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, they. Ben, they weren't real guns.

[Ben Falcone]

Annie and I were, like, both in, like, mullets. And I think you had big basketball shorts on. And we were using our real children who were both, like, maybe toddlers. And we literally were, like. We had, like, very fake armory and our kids on our hips. And we were. We were. We were the worst example of, like, daycare owners.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes. We were in court or something, and they had photographs of us. We did the whole thing with our. We did the whole photo photographs with our kids there who. Who, by the way, never even blink, batted an eyelash. Our children.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Not a sissy look. No offense, but just terrible. I believe you both gave yourself lots of freckles. Maybe were there not some freckles.

[Ben Falcone]

I. I know that I had a backwards wig on, which is.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes, you did.

[Ben Falcone]

Is one of my favorite trips tricks is if you already have a very. They were all. None of us could have nice wigs, but I love to take. Especially a short cropped wig, and you turn that thing backwards, and that's your character. You don't have to do anything. You just have to turn her wig backwards, and you're like, that's all I have to do?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, you don't even need anything.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Mic drop. We're good.

[Steve Mallory]

Is the least attractive. Two attractive people I've ever been in my life.

[Melissa McCarthy]

It was a tough look. It was really tough. It was a very tough. It was really tough. Now, I just want to let our listeners know there's not much more you have to listen to. We're almost done. You'll have the sweet relief of this.

[Steve Mallory]

Show being over there, enjoying it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I do. See, I do mention this every show. We're getting close to you.

[Annie Mumolo]

To the end. To the end, guys.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But I do want to quickly say.

[Annie Mumolo]

So this is where Ben says something really important and hilarious. The most hilarious thing in the show.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No, it's Just a question. So, okay, so as I recall, you went to UC Berkeley.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Really good school. And you were like. Were you like a medieval studies major?

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

How did you know? How I know is because I used to love looking at the program of the Groundlings and what people would put in there. And yours said. I was like, weirdly, I was a. You know, mine was stupid. And yours was like. I was a medieval studies major which.

[Annie Mumolo]

Has no medieval history.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. So I didn't know.

[Annie Mumolo]

This revolts, guys.

[Melissa McCarthy]

So you really not remember that comedy scribe, Oscar nominated, very successful Oscar Nomed.

[Ben Falcone]

So you go on your first movie.

[Melissa McCarthy]

So you. But. So you go to Berkeley, you're a medieval history major, and then you're like, I gotta go do some comedy.

[Annie Mumolo]

Is that. What.

[Melissa McCarthy]

What. What was the. How was. What was that switch like? Because you're from here.

[Annie Mumolo]

I was always growing up obsessed with movies.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Me too.

[Annie Mumolo]

Film and obsessed. Loved comedy. My dad was a natural comedian and sort of. We were raised on the. We had the rest. Here we go. I'm gonna age myself.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Here we go.

[Annie Mumolo]

I like it. The Billy Crystal vinyl. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I wouldn't know what that is. I'm too young.

[Ben Falcone]

Steve Martin, probably.

[Annie Mumolo]

Steve Martin, the wild and crazy guy. I mean, all those, like. I was raised George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, we. I mean, so I grew up on all of that and always loved comedy, so. But my parents said you. My parents weren't super excited about that.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sure, sure.

[Annie Mumolo]

You should go to college first.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's what happened to me.

[Annie Mumolo]

Movies, you know.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. I was. I want to go to comedy, but. But shouldn't you go to college? And I went to college and I was like, all right, once. Now I'm done with that, and now I can go do this.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah. And it's basically what I did. And when I got up there, I kind of. I realized what wasn't for me at Berkeley, which was science or math or anything, that I had to be in something that would at least involve some type of creative, you know, and history just. Just had that for me. I just. I always love history as well. Stories and. Yeah. So I had this one really cool professor who kind of. I just took one class from him, and then I knew I ended up taking all of his classes. He was so incredible and took all of his history classes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

What's his name?

[Annie Mumolo]

Professor Brentano.

[Steve Mallory]

Good name.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Way to go, Professor Brentano.

[Annie Mumolo]

One of the. Do you want to hear the valuable lesson I learned from him?

[Steve Mallory]

Dude, I don't.

[Annie Mumolo]

He's.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Damn it, Steve.

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, he really taught us about how history is, is the way we learn. History is all based on the perspectives of the people who write what we read about.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sure.

[Annie Mumolo]

So we would read like 70 different versions, accounts of the peasants revolts, and you would get, you would get all these completely different stories of, you know, accounts of what happened. So then he would teach us how to, or, you know, show us how to like, then we pull the facts out from what now, what's consistent in each one of these? Well, we know they rode into town at this time a day, and we know that this happened and this happened, but everyone's opinions were. And everyone. The stories told through everyone's. All these different lenses was pretty fascinating.

[Steve Mallory]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

So he had us write like a true story about our lives and then write a fictional story about our lives and we read them in front of the class and he had everyone vote on which ones they thought were real. And so it was also creative. He was so amazing.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Did you trick people with others?

[Annie Mumolo]

Did you? I did.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I thought you did.

[Steve Mallory]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

I tricked people because. Yep. And then. But you know, it is something I think about. You think about now with the way the world is. It's. It's like when you hear news, you have to be so careful.

[Steve Mallory]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

Consider the source. There are so many. Every. Everything is told through everyone's different lenses.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Do you ever get hit with a cringy memory of your 13 year old self out of nowhere and suddenly you're panic sweating and laughing at the same time? Don't, don't worry.

[Annie Mumolo]

Don't worry.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We all get that. It's because being an adolescent is one of the most visceral, shared experiences we have as people and we want to talk about it. Join me, Penn Badgley, and my two friends Nava and Sophie on podcrushed as we interview celebrity guests about the joys and horrors of being a teenager and how those moments made them who they are today. New episodes of Podcrust are out now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Annie Mumolo]

DC versus Marvel, Android versus iPhone, John Williams versus Hans Zimmer. You may have had these pop culture debates with your friends, but I know you didn't have me weighing in with a verdict. I'm Ronald Young Jr. And as the host of Pop Culture Debate Club, I'm here to listen to the arguments, ask some questions, and ultimately pick a winner. Listen to the Pop Culture Debate Club wherever you get your podcasts from Lemonada Media and the BBC.

[Ben Falcone]

We talked to. We had sat down with Glenn Close yesterday and she's reading this book and her main takeaway, she kept saying, information is not truth. There's so much information, but the information is not truth. So you have to be very careful with. You can get all the information in the world, but it doesn't exactly what you're saying. It's like, through what lens?

[Steve Mallory]

And what's Factory Tangent, A medieval history comedy.

[Annie Mumolo]

History of the world. Aren't we sort of my obsession?

[Ben Falcone]

Are we literally doing it? We're doing Hildy, which is a medieval comedy.

[Steve Mallory]

Let me think about it. Which one's Hildy? I do so many projects in the work.

[Ben Falcone]

We're literally sitting in a room with guys just to paint a picture. There's dragon sconces.

[Annie Mumolo]

There is.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We'll. We'll send some pictures, put it on our. Everywhere.

[Annie Mumolo]

There are. There are. There's a lot on this wall.

[Ben Falcone]

There's a lot on this wall.

[Annie Mumolo]

There is armor.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

There's dragons above Annie's head right now.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Let me, Let me just let our listeners know. There's only two questions left. You're almost.

[Annie Mumolo]

Okay. You're almost done. Sorry, Sorry about my history thing.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, relief of this show being over.

[Steve Mallory]

Even though people might be enjoying.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Annie was fantastic and you guys have been fine. Thanks, Annie.

[Steve Mallory]

Oh, deep.

[Melissa McCarthy]

You're so prolific. You're so funny. You've written all these things. You've got all these accolades for our young writers out there who I'm assuming there's at least two advice. What do you think? What would you say to somebody who's like, hey, I'm trying to break in right now. I wish people would read my stuff.

[Ben Falcone]

I want to get better, funny. And they don't even think they can write.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

What would you tell?

[Melissa McCarthy]

What would you tell, you know, a 19 year old who's like, I feel like I want. I've got something to say.

[Annie Mumolo]

I would say, say your thing. Do your thing. Don't count on anyone else to make anything happen for you. Make your own stuff. The more you could, the more make your own stuff so that you have not only control and a say in how things are seen through, but it really having seen. We've seen different sides of things and I would say I. I don' There's. I think the, the best experience creatively for yourself is to. Whether. I hate to say this, but whether you get paid or not is to follow your own voice and be true to it and, and create projects that reflect that regardless of the outcome and just be as true to your voice and what you want to do as. As possible.

[Ben Falcone]

And like, and people say, what. What do you do that you have something? Don't wait till it's going to be perfect. Don't make anything in any way. And that is. It's like, invaluable to do that because.

[Annie Mumolo]

Right now you can make a movie on your iPhone.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Absolutely.

[Annie Mumolo]

Do it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We couldn't do any of that when we were coming up.

[Steve Mallory]

I just got back from the Seattle film festival, the 48 Hour Film Festival. Well, whatever. But from 40 countries, people had 48 hours to take three prompts and make a movie in 48 hours. And there were. And most. A lot of them were comedy, and some of them were just spectacular. And when you talk to the people afterwards, like, I just had my first idea and I just spit it out and did everything. You're like, yeah, that's the trick.

[Annie Mumolo]

And I feel like that's when the best stuff comes out before it get. Goes through all these filters and layers and gets deconstruct. Yes. It's just the best stuff. The most true. The stuff that really changes things seems to be a pure voice getting through, at least from, I feel like, from my experience. And Mark Duplass does that real well. Yeah, you guys got that down.

[Ben Falcone]

His whole book.

[Steve Mallory]

He and Jay did that about that.

[Annie Mumolo]

So.

[Steve Mallory]

Well, don't wait for the calvary. Do it yourself.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, they're doing it. Yeah, they are.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Here's my last question. Probably. We're probably gonna cut this one out. Okay. There's a world where you might already be done with this episode. Dear listener, here's my question. We all get so busy doing our jobs, and if you're fortunate, you actually like your job and we have kids and all the things. If you have a quiet Sunday afternoon heading your way, you know, mutual garden. You know, Mallory's always trying to grow tomatoes. I am likely reading a comic book or looking at comic books because I'm that kind of cool guy.

[Steve Mallory]

Super cool.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. What. What's your thing? What's your. What's your. What's your hobby on a Sunday afternoon when you're. When you're. When you're letting loose.

[Steve Mallory]

Still a lot of balloon artists.

[Melissa McCarthy]

A lot of eye. She did a lot of eyebrow work for those who can't see. So it's.

[Ben Falcone]

And I did it right back.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And she did it right back. So what. What's your thing? What's your jam?

[Annie Mumolo]

I love to sit with my other half, Ian Gomez, my partner, and take on the New York Times crossword puzzle. Oh, no guys.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Together.

[Annie Mumolo]

Literal.

[Ben Falcone]

I love it.

[Annie Mumolo]

It's my new porn.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's great.

[Annie Mumolo]

Okay. The New York Times crossword puzzle. I love doing it. I love it. And we just. It's quiet, it's a Sunday, windows open, surrounded by our 72 animals and pets.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Sure.

[Annie Mumolo]

Who all have their various issues.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, they do.

[Ben Falcone]

They're not quiet pets.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No bark. That one dog hates me so much.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh my. Yeah, she was. She's excitable. Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Gertie hates Ben.

[Steve Mallory]

That's just how she treats everyone.

[Annie Mumolo]

She is, she's. She's a high strung little gal. But yeah. And that puzzle, I don't need much more. And my kids obviously, but they don't want much to do with me right now. So it's the puzzle, it's the animals. And then I like to cook something.

[Steve Mallory]

A couple follow up questions.

[Ben Falcone]

That sounds wonderful.

[Steve Mallory]

Is this timed or. You just take your time. You take your time.

[Annie Mumolo]

No, take my time. I put it down. I take breathers. I go outside and I just look up at the sky and I think about the God. 72 across. 72 across.

[Melissa McCarthy]

So is Ian doing it at the same time or is he just. Is he reacting to you doing it or are you doing it together? Are you sharing?

[Ben Falcone]

You both have your own. Are you doing it?

[Annie Mumolo]

Do that puzzle. He has like a. He's like a savant.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, he's one of those guys.

[Annie Mumolo]

He does the puzzle. It's so frustrating. He can do it very quickly. He knows things. I don't know how he knows these things, you know, so we used to do them together, but then we kind of branched off and now he does it on his phone, the same puzzle, and I do it in the magazine.

[Ben Falcone]

You're doing the Sunday time. He's doing the Sunday Times on his phone.

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, we were. He. We just started. We actually then ordered the paper, the New York Times to come to our house because I need, I need it in person. I needed to have it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's great.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yeah, I gotta carry it around. I just stick it in my thing while I'm doing things around the house.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Stick it in your thing? What do you.

[Annie Mumolo]

I roll the puzzle up and I stick it in the back of my. And I do my. I go, you know, I do my business, I go around the house.

[Steve Mallory]

And that's amazing.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Then you're like, Ah, 72 across. I figured yes.

[Annie Mumolo]

I'm like, who the knows this answer?

[Ben Falcone]

How do people look something up?

[Annie Mumolo]

Occasionally I have. But I'll try to look up. Like I'll either put something in and I'll try to see if I'M right.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Annie Mumolo]

And then. But occasionally I'll. If I'm very. If I'm just. I got nothing and I'm. I've been at it for hours. Sometimes I'll maybe go, like, okay, I'll give myself one. I'll give myself one freebie.

[Ben Falcone]

I still think, well, I'm still learning. I'm doing the Reese. I tell myself it's research.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Ben Falcone]

So I'm looking up research for answers.

[Annie Mumolo]

It's true. Sometimes you have to do that. You got to re. You got to get it in there. Will never do that.

[Steve Mallory]

Limitations. Do you have to have it done by Sunday or anything like that? Or you can spill over into Monday.

[Annie Mumolo]

I kind of get. I get obsessed, and I can't stop until I have it. So everything's got to just. I got to be on that. I'm on the train. Nothing can stop me.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Can I. Can I brag for one second?

[Ben Falcone]

Yes, I do.

[Melissa McCarthy]

The Mini.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, love the Mini.

[Melissa McCarthy]

One time. And Steve knows this because I text him. I have a weird thing with the Mini. I'm not good at the crossword itself, but the Mini. Because I'm only. I'm literally sprinting to try to figure it out.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I have completed the Mini one time in 13 seconds. Seconds.

[Annie Mumolo]

You're kidding.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I'm not kidding.

[Ben Falcone]

The Mini makes me feel so good about myself.

[Annie Mumolo]

I was just going to say that. But the real one, I'm not.

[Ben Falcone]

I'm not at that skill level.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And no, I. I can't do the real.

[Annie Mumolo]

I know. I like the Mini. I love the Mini. On a holiday. Where did it? Yeah. And I look and I'm like, I did it. And then I look and the answer is like, you know, car, dog.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Totally.

[Annie Mumolo]

I'm like, I did it.

[Ben Falcone]

Something to eat at a base baseball game. That's hot. Three letters, and I already have the D and the G. And I'm like, die.

[Annie Mumolo]

Yes.

[Ben Falcone]

I was like, I should. I could have gone to college.

[Annie Mumolo]

But.

[Ben Falcone]

It doesn't make. And I will say this. When I'm literally getting read, that's your drop in my head when I finish the Mini, when it is like, you know, please and think. And I'm like, you. When I finish it, I'm like, you're smart. And I literally get, like, proud of myself. And it's embarrassing me to say that, but I literally like, yeah, you just.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Did.

[Annie Mumolo]

You get the reward of the little jingle it plays at the end when you finish it.

[Steve Mallory]

I just turned it off.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, my gosh. Ian and I compete with that. We compete with the sound. Like, I'll hear him in the other room and I'll hear. And he'll come strutting in the kitchen. He's got a swagger.

[Steve Mallory]

I hate the pressure.

[Annie Mumolo]

Tuesday's mini.

[Melissa McCarthy]

All right, well, you're not. You're a major talent. And that's crossword of our minds. We want to say thank you so much for, for joining us, Annie, for.

[Ben Falcone]

Making us laugh so much.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We're gonna. We're gonna go out to dinner with you soon because we're, we're just starving because we're all starving. But we just want to say thank you so much. What a wonderful person and what a.

[Ben Falcone]

Great episode and happy birthday, Steve. Mallory, we're glad you were born.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We're very glad you were born.

[Annie Mumolo]

Well, don't have.

[Steve Mallory]

No, no. They were doing it.

[Annie Mumolo]

Happy birthday. I knew a favor.

[Ben Falcone]

You made it.

[Steve Mallory]

You made it.

[Annie Mumolo]

You made it another year.

[Steve Mallory]

Listen, Humphrey Bogart and I are the same age right now when he died, so I feel like I've won.

[Annie Mumolo]

Oh, you have. Yep. Starting now.

[Steve Mallory]

From here on out.

[Melissa McCarthy]

From now on out, every day.

[Steve Mallory]

Better than Bogey. Better than Bogey.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And that's it.

[Steve Mallory]

Bye, everybody.

[Annie Mumolo]

Thanks.

[Ben Falcone]

Bye, everybody. Foreign.

[Annie Mumolo]

Want more from your favorite Lemonada media podcasts? While supporting the shows that help make life suck less, subscribe to Lemonada Premium today. As a subscriber, you'll unlock exclusive bonus content like never before heard interviews, behind the scenes moments, bonus episodes, and so much more. It's easy to sign up no matter what podcast app you use on Apple. You can just click the Lemonada logo in the Apple podcast app and hit subscribe. For all other podcast apps, head to Lemonada Supportingcast FM to subscribe. That's Lemonada Supportingcast FM. Are you in bed by 10? Can you feel your hormones raging more than ever? Do you wake up every day wondering, is this it? Guess what? You're not alone. Welcome to my so Called Midlife, a weekly podcast hosted by me, Reshma Sajani. On this show, we're gonna expose the con we've been sold about middle age, figure out what the fuck we want from our lives and how to get there. We'll have help from guests like Julia Louis Dreyfus, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Alana Glaser. You can listen to my so Called Midlife ad free on Amazon Music.