Hildy's Happy Hour | Stephanie Courtney

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hildy's Happy Hour | Stephanie Courtney

Episode Release Date: April 25, 2025
Hosts: Ben Falcone, Steve Mallory, and Melissa McCarthy
Guest: Stephanie Courtney

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1. Welcome and Introduction

Ben Falcone opens the episode by welcoming listeners to Hildy's Happy Hour in a cheerful and informal manner. Although Melissa McCarthy couldn't join in person, she contributes remotely, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.

Ben Falcone [01:25]: "Hi, everybody. Welcome back to Hildy's Happy Hour. How's it going? My name is Ben Falcone, your most important host."

Stephanie Courtney joins the conversation, greeted warmly by the hosts.

Stephanie Courtney [02:08]: "Stephanie Courtney, welcome. Welcome to the show."

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2. Early Career and Groundlings Experience

Stephanie shares her longstanding relationship with the hosts, dating back over two decades to her time at the Groundlings in 2003 alongside notable comedians like Kristen Wiig and Kent Sublette.

Stephanie Courtney [02:18]: "I remember being starstruck when I was doing classes and like you guys would do, there was a thing at the Groundlings called the wow. Workout Workshop."

Ben reminisces about their early collaborations and the challenges of memorizing lines during performances.

Ben Falcone [04:00]: "I was your director in the Sunday company in 2003."

Stephanie recounts a particularly challenging sketch she and Kristen Wiig wrote, highlighting the difficulties of live performances.

Stephanie Courtney [04:17]: "We were so embarrassed. She was cry laughing silently next to me."

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3. Transition to Comedy and Stand-Up Beginnings

Transitioning from theater to comedy, Stephanie discusses her initial foray into stand-up, encouraged by a friend from acting school. She describes her first experiences with stand-up comedy, characterized by nervousness and experimentation.

Stephanie Courtney [22:00]: "I was like, how am I gonna do this without knowing how to do segues."

Her big break comes when Bob Odenkirk's wife Naomi offers to manage her after witnessing her performance, prompting her move to Los Angeles.

Stephanie Courtney [23:37]: "She was like, I want to start a management company. Will you be my first client?"

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4. Developing Iconic Characters

Stephanie delves into the creation and development of her renowned character, Flo from The Progressive. She discusses the nuances that make Flo a beloved and enduring figure in popular culture.

Ben Falcone [32:05]: "You have made a mark on, literally, popular culture as Flo, the progressive woman."

Melissa McCarthy praises Stephanie's ability to deliver unexpected and hilarious punchlines effortlessly.

Melissa McCarthy [34:02]: "It's an ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words."

Stephanie explains her approach to embodying Flo, emphasizing the importance of actions over dialogue.

Stephanie Courtney [44:30]: "Anything that adds information, anything, your emotional state, what you're doing, stuff like that is just... it helps keep everything alive."

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5. Personal Anecdotes and Challenges

Stephanie shares a humorous yet frustrating story about her maroon-colored car that stubbornly refused to go in reverse, drawing parallels to a similar scenario depicted in the movie Bridesmaids.

Stephanie Courtney [41:04]: "I spent 5,000 on the car. It would not go in reverse."

Ben and Melissa add their own memories and reactions to the tale, highlighting the comedic potential in everyday mishaps.

Ben Falcone [42:10]: "Makes me think of 'Bridesmaids.'"

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6. Insights into the Groundlings Training Regimen

The conversation shifts back to the rigorous training at the Groundlings, where Ben underscores the demanding nature of the conservatory-like environment. Stephanie emphasizes the balance between collaboration and the high standards required to succeed.

Ben Falcone [25:08]: "It's a really very harsh conservatory."

Stephanie reflects on the importance of writing and performing together with fellow comedians, fostering a unique comedic language.

Stephanie Courtney [25:18]: "We all learn to speak the same language. It's the same."

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7. The Art of Comedy and Performance

Throughout the episode, Stephanie offers valuable insights into the craft of comedy, discussing the significance of concise joke delivery and the balance between humor and character authenticity.

Stephanie Courtney [46:12]: "Show don’t tell, I guess, is another way to say."

Ben engages the hosts and guests in discussions about behavioral cues in performance, reinforcing the podcast's theme of blending knowledge with humor.

Melissa McCarthy [47:23]: "Too many words, not enough behaviors."

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8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts express their admiration for Stephanie's talent and contributions to comedy. They encourage listeners to support her work and attend Groundlings shows.

Ben Falcone [48:31]: "And we all learn to speak the same language. It's the same. Yeah, it's. And going through it together, you know, well, it's."

Stephanie thanks the hosts, reflecting on the supportive and collaborative nature of her relationships within the comedy community.

Stephanie Courtney [48:24]: "You're wonderful."

The episode concludes with light-hearted banter about continuing their comedic journey together, emphasizing the enduring friendships forged through their shared experiences.

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Notable Quotes

• Stephanie Courtney [04:00]: "We were so embarrassed. She was cry laughing silently next to me."
• Melissa McCarthy [34:02]: "It's an ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words."
• Ben Falcone [31:34]: "I'd give people advice on what they were doing wrong with their sketches or what I was doing right."
• Stephanie Courtney [41:04]: "I spent 5,000 on the car. It would not go in reverse."
• Stephanie Courtney [46:12]: "Show don’t tell, I guess, is another way to say."

---

Conclusion

In this engaging episode of Hildy's Happy Hour, Ben Falcone, Steve Mallory, and Melissa McCarthy host the talented Stephanie Courtney, delving deep into her comedic journey from theater to the iconic character Flo. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and humorous exchanges, the episode offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the world of comedy and the enduring bonds formed within it.

Transcript

[Kate Bowler]

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.

[David Duchovny]

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.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Lemonada.

[Ben Falcone]

There we go. Oh, look at that.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Thanks, everyone. Everyone.

[Ben Falcone]

Hi, everybody. Welcome back to Hildy's Happy Hour. How's it going? My name is Ben Falcone, your most important host. Melissa McCarthy's not here. Unfortunately, this week we do have Steve.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Mallory, which I'm still, like, the third most important host.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, okay. It's still fine. And she's. We're. It's too bad she's not here. And we're also going al fresco today. The windows are open because Steve coughed and I'm a hypochondriac, so the windows are open. But aren't we the happiest dogs in the dog sled today? Because our guest is the one, the only, Stephanie Courtney.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, my goodness. Is that more cheering? How did you fit all these people in this office?

[Ben Falcone]

Stephanie Courtney, welcome. Welcome to the show.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Thank you.

[Ben Falcone]

First question, how long have we known each other? Because I. It would be 20 plus years, right?

[Stephanie Courtney]

I remember being starstruck when I was doing classes and like you guys would do, there was a thing at the Groundlings called the wow. Workout Workshop.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, workout workshops, sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That's right. And then all the older class people and like, would be doing. Could do a show, like, to do whatever. A class with beginners. Anyway. I just remember loving you guys so much. And then you were my director.

[Ben Falcone]

I was your director in the Sunday company in 2003. What? Look at you with a year.

[Stephanie Courtney]

2003. So that means that would be 20. Oh, my God.

[Ben Falcone]

That's 22 years ago.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, my God. That's crazy.

[Ben Falcone]

That's pretty crazy. So in that Sunday Company we had. It was you.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, geez. All right, here we go.

[Ben Falcone]

There was.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It was me. It was Kristen Wiig. It was Kent Sublette, who's now one of the head writers on snl.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It was Annie Momolo.

[Ben Falcone]

Ariane Price.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Ariane Price. Amazing. It was Dave Stores. It was Mike Naughton. It was Guy Stevenson. It was. I'm just trying to think of all these people.

[Melissa McCarthy]

It's a real assassination pro there.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Amazing. Yeah. And I'm forgetting names, but just because there's too many. Oh, my chin. Just hit the mic.

[Ben Falcone]

Well, that's fine. That's fine. But. But we don't give workers comp. So I do remember that you and Kristen Wiig would write together. By the way, that's just a saw. If you can hear it out there, somebody's using a band saw, but there's.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Always a band saw.

[Ben Falcone]

I'm so worried about ste. Cough. 30 minutes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

We're willing to deal with it, but.

[Ben Falcone]

I'll do the bandsaw. I remember one time you and Kristen Wiig wrote a sketch, and it was really funny, but it was also kind of odd. And I remember you both came up. Do you remember what sketch it was?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Were we dressed as men?

[Ben Falcone]

Yes.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Okay.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Wow.

[Stephanie Courtney]

We had written this sketch where we were undercover cops. We were so undercover that we were women dressed as men, and we were trying to bust up a fake. I mean, listen, I don't expect you to listen to this whole. I'm getting bored with this. No, no, no, wait.

[Ben Falcone]

So you were cops?

[Stephanie Courtney]

We were cops going deep undercover to a bunch of rich guys. And we were. They were trying to sell fake watches. And so we were getting. Trying to make them go through, like. And admit that what they're doing. Okay. Terrible. It was terrible on a lot of levels, but it was during a time when we were all pitching our sketches. So basically, we have only a couple of Friday nights where we're going to perform brand new sketches. And. And, like, it's. There's a high kill rate, you know? Cause only so many could get into a show. So you're not gonna waste your time on this doomed sketch that Kristen and I wrote. And we just packed it full of other actors, and no one memorized their lines. And I don't blame them because they were all memorizing their lines, you know, for their sketches.

[Ben Falcone]

Sure, sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And we put so much work into the costuming, which I feel is like my whole curse as far as sketch is concerned. I mean, I'll costume the heck out of it, and then I'M like, plot, you know, let the wardrobe do the acting.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Let the wardrobe do the acting.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Exactly. So we were doing the sketch, and I. I said my line, and she has to say her line. And all I heard was next to me. And she was. We were so embarrassed. She was cry, laughing silently next to me. And already no one had known their line. So we were all fumbling. I don't think the audience knew what this is about. And then I heard her silently sniffling. And I looked, and her fake mustache, her tears are going down her fake mustach mustache. And she's just looking at me like, save it, save it. You have to. You have to land the plane. I was just like.

[Ben Falcone]

And you're like, there's no. I can't land a plane. Where the sketch is very convoluted.

[Stephanie Courtney]

We didn't build a plane.

[Ben Falcone]

We're not on a plane.

[Stephanie Courtney]

We're like Daffy Duck realizing there's nothing below him.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah. Oh, no.

[Stephanie Courtney]

So, yeah, it ended. And I think, like, the. The kindly light person was like, I'll just slowly brown this out until it's full black.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And then help you out. Help you out right now.

[Steve]

And everyone.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It was just. I've never had so many people be like, I'm so sorry I didn't memorize my lines. I'm like, no, just don't. Just don't.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, don't. Don't try now. Because it probably didn't matter, but also, it didn't help. And you're fine. I remember Jill Matson. She would write all her lines on the back of plates. Because we, for some reason at Groundlings at that time, we never used actual real, like, dinnerware. So, like, if you were going to go out to dinner, it was like, for some reason, we. We didn't want to put real it, which was crazy anyway. And then you also was like, oh, probably we'll just use paper plates. And it's like, so you're supposed to believe that. Like, oh, we're on a very fancy restaurant. You know, we went to the steakhouse, and it's like, there's one paper plate in, like, a plastic fork. But she would write all her lines on the back of these plates.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I get it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I'm kind of jealous of that. That's brilliant.

[Ben Falcone]

It was really brilliant.

[Stephanie Courtney]

No, it's. I'm at a point and maybe it's age related. No, no, no, no. But I seriously, I, like, I'm almost at an earwig point where I'm just like, I. I did it, you know? How we all had to self tape for a very long time. I once I had. I made my hair all boofy on the side of my face and then I put earphones in and I just played the scene and I was like, I'll just say it directly after the line when I tell you. I was like, richard, if you're going to take me to court, then you better have one more thing. I was like, it was. I talked fast and I couldn't keep up and it was not a good idea.

[Ben Falcone]

No, no, no. Apparently Marlon Branda did that towards.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes, I hear that. Jack Nicholson does it too.

[Ben Falcone]

These are the things. Look, look at what you're learning on Hildy's happy hour.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Like, I used to do like trade show stuff and I would like, if I had to present, I would just memorize it and I'd hammer for like six weeks. And I get there and here's all these old presenters that just have the earwig and a tape recorder and they're just saying it so effortlessly. And I'm like, how are you doing this? And someone could hand you a brand new thing. It's like, yeah, I got it. 10 minutes. It's a skill.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That's.

[Ben Falcone]

Yes, that's great. It is almost like being a newscaster.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, I can't imagine.

[Ben Falcone]

I'd be great at it now. Stephanie, Courtney, what did I say? Anyway, I think I'm going off likably. It's fine.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You're the favorite and I'm not.

[Ben Falcone]

It's not even competition. But if the three of us were in a favorite, I'm clearly the favorite for sure. So, okay, so you're obviously a hilarious person. You're one of our dear friends from a long time. You're incredibly successful. When. And we're going to. And we're going to dig into your successes. Don't worry.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And failures. We're going to get into this and.

[Ben Falcone]

Really we're going to pick those failures. God, what brought you to comedy in the first place? Like where you grew up? Where. When did you. When did you think? Like, oh, I'm pretty funny. I should like, like, I remember I went to sign up at the Groundlings because I was like, well, I think I'm too cowardly to do stand up. And I thought I came to LA to be a stand up. But then when I saw the classes for the Groundlings, I was like, oh, that's kind of like Second City. And I like Second City. What was your.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I mean, okay, so I was always like, I was a very Non threatening, nice girl, like going through school. But I was like, if I can get people kind of like one on one, they tend to laugh at what I said. I'm like, okay. Also, I'm a youngest child and I think that the Groundlings is full of, well, black sheep for sure. But also, like, you learn, I think being a youngest or being in any sort of intense sort of situation, you learn to read a room like your life depends on it.

[Ben Falcone]

Sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And I think that's what we all have in common. Like, we all just. If there is a slight, like, I don't know, there's like a bump in the current. You're like, what did I do? How do I fix it? How do I fix it? How do I even it out? How do I. So I feel grateful that like this has helped me focus that insane energy along with therapy. Too pleasing, I guess, or trying to make the peace or making everything okay or feeling it's your responsibility to, you know.

[Ben Falcone]

Sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And I think it's starts there where you're like, why do I want to wrestle this thing? And then it's. I don't know.

[Ben Falcone]

Were you like in high school and you're like, I make my friends laugh at sleepovers.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah, I think I was doing plays. I love doing plays. And in my house, like my parents kind of. We kind of skipped like the 60s and 70s a little bit. Like, they were very much. We were watching black and white movies. We're watching pbs. Like, my dad is an older guy. Like, he's.

[Ben Falcone]

What state are we in?

[Stephanie Courtney]

We are in New York State. You know, Westchester county on the Hudson River. Well, forget about it.

[Ben Falcone]

Do I know it?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Well, forget all about it because across the river is a place called Rockland.

[Ben Falcone]

Okay, great.

[Stephanie Courtney]

So Westchester had the train going into the city and they were like, you know, they, they were. They had the cool clothes and the cool music. And then we were on the other side of the river. It's very pretty. Very, very pretty. I would say it kind of reminds me of like a Santa Clarita. Like a very green, beautiful, verdant Santa Clarita. Because there's a lot of like, it's co. You know, the cops that work in New York City, we're about like 35 minutes away from there. But you gotta drive anyway. That's where I grew up. It was beautiful. It was very, very peaceful. Kind of suburb, you know, really nice. So I think that's another thing too where it's like, there's a lot of kids from the suburbs that do comedy that's so true.

[Ben Falcone]

That's so true.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Right? And you kind of want to, like, what?

[Ben Falcone]

Why?

[Stephanie Courtney]

You want to dig it, you know? Like, David lynch always, like, set his stuff, and, like, this is a perfect, beautiful. And then it's like, here's the underside. I think we just know that, like, what is this covering up? This is bullshit.

[Melissa McCarthy]

There is, like, this little core of the weirdos in. In those areas where, like, I don't know how to express myself in this space, so I need to find another. I agree.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And how come no one's asking why? Yeah, like, why isn't anybody calling bullshit on that?

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, why does the cardiologist have the worst diet in town and he drives drunk all the time and everybody knows it? Yes.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And why does the gym teacher get to call me stupid? Like, I remember fifth grade, and he's like, oh, that's football. I'm just like, what are you talking about? Like, I watch, you know, I watched, like, the McNeil Larry Report with my dad, and he's just. I didn't say that. But that's. I was just like, I don't know what to do with this. And he's just like, what are you, stupid? And then my mom. My mom was part. I was on the school board. And the next time, he was just like, well, someone on the school board said I shouldn't call you kids stupid. And he gave me, like, a hard stare because he knew, yeah, I was the rat now.

[Melissa McCarthy]

You were the rat now who's stupid now?

[Stephanie Courtney]

You're stupid.

[Ben Falcone]

You're stupid for calling me stupid.

[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]

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[Steve]

This episode of Hildy's Happy Hour is brought to you by booking.com booking. Yeah, when visiting a new place on a vacation or a holiday, some may go to a museum or visit a local attraction or take a picture of something or someone or whatever. But my family and I, we visit bakeries. That's right. We are the most gluten tolerant family you've ever seen. We've traveled across the country for an authentic baguette or a fresh baked English muffin. And if your town has a tasty almond croissant or a Portuguese pan Cristal, we are showing up. Which is why I love booking.com so much. Whether it's Seattle or Boston or Paris, I know I'm going to find the perfect place to stay. That is walking distance to two or preferably three pastry shops and belangeries. Whether it's a hotel or a vacation rental, booking.com has the best places to nap away the carbs and I don't know, maybe get on a treadmill. No matter why you travel, Booking.com helps you find the stay. That's ridiculously right for you. Find exactly what you're booking for on booking dot com. Booking.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. Well, I want to know. You said you did shows. I want to know what shows.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, good God. We did like fun little, like, it all starts with like elementary school and you're going to do your little pageants and it was so fun. And then middle school, I was doing like musicals and stuff.

[Ben Falcone]

By the way, Stephanie Courtney, voice of an angel, absolutely amazing singing voice. I don't think that's utilized enough throwing it out there, you know, who disagrees?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Broadway. But no, but I did tons of plays. Tons of plays all the time. And I loved it. And I would like sit in on other people's rehearsals. Like, even if I was, you know, we don't need you for another half hour. I just loved everything about it. And so, yeah, so I did tons of plays. I'm using the wrong language. You're gonna edit this, right? And then I went to college again, English major because.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Where'd we go? Where'd we go?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, suny. Binghamton State University, Binghamton and then it was great. Had a great theater department, but I didn't major in it because I was like, oh, you have to get good grades. You have to have a. You have to have an English degree, because, boy, oh, boy, that's the golden ticket. That'll get you into anything you wanna do.

[Ben Falcone]

I also was gonna be a theater major, but then I didn't do it. But my thing was I didn't love actors at that time.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You know what? You know what was starting to happen with me in college was I. The shine was coming off of musicals for me. I did love to sing.

[Ben Falcone]

Okay.

[Stephanie Courtney]

But it felt like I can't keep up with the energy of people who truly, truly geek out on it.

[Ben Falcone]

Right.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I was like, this is making me feel tired. And I don't mean to sound this as sour grapes at all. Like, I was. It was. Maybe I was also realizing, like, oh, like, if you've got Broadway singers, like, they can belt to this note, right? It's like you're suddenly you're at an arrange. Like, I got to audition. I'm jumping ahead. I got to audition for Bullets Over Broadway. They were gonna do a Broadway show of it. I wonder what happened. Nevermind. Anyway, and I remember thinking, like, oh, my audition's good. My song is good, whatever. And I get there and Rachel Dratch was there. Like, it was really cool. It was like, in the waiting room. And then a Broadway singer went in. Like, I auditioned and then she was gonna audition. Then we had to wait. Like, do you want us to stick around?

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

When that Broadway singer went in and I don't know name, Shame on me. The brick walls resonated with her voice.

[Ben Falcone]

It was so amazing.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It was different. It was deeper, more powerful, more. It was just. Yeah. So that was kind of interesting. But, yeah. So, yeah, that happened in college where I was like, I do love musicals, but why aren't I devoting more time and energy to getting good at it, you know?

[Ben Falcone]

Right, right.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And I was fine for college level. I was good. I was fine. I was good. But, yeah, very strange. But I think comedy. Then I start, you know, what happened? I mean, I always loved snl, of course, but I'll tell you what happened. The kids in the hall, it was my friend Michelle Kaplan. I'm gonna tell her to listen to this. And she was like, my friend from Canada just gave me a whole stack of VHS tapes.

[Ben Falcone]

Yep.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And we're like, oh, kids in the hall. Cool. I was mind blown. And I. And particularly, like, all of them are so brilliant. But Mark McKinney, the way he plays characters where you're like, oh, my God, like, this man loves. He's holding his characters that are ridiculous, terrible people, but he's holding them like a little baby bird in his hand. He loves them so much. And I was like that. I can't. I can't get to the bottom of that. Like, there is no bottom to that. I. I love that. I love playing characters like that, which is. I didn't even have words for it until I saw him, like, doing that.

[Ben Falcone]

And so at some point around the. Around then, after college, you come to la. What. When are you like. Because I saw, I think an article in, like, what used to be a. Our newspaper, Backstage west or something, is like, oh, you know, come audition for the Groundlings. I was like, all right, that sounds like a thing I could do.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You're skipping a step. I went to an acting school for two years in New York City.

[Ben Falcone]

So you're trained up?

[Stephanie Courtney]

I'm trained. I went to the Neighborhood Playhouse. It was great. My sister Jennifer, I have an older sister who's also an actress. And she was telling my parents that, you know, she was piecemealing. She was, like, modeling and also piecemealing together classes and doing what she could to become a better actor or whatever. And then she was like, to my parents, like, my friends, not mine. Jennifer's friends were going to acting school, and she was like, I feel like if Steph went to an acting school for two years, she would cut out two years of bumping her head up against walls.

[Ben Falcone]

Sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And stuff like that. Which was great advice. So one of her friends put in a good word for me. I went to the Neighborhood Playhouse for two years. It was amazing. Just amazing. Oh, my God, it was so technical, but also emotional. It was a Meisner training, which is sort of improv based. Not like the Groundlings, but just enough where. When I saw Groundlings show, I was like, I feel like I kind of almost understand what's happening here before knowing the rules. But anyway, so that's two years. I had a wonderful time. It was great. And then I, like, did a. It's called TheaterWorks USA. And you can get your Equity card if you tour in a van with six other human beings and go to elementary schools and build a set and do a show, tear down the set, load the van, go to another city. And I did that for three months all year long.

[Ben Falcone]

And you have not written that TV show yet.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It's. I've got. I saved my little diary.

[Ben Falcone]

I Mean, come on.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I mean, come on.

[Ben Falcone]

If you were in a fricking van with five other actors.

[Stephanie Courtney]

All right, Will you produce it?

[Ben Falcone]

Sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You heard it. No, there was a woman there. I just won't even say her name. But this is the character that I would play. But unless I can get Melissa to play it or either of you guys. There was a woman, and she was. All of us were like 24 and whatever, and we're all getting our card. And this woman was in her 50s, and she. We all had one suitcase. Like, you have a suitcase this size and it's going to have all your clothes for three months. So, like, just learn to pack. Right? So she had. We all had like our little whatever. And then she had like an old timey square suitcase. And we roomed together because the everyone else was a guy. And so she opened her suitcase. She was a character, just a character. And just lots of emotions, highs and lows. You know, yelling, laughing, crying, screaming, that kind of thing.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, my God, I love her already.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Then she opens the suitcase and it is two pairs of pants, pair of bloomers, bottles, booze, and decorations for the van. Oh, decorations for the van. Decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

[Ben Falcone]

What? What are you talking about? Wait, I'm talking about very little clothes. And she's got decorations for the hand.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Three changes of clothes. And she had a lot of. I don't. Don't forget.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, I don't blame her for the booze.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Understand?

[Melissa McCarthy]

The booze.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That's a good real estate.

[Ben Falcone]

You're stuck in a van with all these people. You need a little booze.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, there's like little pumpkin stickers, turkeys.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Like cardboard things that you stick onto, you know, that you could tape onto the van. So we had jack O lanterns, which gave way to turkeys, which gave way to garland and jingle bells and Help the mood.

[Steve]

Did it help the mood in the van?

[Ben Falcone]

I mean, come on, that's got to help my. I like that van.

[Stephanie Courtney]

No, let me tell you, I think what she didn't realize because she was of a different generation is like, as soon as we got in the van, we're all like, we'll see you in Tulsa. And, like, put on our earphones and just listen to our CDs in our CDK. So I was listening to a lot of. Shoot, I should have already so much Michael Bolton. No, it was. The Dave Matthews Band was a brand new band. And I was just like, oh, these guys have it going on. And then the Best of Aretha Franklin.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, well, yeah, well.

[Stephanie Courtney]

So anyway, I did that for three months. And then a lot of plays that my friends and I would just pay for. A lot of catering, a lot of babysitting, a lot of. Of, you know, whatever. And then my friend Joanne from acting school was like, I dare you to do stand up. I'm. I've been doing it. And I had seen her a couple of times. I'm like, oh, good luck to you. Like, I can't do that, you know? And she's like, just tell a funny story at a party and like, just pick like six minutes of a funny story. So I had this little jingle bell earring, probably from the van, I betcha. And so I was like, well, I don't know how to do segues. So I had this little jingle bell earring, and I'd be like, hello. You know, anyway, here's my joke. And then bing, bing. I'm gonna. Every time I change subjects so that we don't get whiplash. And so I did that, and it was really, really fun. And then my sister went with a friend, and his wife is a manager, and she helped me get to a room. And I remember one night she called me and she was like, I wasn't doing it a long time. But then she was like, what are you doing Thursday night? And I was like, oh, I'm, you know, catering. Sorry. And she's like, no, don't cater. I was like, you mean cancel?

[Ben Falcone]

I can't Cancel. I need $50 right now.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I need it right now for sure. But she's like, don't do. You just do your set. And so I went there and there was Bob Odenkirk in the audience. And Bob's wife Naomi was just starting her management company. She had worked in casting for a very long time. And then she was like, I want to start a management company. Will you be my first client?

[Ben Falcone]

Wow.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And I was like, oh, yeah. And she's like, you're going to have to move to la. I'm like, okay. And then as soon as I moved there, like, seriously, my sister and I, all we want to do is, like, watch PBS with a cup of tea or whatever. But she's like, you're either watching or doing comedy every night. So I saw Groundling show and that. I saw Mindy Sterling Charles Rocket Rest in Peace. Okay, and who else was in it? Holly Mandel and Mike McDonald. And it was so exciting. Mike McDonald sauntered in, you know, late in the first act, and they're like, sorry, Mike had to shoot, you know, some show. He was on. Everyone applauds and he's like, oh, sorry. You're like, oh, my God, what a life. What a dream life. And I fell in love with it and I. You know how it goes. You see the show, you sign up the next day, and there you go.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And then that's the rest of your life.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And that's the rest of your life.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And that's your family. Yeah. It's absolutely crazy.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah. For sure. I've said this before, definitely my grad school, my. I don't. I have some friends from, you know, college and. But, you know, my wife, all my. Most of my friends, my adult friends are Groundlings or through the Groundlings in some way or another.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Absolutely. And it's. You just. You all learn to speak the same language. It's the same. Yeah, it's. And going through it together, you know, well, it's.

[Ben Falcone]

It's a really. What people don't know about the Groundlings, it's a really very harsh conservatory. So you are both surrounded by the sweetest, you know, collaborators in the world. But it's also like, at any point, you could get kicked out and be nicely told to. To never come back. And it's just this weird thing where. And, you know, some of the people that have been asked to leave are some of the most successful, absolute people in the universe. So you, as you age, you learn that. But it is. It's an interesting thing where I never thought I'd do something that hard.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah. And it's deceptive at first. You just love laughing with your friends and, you know, like, our experience was performance, but most of our experience was writing with each other and, you know, going to whatever the 99 cent store and trying to buy a costume at the cheapest price point.

[Ben Falcone]

Can I tell one story about a writing meeting that I had with you, Stephanie Courtney?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Did I have to excuse myself maybe.

[Ben Falcone]

Let's just see and then you can see. You can. You can see later. We're going to see if you want to edit this out. Okay. Okay. So, Stephanie. And we will. I will play this for you. And then so. So you. You read. If you're hearing this, this means that Stephanie Courtney, about a week from now, said yes.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I've literally just hit the button.

[Ben Falcone]

Okay.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Exactly where this.

[Ben Falcone]

Because Stephanie remembers. She knows. So Stephanie and I. I don't know that we ever got a sketch in the show.

[Stephanie Courtney]

No. What a shame, because this one, I thought this one had legs.

[Ben Falcone]

So there. This happens a lot. We talked about this when we had Jim Rash and that facts on the show sometimes there you find hysterical. You want to write sketches with them, and for some reason you write a couple and they just don't hit the mark or whatever. So Stephanie and I were trying again, and we're like, you know, maybe it's the. The place, you know, we were at each other's apartments or whatever, and we're like, you know what? Let's. We're going to go up to Beechwood Cafe. We're going to. Up at the top of Beechwood Canyon there in Hollywood. And this is 20 plus years ago. And so we start to write a sketch. And I will never forget that you ordered a tuna melt. And I ordered whatever I ordered, and I thought probably something smart. I was like, tuna melt here. Okay? And we're writing and we start writing. We're like half the way through the sketch, and all of a sudden I just see a trickle of sweat on her forehead. And I was like, steph, are you doing okay? Would you excuse me? Would you excuse me for a moment? In a very deep voice? Yeah. Would you please excuse me for a moment? I was like, sure, no problem. And I was like, huh. She's. I guess it got hot in here, and she was gone for a long, long, long time. Like, now it's like, this is, you know, I. It's we before cell phones and whatnot. But it was like a good 10, 15 minutes. She comes back and she. If you could imagine, like, a little moister than Albert Brooks in broadcast news. She was just coated in sweat. She came back, her hair was practically slicked back, and she's like, I'm sorry, where were we? Let's do this. We. I've got this. And I finally. I said, stephanie, do you want to go home?

[Steve]

Yes, I do.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes, I really do. The sketch was. I remember it. I. It was me. And in real life, I had bought a pair of seersucker bloomer shorts, okay, from not anthropology, the other one. Urban Outfitters, Okay? Like, I. I aged out of that store a very long time before I even bought those bloomer shorts.

[Ben Falcone]

Yep.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And I remember we're gonna do. I'm a woman returning this. This horrible garment. And then you're the guy who's like, let me see your fucking id. Like, you work there. And you're like, you have aged out of this store. Like, you are not.

[Ben Falcone]

You've aged out of the store.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I'll give you the money back. I'll give you the money back, but you cannot come back into this store. And then we wrote A musical about it. Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Did you finish the tuna melt when you came back?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, I still haven't. Okay.

[Ben Falcone]

Okay, good, good.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Just.

[Ben Falcone]

It's still there.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It's. I mean, to remember.

[Ben Falcone]

I. I just never.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You felt bad.

[Ben Falcone]

I felt so bad. I was like, I. And I. Because, you know, you're at that a. You know, I. I would have been, you know, late 20s even.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, my God.

[Ben Falcone]

And like, you know, it's just. We're just so young and, like. I'm like, oh, my gosh. Stephanie's so nice. Did I do something wrong? And then I'm like, no, you didn't do anything wrong. She ate a polluted tuna melt. And immediate.

[Stephanie Courtney]

So, you know, what a fool.

[Ben Falcone]

For those of you who've had food poisoning, it usually doesn't hit like that quick.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That was pretty awful.

[Ben Falcone]

It was really quick.

[Stephanie Courtney]

What could go wrong with mayonnaise and heat and cheese and tuna.

[Ben Falcone]

More tuna. I. I have to be honest. I don't believe I've had a tuna melt since.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You know, maybe that was my. Maybe that is my grand purpose on this earth, you know, you're my guardian. Tuna melting, Joe, for everybody. To all the people listening.

[Ben Falcone]

I. I still. Sometimes I still think of you saying, would you excuse me for a moment?

[Stephanie Courtney]

And that part, like, where another part of my brain is like, great job. Great job. You held it together.

[Ben Falcone]

Great job.

[Stephanie Courtney]

He bought it. He is excusing you. You're almost there.

[Melissa McCarthy]

By the way, that's a very. You handled it classy. Both you guys were very classy.

[Stephanie Courtney]

We were kind to each other. But then he sent me things like, amazing. Sorry about your bottom gravy.

[Ben Falcone]

Well, I can only be mature for so long.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Right? Right.

[Ben Falcone]

Until I'm like, sorry, you got the bottom gravy.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, but can we talk about what you would do backstage? He would. I feel terrible about this. Ben had a sketch where he had to be in his tiny whities, and so he would be backstage before it went on, and me and Michael Naughton. You, Michael Naughton. But what Ben would do is he's. He'd wait for you to sit, and then he'd, like, put his foot up on the armchair and be like, hey, if you have any questions about comedy, I've got a minute or two. You know, I don't know if you know the three. My three top rules. There's a lot of rules, but there's three top. And he'd give you a whole speech?

[Ben Falcone]

Yep. I'd give people advice on what they were Doing wrong with their sketches or what I was doing. What I was doing right. With my sketches as. And of course, you're backstage. Like, I would be on a chair, and then I would start to sort of flat stretch.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes.

[Ben Falcone]

Like, and it's just like, what was I doing? And then, you know, everybody, you know, not. And might start, like, you know, bending and prancing around. And it was. But it was like I was. I would have come off the stage and I would just be a very serious acting coach. But in my tidy white business.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Tiny whiteies.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Why don't you make eye contact with.

[Ben Falcone]

I felt so centered. I was so centered out there. Did everyone notice how centered I was? Yeah, it was a lot of that strong bed. It was.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I was evergreen.

[Ben Falcone]

That was the worst.

[Steve]

Never miss a mark.

[Ben Falcone]

Now, what people might not know about Stephanie Courtney, and I mean this actually as a tremendous, tremendous compliment, is that she, I believe, might be the weirdest performer that I've ever directed at the Groundlings. And I mean, that is such. Like. I mean, I'll take it. Like, I never, ever knew what your sketch was going to be about before you went up there. I never knew where you're gonna be coming from. And I have this theory because you have made a mark on, literally, popular culture as Flo, the progressive woman. You're so funny and so wonderful, and you have been doing it for a while, and now you've got a funny, wonderful cast around you. And it's, like, so amazing. But I think that part of the same thing that I saw when I was like, I never know what she's going to do or what she's going to say is that even though Flo is so indelible and, like, straightforward, there's also, like, a eccentricity that we don't know as an audience what you might say next.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That is very interesting because I do wonder. I'm like, why. Why has this lasted? You know, And I did the writers. That's lasted because the writers, they're so funny. But. But, yeah, that. That anytime I could get a clue as to why, you know, someone can see it. That's really. I always thought it was. She's aiming for perfection. Falls real short, but she's happy with the perfection that she could get, you know, I. Sure, yeah. Interesting.

[Ben Falcone]

That's an. Actually a very healthy worldview for Flo. Right.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Like, she's. She's got her standards that are impossibly high, but not for other things that other people. I don't know. I'm still working it Out.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I think what Ben says, because you were so good, and frankly, why it all started working for me immediately, was because you would get a last, beautiful blow. Just a nice little tagline on the.

[Ben Falcone]

Way out, which you could do in your sleep because you've been at Groundlings and you're just funny anyway.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And it was such a. You. You couldn't ever expect what it was. And it's almost like as a watcher, you'd be on your. The edge of your seat going, how is this going to end? And what is Flo's perception of what's been going on? And to me, you being able to always sum up something in a distant perspective that no one wants to.

[Stephanie Courtney]

How interesting this is. Thanks, guys. This is, like, better than.

[Ben Falcone]

By the way, there is now a helicopter literally circling, just hovering over. But I'm leaving these windows open.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Thanks.

[Ben Falcone]

Because Steve coughed 30 minutes ago, and I just can't.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Well, you're safety first is what I say.

[Ben Falcone]

He's gone.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah. Okay, we can continue.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, sorry. A dirty tissue just got dropped from that planner. Oh, no, it's on your lap.

[Ben Falcone]

Hold on.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I have a dirty tissue on my lips.

[Ben Falcone]

Well, so you've been doing the. Those commercials.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Are you ready? 17 years.

[Steve]

Are you serious?

[Stephanie Courtney]

I am completely serious. It started. I shot the first one in 2007. Isn't that insane?

[Ben Falcone]

How long is Cashman doing it?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Cashman is not that far behind me. I think he's about 14 years. Wow. I know. It's crazy. And thank God. I just. Look, I love all of them.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Who plays Jamie? Who plays Jamie?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Who. Yes, Jim Cashman plays Jamie. We were good friends before he got this. I think maybe, like, all my years of being, like, get Groundlings, you know, or at least get improv people like these. And he was. I think they. They did it. And thank God, because I. I consider my. I just share the job with him at this point. It's like, thank God. I do.

[Ben Falcone]

He's awesome. He's an incredibly funny individual.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Natalie and Paul and Jerry.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah, of course.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Work together, too.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It's like, oh, my God, He's. He's. And he's such a talented writer. Like, he just brings that to, you know, to everything now.

[Ben Falcone]

What's. So you've been doing that since 2007? Yeah, we're in 2025. Is it still fun?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes, very much. The writers have a lot more freedom, and they, you know, you just never know what you're gonna get. Our first director directed, the first three years, and that was sort of like his job was like Groundhog's Day, you know, you come back, it's the same sort of beats, you know, selling and stuff like that. And then, oh, we're gonna. God bless you. And then we're gonna find an ending here, you know, that kind of a thing. And then our second director, Brendan, who's been working the last. Whatever, third, 14 years, he never has the same day twice. You know, we're up on wires, we're outside, we're at the beach, or, you know, that kind of thing. Oh, you poor baby. No, baby.

[Ben Falcone]

See, this is what I'm talking about. This. That's why the windows are open, everybody.

[Stephanie Courtney]

But it's fun because he's aiming it at you.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Well, yeah, I'm trying to help Ben.

[Ben Falcone]

Seeing Brendan, the director was aiming something at me. I'm like, he's aiming that comedy gun at me because he's doing great.

[Stephanie Courtney]

What would Ben think about this? That's what he always asks. Yeah. So what was my. Yeah, so the first. It was like building the character was sort of the first three years. Like, how. Figuring it out. Like, what can she do? What can she say? How far can we go in this direction, that direction? And then now I feel like it's so much fun because now the writers can just have fun with the characters and the locations and the. Yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

And do whatever they want.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And do whatever they want. Which is.

[Ben Falcone]

I mean, they're so funny, and they. Anytime I see them, usually when I'm watching a sporting event.

[Stephanie Courtney]

That's true. Because you can't fast forward to sporting events.

[Ben Falcone]

Exactly. I can't fast forward that. And I don't want to.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You know, Jim and I got to throw a softball. No softball. Let's edit that out.

[Melissa McCarthy]

No, we're keeping both now.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, can I tell you, the first time I got to throw a ball at Progressive Field, it was. It was like 2009. And my now husband at the boyfriend at the time, he was just like, you gotta practice. Like, you gotta throw a ball to someone somewhere, you know? And I was like, I got it. And I was backstage with Nap Facts, and I'm like, hey, should we toss an orange? And that'll prepare me. Oh, my God. It did not. It did not. I got there the mound, and I taught. I threw it, like, real hard to the right into the dugout. I was looking at the catcher, and I threw it to the dugout. In the dugout, my arm just went. And then the whole arena, like. Like, that's all I heard.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, my God.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Professional athletes Throw it in the dugout. There's. There's a video of Marshawn lynch, like, literally chucking it out of the stadium.

[Ben Falcone]

He's really funny.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It's pressure. Now, I'm sorry.

[Ben Falcone]

And I. Let me just say to our dear listeners, we're almost there. We're almost finished. I do this every episode.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, but people might worry.

[Ben Falcone]

And he says they might enjoy it. And I say, dear listeners, just even if you're liking it, you still want to. You want to get on with your day, get home, have your brandy toddy and be done with this.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Is that our audience?

[Ben Falcone]

I think so.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Okay.

[Stephanie Courtney]

The tiniest glass.

[Ben Falcone]

A teeny, tiny, mysterious glass.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Flower shade beveled.

[Ben Falcone]

And then you want to look out at the sunset for three straight hours and then go to bed with your eyes open, not at the sun.

[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]

Hi, I'm Emily Deschanel.

[Stephanie Courtney]

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.

[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]

I play Dr. Temperance Bradnon, and I.

[Ben Falcone]

Met Carla 16 years ago on set.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I played Daisy Wick.

[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]

Tune in every Wednesday to hear all.

[Ben Falcone]

Our behind the scenes stories, conversations with.

[Emily Deschanel]

Cast and crew, and our favorite moments.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Boneheads from Lemonada Media is out wherever you get your podcast podcasts.

[Emily Deschanel]

Hey, I'm Reshma Sajani, founder of Girls who Code and Moms First. I consider myself a pretty successful adult woman. So why is it that in midlife, as I'm about to turn 50, I feel so stuck? Join me as I try to find the answer on my so called Midlife From Lemonada Media, I talk to experts and extraordinary guests about divorce, exercise, menopause, sex, drugs and more to understand what we're going through and how to make the most of it. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ben Falcone]

The New York Times did an article on you and it was very. It's a great article. Check it out, listeners, dear listeners. And so I read it again because I loved it the first time. And I read it again and a couple of things stood out for me. One, that the journalist wasn't supposed to buy caviar. And you were like, well, they can't tell me what to do, so I'm going to get caviar and I'll pay for it.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Not the gray lady. She can't tell me what to eat.

[Ben Falcone]

They can't tell me what to do. So. Which I think says a lot about you. Because you're like, well, let's just do that. Because that sounds like fun. Because you've always been fun and nice, always so kind. Stephanie truly is one of the nicest people on the planet. They also mentioned, and this was because I do not remember it from the first time I read it, that you had a car that would not go in reverse. And I remember the car.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, me too.

[Ben Falcone]

We all knew the car. Because that car you had for. I mean, a long time.

[Stephanie Courtney]

It was way too long. It was terrible.

[Ben Falcone]

It would not go in reverse.

[Stephanie Courtney]

No. Because the transmission kept breaking down. And a transmission repair. And I'm talking back 2002, 2003.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

2500 bucks.

[Ben Falcone]

And you're like, I don't have that.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I spent 5,000 on the car.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah. You're like, what am I gonna do? And it's not gonna work.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Kind of lived on a little bit of a hill, didn't you?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, yes, I did.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah, I remember this.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, it's terrible. And my parents at the time, they were like, no. Like, certainly not. We are. We need to retire, and you're in your 30s now, and you need to solve your own problems, and you have to. And I was like, I will. And by solving it means I never. It. I didn't drive it in reverse. I would just. I would just park at a place where it had a driveway in front of it so I could coast out. And then I would do that until it wasn't just not going reverse. Until it made a sound like. Like that while I was driving. And if I. If I had people staring at me from the street, I'm like, oh, I need to take it in. I need to take it in. It was terrifying. So then I would go and I would. Pilot season. We all know pilot season. You're not parking on the street. You need to have a special badge and a thing and your name, and you have to share your id and you have to go into the parking garage. And so I would go in the parking garage, and I would park my car and be like. And then I'd go and I'd audition, and I come back, and I'd roll down the window and be like, oh. Oh, no. Are you kidding me?

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, no.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And then I'd wait for, like, a parking attendant. Yeah. I can't believe this. Like, maybe I have an idea. Maybe if I put it in neutral. Oh, yeah, you gotta have that checked out. Yeah, I will. Oh, I will. But if you push it, I'm like, yay. Yeah, you did it. Bye. And then I'd leave and audition another place, do the same tired performance. And then I'd go home. I'd go home.

[Ben Falcone]

Should have gotten Emmys for your parking lady.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Man. I'm in. I'd have a. I'd have a trunk.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I just like, every day there's a little play.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

For you just to.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And just. And you. I'm so tired because I'm like, I did. But I did. I did audition. I did act.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And then I go.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Now I have to, like, acting's in the parking lot.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, man. I remember too, that it would be like, you know, there would be that thing of like, oh, is Stephanie gonna come and be like, well, I think so.

[Stephanie Courtney]

But, you know, her car also. All right. If you want an idea of what the car was, if you look at Bridesmaids, the movie Bridesmaids, because Annie was in a very similar situation. Annie co wrote Bridesmaids, played the pregnant lady on the plane, and she had this horrific car. She named it Stella. And then they used it in the movie. And my car looked like it and I think was maybe the same make. I'm not sure. But every time I see Bridesmaids and I see that car, I still have a visceral like, oh, God, I'm not safe. I'm not safe.

[Ben Falcone]

What color was your car again? Maroon. Burgundy. Maroon.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, my God, a burgundy.

[Ben Falcone]

Dear listener, we're getting so close. We're almost done. We're. You are so close to that hot toddy by your. By your infinity pool.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And the five hour sunset.

[Ben Falcone]

In the five hour sunset. I want to quickly talk. This is our last topic. You are Stephanie. Courtney is obviously. She's a. She's a cultural icon. Everybody loves her. Also one of the funniest improvisers I've ever met.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Agreed.

[Stephanie Courtney]

God damn. Thanks. This is the best day of my life.

[Ben Falcone]

So Steve wanted. Steve says, first of all, he wanted me to ask you this question before he started coughing all the time.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah. Every time he coughs is when you're complimenting me. I know that.

[Ben Falcone]

Interesting. Yeah. He's your space work. So space work is in improv. When you start a scene, you have to like, babe, it helps if you're pretending to do something so you're not just standing there with your hands in your pockets. Because anything is help. More helpful than nothing, basically. And his is that yours for some reason? You're always putting lotion on your hands.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes, because I stole. And I'll tell you who I stole that from. Patricia Heaton. In. In Everybody Loves Raymond. She was, she once was interviewed and she's like, oh, you know, my character always puts lotion on her hands because I, I like it because it's like she's still vain, she's still like, whatever. And so for me, it just was a great way to show what you're feeling. But it was, it's fun. It gives you something to do. And it's like you said, anything that adds information, anything, your emotional state, what you're doing, stuff like that is just. It helps keep everything alive.

[Melissa McCarthy]

But every time you did it, it change the picture. The second I saw you do it, I'm like, I know. This woman is so specific.

[Ben Falcone]

And the way she does usually too.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Or just getting into bed.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes. So. So by doing that, she has no intention of doing anything else. Like, this is like, we're done. We're done here.

[Ben Falcone]

The day is done.

[Stephanie Courtney]

The day is done.

[Ben Falcone]

Lotions going on the hands.

[Stephanie Courtney]

And as soon as this rubbing is done, I am done. I am done. I am sleeping. So you've got as much time left to tell me about your day as I am rubbing my hands and I'm done. And then I'm done.

[Ben Falcone]

A good night.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I said, good night, sir. But yeah, I will also say doing the Joe show, which is a class, it's sort of like a long form clap and show. The pace is very, very fast. It just is. And I think that helped me too with commercials. I didn't know. Oh, interesting that I was having such a great training ground, specifically the speed of it, because we've got 30 seconds and honestly, you don't have that because you've got a. The beginning and the end and then you'll. The business line is going to take space.

[Ben Falcone]

Sure.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah. Try to keep tabs on how fast I say the business. Usually it's like, can you say it faster? You throw it away. Say faster.

[Ben Falcone]

Because they're trying to add jokes.

[Stephanie Courtney]

They're trying to add a second. One second. So if it can be a look or an action or this, that's even better. What is it? Oh, yeah. So I went to the neighborhood playhouse and this was a Sanford Meisner saying. And I love this, for any improviser out there, an ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words. Words. Boom.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, wow.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Bang.

[Ben Falcone]

She's, by the way, she just pointed at us and she's staring daggers at us. Oh, that's more points and more bangs.

[Melissa McCarthy]

What was it? Something about words.

[Ben Falcone]

A pound. Wait, I'm actually.

[Melissa McCarthy]

It's an ounce of something.

[Ben Falcone]

Can you actually repeat it. Let's see if Steve can actually repeat it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Something about words.

[Ben Falcone]

No.

[Stephanie Courtney]

What is it?

[Melissa McCarthy]

An ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Show don't tell, I guess, is another way to say.

[Ben Falcone]

Was he right, though? He was right.

[Stephanie Courtney]

He was right. But he was looking at me.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, man. He's looking at me also. I couldn't remember.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I could, but I.

[Ben Falcone]

But I liked it. An ounce of behavior is worth a pound of.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I wish somebody told me that about 25 years ago.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I'm.

[Ben Falcone]

You know, I just heard it for the first time today, so I'm gonna actually take the note.

[Melissa McCarthy]

That's great.

[Stephanie Courtney]

He's gonna sign up for basic today.

[Ben Falcone]

I'm gonna sign up.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You're gonna do it all?

[Melissa McCarthy]

You just saw all the behavior Ben's doing right now. It's ridiculous.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Getting behavior coming off him.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Don't pay attention to what he says.

[Ben Falcone]

You know, once in a while, I do have a dream.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

That I'm starting Groundlings again.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Oh, my God.

[Ben Falcone]

And it's, like, stressful. And it's like. But I was in. Can I. Yeah. And there's, like, this weird dream I have where I'm like, but I. But I. I was in the Groundlings, so. But can I just be in again? Or like. No, you. You quit, so you have to start over. And it's, like, very stressful.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yeah.

[Ben Falcone]

What does that mean? Does anybody know what that might mean?

[Stephanie Courtney]

Because we. None of us. It doesn't matter. Like, what's that thing? I think it was a Chris Rock interview where he goes, if you're not Spielberg, the rest of us are just auditioning. Even though it feels like that's not the case, especially with, like, you guys. Like. But, yeah, it does feel like. But wait a minute. Or even life, you know, I had a baby at 41. I was like, oh, well, I've got. You know, I'm so. No, it kicked my ass. Like, it was hard. Like, you were. We're beginners. So many times in this journey.

[Ben Falcone]

In this journey.

[Stephanie Courtney]

In this journey.

[Ben Falcone]

Well, Stephanie, this has been quite a journey with you today.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Oh, this has been a journey.

[Ben Falcone]

Quite a journey.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Great segue, Ben.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I noticed you're not coughing now.

[Ben Falcone]

No.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Well. Well, no. No one needs to learn anything. The costs were trying to teach them. That was my behavior.

[Ben Falcone]

Oh, God.

[Stephanie Courtney]

I was gonna say I'm pretty.

[Ben Falcone]

He was gonna say I'm beautiful. All right, well, thank you so much, Stephanie. You're wonderful.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You're wonderful.

[Ben Falcone]

Thank you so much. We appreciate you. Go see the Groundlings, Crazy Uncle Joe show on Wednesday nights.

[Melissa McCarthy]

And Steph's always there and I'm usually in it. I think you're one of my top five favorite improvisers.

[Ben Falcone]

And the whole show is amazing. The performers who perform usually, I mean, if it's Jordan Black. Oh, God. Ted is Michaels.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Yes. Brian Palermo has moved away.

[Ben Falcone]

He's moved.

[Stephanie Courtney]

But when he's in town, he comes and does it. He's another group.

[Ben Falcone]

And then they'll, then they'll get a, you know, some guests like it won't be me anymore because I get too.

[Stephanie Courtney]

Scared to do it.

[Ben Falcone]

I get scared to do it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

I was not fantastic.

[Stephanie Courtney]

You are fantastic. I would love to have the both of you on.

[Ben Falcone]

Well, thank you, but I'm too frightened to do it.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Too many words, not enough behaviors.

[Ben Falcone]

Yeah. I've got a pound of fear and an ounce of goodness arms at my side. All right, well, we love you, Stephanie Courtney. Thank you for being here. This was one more Hildy's Happy Hour. Thank you, Stephanie Courtney. Thank you.

[Steve]

This episode of Hildy's Happy Hour is brought to you by booking.com booking. Yeah. When visiting a new place on a vacation or a holiday, some may go to a museum or visit a local attraction or take a picture of something or someone or whatever. But my family and I, we visit bakeries. That's right. We are the most gluten tolerant family you've ever seen. We've traveled across the country for an authentic baguette or a fresh baked English muffin. And if your town has a tasty almond croissant or a Portuguese pan Cristal, we are showing up. Which is why I love booking.com so much. Whether it's Seattle or Boston or Paris, I know I'm gonna find the perfect place to stay. That is walking distance to two or preferably three pastry shops and belangeries. Whether it's a hotel or a vacation rental, booking.com has the best places to nap away the carbs and I don't know, maybe get on a treadmill. No matter why you travel, Booking.com helps you find the stay that's ridiculously right for you. You find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com booking.

[Melissa McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Kate Bowler]

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