"Aubrey Plaza"

Summary

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SmartLess: “Aubrey Plaza”

Podcast: SmartLess
Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Aubrey Plaza
Original Air Date: April 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode of SmartLess, Aubrey Plaza joins Jason, Sean, and Will for a wide-ranging and hilarious conversation. The group dives into Aubrey’s comedic roots, her breakout successes, personal challenges—including her experience with a stroke in her early 20s—and her creative processes as both a performer and producer. There’s plenty of their signature banter, touching moments of honesty, and an exclusive announcement from Aubrey about her personal life and her new animated show “Kevin.”

The tone stays witty, self-deprecating, and earnest—a true SmartLess blend.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up, Banter & the Art of Realness

• Opening Banter ([02:04]–[08:58]): The hosts riff on old NYC stories and the challenge of being “chipper” in showbiz. Sean shares the pain of reading negative online comments:

  “So much of it was so unbelievably mean spirited in this way that I was like, whoa… I kind of wanted to go like, hey, I’m a human.” —Sean Hayes [08:21]

• Aubrey’s Entrance ([09:09]–[12:53])
  Will introduces Aubrey as “about as funny as they come” and “dry as burnt toast.”
  Aubrey immediately matches the group’s energy with her signature sardonic humor:

  “Aubrey, I hate you all. I hate you.” —Aubrey Plaza [09:43]

2. Early Career, UCB, and Comedy Roots

• Comedy Origins & Upright Citizens Brigade ([13:00]–[20:47]):

  • Aubrey details coming up in NYC’s UCB scene; her sketch group was “That’s My Booze.”
  • She lists contemporaries like Aziz Ansari, Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, and others.
  • Jason recalls awkwardly meeting Aubrey on the set of Parks & Rec, not realizing she was a cast member.
  • The hosts reminisce about the energy of late-night sketch shows, the “herald” improv form, and messages for new comics.

• Signature Quote:

  “I never did even UCB in LA. Like UCB LA to me was like what? This isn’t right.” —Aubrey Plaza [20:28]

3. Breakout in Hollywood and Parks & Rec

• Week That Changed Her Life ([24:32]–[27:01]):

  • Aubrey booked “Funny People,” “Parks and Rec,” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” in a single week after a screen test in LA:

    “I went out to LA for one week and I got... Funny People, Parks and Rec, and Scott Pilgrim... in one week.” —Aubrey Plaza [25:38]

• On Character Development:
  Will asks if April Ludgate was always written that way; Aubrey recounts how the part took shape after her unique general meeting with Mike Schur and Greg Daniels.

4. Personal Revelations: Health and Transformation

• Experiencing a Stroke at 20 ([28:10]–[34:09]):
  • Aubrey shares the extraordinary story of having a stroke mid-sentence, how she became unable to speak but remained aware, and the speculation that birth control may have been the cause.
  • She reflects on the spiritual shift this brought:

    “You know what’s happening and your brain, there’s... your brain and then there’s something else going on, which is very profound to think about, because I was—whatever that other thing is—was watching my brain malfunction.” —Aubrey Plaza [31:16]

  • She also discusses her Catholic upbringing and how the event reframed her sense of purpose and spirituality.

5. Breaking News: Aubrey’s Pregnancy

• Surprise Announcement ([34:42]–[35:52]):
  • Aubrey reveals that she is pregnant with her first child:

    “There is a baby inside of me right now.” —Aubrey Plaza [34:56]

  • The hosts express joy and offer congratulations in their own enthusiastic, loving way.

6. The Actress & The Producer: Craft, Taste, and Strategy

• Craft and Confidence in Performances ([37:13]–[41:54]):
  • The group discusses Aubrey’s performances, particularly in “Emily the Criminal”, as well as her facility with subtlety and stillness on screen.

    “Every time I see you in anything, I’m always stunned by how confident you are in being still... I can’t stop watching somebody who’s so comfortable not helping me as an audience member.” —Will Arnett [37:49]

  • Aubrey reveals she draws inspiration from Janine Garofalo and that her persona flowed organically from early roles.
  • On producing:

    “If I’m not going to get, you know, offered parts that I really want, then I’ll just fucking do it myself.” —Aubrey Plaza [41:54]

7. Identity, Upbringing, and SNL Full Circle

• Childhood, Family, and SNL Page Days ([46:19]–[52:47]):
  • Growing up shy in Wilmington, Delaware, theater helped Aubrey come out of her shell.
  • Both parents hustled: her father was a stockbroker, her mother a lawyer and a cultural influence.
  • Aubrey recounts being a hungover NBC Page and intern—amusingly candid:

    “My problem was I was hungover pretty much every time. So I would have to throw up in the trash cans in the hallway, like mid…” —Aubrey Plaza [50:53]

  • Hosting SNL years later felt surreal and emotional, and she describes close ties to the backstage staff.

8. Life Now: City Living, Adaptability, and White Lotus

• Home Base, Adaptability, and Filming on Location ([52:58]–[57:15]):

  • Aubrey is now based in New York and loves city life, but says she adapts easily—even to filming months in Sicily for “White Lotus.”
  • She jokes she could even handle jail:

    “I’m, like, very adoptable... if I go someplace and I’m there for one day, I’m like, this is it. This is my life for the rest of my life.” —Aubrey Plaza [55:18]

• White Lotus Secrets ([57:15]–[59:09]):

  • Aubrey discusses the script secrecy of “White Lotus” and her tendency to focus only on her own scenes.
  • She mentions Sandra Bernhardt joining the coming season.

9. New Animated Series: “Kevin”

• "Kevin" Launch Announcement ([59:15]–[63:22]):
  • Aubrey previews her new animated Prime Video series “Kevin,” based on a true story about the shared custody of her real-life cat after a breakup.
  • The show features an all-star voice cast: Jason Schwartzman (as Kevin), John Waters, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Sedaris, and more.
  • She playfully breaks down the plot:

    “Kevin’s this kind of, like, neurotic cat. He’s got a really messed up butthole that he’s fixated on, constantly talking about his... his weird butthole and therapy…” —Aubrey Plaza [61:13]

  • Jason Schwartzman also wrote the theme song.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fame and Identity:

  “We almost got married. We drove across the country together, eating a bag of edible edibles... [wanted to] get married then get divorced so we could call each other our ex-wife and ex-husband... but then I think it was a combination of being too high and paranoid... we bailed.” —Aubrey Plaza (about Michael Cera) [27:01]

• On Processing Trauma:

  “I did really stop, at least for some time... sweating the small stuff a little bit. The trauma of something like that happening so out of nowhere changes the way your brain is.” —Aubrey Plaza [34:09]

• On Producing:

  “I want to be in movies that people remember, watch more than once. That don’t just float away into the ethereum.” —Aubrey Plaza [41:02]

• On Comedy Heroines:

  “The Funny People role was really based on… Janine Garofalo. I kind of knew that. I studied her and her stand up.” —Aubrey Plaza [39:54]

• On Adaptability:

  “I think I would be okay, like, in jail. Like, I’d be like, this is it. You just make it your home.” —Aubrey Plaza [55:18]

• On Being a New Yorker:

  “I’m back in New York, baby.” —Aubrey Plaza [54:08]

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Important Timestamps

• [09:09] — Aubrey’s inaugural banter and greeting
• [16:08] — Early Parks & Rec days, UCB, and how she was cast
• [25:35] — Aubrey’s “big break” week
• [28:35] — Aubrey discusses her stroke at age 20
• [34:42] — Aubrey reveals her pregnancy
• [37:13] — Discussion on “Emily the Criminal” and acting style
• [41:54] — On becoming a producer
• [52:47] — Stories about being a page/intern at SNL
• [57:15] — White Lotus behind-the-scenes
• [59:15] — "Kevin" show announcement details
• [61:10] — The cast and creative team behind “Kevin”

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Tone & Chemistry

• Language: Playful, irreverent, deeply personal, droll
• Memorable Dynamics:
  • Will gently prodding about her relationships and craft
  • Sean’s cheerleader energy and heartfelt praise
  • Jason’s signature earnest curiosity, mixed with dry wit
  • Aubrey’s deadpan, deflecting but candid style—always quick with a dark joke

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In Summary

Fans of SmartLess will find this episode quintessential: hilarious, surprising, and unexpectedly moving. Aubrey Plaza balances vulnerability and razor-sharp humor, revealing both the unpredictability of her career and personal journey, and the artistry behind her expanding repertoire. From surviving a stroke to launching a new show and a family, Aubrey celebrates adaptability, creative control, and the value of not taking yourself—or life—too seriously.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in comedy, acting, or just looking for a hearty mix of wisdom and wit.

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Listen to “Kevin” on Prime Video, and keep an eye out for Aubrey Plaza’s ever-evolving career—on and off the stage.

Transcript

[Doug]

Neighbor Gabo and Doug. There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Doug]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways.

[Doug]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty. Avoiding your unfinished home project because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes. So you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app download today.

[Jason Bateman]

This episode of Smartless is brought to you in part by Skinnypop. Popcorn. You know when you want a snack that tastes great, but you don't want it to spiral into like a full life decision type thing, There is always that crossroads. You want salty. You want satisfying. You also want to avoid the feeling of needing to explain yourself afterward. That is where Skinny Pop quietly wins. Start with original Skinny Pop. It's made with just three simple ingredients, which feels refreshing in a world where labels require a translator. Sweet and Salty Kettle gives you that perfect balance when you cannot commit to just one direction. And butter is built for movie nights, game nights, or nights when productivity is officially canceled. No matter which bag you open, Skinny Pop is light, airy, and endlessly delicious. It feels uncomplicated. It tastes indulgent. That is the balance. So I've talked a lot about grabbing Skinny Pop for movie night. You know what I do? Sometimes I replace potato chips with Skinny Pop popcorn. I'll make myself a peanut butter sandwich or whatever, a tuna fish sandwich. And I'll put a side of Skinny

[Will Arnett]

Pop right on there.

[Jason Bateman]

Deliciously popped, perfectly salted Skinny Pop. Popular for a reason.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, Shawnee. I was just thinking. I'm just going. I'm getting really reminiscent of the old days. I was.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, tell me about it.

[Sean Hayes]

I was just thinking about back in the day, you used to be able to get 10 bucks out of manufacturer, Hanover ATM. So I was so broke and I'd take 10 bucks out and then I could buy a pack of smokes and I go to hot and crusty And I could get a coffee and a Danish, and for 25 cents, I could buy the New York Post. And then I'd go to the 87th street entrance to the 86th street station on the Upper west side. And I'd wait for the subway doors to open, and then at the last second, I'd rather run. And I'd hop the turnstile before they had the big thing. It was just a little turnstile. And I'd hop it so that I'd time it so I'd run in and beat the fair to get on the subway in case there was a. A transit cop there. You know what I mean? And then I could.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Welcome to Smart list.

[Sean Hayes]

Welcome to Smart, Smart. Smart. Less. Smart. I'm gonna keep the gum very low. I'm just. I've turned it down to one.

[Will Arnett]

Oh.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh.

[Jason Bateman]

Is this. Is this. Is this a suppressant gum? Type of nicotinel gum?

[Sean Hayes]

I. I just have. I have a lot going on.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I get it.

[Will Arnett]

And he needs it today, Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Go easy.

[Sean Hayes]

You know what I mean?

[Will Arnett]

Don't they have, like. They've got sprays now? Can't you just, like, spray your. Spray your mouth?

[Sean Hayes]

Do they really?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, they've got, like, a nicotine spray.

[Jason Bateman]

What do you mean? You just do a spray and it stays.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, like Banaka. Remember Banaka? Where Banaka goes?

[Jason Bateman]

Banaka's still happening, I think.

[Will Arnett]

Is it really?

[Jason Bateman]

You know what makes your breath worse? Oh, I can't say. Can we say the name? Those tabs, those. Those mouthwash tabs.

[Will Arnett]

No, no, no. Don't. They do nothing?

[Sean Hayes]

You mean. You mean the little sheets?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Little tongue rush. They make my breath worse.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Really? Who said?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, You? Your mom?

[Will Arnett]

No, because I use those constantly. The little tongue.

[Jason Bateman]

No, I know. No, but for me, I don't know what they do. They make my breath worse.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, obviously, we know that your breath is much more about your gut. But you know the thing that JB it's about?

[Will Arnett]

It might be all the ground beef you have for breakfast.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, it could be. Yeah. You have spaghetti bolognese and a donut on the same plate. You're kind of headed to a road down the road of disaster. But here's the thing I know about JB that he hates more than just just bad breath. He hates a heavy breath.

[Will Arnett]

Yes, this is true. Right, J.B. something hot. Warm. And. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

You know what he said to me?

[Will Arnett]

Like a blanket.

[Sean Hayes]

We were on the golf course. We were somewhere, and we were in, like, a golf cart together. And he Goes. He turns me with the look of utter. Just heavy lids. Disgust on his face. And he goes. He goes, I can smell your laundry detergent.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, but that smells good.

[Sean Hayes]

It does, but it was a funny thing to say.

[Will Arnett]

I must have been feeling a little extra grouchy that day.

[Sean Hayes]

I know.

[Will Arnett]

Why? Am I naturally grouchy? What's wrong with me?

[Sean Hayes]

You're not.

[Will Arnett]

I don't think I'm. I'm not naturally grouchy. I'm just not unnecessarily chipper.

[Jason Bateman]

Giddy. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. I mean, do you guys, like.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, sometimes you are.

[Will Arnett]

They're just like. And you can tell they're. They're not really in that good of a mood. That's almost like keeping you at arms length by how happy they are. Hey. Hey. How's it going? Go. Good to see you. It's like, no, I want to bring you in with. I'm not full of shit over here.

[Jason Bateman]

That's so funny.

[Will Arnett]

How are you one of the.

[Jason Bateman]

One of the. One of the many, many presidents of NBC when Will and Grace is on the air. Have you guys heard of that show?

[Will Arnett]

Yes, yes, yes. Wait, Will. That's one I said that I want to try to see one of these days.

[Sean Hayes]

Still not ringing a bell. I'm so sorry. It's still nothing.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, so one of the presidents came in, you know, one day I was like, something wrong with Sean to somebody. And they're like, no, he's fine. Like, what. What's wrong? Well, it just wasn't. Just wasn't chipper. And so it's like, you know, to your point, it's like, you can't. Some days you just don't want to. You just want to, like, just talk like a person.

[Will Arnett]

Do you not want real today?

[Jason Bateman]

I know.

[Sean Hayes]

And that's the thing. Yeah. I think that for the most part, we're pretty real with each other. We're pretty honest about where we're at.

[Will Arnett]

But I won't. But. But I guess the difference is that you. You. You don't. You hope people sort of like, they won't drag their stuff into your. Your. Your meeting, your. Your time together. Like, I'm. I'm accountable for my own. My own stuff. I'll put it in a little. In a little drawer. I'm not gonna drag my bad people around.

[Sean Hayes]

But. But sometimes we. Sometimes we record a lot. We. We make one of these a week.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And sometimes life happens and you end up getting on and we start recording and you're in. You are where you are. And there's no. I. I had. God, I had a thing that came up on you. Have you ever gone on that thing on threads? It's part of. It's kind of like, it's almost like. You know what it is, right? It's Instagram, it's Twitter, basically, in a way.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Meta and something. Somebody put my name in and they were talking about the show and they were like, ah, I hate hearing him tell his story. I didn't even. I was not looking for it, like.

[Jason Bateman]

And I was like, thanks.

[Sean Hayes]

Meta. I was like, thanks. No, I didn't even. And it came up. I wanted to be like, thanks a lot. And then it was just like a litany of like, yeah, I don't really like that guy. You know what he looks.

[Will Arnett]

They're talking about you.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And they're like. And I hate hearing his stories. I don't even listen. I hate that guy. You couldn't stop reading and by the way, you can't. How can you. And literally came up in my thing and so much of it was so unbelievably mean spirited in this way that I was like, whoa, I don't know

[Jason Bateman]

you, but we talk about this, it

[Sean Hayes]

seems like a real douchebag. I'm like, wait a second, what did I do? Yeah, but that's not about you. That's about you.

[Will Arnett]

Didn't you want to chime in, Willy?

[Sean Hayes]

I did this. This gal said something like, he seems like, like what did he say? He looks like? He looks like. He looks like a perpetual ex husband or ex husband or something like that. Hey, I'm doing my best over here. Thanks a lot.

[Will Arnett]

It looks like an ax, you know what I mean?

[Sean Hayes]

And it was so, like, it was so weird. And then the mean spirited comments after were so rude. I was like, I kind of wanted to go like, hey, I'm a human. I. I can hear this.

[Will Arnett]

If you want to just like drop your phone number and say, you know what? Just call me.

[Sean Hayes]

Just call me.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And let's talk this through.

[Sean Hayes]

Let's. What did I do? It would be kind of fun.

[Jason Bateman]

Why don't we bring somebody on that hates us once a week.

[Sean Hayes]

Listen, you'd have no. Evidently I have no. There's no shortage of people who would love to chime in about it. Books itself, a waiting list, by the way, what they think I am, which is amazing.

[Will Arnett]

Anyway, I say you two are two beams of sunshine. And you know what a third beam of sunshine is? Uh oh, guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Uh oh.

[Will Arnett]

Today we've got a Guest, who's a real kick. Okay. This gal pal of ours is about as funny as they come. She's as dry as burnt toast. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She's been nominated for heaps of awards. She's won plenty of them as well. She's a producer and an actor. Most important, she's one of our friends. You guys, please welcome Ms. Aubrey Plaza. Get it out here.

[Sean Hayes]

Aubrey Plaza.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Aubrey, I hate you all. I hate you.

[Will Arnett]

Will, do you remember when she was your girlfriend and she was also my daughter at the same time?

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

What?

[Jason Bateman]

And what?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I thought you were both playing pedophiles in that

[Sean Hayes]

you're the one who's been commenting online about me.

[Will Arnett]

We did a. We did a digital short for. What was the product?

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that. That I saw. Orbits. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

No. Or no. Orbit Gum or Bit travel site.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, yeah. Orbit Gum. Yes. Thank you.

[Aubrey Plaza]

That was a commercial.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it was. Yeah. It was like. Aubrey. Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't.

[Will Arnett]

You were not compensated fairly.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I, I honestly, the only thing I remembered was I thought you were both pedophiles and one of you was my dad.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, I was. I was the dad in the pedophile glasses. And then Will showed up. Will showed up as the. As the, the too old to be dating my daughter guy.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, right, we were dating.

[Jason Bateman]

It was really funny.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And I was in, like, a slight.

[Will Arnett]

And then what. What role did the gum play? The go. The gum. The gum. I put in a stick of gum and then all of a sudden you seem like a good choice for my daughter.

[Jason Bateman]

Right.

[Will Arnett]

Wasn't that kind of the bit. I don't.

[Sean Hayes]

I don't remember. I don't remember.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Is that on television?

[Sean Hayes]

I don't remember the script.

[Will Arnett]

It was on. It was on the computer.

[Sean Hayes]

It was on the computer.

[Will Arnett]

You were fantastic, Aubrey.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Why did that happen? I don't remember anything.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, I remember you came to us with the idea. You were like, how can we get gum going again? I think is.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, yeah, that sounds like me.

[Will Arnett]

Gum's memory.

[Sean Hayes]

You've always been a big advocate for gum.

[Will Arnett]

I've got a friend that doesn't chew gum because he doesn't understand why you chew something and not swall follow it. Like, he just literally doesn't understand the concept of it. Is that kind of like, if you think about it kind of makes sense. I feel that way about dancing. I don't understand why you just kind of just move your body in the rhythm of the sound you're hearing. It's like, why are we doing.

[Sean Hayes]

That's a really tough.

[Will Arnett]

No, I understand. I'm not proud of it. It just feels good somehow. It didn't just go.

[Jason Bateman]

The idea feels good when you connect. It feels good when you connect a part of your body at the same time. The music is doing it.

[Sean Hayes]

Aubrey Plaza is on our show. Guys, what is going on? This is insane. Aubrey, I want to get. I want to get down. What makes you tick, Obviously, I know that, so I'm not going to get into that. I know it makes you tick. It's gum.

[Jason Bateman]

Nope, it's gum.

[Sean Hayes]

It's been a minute. I'm trying to think. I saw you last summer.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I feel like I saw you over the summer. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I saw you.

[Will Arnett]

Where were we?

[Sean Hayes]

We were out east, as we say.

[Will Arnett]

Okay.

[Aubrey Plaza]

On Long island, which I'm always corrected because I always. I always say up.

[Will Arnett]

Up. East.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I'm going upstate. Or up. Whatever.

[Sean Hayes]

You know who does that? You know who does that, too? Who does that incessantly is polar.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

She says up. She says up for everything.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Never up.

[Will Arnett]

I think you need to be two hours north of Manhattan to be upstate, right?

[Sean Hayes]

I don't know.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I just don't know. The I'm learning about the Long Island. It goes the other way.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, it does go east, but it does go kind of north, too. It is kind of angled, so you're not.

[Will Arnett]

Aubrey Plaza's on the show today, everybody.

[Jason Bateman]

Hey, welcome. Aubry.

[Will Arnett]

Well, Sean, do you want to start with a little. A little.

[Jason Bateman]

Sure. I, I she knows that you know I adore you I run into at the gym.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Sean, I was at your opening. I forgot to tell. I forgot to text you.

[Will Arnett]

Wait a second.

[Sean Hayes]

You were.

[Will Arnett]

We were.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God. Jason wants to know about this. Okay. Walk us.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was there.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, you were the opening when the lights went out?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yes, I was.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

So we weren't at the opening. Where? When were we there? Sean, you were the deck.

[Jason Bateman]

The day after.

[Will Arnett]

The day after.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Wait, you handled that great, by the way. You were awesome.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, thanks.

[Sean Hayes]

Thank you. Wait, so Aubrey, you went to. Aubrey, you went to the show. You went to the show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And you enjoyed it. Sean was great. And then you did not go back and say hi to him. Oh, here we go.

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, I bolted the minute it was over.

[Sean Hayes]

Jason, thoughts?

[Will Arnett]

Okay, I understand.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Nobody wants to talk after.

[Will Arnett]

No, they don't. Well. Or. Well, Sean does, and then he wants to take a picture in the elevator.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, no. Yeah, not me.

[Sean Hayes]

JB go.

[Will Arnett]

The photo book you could make in the elevator.

[Aubrey Plaza]

What's people are standing.

[Jason Bateman]

Scotty takes all those photos.

[Will Arnett]

I know he does. Bless him. Now, Aubrey, you're. You're. You're. You're a theater gal. You've done your. You've done your runs at. What is it? ATC and a couple other hot spots I've seen on the Wikipedia page.

[Sean Hayes]

Insinuating. When you say it like that.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I've done two plays. I know.

[Will Arnett]

Well, it's two more than I've done. I'm very jealous. But. But you're so. You're more seasoned than I am. So you might have a take on this. I heard that. It is polite.

[Jason Bateman]

Here we go.

[Will Arnett]

Polite and industry norm to. If you're famous and the person in the play is famous, well, then you kind of have to go backstage and say, hi, I'm famous, you're famous and enjoyed your show. And if you don't, then that is. You're effectively saying, I didn't like the piece. No, this is what I hear.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, not at the opening. Everybody was there.

[Will Arnett]

Very impolite.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Not at the opening, though, right?

[Will Arnett]

The opening is.

[Aubrey Plaza]

There's just too many people there.

[Jason Bateman]

It doesn't matter either way to me, honestly. Swear to God.

[Will Arnett]

I know.

[Aubrey Plaza]

But I guess Wintour was there.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

And Winter. And she emailed me after Anna. So nice.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I really did mean to email you. You were great. I really mean. I meant to.

[Will Arnett]

Is it Wintour or Winter Win Tour?

[Jason Bateman]

I think because it's T O u r Anna Winter.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't know.

[Sean Hayes]

I'm not sure.

[Jason Bateman]

Aubrey, I remember the first. I said this to you before many times, and I know we've run into each other a million times, and I love you. Is the first time I met you, which is. I was in Amy Poehler's trailer. I was on the set of Parks and Rec and the whole.

[Sean Hayes]

You're like a set visit.

[Will Arnett]

Amy lives in a trailer.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

And you were sitting there with Aziz and Amy and just tons of other, like, people on the crew. Other people.

[Sean Hayes]

Sounds like a packed trailer.

[Jason Bateman]

It was. There was lots of people in there. And I said. I said. I looked at you and I go, what do you do on the show? Are you working the crew or. You said, I'm on the show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Really? I don't remember that.

[Jason Bateman]

That's okay. I felt so bad, and I emailed you a long email after you felt

[Sean Hayes]

you felt bad enough that you wanted to bring it up again today.

[Will Arnett]

And.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Remember what?

[Aubrey Plaza]

The same training.

[Jason Bateman]

And then I met at the show.

[Will Arnett]

What did she. Did she strike you as a As a. As. As a people.

[Jason Bateman]

No, you were the quietest one. Like, you didn't say anything in the trailer. So I was just.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I didn't know what was going on. I didn't even realize I was on a television show for, like. Like, two seasons.

[Sean Hayes]

I do believe. I do believe that.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Now. So let's go. Let's. Let's stay with Parks and Rec. Is it true? Wiki says that you talked Mike Scher and Greg Daniels into changing the part to be a little bit more how it became. How it is, how it became. It wasn't originally that true. Untrue.

[Aubrey Plaza]

What do you mean? Like, as the show went on?

[Will Arnett]

No, no. Like, when you went in there and you first met with them, you were like, the part was written a certain way. And you were like, yeah, but wouldn't it be funnier if it was this.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't. Well, I don't think they had technically written it yet, but I remember I went. I remember I went in for, like, a general meeting, and I had no. And I really didn't have any idea how much, like, weight was on that meeting because I. I was. I didn't have any.

[Will Arnett]

Alison Jones set you up with that General.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Allison Jones. I came out because I was screen testing for Judd Apatow's movie the Greatest. And that was huge for me. Cause I was, like, plucked out of nowhere. And then I was in LA for a week, and I hadn't really been to la, so Allison was like, do you mind if I just send you on a couple other meetings? And I was like, isn't your agent

[Will Arnett]

supposed to do that?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Surely I didn't have any.

[Will Arnett]

What a night. What a nice lady.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, wait. Plaza.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I didn't have an agent yet.

[Sean Hayes]

What were you doing? Where were you? Where did she pluck you from? And how.

[Will Arnett]

Ucb.

[Aubrey Plaza]

She found me at a whorehouse.

[Sean Hayes]

Aubrey, what's the problem?

[Will Arnett]

The problem seems hard out there.

[Sean Hayes]

No, don't say that. Plaza.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was at Howard Beach, Queens, in a whorehouse.

[Sean Hayes]

Googling. Googling.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was. I was doing UCB shows, and I was. It was. I don't know. Actually, she. I think it was. Yeah, it was. I was doing ucb and. And Judd was doing, like, a very wide casting call because he wanted to cast an unknown comedian to play this part. And so I made it up the ranks, like. Like sending my videos in and stuff. And then I made it. And then I kind of, like, made. Allison saw my tape. I somehow got a tape to her with the scene. And then I. And then yeah. So then it was like, I made it all the levels to the point where they were like. And now you're gonna come to LA and do a screen test.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And were you. Were you, like, on. Did you. Did you have, like, your own sketch group at UCB or.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, I was like. I was in a sketch group called that's My Booze.

[Sean Hayes]

Who were your contemporaries at that time? Cause I remember you were a little after. I wasn't hanging around UCB as much then, but, like, it was like. Cause I remember Aziz and those guys and Riggle and Sheer and those guys back in those days when they were all there.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. Like, Aziz, Aziz, and I were kind of in the same class, but Aziz wasn't really doing, like, improv so much, but he. He would be in the sketch, you know, part of it. And then, like, you know, it was like Kroll and Manzoukas and Pally and Zach woods and Lennon Parham, and all those guys, like, were kind of above me, like Anthony King and Kate Spencer and Joe Wengart and all the. And Chris Gethard and I could go on, but, like, they were kind of like seniors when I was, like, a. A freshman.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

But I was kind of young, and I was friends with them, and I was, like, dating Joe Wangard at the time, who was kind of running the school. Like the.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, that.

[Aubrey Plaza]

There's a fly sign.

[Will Arnett]

I know that now. It's over here.

[Aubrey Plaza]

It's anxiety. I have to move my arms like this.

[Sean Hayes]

Were you.

[Jason Bateman]

Were you.

[Sean Hayes]

Would you go to, like, ASCAT on Sunday nights and. Or at least watch or.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I would, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Sketch shows.

[Jason Bateman]

These are all sketches.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I mean, and when I was. Yeah, I would. I would watch. I would stand in the background, back. I would see.

[Sean Hayes]

Did I ever meet you back then? Like, back before we became friends? No. You're kidding. No, don't. Just don't say so many times. Don't say like that.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I'm. I. I'm sure we met. I don't remember anything.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you miss sketch comedy?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Everyone was drunk in those days.

[Sean Hayes]

That's true.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I. I love. I miss sketch comedy. Yeah. I would love to do, like.

[Will Arnett]

It's still happening, you know, you guys. It's still going on.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Where.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, no, you can find it. By the way, where does you. UCB still going? Yes. Hello?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, I don't.

[Will Arnett]

Guys, anybody can answer.

[Sean Hayes]

It's. It's changed, right? I don't know.

[Jason Bateman]

I think it. I think it was gone. Like, somebody bought it or then it went away or something. And now it's back.

[Aubrey Plaza]

It's a very different. It's a yes, it's back, but it's a different. I'm so. I feel, I do feel very removed from. Because I was real. I never did even UCB in la. Like ucb LA to me was like what? This isn't right.

[Sean Hayes]

Right. Right.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Anything.

[Jason Bateman]

You were only New York.

[Sean Hayes]

You were up on 8th Avenue.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was in that. Grassidi's basement.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Grassidi's basement. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And we will be right back.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Doug]

And Doug there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Hey everyone, check out this guy and his Bert. What is this your first date?

[Doug]

Oh no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your

[Doug]

league anyways, only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty.

[Jason Bateman]

And now back to the show.

[Will Arnett]

All right, so then Upright Citizens brigade for Tracy and the rest who don't. That is an improv sketch place. You go and you, you yell sort of a prompt to the talented folks on stage and they.

[Sean Hayes]

That was ascat. That was the one show when they would do like a herald. That's one type of. Yeah, basically it was a place that was created by Amy Poehler and by Matt Walsh and Matt Besser and Ian Roberts and they came from Chicago and they created this thing. They were a sketch group up brigade and then they created this whole theater and school and stuff in New York back in the day, like Second City. And they would do those Heralds like you said Sunday nights they do Ascat Jason, which you went to many times.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was on a herald team. That's how that was the thing you wanted to be on a herald team. That was the main.

[Sean Hayes]

And a herald. Was that where you have a suggestion and then you kind of bring everything back and you're kind of telling a long form improv. Go ahead, Jason.

[Will Arnett]

But yes.

[Sean Hayes]

So my explanation was a tenth of how long yours was gonna be.

[Will Arnett]

No, no, mine was gonna actually be one of the rare Jason short things I was going to get to. This is a place where you go where there is no pre written in pre written dialogue.

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

You then Aubrey Plaza went on to start your acting career. Yes. With the scripted stuff. And how did you find that, how did you find that transition where you have to now instead of making up what you say, follow what is already pre written. The typical actor journey.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I mean I always. That's what I love movies. I'm like a movie person really. I mean I'm a. I love comedy and improv. But I, for me it was always like how do I get to the movies part. Like that was always.

[Will Arnett]

And what was it? What was the first, what was it? What was the first stuff? Were you doing some of that scripted stuff while you were, while you were also playing around over there?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I mean I tried, I was like, you know, auditioning for whatever I could when I was doing comedy stuff. But.

[Will Arnett]

But it really didn't start till you came out here to la.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I mean, I really, truly did have, like, a big break moment. Like the, the with Parks and Ryan. Funny People. Funny People was technically first, but like, oh, funny People. Yeah, you know, I've told the story.

[Will Arnett]

So then you got that Judd screen test. You got it.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. So basically, like, I went out to LA for one week and I got, I, I, I booked Funny People, Parks and Rec, and Scott Pilgrim versus the world in one week.

[Jason Bateman]

Boom.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow. That's crazy.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Bought a bank and it was like, what did Allison.

[Will Arnett]

Did Allison cast Pilgrim too? What did Alison Cascot Pilgrim too?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, she, she sent me on all those meetings and, like, the Parks and Rec meeting, like, not to backtrack, was like they hadn't written the script yet. And Mike and sh. And Greg Daniels were in the room. And I just went into Mike's office and I was just having a casual conversation with him, and he just.

[Will Arnett]

You know what else you booked? You know what else you booked that week? Michael Sarah. Let's talk about Michael Sarah.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, what? She's got Pilgrim.

[Sean Hayes]

You mean?

[Will Arnett]

Wait, but didn't you guys, you guys dated for a while, right? Didn't you guys date for a while? This, this was, but this was news to me when I was reading Wikipedia this morning.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, he's our baby writer.

[Will Arnett]

He was my son and you were my daughter.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Sure, sure.

[Will Arnett]

You know, so it was like, okay, well, that's kind of.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. Booked and bagged him. Real good.

[Will Arnett]

Booked and bagged.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, we found our first cut. Hey, there we go. We found our first.

[Will Arnett]

But Wiki said it was 18 months. That's a significant relationship. That's a, that's a good thing, right?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

That was a long time ago.

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, we, we were, we, we were,

[Will Arnett]

we were going to get married for

[Aubrey Plaza]

a second and we're still very good friends. I loved him so much. We almost got married. We drove across the country together, eating a bag of edible edibles. Crumbs of edibles. And we drove to Vegas with the plan to get married and then get divorced right away so we could call each other our ex wife and ex husband.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Forever. Because we thought that would be a really good bit.

[Sean Hayes]

That's a great.

[Jason Bateman]

That is a good bet.

[Aubrey Plaza]

But then I think it was a combination of being too high and paranoid. And then at that time, he was just very, very famous at that time. He, like, really, if you remember, like, when Nick and Nora and all that stuff came out, he was super bad. He was so recognizable that, like, we went I feel like we got in line at the county office or something, and then everyone started running and we ran. So that's kind of all I remember what happened.

[Will Arnett]

Wow, the fame saved you.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, he was too.

[Sean Hayes]

The rarer case.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I'm pretty sure that's how it went down. We. Yeah, we. We bailed. But.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Now what? I'm gonna stay. I'm gonna stay in. In again. What the Great, great Wikipedia has laid out for me here in. Going in chronological order. And I'm sorry if this is a. We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to, but it is. I think you've talked about it before. There was. At that time you had a rare. A stroke that a young person. Very rare for a young person.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I did. I had one at. I was 20, so it was before then, but it was when I was in New York. Yeah, I was doing. Yeah, I was doing UCB comedy stuff. I was in college.

[Will Arnett]

You've got Sean's attention. Sean? Sean, running from a stroke every day.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, you didn't know?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, he's.

[Jason Bateman]

No, I didn't know that. Tell me. Wait, how did you. How did you. How did it matter? Like, how did it happen and what did you feel?

[Aubrey Plaza]

It happened, like, truly in mid. Mid sentence, out of nowhere. It's a horrifying.

[Jason Bateman]

You just start slurring your words.

[Aubrey Plaza]

It's a horrifying story. I had taken my sister to a Hillary Duff concert the night before.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And you know how that goes. And then. And then I. I was having lunch in Queens. I went. I took the subway. I was feeling normal. I had my coat on still. I walked into my friend's apartment in Astoria to have lunch with them, and I was telling them about the Hilary Duff concert. And I said, like Hilary Duff? And then I stroked out.

[Jason Bateman]

No way.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And I kind of. The first thing that happened was like, my right arm was numb. And I looked down and I was confused. I wasn't slurring, but I was looking at my arm like, that's not my arm. It wasn't even numb. It was just not connected to my body. And then.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Then I kind of blacked out for like a second. And then I came to. Could move my arms, but I couldn't speak because the blood clot was in my language center.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my gosh.

[Aubrey Plaza]

So it was like not even slurring. It was just like, not talking.

[Jason Bateman]

Not talking.

[Aubrey Plaza]

But I could understand everything that was happening.

[Jason Bateman]

And how does somebody at 20 years old get a blood clot or Get a heart attack or whatever, or stroke.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't know. It's a. Honestly, it's a mystery. I think it was birth control or the tricycline. That was the only thing I was putting in my body. Like, I wasn't on drugs or, you know, doing anything weird. So it was a real fluke, like. And even to this day, like, I still have to, you know, whenever I go to the doctors, I have to fill out, like, my history and.

[Jason Bateman]

Right.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I've seen. I've seen top neurologists. I've been tested for, you know, all the blood disorders and clotting disorders and everything. And it's just like, I really think it must have been birth control because they have that on the label.

[Will Arnett]

So then what. Well, did they. Were you. Were you fine right then, or did they take you to the hospital? Like, how do they fix.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was not fine because I wasn't. I wasn't. I wasn't talking. And so my friends were like, first, of course, thought I was doing a bit, and they were like, stop it. And then they realized, like, something's wrong. And so the paramedics came and.

[Will Arnett]

Sorry, are you lucid at this point? Like, are you aware that this is happening?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I'm aware. Like, it's a really weird thing when you have a stroke. I've read books about it. And it's across the board, really similar experience that people have. You know what's happening and your brain, there's. It really makes you understand that there's your brain and then there's something else going on, which is very profound to think about because I was. Whatever that other thing is, was watching my brain malfunction. And so I was. Me. Was aware that my brain wasn't working right. So it's this really fucked up thing where you're like, wait a minute, like, my consciousness is operating on another level. And so people would talk to me and I would know how to respond to them. I would know the answer, but I could not get it through the pathways of my brain out of my mouth.

[Sean Hayes]

Did you. I mean, this. Did you. After that experience, did it give you a sort of a different sense on. I don't know how to say it, like, spirituality? Did you feel like a. Do you have.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

As you said, because you're sort of conscious or whatever this other thing that's operating?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Did it change your.

[Sean Hayes]

Did it change the way that. Yeah. Did it change the way that you look at stuff and look at spirituality and stuff like that?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. 100, like, 100 million percent. Like, I, I definitely just felt like, all right, well if that's true then like something bigger is. Something bigger is going. I am very fascinated with that. That.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, well, so I. When I say, I guess it did change, but were you, I don't know, sounds like such a sort of sweeping. Were you a spiritual person before? But did you have, what were your thoughts on that kind of stuff before?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, I grew up really. I grew up Catholic. I grew up very Catholic. I was, I went to all girls, you know, I went to all girls Catholic school my whole life. And so, you know, my spirituality was like very wrapped up in like saints and God and Jesus and you know, and things like that. But. But I would say that I've always, I feel like I've always been a spiritual person, you know, Now I've shifted into more the dark arts, you know.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, goats and.

[Jason Bateman]

Sure, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

You're like, by the way, can I get a sample of your guys blood after this?

[Sean Hayes]

And then she goes, don't, don't bother. I've already got it.

[Aubrey Plaza]

My brand, it's my shtick, the whole witch thing. But no, I. And I think I did really stop, at least for some time. For some time. Like sweating the small stuff a little bit. Like I felt I did have a. I did really feel like, wow. A. The trauma of something like that happening so out of nowhere changes the way your brain is because you're like, well, okay, if that can happen like that, then the else can happen and what's the point of, you know, right.

[Will Arnett]

You're not walking around thinking like that can happen like today, are you?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Like, not anymore. But I was after that I was

[Jason Bateman]

very like be too.

[Sean Hayes]

Did it make you less cynical, do you think?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I think, yeah, I think so.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Even I feel like that, contrary to

[Will Arnett]

popular, that might straighten you out. Will.

[Sean Hayes]

No, I don't think that you're cynical. I. At all. I don't.

[Jason Bateman]

So. But you would. So. But you would never take birth control, whatever that thing is now, right?

[Sean Hayes]

Because I probably wouldn't.

[Jason Bateman]

I mean that was if that was the one, but if that was the one thing that you could kind of point to.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, There's a baby inside of me.

[Jason Bateman]

What's that?

[Will Arnett]

Hold, hold on.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, wait, wait.

[Jason Bateman]

What did you say? What did you say?

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, I said there is a baby inside of me right now.

[Sean Hayes]

Is that a. That's a true story.

[Jason Bateman]

Is that true?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, yeah, that's true.

[Sean Hayes]

What? How. That's so good.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, thanks.

[Jason Bateman]

That's very exciting.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I know. It's Shocking, isn't it?

[Sean Hayes]

I know. It's really cool.

[Will Arnett]

That's really cool. This is baby number one.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yes, that's right.

[Jason Bateman]

Number one exciting offer.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I want. I'll just say this. I went. Today was a big day. I went to the doctors today and my dog is. Also went to the doctors.

[Will Arnett]

Also pregnant.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Both of us. My dog's getting a scan right now. I got a scan earlier. I'm not kidding.

[Will Arnett]

Boy.

[Jason Bateman]

Really?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Getting an ultrasound on her stomach. She'll be back. When is she back? 2 o'. Clock. We'll find out what's. I think she's okay. She had to get an ultrasound on her stomach and then I got an ultrasound on my stomach and there is a baby in there.

[Jason Bateman]

That's so exciting.

[Sean Hayes]

Happy for you.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. And it already has like a cloak and a little hat and. No, I think it's gonna come out.

[Will Arnett]

But let me ask you something. If you. If the ultrasound was. If you got the ultrasound at the vet, I would recommend that you.

[Sean Hayes]

No, no, no. Jason, I think.

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, that we did. I did accidentally go to the vet first, but that's why I was late.

[Sean Hayes]

Aubrey, I'm so happy for you. I just. I just think, you know that. I just think you're such a great person and. Oh, you'll be so much happy for you. Yep. I'm really, really, really happy for you. That's so awesome. You've always got. You're so funny and you're so. Just such a great.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Aren't you excited about being a mom? I mean, this is. You're going to be great.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I. I am. Yeah. I've. I've always want. I've always wanted. I've always wanted to see what that's all about. You know, it just seems so interesting.

[Will Arnett]

How incredible. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[Jason Bateman]

Congratulations. This is all great news. It's very, very thrilling.

[Sean Hayes]

Aubrey, you've been so busy too. I mean, you.

[Jason Bateman]

Are you working on.

[Sean Hayes]

I feel like you. First of all, I was realizing last year. I want to talk about this because I don't think it got enough and I. You and I texted about it last year I watched your movie, Emily the Criminal and I know it's long gone and whatever. I thought that was such a great movie. Your performance in that was so, so good. Plaza. I mean, thank you, really. I don't know if you guys saw it. What an awesome movie and what a great performance.

[Will Arnett]

All I know is every time I see you in any. I didn't see that particular one, but every Time I see you in anything, I'm always stunned by how confident you are in being still. I just find it is. It's such a. It's so. I don't know, it's not attractive or. Infectious is not the word I'm looking for as an audience member. I'm just. I'm drawn in and I can't stop watching somebody who's so comfortable not helping me as an audience member. Knowing what's going on inside your head, you know, like, I lean forward and

[Sean Hayes]

being able to do that, jb, like in a drama where you have to be very sort of vulnerable, very real, and then being able to. And also do it in comedy, have so you have such facility with all of it. And I think it's really impressive and so subtle. It's. I hope people go back and rewatch that and then continue to watch the newer stuff. But I wanted to say that because you know how much I love that movie.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Thank you for saying that. I love that movie. That was such a baby of mine, that. That film. I'm so proud of it. Like, I just want. The script was so good and I was like, as a producer, you know, just like, if we could just. It really taught me that it is always the fucking script. It's like, it is this fucking script. I'm like, if we shoot the script exactly how it's written, the movie is gonna be good. And it was. We didn't compromise. And that was what I was so proud of. We did really didn't compromise the script. And then the movie turned out great. And obviously so many other things have to happen to make, you know, to make that happen. But I. Yeah, it taught me that.

[Will Arnett]

Where did you. Where did your. Where did you. Your. Where did your taste for what? Your particular style? Where did that come from? Was one of your parents particularly dry? Was there. Was there an actor or an actress that you really admired coming up?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't know. I don't know. I don't even think. I mean, I don't even know. It's hard for me to really have perspective on that at all because I feel like the. Drop the deadpan. Yeah, maybe I've. Maybe that's how I wasn't really always like that growing. Like, that wasn't, like, really my thing. But then I think that the things that I got cast in first, like, character wise for me. Like, I'm not saying like, oh, I'm a method actor, but, like, I do think that, like, I capitalized on this Persona early on because the Funny People role was really based on, you know, and I know it wasn't officially said, but I'm pretty sure that it was based on Janine Garofalo. And so. And I kind of knew that. And I studied her and her stand up.

[Will Arnett]

Right. Also incredibly dry and hilarious.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Right. And she was like, you know, she's such a hero of mine. Like, loved watching her. And then the Parks and Rec character was also kind of born out of that same. There was a lot of stuff that. There was a zone there that I was like, I can do that.

[Will Arnett]

Are you ever. Are you ever. Do you ever allow yourself to think somewhat strategically about, well, maybe I should play a part that shows that I can do all the other side of the spectrum as well? I mean, are you one of those actors that considers that kind of thing?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I mean, I think when I was on Parks, definitely, because I was always like, get me out of. Get me out of this zone. I gotta show people what I can do, you know, So I was always like, you know, Dirty Grandpa was an example where I was like, get me that fucking part. Like, that has nothing to do with. But. But now I'm more just like, I just want to be. I just, honestly just want to be in something good. I don't even care. It's not even about, oh, I want to, you know, blow everyone away with my performance. But I want to be in movies that people remember, watch more than once.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

That don't just float away into the ethereum. That. It's like, they never. That never happened.

[Will Arnett]

And the producing effort is. Is in that. In that direction. Yeah. Is it to sort of, like, start to, like, cook your own food? Right. And as opposed to just react to the phone ringing and.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I mean, I want. I'm still an actor. Like, I'm still, like, where. Why is no one calling me?

[Will Arnett]

Like, yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Where am I?

[Jason Bateman]

I write my.

[Sean Hayes]

Hard to believe. Really Hard to believe.

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, I mean, no, no, no, no. I get. I get a lot of. I get a lot of. I'm in a very good. I'm very grateful for my, you know, position, whatever. I get offered things, of course, but, like, I still have that, like, actor thing where I'm like, yeah. But producing, I think, was at first very much about, like, all right, well, if I'm not going to get, you know, offered parts that I really want, then I'll just fucking do it myself.

[Will Arnett]

Right.

[Aubrey Plaza]

But now it's more. But then I really. But I really. I went to film school, you know, I studied film. NYU at nyu. I studied directing and producing and I. I truly love the craft of filmmaking. Like, I really love movies. So like it. It's also has nothing to do with acting. And it's really about just start, you know, making something from the very beginning to the very end and seeing it through and being like, you know, how can I make a great.

[Will Arnett]

Did you have a favorite movie this year? The Oscars was like a month ago. Did you love any of those?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Was this year was really tough for me.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I just could not get into any of it. I will say. And I don't understand why. Eddington.

[Will Arnett]

I know.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Just got why everyone's pretending that movie didn't happen.

[Will Arnett]

I love that movie.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Great. And I don't want to hear it. Yeah, that movie's great. So like, I don't know what everyone's.

[Will Arnett]

I love that movie with.

[Aubrey Plaza]

What the hell was that? Where did that go?

[Will Arnett]

I don't understand. Apparently, apparently, like it wasn't embraced at Cannes where it. Where it premiered. The story goes.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Filmmakers.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. That was a stunning movie. I thought that was incredible.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Regard this.

[Sean Hayes]

I'm sitting on a really stupid pun that get. But it's too far removed from what we were talking about.

[Jason Bateman]

But just go for it now.

[Sean Hayes]

No, but it's just like OCD now. I just want to get it out.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Okay.

[Will Arnett]

You've stopped the momentum. So while we're stopped.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, you were saying the parts aren't coming. And then you know, the parts that you want. And I go, maybe you could do some parts for fun, you know, and they. You could call them parts for recreation. You know what I mean? And I'm just saying it would be. What I'm saying is had I said that back then, I wouldn't have had to stop. And this is why people hate me on the show.

[Will Arnett]

It. We'll tighten it all up.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

We'll be right back.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Doug]

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[Aubrey Plaza]

Hey everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Doug]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Doug]

Anyways, only pay for what you [e-mail]

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[Jason Bateman]

and back to the show.

[Will Arnett]

All right, well, Delaware, right? That's where we started. This is where the.

[Sean Hayes]

What a question.

[Jason Bateman]

That's what I was going to ask too, but I was going to ask like, because I've only known you as an adult, I'm, I'm fascinated with who you were as a child and were you this dry and funny and witty and were your friends, did you have like a circle of friends that shared your sense of humor or were you

[Aubrey Plaza]

like, I, I mean, I definitely, I was definitely a shy kid up until when I discovered theater, like very classically, like, you know, I went to like the Wilmington Drama League, which is the community theater. I, I learned at, when I was like 11 and I started to see, oh, people are pretending to be other people. This sounds really fun. And so then all of a sudden I kind of understood that that was a. Outlet for me. And then I, and then I think I came out of my shell more. And then by the time I was like, you know, in middle school or whatever, I was like, funny.

[Will Arnett]

And then your summer program at nyu, that was sort of like, okay, there's a bridge has been built to the big city. And that's kind of how that, that, is that how that role works?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, I think like I had a friend who's a comedian, Neil Casey, who you probably know will writer, really funny comed. You know. You know Neil.

[Sean Hayes]

I think I do know Neil.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. He's a old school UCB guy, but he, him and I grew up together. He was a little bit older than me, but he went to the all boys brother school. He introduced me to John Waters movies and to.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh wow.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And to ucb, the, the operating system to get a show on those on television and Kids in the hall and Mr. Show and we got into like stuff like that as teenagers, like young teenagers. And then I started to really become like a comedy freak and, and then develop like my love for films and movie, you know.

[Sean Hayes]

Who were your comedy idols?

[Jason Bateman]

Sorry?

[Sean Hayes]

Who were your.

[Jason Bateman]

Did you have Garoppolo?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I always blank. I always like blackout when people ask for me.

[Sean Hayes]

I know, I know. Forget.

[Will Arnett]

Was it. Was there any other, like, was there any other occupation or, or industry or career that was, that was battling your, your, your, your, your. Your growing dream for this to be an actor? Like, was there any other thing that you were thinking about maybe going to, to college to study? No, no. This, this was it. You were all in.

[Sean Hayes]

Dope. I love that.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I was all in. I was all in. I was like all in. I was.

[Will Arnett]

Mom and dad were okay with that. What, what, what, what, what did they do too?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Were they like okay with it? My, my dad was in the finance world. He was a stock broker and my mom was a lawyer.

[Will Arnett]

No pressure to, to go into either one of those professions from them.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Nope. My parents were really young when they had me. They were 19 when they had me and they had nothing when I was born, like really like hustled and worked their way up in the 80s and, and like I learned from them, like how to, you know, Hustle.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And it didn't matter like what field you were in. It was just like they're. That, that's what they taught me. And, and my mom, I think also like she went to night school when I was a baby to be a lawyer and stuff. But she's a really introduced me to like Saturday Night Live. And she's got. She's loves theater and movies and I think in another life she would have been doing what I'm doing, you know, but she. Yeah, so they've got to be thrilled

[Will Arnett]

for you then because you just all self created.

[Aubrey Plaza]

They're so psyched.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, well, let's. Let's stay there with Saturday Night Live. So you were. You were a page at one point at. At 30 rock. That's cool.

[Jason Bateman]

I didn't know that.

[Will Arnett]

And then a bunch of years later, what year, she comes back and she hosts Saturday Night Live. That must have been very surreal.

[Aubrey Plaza]

That was crazy.

[Will Arnett]

Cray cray, right?

[Aubrey Plaza]

That was crazy. I was a page 2005. It was right after. I can't remember. It was after the stroke. I think it was before the stroke. I don't know after the stroke. But I was an intern actually in the 30 Rock building, which is higher

[Will Arnett]

or lower on the power scale.

[Aubrey Plaza]

It's weirdly higher than a page.

[Will Arnett]

Really?

[Aubrey Plaza]

You would think that because an intern

[Will Arnett]

doesn't get paid, but a page does.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Right, But a page gets paid. So you would think. But like, no, the page works for

[Sean Hayes]

the network and the interim works for the show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Exactly. And I was not a very good page. I was like fucking around too much.

[Will Arnett]

What was your problem?

[Aubrey Plaza]

My problem was I was hungover pretty much every time. So I would have to throw up in the trash cans in the hallway, like mid.

[Jason Bateman]

What does a page do there?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Well, if you don't get an assignment, which I never did, maybe once I got one. Which means, like, you get assigned to a different. A different show. Like, the coveted position was the Saturday Night Live. Pages to get assigned on snl. But if you don't get assigned, you're just giving tours. You're on the circuit, you're giving tours.

[Jason Bateman]

So you had to give tours.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, yeah, I get tours. And then I would love to have.

[Will Arnett]

What would be so great about being an SNL page? Is it just the fact that you get to hang out there at the desk and you like, basically Mission Control, where everyone is passing by and you

[Aubrey Plaza]

just get to be there. You just get to like, watch what's going on.

[Will Arnett]

It's pretty amazing.

[Aubrey Plaza]

And like, meet celebrities and get them coffee, like, whatever. It's like.

[Will Arnett]

So then when you come back as a host, were you. Did you talk with them more? Was it just sort of just like a private.

[Jason Bateman]

Or did you order them around?

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, I would never talk to a Paige.

[Will Arnett]

Never.

[Aubrey Plaza]

No, of course. I mean, every time I go in that building, I'm like, you know, I still know the security guards. Like, it feels. You know, that building is so. Like, it's such a family vibe there. Like, it's the best. And, like, I'm still. I love my bosses. When I was. Because I was an intern at SNL and a Page, but I was an intern in the design department with, you know, Akira and Keith Raywood and Joe and Eugene, and the design of the

[Will Arnett]

sets or the costumes or the set

[Aubrey Plaza]

designers for the show. And then I did my. When I hosted, I did, like, my monologue about that, and I had those guys, like, come on stage. It came. Totally came full circle, but they were all. Yeah. I mean, I. I love. I love going back there.

[Will Arnett]

Was it emotional at all when you were hosting?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Really tripped. It's tripped out. It was very trippy. It's like. It's weird. It's very weird.

[Jason Bateman]

I think that's when you. So when you grew up, you grew up in Delaware, is that correct?

[Will Arnett]

Correct.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

And then. And then you moved right to New York, right, Like, when you're a kid.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, I mean, I moved to. Yeah. To go to college.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, so Delaware, your whole, you know, up until you were at college, and then you went to college in New York. Had you been to New York before then and seen it? Like, I want to go there and all that, or.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, I mean, I. Yeah. Because Delaware is really only two hours south of the city. People, like, think it's, like, five hours away. It's really close.

[Sean Hayes]

It's really close.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I take the train up all time.

[Jason Bateman]

And then you. And then you went out to la. So you. Basically, my question is, because I always talk about Scotty, about living, like, in a small town somewhere, because we're. We're constantly on either coast in New York or Los Angeles, back and forth, back and forth all the time. And there's something appealing about living in a small town somewhere, like, outside of a city. But I think I might go out of my mind a little bit because I do need.

[Will Arnett]

Feel too isolated.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. And I do need the stimulation of the noise and. Are you like that?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. Yeah. I. Yeah, I like the city. I like New York. I'm back in New York, you know?

[Sean Hayes]

Are you back in New York now?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I'm back in New York, baby.

[Sean Hayes]

You are?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, I'm back.

[Will Arnett]

So you wouldn't be able to move back to a small. To a small town again, Sean. You wouldn't be able to do that either.

[Jason Bateman]

I don't think I. I want to want it, but I don't think I could. I. I would last.

[Will Arnett]

Right.

[Jason Bateman]

But. But maybe.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I don't know. So sometimes I feel like I could, but where I grew up wasn't there was. It was a small town vibe in some ways. But Wilmington, Delaware, is like, it's a proper city also, so it's not, like, super small.

[Jason Bateman]

And you want. And you want to raise your family in. In a city like you are now.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I. Yeah. I mean, I wasn't, you know, not totally thought through, but I'm like, yeah. I mean, east coast for sure. My family. Family's in Philadelphia and Delaware mainly.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, great.

[Aubrey Plaza]

So I loved. Like, one of the reasons I came back here was for that so I can get on the train and go home, you know?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

My grandmother. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

How are you when you go on. On a location? On a location, like when you're shooting something that's in a far away place? Yeah, on location. Yeah. Like. Like White Lotus, for example. Like, are you okay being disconnected from major cosmopolitan city for a long period of time? Time?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I'm, like, very adoptable. Like, I feel like I would. I'm. If I go someplace and I'm there for. For one day and I'm like, this is it. This is my life for the rest of my life. Like, I'm very right. I think I would be okay, like, in jail. Like, I'd be like, this is it.

[Will Arnett]

You just make it your home. Right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I'd be like, this is what I have to eat. And this is where I say that

[Jason Bateman]

when I get into an elevator, I'm like, if it breaks down, this is where I'm at. This is here for several hours.

[Sean Hayes]

That's not true. You had freak in your elevator in London. This is a true story. Aubrey.

[Jason Bateman]

I know.

[Sean Hayes]

He kept a bottle of Valium in his elevator at his place in case it broke down so he wouldn't freak out. So this goes. This is an absolute fallacy, what you're saying right now. There's proof, recent proof of you not being okay, being stuck in an elevator.

[Jason Bateman]

But I went through. What is that therapy called? I went through that therapy.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I began emdr.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. What? No, like, what is it called when you. Electrotherapy, when you do the thing you're afraid of, of emdr. What?

[Will Arnett]

It's called shock therapy.

[Jason Bateman]

Anyway, Exposure. Exposure therapy.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, so I did that with an el. And then I got you just.

[Sean Hayes]

Just open up your trench coat. What's going on?

[Jason Bateman]

No, I did. I did exposure therapy, and I got. I got over it.

[Will Arnett]

Let's let's talk about White Lotus for a second. Now, where. Where. Where did you shoot that?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Sicily.

[Jason Bateman]

Sicily.

[Aubrey Plaza]

5. It was like, four or five months in Sicily and then one month in Rome.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow, that's pretty nice.

[Sean Hayes]

That's pretty fun.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, that sounds pretty. Pretty good.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Pretty good.

[Jason Bateman]

Is everything okay, James Jay, are you okay?

[Will Arnett]

I'm hearing something in the other room. It's probably the Alexa chirping off. Now.

[Sean Hayes]

Just get attacked by a Roomba Electronics and revolver. Did you.

[Will Arnett]

Is it true that the scripts are really secretive when you're doing White Lotus? Like, you're not allowed to, like, talk about them. It's like doing Star Wars. Did you have a problem with that?

[Aubrey Plaza]

I didn't have a problem with it, but, yeah. I mean, you're not really. You're not supposed to. Cause he writes all of them, so you get all of them. You've read all of the episodes before you.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow. That's.

[Sean Hayes]

He being Mike White.

[Jason Bateman]

Mike White.

[Will Arnett]

Right. But is there, like. So there's a big secret you can't say on these shows, right? It's about somebody that dies, guys. Right? And that. That's the thing to. To anyone, to the vote. Like. Like, what is. What are they. They're trying to keep it secret and locked down because at the center of each one of these seasons is the reveal murder. All right? The murder mystery.

[Sean Hayes]

The murder.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. I mean, I didn't read other people's lines, and other people I didn't even know.

[Will Arnett]

Wait, you're not. You're not. You're not given the pages that you're not on?

[Sean Hayes]

No, she's giving.

[Aubrey Plaza]

You are.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, you are.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, she's giving. Given them. Don't worry.

[Will Arnett]

I've heard of productions like that. You're only given the scenes.

[Aubrey Plaza]

I just go. My line.

[Jason Bateman]

All right.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Remember? Yeah, No, I didn't read. My season was different or maybe slightly different because. Or maybe it wasn't different. I don't know. The secrecy, but I don't. Yeah, I actually, like, I read the scripts, obviously, but I was so focused on my storyline that I was. I didn't. I didn't even really know what was going on in the rest of the show at all. But I will say I just was with Sandra Bernhardt, who's gonna be on the next season, and I was hanging out with her last week, and I was like, did you get all the scripts? And she was like, yeah. And I was. And just nothing tight. And I didn't care. I'm not, like, trying to get the secret out of her, but she had that white light lotus look in her eye.

[Will Arnett]

Did you guys all see King of Comedy way back in the day?

[Aubrey Plaza]

One of my all time favorite movies.

[Jason Bateman]

I love that movie. Yeah. Aubrey, what do you have? What do you have coming up that you're super excited about? Because I know you got a lot of projects going on.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, the. Well, the main thing that I believe, and I believe this is like dropping the day that this comes out, which is today, which is Kevin, my new animated series that I co created and starred in and produced on Amazon on Prime Video.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, great.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Excuse me.

[Will Arnett]

And let's tell our listeners what that is about the show. Kevin.

[Aubrey Plaza]

So, Kevin, your voice is so hard.

[Will Arnett]

It's a lovely title. Who is Kevin?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Oh, God. Kevin is a cartoon based on a real true story that was about my actual cat that I shared with Joe Wengart when we lived in Astoria, Queens, at the time that we were talking about Will, all that UCB era. And we had a cat named Kevin who was a alley cat. We actually had two cats, Kevin and Howard. They were brothers, but this Kevin survived longer. So the show's about Kevin, but the show is basically about a couple that is living in Queens based on me and Joe that break up and they have to tell their cat because in the show, animals and humans interact and they tell Kevin like, we're breaking up. So who are you going with? Me or him? And Kevin's like, you know what? I'm not going with either of you. I don't want to be with you. I don't want to be with you. I want to go out on my own and be with the single cat, and I want to play the field. So Kevin goes and lives at a shelter with all the other single cats, and they kind of. They date owners and see and decide, you know, negotiate with humans and decide maybe I'll live with this guy. I don't know.

[Will Arnett]

And who's playing. Who's playing Kevin?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Kevin is voiced by Jason Schwarzman.

[Will Arnett]

Nice.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Who's so funny because Kevin's this kind of, like, neurotic cat. He's got a really messed up butthole that he's fixated on constantly talking about his. His weird butthole and therapy and. And he's just got a lot of, like, interesting.

[Will Arnett]

Jason. Jason. Jason. Jason wrote the music. Jason wrote the music for the show, too.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Jason wrote the theme song, which is so catchy.

[Will Arnett]

You know, Jason's a killer drummer. Yeah, he's a crazy good drummer.

[Aubrey Plaza]

He's so talented.

[Will Arnett]

Yes, he is.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, he wrote the theme Song. It's awesome. It has this, like, really, like. Yeah. Early 2000s, like, indie rock vibe. And then the cast is just insane. It's like John Waters plays Armando, the cat who's this kind of.

[Jason Bateman]

That's great.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Snobby Persian cat queen that lives in Queens. Whoopi Goldberg plays a hairless freak cat. Amy Sedaris plays, like, a little yappy dog that's bossing everybody around. I play a human, among other things. I play a drunk spider and different kinds of characters.

[Jason Bateman]

That's great.

[Will Arnett]

You didn't have to play two or three characters. You know, you didn't run out of people you could have gone to. I mean, you got Will, who's done quite a bit of voice work. Sean's done some. I've done some. If you ever get tired of playing multiple characters, you know, just saying, I will.

[Sean Hayes]

That is a really good cast, isn't it?

[Aubrey Plaza]

It's fucking stacked. And the guest stars are amazing. The whole. The show's really, really funny. We've been working on it for. Since before the pandemic. You know, animation takes so long, and it's. It's. It's really funny. I'm so proud of it. I think people are gonna love it.

[Sean Hayes]

Schwartzman used to do it. He used to do a show, a weekly show on SiriusXMU where he'd play all sorts of, like, you know, deep cuts. Yeah. Deep independent music cuts. And it was. It was so good. I used to listen to it every week. I'm such a fan of his in every way.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah. His taste in music is so really good. So good.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Really, really good.

[Will Arnett]

I wonder if he is. He. He's not. I think he used to be in a band back in the day.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Phantom.

[Will Arnett]

He's not like his dad.

[Sean Hayes]

Now is theme song to Orange County. Isn't that right?

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, the show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

That show. Orange County, California.

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Wait, wasn't that on while we were doing Arrested Development?

[Sean Hayes]

It sure was.

[Will Arnett]

At the same time. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

It sure was.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. I wonder if he. If he's, like, in a dad band right now. How great would that be?

[Jason Bateman]

That is cool. Don't.

[Sean Hayes]

Don't put him in that. He can.

[Will Arnett]

No, but he's a dad.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, but that doesn't need to be his identity, man.

[Will Arnett]

No, it doesn't. Be a side gig. Well, listen, Aubrey, we hit it. We did it. We're two minutes past our time already. I mean, you're amazing, Auburn. You're such a delight Firing on all cylinders. Congratulations on the incredible news. That is awesome.

[Jason Bateman]

Really cool.

[Will Arnett]

Really, really awesome.

[Jason Bateman]

Very kind.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Thank you, guys.

[Will Arnett]

And the birth of your new show today as well.

[Sean Hayes]

Good one.

[Jason Bateman]

Good one.

[Will Arnett]

So just.

[Sean Hayes]

You're just doing your older.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

Thank you for doing this. Thank you for birthing this episode today. Too much.

[Sean Hayes]

That was too much.

[Will Arnett]

We'll trim that later. Great to see you again, Aubrey Plaza.

[Sean Hayes]

Love you so much. Just so happy. Yeah. Just so happy for you. You're the best.

[Will Arnett]

You're the best, huh?

[Sean Hayes]

You're the best.

[Aubrey Plaza]

You're the best. I was looking at you.

[Will Arnett]

You take care of yourself, all right? You hear me?

[Sean Hayes]

We're going to watch Kevin. We're going to watch Kevin on Amazon prime starting today. I'm logging on right now.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, y.

[Sean Hayes]

The reviews are in. Meow says the meow.

[Will Arnett]

Kitty likes to scratch, says the Post.

[Jason Bateman]

It's the perfect show.

[Sean Hayes]

There we go.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Ruin it. Don't ruin it for me.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay? We're not. We love it. We love it. We love you.

[Will Arnett]

Thank you. Enjoy your day. Bye, honey and.

[Aubrey Plaza]

All right, goodbye.

[Will Arnett]

See you down the road.

[Sean Hayes]

Bye, Plaza.

[Will Arnett]

Bye.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Bye.

[Will Arnett]

There she goes. Aubrey Plaza.

[Jason Bateman]

There she came. And there she went. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What a pleasure.

[Will Arnett]

What a pleasure. Yeah, she's. I like, I love her particular talent and taste and style.

[Jason Bateman]

She's real cool, as the kids say.

[Sean Hayes]

Very cool. She's cool.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, she's. Well, she just does something that I think a lot of actors are not really comfortable doing, which is, you know, like, I don't know, believing that they're enough. Exactly. Yeah. And that they're not screaming their performance at you, you know?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. I mean, she has so much. I don't know, again, just sort of facility with all of it. It's amazing. And that, honestly, I mean, I always. I've always been a fan and sort of biased, but then when I. Last year, when I saw that Emily, the Criminal, it was just. It was like another layer. Like another really rich, heavy duty layer. I was like, wow, this kid. I'm not. Not kid. That sounds almost, you know, this. This person is at this time got it all.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, and then I think about. And then I look at JB and I'm like, what is. What's missing?

[Will Arnett]

You know, what's missing? How is he still going?

[Jason Bateman]

What a. Missing. How is he?

[Sean Hayes]

Because he's just so.

[Will Arnett]

He's an enigma.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, no, it's not your ability as a talent. Talent. You're great. You got so much talent. But as a person, you're like, you have the personality of a Waymo driver, you know?

[Will Arnett]

I know. I just leave you alone mostly.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I guess.

[Will Arnett]

But I'm reliable, and I'll get you there on time.

[Sean Hayes]

Get you there. But then it's. I. But it's. It's basically nothing, right? You know what I mean? Like, that's a robot.

[Will Arnett]

But it's not even.

[Sean Hayes]

Like, there's nothing. Like you put your hand in.

[Will Arnett]

Expensive, but, like, not even there.

[Sean Hayes]

So expensive.

[Jason Bateman]

It's just a waste.

[Sean Hayes]

That's the other problem. You're so. You've priced yourself out. You know what I mean? You have priced yourself out. Shawnee. Now. Shawnee.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah? I have a Goodbye.

[Will Arnett]

Did you dig something?

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, I know you do. Well, I was gonna say what's his hat today? I don't know. There's something.

[Will Arnett]

What's today's hat?

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, this is Glenbard West. This is my high school. It's a castle on a hill.

[Will Arnett]

Is that something that you purchased? He doesn't. You don't wear a lot of things that you buy. Knife that you bought?

[Jason Bateman]

No, they gave this to me.

[Sean Hayes]

And have you ever thrown out a freebie?

[Jason Bateman]

I know. Look at this. It's like somebody's production company.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, I know. And I'll bet the sweats are.

[Jason Bateman]

The sweats are the college I went to.

[Will Arnett]

Huh?

[Jason Bateman]

The sweats are the college that has the high school. And this is somebody's company. I don't know what it is. That is pretty crazy, isn't it? I didn't realize until now it's so good.

[Will Arnett]

Well, maybe one of these days you ought to get yourself out to a store and actually buy something.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. There we go. Nice. Smart Less. Smart less. Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Rob Armjar, Bennett Barbico and Michael Grand. Terry Smart Less.

[Doug]

And Doug. There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Doug]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Doug]

Anyways, only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty.

[Aubrey Plaza]

Liberty.

[Will Arnett]

Liberty.

[Jason Bateman]

Why have I asked my electrician I found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster nibbles in our yard for me? Because I was so moved by how carefully he buried my electrical wires. I knew I could trust him to bury my sweet Nibbles after his untimely answer. End Nibbles gone too soon. May he scurry in peace.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, sorry about your pet, but I just wire stuff.

[Jason Bateman]

Nibbles would have loved you like a brother.

[Sean Hayes]

Connecting homeowners with skilled pros for over 30 years. Angie. The one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects at angie. Com.