The Commercial Break: TCB Infomercial with Hannah Pilkes

Episode Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Bryan Green, Krissy Hoadley
Guest: Hannah Pilkes
Theme: Comedy, career journeys, nostalgia sitcoms, and the evolving world of content creation

Episode Overview

This laugh-packed episode of The Commercial Break welcomes comedian, actress, and writer Hannah Pilkes as a guest. Bryan and Krissy chat with Hannah about her hit Netflix sitcom "Leanne," her comedy roots from Vine to Groundlings, experiences in improv, family quirks, and her take on everything from Burning Man to the realities of showbiz. The episode mixes irreverent banter, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the entertainment industry, thoughtful observations about the current comedy landscape, and plenty of comedic tangents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hannah Pilkes’ Sitcom "Leanne" and Its Old-School Charm

• Leanne is a trending multi-camera sitcom on Netflix, produced by TV legend Chuck Lorre (known for Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men).
• Hannah emphasizes how familiar, "nostalgia with a kick" sitcom format is thriving again with streaming audiences.
• The cast is notably tall, with Hannah joking, "it was the only role where my height really was of service," referencing her 5’10.5" stature (16:22).

2. Career Journey: From Vine to Netflix

• Hannah began as a child actor and soon realized her true inspiration was comedy, especially physical SNL-style humor.
• She moved to LA at 19, dove into Second City and UCLA writing courses, and was part of Vine’s content creator boom. She recalls the chaos and opportunity of the Vine era:

  “It was like the original camcorder… you couldn’t edit… sometimes your finger would slip and you’d delete the whole thing. The stakes felt enormous because it became a job for so many of us.” (26:26)

• Vine taught her to hustle in comedy, stretch budgets, and master the art of doing a lot with a little.

3. Comedy Upbringing and Early Influences

• Growing up in NYC near 30 Rock, Hannah and her sister would "stand outside SNL and play in a script," giving them a sense that “these superheroes live 15 blocks away” and comedy was tangible (22:39).
• Her family was supportive, making delusion and persistence essential traits for survival in comedy:

  "You have to be so delusional to stick around doing this… making a can of garbanzo beans stretch when you don’t have rent and you’re 24, but your nourishment is improv." (23:56)

4. Improv, Groundlings, and Personal Life

• Hannah reveals how improv shaped her career, allowing her to collaborate widely, tour with comics like Paul F. Tompkins, and even meet her husband at Groundlings (33:00).
• On marriage and podcast guest “luck”: “You always say guests on your podcast either stay together forever or promptly break up after that.” (33:17)
• Briefly recounts a relationship that ended when a Second City boyfriend met someone at Burning Man, connecting it to earlier Burning Man humor.

5. Comedy Industry & SNL Conversation

• Discusses the shifting landscape at SNL, especially about cast shakeups and diversity:

  “There’s kind of a resurgence of unapologetically feeling like we don’t need to diversify… For me, a show like SNL thrives when there’s different points of view.” (35:25)

6. Content Evolution: Shortform vs. Longform

• The group muses on content cycles, from six-second Vines to streaming’s mini-dramas. Hannah notes that sustainable performer careers need both:

  “Short forms wonderful, but… if you’re only doing short form, it’s not sustainable… I would get scolded [at Groundlings] because all my characters were eight seconds long.” (30:44)

7. Comfort Shows & International Favs

• Hannah lists 30 Rock as her ultimate comfort show and shares her love for Hunting Wives and international versions of Love is Blind (40:10).
• Her dad is a major Korean soap opera fan—"He has gone through all the catalog… I mean, that’s hundreds of hours" (43:19).

8. Family Ties

• Hannah’s family lives nearby in Pasadena, after global detours. Her brother-in-law is an “Imagineer” involved in international Disney park projects, making her clan “a sitcom outside of a sitcom” (44:23, 47:08).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Delusion in Comedy:
  “You have to be so delusional to stick around doing this… making a can of garbanzo beans stretch when you don’t have rent and you’re 24, but your nourishment is improv.”
  —Hannah Pilkes (02:57, 23:56)

• On Being Cast in "Leanne":
  "I was sobbing outside [Chuck Lorre’s office]... There’s like golf carts go by with tours, and they’re, 'Oh, are you okay?' I’m like, no, it’s happy. Just the sheer overwhelm of being attached to something with Chuck’s name on it was surreal for sure."
  —Hannah Pilkes (17:41)

• On SNL Proximity Growing Up:
  "As a kid... we would stand outside of 30 Rock, or if we saw cast members walking around New York, we’d play in a script… It felt like, these superheroes live 15 blocks away. Like, how crazy is this?"
  —Hannah Pilkes (22:39)

• On Comedy Industry Changes:
  "I think SNL thrives when there’s different points of view… when there’s too many overlapping ones, it’s easy to check out."
  —Hannah Pilkes (35:25)

• On Content Consumption:
  "People say everyone’s attention spans are short now, but I beg to differ. I still think there’s a huge market for both [short and longform]."
  —Hannah Pilkes (30:56)

• Bryan, on missing out on the podcast Hall of Fame:
  “I just saw that somebody put out the list of the hundred most important podcasts of all time. Guess who was 101?”
  —Brian Green (08:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:35] — Introduction of Hannah Pilkes and "Leanne"
• [11:54] — Hannah joins in from Pasadena, banter about weather and Burning Man
• [15:06] — Talking about working with Leanne Morgan and Chuck Lorre
• [21:15] — Hannah’s comedy journey, first influences (SNL, NYC upbringing)
• [24:02] — Shift from drama acting to writing/improv and the Vine era
• [29:42] — Discussion on rise of shortform content (mini soap operas, streaming)
• [32:30] — Improv roots, meeting her husband, standup tour stories
• [33:37] — Auditioning for SNL and its cultural significance
• [35:25] — Thoughts on SNL’s diversity shakeups and changing media climate
• [40:10] — Comfort TV, guilty pleasures, and international reality shows
• [43:19] — Hannah’s dad and Korean soap obsession, family in Pasadena
• [47:08] — Brother-in-law is a Disney Imagineer: creative tales
• [50:03] — Plug for Hannah’s live variety show at The Elysian, LA
• [54:31] — Bryan “Googles” Hannah’s Kevin Bacon movie (The Woodsman) and closing banter

Guest Info, Plugs, and Where to Find

Hannah Pilkes

• Netflix: Leanne (all 16 episodes)
• Upcoming: Variety show at The Elysian Theatre, LA (27th, ticket info in show notes)
• Social Media: Links provided in episode notes

Episode Vibe & Closing Thoughts

This episode embodies The Commercial Break’s “chaotic, unpolished charm”—a meandering but witty conversation ranging from the nitty-gritty of comedy hustle to the oddities of family, content, and modern fame. Hannah’s blend of authenticity and quick humor fits perfectly with Bryan and Krissy’s self-aware, magazine-of-topics banter. If you’re nostalgic for old-school sitcoms, curious about comedy’s grind, or just want to eavesdrop on a funny, unfiltered chat, this episode is a treat.

Recommendation:
Check out "Leanne" on Netflix and, if you're in LA, catch Hannah’s variety show—plus follow her socials for more comedic misadventures!