Carol Leifer: "I Just Called To Say I Love You"

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Carol Leifer: 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'"

Podcast: Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch
Host(s): Rachel Dratch, Irene Bremis
Guest: Carol Leifer
Date: February 18, 2026
Podcast Description:
Rachel Dratch and co-host Irene Bremis blend humor and curiosity as they delve into comedy origins, careers, and stories of the unexplained with comedy trailblazer Carol Leifer. This episode deeply explores both the world of standup comedy—especially from a groundbreaking woman’s perspective—and the “woo woo” realm of signs, spirits, and uncanny coincidences.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on two themes:

1. Carol Leifer’s legendary career in standup and TV comedy—with a focus on breaking into a male-dominated field, navigating SNL, and forging a path for women comics.
2. Leifer’s experiences with the “woo woo”—strange signs and meaningful coincidences after loved ones’ passing, and the question of whether such events are mere chance or messages from beyond.

Tone: Witty, candid, supportive, and open to mystery.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Year of the Fire Horse—A Woo Woo Introduction (00:24–07:19)

• Rachel and Irene open with an energetic breakdown of 2026 as the "Year of the Fire Horse" in Chinese astrology.
  • “We have to make bold moves. This is the year for us to make bold moves.” – Irene (01:07)
• They riff on the rules and rituals of the Lunar New Year—don’t take out the trash, don’t wash your hair—before laughing at how two “white ladies” are interpreting Chinese astrology and referencing a past Philippa Soo episode for accuracy.
  • “This has been two white ladies talking about Chinese astrology.” – Rachel (06:22)
• Sets a playful, irreverent tone that welcomes doubt but keeps a sense of wonder.

2. Carol Leifer—Pioneer in Comedy (08:12–23:44)

• Carol Leifer’s Origin Story in Comedy:
  • Inspired by Elaine Boosler, Leifer started standup while still at SUNY Binghamton, encouraged by her then-boyfriend Paul Reiser.
  • “If I hadn’t met Paul [Reiser], maybe I wouldn’t have found my way to stand up.” – Carol (12:47)
  • Mentions early jokes (“Who’s the fifth dentist who DOESN’T recommend Trident gum?”) and winning the camp “Hammy Award.”
• First Major Breaks:
  • Finalist in the New York Laugh Off at the Copacabana (came in fourth—Eddie Murphy came in fifth).
  • This led to being a regular at Catch a Rising Star and her first spot on the Letterman Show thanks to David Letterman’s recommendation after seeing her on Showtime (17:04–17:41).
• Navigating Comedy as a Woman:
  • Carol candidly explains club bookers’ approach in the 1980s—“they wouldn’t put two women on in a row… but I got on a lot more and got more attention.” (18:00)
  • Addresses persistent challenges: “I think the trick of being a female comic… guys still have to laugh first to get the women going. I don’t think that’s changed in all the years I’ve been doing comedy. It’s an odd thing.” (18:28–18:59)
• Stand-up Material & Writing Style:
  • “Really, just kind of like observations, musings about things, you know, impressions a little bit… always very whimsical.” – Carol (21:06)
  • Stays old school (“I still [write ideas] in a notebook, not my phone.”) (21:31)

Notable Quote

“I added some mortar to the brick wall, and that’s how far I go back.” – Carol (09:05)

3. SNL, Writing Rooms, and ‘Debbie Downer’ (21:42–27:16)

• Carol wrote for the "weird year" of SNL (1985–86) amidst cast changes, but found the experience supportive rather than sexist.
• Rachel and Carol agree the real pressure at SNL is writing, not performing. Carol affirms, “Working under pressure, I think, is really a big lesson learned.” (23:46)
• Debbie Downer backstory: Rachel explains how the character was inspired by a real-life vacation and was co-written with Paula Pell. (26:41)

4. Sexism in Comedy—Then and Now (27:20–28:16)

• Carol and Irene discuss if sexism has improved in comedy.
  • Irene: “I tried to just get up on stage, do my best… and I haven’t really experienced [sexism]. Or maybe I’m just ignorant and dumb… more coffee!” (27:34)
• Both agree: Grit and perseverance count more than gender.

5. Carol Leifer’s Woo Woo Stories—Signs from Loved Ones (28:44–34:16)

• The Lens Flew Out: At her father’s shiva, her sister’s eyeglass lens “flew out”—Carol, her siblings immediately believed it was a nod from their deceased optometrist father. (29:01)
  • “Not like, oh, you have a loose lens, it falls and drops in your lap. Flew out. We all looked at each other and we're like, that's Dad.” – Carol (29:04)
• The Stevie Wonder Song: After her father’s passing, “I Just Called To Say I Love You”—his favorite song—seemed to play everywhere she went. (30:16)
  • “To an extent where it was like, did the DJs out there get a mass email that this was my dad’s favorite? … It came on all the time.”
• Rescue Animals and Uncanny Names:
  • Carol and her wife adopted a Chihuahua named Julius—the name of both their grandfathers. (32:20)
  • Later, they rescued two cats after her aunt Jeanette’s passing—one named “Wolfie” (her wife’s own nickname), underscoring Carol’s belief in meaningful cosmic connections. (33:50)
• Both Rachel and Irene express delight at how “comical” and specific these signs are—and that they’re more fun to believe in than dismiss as coincidence.

Notable Quote

“I think it’s fun to notice those things. Like, you could just be like, eh, whatever. But it’s more fun to go through life thinking like, this is meant to be, you know, and seeing the meaning.” – Rachel (34:16)

6. More Woo Woo, Astrology & Animal Bonds (37:36–41:39)

• Carol and Irene discuss astrology (Irene tries to guess Carol’s sign—she’s a Leo), the idea of pets and humans being fated to find one another, and random psychic readings. (39:18)
  • “Are you a Leo?” – Rachel
    “Yes.” – Carol (40:58–41:00)
  • “A lot of people in show business are Leos because the attention!” – Carol (41:22)

7. Iconic Moments & Memorabilia (41:47–43:46)

• Carol shows off cue cards from a Bob Hope/Milton Berle special and Beatles memorabilia—her first concert was The Beatles at Shea Stadium at age 10. (42:32–43:46)

8. The Pendulum Readings—Lighthearted Woo Woo (47:49–50:48)

• Carol plays the show’s “pendulum reading” game, where Rachel and Irene each use a pendulum to answer yes/no questions that Carol thinks silently.
  • First question (revealed after): “Will Donald Trump be president in 2028?” Both get “yes,” then “no” once they hear the question—everyone laughs at the seriousness.
  • Second question: About possibly getting an engagement ring someday—pendulums say “no.” Carol and the hosts laugh off the accuracy.
• Rachel notes that, despite occasional bad calls (e.g., about whether she should fly home in a snowstorm), the pendulum isn’t always right, but it’s part of the fun.

9. Carol’s Current Work & Outro (50:48–52:13)

• Carol plugs her new book:
  • How to Write a Funny Speech for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation, and Every Other Event You Didn't Want to Go to in the First Place
  • “We walk you through it. … It’s very easy. We give you tips along the way. Pick it up, you won’t be sorry.” (50:48)
• Rachel and Irene extend the invite for Carol to perform in NYC soon and close with gratitude for Carol’s trailblazing career.

Memorable Quote

“You paved the road, sister.” – Irene, to Carol (52:05)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Year of the Fire Horse & Woo Woo intro: 00:24–07:19
• Carol Leifer’s comedy beginnings: 08:12–17:44
• Breaking into SNL & writing insights: 21:42–27:16
• Sexism in comedy, past & present: 18:28–28:16
• Woo Woo stories: Signs from her dad & pets: 28:44–34:16
• Astrology guessing game: 39:18–41:39
• Beatles concert story: 42:32–43:46
• Pendulum reading game: 47:49–50:48
• Carol’s book + outro: 50:48–52:13

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Final Thoughts

In this heartfelt, funny, and reflective episode, Carol Leifer shares a legacy of blazing trails in standup and TV comedy while offering the kind of “woo woo” stories that stick—strange, personal, and maybe more meaningful than mere chance. Throughout, Rachel and Irene blend humor and warmth, creating an inviting space for both deep career wisdom and quirky spiritual curiosity. For comedians, fans, or the “woo woo” skeptical or curious, it’s a conversation full of laughter, insights, and memorable moments.

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For more:

• Find Carol Leifer’s new book wherever books are sold.
• Follow Rachel Dratch (@raedratch) and Irene Bremis (@irenebremis) on Instagram.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch.

[B]

The podcast that explores the unexplained with humor and curiosity.

[A]

Hello and welcome to Woo Woo with.

[B]

Rachel Dratch, here with Irene Bremis.

[A]

Hi, Irene.

[C]

Hi, sweetie.

[A]

Hello, Irene. We were gonna like do a little chit chat before we kick off the episode. As many of you know, if you've looked at all online, it was. We're kicking off the year of the Fire Horse. Something I didn't know about until about a month ago, but there are many.

[B]

Out there who know much about the Fire Horse.

[A]

I'm wording that in like sagely terms.

[B]

There are many who know much about the Fire Horse.

[A]

Irene, what can you tell us? We had Philippa Su on a couple weeks ago and she got into Chinese astrology and she talked about it's a magical year. I'm sure everyone's heard about it. It kick kicked off yesterday. Irene, what do we know about the Fire Horse?

[C]

Well, I'll tell you, I've been counting down the day, sweetie, because this is our year, the year of the Fire Horse. And what we know about the Fire Horse is we have to make bold moves. This is the year for us to make bold moves. This is the year that we should refuse to be controlled. Structures much change so that the. The movement is change. What is the real cost of freedom? And how can we carry this fire forward without burning out? Sweetie, all those things are what we need to focus on going into the Fire Horse. And then there's other things about the Fire Horse, like, you know, trying new things, standing up for yourself, boosting motivation, confidence.

[A]

I'm seeing intense energy, passion, ambition. You said major change.

[C]

Major change. That's right.

[A]

When you say all this, this is what I don't really understand about Chinese astrology, but do you mean like all these qualities you're saying that's for everyone? Like this year, like this is like a planetary thing? Or is this only for those born under the sign of the.

[C]

Okay, okay. Well, no, that's a really good question, actually. This is ubiquitous. Okay, okay, so.

[A]

So what you're saying, all those things you're saying apply to everyone.

[C]

They apply to everyone. However. However, people born in the year of the Fire Horse, which we were born in the year of the Fire Force, hold more of this energy, have more of this power. I hate to sound like we have more of the power, but we kind of have more of the power.

[A]

Listen to us. We have the power.

[C]

We have the power.

[A]

We've got the power.

[C]

And also anybody also, that is A fire sign. If you're an Aries, they cross over. You're a Leo, they kind of cross over.

[A]

Wait, question. I know, like, it's kind of weird in the world of woo woo, like, what's the authority and what's just someone just saying something? So maybe there's no hard, fast rule, but is that a real thing that astrology crosses over with? I guess what's called Chinese astrology?

[C]

Absolutely. The fact that I'm a Sagittarius and I'm already a fire sign, I get like a double dip.

[A]

All right.

[C]

Of this energy.

[A]

I'll follow your cult.

[B]

It's a.

[A]

Please, I will.

[B]

For you.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I would love. If you're leading the cult right now. Seriously, you're all your goodness and positivity and your fiery. Well, you don't have fiery energy in terms of like, you're not a fire. You're not like a hothead. You're like, you're. But you're like a firecracker. I like that.

[C]

Passionate.

[A]

Passionate and energetic with positive energy.

[C]

Thank you, sweetie. That's why I married you. That's exactly right. So we have. And you also born in the year of the fire horse, also get a double dip as well. So this is. Again, this energy is ubiquitous for everyone. It applies to everyone. However, people that are born in the year of the fire horse and people that are already fire signs that get a double dip of this power and this energy.

[A]

I'm hoping that the fire horse leads us out of the shit fire we're living in now. And the fire horse blazes into a blaze of justice and glory.

[C]

And again, you know, we all have a responsibility which is to follow what we can do, utilizing the fire horse power, if you will, which is to make bold moves and really not be afraid to speak out.

[A]

Okay, but I read, now, I was reading about yesterday when it was actually the kickoff to this February 17th. Yes, this was all over like TikTok and Instagram and stuff. But like all the stuff you're supposed to do or not do on the day of the fire horse kickoff. And there were all sorts of things. Like you weren't supposed to take out the trash. Cause you're like throwing out your energy or I don't know what. What were all the little rules?

[C]

Well, there was taking out the trash, washing her hair, dusting, sweeping, which of course, I joke. That is fine with me. It's just going to give me an excuse to implement my inertia and be lazy. Sweetie. Without guilt. However, there's also washing Your hair. I guess it's all about washing away the good with the bad. And that's the philosophy there. You want to make sure that you're holding on to the good stuff without, you know, like the. The whole, like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. That's right. I said it, sweetie. We wanna hold onto the good stuff and not wash everything away, but get rid of what's no longer serving.

[D]

And those were all.

[A]

Those were all the rituals that were being talked about for yesterday. Wait. I read you're supposed to wear red. But then I read you weren't supposed to wear red.

[C]

Well, the red is supposed to give you a little bit of fire, but then you don't wanna go overboard on red. That you' arguments. And you're on.

[E]

Hint.

[A]

I was just gonna say. Wait. I was just gonna say.

[B]

I mean.

[A]

And this has been two white ladies talking about Chinese astrology. Two white ladies trying to decipher what they're reading online about virus. But if you want to hear someone that actually knows something about it, go listen to Philippa Sue's episode from a couple weeks ago. Oh, and Philippa gave me a little red. She gave me something I was supposed to give to you, too.

[C]

I'm so bummed about this. What is it?

[A]

She said you're supposed to have red on hand for the Chinese New Year. She gave me a little red card with a little red money envelope and a red something else. And there's one for you too, Irene. But she gave us somewhere in there, she gave us a gift for the Chinese New Year. So anyway, happy Lunar New Year, everyone. And may the fire horse give us all strength, passion, excitement, boldness. Boldness and power. Power for good. Power. Power for good.

[D]

For good.

[A]

We need it. So coming up in today's episode, we talk a lot about comedy, actually, in this and getting one start in comedy from a comedy legend and pioneer. Then we get to the Woo Woo, too. She's got a couple fun Woo Woo stories. Just a sidebar, if you're into comedy or comedy career starting out, this was a great episode to hear about someone forging a path that lit the way for us. All right, Irene?

[C]

Absolutely. This woman is a trailblazer, no doubt. Especially, you know, she really blazed a trail for us gals in comedy.

[A]

Yes. We're so happy to have her. So please enjoy our conversation with Carol Leifer. Hello and welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch here with Irene Bremis. Hi, Irene.

[C]

Hello, sweetie.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

Well, Irene, today we have a comedy legend. I'm gonna say it. Pioneer in the standup world, too. And we're so happy to have her. She had the misfortune of sitting next to me at a special event, and now.

[D]

Oh, please.

[A]

We started. Well, the fortune.

[D]

My fortune.

[A]

Yes. The fortune of me to meet you. Cause of course I knew who you were. But then we started talking about, like, what are you up to? And then the podcast came up, and then I found out she has a story. Please welcome Carol Leifer to the show. Yes.

[D]

Thank you. Everybody take your seats, please. Thank you.

[A]

But thank you for being here. Carol is a writer, standup and author and general. I'm gonna say again, pioneer in the world of comedy. To us ladies.

[D]

Oh, thank you.

[A]

Yes, yes.

[D]

I did start when they were just building the brick wall that everybody stands in front of. Yes, the brick wall. That's right. I added some mortar to the brick wall, and that's how far I go back.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So first of all, sometimes we just talk, like, comedy things. And I just was going to ask you, like, the basics of, like, how you got into the whole comedy biz, you know? Yeah, Irene's a stand up here. So, I mean, we get asked all the, like, being on snl, you get asked all the time, like, what's it like being a woman in comedy? And so sick of that question. But I'm kind of genuinely interested. Cause in the world of standup, it was like you and Elaine Boosler and, I don't know, Judy Tenuta. These are the people I think of. But, like, it was very male dominated, so I do want to know about that too. But yes, yes.

[D]

Yeah. You know, when I started, well, actually, Elaine Boosler was a big inspiration to me because I remember so distinctly, she was on the COVID of New York magazine and the headline was Funny Girl. And I mean, can you imagine to be a comic at that age in your early 20s and you're on the COVID of New York magazine, you know, young people, when magazines were a big deal. And I love that she talked about just being a modern single woman. I mean, I love Joan Rivers and all the women that came before, but it was a lot of, like, am I right, ladies? Comedy directed to the women in the audience. So what happened was I was going to college at SUNY Bampton in upstate New York. They now call it Harper College. And in my theater group was a guy named Paul Reiser, who then became my boyfriend. But Paul told me, of course, he was the funniest person I'd ever met. And to this day is still the funniest person I've ever met. And he said, you know, summers I go into Manhattan. He grew up in Manhattan. And he said, and I go to these open mic nights where anybody can go on. You just line up outside of Catch a Rising Star during the day. You get a number and you can go on that night. So I was like, oh, this sounds like so much fun. So I did it along with Paul Reiser. Five minutes. It was very easy for me to put together, and people were like, what did you talk about? I mean, one of my first jokes was about Trident gum. They say four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum. Like, who's this fifth guy? What does he recommend? And of course, then the punchline was rock candy and jujubes, like two ancient candies.

[A]

Now, we all knew that Trident commercial back then.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, we do. We do, right?

[D]

But I passed the audition, as did Paul, at a place called the Comic Strip. We also went on that night with Rich hall, who also went through the audition. And I still had a year left of college. Paul was graduating, so he could do it full time. And I went to my parents. I said, I want to transfer to Queens College. I'll finish my degree, but. But I want to take advantage of this opportunity. And I remember my parents. My father was like. He was also an optometrist, but he wanted to be. He dreamed of being a comedian and a comedy writer. And he was like, oh, you got to strike while the iron's hot.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

And. And that started my comedy career. So I tease Paul, and I think he's tired of hearing it, but I always feel like the woo woo. If I hadn't met Paul, maybe I wouldn't have found my way to stand up.

[A]

Wow. So, I mean, you must have been natur funny if you were like, were you doing theater? Were you like, were you always, like, the class clown kid? Or, like, how did the germ of, like, I'm funny or whatever. I hate what people say. But, like, how did the germ of, like, this is something I feel like I could do before you even got on the stage. Where did that come from?

[D]

Right. Well, I always, like, when I went to camp, I was the funny person. I won the coveted Hammy Award.

[B]

Oh, the Hammy Award.

[A]

People dream about the Hammy.

[D]

And, you know, in school, I'm sure, like, you guys, you always felt like you can't go into comedy unless you have some confidence about being funny. So I always felt like this was in my DNA and this was A good path to go.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

Yeah. But sometimes I feel like if I didn't do great that first time on stage, maybe I would have been so shell shocked that, like. Thank you. No, thank you.

[C]

You know, it's amazing that you got in, like, first time, five minutes. I think that's really hard to do, actually. And I also love, Carol, that your son wasn't like, what are you thinking? No, go to college comedy. And he really inspired you because he had, like, this also this dream and like, he was kind of living vicariously through.

[D]

Yes. Yeah, completely. Like the first time I did the Letterman show, which was in 1982.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

My father bought a VCR, which at the time was like a thousand dollars, and, you know, would play it for friends and people in the neighborhood. You know, he was always like my biggest champion.

[C]

Oh, so sweet.

[B]

That's sweet.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

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[B]

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[A]

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[D]

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[A]

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[F]

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[B]

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[A]

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[C]

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[B]

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[A]

So you started doing stand up in New York and stuff, and then what was your first, like, thing that sort of catapulted you?

[D]

Well, they had this thing back then called the New York Laugh off. And it was a competition and they went around the clubs and they chose people to be in it. And so I got into the final five and we performed at the Copacabana, which was a giant deal. And I came in fourth. And I felt better about it because the person who came in fifth was Eddie Murphy. Wow. Yeah. So anyway, that night was a sort of a big break because the owner of Catch a Rising Star, which was like the club at the time. Yeah. Rick Newman.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

And Richard Belzer, who was the hottest comic, them saw me at the Laugh off and they said, oh, now you can be a regular Catch A Rising Star, which was like a step up. And I hadn't been able to become a regular there. And David Letterman saw it aired on Showtime and he saw the special and he recommended me to the talent booker of the Tonight Show.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

But he passed on me, the guy from the Tonight Show. But Letterman said when he got his show, he put me right on, which was really. Yes. Giant. Giant break.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

I'm dying to know what your guys big, big break was.

[C]

Well, I gotta say one thing. Let me just talk. The Catch A Rising Star at the time was like the comedy seller. You know, it was like a really big deal to be at Catch a Rising Star. So, I mean, you were in there. You were in it, Carol.

[D]

I was. I was. And in terms of your. The woman perspective, I always saw it as a big advantage because they wanted to put women on and there weren't a lot of women. So even though they kind of singled us out, like they wouldn't put two women on in a row. You know, it'd be like, we'll put the magician, then the singer, then the woman.

[A]

Yeah. Then the prop guy, then the dog act. Yeah.

[D]

But I got on a lot more and I got a lot more attention. I mean, I think the trick of being a female comic, and I don't know, Irene, if you experience this now or not, is I think people think, oh, that's great. Then you get the women laughing and the guys will laugh along with the women. The guys still have to laugh kind of first to get the women going. And I don't think that's changed in all of the years I've been doing comedy. It's an odd thing.

[C]

Absolutely, Absolutely. It's almost like they need permission to laugh. Absolutely.

[D]

Yeah. It's odd.

[A]

I was gonna say I can relate to the thing you said about it was kind of an advantage. Cause I started out at Second City in Chicago, and kind of the same thing. There were way more guys when I was there. Way more guys. And so, like, they'd have, like, the one lady on the improv team. But because of that, because there were so many fewer women, like, you got a lot more stage time because you were kind of passed around from team to team. No, I just mean, like, they're like, oh, we need a woman on here. And there weren't that many back then. Like, luckily now it's evened out a lot, I think, which is good. A good thing.

[B]

But. Yeah.

[D]

But how did you audition for a Second City?

[A]

Well, I moved out there. I auditioned for classes. And like, everyone said, like, oh, you'll get into classes. Everyone gets into class. Because I was in the improv group in college, and then I didn't get into the classes, like, right when I moved there. And so then I was just like, oh. But anyway, eventually, like, got in the classes. Then you get into the touring company, you tour for a couple years, and then you get moved onto a stage finally. So, yeah. And when I was at Second City, just ahead of me was Amy Sedaris, and that's how I know her. And then. And like, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, they were all in the cast together. They were ahead of me while I was in touring company. So. But yeah, you're working with all these amazing people, and kind of what you said, like, that it was kind of an advantage. And then, I don't know, like, the whole, like, sexism in comedy world, we don't even have to go there because I kind of think, like, if you don't make that your focus, you just go on and you play whatever you want to play, you know?

[D]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it takes a lot of grit.

[C]

Yes, it does.

[D]

And a lot of stick to it. Iveness to make a career in comedy. And if you accept that kind of male or female.

[A]

Yeah, exactly.

[D]

That that's kind of what it is. You'll eventually succeed.

[C]

Yeah, right. It's true. Male or female, I think that's important. What you said now when you were doing stand up and you were thinking about how to, like, construct your set, what was inspiring you when you first started doing stand up? Like, what are the things that you wanted to Talk about, you know, nothing.

[D]

Really important, just kind of like observations. Observations, musings about things, you know, impressions a little bit. Not like I'm an impressionist or anything, but it was always very whimsical. I never kind of attacked any kind of subject and about being single and.

[A]

Would you walk around with your little notebook and, like, have ideas?

[D]

I still don't.

[C]

And you still do, Rachel, notebooks.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

Yeah, I still don't like putting it into my phone. I don't know. Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. Yes.

[A]

There's something about writing it, but then I have to decipher my own handwriting and that's. That's a difficulty. But. But then. Okay, so then you went on to write for huge shows and what? Snl. You wrote for SNL for one season.

[D]

For one season, yeah.

[A]

What year? Like, who was in the cast then? Like, what year was that?

[D]

That was what is affectionately or disaffectionately dubbed the weird Year. That was the year that Lauren came back after Dick Ebersole. And so it was that mixture of Robert Downey Jr. Joan Cusack, John Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Nora Dunn, Anthony Michael Hall. It was a mixture of mishmash actors. Yeah, a lot of actors with funny people. And I was one of two women at the beginning of the season, and then at the second half, I was the only woman. But again, like, what you were also saying before is, like, I did my standup at the Comic Strip. That was how I got the job. And Jim Downey, the head writer, and Al Franken were there, and they were the ones who hired me. And I went on to write a lot of sketches with Al Franken. I loved writing with Al. And there I never felt sexism because it was also always like, well, well, what's the woman going to come up with? And also, I had a lot of support from Danny. Excuse me. And from Al and from other writers there. So it was a nice environment to grow in.

[B]

Oh, good.

[D]

Because as you know, you have to grow as a writer. You just kind of start, you know, grasping at straws. But, yeah, I loved it. And I was only there for a year, but it was an interesting experience and a fun experience. And I'm sure, Rachel, you can relate, you know, the pressure of whatever it's going on. Saturday at 11:30.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Working under pressure, I think is really a big lesson learned.

[A]

Totally. You definitely take that with you on Woo Woo.

[F]

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[A]

Forever.

[B]

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[D]

I have to ask you because I have you was the Debbie Downer character. Something you started before snl.

[A]

No, I was already on the show. Well, it's funny. You were talking about the pressure. Cause for me, the pressure wasn't so much like the performing on Saturday. It was like trying to come up with stuff. The writing, you know, that was the hardest part of it. But, yeah, no, that came up. I think I was. I'd been there five years already. Oh, wow. And I just had this experience where I was on this vacation with a bunch of randos and someone said something that was like, a real downer in this, like, very happy vacation spot.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then I went to Paula Pell with the idea, and Paula and I wrote those together, and we had so much fun writing those.

[D]

But, yeah, so funny. And, like, just getting back to the sexism.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

I wanted to ask Irene, because you're a comic now in New York, do you feel any. Is there sexism that you feel now because there are so many women? It's not a situation anymore of like, we don't have any women.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Yeah, it's true. You know what? I kind of am. You know, subscribe to your philosophy when you started out. I feel like I just go up there and I do my job, and my job is to make people laugh. And I haven't had that experience, you know, I really haven't. And I know there is sexism in the business, of course, you know, and I hear it from women all the time and. But for me, I tried to just get up on stage, do my best, make people laugh, and. And I haven't really experienced any of it. I really haven't. You know, or maybe I'm just ignorant and dumb and I'm. I'm stefanized to the reality.

[A]

I'm just a dumb girl.

[C]

Does it. Maybe I'm just dumb. I'm steward. I. More coffee. Let's throw on some more coffee. Yeah, but. Yeah.

[A]

Well, Carol, now onto the woo woo of it all. I don't know how woo woo you are as a person, but when I was sitting with you, you said you had some very woo woo story. And the funny thing is, usually I get a little, like, skeletal picture of what the story's gonna be, and this time I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's about a ghost or a time travel or a haunted cemetery. I don't know what it is.

[D]

Well, here it is. All right, well, I've already mentioned my dad, who I love very much loved my comedy career and supported me with all his Heart. So when my dad passed away, as you know, as a Jew, we sit shiva.

[A]

Yes, we do.

[D]

Yes. And what that is for the non Jews out there, it's actually a very nice ritual after someone has passed. You take seven days and you kind of stay in your house and get, you know, a lot of people come by, visitors come by, they bring food, they bring rachelach, you know, whatever. But it's. It's just kind of a reflective time and it's nice. And it also helps with the grieving process. You just don't run back into life. And as we were sitting shiva, I have an older brother, an older sister, and I mentioned that my dad was an optometrist. My sister is sitting on the couch and all of a sudden the lens of her glasses flew out. Flew. I mean, not like, oh, you have a loose lens, it falls and drops in your lap. Flew out. We all looked at each other and we're like, that's dad. That's Dad. I mean, what else could that be, you know? And it really, I mean, beautiful. It was nice. But we all immediately looked each other and we were like, he's here, he's here.

[C]

Ooh, wow.

[D]

Isn't that crazy?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

The other thing that happened with my dad's death was he used to love Stevie Wonder's song I Just Called to say I Love youe. He loved it. And when it would come on whatever easy listening station there was at the time in New York, he'd sit in the living room and do his crossword puzzle and he'd whistle along to it. He just loved that song. And I'm telling you, gals, after my dad died, wherever I went where there was a PA system, that Stevie Wonder song would come on. I mean, to an extent where it was like, did the DJs out there get a mass email that this was my dad's favorite? Something like, play it endlessly. It came on all the time. And I think both of those things with my dad's death were very woo woo to me.

[A]

Yeah. Well, we do talk about signs on here sometimes. And like, I feel like I used to be more of a cynic. Then you lose someone and then you're like, oh, I believe in all this, you know, But I don't know. I read that book Signs, and now I'm more of a believer in all that. And we've heard a lot of stories, like, kind of similar, like, you know, the song that comes on.

[C]

We've never heard of a lens popping out of a glass projecting out of A frame. I mean, that's. And it's also comical. Like, your dad was sort of like a comedian at heart.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So that's like a funny thing to do to say I'm here is pop. And plus, he was like. You said he was optometrist. Optometrist, right.

[D]

Yeah. No, I never even thought of the humor of that. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Am I in the woo woo?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay, good, good.

[D]

Ye. Yeah. So I feel like there are so many signs. I've had that with animals too. Like. Well, my wife and I, we're big rescue. We've had a million animals. I like to call us the girls who can't say no. Because we, you know, anywhere someone has a desperate area, we'll take them.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

But when we went to get our first rescue guy, we went to this place, Chihuahua Rescue here in la, and we saw this little guy Chihuahua named Julius. And I turned to my wife and I said, that's so crazy. That's my grandfather's name. She said, that's my grandfather's name too. And so we adopted him and we kept the name. So, you know, little things like that. I just always feel like we had to leave with him because it was like it was too obvious to us.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

And then the other thing that happened, now this is really woo woo is I had my aunt Jeanette. My Aunt Jeanette was my mother's sister. I loved my aunt Jeanette so much. She never married. She lived by herself in Freeport, Long island, with her kiddies. And then we heard she was sick. She went to the hospital and she. Sadly, she passed away. So she had her three kitties. So we were like, well, what's happening with her kitties? And we got in touch with her landlord and he said they went to the local shelter. So we were really concerned because as we all know what happens in the shelter, they can't keep them for that long. So I had a trip to New York and I said, hold on to those kitties for me because, you know, it would be great if we could take them back. So we went to the shelter and one of them had already passed on. Can you believe this? Like, of a broken heart just had passed.

[A]

Aw.

[D]

And then the other ones, one was named Tuffy and the other kitty was named Wolfie. And my wife's name is Lori Wolf and her nickname is Wolfie. Is that crazy?

[A]

Yes, Meant to be. Yeah.

[D]

So then we adopted Tuffy and Wolfie and we were both like, holy crap, that is a crazy coincidence.

[A]

I think it's fun to notice those things. Like you could just be like, eh, whatever. But it's more fun to go through life thinking like, this is meant to be, you know, and seeing the meaning.

[D]

Yeah, right, right.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

I'm always trying to find ways to.

[B]

Cut down on my plastic use. I mean, did you know that most.

[A]

Of us are eating a credit card's.

[B]

Worth of plastic each week?

[A]

Wah wah.

[B]

Each week? Gosh, can that be right? I sure hope not. What? Hold on.

[A]

I'm still reacting to this. A credit card's worth of plastic each week.

[D]

Whew.

[A]

Okay, well, here's what I'm doing about it.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[E]

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[A]

How woo woo are you as a person? Have you done like a weird psychic reading or a bad tarot card reading? Whatever.

[D]

Right. I remember we went to a pet psychic about something, but I forgot what we were trying to find out. Honestly, we've had so many animals, it's like you have to go through the file effects to find which animal we were investigating. But I'm very, very into signs and. Yeah, you know, like the random stuff. We just adopted a new dog and we went back to look for a dog we had seen before and he was gone. And then we were looking for a senior. So we went to the kennel and it said senior, but there was a little guy who was like 2 years old in it. They just hadn't changed out the sign. And we saw him and then we said, oh, we gotta take this guy. Just because, you know, once you lock eyes, it was like, that's it. And he's like a puppy. But it was like, okay, so now we have a puppy again. But you know, those kind of things I don't ignore. I just feel like they're signs from somewhere.

[C]

I mean, those are definitely like, I think Wolfie. And the names, Julius. I think those names are very specific.

[G]

I'm sorry.

[C]

Yeah, that's kind of like an eerie. It's not a. To me, those aren't like coincidences. I think there's like connections. Yes, you know?

[D]

Absolutely.

[C]

And men to be's, Right? You know how they say, like, we choose our parents from the other side. We sign up for these things so we can grow, become more evolved. Well, what about dogs?

[D]

Right?

[C]

Dogs probably do the same thing, you know, so Wolfie.

[D]

Yes, absolutely. And Julius, she's waiting for us. Yeah.

[C]

That's right.

[D]

I mean, are you guys astrology people?

[A]

Well, Irene knows. Oh, wait. Irene likes to guess signs, so actually, don't tell us your sign. Okay, but Irene knows more about it than I do, so sometimes she. She hazards a guess. Okay, so do you want to guess?

[D]

Don't you go on Wikipedia, Irene.

[A]

I'm watching you.

[D]

I won't. I'm watching. Hands up.

[A]

Hands up. No, her track record that she doesn't cheat. Okay, Irene, are you gonna guess now?

[C]

I would say you're so friendly.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And funny. You have such a lovely, beautiful, positive personality. Positivity. I might, but I'm getting a little bit of both. I'm getting, like, a little bit of a fire sign. So I'm thinking. Or I'm getting, like. I'm getting cancer energy. I'm getting one or the other. Okay, here we go.

[D]

I have.

[C]

I always do three. Because I. I pretty much suck at this. And Rachel's. You know, I mean, I sometimes nail it. I'm hit or miss. I know. That's what everybody says. Who is this charlatan anyway? Okay, I'm gonna say. I'm gonna start with. Are you a Sagittarius? Sounds like I'm in love with myself.

[D]

No.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[A]

We thought that. Because you're positive and we always go positivity. Okay. Okay.

[D]

Oh, really?

[A]

What else you got, Irene?

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Thank you, Rachel. I said cancer. I did.

[D]

You did.

[C]

Are you a cancer?

[D]

No.

[C]

I've got another one.

[A]

Okay.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Aries. Are you an Aries?

[A]

Okay.

[B]

No, no.

[A]

I'm gonna make a guess. I'm gonna make a guess. And I'm really bad at this, too, but I'm just gonna. Are you a Leo?

[H]

Yes.

[A]

Guess what. I already had three checked off for me, so that was a bit of a cheat.

[C]

No. Guess what. Guess what. I knew it was a fire sign. But you. You sell yourself short. You sell yourself short. You're better at this than I am, sweetie.

[A]

Well, you know why I thought Leo. Cousin. I know Leos are supposed to be outgoing.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

And then I saw your. Your mane like Leo hair, and that's what I went for.

[D]

Yeah. And a lot of people in show business are Leos because the attention.

[C]

Need the attention.

[A]

They need the attention. Yes, But.

[C]

But I was getting fire energy. I was. I said.

[A]

I said sorry.

[C]

All right, never mind. I have to leave with some self confidence, ladies. You know, like, that's.

[D]

That's.

[C]

That's what I'm saying.

[A]

Okay, wait. Sidebar. I notice you have. Is that an SNL cue card that's behind you, or is that from something else?

[D]

Oh, that's interesting. No, it's cue cards from a young comedian special I did with Bob Hope.

[A]

Oh.

[D]

And the special guest was Milton Burrell. So you see that? Hope says milton. You played them all, didn't you? And Burl goes stage direction. Kiss, Hope. I love this man. I love him. So isn't that crazy? I asked the cue card guy for the cards, and he gave them to me and I framed them.

[A]

That's amazing.

[C]

Amazing.

[D]

Yes. And then I have Beatles memorabilia because I always win the. What was your first concert? Because I went to see the Beatles.

[A]

That's amazing.

[D]

Yeah. That deserves kind of an Oprah.

[A]

It does.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

That's amazing.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

Yeah. Isn't that crazy? 10 years old.

[A]

Was it like Shea Stadium?

[D]

Shea Stadium, Yes. Yes.

[H]

Wow.

[D]

And my brother, my older brother took me the same day. We drove there, we got tickets at the box office. How crazy is that?

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Oh, that's.

[H]

Woo. Woo.

[A]

That's amazing.

[D]

I know.

[A]

Irene. Irene, what was your first concert? Oh, I'm gonna tell you mine. Mine wasn't bad for the time. Yeah, mine was Synchronicity, the Police.

[D]

Oh, that is very cool.

[A]

That is not cool. That was a good one. That was in Massachusetts, in Foxborough, what is now, I think Gillette Stadium. I don't know what he was called. Sullivan Stadium. What about yours, Irene?

[C]

Oh, that's a good question. I'm thinking, for some reason, I'm coming up with, like. I think it was the Cars. I mean.

[A]

Oh, that's good, too.

[D]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah, that's good.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You think that's a good one?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Okay. Yeah, I think it was the Cars. Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Okay. We all did okay with that. But the Beatles, nothing's gonna. Yeah, nothing's gonna be the Beatles.

[C]

Come on. That brings down the house.

[D]

Yeah. It was an experience that I. It's really one of the top, top days of my life. When I got married, in my vows, I said to my wife, this is the best day of my life. And I got to see the Beatles. So.

[B]

Come on.

[A]

That's good. See, the comedy writer's gonna have good, good vows. Well, Carol, I think that's all the questions we have or whatever, like, you know. But we also do our little pendulum reading. I don't know if you saw that in the literature, but in the dossier. But before I go to that, is there anything else that we left out? Like, anything coming up that you want to talk about, Like.

[D]

Well, yes, I do have this new book out called how to write a Funny speech for Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, graduation, and every other event you didn't want to go to in the first place.

[A]

What a great idea.

[D]

I wrote it with a great comedy writer, Rick Mitchell, and it's in its third printing. So really happy with how it's connecting with people. So I have that to plug. Still doing out there doing my stand up as you go. Yay. It's like a muscle.

[A]

Use it or lose it.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[H]

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[A]

So, Carol, do you have a question?

[D]

I do. Uh huh.

[A]

So don't tell us till afterwards.

[D]

I've been instructed. I was indoctrinated.

[A]

A lot of people don't read the literature. Okay, okay. So now also, Irene, we tell people not to ask anything. That if it gives the wrong answer answer you want, you're going to be sad.

[B]

Sad.

[D]

Okay. Oh, wait.

[A]

Well, like if I asked if I'm gonna win an Oscar and it said no, I wouldn't really be sad about that because I wouldn't really.

[D]

Right.

[B]

I'll let you be the judge of your own question.

[D]

Okay.

[F]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. You thinking of it?

[D]

Yeah, I. I am thinking.

[A]

Okay. Okay, here we go.

[B]

Okay.

[F]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. I have my answer. You have your answer, Irene?

[C]

Yeah. Yep.

[A]

Okay. I got.

[C]

Mine is yes.

[A]

I got a yes too.

[C]

We both got yeses.

[A]

Is that good?

[D]

Well, no, it's not good.

[B]

Oh no.

[C]

What was it? Oh man. What is it?

[D]

It was, will Donald Trump be president in 2028?

[A]

Oh, you know what? Oh, well, you know what? Now that I know that no, no. Now that I know that no, no, no, no. Okay, now. Now I'm getting a no. Now that I know the question, I'm getting it. I'm getting a distinct no.

[C]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

I'm getting a wildly, wildly swinging no. Carol, we said nothing serious. I can't, I can't. Let's just say I've asked the pendulum about potential specific dates dealing with that question you just asked. And I got some optimistic dates happening coming up real soon.

[D]

But I have another one.

[A]

Okay, perfect.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Okay, good. Okay.

[F]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Are you ready to ask the Second question. Yes. Okay. Okay. Now, this time I got a no.

[C]

I got a no.

[D]

I can't believe.

[A]

Was. What was it?

[C]

Don't tell me you rephrased or reframed.

[A]

Don't do it, Carol.

[D]

Because I've always wanted an engagement ring. I never got an engagement ring, okay? And my wife and I saw a beautiful engagement ring, and she said, you know, maybe sometime in the future, I'll get you that engagement ring. So I guess not.

[A]

Okay, you know what? Let me just. Wait. I'm gonna backpedal. Irene doesn't like when I do this, but I'm gonna backpedal the power of the Pengie. Because here's a funny story. I was just away on a little trip, and I had the choice of trying to fly back to New York when the big snowstorm was expected or just waiting another day. So I asked the pendulum, the pendulum said to wait the extra day. Cause my flight wasn't gonna, like, it was gonna be really delayed. Then I asked Irene to ask. It also said to wait. Okay, well, the flight I would have been on was perfectly on time. Everything went fine. So then I was like, I'm doubting this thing. I'm doubting it. So.

[D]

Yeah, right.

[A]

But then I don't know. So I guess this has no answers for you. All right, well, Carol, tell us the name of your book again about the toasts. I wanna hear this again.

[D]

It's called how to Write a Funny Speech for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, graduation, and every other event you didn't want to go to in the first place. And you know why? I think it's connecting with people. I'm happy it is, because it's two comedy writers, people out there writing a speech book. It's not by Edward Thornton Watson, you know, nobody you've ever heard of. We walk you through it. It's not that hard. It's very easy. We give you tips along the way. Pick it up, you won't be sorry.

[A]

Good.

[B]

All right.

[A]

And are you gonna be performing in.

[B]

New York anytime soon?

[A]

Or is that just sort of like whenever you're here, you drop it.

[D]

You know what? I wish I had a New York trip on the books. Because I'm dying to go on again at the. Like you said, the Cellar is the hot, hot place. Yeah, I would love to.

[A]

All right, well, let us know when you're playing in New York. Cause Irene and I would love to come see you. Yeah, absolutely.

[C]

We're there.

[A]

And I'm so glad that we met and I got Got to meet one of my comedy heroes. Cause I used to watch. I mean I don't do stand up but I used to watch all the brick wall. I've watched you for many years and.

[D]

I love and right back at you. Right back at you. And Irene, I look forward to seeing your stand up as well.

[C]

You know what? You paved the road, sister.

[A]

Good point.

[D]

Thank you.

[F]

All right.

[D]

Okay, you guys.

[A]

And and you can find me on Instagram at raydratsch, that's R A E Dratch. And you can find Irene at irenebremis. That's B R E M I S Bremis. And thanks for listening. Thanks for joining me on this journey into the world of Woo Woo.

[B]

Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe.

[A]

Wherever you get your podcasts. Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch is a Cue Color Code production executive produced by.

[B]

David Henning and Steve Wilson Produced by Alexa Gabriel Ramirez Edited by Will Tendi.

[G]

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[D]

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[G]

Don't face the health care system alone. Find solace. Visit SolisHealth.com today.