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Jameela Jamil
Hello and welcome to Wrong Turns. This is the podcast where dignity goes to die, where we share our most painful inner memories and thoughts and we don't try and make each other feel better about it. And I'm joined by two incredibly funny, wonderful people. Today. We have a comedian, actress and Emmy nominated writer whose work includes the Great North, Bob's Burgers, Late night with Sara, BoJack Horseman, and what we do in the Shadows. Her first hour long comedy special, Hopeful Potato, premieres on dropout December 15th. It's upon a Nancherla.
Eliza Skinner
Hello.
Jameela Jamil
Hello.
Aparna Nancherla
Thank you, thank you.
Jameela Jamil
What a nice queen of one liners. How are you? It's nice to finally meet you.
Aparna Nancherla
Oh, I know. We circled around each other.
Jameela Jamil
Yes, we were discussing this earlier. You were in the cool inner circle and I was. I was outside near the. Near the garbage, rummaging. So. But yeah, lovely to meet you in person.
Aparna Nancherla
I mean, maybe some people online feel like they've cracked something, but I never felt that way. I always. I feel like online is where you constantly just feel like your life is about to be destroyed.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, 100%. And we also welcome a fabulous comedian, actress, producer, director from shows like Adam Ruins Everything, Earth to Ned, Drop the Mic. And the Late Late Show. She's just directed a comedy special called Hopeful Potato with a young upstart named Aparna Nanchella. It's Eliza Skinner.
Aparna Nancherla
Hello, it's me.
Jameela Jamil
It's.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. We've finally been brought back together since our feud.
Eliza Skinner
Ah, yes. You again.
Jameela Jamil
How was working together?
Aparna Nancherla
It was lovely. I feel like I was so happy Eliza was interested in directing it because I've been her friend, but also a fan of her for so long. So getting to work with your friends is one of the very lovely things about.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
It felt like becoming a parna's friend professionally instead of just on an amateur basis like now. It was a job.
Jameela Jamil
How long has it been that you've been friends?
Eliza Skinner
When was totally biased?
Aparna Nancherla
2012.
Eliza Skinner
So 13 years.
Jameela Jamil
Very long. In Hollywood, that's 30 years. It's so well done.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, yeah. In Hollywood years, it's a woman that can't work anymore.
Jameela Jamil
So it's a woman with no value.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
Two of us together almost have value.
Jameela Jamil
And so have you gone through shit together?
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, I mean, we went through fun shit together.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, we've gone through a lot of fun shit together. And we've.
Jameela Jamil
I think washed thing you've been through together.
Eliza Skinner
I think the tour.
Aparna Nancherla
We went on a tour that ended at Disney World.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah. So we thought that we were going on hiatus for the show that we worked on together, which is called Totally Biased. It was a very left leaning late night talk show. And so we planned this as our hiatus trip that we would take a tour down to Disney World. So we called it the happiest tour on Earth.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes, yes.
Eliza Skinner
And then right before we found out, actually it's not a hiatus, your show was canceled. So we toured down with our big cancellation trip.
Jameela Jamil
Yay.
Eliza Skinner
And we did stops and comedy shows all along the way. And it was the two of us and Janine Brito, who is also hilarious and wonderful.
Aparna Nancherla
And didn't we get stuck on a ride that just stopped probably.
Eliza Skinner
Oh, it was Ellen's Energy Adventure in.
Aparna Nancherla
The world of tomorrow. And it was Ellen's energy Adventure sponsored by Ready for it Halliburton. It was like, oil is.
Eliza Skinner
Yes. But it used to be Exxon's energy adventure. That's what it was. And then after the Exxon Valdez, they were like, ooh, take the name off. Who else can do this? And they put Ellen DeGeneres in as the host. And Halliburton. Yeah. So it was all about finding energy, different sources of energy. And the whole way through. The coda on each source of energy they would mention would be like, but that's not as good as fossil fuels. They'd be like, well, there's wind energy, but what if the wind doesn't blow? And there's solar energy, but there are cloudy days.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
So. And then at the end, you see all these animatronic dinosaurs and Ellen fighting one of them. There's an animatronic Ellen. And it kept breaking down.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes. It kept.
Jameela Jamil
Just the Ellen of it all implies how cursed that was from the start.
Eliza Skinner
It was truly like a fever dream.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
And I halfway remembered parts of it from like when I was a kid. And I think I'd read a lot about it.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
Because this was at Epcot and I was very. I love Epcot. And so Aparna and Janine just kept turning to me and being like, what is this?
Aparna Nancherla
Why did you bring us?
Jameela Jamil
I don't know.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, yeah.
Jameela Jamil
So can you give me some examples of some micro humiliations you might have faced to whet our appetites? Should we start with you, Apana?
Aparna Nancherla
Sure. Well, I feel like as stand up, you're already like, my dignity is something I want to play fast and loose with.
Jameela Jamil
Yes.
Eliza Skinner
Very important.
Jameela Jamil
Why do you think I started this podcast?
Eliza Skinner
My dignity. Your dignity. It can be everyone's dignity.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. Let's just toss it out to the wolves. But no. 1 of the one standup gig I did. I can't even argue that it was early on, but I agreed to do a fundraiser. They asked for like a 10 to 15 minute set. It was in New York and this was a time where I was just like, yeah, fundraisers, that's great. I didn't really check what it was for. They said it was an organization that helped women. I was like, I like women. Yeah, let's do it. So I show up, up. I quickly learn I'm the only comedian on the bill. It's just me. And everything else is just stuff supporting the organization. And then I learned the organization is a charity that helps victims of sex trafficking.
Jameela Jamil
Why the fuck would anyone book a comedian?
Eliza Skinner
What? No, come on. That's your first thought, right?
Aparna Nancherla
And then so it's like a dinner and an evening learning about the organization. And they had me go up after a bunch of testimonials from former sex trafficked women.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, my God.
Eliza Skinner
Did you riff on them? Did you tag them each?
Aparna Nancherla
I mean, I like got up there and I was.
Eliza Skinner
She roasted them.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, yeah. I was like, did you get that lady? She was weird.
Jameela Jamil
She was sold. For how much?
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
I'm like, sign me up.
Eliza Skinner
Nine years old. I don't know.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Well done for reversing.
Eliza Skinner
Keep reversing out that one point across from there.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. Removed yourself. No, I think I, you know, I was like, I guess I cut the dating material. Like.
I Think I just talked about how living in New York was weird, but obviously everyone was by choice, by choice, by choice. I wasn't forced.
Jameela Jamil
Living freely in New York. Yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
And I think they also made me go up. Like, when dessert was being served, which is classically when people are ready to go. They got their photo ops. They're already. Their eyes are glazed over there. Like, we had our moment where we felt good about giving money.
Jameela Jamil
It's almost like they're using you to get people to leave.
Eliza Skinner
You know how, like, at Grand Central.
Jameela Jamil
Station, they play really fast classical music to make people move at a faster pace?
Aparna Nancherla
That's exactly what it was. Yeah. And I just remember they had me sit during the dinner, which is already, like, in the audience. Yeah. And the table was right in the front. So after I went up, I went and sat back down at my table and where my dessert was now plated, and the person next to me just leans over and goes, you did it.
I was like, that is actually the nicest thing that can be said about what happened.
Jameela Jamil
What is your go to expression for when a friend has done, like, a shitty comic set or stage performance that you hated? Because given that you can't lie, both of you, how do you get around that?
Aparna Nancherla
I always turn on the audience. I'm like, they're so stupid. They didn't deserve it.
Eliza Skinner
So you said that to me.
Jameela Jamil
Wait, so you.
Eliza Skinner
You said that to me last time we did a show together, you said it was because I went up first, but it was a bad audience.
Aparna Nancherla
But I believe it.
Eliza Skinner
Okay. Yeah, that one was.
Aparna Nancherla
I do think when people don't like friends or people I think are funny, I'm like, the audience was bad.
Eliza Skinner
All right, all right.
Jameela Jamil
Way to double down on how badly it went, though. You know what I mean? Like, God, they fucking hate that I wasn't there.
Aparna Nancherla
You told me about it.
Eliza Skinner
No, you were there. It was when we did Best Fish Taco. You were the only person laughing over at the side of the stage.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, I thought that audience was bad.
Eliza Skinner
Well, you did think it was funny. At least you were laughing.
Jameela Jamil
Let's not fight. I. Oh, no.
Aparna Nancherla
Oh, no.
Jameela Jamil
What about you? What do you say? I.
Eliza Skinner
So last time, I remember doing this, I was like, I think they were really listening to you. I think they were like. They weren't laughing a lot, but it was because they were listening to you.
Jameela Jamil
How did that go down?
Eliza Skinner
He wasn't gonna take anything.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, they were really listening to you. They didn't seem to like it, but they were really funny.
Eliza Skinner
He Was like, they hated me. And I was like, no, no, no, they didn't hate you.
Jameela Jamil
They thought you were so interesting.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, yeah. They didn't like him.
Jameela Jamil
The British tend to go, ugh. Seem like you really enjoyed that. Yeah. Or be like, that's good, you bastard. That's what we like to go like. I like that, you bastard.
Eliza Skinner
My British dad was nowhere near that nice. He'd be like, boy, did not like. Like you.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
Or I'm sorry. Ugh. Didn't like you, did they? No, that's the right. That makes sense too.
Jameela Jamil
That wasn't English. You just said your accent again.
Eliza Skinner
Sorry. Liza didn't like you very much, did they?
Jameela Jamil
Well, that was better. Jesus Christ, that's cold. Sometimes we'll be like, you seemed like you were really enjoying that. Or just like, look at you. Any of those work fabulously.
Eliza Skinner
When I showed my parents the first cut of my show that I was like, showrunner for, my dad's reaction was, you can still edit it, right? Oh, no, you can change it, can't you? No, I was like, well, sort of.
Jameela Jamil
So this is why you can't lie, because you've been raised by someone who.
Eliza Skinner
You should learn how to soften the brain.
Aparna Nancherla
Radical honesty.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, kind of. Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah. And so what about you, Eliza? Have you got a micro humiliation for me? I was gonna say micropenis. Sorry.
Eliza Skinner
Like, I'm torn now because I thought of one. But I also had terrible book tell me both.
My terrible show idea was a. I think the standard, you can assume it's gonna be terrible is a corporate show.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes.
Eliza Skinner
And I got brought to Miami to do a, like, week of corporate hosting, which I had no business doing. It is very different from standup. And it was starting at 8am in the morning and the night before.
We had, like, dinner together. And me and all of the people in the company that I will not name.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, yeah. I was like, I guess you can't.
Eliza Skinner
Say, but they do make toothpaste. And they were like, Kardashians. Yeah, it's the Kardashians. Exactly. Keeping up with your molars. So they were. I met this table full of ladies who are from Atlanta, and they were like, oh, you're here to do that. You're here to host. You're gonna be so funny. The guy last year, he was so annoying. You're gonna be great. You're our girl. And the next morning, I got up to go start Hosting again at 8am and 1st of all, someone had died in one of the. The night before.
Aparna Nancherla
No.
Yes.
Eliza Skinner
Not from the group, just another person. So there was like, tape all around this pool as we're heading to the ballroom. And I'm like, oh, boy. Also, I find out as I'm getting up, they're, like, talking about where the company's at. They had just fired, like, 60% of their employees. And they're all sitting at these huge tables with their bosses next to them.
Jameela Jamil
All they fired employees in the audience?
Eliza Skinner
No, just the specter of them seated at each table. And I get up and try to do my comedy and it does not go well. And I even start. My little trick is freestyle rapping, and it usually delights a crowd. Did that. They were delighted. Still had more time to fill. Tried to do it a second time. They weren't impressed anymore. And I was like, really?
Aparna Nancherla
You're like, that's my trick.
Eliza Skinner
Come on, we got a week of this, people. And then I got. And later on in the day, in the break, those women found me and I was like, hi. It wasn't that bad, right? And they were like, oof, it was that bad girl.
Jameela Jamil
And I was like, oh, no.
It was a fucking nightmare.
Aparna Nancherla
I know. That was the first day.
Eliza Skinner
That was the first day.
Jameela Jamil
See, I get to do everything that gets filmed now and then it comes out the following year. And then people just tell me to kill myself in my DMs way later, when I've already recovered. I don't even know what they're talking about.
Eliza Skinner
Sorry, I can't remember.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, sorry. Yeah, I've moved on.
Eliza Skinner
I'm onto the things you'll want me to kill myself for next year.
Jameela Jamil
Exactly.
The immediacy of the feedback is terrifying. What's your other micro?
Eliza Skinner
My other one was when I was a kid, I was in a little performing arts class and we had our big show where all of the classes, like, of different ages, we're all gonna each do a number. And we were doing a number called Hand for the Hog from a musical called. Well, I've always heard but I ain't too sure Man's best friend is a mangy cur. I kind of favor the hog myself. How about A hand for the Hog? See, a hog ain't nothing but a forky thing Little fork of feet and a nosy wr. Pickle them feet, folks. How about A Hand for the Hog? So I remember all of that.
Jameela Jamil
Marvelous.
Aparna Nancherla
No, I can't believe it.
Eliza Skinner
Well, I remember all of it because I was playing the hog and I was the littlest. I was the youngest one in this group for Some reason I was like two years younger than everybody. So they were like, we'll make the little one the pig. And I step up to the front, cue the piano, and I'm supposed to start singing, so I cue the piano and I.
We do nothing. Cannot remember a single word. Can't remember a word. There's a bunch of teenagers behind me like, what the fuck? And I'm looking the lady who runs the whole school and she's like lip syncing the words to me largely. And for me, it was about five hours of me standing there on stage, of course. And then finally something in my brain hooks and I lock in and I do it. But so now I will never forget that in my entire life I was crying. I did notice like a weird, like.
Jameela Jamil
Shiver go through you when I asked you to do it just now.
Eliza Skinner
And now I am Sarah.
Aparna Nancherla
Relive it that test inspiration in your eyes.
Jameela Jamil
And on that note, we'll go to a break.
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Eliza Skinner
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Eliza Skinner
Oh, right.
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Eliza Skinner
Knock knock.
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Eliza Skinner
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Eliza Skinner
This isn't a joke. Boost mobile really sends experts to deliver and set up your phone at home or work.
Narrator/Ad Voice
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Eliza Skinner
Like I said, this isn't a joke.
Narrator/Ad Voice
So the knock knock was just you knocking?
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, that's how doors work.
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Jameela Jamil
And we're back. Thank you for those micro humiliations. I think I have a good sense of both of you now and I'm desperately curious for your longer, scarier wrong turns.
Aparna Nancherla
Apana Mine is a classic bad date story. I was living in new York at the time I got a message on Facebook. It's already like, why? You know, I had gotten out of a long term relationship recently. I think I was on some dating apps. This was pre hinge. I think it was maybe OkCupid's time in this sunlight. But just to give you an idea.
Eliza Skinner
Did you know how to.
Aparna Nancherla
Is it?
Eliza Skinner
I think so. I saw a TikTok recently that was somebody being like, most people probably don't remember this, but there used to be a site called OkCupid. And I was like, what? We're there now Anyway, Sorry.
Aparna Nancherla
No, that's what age we are now. Everything is wrong.
Eliza Skinner
I feel. It's like, do you remember your breakfast today? Well, that was 20 years ago.
Aparna Nancherla
No one's having that anymore. Yeah. So someone sent me a message on Facebook. He basically was like, I saw you at a show. I saw you do standup. I thought you were really funny. Let's go out already. It's like, why did I engage?
Jameela Jamil
I know, but when you're freshly single, your brain is not working. It's not working. You need to feel good about yourself.
Eliza Skinner
And as a comic, there are so many people who respond to that. Otherwise, who'd be like, so you think you're funny? Let's go out and I'll show you how sarcastic I can be. That's real funny.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
If you started.
Jameela Jamil
Do you get a lot of that? Do you get guys trying to compete with you for who's funnier or showing you how they could have done comedy if they'd wanted to?
Aparna Nancherla
Foreshadowing guys.
Eliza Skinner
Sorry.
Aparna Nancherla
Prime foreshadowing.
Eliza Skinner
No.
Aparna Nancherla
Because I feel like a lot of male comedians get. They, like, date women who are at their shows, but it doesn't happen to women a lot. So I think I was also like, oh, this is refreshing.
Jameela Jamil
This is what a groupie feels like.
Eliza Skinner
I feel like you have not missed a red flag so far.
Aparna Nancherla
So I agreed to go on a date. The one thing that was weird was that his profile photo was his body, but he put a Santa emoji over his face, so I didn't actually see his.
Eliza Skinner
I did not remember that.
Aparna Nancherla
I didn't actually see his face, but I think I had a friend Google him. I just, like, didn't want to go there.
Jameela Jamil
How good was his body that you knew he'd covered his face? Which people normally do when they don't have an amazing face. What was the body saying?
Aparna Nancherla
Or our baby? Yeah, his body was. I would say good, right? Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Okay.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. So I was willing to be like, Maybe you are.
Jameela Jamil
Maybe you're so handsome that you can't show your face and you have to cover it so that someone would like you.
Aparna Nancherla
Celebrity.
So we. We go out on a date. I think I picked the restaurant. You know, I tried to pick a place where it was like, where would be a good meal to have if this doesn't end up going well or.
Jameela Jamil
What do you mean?
Aparna Nancherla
Well, I was like, you know, I mean, worst case scenario, if I go, missing people will be like, she had a good last.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, you mean it in that way. Isn't it terrifying to be a woman? Because I was thinking more like somewhere where, you know, the meals come out quite quickly and then you can get in that vent. And you were just like. And so, you know, if I'm buried not too far from the. They'll be able to find my body. That's fucking harrowing.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, I was thinking of it as a. Like, if nothing else, at least I get good bagels.
Aparna Nancherla
Well, that's like the most gentle interpretation than the estimated.
Jameela Jamil
Okay, so you picked. So you picked an appropriate.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes, a little of both of us. Restaurant.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
I will be murdered, but people won't feel bad about what I ate before I was murdered.
Aparna Nancherla
Exactly. Good last meal. So he shows up. He's. He's handsome, he's tall, he smells good. I'm like, so far, so good. One of the first things he says when we sit down is something you should know about me. I'm really honest. I just like to tell it how it is, which is already like, first thing out of the gate is you're probably not gonna like everything I have to say.
Jameela Jamil
I fucking hate those kinds of people as well. Do you know, I mean, people who are so proud of their authenticity, which is really just like a. It's like a long term. No offense.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes.
Jameela Jamil
It's a sort of. In perpetuity. No offense. It's like, well, I've told you, I'm really honest, so, like, you know, that's just who I am.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Fuck off. I know. Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
It feels like someone who's gotten complaints about it before and was like, change what I'm doing or just tell everybody. Tell me an identity. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I'm not gonna change. I'm just gonna let them know. Up top.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. And I would say, like, conversation was okay. It was like, pretty mid like, you know, he said he worked in finance and I was like, already like, also.
Jameela Jamil
How is the face behind the Santa mask?
Aparna Nancherla
He was cute.
Jameela Jamil
Okay.
Aparna Nancherla
He was cute.
Eliza Skinner
Not like Santa.
Aparna Nancherla
Not like, no Santa resemblance.
Jameela Jamil
Santa's hot as fuck. I don't know what you're talking about. Sorry.
Eliza Skinner
Well, I mean, I'm saying she was expecting Santa based on. You could have been.
Aparna Nancherla
And there was no Santa. Yeah, Santa Claus.
Jameela Jamil
Get it?
Aparna Nancherla
Sorry. But I. I think I should have known what was coming. Where like, maybe halfway through the night he goes, you know, I'm pretty funny. I could actually probably be a comedian.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, no.
Aparna Nancherla
Which is strange to have to say that far into the date. Cause it's also, like, you don't have to give people a heads up that you're funny. You know, like, at that point in the date, I should have known whether he was funny or not.
Jameela Jamil
I just want to give you a heads up. I'm actually really good looking.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
What the fuck?
Aparna Nancherla
It's just such a strange thing to be like, oh, I think you've been missing cues on your end because I'm actually really funny.
Eliza Skinner
Well, did it feel like that at all? Like, did it feel like a commentary on how you'd been reacting to him? Oh, wow.
Aparna Nancherla
I think so.
Eliza Skinner
I thought it was just like a commentary on, like, you're more successful at something that I think I'm innately good at.
Aparna Nancherla
I think it was that as well. But I think he was a little like, why aren't you enjoying my company more?
Eliza Skinner
I'm throwing out bangers. Aparna, come on.
Aparna Nancherla
And you're. Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
Other people love this material.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah. And you're just a bad audience.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, exactly, exactly.
Aparna Nancherla
You're just really listening.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, I've seen that comic perform.
Aparna Nancherla
And so, you know, it starts to feel like the date is heading into let's never do this again territory. And then towards the very end of the night where it's like, really, things are wrapping up, he just goes, you know, I actually just went on a date with you because you're an Indian comedian. He was Indian. I just wanted to support another Indian artist, which is like, this is how you support artists.
Jameela Jamil
What? Like, make a vish is essentially what he's doing. Are you joking? Are you fucking joking? Exactly.
Aparna Nancherla
And he goes, yeah. I didn't actually think you were that funny.
Eliza Skinner
I'm a date. Or as a kyama.
Aparna Nancherla
He meant both.
Jameela Jamil
Why do men crash out this hard?
Aparna Nancherla
From the show he saw.
Eliza Skinner
Wow.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Does he think, like, Indian people can't afford food and so he'd take you out for a nice little meal? Are you joking?
Aparna Nancherla
I mean, I guess it was like a finance. He was like, I gotta do something good for the year. All my money Is bad.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, probably. You know what? He probably got like a tax back on it. I did a charity meal to take an Indian comic out. Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
Do you remember what you said back?
Aparna Nancherla
Well, no. Then he says, I didn't think you were that funny. I think my face froze. Like, I'm clearly the freeze in the fight flight or freeze.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
Options. And I was just kind of sitting there with my mouth like, I don't know what to do. And then he just goes, that was a joke.
And I think I. I don't know. I think I ran out of reactions to make with my face because I.
Eliza Skinner
Think you're like, scraping the bottom of the bag.
Aparna Nancherla
Just like, air, air.
Eliza Skinner
There's bits of granola bar in his brain at this point.
Aparna Nancherla
I don't know what. And so it felt like five minutes. It was probably a couple seconds, but I just kind of sit there like. And then he was like, that was a joke. That was funny.
Eliza Skinner
React.
Aparna Nancherla
And then he reaches across the table and he forces my mouth into a smile.
Jameela Jamil
Like the 1950s in asylums.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes.
Eliza Skinner
This man's never heard of Eileen Wuornos.
Aparna Nancherla
He touched me.
Jameela Jamil
Can you show me exactly what he did with your.
Aparna Nancherla
He went like. That was a joke.
Jameela Jamil
Like the joker.
Aparna Nancherla
Like, yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Before he's about to, like, cut you a permanent smile.
Aparna Nancherla
Like forcing someone in his smile where it doesn't even look nice. It looks like it looks.
Eliza Skinner
That's the smile. He's used to seeing a grimace, a forced grimace.
Aparna Nancherla
It's like a plastic surgeon.
Eliza Skinner
That's the best he gets. Yeah.
Aparna Nancherla
It's like a plastic surgeon being like, look, look at this.
Eliza Skinner
This could be you.
Aparna Nancherla
Oh, it was so bad. I don't even. I honestly don't remember anything after that because I think I blacked out.
Eliza Skinner
And yet you went on more dates in your life after that. That is resilience.
Aparna Nancherla
Well, I'll tell you what's resilience on his part. And, like, the extent of lack of self awareness in some men is he wrote a message that was like, hey, that was fun. I guess I'll see you around.
Eliza Skinner
Hey.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
At least he knew that he didn't either need to let you down easy or ask you out again. Like, he knew, well, that's a wrap on this.
Aparna Nancherla
He was like, I did you do.
Jameela Jamil
That thing afterwards where you come up with, like, zingers that you wish you'd said later? Because I'm also. I'm a freeze in the fight Flight Fawn. Freeze person as well.
Aparna Nancherla
But I don't think I could even in that scenario, I was like, what do I say? I mean, other than like, if my face had melted off and I had been like, this is what you get.
Eliza Skinner
You know what?
Jameela Jamil
I think the only thing I would have done differently is that I know. And I don't know if this is. Cause I was a dog in a previous life, but if anyone puts their hand near me, I bite them.
Aparna Nancherla
Really.
Jameela Jamil
It's an instinct. So, like, I'm my own makeup artist for this very reason. Because if someone comes in with a brush, I'm just gonna go.
I don't know where it comes from. But my whole life, if a hand comes too close to my face and I didn't expect it, I'm biting. It sounds like you have a little bit. That shit's getting bitten.
Eliza Skinner
You have a little fight in you.
Jameela Jamil
Then I'm a bite or fl. Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
I am a bit of a flight. Specifically when people try to touch me that I don't want. I'll like, you know, snake out of it.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, but you make it like you put some Justin Timberlake into.
Aparna Nancherla
I know, I don't. Yeah, I just.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, I try to like, matrix out of it. Like.
Let the grabbing for my hair or whatever just go past me. Sailing past me.
Aparna Nancherla
I think now I just exude an air of like, don't touch me. Cause I feel like even friends will be like. Like, you seem like you don't like hugs. I'm a hugger. Can I hug you? But they always ask, do you like hugs? I think it depends, but I think maybe some friends have hugged me and they've been like, oh, my God, it's like hugging a corpse or something. Cool, cool, cool.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
I've been told I hug wrong. And I'm like, maybe it's just you I hug wrong, you weirdo.
Jameela Jamil
Everyone loves my hugs.
Eliza Skinner
Oh, well, that's why you gotta bite people.
Aparna Nancherla
You know what?
Jameela Jamil
I think maybe that started because a friend licked me up my entire face.
Aparna Nancherla
Oh, no.
Jameela Jamil
Out of nowhere, just everyone's drunk at a house party and a friend just comes up to me and licks huge tongue.
Aparna Nancherla
Huge.
Jameela Jamil
Licks me all the way up my face. And I was.
Aparna Nancherla
I hate this.
Jameela Jamil
I was so traumatized. The sensory of it triggered me so badly that now anyone comes near me, I'm biting that shit off.
Eliza Skinner
Mouth to mouth warfare.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
100%. 100%.
Aparna Nancherla
How would that have worked in that scenario? You would have bitten their tongue.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah, that shit's coming up.
Aparna Nancherla
Aye.
Eliza Skinner
You don't do that to someone twice. Once you get your Tongue bitten off. I also that you learn your lesson.
Aparna Nancherla
Sensory experience.
Jameela Jamil
Exactly. There's something so slow and painful about the date that you went on where just. It took him so long to get the fucking hint. Just an endless enthusiast, but also a lovely philanthropic man. What a twat.
Aparna Nancherla
I know. Oh, man, she's just giving back.
Jameela Jamil
Yeah. God bless you for continuing to date in this world and God bless that man. I wonder where he is now.
Aparna Nancherla
It's really a charity on my part, 100%.
Eliza Skinner
You know, each time you do something in your career, though, he's like, his story gets one notch better. And now he can be like, you know, I once went on a date with.
Aparna Nancherla
Oh, right.
Eliza Skinner
She really liked me.
Jameela Jamil
She's not funny.
Eliza Skinner
She thought I was pretty funny.
What a cunt.
Jameela Jamil
Let's go to a break.
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Jameela Jamil
And we're back. All right, Eliza.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
What'd you do?
Eliza Skinner
Okay, well, so I was. I started my comedy career as an improviser in New York and I was Specifically a musical improviser which no one likes.
Other improvisers don't like them. Stand up comics definitely don't like them. But I was in a pretty popular musical improv group. We were performing off Broadway, did this performance and one of the guys in the group brought his stand up comedy friend to the show and he thought it was funny. So I'm suddenly getting validation and acceptance from the comedy community. Like, hey, wow, you're actually really great. This was great. Hey, let's all hang out tonight. And I was like, oh, I am invited to the fraternity. How funny.
Jameela Jamil
It's like never been kissed or something. Do you know what I mean? Like, you're finally in with the cool kids. Were you cool at school?
Aparna Nancherla
No, no.
Eliza Skinner
I can sense that from your act story. Yeah, again, much like the other story. Like I was always younger than everybody and always a big dork. So. Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Is this your way of saying that you were incredibly smart and two years ahead at school?
Aparna Nancherla
I think so you get to play the hog.
Eliza Skinner
Yeah, exactly. But those things don't make you popular with other kids. No one's like, oh, she was great. She was a little child. She told us facts. What a fun person. No, they don't like that.
Jameela Jamil
Alright, genius.
Eliza Skinner
So then what happened? See, see? So I'm like, oh yeah, let's all hang out. My friend is having a party tonight. I've never been to her house. She's got a new house. So like, do you guys want to go to this party? And they were like, sure, yeah, we don't know anybody, but we'll come with you. So I walk these guys all around the Lower east side the wrong way, the right way, all around. And they're like gaining all this respect for me. Like I've got cool friends that they had never known. And we get to the party and I ring the bell and nobody.
Answers the door. And I'm like, they're like, are we in the wrong place? And it's late, it's taken a while. Like they could have gone to the bar. And finally I like ring the bell again. Still nobody answers. And then I check my. I guess must have been. I checked my phone. I don't even remember having email. It's probably my sidekick.
And the party was the night before.
Jameela Jamil
Fuck yeah.
Eliza Skinner
And so we were just like, like in my memory we were on a wharf, it was that abandoned this part of the Lower east side.
Jameela Jamil
And in your head, was it gonna be like book smart or something? Like some really great fun party where.
Eliza Skinner
Everyone'S Gonna be like. And I was gonna be upholding court and we were all gonna be high fiving about the joke.
And then at the end they were gonna like, carry me out.
Jameela Jamil
That's so uncomfortable. Yeah, I can't even. That's. I'm. I've got such intense host terror. Making the decision for anything is my biggest fear. If it involves multiple people. I don't have birthday parties. I don't do anything where any onus is on me to provide any of the entertainment. I don't even do reverse cowgirl. I don't go on top. You know, Like, I. I don't ever want to seem like, let's collaborate on this. This would go well.
Aparna Nancherla
Yes.
Jameela Jamil
Do you know what I mean? So it's very important. That is harrowing. Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
I'm like, just stuck in the middle of nowhere. And also I had to be like, get away from the door. We gotta go, we gotta. Cause what if I had just woken someone up and if the people who were throwing the party the night before had come to the door and been like, what are you doing? I would have been like, zip, there goes my skin. I'm a skeleton now. Goodbye, everybody.
Yeah, so.
That was pretty humiliating.
Jameela Jamil
That is quite humiliating. What happened after that? Were they comforting?
Eliza Skinner
Were they like, they were trying to be like, oh, it's okay. But they could not pull it off. It was like, oh, okay, okay. And they also. This is the thing that actually was the most shredding. They didn't make fun of me. Like, these are comics, right? If they had started bagging on me, then I would have been like, we're on the gang.
Jameela Jamil
Empathy.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yes.
Eliza Skinner
It was really dark and it was like the shade between the comedy world and me was pulled down. They were like, nope, you are not invited again. Was like, oh, I thought I was in.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, they were like, the door was open.
Jameela Jamil
They're actually disappointed in themselves.
Eliza Skinner
We hung out with the dork.
Jameela Jamil
Thank you for giving you a chance. Give a dork a chance. You know you blew it for all future dorks.
Eliza Skinner
I know. And usually I worry about that when I do stand up, I'm like, am I going to ruin this for all dorks? All female stand ups. Am I gonna make people think none of them are funny? But it was that night.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, man. It's a nightmare. That actually just recently happened to Sal Volcano. Do you know, from the Impractical Jokers? Yeah, he and my boyfriend and like a bunch of friends went out on like this big night out to this big costume party. So they were all like, super dressed up.
Eliza Skinner
They were in costumes.
Aparna Nancherla
Huh?
Eliza Skinner
They were in costumes.
Jameela Jamil
In costumes, yeah. Yeah. And they were like, out in. I think it was like Greenwich Village and really elaborate costumes as well. They didn't, like, really, like, really made an effort. His wife had, like, inflatable. She'd blown up loads of rubber gloves and made an outfit entirely of rubber gloves. Sort of looking like udders all over the place. Like really, like a gorgeous gown. Like long sleeve gloves. He was dressed as, like a Magritte painting. And they go through the lobby and they're like, wow. There's like, no one in the lobby. This is clearly. Everyone must already be upstairs or this is not a very popping party. Get up there. The party was supposed to be the next day. The woman's just in her pajamas, wondering why these freakishly dressed people are standing out. I mean, it scared the shit out. Cause also, you couldn't recognize any of them. So she had no idea who the fuck they were who'd been let up.
Aparna Nancherla
It's like a horror movie.
Jameela Jamil
Exactly.
Eliza Skinner
In your fear as a host, do you worry about people showing up the wrong night? Because I worry about that a lot.
Jameela Jamil
Give people my address.
Eliza Skinner
When I do throw things, I have.
Jameela Jamil
A sign as you walk into my house that says, no Marlon Randos. That's it. I'm hugely unfriendly in that way. That's my sacred.
Aparna Nancherla
I know. I don't want anyone.
Jameela Jamil
No.
Aparna Nancherla
Even the mailman.
Eliza Skinner
I'm like, leave it across the street. I'll go get him.
Jameela Jamil
I might consider throwing a party. I only do it to just to single out, like, a few different friends and tell them it's a costume party.
It's like the theme is racism. And then just get them to do a hugely offensive costume. And then only they. Because that happened to my mum's fiance when she was younger. He was like a very, very famous broadcaster. And he got invited to this big party at the BBC. And he told, like, informal, like, invitation. He was like, you know, you must come as fancy dress. He came as a giant baby. So he was just wearing a big adult diaper with a bonnet and a dummy. And he walks in and everyone's in suits. And only he had been singled out in front of 600 people. Members of the media, the paparazzi, everyone. And he was like, one of the most famous broadcasters.
Eliza Skinner
Much worse.
Jameela Jamil
Bridget Jones diary, 100% nightmare. Thank you both for sharing such sweet and vulnerable stories with me. We like to ask our wonderful audience for their stories, and we call this part Misery Loves Company. This one's from Gideon. Gideon says my girlfriend's family invited me to a family vacation in the Caribbean. They bought the plane tickets and they told us that they couldn't get seats together. So the parents were in the aisle in front of me and my girlfriend was right behind me. Knowing that I could get away with it, I reached back between the seats and caressed her leg in the sexiest I could, feeling a bit cheeky. This went on for a while until I started to suspect the material I was feeling didn't match what I remembered her wearing. So I stood up, looked behind, and I learned that I was heavy petting a mystery dude sitting next to her. But worse still, my girlfriend saw it the whole time and fucking said nothing, by the way. And finally the guy just said, I just wanted to see how far this could go.
Aparna Nancherla
I mean, talk about a perfect zinger.
Eliza Skinner
They're married now.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah, they're all. It's a throuple now.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, God, it's so good. What a bastard. But what a funny bastard.
Aparna Nancherla
I know, that's so good.
Jameela Jamil
Oh, so pervy and wonderful.
Eliza Skinner
I wonder if the girlfriend was like laughing at all or.
Jameela Jamil
Or thought he was just cheating on her right in front of her or.
Eliza Skinner
Just like, that's him. He grabs stuff.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Jameela Jamil
Classic. It's absolutely amazing. You two are fab. Please tell everyone where they can find you and what you want them to see.
Aparna Nancherla
So I have a special coming out on dropout on December 15, which I am excited about. And then online you can find me on Instagram, Parnapkin.
Jameela Jamil
Mm. And Eliza.
Eliza Skinner
I directed a comedy special that's coming out on dropout on December 15th. It's very funny. Please watch it because you should watch everything that Aparna does. It's all iconic and charming and funny. And you can find me online. I'm on Instagram at Eskins and you can find most of my stuff there.
Aparna Nancherla
Eliza is multi talented. She's a comedian, director.
Has had her own podcast. But she also is a very talented ceramicist indeed.
Jameela Jamil
Where can people buy your pottery? You make monster pottery?
Eliza Skinner
I do. I make a lot of monsters. I make all kinds of stuff. But yeah, a lot of monsters. I have it on Etsy, but also if you look for me on Instagram, you can find links to all of that stuff. So.
Jameela Jamil
And you know, now that I know you better, which I feel I do, totally checks out in a fabulous way.
Eliza Skinner
The pottery part.
Aparna Nancherla
Yeah.
Eliza Skinner
Not just the guilty remnants.
Outfit.
Jameela Jamil
She came in so she didn't realize this is on camera. And she wouldn't have dressed like one of the guilty remnants that fucking killed me. Such a joy to meet you both. Thanks for coming in.
Eliza Skinner
Thanks for having us.
Jameela Jamil
Wrong Turns was created and produced by me, Jameela Jamil and Stuart Bailey. And thank you to consulting producer Colin Anderson. You can email us a voice memo of your own Wrong Turns. All you have to do is email person personal disaster storiesmail.com youm can find full length videos of our episodes on YouTube. And don't forget to subscribe like review wherever you get your podcasts and tell your friends about us. And if you are also enjoying me as a person, I have a substack. It's called a low desire to please. That's enough of me. I'm gonna fuck off now. By.
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Jameela Jamil
It's a gift.
Eliza Skinner
Thanks, Anna.
Aparna Nancherla
Anytime, Ann.
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Eliza Skinner
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Jameela Jamil
Go online or call to cancel.
Eliza Skinner
Requires autopay.
Episode: Aparna Nancherla and Eliza Skinner
Release Date: November 27, 2025
This episode of Wrong Turns is a hilarious, cathartic celebration (“where dignity goes to die”) of embarrassing stories and social disasters, hosted by Jameela Jamil. Joined by comedians Aparna Nancherla and Eliza Skinner, the trio share their most cringe-worthy professional and personal moments—eschewing any lessons or redemption in favor of pure, delightful commiseration. Stand-up mishaps, disastrous dates, and the awkwardness of the comedy world are all on the menu.
[01:04 – 03:13]
[03:21 – 05:19]
[05:33 – 16:29]
[16:29 – 37:12]
[16:41 – 29:04]
[26:24 – 28:26]
[30:53 – 34:50]
[37:41 – 39:21]
The episode is irreverent, self-deprecating, and honest, packed with banter, the kind of mutual vulnerability that’s both relatable and cathartic. There are no morals, little comfort, but a lot of permission to just let the humiliation breathe—and to laugh at the resilience and absurdity of everyday disasters.
| Time | Segment | Summary | |-------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 01:04-03:13 | Introductions, friendship, Hollywood | Aparna & Eliza’s comedic origins and dynamic | | 03:21-05:19 | Disney tour disaster | Epcot gone wrong, Halliburton’s cursed ride | | 05:33-16:29 | Micro-humiliations (standup/corporate/childhood) | Most mortifying bombs on and off stage | | 16:41-29:04 | Aparna’s wrong turn (terrible date) | Embarrassments in dating life | | 30:53-34:50 | Eliza’s wrong turn (party on wrong night) | Comedy world awkwardness; fear of hosting | | 37:41-39:21 | Listener disaster story | Airplane caress catastrophe | | 39:29-40:44 | Plugs and pottery | Where to find Aparna and Eliza online |
In Jameela’s words:
"Wrong Turns: where dignity goes to die."
Humiliation never felt so real—or so welcome.