1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Kitty Kirk and this is next question. 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: You know, when I told my team I was interviewing 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: today's guest, they went nuts. Winda Brunson just seems to 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: have that effect on people. She's the creator, writer, producer, 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: and star of Abbot Elementary, a workplace mockumentary following a 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: group of determined teachers and one slightly less motivated but 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: hilarious principle at of Philadelphia Public School. Guys, I need 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: a new rug. Mine is officially done. Me too. I 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: shook mine out and all of the asthma kids had 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: to go to the nurse's office. Yeah, mine's busted. And 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: he can't class up a rug like he kind of 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: couch with a nice quota plastic. He would it do? 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: Baby booth? Which I think about this low film corrobborading 14 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: here distracting makes our jobs harder, but exciting. Were about 15 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: to be on TV because they are covering undefunded, poorly 16 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: managed public schools in America. No press is bad press, barb. 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: Look at mel Gibson, still thriving in front of the camera. 18 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: Quinta plays Janine, one of the newer, more relentlessly enthusiastic 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: teachers Behind the scenes, Quinta has created something unique, a 20 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: network sitcom that manages to authentically portray the real world 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: struggles of public school educators, and it's resonating. Viewership of 22 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: the show, which is in its second season, is breaking 23 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: records for ABC, and it's piling up all kinds of accolades. 24 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: For this year's Critics Choice Awards, Abbott has more nominations 25 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: than any other TV show it starts or benefiting too, 26 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: including Sheryl Lee Ralph, who's getting some long overdue Recognitionminin 27 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Dane Species. You might have seen her emmy speech. It 28 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: brought the room to its feet and meet a tears song. 29 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: I am a mana, I'm antist and not be. I 30 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: caught up with Quinta at the tail end of her 31 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: busy production schedule, and she was understandably beat. She spoke 32 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: to me during a break between writing sessions in Los Angeles. 33 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: It must be so fun to be in a writer's room. 34 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: My daughter is a writer for a show called The Boys, 35 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: which is on Amazon. Yeah, yeah, and you know, and 36 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: I hear her. She does a lot of her stuff 37 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: on Zoom. But I've always wanted maybe when I come 38 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: to l a. I'll be able to. Maybe you'll let 39 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: me sit in on your writer's room. I come to 40 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: l A for a month in the winter to see 41 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: my daughter to work, you know, remotely, because I hate 42 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: cold weather. I just have to get out in New 43 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: York City and um, it must be so fun to 44 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: be in a writer's room. It is, um, you know, 45 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: just like any other working experience. It can vary, you know, 46 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: it depends on what room you're in, where you are. Yes, 47 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: so my daughter has been in some not so fun rooms, right, 48 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: it happens. But I bet The Boys is actually a 49 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: pretty fun one. I bet that's a great show with 50 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: great producers. I think that our room is made to 51 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: be a really enjoyable environment. Um. I have two wonderful 52 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: co producers, Justin how Pert and Patrick Schumacher, who really 53 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: help facilitate such a healthy room. I I know, for 54 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: me personally, I always wanted to have an enjoyable room 55 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: where people can feel comfortable speaking, can we can brainstorm easily, 56 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: We can be efficient as well as exciting. But we 57 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: just we have a great room. One of my favorite 58 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: thing about our room is we started ten every day 59 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: and we're done typically before four o'clock. That's not that's nice. 60 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: My favorite part is you know, we get to go home, 61 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: so that's exciting. I would think it would be so 62 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: important to have good chemistry in a writer's room and 63 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: a good environment where people can riff and have fun 64 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: and you know, and I don't know, it's it must 65 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: be the strange alchemy because you have to be respectful, 66 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: but you also have to feel free to throw out 67 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: ideas and not be afraid. Right. Yeah, Like I said, 68 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: like in a healthy room, you get to do all 69 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: of those things. You get to throw out out ideas, 70 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: you get to collaborate, you could be respectful of others. 71 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: I think the key to a healthy room is respect, 72 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: you know, respecting the other writers who are in the 73 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: room with you, their point of view. Um, we just 74 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: had a conversation about the episode we're watching. And although 75 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: it is my show, and I think in a lot 76 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: of other cases people would say, well what I say goes. 77 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: I'm always it's not just open to but grateful to 78 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: be able to hear the thoughts of the writers and 79 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: see making sure that we're all on the same page, 80 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: that we're feeling heard their ideas make the show better. 81 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: So you have to maintain an environment where people feel 82 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: comfortable sharing. And for me, my writing process goes all 83 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: the way back to improv, which is the rules of 84 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: yes ending instead of no butt. So it's always how 85 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: can we build off of each other? Um, how can 86 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: we hear each other out and come to the something 87 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: that makes the entire room comfortable? And if it doesn't, 88 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: let's talk about why and and really get in there 89 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: and make something good. So I that's that's an important 90 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: part of a writer's room, and when that writer's room 91 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: is operating off of that is such a good experience 92 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: like that, But it takes a lot of humility for 93 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: someone like you to be willing to take feedback from writers. 94 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: And what if you feel like you know you want it, 95 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: you're you're open to it, but you totally disagree. I mean, ultimately, 96 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: it is your name on the show, so you do 97 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: you just say, you know, how do you how do 98 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: you handle that? Like that's a really interesting observation and idea. 99 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: But I like it the way I get it, you know, 100 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: I just stay honest. I do. I love to hear 101 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: how everyone feels and very often my mind will be changed. 102 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: But every once in a while, say Nope. This is 103 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: what makes it my show to me, and if I 104 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: were to waiver on this, then it wouldn't feel like 105 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: my show or something that I'm comfortable having my name 106 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: put on, and vice versa, if the thing were to 107 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: Most of the time you're getting into that discussion about 108 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: something that might blow up, you know, something that might 109 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: get get audience feedback that is not necessar saily great. 110 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: We haven't had that happen in it with Avid, thank goodness, UM, 111 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: but you know, every now and then it happens. We 112 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: had a charter school storyline this season that UM upset 113 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: a few people who who work in charter schools, And 114 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: because that was my decision, I was able to say, yeah, 115 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: I own that, Yeah you're upset, and that's okay. I 116 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: made that decision. Uh, and I take that fully on 117 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: my back because that is what I wanted to happen 118 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: in the show. So whenever I do just kind of 119 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: say no, this is the way I wanted, I'm also 120 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: making sure I'm prepared to take whatever blowback could come 121 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: from that decision, which I that's part of the responsibility 122 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: of helming a show UM as a creator and just 123 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: knowing that if things go South. It's on YouTube. But 124 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: also only that I think is really important. Well, it 125 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: sounds like it's it's a fun place to work, and um, 126 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: and thanks are going so well for you. First of all, 127 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: I just want to say congratulations from for all your 128 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: success you're Are you still thirty two or if you 129 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: turned thirty three? Quina? Thirty three? In let's see what 130 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: day it is? How many days? Wow? Wow? Well that's 131 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: still your baby. You're very young and you know, oh 132 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: my god, honey, you know I'm sixty five, So thirty 133 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: three sounds pretty sweet to me. Although I wouldn't change 134 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: a thing. No, I feel I feel lucky to be 135 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: the age I am, and I feel like everyone needs 136 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: to appreciate every year they have on the planet. Absolutely, 137 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: but I feel really bad. Things are going so so 138 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: badly for you these days. I'm kidding. I feel like 139 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: I feel like I feel like every interview must start 140 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: this way. Quenta, Wow, what a year you've had. You're 141 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: the award winning writer, creator, and showrunner of Avid Elementary. 142 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: You single handedly revived the dying Network sitcom. The Hollywood 143 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: Reporter named Comedy Star of the Year, and you just 144 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: played Oprah in Weird The Aligankovic story. So does every 145 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: interview start that way, Quinta? You know most of them do? Yes, 146 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: most of them do? Yeah. I can't lie well. I 147 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: tried to start out in a more original way, but 148 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: I couldn't figure out how to do that. So I 149 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: just want to ask you. I mean, how are you 150 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: dealing with it? Is it is this thrilling? Is it overwhelming? 151 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 1: Is it a mixed bad? What it is? Um? Over No, 152 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: overwhelming is not the right word. It's thrilling. I think 153 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: that I focus very much on keeping my feet on 154 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: the ground, and I think that's what keeps it from 155 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: becoming overwhelming. You know, I think I know what's happening 156 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: every day, Even on days where I'm don't totally know 157 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: my entire schedule, I'm keeping in tune with what's going on. UM. 158 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: I recently had that interview with Oprah which came out yesterday, 159 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: and although I have not watched it, I remember talking 160 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: about Oprah was talking to me about UM. You know, 161 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: her her rise of making her show was essentially a blur, like, 162 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: it's just happening. You're just doing your job every day, 163 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 1: and I feel like you probably can relate. You're just 164 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: doing your job and and Oprah said that she felt 165 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: like for the first time she was able to look 166 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: at me and see what it looked like or felt like. 167 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: So I feel like that comforted me because I can't 168 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: really slow down to see what it looks like. Things 169 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: are just happening every day and I'm just writing wave 170 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: because ultimately, I feel like I just need to, like, 171 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: you know, stay healthy, and it feels good to focus 172 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: on my work like that. Um. I think that in 173 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: the future I'll be able to look back and just 174 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: be like, whoa that this is all crazy, But for now, 175 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: I've just compartmentalized it into things that happened every day. 176 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: So even talking to you, although you were the wonderful, 177 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: incredible kid, Curic, it's like, you know that's in the 178 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: calendar is okay, I'll be doing that and then I'll 179 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: be going back to the writer's room and then who knows. 180 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: I think I'll process it in like three months. At 181 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: the same time, have you taken any like moment to 182 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: just say, wow, this is so exciting. I mean, it 183 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: is kind of kiss met when everything comes together. You know, 184 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen that often, right, And yeah, for you 185 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 1: to come up with this idea. Yeah, write it, create it, 186 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 1: starring it, and birth that. Really I hope you've able 187 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: to been able to take a moment to say this 188 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: is this is really cool? I think so I think 189 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: I have I do. I have those moments every now 190 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: and then. I took my dad to a six Ers 191 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: game this past week, and um was that crazy? It was, 192 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: you know, because I'm in my l a bubble a 193 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: lot and getting to go back home is rare, you know, 194 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: it's kind of like holiday time. Um. I was excited 195 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: to take my dad to that game just because when 196 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: I was little, he used to take me to games, 197 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: you know, and so I was excited to be able 198 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: to do that for him. And were you on the JumboTron? Yeah, yeah, 199 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: I heard, I heard I was. But they had us 200 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: ring the Liberty bell, which is what you know, celebrities 201 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: do at the beginning of the six Years game. And um, 202 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: that was a moment where I got to sit and 203 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: take it in, like, whoa, I'm able to take my 204 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: dad to the six Years game. I'm able to like 205 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: sit courtside with my dad and have you know, like 206 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: James Harten say hey to me and like the the 207 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: you know, the nets and stuff, and my dad got 208 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: to meet the legendary basketball player named World be Free. 209 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: I didn't know him. My dad's out about him, but 210 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: then that you know, he's freaked out. Then later that 211 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: guy was like, I love your show, and I was like, 212 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: oh my god, thank you, and you know my dad 213 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: loves you and you know it took a picture with him, 214 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: which was so cool. So it's like moments when I'm 215 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: able to do that for my dad or yeah, this 216 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: is I have a couple of show. It's the most 217 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: you know, odd moments. It's not technically when I'm accepting, 218 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: worried or something. It's like when I can do something 219 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: very hyper specific for my family. Well, it's I think 220 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: it must be incredibly exciting. And I want to talk 221 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: to you about your family, Quentin a minute and a 222 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: little bit about your upbringing and sort of your slightly 223 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: circumlocutious road to creating this show, because you've done a 224 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: lot of other things I know kind of leading up 225 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: to this point, but but I wanted to focus just 226 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: for a minute on the show. I know you came 227 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: up with the idea because your mom was a kindergarten 228 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: teacher and she used to come home and regale you 229 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: all with stories. Did you think, I mean when you 230 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: set out to do this show. Tell me a little 231 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: bit about your thought process, because I'm so fascinated by 232 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: the genesis of an idea. The idea really came when 233 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: I went to go visit my mom, and I spent 234 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: so much time with my mom in schools. I was 235 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: in her class, I went to the school where she 236 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: taught for all of the elementary school, and then constantly 237 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: was just more than just being a student. Was always 238 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: in schools and my mom was very involved, so just 239 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: hearing about everything from her. That wasn't until I, you know, 240 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: I went to college and moved to l A. And 241 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, I wasn't in that environment 242 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: as much anymore. But I wasn't in that state of 243 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: knowing how important or formidable, you know, that environment was 244 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: to me and how familiar I was with it. So 245 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: when I went back to visit my mom before she retired, 246 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: I was just in this environment again. All of a sudden, 247 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: that familiarity just hit me in the face. I was like, WHOA, 248 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: I forgot how you know this halways smell these floors, 249 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: this these walls, man, this is so rich and it's 250 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: something a world I know really well that I forgot about. 251 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: So I think for me, I like to create stories 252 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: about a world I know very well, and I feel 253 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: like I like to know the smell of that world, 254 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: you know, I like to know all of those kinds 255 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: of details. And ultimately, you know, despite what people take 256 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: away from when they watch Abbott, I really just wanted 257 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: to make a workplace comedy. That was my goal. Just 258 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: a twenty two minute sitcom. Uh no more poignant than 259 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: then uh, you know any of the other workplace comedies. Really, 260 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: I think with a show like Abbott that naturally the 261 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: heart comes out differently, the lessons that people learn from 262 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: the show, It just comes out because of uh where 263 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: me and the writers the places where we could be 264 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: right from. You know, we're I think we're big on 265 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: humor and humanity and so uh because of that, people 266 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: get a lot more from the show. But my goal 267 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: is to keep it a workplace comedy. These things need 268 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: to happen here the same way that they've happened on 269 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, shows like The Office or just shoot Me. 270 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: Like it just needs to feel um. So I love 271 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: that it's both the sitcom and and sort of the 272 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: mockumentary style of the office. Um, and it feels a 273 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: little ted Lassoe with the heart and the focus on 274 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: the characters, the teachers. How did that come come? Bath? 275 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: Did you just say, I like this style, so I 276 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 1: want to have the teachers. I want them to convey 277 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: what's happening internally and all that. Yeah. I just thought 278 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: it was a great opportunity for mocumentary. I mean, I 279 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: saw it as a mocumentary initially. That's just what I 280 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: saw when I thought of the idea. But what was 281 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: always fun to me about mocumentary is with it you 282 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: get two versions of a character. It's just multilayered, which 283 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: I think is so beautiful for the mundane field fields. Um, 284 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah. Uh. There's a show that people don't know, 285 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: but it was one hbos an Australian show called Jamay 286 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 1: and it was it was very it is really silly, 287 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: not the most politically correct, but it was just this 288 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: girl going to her prep school and you find yourself 289 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,479 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, super into this girl's life, you know. 290 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: And I think it's that those double layers to people 291 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: that mocumentary provides that makes them more enticing and I 292 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: felt like that was really great for these teachers, in 293 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: particular in the school like abbott Um, to get two 294 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:11,719 Speaker 1: sides of them, what they showed her the camera and 295 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: what they showed to their um uh, their cowork It's 296 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: also interesting to watch that relationship develop over time. You know, 297 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 1: a character like Gregory, who kind of wants nothing to 298 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 1: do with the cameras at first, are now finding them 299 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: to be the only people. You know, he they that 300 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: he can trust. And I think it's fun for the audience, 301 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: you know, it keeps them on their toes of There's 302 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: so many people who, like in our show, would love 303 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: for Gregory and Janine to get together. But you know, 304 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: Gregory and Jeanine don't know what the audience knows. They 305 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: really don't. They don't know what the cameras know, you 306 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: know what I mean, they don't they You guys are 307 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: seeing it, but they're not seeing anything really right. Same 308 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: thing with Barbara, I mean, all of our characters. There's 309 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: there's opportunities for Barbara to say stuff to the camera 310 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: about her profession that she would never say to your 311 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: co workers. So I just find it so exciting. It's 312 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: such an exciting format. I don't think it always works, 313 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: you know, like I think sometimes it's a hindrance or 314 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: a crutch, but I don't think it is here. It 315 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: makes you feel like you're part of the inside joke, 316 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: you know, as a viewer when people like glance at you, 317 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: even if it's quick like when you were getting off 318 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: the ladder and you glance quickly at the audience or whatever. 319 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: It Yeah, it makes you. It brings you into that world, 320 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: and it makes it feel much more intimate, which I 321 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: thought was really important too. I knew that, and once again, 322 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 1: I didn't give it that much thought. I think I 323 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: was just moving with the current of the idea. But 324 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: there are ways people could look at a public school 325 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 1: like Abbott and dismiss it and dismiss what kind of 326 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,880 Speaker 1: love is there and what kind of cares there. So 327 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: I wanted people when they watched the show to feel 328 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: like they're in this school. I didn't want them to 329 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: to feel like they're the aquarium looking in at the fish. 330 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: I wanted them to be in there with them, because 331 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: a certain kind of care comes from the audience. Then 332 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: they want to protect these characters. They want to protect 333 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: these kids. They work at Abbot two, they go to 334 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: abbit two. Um, I think that that's something that's so powerful. 335 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: And yeah, it was kind of like a theory I 336 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: was testing and it wound up being true watching people 337 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: care so much about these characters and you know, like 338 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: want merch want they want the abbot, they want the 339 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: most the lanyard, Like why do you want that lanyard? 340 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 1: But you know people want to they feel a part 341 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: of it. And that's so beautiful to me, and I 342 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: think that's the sign of like a good a good show. 343 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: When we come back, Quenta walks me through the often 344 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 1: real life inspiration for her avid elementary teachers. That's right 345 00:20:54,520 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: after this. I wanted to ask you about the focus 346 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: of the show because it really, as you know, is 347 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: on the teachers. And um, I'm curious what you're hearing 348 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: from teachers because teachers are rarely portrayed in such a 349 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: loving light I think, and obviously funny too, But have 350 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: you heard from a lot of teachers who who say 351 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: they finally feel seen? I'm getting tired of that expression, 352 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: but you know what I mean. I know, I mean 353 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: all the time, all the time, all the time. What 354 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: do you hear from them? It's always thank you, thank 355 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: you for showing what we go through. And you know, 356 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: teachers are interesting because we usually talk about feeling seen 357 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: in terms of like race or sex, um, sexual preferences, sexy, 358 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: but not with like a profession. And I think that's 359 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: what's so unique about teaching is it's this marginalized part 360 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: of the government workforce. You know, we we have to 361 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: have teachers. We have to No one can do anything 362 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: without a teacher. It's just you know, in order for 363 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: me and you and I to sit here and talk, 364 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 1: we had to learn English. We had to, you know, 365 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: learn so much. And teachers do that and um, they're 366 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: paid so little. There overlooked, they're under appreciated. Um, they 367 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: should be the most revered next to doctor. You know 368 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: what I mean. I couldn't agree with you more so 369 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: more than feeling seen for them, it's it's not like 370 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: seeing like representation. It's appreciation for what they do, you know, 371 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: for their actual work. I think is what they're feeling. 372 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: It's like someone appreciates our work. And now the world 373 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: is starting to appreciate our work more. We're not just 374 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: someone who stands in front of a chalkboard. I would 375 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: always have kids say to me, you know the way 376 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: they my mom was a teacher, so there will be 377 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: other kids in my class who looked at teachers in 378 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: this very foreign way. But to me, I'm like, this 379 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: is my mom. She comes here, she does this job, 380 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: and then she goes home, she makes dinner, she buys 381 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: me clothes, she takes me to church, to cheese. She said, 382 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: she like five other kids. But to them, when you're 383 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 1: just a student, that's just a teacher, and they they 384 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: do stuff, they get on your nerves, and then they 385 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: go to sleep at the school and then they wake 386 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 1: up in the morning and they teach you again. And 387 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: I think that that's the way a lot of like 388 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: America unfortunately, looks at teachers. And I think teachers just 389 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: come up to me to tell me, you know, thank 390 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: you for appreciating what they do and knowing that it's 391 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: more than just babysitting and that it's a hard, hard job. Um. 392 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: I'm such an advocate for them being paid more, and 393 00:23:55,880 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: I I don't know who I have to, like, I 394 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: don't know what we have to do to get them 395 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 1: paid more, but they just deserve like so much more money, 396 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: especially in under resourced schools like like Abbot Elementary Um, 397 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: which you you focus on in a kind of funny 398 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: but serious way. And I love that you take real 399 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: life issues that educators face but do it in a 400 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: way that is not too heavy handed. Is it challenging 401 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: to to be able? Wanted to kind of weave those 402 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: things into the script and not feel like you're preaching. No, 403 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: not for me, it's not my storytelling style. Two have 404 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:48,159 Speaker 1: those things way down the script or the scene or 405 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: the line. I just think that there's more power and 406 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: uh in in showing and telling. And I think we 407 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: just did this in the room. It's and I think 408 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: it's important to focus on the mundane. And in the mundane, 409 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: are the details really? Like if you just listen long 410 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: enough to someone talking about doing their job at the airport, 411 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: they're just talking. I just talked to someone at the 412 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: airport and they're just talking to me. They were having 413 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: a casual conversation. But in that mundane conversation, I'm like, Yeah, 414 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: that's messed up. That's messed up. That's messed up. But 415 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 1: people are just doing their jobs. They're just getting through 416 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 1: the day, you know, they're just uh, they don't have 417 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 1: time all the time to talk about how messed up 418 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: something it is They're just they got to do their job. 419 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: They have to do their work, and so that's kind 420 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: of how I approach Abbott. These are people who just 421 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: have to do their job. They could stop right stop 422 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: and talk about the injustices all day, but they have 423 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: to teach the kids. That's the goal of the job. 424 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: The job is not to talk about the job. It 425 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: is to do the job. And I think you so 426 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: much more out of that. I loved when Shirley Ralph 427 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: was talking to your character about supplies and about not 428 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: emphasizing what the kids don't have, but emphasizing what they 429 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: have and working, working with the tools you have to 430 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 1: give the kids confidence. And there's obviously a lot of 431 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: wisdom from Barbara, who I guess is sort of loosely 432 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: based on your mom. Yes, absolutely, not loosely very but 433 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: you know what's fun is now the character has taken 434 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: such shape and form. It's I love what Barbara with 435 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: the Barbara character has become, and I love still influencing 436 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: her with my mother, but also watching this character turned 437 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: into you know, someone very special. That's that's my most 438 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: my favorite part about writing. I can start with inspiration, 439 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: but then watching the character take on a life of 440 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: its own is so so that's the most rewarding part 441 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: about it. That's when you really feel like your character 442 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: is alive, and that's so fun. You know, Miss Howard, 443 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: you remind me so much of my favorite teacher from 444 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 1: the third grade, Miss Elliott. She was well dressed, good 445 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 1: with kids, a wizard with a glue gun. Thank you, Jenny. 446 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: That is very I wanted to be just like her. Actually, 447 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: I was like obsessed with her. She wrote my report 448 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: card note needs friends her own age, A bit clingy 449 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: she was anyway, Hey, did you get my email about 450 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: the two of us hanging together after school? Or no? 451 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: It must have gone to spam. It's so crazy how 452 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,959 Speaker 1: my emails do that with you and nobody else. And 453 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: tell me about the Lisa and Walters characters, sort of 454 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: the rough Italian um. Of course I loved her in 455 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: the parent Trap. But what was the inspiration for her character? 456 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: Did you create her out of whole cloth? No? My 457 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: mom always had a best friend, no matter where, you know, 458 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: for years it was a woman named Miss Facey, and 459 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: I love miss Facey. She just always had a partner. 460 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: And then when my mom switched schools during the last 461 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: five years of her career, she had this friend UM 462 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,919 Speaker 1: named was it camera? I think it was Melissa. I 463 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: think I just used that name Melissa Michelle or something 464 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: like that. And I met her and I was like, 465 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 1: I like this woman, you know, like I like the 466 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: role she plays in my mother's life, and my mom 467 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: feels very safe with her. They feel safe with each other. Um, 468 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: they feel comfortable enough to talk about the silliness of 469 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: the school district and the silliness of their principle at 470 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: the time, and I just thought that was such an 471 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: endearing relationship. And these are two women who are from 472 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: opposite sides of the city, different races, different religions, but 473 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: their common ground is we gotta do this job. Let's 474 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,959 Speaker 1: just get it done. Here's the silly thing that happened today. 475 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: And they've been doing the shop for a long time. 476 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: So Melissa was super motivated by that UM woman in 477 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, Lisa audition for that role, and I mean 478 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: really just brought to life what it was. It's in 479 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: a tone of Lisa's voice to be both tough and 480 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: very subtle and caring all in the same breath. And 481 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: she just owned it and made it and I maintain it. 482 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: I think she's one of the best. She's really really good. 483 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: I love people who can be as subtle as subtle 484 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: as she can, and it's like my favorite type of actress. 485 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: And I think that Lisa just killed it. And once again, 486 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: that's a character that has grown so much. We I 487 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: love adding in character traits to that character to make 488 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,719 Speaker 1: her turn into a very alive, well fleshed out character. 489 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: Who's brend Zino? Is this that is a very powerfully 490 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,479 Speaker 1: smelling fish to put in a shared fringe. Don't touch it. 491 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: I'm making it tonight at my cousin and nets. I 492 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: just think she's the best cook in the family. I'm 493 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: gonna show her in a non threatening way. I'm gonna 494 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: look cutter than her too. Janelle James is definitely not 495 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: so subtle, not know, which is one of my other 496 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: favorite parts of the communic spectrum, which is in your face. 497 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: But I will say that Jenell's performance of Eva Um, 498 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: it's just fascinating. There was no one else who could 499 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: have done that job. And jan All has such a 500 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: handle on who that woman is. You know, it's a 501 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: woman that is utterly ridiculous, but you love her, and 502 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: I think we write her that way but Janelle knows 503 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: exactly what to do to make it so that the 504 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: audience can't help but be in love with her. And 505 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: that's something very unique to Janelle. Like I said that 506 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: that those auditions were hard, and jen I mean as 507 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: soon as she spoke, I was like, we're done, no one. 508 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: It's an essence that she can carry of, you know, 509 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: making you be both in love with this character but 510 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: hate them and you you'd be sad if they weren't there, 511 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: but you're mad they're there. It's very very special. Um, 512 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: she's so good and UM, I don't know. I'm just 513 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: excited to build out more of Ava. There's there's stuff 514 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: coming up that I think is so great. The other 515 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: great thing about that characters, even when they're small winds 516 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: for her, the audience feels justified and being like, see 517 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: this is why I like If she can spend the 518 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: whole episode horrible, but then if she just says one 519 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: right thing, you know, everyone's like see see this is 520 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: why I like her. And I think it's really fun 521 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: to have a character like that. Let me see these 522 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 1: permissions left to the zoo, and they better be real 523 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: because I can tell if you're fake to herb be Hancock. 524 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: Oh it's John Hancock. Girl. I know, I'll just say 525 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: whatever I want. We learned that. Yet it's funny how 526 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: like how complex sort of all these things are in 527 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: terms of the dialogue and the plot lines. And I 528 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you two about Tyler James Williams, who 529 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: is subtle who Um I've really enjoyed watching as well. 530 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: Tell me a little bit about that character and where 531 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: Tyler came from. So yeah, I mean that character. Well, 532 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 1: I'll go to the first part. So Tyler. I had 533 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 1: worked with him one Black Lady Sketch Show, and I 534 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: just so enjoyed working with him. It was just a 535 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: wonderful experience for me with him One Black Lady Sketch 536 00:31:55,720 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: Show that was kind of like my first time um 537 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: acting with uh, with the guy with the man and 538 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: had that I had to be romantic with. It was 539 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: like get in the sketch or whatever. But it's a sketch, 540 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 1: so we didn't have time to like build much uh chemistry, 541 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: you know. We had to say our lines and do it. 542 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: But I felt as though we had the natural chemistry 543 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: that you look for with with all of the actors 544 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: in your life, like it's a chemistry I look for 545 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: with Janelle with um, you know, with with all of 546 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: the actors in my show, I have that chemistry. I 547 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: knew it would have to be special though, with the 548 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: Gregory Jeanine relationship, since you know, it's insinuated that it's romantic. 549 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: And when I was writing this character, I just kept 550 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 1: seeing Tyler in my head. I was like, you know what, 551 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: Tyler has the right look for this. I know he 552 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 1: can act it. I know we have a natural chemistry there. 553 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: I really hope he can't do it. So I told 554 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: him about it. This was during the pandemic, so I 555 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: didn't know how he was gonna. I don't know if 556 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: he would be one of those people that's like, I'm 557 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: never working again. I don't want to. I don't want 558 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 1: to do TV to the Mountain said. I didn't where 559 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: it would go. But he was like yeah, he said 560 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: that sounds great. And I sent him the script once 561 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: it was finished and he was like, I really like this, 562 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: and um, he was just like a shoeing. I think 563 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 1: we auditioned some of other people, but no one beat 564 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: out Tyler's approach on the character. He just headed down 565 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: and so, um, you know, His character comes in very 566 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: much not wanting to be here and now, As I said, 567 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: watching him grow and he he comes off super suave 568 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 1: and and and everything in the beginning. But one thing 569 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: that I'm really proud of in this show is we've 570 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: gotten to show his quirks and he still gets to be, like, 571 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, to the audience, this guy who's exciting and 572 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: kind of a heart throb, but also it is a 573 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: dork and has these quirky things about him. All right, man, 574 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: you I can't do this. I just don't like pizza. 575 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: Said that again. I don't think I heard you, son, sweetheart, 576 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 1: What do you mean you don't like pizza? I just 577 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 1: don't understand the concept of having a bunch of ingredients 578 00:33:57,440 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 1: just slosh around in your mouth. It's not just pezza 579 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: to I've got like four or five things that I 580 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: actually like and I just stick to those. Do you 581 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 1: like pie? Fruit should not be hot? And I think 582 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,840 Speaker 1: that's really important for a black male character to be 583 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 1: all of that at the same time. And it's just 584 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: exciting to watch that character form um through the writers 585 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: and through Tyler's performance. That's Tyler is the king of 586 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:33,359 Speaker 1: unexpected choices. And I find it so exciting, you know, 587 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 1: to see what kind of choice he's gonna make. I 588 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: absolutely love acting in scenes with him. He and I mean, 589 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 1: I love acting scenes with all of my um all 590 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 1: of my cast members, but him and Jacob Chris Parfetti. 591 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,400 Speaker 1: I love acting in scenes with Chris. Makes me feel 592 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: like a better actress. Like, well, now that you brought 593 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: him up, I don't want to leave him out, you know, like, uh, 594 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: he put the off and off right tell me about 595 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: him and and and sort of the inspiration for his character. 596 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 1: So the inspiration for his character was kind of like 597 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 1: my um. I had a friend and I have a 598 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 1: friend in New York named Matt, and I love Matt. 599 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 1: I think he would go to the ends of the 600 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: earth for his children and was always coming up with 601 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 1: new fun projects and um and just loves his job. 602 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:30,759 Speaker 1: He genuinely does, loves it so much. And he's one 603 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 1: of the teachers in my life that I talked to 604 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 1: the most. And I really wanted to have a character 605 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: someone like Matt represented in this show. And so with 606 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,720 Speaker 1: Chris's character Jacob, I felt like it would be easy 607 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: to say, oh, this white guy, he's being a white 608 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,719 Speaker 1: savior blah, blah blah, but like, no, there's more than that. 609 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: There's more to him than that, and his position and 610 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:53,880 Speaker 1: why he winds up in the school like this in 611 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 1: the first place, and the choices he makes, and I 612 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 1: just think that Chris had such a handle on him. 613 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: It could have easily been a very stereotypical portrayal of Jacob. 614 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 1: But Chris was so subtle, I felt, I love subtlety, 615 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,879 Speaker 1: and it still funny and exciting. Hey, do you want 616 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 1: cheesesteaks from the corner store for launch day? Not from there? 617 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 1: The guy behind the counter he calls me white boy. Well, 618 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 1: it's like a term of endearment, and like, if you 619 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: don't like it, just ask me this up no way. 620 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,880 Speaker 1: There's an entire chapter on white fragility on that, okay, 621 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:28,720 Speaker 1: Robin D'Angel And she says, when you start policing people, who, Hey, Melissa, 622 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: can you please tell Tana has He quotes here that 623 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: white boy is a term of endearment from the corner 624 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:35,760 Speaker 1: store people. So Zach Gertz, Yeah, for him, it's an insult. 625 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:40,399 Speaker 1: I think he's so funny because he's so earnest, he's 626 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: trying so hard, and he's trying I think he's one 627 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 1: of these people who is maybe hyperbolically progressive and and 628 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 1: and really um almost performatively uh progressive in a way, 629 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 1: which is you know, you know, his heart's in the 630 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,440 Speaker 1: right place. But and we we talked about that a 631 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:06,839 Speaker 1: lot of One of the main things in this description 632 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: for the character and the pilot was he is woke 633 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: to a fault, Like is that a bad thing? I 634 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 1: don't know, let's find out. Like I I kind of 635 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: dough all of my characters. I don't like to label 636 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: people bad or good or wrong or right. I think 637 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: the exploration of how all of these different points of 638 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 1: view mixed with each other. So putting them in a 639 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:35,280 Speaker 1: scenario where all of their points of views, you know, collide, 640 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 1: that's the real way to get something good. Instead of 641 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:44,040 Speaker 1: just labeling Jacob bad because he's you know, overly woke, 642 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:49,400 Speaker 1: labeling Janine bad because she's overly optimistic. It's just playing 643 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: with those in between gray areas. They give you a 644 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: good story. After the break, Quinta talks about her family 645 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 1: and her wild and wooly twenties. So you're the youngest 646 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:19,240 Speaker 1: of five kids, and um, you grew up in West Philadelphia. 647 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 1: As we've established, your mom was a kindergarten teacher. You 648 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:27,359 Speaker 1: were the baby, um, and what about your dad? Tell 649 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 1: me a little bit about your family dynamics and were 650 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 1: you the the family clown. I'm the youngest of four, 651 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 1: and I was like that, Oh, I've talked about the 652 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,840 Speaker 1: youngest a lot um being the youngest. Talked about it 653 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 1: with Nick Kroll. Actually he's the youngest in his family. 654 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,319 Speaker 1: We've talked about with that freedom you're allotted when you're 655 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,360 Speaker 1: the youngest child. Do you feel that too, Yeah, definitely. 656 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 1: My parents were tired by the time I came around, 657 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,040 Speaker 1: and I think they were much harder on my older 658 00:38:55,080 --> 00:39:00,160 Speaker 1: sisters and even my brother. I agree, um so had. 659 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 1: My dad was actually a manager of parking lots, which 660 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: I think was so cool in retrospect. It's funny enough. 661 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 1: I just had the experience that I had going back 662 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:16,279 Speaker 1: to my mom's school. I had the experience. I went 663 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,880 Speaker 1: into a parking garage and had to go into the 664 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 1: little booth you go to you know whatever, and I 665 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,879 Speaker 1: was like, wow, this this smell, this familiarity. I spent 666 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 1: so much time in these kinds of booths as a 667 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: little girl with my dad, and I was like, oh wow, 668 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:32,200 Speaker 1: is my next show going to be about parking lots? 669 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:37,400 Speaker 1: But no, but he was a parking manager. He UM. 670 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 1: My dad's fascinating. I think he is simply everyone says 671 00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:43,879 Speaker 1: it's about their dad, but he's one of the best 672 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 1: men I know. And I think he made a lot 673 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: of sacrifices to raise so many children. I think it's just, 674 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,200 Speaker 1: you know, he had a whole life. My parents were 675 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:58,359 Speaker 1: you know, they were they were explorers, hippies, you name it. 676 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 1: And he settled down in out like a real job 677 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 1: to be able to take care of his children, which 678 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: I think is so admirable because both of my parents 679 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:09,920 Speaker 1: is they're they're so talented. My dad was a gymnast, 680 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:14,360 Speaker 1: he was an artist, and they decided that the children 681 00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:16,640 Speaker 1: they were having were more important. And I don't know, 682 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,200 Speaker 1: I admire him so much for that, I really do. 683 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:23,680 Speaker 1: So you you graduate from Temple and then you kind 684 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:25,799 Speaker 1: of are are searching for what you want to do. 685 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:28,400 Speaker 1: Just tell me a little bit about your twenties, Quinta 686 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 1: um and and how you ultimately ended up making videos 687 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 1: for BuzzFeed. But just just fill in the blanks for me. 688 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:40,480 Speaker 1: The twenties. I loved my twenties, Um, I did. I 689 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,319 Speaker 1: really lived it up. I'm so proud of myself, um 690 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 1: to the point where it makes me sad when I 691 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:47,080 Speaker 1: see other kids not doing it. I'm like, no, this 692 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:50,719 Speaker 1: is the time to live it up, be safe, but 693 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:54,719 Speaker 1: have fun. But no, I graduated from Temple, had a 694 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 1: ball in college. Or I'm sorry, I didn't graduate from Temple. 695 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:01,600 Speaker 1: I just left and went out. Came to l A 696 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 1: around twenty three, was it. Yeah. I had some breakups, 697 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 1: had some fun, and then I started working at Apple 698 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:12,880 Speaker 1: out here to help, you know, I had to have 699 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:17,000 Speaker 1: a job, and I explored. I was on my own 700 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:21,040 Speaker 1: and really explored it. Like I had fun. I made 701 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:25,040 Speaker 1: new friends. I um, I went where I could with 702 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:28,239 Speaker 1: the little money I had. I took you know, went 703 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: to Palm Springs, went to josh for Street, took the 704 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 1: trips I could take, met people. Um. When I started, 705 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: it was around two thousand and fourteen when the platform 706 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:42,960 Speaker 1: Instagram got video, and before Instagram had video just pictures 707 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:47,120 Speaker 1: and you know you that was it. But the video 708 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:49,840 Speaker 1: part really opened up a certain section of virality. I 709 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:53,360 Speaker 1: was already practicing comedy before then. I was doing improv 710 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:55,920 Speaker 1: and I really wanted to make it big. With stage 711 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:58,480 Speaker 1: improv and you know, going to either be on SNL 712 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:00,800 Speaker 1: or somehow find my way to making my own show. 713 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 1: But then, um, I just started making these little videos 714 00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:07,560 Speaker 1: with no intention of going viral or fame or anything. 715 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:09,840 Speaker 1: It was just I'll make these little videos for my 716 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: friends to watch. Students, This is peces and a large 717 00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:23,840 Speaker 1: form a large you got your money, he got money, 718 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:26,759 Speaker 1: get it all. You know. They went super viral, which 719 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,600 Speaker 1: was super new for that platform, and I just started 720 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:35,280 Speaker 1: serializing them, which was exciting because it made me feel like, Okay, 721 00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm doing and I don't know 722 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,879 Speaker 1: why I'm doing it, but I'm enjoying this idea of 723 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, serializing, making sort sort of a universe, sort 724 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:45,400 Speaker 1: of a show. This is what I've always wanted to do, 725 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:46,799 Speaker 1: and it's cool to be able to do it. And 726 00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:50,879 Speaker 1: um I had fun doing it and made a lot 727 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:53,239 Speaker 1: of money from selling T shirts with the catchphrases. But 728 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:55,439 Speaker 1: eventually that money ran out and I needed a job, 729 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,759 Speaker 1: and honestly, I missed the stability of a job. I 730 00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:01,279 Speaker 1: didn't like the idea of all of that being on me, 731 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:03,640 Speaker 1: having to sell T shirts and having to make weird 732 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:06,560 Speaker 1: appearances for money. I was like, I'd rather have a 733 00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:09,120 Speaker 1: nine to five than live like this, And so BuzzFeed 734 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:11,239 Speaker 1: came into play, which would up being a perfect job 735 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 1: for me because I was able to be creative, have 736 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:17,680 Speaker 1: an audience, and have a consistent income for a very 737 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: long time. I worked there for three years, I think, 738 00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: and it wasn't I needed that. I needed two having 739 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:30,120 Speaker 1: a consistent check. And over time while being at that company, 740 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:32,840 Speaker 1: you know, my income grew. I was able to save, 741 00:43:33,040 --> 00:43:34,840 Speaker 1: which I had never been able to do in my life. 742 00:43:35,440 --> 00:43:38,000 Speaker 1: Savings was just out of the question, and I finally 743 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:40,399 Speaker 1: was able to put money away, which wound up being 744 00:43:40,440 --> 00:43:44,239 Speaker 1: important for me later um to have money, I could 745 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:46,359 Speaker 1: you know, live off of well, I failed my way 746 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:49,480 Speaker 1: after I left BuzzFeed. So my twenties was just a 747 00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:55,040 Speaker 1: lot of building career wise, and also I was a 748 00:43:55,120 --> 00:43:57,960 Speaker 1: young single woman for most of my twenties and I 749 00:43:58,040 --> 00:44:02,680 Speaker 1: really enjoy at that time. You know, I feel like 750 00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:07,360 Speaker 1: I lived a lot of life and I I love that. 751 00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 1: And it's funny because people they'll I think I come 752 00:44:10,120 --> 00:44:12,839 Speaker 1: off a little unassuming, but like I lived a lot 753 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:16,000 Speaker 1: of life during that time, a lot of relationships, a 754 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:19,040 Speaker 1: lot of experimenting, a lot of fun. I had so 755 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:21,880 Speaker 1: much life, So it was good. And you're lucky because 756 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:24,799 Speaker 1: that sort of got through your twenties before the pandemic, 757 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:28,799 Speaker 1: which was really fortunate because I think for a lot 758 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:32,880 Speaker 1: of kids, you know, at that age now the pandemic 759 00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:37,760 Speaker 1: has has really kind of affected them in a negative way. 760 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:41,560 Speaker 1: And I hate that, Yeah, I really do. I wish 761 00:44:41,560 --> 00:44:43,959 Speaker 1: that weren't the case. It makes me sad because even 762 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's a twenty six year old p a 763 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:49,359 Speaker 1: writer's pa, and I talked to him be like, how 764 00:44:49,560 --> 00:44:51,239 Speaker 1: you know what's going on? Like are you dating? Are 765 00:44:51,239 --> 00:44:55,359 Speaker 1: you going on? And no? He's like, yeah, no, it's 766 00:44:55,400 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 1: a pandemic. Like we've never he's like in his twenties, 767 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:00,600 Speaker 1: he hasn't really practiced the art of like going out, 768 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:04,759 Speaker 1: meeting meeting people, meeting girls. It's all been digital for them, 769 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 1: even more than it was during the pandemic like that. 770 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,560 Speaker 1: It's just become a more singular life. It's kind of 771 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:14,080 Speaker 1: left a pall over I think, sort of people's uadity. 772 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 1: If you will, I agree, I agree, which is which 773 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:22,040 Speaker 1: is a shame it is. I hope they find their way. 774 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:25,440 Speaker 1: I hope so too. My daughter's twenty six, and I 775 00:45:25,480 --> 00:45:28,560 Speaker 1: feel like it's it's had an impact on her and 776 00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:33,120 Speaker 1: a lot of kids her age. You did the what 777 00:45:33,200 --> 00:45:37,200 Speaker 1: was the sketch show called again Quinta that you did? Yeah, 778 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:42,640 Speaker 1: you did that. Um, but this has been obviously sort 779 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:47,360 Speaker 1: of off the charts successful. Do you do you prefer 780 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:51,439 Speaker 1: acting to to writing or if you had to pick 781 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:53,799 Speaker 1: one or one or the other, which would you do? 782 00:45:54,760 --> 00:45:58,919 Speaker 1: Or do you feel like they're inextricably linked. Oh that's 783 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:04,240 Speaker 1: a good question, you know what, that's a really good question. Um. 784 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:06,120 Speaker 1: I think now at this point in my career, I 785 00:46:06,280 --> 00:46:11,600 Speaker 1: realize that when it comes to acting, I guess I 786 00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:15,120 Speaker 1: don't want to just act in just anything I do 787 00:46:15,360 --> 00:46:17,719 Speaker 1: want And I feel like every actor feels this way. 788 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:20,880 Speaker 1: So I don't feel especial in saying this, but you know, 789 00:46:22,080 --> 00:46:25,879 Speaker 1: I want to feel like I can do I can 790 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:28,280 Speaker 1: do this. Rule Like, I want to have the feeling 791 00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:30,480 Speaker 1: of like I not only can I do this, I 792 00:46:30,480 --> 00:46:34,280 Speaker 1: will also be challenged by it and that feels exciting 793 00:46:34,360 --> 00:46:39,319 Speaker 1: to me. So I've I've gotten offers to do some 794 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:41,640 Speaker 1: other things, and I just feel like, oh, if I 795 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:44,000 Speaker 1: don't feel challenged or excited by it, I don't want 796 00:46:44,040 --> 00:46:47,120 Speaker 1: to do that as an actor, I'd rather do something 797 00:46:47,160 --> 00:46:53,080 Speaker 1: that makes me feel artistically fulfilled, like a real piece 798 00:46:53,120 --> 00:46:56,200 Speaker 1: of the puzzle and somebody else's vision, and that I 799 00:46:56,239 --> 00:46:59,320 Speaker 1: can add to it and also perform exactly the way 800 00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:03,680 Speaker 1: that they like me too. I like acting, it's just that, 801 00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:07,720 Speaker 1: you know, I do. I do enjoy writing. I think 802 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:12,000 Speaker 1: just a little bit more. But but who knows, you know? 803 00:47:12,239 --> 00:47:14,080 Speaker 1: I think that for instance, like when I got to 804 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:17,520 Speaker 1: go to the opera role such a small thing that 805 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:21,680 Speaker 1: was so exciting for me and joyful, and like I said, 806 00:47:21,719 --> 00:47:23,319 Speaker 1: it was like something where I'm like, I can do this, 807 00:47:23,400 --> 00:47:24,759 Speaker 1: but also I feel like it's going to be a 808 00:47:24,840 --> 00:47:27,480 Speaker 1: challenge to do this right, and that is exciting, you know. 809 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:32,120 Speaker 1: I think that's that gets any creators blood pumping. And 810 00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:35,680 Speaker 1: I respect other people's creative vision so much so to 811 00:47:35,719 --> 00:47:39,520 Speaker 1: be able to be a working um cog and another 812 00:47:39,560 --> 00:47:42,799 Speaker 1: machine is actually quite exciting to me. It sounds like 813 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:45,919 Speaker 1: you're going to have your hands full too with Avid Elementary, 814 00:47:46,040 --> 00:47:50,560 Speaker 1: which I know they ordered more seasons, I mean more episodes, right, 815 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:54,240 Speaker 1: didn't they order? Didn't they order twenty two instead of twelve? 816 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:56,960 Speaker 1: Or like crazy? So they did? It was thirteen for 817 00:47:57,000 --> 00:47:59,600 Speaker 1: the first season and this season. Our second season, which 818 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:03,520 Speaker 1: we're currently filming and airing, is twenty two. And do 819 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:07,359 Speaker 1: you see it lasting a while longer? Yeah, as long 820 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:10,720 Speaker 1: as they wanted to and I wanted and we wanted to. Yeah, 821 00:48:11,200 --> 00:48:13,560 Speaker 1: you know, I love what Abbott is for ABC, and 822 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,000 Speaker 1: I love making the show. Well, I think they love 823 00:48:17,080 --> 00:48:20,040 Speaker 1: you and appreciate you too, which is a good and 824 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:24,640 Speaker 1: important feeling. But listen, I'm really thank you very much 825 00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:27,399 Speaker 1: for the time. Thank you for doing this interview. It's 826 00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:30,800 Speaker 1: really really a treat to meet you. And I'm really 827 00:48:30,880 --> 00:48:34,480 Speaker 1: enjoying the show, so continued success with it. Thank you 828 00:48:34,520 --> 00:48:37,759 Speaker 1: so much, Katie, I really appreciate it. You can watch 829 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:42,040 Speaker 1: Abbott Elementary on ABC or String both seasons now on Hulu, 830 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:44,720 Speaker 1: and if you want more of Quinta, you should also 831 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:49,319 Speaker 1: check out her book of essays, perfectly titled She Means Well. 832 00:48:56,320 --> 00:48:58,520 Speaker 1: Next Question with Katie Kirk is a production of My 833 00:48:58,680 --> 00:49:02,600 Speaker 1: Heart Media and Katie currec Media. The executive producers Army, 834 00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:07,320 Speaker 1: Katie Curic, and Courtney Litz. The supervising producer is Lauren Hansen. 835 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:12,200 Speaker 1: Associate producers Derek Clements and Adrianna Fasio. The show is 836 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:16,120 Speaker 1: edited and mixed by Derrek Clements. For more information about 837 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:19,080 Speaker 1: today's episode, or to sign up for my morning newsletter, 838 00:49:19,120 --> 00:49:22,000 Speaker 1: wake Up Call, go to Katie currek dot com. You 839 00:49:22,040 --> 00:49:24,680 Speaker 1: can also find me at Katie curriic on Instagram and 840 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:28,239 Speaker 1: all my social media channels. For more podcasts from I 841 00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:32,200 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, 842 00:49:32,520 --> 00:49:34,760 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows,