[0:00]Gabbers on Gabbers. Gabbers on Gabbers. I was like trying to get into comedy seller and they were like, you gotta work here as a waitress and blow two of the guys. On the count of three, biggest bitch on set. One, two,
[0:23]I'm here with Rachel Sennet, star, creator, writer, director of, I love Los Angeles? I love LA. I love LA. Imagine if I didn't know anything about the show. That would be okay. I could tell you about it because I do know. So there we go. Sure. Um, and I'm here with Bo Yang. Um, first of all, I want to say one of the creators of SNL the Alt Comedy scene in here. I was gonna but also SNL. I made it. Um, star of SNL, No. comedian, host of longtime favorite podcast Las Culturistas. Been around. Friend to many. Friend to some. Now, You get older, the phone rings less. What am I doing? I love it. I don't know. Do you do you know what I want to talk about immediately? Come on. is when we when we announce the Oscar. That was an insane experience. It was an insane experience. I had flown in that day and then I flew back immediately after we were done. Yes. But we knew before everyone else who the nominees were. We did. Well, okay, this is what I wanted to ask you. Did you bring your phone in? No. Because just to explain, it's we're getting a midnight call time.
[1:46]And we are doing Glam from like 12 to 3. And then from 3 to 4, we're getting coached on the pronunciation of names. That was so hard for me. You had a hard time with Amelia Perez. Yes. Because once it got into my head that it was a, it was hard to say. Yep. It was over. And then I said it differently, I want to say every time. I was like, Emily in Paris. Emily in Paris. Emily Paris. Wik. Yeah. Yep. I mean, yeah. But you didn't bring your phone in, because we weren't allowed to. Whatever Janet Yang says, whatever the Academy decrees, I love institutions more than anything in this world. I love being a supplicant to this ritual. Now, I didn't bring my phone in, but you did.
[2:43]I didn't even do anything. I just was like, what if something happens where I need it? Of course. Like I have to take a picture of myself or my mom text me at 4:00 in the morning. Totally. So I did bring it. I did. That's good. See, this is why But I didn't, I want to say, reveal any information to anyone. No, this is the beauty of Rachel Sennet, everybody, is that she will break the parameters but still be professional. Thank you. That's actually all you want. Yeah. Legit. Break the rules a little but also know know where to draw the line. Know where to draw the line. Honestly, okay, we can get real. Because I feel like you and I have had a special peak into like the the ritual processes of awards. And we're part of that now, I would say.
[3:37]Why is it called 180? Why isn't it like 360? Totally. So, a listener will take your career in the opposite direction of where it's headed, which is the wrong direction. It's about like these things that we are doing that are supposed to evaluate like if you're good or not, if you like deserve a place at like the For Maid Dinner.
[4:02]Or if you deserve a place like with the brand sponsor. We have to talk about me as, oh my God, there's so many connective things. I'm a Ritz spokesperson. Oh my God, I when I saw that I literally was like, it felt so meta. It's incredible. No, you all knew what you were doing here at Variety pairing us together. Because Ritz supports LGBTQ+ storytellers. Then they do. And they do. In in the fictional TV version and in real life. Tolula and I, Tolula and I are Ritz, our queer Ritz.
[4:29]Thank you. You and Tolula are the queer faces of Ritz. Oh my God, I'm so honored. Ritz crackers. Isn't that crazy? When did you film that commercial? We shot that commercial in the fall for the Supa Bowl, for the big game. Sorry, we're not supposed to, for some reason they don't let you call it the Supa Bowl. They keep, please call it the big game. Please call the big game. Yeah, because it sounds natural in my mouth. This is your Yeah, please call the big game. Call the big game. Well, when that when did that episode air? That's It was it the show came out in fall. So it was like, I guess it was like, I feel like you probably filmed it. In response to I Love LA. No, before. Because our show came out like into the winter and it was like towards the end. Of course. But but it is crazy when I saw it, I was like, oh my God. It's perfect. I'm sure this happened all the time on SNL, because you're writing and responding to stuff as it's happening in the world. Mm-hm. And then sometimes things just sort of happen at the same time, you know? Yes. In your experience, do you feel like you you write stuff in response to things? Do you feel like things just naturally like, you you feel like you're writing something based on personal and then it comes true in the world? Like, what's your specifically SNL, but just in writing in general? I think it depends. I think I used to be more reactive with writing stuff, because it felt like that was just part of the expectation of the job. Yeah. But then I think I had the luxury later on to just be like, I'm gonna write what I want to write and, I don't know, y'all, like this is not a great vibe, it's not a great vibe out there at the moment. Yeah. And so it was challenging to be like, how do we make this funny? Funny? Because, you know, I don't know. Like there was something about that job that is extra clear to me now that was just like incredibly vigorous about like how to present something and package it in like a palatable way to the world. Like it has to be legible and it has to be understood and otherwise, there's no patience with comedy. Totally. Um, in that form. Yeah. And I feel like it was hard to like be optimistic about the world by the time that I like was finishing up there. Yeah. Oh, yes, sir. Master Sen, Dobby to go on the telly and define once and for all what a woman is, sir. And thank God I was there, because I felt like that was a really nice, it was a nice way to process things with people because just things were so bleak and like you had people who were really good at doing that like Colin Jost has been like writing the cold open since like I don't know, he was in diapers. Yeah. And so like he just has this preternatural way of like presenting things out into the world in a way that was like digestible and yet like reflective. And I feel like I love LA.
[7:31]Yeah. I really hope you own this. It is I think the only show, comedy or drama, half-hour or hour, or whatever, that like is very honest about how the world is like so motivated by these really like innate things and yet it is optimistic about them. That really means a lot. I feel like what we really wanted to do was deal with or not like deal with. I was like, We're going to deal with you. We're going to deal with. We're going to deal with you. Yeah. No, I think just it was I grew up on the internet. I started my career on the internet, and I feel whether or not you're an influencer or whatever, people present images of themselves or like versions of themselves to the world. And it's crazy because when I, you know, when I first met you, when I was first doing stand-up, I feel like the internet felt like a place to escape to and it was it was fun and it was like a playground, and you could sort of create this version of yourself and it was escapism.
[8:37]Oh. And it was so special. And now I feel um real life, like, I I feel like I'm like, what is happening in front of me right now is the escape and the internet feels Oh. it's hard to tell what's real. It's so there it's just like, so much information and so many. I feel like, just even I've seen every photo, I've taken every photo or version of myself that I can. I've been like, me and I, I just remember when I was like in college, I would literally go home and be like, Oh. I'm going to like take pictures. I'm going to post them on Instagram tonight. Like, and I would do a whole night of just like posing in bras and underwear and like making little outfits and that would be like my whole night. It was like, It felt good. It felt powerful. It felt creative. Yes, it felt so creative and fun. And now I feel like it's kind of flip-flopped. But that was I think that was our world we were trying to go into and and make our the entourage for internet it girls as opposed to Hollywood or whatever, but I think the internet, because that that was really shaped me. Yeah. And I think that's done the same for you where it's like, the internet, like Lost Culturistas but also you on Twitter, all of that, like, we all were coming up in the scene as live performers, but also online. Well, on that note, we were trying to come up in the scene as live performers, and yet I think we like encountered again, some kind of institutional barrier, where it was like, this comedy theater won't put up my show. I guess I gotta go find something else. Yeah. Let's go to Brooklyn and do shows there where like no one's giving us permission. Twitter, as it was called back in the day, was the same thing, where I was doing, this was not a thing at the time. I was doing like my little lip sync videos to like long like Aaron Brockovich monologues, whatever. Yeah. Like before it was like, before like TikTok sounds and audio were like, before it became like this conventional thing. And oh my God, like just the upstairs episode was so like brought me back to that. I was like, oh, yes, like, let's do like the 70th take of this stupid scene. I know. And you're alone in your house, and you're alone. Yeah. But I got to I have to nail it. Yeah. Well, I think I really think that I love LA gave me as someone who doesn't really totally understand influencer culture. As much as I would like to, honestly, I'm like, oh, this is like a this is what's happening. Like I should know more about this. And yet I still don't have like a genuine authentic peak at it. Like you guys really did bring that into a legible format where I'm like, oh, this is what the this is what the world is. Yeah. But it's like elevated. You all shot on film. We didn't. No? But that means a lot, because we wanted to shoot on film, but we couldn't, but we said, we're going to make a special lot. Filta. A what? A special what? A lot. A lot, which is something that I learned from It's a terrible word for it. It sounds like a lot. It sounds like Latt. To me, it sounds like Latt. You latt. You latt. It's like a lush. You know, when someone lush is like, you're drunk but sexy. Yes. So a lot to me sounds sort of like that. But I guess it's basically it is like a filter. But once I learn like a a film bro term, I'm going to Yeah, you're just going to bang into the ground. Yeah, you you see me walk onto a set. I'm going around and go, what's the lot on this? What's the lot on this camera? Hey. 20 millimeter lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wait a minute. But you did. But so we so um, we built a special lot for the show, so that it would feel like film. You got me. Nothing thrilled me more than to see at the end of the finale of I love LA, directed by Rachel Sennet. I was like, let's go. That was so fucking cool. I loved that finale so much. Yes. Because it was optimistic. It's like it ends in this wonderful moment of like, it's about friendship. It's about these two people like not waiting for this thing to arrive, so that they can go to the thing that they've wanted that's been building up the whole season.
[12:38]They're not waiting for someone else to give them permission. They're going to take the fucking train to the For Made Dinner. Spoiler alert. Spoiler. Spoiler. But at this point, you know. Come on. It's we we there's a TikTok edit of the end, so we have we it's we're past we're past it. I actually off of that, I want to ask you because I feel like you and Matt and so many people in the comedy scene, you know, just sort of being like, fuck it, let's do it ourselves. Like you and Matt Rogers starting Lost Culturistas in the show at at Bell House, like, I feel like just hearing you say, oh, people didn't want to put up my show or whatever and I had to go to Brooklyn. Yeah. Did you feel like you were starting a scene like at any point in New York? Like, did you was there because to me, when I, when you guys booked me on your show, and when I, like, discovered you guys, and Cat, and Pat, and everyone, like, I was like, oh my God, this is this this is what I've been a community that I've been like dying to be a part of that I've meanwhile I was like trying to get into Comedy Cellar and they were like, you gotta be like, you gotta work here as a waitress and blow two of the guys. Like, whatever. Like, that and I was like, I don't know if this is this is for me.
[13:57]I was going to be one of the guys. You were going to Yeah, that's why I tried to blow you, first night. They said, There's still time. They're still time. You can still do it. Well, they can't make up to this. But um, like, did you were you aware at any point where you like, I'm shaping a community here? No, that's very generous of you, Rachel. I, no, because you're just like, if you build it, will they come? sort of. You're in that mentality. I am. Oh, yeah.
[14:25]Oh, me, you know, a bunch of other people. We all came together. Yeah, we all came together. We did. But you did you ever or was there a moment where you looked back and realized that? I certainly look back on it now and I'm like, oh, if I could like tell those people, um, like what would what like what wonderful things would happen to them. Yeah. Like if I, Deborah, like just knew what the next like few years would be for her and like you and Kat, Pat, like all these people. I I just think I'm constantly up against this thing of like, oh, maybe there this is not to like, to my own horn or direct myself off, it's just like, oh, maybe there was something special about this group of people who like, kind of all just were bound by the same agent or something, right? It's like, oh, and this is why like community matters. And this is why, uh, like a common sort of interest and sensibility. Yeah. If I could tell Kat Cohen and Pat Reagan what their careers would turn out to be. If I could tell Matt Rotter what his career would turn out to be, like that would be so that would ruin something there. I know. No, I'm like, you couldn't, you couldn't tell us. You couldn't. Because it's I think it was there was something beautiful about just being in it for the for relevant. Like I I like what is it that you miss most about that time and what's something where you're like, you couldn't take me back?
[26:00]I hope so. I think so. Like Jeremy Cohen is in the show now and he's from the dropout world and I feel like he's very like character driven, the way that I am and like we like wrote some stuff together. I don't think it made it to air ever, but that's okay. But like this is just part of it. But still people, I think like, now having friends who have been on the show as performers and writers and whatever, I think like, having a seasoned cast member who is like, who gets the world and can like immediately sell a script at table read. Ah-ha. One like getting to write something with you or even like, like, I guess approval isn't the right word, but like, you're sort of like, um, vote of confidence or whatever. Some affirmative states.
[26:45]Totally. I feel that whenever you go into a new work space, whatever, like feeling welcome in. Of course. I mean, like, on my last day, just the whole cast signed this cue card with little messages. And it all came sort of full circle with what Lauren was saying to me, where Ashley Pedia, who was having one of the best seasons anyone's ever had. Yeah. Um, but she wrote, I hope it's okay that I'm sharing this. Actually, she wrote, like, you taught me, uh, how to be at this show, how to behave and how to treat people at this show. And thank you, I'll never forget that. And that's kind of the thing that I'm proudest of. Yeah. It's not even like the work. I mean, it's obviously the work, but it's like, uh, like my last sketch and the thing that like broke me, oh my God, like, I hope the footage never makes it out of me at table read, because I'm a I'm a fucking mess, sobbing. Because and it's and the the thing that broke me was, um, just saying like, the thing I love most about this place is the people. Look how hard they work. Yeah. Address, it was it was amazing. It was fun. But the air, I look out and like I'm between Ariana Grande and Cher, and then I look out and it's basically every single person who works at that show. Especially the people. I've loved every single person who works here. Because they've done so much for me. Especially my boss.
