0:06 as always extraordinary playlists is an
0:08 emotional rollercoaster
0:09 zowie account as people in her life
0:11 unknowingly singing to her about the
0:14 intimate feelings with some in dance I'm
0:15 Rob the courier singing heir to a god to
0:17 me I'm here with Lauren Graham who plays
0:21 as Ali's boss Joe Lauren Zoe's is unlike
0:23 anything else on TV these days it proves
0:27 how vital it is these days to empathize
0:29 with each other and have a good laugh
0:32 and a good cry how much do you love that
0:36 the show wears its heart on its sleeve
0:40 it's what I am always looking for her in
0:44 something in a project and I just really
0:47 felt the way I came into the show was
0:51 sort of odd but I knew knew about it
0:54 because I'm friends with Jane and and
0:58 even in when she was trying to decide
1:00 whether she was going to do it or not it
1:02 just really felt special to me and
1:06 hopeful and I mean there's nothing more
1:09 transformative than a musical to sort of
1:12 lift a story you know to another level
1:17 and and give all the characters another
1:21 way to express themselves another way to
1:25 another color and I just loved it and
1:28 and and it continued to surprise me it
1:31 was a little bit of a not a gamble but I
1:34 was in development on a couple of things
1:36 and so it was rape feelings need to be I
1:38 guess technically I'm a guest star
1:42 although yeah and I ended up I was in
1:44 too many episodes so I have to be a
1:49 sporty person yeah but I wasn't bound to
1:53 the show and and it was just really fun
1:54 to be there supporting my friends
1:58 feeling really collaborative and it's
1:59 just you know we had this phone call
2:01 yesterday because the show got picked up
2:03 and tossed in the creator of the show
2:05 told us all at the same time and I I
2:09 just realized you know what an
2:12 incredible group they are and
2:15 I just felt like he'd be there yeah so I
2:16 mean it's always his feet picked up
2:20 congratulations will you return I think
2:23 so I um you know everything so up in the
2:27 air I am I'm doing a series The Mighty
2:29 Ducks for Disney Plast s-- yeah and we
2:32 had best done the friend that's ten
2:34 episodes in a half hour and we just done
2:37 the first episode so Zoe's is 13
2:40 episodes and an hour those schedules
2:42 will not completely overlap they'll
2:45 they'll be some room and it's just a
2:49 matter of how many but yeah now and now
2:54 it feels like my home you know so I I
2:58 wouldn't want to to lose it also because
3:00 I had replaced someone it took a minute
3:03 to kind of get that character going and
3:06 I just think there's so many places for
3:09 her to go and it is something that I
3:11 never get to do you know I'm usually
3:14 playing like fun-loving buddy or
3:20 whatever and this was so such a
3:23 different whatever all the cliches
3:25 actors used but such a different muscle
3:26 and such a different headspace to be in
3:28 it was really fun
3:30 well let's talk about Jen because I can
3:32 easily to me she came across as a little
3:33 prickly and she's demanding enough
3:35 figured she'd be like the [ __ ] boss
3:37 but that's not her at all we end up
3:39 figuring out that she's really quite
3:41 vulnerable she's supportive she's
3:43 actually a really good leader and boss
3:45 she Zoey um was it fun was a fun
3:48 exploring that other side of her as the
3:51 season progressed brochure I the
3:54 conversation I had with Austin and one
3:56 thing I want to say about him too which
3:57 is I've had all you have all different
4:00 relationships with your boss you know
4:03 the person who creates the show and he
4:08 to his better or perhaps detriment is so
4:11 inclusive is so like wants to hear from
4:13 everyone and we had such fun
4:17 conversations and I think maybe because
4:19 I don't know it's just it was a
4:22 different process and and in those
4:25 conversations I said to him you know
4:26 let's find a way
4:30 to turn the like [ __ ] boss into
4:33 something more more complex and more
4:35 interesting and grounded really in in
4:39 what what this woman probably hasn't had
4:41 too many female friends on her way up
4:43 the ladder in Silicon Valley and she's
4:46 had to fight really hard but I just
4:48 definitely didn't want to do like I
4:51 didn't want it to be that she's
4:52 threatened by Zoey or doesn't want to
4:53 help her I just thought those are
4:55 societal we've seen that and it doesn't
4:57 feel real it never feels real to me
5:01 anyway and and but I did enjoy the prop
5:08 the idea that she's so obsessed with
5:11 work and smart that she's just really
5:13 walks around frustrated all the time
5:14 like why isn't everyone doing their job
5:17 exactly you know why isn't everyone is
5:19 obsessed with work as I am and it gave
5:22 her kind of a loopy place to go that was
5:24 really really fun and then you know some
5:25 of those musical numbers were like I'm
5:28 breaking a bad get over my knee like you
5:28 could too
5:30 you know what you get to really explore that
5:32 that
5:35 what is the furthest expression of this
5:37 person's frustration you know in song
5:40 you can even go she can do crazier
5:42 things that was really fun yeah she's
5:44 actually quite accurate in corporate
5:46 world she's really highly strung
5:49 clenched and so I could see a lot of
5:50 good performance was her being like that
5:54 and then slowly loosening up let's talk
5:55 about the musical numbers could you
5:57 raise and like um wrecking ball is one
5:59 way you really got to belt out a tune
6:01 because you've got it background and
6:03 singing you can actually carry - maybe
6:05 some people didn't realize this but we
6:06 should be talking about tick-tock
6:08 because that was if you don't mind me
6:11 saying sassy sexy Lauren Graham and I
6:14 like sassy sexy Lauren Graham I think
6:16 that was actually really fun to see you
6:17 in that light we don't see that very
6:20 often so was that fun to do it was
6:25 fantastic I mean I I got to you know at
6:33 this point I am interested in what else
6:42 trying to continue to grow creatively
6:45 but with Mandy Moore came to me first of
6:48 all I didn't really know the song and
6:54 people were offended I'm just my music
6:57 my musical knowledge stopped in like
7:06 aria but it was it was such an important
7:07 song for her because it's really this
7:09 kind of break you know she's breaking
7:15 out and and celebrating freedom and when
7:18 Mandy you know Mandy Moore the
7:22 choreographer does these pre be vis
7:25 where she will block her idea for the
7:28 dance with one of her dancers and then
7:29 she'll come discuss it with you and
7:30 showed to you get your feedback and
7:33 she's just fantastic and she and then
7:35 she was like and then you got up on the
7:36 bar and then and I was like I'm sorry
7:40 what like what she's like yeah and then
7:43 you're gonna fall into his arms Mandy no
7:48 no no and then on the day you know one
7:51 of the you just have to commit so I just
7:55 really I had to flip a switch like maybe
7:59 I don't identify sassy sexy but I do
8:02 today you know and I and then I then I
8:05 became like obnoxiously unstoppable I
8:07 was just like swimming down poles and
8:11 stuff and gosh it was just just
8:15 opportunities you know it reminded me
8:18 because I had sort of had a few years of
8:21 more writing and really feeling
8:23 frustrated at the material I would get
8:26 sent and and maybe losing some of the
8:28 things I liked to somebody else it was
8:31 just a funny transitional time and I
8:35 felt so thankful and inspired again and
8:37 and that's something that sort of was
8:38 getting to the place where I was like
8:41 maybe I should do a medical drama which
8:43 is like I can't it could never and you
8:45 know or whatever I just couldn't find
8:48 something that really sparked joy and
8:52 this dip I'm so glad you found our
8:54 I was watching this cast reunion thing
8:56 online that you guys will keep the other
8:58 day and you talk about your first job as
9:00 being like a lawyer and you were like
9:02 being chewed out by the judge or
9:03 something like I don't know if you
9:06 recall yeah but I can't imagine you
9:08 going back to roles like that after all
9:10 this time I'm in fact if you don't mind
9:12 I'm gonna put this to you to see if you
9:14 agree because this is I've always had
9:15 this theory about you in particular like
9:18 I deal with many performers you've been
9:20 fortunate to play relatable and nuanced
9:23 characters over your career and this
9:25 one's another one of those but the
9:28 reason why we seem to we're attracted to
9:29 your characters is because you've got
9:31 this interesting vulnerability
9:34 underneath the competent exterior when
9:36 you're playing them and I'm just
9:37 wondering if that something that occurs
9:39 to you like Lorelai was like that Sarah
9:41 Braverman was like that Jones like that
9:44 is that something that is just you or is
9:45 a saying that you're thinking about
9:49 giving these characters first of all
9:53 thank you that's a nice thing to have to
9:59 hear I guess it's a case-by-case basis
10:06 but I'm always thinking about the
10:11 difference between what people say and
10:15 and how they're how they're really
10:20 feeling and I never think of I don't
10:23 think I've played any character except
10:25 maybe Shakespeare back in drama school
10:30 who's saying what they mean in in a very
10:36 linear way and so I'm always trying to
10:40 think of what what's the other dimension
10:42 especially in these because all those
10:45 shows to some degree are comedies and
10:47 even that show that you're referencing
10:48 where I'm a lawyer that was a half-hour
10:51 sitcom yeah where I was like I was like
10:57 a jokey lawyer but yeah I'm just always
11:00 thinking about the humanity and and
11:03 especially in the case of Joan I just
11:05 really don't believe in stereotypes I just
11:05 just
11:09 I don't think it's interesting to watch
11:15 or play and so I was thinking a lot in
11:20 the case of Joan about how hard she's
11:22 had to work to get there I mean you're
11:23 not consciously thinking of it in a
11:26 scene but when I it's it's almost like I
11:28 I'm visceral and so when I put something
11:36 in my body it's just kind of it's
11:38 finding where something lives like and
11:43 lived in a lot of like you know like
11:45 it's a speed it's finding like what her
11:48 tempo is and then what's the counter to
11:50 that and the counter in in her cases
11:53 marriage crumbling money doesn't mean
11:55 anything it didn't buy her happiness her
11:58 you know company is potentially in
12:01 jeopardy she doesn't understand why she
12:03 doesn't have more friends you know that
12:05 was the thing I thought about and and
12:07 and we got to improvise in this one
12:10 scene where I'm giving her a pair and I
12:13 it originally was something else where I
12:15 go get her something fancy and I said to
12:17 Austin I said I don't think she would
12:20 know what to get a friend yeah as a
12:22 president like I said she'd get her
12:25 something that is totally wrong and
12:27 that's where the manila black shoes came
12:30 from yeah it's way too expensive to give
12:32 an employee nobody gets it somebody's
12:34 shoes does it get like it's it was just
12:37 wrong and then in the scene you know I
12:38 didn't know how to kind of give it to
12:40 her I kind of shove it in her like
12:42 things like that you know things like
12:44 that to me that's where I like live for
12:46 as an actor is those little pieces of
12:48 behavior because it tells us everything
12:50 about who this person is and it's both
12:53 it's like yes she's the boss but also
12:55 she's like a little feels vulnerable and
12:57 doesn't know how to have friends and so
13:00 that's a dynamic that you know it's kind
13:06 of fun to find and yes I hope I think
13:10 about that with all the characters also
13:12 who feels who walks around feeling
13:14 confident I don't really know that many people
13:19 great
13:21 great but I don't personally necessarily
13:24 know what that feels like so maybe
13:26 that's what I'm bringing to it you know
13:28 I'm always thinking like what what are
13:31 they worried about yeah and I think like
13:32 to go back to the beginning of this
13:36 interview this show this show does that
13:38 because it's obviously about what people
13:39 are thinking and feeling that they're
13:42 not saying that's the bottom line
13:45 so this that leads me to this the the
13:47 fans of the show have really taken to it
13:49 because it's made them feel something
13:51 those shows out there that do that like
13:53 for example Parenthood was like that
13:55 this is us is like that and so is this
13:58 show have really become a sensation on
13:59 social media and when the finale
14:02 happened and Zoe's dad Mitch died and
14:04 then the cast sang American Pie the
14:07 outpouring on social media the real
14:09 grief was really astounding what were
14:11 your thoughts and your end on the
14:15 feedback are you were getting oh it was
14:20 just such a special thing to be part of
14:29 and um and you know it's very real to
14:32 Austin who lost his dad to this disease
14:37 and that's where a a kernel of the idea
14:43 came from so to know that and was very
14:48 moving and it was a lot of emotional
14:52 time on that show you know you can't
14:55 feel it unless we are feeling it at
14:57 least to some degree mean as actors we
15:01 do it differently but it is so much
15:07 heart the show and and that day it was a
15:09 Warner it's a very long song we were
15:12 doing you know a time-lapse thing so
15:14 there was just this dance that had to
15:17 exist among all these people who we'd
15:19 spent all this time with and we're all
15:21 kind of there for each other and were
15:23 there for to honor
15:27 hopefully Austin's memory and memory of
15:41 gratified I guess is a word but it's
15:43 it's the highest it's what you want to
15:47 do they you don't always get there as a
15:51 performer is give something away is give
15:55 a piece of yourself away in order to
15:57 give someone else is an experience I
16:01 mean that's the job that's the hope you
16:04 know and so often we feel we fall short
16:07 you know I tried to give you this story
16:11 or this character this you know moment
16:14 and didn't you know it didn't work out
16:18 or the lighting was bad no commercial
16:19 came you know I don't know so that we
16:23 had that space but just made people feel
16:25 really good and you know we have I don't
16:27 know if this has been out there but
16:29 there was a video that's almost as
16:32 riveting of everyone around the monitors
16:35 you know watching holding their breath
16:37 hoping that this is going to be the take
16:40 you know that nobody drops anything and
16:42 everybody and it's it's just that
16:44 collective kind of we're all truly
16:48 minutes together to try to bring you
16:51 some entertainment it's just like I find
16:54 it really moving and I found that
16:56 experience moving and yet then yes to
16:59 hear from people because you know I've
17:00 been doing this a while and I don't
17:02 necessarily hear from my high school
17:03 friends anything more they're like oh
17:05 yeah you were on The Tonight Show anyway
17:08 you know they don't care which is good
17:12 and and but I've heard from people more
17:14 than more than usual that really was
17:16 touching for them that means a lot
17:19 that's so cool and I hope I hope he gets
17:21 is like a nomination for directing or
17:23 because I think the direction of that
17:25 episode was just a plus but that's a
17:28 whole other conversation yeah speaking
17:31 of making an impact on people I mean
17:32 you're you know this you know that
17:35 people love Lorelai Gilmore right it's
17:37 something it's a character that many
17:38 millions of people have taken to their
17:41 hearts a couple of years ago we spoke to
17:43 you and you said that your time on the
17:45 show went by in a blur but you only took
17:46 stock in what
17:48 meant to you and how rare a part was
17:51 much later so now we're even further
17:53 away from Lorelai and even the being the
17:56 Netflix sequel series what does she mean
17:57 to you
17:59 given that she means so much to so many
18:05 other people well it hasn't I think
18:09 being able to do the Netflix revival put
18:13 her back in my first of all anything I
18:16 ever got to do in show business came
18:18 from that so I'm never not thinking
18:21 about it I'm never not thankful I'm
18:23 never you know these are friendships
18:28 with Amy Palladino like you know you as
18:31 I said to Jane many times regarding
18:34 Zoey's you hope you get one of these
18:38 where it's a marriage I've seen Jane
18:42 perform you know act sing dance be
18:45 emotional be an athlete like there's no
18:47 you couldn't picture another person in
18:49 that part and and if you've got one of
18:52 those you know Amy used to say this to
18:57 Amy now has two of us mrs. basil this is
18:58 a much bigger commercial success
19:03 whatever but I I I treasured the
19:04 experience of being able to come back
19:07 around and have those words in my mouth
19:11 again and have you know bring bring her
19:17 back it means the world to me and and I
19:19 and I almost have to never hold anything
19:23 up to that you know level in a way it's
19:25 like maybe I'll get to do something else
19:27 that's different and interesting maybe
19:30 I'll get to produce and then be part of
19:32 the you know which I am on the Ducks
19:35 Disney does show and then be part of the
19:37 creative conversation like but I'll
19:42 never get that marriage of material and
19:47 youth and and what I love to do and you
19:50 know and then that it hits a nerve you
19:54 know that continues to find new people
20:00 is it's just I'm incredibly
20:03 thankful and and if ever I'm feeling
20:07 frustrated or yeah whatever I just think
20:09 look at what you have look at this thing
20:12 you have you know and and I do feel a
20:15 real responsibility to it too because as
20:19 a result you know I mentor young girls
20:21 who some of whom we've never seen in
20:23 don't care but it just it that age group
20:26 and their moms or you know who were the
20:27 core of our audience even though I know
20:37 you well you're a part of the wives but
20:39 it just you know I think I would have
20:42 had a connection to that anyway because
20:44 I just remember my adolescence so well
20:47 but that it gives especially young girls
20:52 something to you know look up to it's a
20:57 really big deal and so not that I would
20:59 do this anyway but you know if I get
21:00 sent like a horror movie or something
21:03 I'm like because you know I carry that
21:13 with unfortunately running out some but
21:14 I have two very quick ones
21:18 I'm save the SAG but the Emmys had a
21:20 blind spot for that show and I'm sure
21:22 it's being brought up we need before but
21:24 were you aware of the outrage amongst
21:26 fans and critics that you were never
21:33 nominated well I was aware of it only
21:34 because I get interviewed about it every
21:37 year and then I remember I remember
21:41 because you may know but I I as a
21:43 sensitive person I try to stay out of
21:45 anything that isn't just my day of work
21:48 but it comes to you in certain events in
21:51 certain instances and I do remember one
21:52 year there was something in the trades
21:55 where they had literally changed the
21:58 voting and it called it the Lorelai rule
22:01 and I forgot what shift was well phone
22:04 yeah you know one thing was as a voter
22:07 because I'm now a voter you tend to you
22:10 try to watch everything but you vote for
22:13 what you like and you already know and I
22:16 think so many people perhaps would not
22:19 have thought that was a show for them so
22:21 it's it doesn't didn't have the
22:23 popularity and the zeitgeist it had its
22:27 core people but you know it was on the
22:30 network it was a honey where perhaps you
22:32 think that's for young people that's not
22:37 you know worthy of that kind of you know
22:41 attention and so ultimately over time I
22:43 just wanted to bring in a win for my
22:47 bosses and because there sometimes was
22:49 an expectation of like maybe it's this
22:52 year we changed the category or we you
22:53 know we tried this we did a campaign or
23:01 whatever but ultimately I think you know
23:07 you you have to just be gracious and not
23:12 go into any job or any pursuit for the
23:16 outcome yeah well we have run out of
23:19 time you are two-time New York Times
23:21 best seller you're writing a game which
23:23 is fantastic because everyone has read
23:24 talking as fast as I can if you had
23:28 already gone get it thank you so much
23:29 for your time today it's nine years in
23:41 everybody gotta go Jamie making
23:43 predictions click subscribe got plenty
23:44 of contender chats just like he's brilliant
