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