Quinta Brunson | Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I'm so excited about our guest today. It. is the incredible Quinta Brunson, who is. not only funny and smart and gracious. and a seemingly great boss, but is a. mogul. Is kind of a just an incredible. driving force in an industry and kind in. many ways saving it from extinction. Not. not no no no no no no pressure. But.

anyway, um I'm so excited to have a. Quinta here to talk about all of those. things and to hang and we always uh like. to do uh something at the beginning of. of our shows where we gather people. together that know Quinta, that have. worked with her, that um know stuff. about her that we would never know and. ask them how they feel about her and. what they think I should ask her. This episode is presented by the Toyota. Grand Highlander. Life's journey brings.

constant change filled with exciting. surprises, new chapters, and grand. challenges. And the Toyota Grand. Highlander is more than a vehicle. It's. your partner in embracing all life. throws at you. Blinked and the kids have. grown up. The third row can fit three. adults. From daily routines to. life-changing adventures, the Toyota. Grand Highlander is up for every grand. challenge. Learn more at. toyota.comgrandhighlander. Toyota, let's. go places. [Music].

Let me just tell you who I have here um. with me. I have Kate Peterman. Kate's a. writer on Abbott Elementary. Hi Kate. Hi. Zach Evans, also writer, creative. director in LA. um founder of Create. Repeat, an online community for. creatives and also a Buzzfeed alum with. Quinta. Hi, Zach. We have Ash Perez. Hi, Ash. Ash also a Buzzfeed, I guess, like.

we you could say a Buzzfeed alum, right? Buzzfeeder. Buzzfeeder. Okay, welcome. And then we have the big boss, Andrew. Goautier. French name. Congratulations, Andrew. You were the head of BuzzFeed. video when Quinta and all and and Zach. and a lot of you were and Kate and and. Ashley were all making content um. together. This is not a deposition. Nothing you say will be used.

But welcome to Good Hang. How's everyone. doing? Feel a bit like I'm I'm in a. performance review with Andrew, but. besides that, great. Andrew, do you like. to do performance reviews? Speaking of. performance reviews, yeah. Um because I. think a lot of a lot of performance. reviews are just like criticisms and I. think I always tried and I think we. always tried at BuzzFeed to focus on. positives. You know, we wanted to like. be an incubator for talent. So it was, you know, focusing on what people were.

best at. Andrew, uh I can uh say that's. a lot of corporate speak you just threw. at me. You said incubator. You said. incubator. You said it. Let's go around. before we start and say some of our most. fun corporate slang. I'd like to circle. back and piggyback off of what Andrew. was just saying. I too. Yeah. Follow up. on that, Kate. Uh I would just like to. plus one all of your comments on that as. well. I just want to ping that plus one. real quick. Do you guys know the. comedian Lisa Beasley?

Um she does a corporate character that's. so funny. She does a um on Tik Tok she. does a character called corporate Aaron. Yes. Oh yeah. She did it during co that. incredibly. long. nasly beginning of a meeting where she's. like it's 9:29 and I guess we'll get. started and she has like tons of vocal. fry and she's definitely trying to get. the meeting started and she's really. upset and she has a lot of stuff to get.

through. It's not easy. It's not easy. Anyway, okay, Kate, why don't we start with you? Um, tell um tell me um how you and. Quinta met. We met in college. I met. Quinta um when we both got on the same. improv team at Temple University, Fowl. Play, cuz our mascot was the Owls. I'd. love to hear that you did like I did. very nerdy improv stuff because Oh, yeah. I think sometimes in comedy there.

are two types of people. There are the. cool people. And then there are people that did. improv. and you write for Abbott. How long have. you been writing for the show and what's. that like? Uh since the first season. Um. it is sick cuz I remember being with. Quinta on her uh like balcony at this. old apartment and she was like she had. just gotten home from uh Philly and she. was like I was visiting my mom and I. just really want to do this show about. teachers. And this was like years before.

Abbott actually happened. So, it's been. in like it's cool to see it go from that. idea and then um I was in the pilot with. her and getting there to film and seeing. her like walk around calling the shots. and just cuz I got there and I was like. it was my first ever time like whatever. and I so I was so nervous and trying to. be professional and then she just turns. the corner was just like KP and just. like nice and loud and I was like oh. this is so [ __ ] cool. I'm. interviewing Quinton today. Okay, I'm.

going to ask her a bunch of, you know, stuff that maybe we, you know, one would. expect me to ask, but is there anything. you think I should ask or or or any. anything you think she'd like to even. talk about or something you think people. would want to hear from her? Um, ask her. if she now knows if Bon Joy and John. Bonjovi are two different uh things. She. asked me in confidence, like in a little. whisper, she was like, "Are Bon Joy and. John Bonjovi the same guy?" like as if. she had to go talk to him and it was for.

no reason and it's so funny to me. Okay, that's a great one. Okay, Zach, moving. on. How do you and Quinta meet each. other? I met Quinta in 2014 at BuzzFeed. I was an intern at the time. It was my. first job out of college and she had um. just got brought in to do a couple. comedy videos with um our friend Justin. Tan. Quinta to me has always been so. amazing at how um how forward thinking. she was. She was really adamant that the. internet was a stage for her to play in.

And you know, of course, we all grew up. wanting to be on SNL or and wanting to. go this traditional route, going the. standup route. And she did all those. things. And I truly believe she could. have done it any path, but she decided. to go this internet direction. And. truthfully, I don't think she gets. enough credit for being that first one. of the first people to make the leap. from being an internet personality to. being in the mainstream and dominating.

Thank you, Zach. That was awesome. Okay, Ash. Yes. Tell me your origin story and. your question. Okay. My origin story. with Quinta is that we sat next to each. other at BuzzFeed and notoriously. probably unlike these people where uh. the Quinta's original thought was Kate. is tight, Quinta did not like me. My fun. fact of my whole life is that the. character of Janine is based off me or. loosely based off of me on Abbott. Um do. you have confirmation of that? Yeah, it's it's she said it in interview. She.

said it in Variety so I have it. She. said it in the writer room. Yep. Okay. I. have two questions. One is a serious one. and then one is going to make her grown. and she's going to know why I asked it, which I'm so excited for. Um, so the. first one is just uh as an avid student. of comedy, what are the top three. sitcoms that influence your sense of. comedy? Like so much of my memories of. Quinta, we used to like she used to come. over my house and we used to watch old I. Love Lucy episodes and just like talk. about like what structured the comedy or.

we would watch pilots to stuff and like. just like an actual student of comedy in. a way that I think is so valuable and. that people don't um necessarily know, especially because she got her start on. the internet. She has a deep deep. lexicon. So I would love to hear her. answer to that. And then uh do you think. you would have been as famous if you had. ordered a medium instead of a large? I. can't guarantee it's gonna make the cut, but I I am curious to know the answer.

Well, her first one of her first viral. videos ever for He Got Money was her um. she orders a popcorn. Oh, the popcorn. and the Skittles. A large and so become. very much like and that was I would say. one of her very first like memes along. with he got money. So great. Okay, thanks Ash and Andrew. Maybe this is. corny, but I would actually be. interested in what, you know, 2014. Quinta would think about Quinta now. You.

know, if you went back in time a dozen. years ago while she was at BuzzFeed, like how would she react? All right. Well, thank you so much for your time. It was really nice to see all of you. again and to meet some of you for the. first time. Thank you, Amy. Bye. Thank. you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for. your time. Okay, Quinta Brunson is here. Quinta, I'm so grateful you're here. Thank you. for doing this. I'm grateful you are. here and that you were born and that you.

exist. I'm grateful that you were born. What day were you born? I was born. December 21st, 1989. Capricorn, Sagittarius. Oh [ __ ] I'm d I'm directly. on the cusp. Directly on it. So, you're. you're not wrong cuz some books do say. Capricorn and then so much on the I'm. right at like 11:38 or something. I. asked my mom. She was like, "I don't. know what time you were born." I was. like, "Okay, sorry for asking." But, um, she said it was between like 11:30 and. 12. So, directly on the cusp, which is.

good because I think if I was full-blown. Sagittarius, I would have been a. stripper. I think if I was full-blown, nothing wrong with it, but I'm just. saying that I would have been a. stripper. And then if I were a. Capricorn, I would have been Elon Musk. would have been really like I feel like. there is a total mogul vibe that I get. from you. I know. I'm not going to. capitalize on it. Don't want to be a. mogul. Okay. Okay. Let's talk about this. because you kind of are already. So, it's.

you're not. What do you think classifies. a mogul? Well, this is a really good. question. I feel like you are the. captain of a huge ship. Mhm. One ship. though. That's true. But, you know, that's just because you're acting when. once you stop once you get off set and. have to do those hours, you're going to. be the captain of like four ships. We've. talked about this, Amy. I want to I just. want to do my thing. I just so relate to. this grind that you're on. And also, Quinta here to say.

like it is phenomenal what you are. doing. That show is number one saving and has. saved sitcoms. Thank you. It has it. It is It is proof. It is what everybody points to. Yeah, I. do. Yep. As a as a as a you know, as a. speck, as a as a comp for how comedy can. still work on broadcast TV and there's. not many left. No, I hope that changes.

I do. And I do admire the. other sitcoms that are that are out. there maintaining. They don't. grasp the same kind of attention that. Abbott does. But I do think there. are other, you know, producers and. showrunners out there attempting to do. good work specifically on network. television. And um there's a a show. Ghost on CBS has a bigger audience than. we do. It just doesn't garner the same. attention. So, I just always try to. acknowledge that there are other shows.

trying, but I do also understand that. Abbott occupies a very unique and. specific space. So, you know, it's funny. cuz we're four seasons in now, and I. really want like counterparts, you know? I want I want um. I I live for a renaissance. I don't. enjoy the the feeling of uh St. Dennis. is a show on NBC and I feel like that. but so much of this and maybe I don't. know if it was like that back then but.

so much of it is about timing and when. and presentation and and so much goes. into making something an overall success. now that I would I don't call myself. lucky because I think about all the. things that go into it but I do think it. you have to think about so many. different factors to make your show a. success at all now. Totally. And I know. you're a big student of the sitcom. Like. you're a big comedy student in general. What were the what were the shows that. you cared about growing up? What were. the sitcoms that you think about and.

what were the ones you thought about. when you were making Abbott? Coach was a. show that was very formative for me. I. forgot. My mom and I, we loved Coach and. it just reminded me how much Coach was. on in my household. That was like if. that was on, we were stopping and we. were watching. I'm not sure if it was on. Nick at Night yet, but that was a big. show for me. Uh, Mary Tyler Moore. Um, King of Queens, very big for me. I just. I don't know why, but one of the biggest. influences in my life. I I still love. that show to this day. Um, 30 Rock,

huge. I know you're a big 30 Rock fan. I. know that about you. It's so ridiculous. Um, little show called Parks and Wreck. Um, The Office, of course. Martin, Living Single, Curb Your. Enthusiasm. I don't know if that counts. because it's not network, but um Always. Sunny, same kind of bucket as Curb. Um I'm forgetting things. Well, I'm sure. you're asked this question, but what do. you think? I always thought that for me,

what drew me to a sitcom was the fact. that I could I could picture in my mind. what the characters were doing when I. wasn't watching them. Yep. And that's. exactly what happens on Abbott. Definitely, that's a big part of it. And. I think it's important if I can see the. end of their journeys in the sitcom. And. I don't know, that doesn't mean I know. when it's going to come, but I see maybe. that's just important for writing. You. know, you see a destination for your.

characters, but. um very important to me when it comes to. making a sitcom. when I visit sitcoms. like parks or or the office and I think. about where those characters began and. where they end that is what kind of. inspired me to tell that story about a. different set of characters. I also. think. like worlds you can that really have a. dayby-day engine, you know, like. it's there's something there's some.

silly thing. I would say friends was. huge for me too because it was when I. started to really grasp on to plot lines. that were so you know Monica lost her. earring. I think that was like big for. me for some reason when when it's like. you can make a whole plot about but. that's like a dayto-day of a friend. group and that's what happens in Abbott. just day-to-day issues that we turn into. hilarious conundrums and situations. I. read something that really struck me, felt so familiar when you were talking. about Janine, your character on the. show, that you wanted her and her look.

to. feel appropriate with her job and her. town, which um and I I felt that because. I remember when we were first starting. to build Leslie Nope's character, like I. really wanted her hair to be very blonde. and because. because she's getting her hair done in. Indiana. No offense to the great stylist. in Indiana. I bet there are many now. But, you know, like she's not going to.

get low lightss at the best salon. She's. trying what she can do. She's like she's. not quite getting it right. Yeah. And. it's that's beautiful though. That's so. human. And you're doing that. You've. talked about that with Janine. How how. are you doing it with Janine? Janine. started in a place where I think a lot. more about Janine than I think shows up. on screen, which honestly is what you. want. I don't need the audience to think. about her as much as I do. But I knew. from the beginning this is a girl who. had a weird relationship with her. mother. Maybe her mother didn't teach.

her how to like take care of her hair or. even her dress comes from I want to be. the opposite of my mother because I. don't think my mother's a good person. So, I should dress like a good person, which is the opposite of how she. dresses, which is kind of But Janine. doesn't believe it's lavendly or bad. Janine looks in the mirror and goes, "This is a good outfit. You did it, girl. You did it, girl. You did it. You. did it. She does that trick where she. turns to the and she takes one accessory.

off to. I feel like she goes, "You look exactly. like Holly Berry." And like it's like, "No, you don't." But she believes she. does. And I think that's sweet. I think. when the character believes so. deeply that the show doesn't care what. the audience thinks. That was a. challenge with Janine because I'll be. real with you. You know, she's a black. character. Black audiences have so few. still um representative characters on.

screen and black womanhood alone is so. touchy. So when a lot of women were. seeing Janine not present as they wanted. her to, that became tough and I. understand it. But I think it's. important for us to have characters who. are more realistic than they are the. absolute best representation of us. I. think it creates layers for us, not only. on TV, but in the public eye. When I was.

thinking about her, I wasn't really. thinking about representation, but she. became representation. I don't know if. you dealt with that with like I think. it's always the interesting struggle. about playing comedic characters is you. want them to be flawed and have stuff to. learn and the minute people uh either. yourself or other people start to get in. your head about what they should be. representing. What it often does is. limit the way honestly that men get to. play characters which is they get to.

play these like really flawed people. with a lot and I think it's often the. burden um that women are made to carry. which is we're supposed to be a lot of. things at once which few people are. So. it's it's kind of it's hard to do both. It's hard to play somebody funny who's. also like really got it together. Yeah. and is very, you know, like uh at the on. chapter 10 when you meet them. Yes. And. I think Janine, it was like one of the. most exciting things about that show was.

you could see, oh, we're really going to. go on this ride with her. Like, we're on. this ride with her. Yeah. And it's. sometimes I think the the it's hard to. get people on the ride because they. don't know they're on the ride. And I I. think you Abbott really started where I. was like, "This is going to be a ride.". And I I feel like that goes into. thinking about things. This is going to. go for seasons. I want to tell stories. here. We got to start. We got to start. somewhere. We cannot end, you know, where we want to get to in season 10.

And I think when audience members don't. know they're on a ride, it can be very. frustrating for them. And maybe this. wasn't always the case before the. internet, but now I don't know if you. dealt with this on parks. I have had. people come up to me on the street and. go, "I don't like what you're doing. with Gregory's. character and. Yeah. And you're like, "Oh, thank you so. much for caring. It's you're you're.

caring all over me. Thank you so much.". What? Uh, it's insane. It's become a. real direct like And oh, and then that. person went I I messaged you on. Instagram about it. Well, I tried to get in touch with you. and I wanted you to know that I like. what you're doing with Gregory's. character. She's really coming to me in. a club, mind you. Like very much like, "Oh, I'm so glad I'm seeing you. I sent. you an Instagram message. I like how you. pretended you didn't see it, but now I. got you in person. I don't like what. you're do." I was just like, isn't.

aren't those times times where you wish. you were like the enigmatic um film. actress who people feel nervous to. approach? I do. I do. I very much do. because television people feel like. really really you're part of their. family. You're part of their family and. we love that. Well, you have this. incredible. um uh claim like I don't think it's it's. um spoken of enough that you took. advantage of the window.

kind of you know you're 10 years after I. was coming up which was basically that. there was this Buzzfeed video window. where people were producing stuff online. early online Buzzfeed was interesting. because it was so international that you. were aware that like, oh man, like. people in Japan are watching our stuff. We're being dubbed in different. languages. So, you were aware of that. But for me, I was never very proud of my. online presence. I felt like as someone.

who came from improv and sketch, I was. still performing at IO every night. And. then I realized that my improv group, we. realized people were coming to see our. group because of my online presence. And. we were more used to, all right, guys, we got 10 people in the crowd tonight. Let's go crazy. That's three more than. last week. We're killing it. No parents. No, it's so good. And then all of a. sudden, we have a packed IO for when.

we're like, "What is going on?" But. they're coming because they're actually. paying attention when I post. Uh I have. a show at IO tonight. And like people. were coming. So what are these people. doing here? And they're like, "You said. you had a show." I was like, "Oh, you. get so used to know." I don't know. But. you were part of like the heyday of UCB. But I'm just saying like in my world, it. was like if you got eight people in the. audience, it was like, oh, a hundred. That was our always trying to get PE. But you were kind of ahead of your time. because there was this feeling to your. point like where that content didn't.

count. Like it almost felt Yeah. like a. a side gig while you were trying to get. the gig. But now, however many years. later, you look at it now and it's like. the way that everybody is discovered. I. came to just appreciate it as another. stage. If if. you can get on a stage and do standup, get on an improv stage and do improv, why can't you make a video to garner an. a isn't that what we want to do as. performers anyway? Totally. And also,

it's it's a way to just practice. writing. Absolutely. Absolutely. That's. what it really did for me. Um, I had. taken writing courses. I had studied. comedic writing, but I do think writing. for BuzzFeed was the best way to learn. how to do it for massive audiences, which is a skill that I still see. writers, peers, um, h they don't they don't technically.

teach you that in school. Yeah. Um, I. think it's something you learn by doing. I think you're right. And I think what. improv and sketch teaches you is just. like picking your battles. Like you find. people that write stuff and they don't. want to change it and they want to kind. of lock it in. And there's the one thing. with sketch and improv is your ideas, they just are thrown away over and over. and over again. And you get this muscle. totally that you haven't had your last. good idea.

Yes. Absolutely. which is so freeing. Yeah. It makes you a more collaborative. person and makes for better work. And um. I think so BuzzFeed definitely did that. We made which was insane. We would make. like three videos a week that were going. to be shared and seen by like millions. and millions of people and if if one. bombed it was like I'm already on my. next video. I'm going to you know I'm. already I'm I've moved on. You're like I. don't know what you're talking about.

Yeah. Literally, I can't remember half. that half the things I made there, which. is both good and bad, but I feel like. you probably can't remember half the. sketches you you did for Oh, god. No. Yeah. Well, speaking of Buzzfeed. Oh, no. I lost my glasses. Oh, are you just. getting glasses? Oh, I got scared. I was. under Check out my new glasses from. Buzzfeed. Oh, actually, I'm going to. take a lip a lip balm break if you want. to take one, too. Quint and I brought. our lip balm lip balm and water and cut. it cut it close. And I'd love just to.

take Oh, this is my camera. Mhm. Get in. there. Hold on. Yours looks better cuz. it has a little wand. Mine is my grubby. little finger. But No, it's cute. That's. how the girl puts it on in the Sephora. commercial. She does it with her finger. Yeah. What else you going to do with it? Um I just love once again to ask Lanz uh. if they ever want to sponsor. Y'all. sponsor Amy. This is a lip sleeping. mask. For now, I'll turn it to the side. so you I won't um sully your brand. But. um I want you to know that I've stuck my. disgusting finger in that pot many times.

and it's always And not just at night, right? That's not just lip sleeping. mask. It's not just for night. Not just. for night time. Um okay. So we do this. fun surprise thing where before I talk. to you, I get on a Zoom with some people. that know you. Whoa. Yeah. And and just to talk about. um you and and really to like get some. perspective on what uh uh I think I. should ask. So earlier today I was talk. I was on a Zoom with Kate. No way. Did.

Kate freak out? She's the best. She. loves you so much. Did she pretend she. was very cool? Everyone was very cool. That is so funny. Oh my god. Okay. I was. on the Zoom with So it was like it was. like a Buzzfeed reunion. It was Kate. It. was Ash. No. Zack. Which one? Evans. Stop. These are people who probably were. freaking out. Amy, they seemed very. cool. They seemed cool because they. probably got it together first. But you. need to know that this probably And then. your old boss, Andrew. Andrew Goautier.

Oh, French last name. He's so hot, guys. Not a I don't work for him anymore. I. can say that. He's a sweet man. And they. Oh, so we were talking about It was. really cute. And we It's kind of like. talking well behind someone's back is. the goal. And um they were so happy to. do it. And we were just kind of talking. about um that time there and your time. there. And it was really cute because. they everyone was, you know, kind of going back to when. exactly what you were saying when. producing a lot of stuff and trying to.

everyone was trying to figure out where. to live and it's a very tender time and. the people that were there and a lot of. you know like Kate especially are people. that you still work with and who kind of. Kate told this amazing story about like. the one of the first days on set and how. she can remember you saying I want to I. think I want to do this show you know. about teachers like and then you know. smash cut to crazy the it happening. Yeah. I have such a random weird so.

someone this is so bad someone tried to. sue me to say they me WB ABC and say. that that they came up with um Abbott. and my memory is [ __ ] There's something. to know about me. Same really bad. I. think it's cuz we have to learn lines. I. think so too. Kate's memory. is locked the [ __ ] in. And Kate was. like, "No, no, no, no, no. I will go. into that courtroom for you." Because. she was there the the moment I had the I. knew that it wasn't true, but I had. nothing to back it up. And it's okay. That's why we have lawyer. I was never.

going to have to back it up anyway, but. I'm just like, damn, I cannot remember. Kate like remembers time, date, where, when. Incredible. Incredible. So, she's. she's my best friend, but she's also. just incredible for stuff like that. She. has the memory that I don't have, which. I need a lot. You I think we share this. in common, too. Your female friendships. are super important to you. Super. important. Like why? What do they do for. you? Oh, that's a good question. Um. Oh, man. That's such a good question. I. I I don't know what they do for me spec.

Well, you just said something that I. feel like, if I may, I feel like a lot. of women in my life would testify for. me. Yes. They really do. Yes. They. experience life with me and they we all. kind of remember for each other. For. each other. Yeah. And maybe Kate and I. particularly have been through so much. together as friends, as women, as comedy. writers. Kate wanted me to ask you this.

Hey Kisha, uh KP, um are you aware now. that Bonjovi and John Bonjovi? Shut up, Kate. Shut up. Don't go through Amy to. do that. That's not nice, Kate. That's. not okay, Kate. But can we are you aware. that. See, I don't know white people. I know. you. I know Tina Fay. I know that's it. I know white people in comedy. Okay. You don't need to know that. You don't.

need to know the one black girl. I just. like don't know some people. I don't I. understand the name Phil Collins. I. don't know what Phil Collins look like. I I I don't know that he's different. from Sorry to That man. That Kiki. moment. Unbelievable. Was so on point. That is how I move through life if. they're not in comedy truly. Yeah. I. don't know. I actually think that's also. a wonderful way like a almost a a gentle. form of rebellion which is I have to say.

my generation was told that we had to. know a lot of these people and now we. don't really need to know them. It's. okay. It's okay. And and also you were. working in in in pop culture too. I mean. SNL is still essentially working in pop. culture. You have to know I don't have a. reason to know who I'm not crazy. It's. crazy to be in a band called John. Is he. John Bon Joy? Is the Bon See, she. doesn't know. I couldn't tell. Uh, and. it's crazy cuz now I'm going to blow.

your mind even more. His original name, come on. Was John. Bonio and then he changed he he the band. name was BonJovi, a shortened version of. his real name. So then he started going. by John Bonjovi, but true fans know that. it was Bonjiovi. You know, everything you just said. sounds crazy, right? And the thing is. I'm supposed to know this, but then I'm. supposed to deal with people who can't. tell me and Kiki Palmer apart. or or say my name or or can't I just.

can't if you know about Bonji Vio and. I'm too difficult. It's two syllables. Quinta, same person. I don't understand. Anyway, so that was that was so and I. don't you know what else is crazy? John. Wait, I lost my point, but I was going. to say something about John Bon Joy. Joy. band. I'm trying to think of a band name. like who could I compare it to that had. a band that was named after their last. name? Oh, well, there's another bunch of. white boys. Remember Hansen? I understood that.

I I understand that. You know who I got. mixed up for the longest time? Not. anymore. But there was no reason for me as a. young girl in Philadelphia to understand. the difference between Sandra Bulock and. Julia Roberts. There was no reason for. me to know the difference. You might. have a little bit of face blindness. I. do. I do. I do have that. And they know. I know Sandra knows now cuz that's my. girl. Of course I can tell you guys. apart now. But when growing up Sure. No. reason for me to know that. Sure. And.

when people are like, "You don't know.". No, I don't. I like that. I'm glad that you Yeah, you. absolutely do not need to know. Yeah, I. can't believe Kate. Okay. Okay. Ash, I. Ash Ash, three sitcoms who have. influenced you. We talked about that. And then Andrew asked um um what would. 2014 Quinta think of Quinta now? Oh, Andrew. I know. Such a and and such a. managerial question, too. Oh, Andrew.

Andrew is so lovely. Um I think. 2014 me would be like exactly. period because I was a very determined. knew where I was going girl I do not. like to do that thing where people. pretend I'm like I had no idea like this. could happen to me like no I made every. single move in my life so that this. could happen to me including leaving. Philadelphia I knew specific things had. to happen and even the way I came into.

BuzzFeed I had vision I like I I see. where this place is going. I see what I. can do here. I see how not only it can. help me, but how I can help it. And I. think it's a means to something much. larger. So 2014 me didn't exactly know. this, but I think that's the beauty of. vision. You you can feel see something. You're working in accordance with. something. And I'm a big believer in. that. I think you know what I love that. you're doing too and from from here on.

out I guess we would call it like the. shalom. um in terms of like I want to be the. greatest but but what but what I that. kid go ahead. Yeah. What did you think. of that moment? I loved it or no what I. thought was so interesting about that. moment whether whisper because he can. hear us. Whether it was coordinated or. not I thought him mentioning Viola Davis. in his speech I was like that is [ __ ]. smart 100%. whether it's coordinated or. he really really meant it. Very smart to.

do. Smart kid. That um that that alone. had me. Me too. Had me. And. and in a way that I don't care if it was. like I'm going to say this because or I. genuinely really mean it because even if. you were going to say it because Yeah. Just say it because because mention. Viola Davis 100%. It was at the very least it was the. example of someone paying attention. And. I think I I think that you know not to.

gender it, it happens to men too, but. women are especially uh required uh to. um be very surprised by their success. and really be they're asked all the. time, can you believe it? Can you. believe it? Like how does it feel? And. you and I, I think, share the similar. thing, which is it feels good. I've been. working really hard. I imagined it would. happen for me. I've been there along the. way. I've watched it slowly grow. It. hasn't been overnight. And it was, you.

know, and yes, of course, luck, and yes, of course, privilege, and yes, of. course, time, all of that stuff. And. also, I believed it could happen. And so. now there's sometimes an expectation or. people want the kind of anenu vibe. of how did I get here? Oh my god, the. lights, the camera, I just tripped and. then I was here. I can't believe it. Oh. my it's I'm not doing that. One thing I. love about I've always appreciated about.

you is you you also do that without. sacrificing your sense of like whimsy. You have you I don't know. you just you. still have fun and you don't apologize. for that either. And I think that's. really cool when I went to see you and. Tina um at the in Vegas and that was so. fun cuz actually Ash and Kate came with. me and I told you that was like our. Super Bowl. But you tried you you did. what I would it's storytelling standup. and seeing.

you do new things. I was like like yes. yes yes you are not apologizing for the. fact that you have this show or all the. things that you've done but you also are. having enough fun with trying new things. and you just have fun like you have a. smile on your face. You're not like I. mean this is kind of honestly why I'm. doing this is because it's kind of like. I want to talk to people. I have a good. time. I listen to a ton of podcasts. Yeah. I don't think that because you get. to a certain level of something that. you're supposed to get really tight and.

get worried about trying new things. You're supposed to do the opposite. because you're feeling like you're lucky. enough to be confident. You're lucky. enough to have some currency or some. people who believe in you. So that's. when you're supposed to keep staying. flexible, trying and failing over and. over again. And I think you you are. similar like we learned it early. We. learned it with improv and sketch. You're just supposed to keep trying. things. You keep you're supposed to keep. trying. I think I have seen a lot of. other women who are in similar positions. become harsh over time because.

so if you're going to be that confident. now you almost have to take up a harsh. demeanor or something. That's right. So. you have to like That's right. be. masculine. Like if you're going to say. I'm good at it and I know it, then you. better be masculine, too. Don't you dare. smile ever again since you know you're. so good. But it's um it's it's some it's. weird. Like I and I'm I'm really. interested in watching women push back. out loud. Not just talking about it, but.

actually doing it. Which is why I say I. like to see you like smile so much. Cuz. to me that is the act of doing it and. like have fun in front of people's. faces. It's weird. It's almost like that. kind of makes people angrier than. anything else. When I am like having. pure unadulterated fun, I feel a a small. sense of like how dare you. Oh, it's a. revolutionary act as a woman to have. fun. And the other thing is I that I. would say about you that I said behind. your back is Quinta plays loose. Oh, and.

what I mean by that as a good athlete, you're to me you're like a good athlete. Amy, don't talk sports to me right now. I'll fall in love. I love sports. I. mean, this is a podcast. We should. probably only be talking about sports. You want this thing to do well, but you. play so loose because you are so good at. what you do and you are in charge. But. you would like you have the you just. have that ease and you have it when you. when you act, you have it when you're in.

giving a speech. I mean, your Emmy. speeches when you win are so good. because they are exactly what you say. You are in the moment. You're not You're. not going who me? I didn't even know. It's like this is a correct choice. You. chose you just go thank you for choosing. the winner that I am the winner. That's. the correct. But you're also super. gracious to everyone who is in your. category. You give um you know you put.

things in context which few people do. Oh, thanks Amy. And it's really relaxing. to watch you. Thank you. You're welcome. I love sports. so much. And I love sports, too. My. honor to be called the Josh Allen of. I I don't know who that is. No, he he he. he's the um he's the quarterback for um. the um not the Giants. Sorry, not the. Jets. The Bills. Sorry. Thank you. Oh,

the Bills. Oh, he's so nice. He's dating. Haley Seinfeld. I never even knew that. information. I know that he's dating. Haley and he and he did a very sweet. thing where he knew every all the young. children that he visited at a recent. hospital. He knew all their names that I. don't know his stats. Um you know there. he he's controversial but as a player. yeah people like think he's I'm not. going to whatever but he's got he has a. beard. This is what I think about sports. players. No one I don't need don't tell. me I don't need to talk to them. I don't. need to know about their personal lives.

I'm trying to do this with the Eagles. now. Do not look at them. They don't. perceive them. They do football well. Don't come over here. Okay. I'm the. exact opposite. I don't care so much. about the football, but I want to know. You want to know everything. How's it. going with mom? See, you know, like I. want to know. I want to know. That's a. problem. People What do you do in the. offseason going into Josh Allen's life? No, let's talk about what he does with. the past with the football on the field. That's what's important to me. I hear. you. But anyway, but that's like the. Olympics though. when the when the when. the thing starts, when the um when the.

whatever they're competing in starts, I'm like, but I like all the stuff when. they're back in their hometown. I feel I. mean, I guess it is important. I just I. guess I'm only talking about the Eagles. I just don't want people to ask. Congratulations on your on your win, by. the way. That must have been exciting. It was so much has happened to me in the. past 10 years, but I would say top five. is the Eagles winning the Super Bowl. Wow. Yeah, I know. I'm feeling so good. Quinta, is there anything I mean we have. to just I guess promote Abbott which. please watch Abbott Elementary. It's on.

um ABC which is a network we all know. where it is. It's so on Hulu and I know. during co Mhm. I had so many people come. up and say that that parks got them. through and I know the same for Abbott. Totally. I just I took that at the time as this. bigger feeling that comedy is like is a. comfort and there's some kind of giant. warm feeling I get from being a part of. anything that special. Did you get the.

same experience people say that to you? And it is a mark that you get to. leave with the world not on the world. but with the world which is so special. There was a girl that came up to my. co-stars on the street, Cheryl and Lisa. I can't stop them from walking around on. the streets. I try I can't do anything. about it. Um I they we just filmed in. Philly and you know I had I had one. thing I was just like guys maybe don't. walk around here cuz very recognizable.

Maybe just take it easy. No, they go to. get their nails done. They're walking to. different stores. I can't control them. Anyway, so but a. girl walked up to them and and Cheryl. took a video of this girl talking about. how in our show because Philadelphia has. a huge Muslim population, we try to represent the city as much as. we can and we had an episode that. featured a young Muslim girl and in her.

hijab and this girl was crying, came up. to Cheryl talking about how much that. meant to her. It's like the opposite. effect of someone being like, I don't. like what you're doing with Gregory. It's someone being like, you you don't. like get like she said she was already a. fan of the show. That wasn't going. anywhere. But then to see that like. shifted her [ __ ] And I think that is. like the power of a sitcom. We're making. you laugh and then we're making you cry. and we're in your house with you either. in the binge format or once a week. And.

it's that laugh that's special because I. can be in the house with the drama all. the live long day, but I'm like scared. of people after I watch them on a drama. for too long. Like, oh god, you scared. the hell out of me. Even though they're. very nice people, it's like y'all are. scary, but the laugh is like you cannot. you cannot. I think it's holy. I think it's holy. I. think so, too. I don't want to be corny, but I mean, I love being corny, so I. think it's straight up holy. Maybe I'm.

about to be in my corny area. Come on. in. Come on over. I'm in it. And it's. great. And you can just say things like. laughter is holy. And everyone goes, "Oh, oh, that's but you know, Ann. Lamont, you know, Ann Lamont, the great. writer, she she says that laughter is. carbonated holiness, which is like kind. of how it feels for me." Like when la. when laughter actually happened, it. feels like you're getting some some kind. of spiritual thing is happening. It's so. spiritual. I agree. Why is that corny? It's so the same to every I it's it's. the same everywhere. It's in the same It.

was a Mean Girls line about math being. the same in every um country, but. laughter is that to me except for French. people. I don't I don't get I'm so proud. of Abbott making French people laugh. There's almost nothing I'm more proud. of. By the way, I just was saying this. to my friends the other day in our group. chat. I was like, the fact that like. French people, they love Abbott. They. watch it and they like it. It's like. weirdly one of our biggest markets. I'm. so proud of me. Those are the things.

that make me proud of me that French. people are like, "We I enjoyed the. show." That is the. French proud of it because French people. are so embarrassing and I don't think. people talk about it enough. I find. French people are in what ways? They. French people got two strikes and. they're just. In what ways? Yeah, the way they how. French they act all the time. The way. they walk, the way that they talk, the. way they used to be a really Amy has a. Kendrick like feeling towards the.

French. Well, the um No, I I'm probably. feeling like I'm not as cool as them and. so I'm I'm acting out because Fred. Armison and I used to do a bit where we. wanted to do a sketch called French. Teenagers and it was just like really. cool French teenagers like like with. leather jackets like doing back flips. and smoking cigarettes. Totally. I love. that. French French people are cool, but. they're embarrassing, too. They're. embarrassing. I got to meet him for the. first time. What a nice man. You've. never met Fred? Never. That was also. what was cool about the SNL50 was like. people I never met before. And he was.

talking to um Tim um Tim Meadows. Tim. Meadows. And so I was going to say hi to. Tim, but I did not know he was talking. to Fred Armison. And I did the thing. that I hate where I just assumed that. which is so bad to say, but I was like, "Oh, he's probably talking to a writer. I won't interrupt, but I'm just going to. say hi to Tim." And I was like, "Hello, Tim." And Fred goes, "Hi." I was like, "Holy [ __ ] I thought you were a writer. That came out wrong. My bad. What's. going on, man?" It was so But he was so. sweet and kind. He was a nice man. He. was a nice man. Zach Alfanak is nice.

man. Oh, he's the nicest guy and so. funny. You like Payton Manning? Love I. He's a good time, too. Payton loves He's. just like He's so funny. Naturally. funny. He's so funny. He's so, you know, and I'm sure you've worked with this. already. Like at SNL, there's athletes. that come come through and they're like, I'm really funny. And you're like, okay. Okay. Um, but Payton is genuinely. genuinely funny. Really a really nice. man. He became my MVP of the weekend.

Not going to lie. Do you carry you. around like a football? No. It's just. that as soon as I walked in and I saw. such so many wonderful people that I do. know, but when I walked in, I had a. coffee in my hand. He was like, "Hey, where'd you get that coffee?" And I was. like, "Uh, sorry, man. and I bought it. from the hotel. I knew it might be a. little crazier. He's like, "I should. have did that." And it was just so. human. And and then I got to talk about. football with him at the park. It was. just like super sweet. Do you do what. sometimes happens with guys like that. where they're so giant and you're.

little? I'm little too where sometimes I. find myself just kind of like touching. them. Yeah. Without knowing like, "Wow.". Like you're a tree. I also feel like we. aren't the same species. I don't feel as. though and I know we're both human. No, you know, I know we're both human. I'm. saying, but you know how there's like, oh, I'm a I am a domestic dog. You are a. wolf. Yes, exactly. You know, so maybe. it's the same species. And I feel I. think it's an instinctual thing where. like I was talking to Jason Mimoa and I.

found myself putting my like hands on. like. like help like like a like a tin like. like a little Yeah. dead animal, I. guess, just trying to hang on and and to. touch it. Jordan, you know who Jordan. Mali is? He's a um football player. He. came to my set the other day. He's. massive. He's massive. Football players. are big. He's a big football player and. he's just huge. And I'm just looking up. and you just did you get your little. Your hands are just on his shoulders.

like I'm so sorry. I don't mean to Why. am I touching you? But I know they I. feel like big men must get that more. than you think, which is people just. going, "Hey," and touching it. People. touch us a lot, too, though. Yeah, they. pat us. They go, "Hey, little buddy.". They do. They do. You get a little pat. on the head or you get a little um Have. you ever been picked up against your. will? Uh it is one of my least favorite. things. Least favorite things in the. world. Um people are laughing. Yeah. Why. are y'all laughing at me? I've gotten. picked up. It's a very It's a comedy.

improv thing. You get picked up in. scenes and it it's I I don't know how to. explain it other than pure rage. It is. ins and it to have your feet lifted off. the ground against your will. If I'm. going on a roller coaster, I signed up. for that. If I'm doing something, you. know what I'm saying? But to just be. lifted off and me, I'm so sturdy. I. think I'm super like I'm 10 toes down. all the time. To be lifted off my tin. toes is so unless disoriented. Unless. it's the right person. It's the right. person. And then you're like, "Oh my.

god." You're like, "What? How can you. lift me?" But it changes my whole my. whole purview. I think I'm so big and. I'm so strong. And someone lifts you up. I'm like, "I'm a pet." I feel like, you. know, you pick your pet up and they. don't have any. That's what happens to. me. I Or you go or you say, "Put me. down. Put me down." But like like then. you feel very stressed when people are. like, "Why are men?" So I get it because. as a woman, I'm a little like iffy about. my height sometimes. So yeah, I mean. whatever. I get six foot men, but. nothing wrong with the, you know, I.

think you identify as tall. That's what. I say. That's why getting picked up. throws me off so much because I do. identify as tall and that's a break in. reality for me. It is. I really feel. like it's my cat. My cat feels super. tough. He thinks he runs [ __ ] and then I. pick him up and he's like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, don't be picking. me up. I run this house." No, you don't. I can pick you up. So that's what that's. why it throws me off when someone picks. me up because I'm just like, "Oh, I. don't like it either." Well, you heard. it here first. Don't go up to Quinta and. pick her up and do not Yeah. give point.

and give any thoughts and try to not um. say who uh she reminds you of. And No, that was a you thing. That's a me thing. That's me thing. You can say it. I'm not. That's just me. So, before we wrap up, I'm doing something, you know, I'm. asking uh because again, this is we're. attempting to have a good hang here. And. um I'm asking people like what are you. what are you going to right now that's. making you laugh. You know what is the. thing that you go you look up or a place. you go or a person you talk to or a.

thing that you know is kind of the way. that you escape. Um I'm I regret to say. that there's this these videos online. Now I don't really watch Tik Tok really. Why? I just don't I I never really So. there's these video I'm learning of this. cat and it's an and I don't like it. because it's AI. Okay, look. Look, this. isn't a shame based I mean there's no. shame here. I'm shaming me for it's an. AI cat. Hold on. I got to check this.

out. And he like always is he starts his. day. Okay. Already. Okay. Okay. He starts his. day. What's his name? H SS I N. I don't. know how to pronounce him. He is Okay. from Mia. And he H ss I N. Cat. Yeah. Do. you see him? HS uh HSN. Okay. Let's see. Oh, H S I N. Yeah. Cat. It's a breed of.

cat. Can I Yeah, let's let's look at it. No, you're gonna have to search for him. in Tik Tok. Okay, very good. Stand by. Look him up. Um, and he he always begins his day. Um, he wakes up and he just he decides he. goes to the market and he buys some. vegetables and then he goes and finds. Are you looking at him? No, it's not. No, hold on. No, that's. Oh, this cat. Yeah. Okay. So, we'll.

we'll put him up here. But he's So, he. he he will find a friend like a chicken. or a rabbit. He's finding a chicken in. this one, is he? And so what he does and. he's also and then he cooks the chicken. and he so but he always he drugs them. first. He he invites them over for a. drink and then they drink it and they. pass out. He's drugging these friends. Wait. Okay. This is a whole story. Yeah. And he and then he cooks them and he. eats them and he then he even has a.

little funeral for them after he cooks. them. It's like you killed him. And uh. he has his friend he has his friend the. lion who he calls over to eat cuz I. think the the lion is the only apex. predator in his life cuz he cooks and. eats. Sometimes he drops a bomb in the. ocean and then he kills a shark. He has. shark meat that day and the caption is. always like I was in the mood for. something different today or the. caption's like. uh met a friend today and you think it's. going to end well this time. Nope. He.

cooks whatever. One time he met a. crocodile and I was like, "This is. seeming like a budding friendship.". Cooks a Now he's in jail. He's in jail. He gets There are consequences, but his. friend the lion always bails him out. Mhm. He Sometimes he whacks someone over. the head and then he eats them. And but. sometimes they get him back. Like this. fox whacked him over the head once. And. I was like, "Finally, this cat is. getting what he [ __ ] deserves. This. little [ __ ] maniac." But then he. calls the lion. The lion comes and. whacks the fox. They have they have Fox.

for dinner that night. And you watch it? I watch every single. one. because I don't look up anything else on. TikTok. My algorithm is just this cat. And every time I'm like, I hope this. little bastard gets what he wants. But. then when he is in the hospital, I'm. very scared. I'm like, "Please go to the. hospital. Please let him leave." Yeah. Cuz he really gets beat up sometimes. I hate how much they're laughing. But. also, I know what you mean. I I as I'm. watching it, what is weird about it is.

it's like the cat is like giving another. cat a bath. The cat the cat is a human. Like it has human qualities but looks. like a cat and now is eating a chicken. that made that he made and it's a really. fat cat. Yeah. And so he changes sizes. too throughout scenes. And it's like why. in this scene are you bigger than the. lion? I'm interested in how he perceives. himself to other animals. And he he. saves a baby every once in a while cuz. he you see him saving a baby. He doesn't.

eat the baby. He doesn't eat the baby. The first time he saved a baby though. I. thought he was going to eat that baby, but he's all and I think that's like him. being like, "See, I'm I'm cool." But no, you are a psychopath. You are drugging. other animals and eating them. And um so. that's Yeah, that's how you escape. Yes, that's how you escape from working. too hard. But I get why you like this. because it's story. It is like. and and it's AI so it gets it wrong a. lot and uh and it also makes me feel.

good. I have a friend Ash actually told. me. Ash told me that Ash has a friend. that works in AI and they and that. person was like look the day AI really. figures it out the day everyone should. be really scared Alzheimer's will also. be solved. And I was like, "Oh, because. if AI can really get that close to how. our brains really function, we will have then also had the keys to.

figure out Alzheimer's." And so that. brings me comfort and it brings me fear. because I I like what you just said. I. mean, and also I like that that's the. kind of thing that an expert would say. on a podcast, but. and I'd be like, "What? I heard it from. a friend who from a friend who heard who. said that's hilarious. Okay, love you. Thank you so much for doing this. You're. the best. Bye. Thank you so much, Quinta Brunson. You. are amazing and so talented and it means.

a lot that you came and you're the best, Quinta. Um, and yeah, you know, this is. the end of the show where we go a little. deeper on something that um brings me. joy or changes changes my brain. And so, uh, we mentioned Lisa Beasley at the. very top of the show when we were. talking, um, to some of Quinta's friends. who worked at BuzzFeed. And I just want. to mention her again. Lisa Beasley. Experience is where you can find Lisa B.

experience is where you can find her. And, um, she's just a hilarious. comedian, does a ton of characters, and. she did that really funny character, Corporate Erin. Check that out if you. haven't seen it. It's just corporate. speak at its best and the maddening pace. in which people deliver. non-news in in work spaces. Um it's. really funny and so is she and um yeah. so if you have not seen her comedy check. it out and always check out the great.

Quinta on Abbott and check us out always. here at Good Hang. Thanks for hanging. Okay, bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The. executive producers for this show are. Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and. me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by. The Ringer and Paperkite. For The. Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Cat. Spelain, Kaia McMullen, and Alia. Xanerys. For Paperkite, production by. Sam Green, Joel Levelvel, and Jenna. Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy. Miles.

So really good.