Janelle James - 'Abbott Elementary' [LIVE]

25:20Janelle James:but also it sounds like there weren't that many parts that you were that that's the other thing well not only excited about so even now people will be like why aren't you in more things people have to stop being disingenuous to especially if you're in the business maybe you guys don't because you are in the business you don't know but when people in the business It's like, why aren't you in more things? As if there's this like deluge of parts for one black woman, black women my age, black women that look like me. Like, it's just there isn't. And so and then if I have to then from those few things, choose the things that interest me, that's even less.

26:01You know, so that's why you not only me, a lot of people, you might be like, why is she in? That's why it's not a lot of. And that's why people have to create their own shows such as Quinta. I was just that you perfect transition. Thank you. Uh, so Quinta Brunson, had you ever heard of Quinta Brunson before you heard that there was a project called Abbott Elementary? So I had heard of Quinta because I did one show with her, um, I think maybe like four years. So Quinta has always has been, had always been in LA and I had always been in New York. We, that don't really cross, uh, comedy wise because usually New York people are snobs.

26:40New York comics are snobs we're like oh LA people are actors they're not trying to be comedians they're not about this chuckle hut life you know what I mean they do an audition they do a comedy kind of but they're being there that's what we would say it is true but um they're doing comedy be out here because agents are in the audience and they might get cast and their their comedy is all about them pitching a sitcom which is like yeah I grew up in a small town and my grandma she's wacky and my aunt also lived with us wouldn't that be a great show that's like their comedy and we're over here death and pain and sadness you know so Quinta was in LA she was doing her BuzzFeed thing and internet stuff and I totally missed all of that because I had kids I was watching Blues Clues and Backyard Games and shit I had never heard of her so by the time I was in her doing comedy in her even uh worldview my son was a fan of hers and so when he saw the lineup he was like, oh, she's funny.

27:39That's the only knowledge I have. And so my first words to her when I was visiting L.A. and we were on a show together at the Laugh Factory, I think. I said, oh, my son is a big fan of yours. And she said, really? And that was it. Till years later, this show comes out and my agents were just like, I think you would like this. I read it. And I was like, this is hilarious. And then I still didn't audition. Can I just ask, do you know why so from the very beginning it was they were suggesting or somebody from the show had suggested that you it was specifically Ava or was it something to do with the show my agent said Ava like oh there's this part I think you you would like she's hilarious I think it's in your wheelhouse I think you love it I think the pilot is funny and a lot of pilots aren't good they just aren't it's very hard to write a good tv show that's why some a lot of them fail and never even get started because the pilot is what introduces you to and and sometimes the pilot isn't that good and then it gets better I thought Abbott was good from episode one like the on paper it was funny the characters were clear and I read it like like cracking up like to laugh at a written word is is amazing my agents were like Ava is and I think they were also looking for Ava I later found out like every black woman in LA auditioned for the part.

29:03And I think it almost helped that I was slow to audition because they went through everyone, all the known people and we're still looking. And then I get to, what about me? You know, that kind of thing. And so, yeah. And how many steps was the casting process? My audition was during the pandemic, towards the end when they were kind of like, we're open, we're closed, that type of thing. But I was closed. I was in the house. part of why I didn't audition. I was like, we're all going to die. Like, why would I? Anyway, um, uh, my first audition was self-tape. Then I got, they were like, oh, we like it.

29:41Uh, Quinta would like to meet with you through Zoom. And so I, I Zoomed with her and then I had an audition. Long story short, I had four auditions, all Zoom, each with a escalating number of people. So like Quinta and the producer, Quinta, the producer and the showrunners, Quinta, the producer, should have shown us an ABC, Quinta, you know, and then like the final one was like two blank squares. I think that's the Illuminati. And, um,

30:07and then I was in, and then I was in and I found out, uh, like second episode Quinta, yeah, told me a lot of people audition and that she was fighting for me. Like they wanted a known, you know, actor, a bigger name actor. And she was like no this is it and so every time she there's someone for a part that they like you send it up the chain to you know the people who really make the decisions at that time it's not going to be like she doesn't have the power at that time and she said she just kept sending me as the only person like we didn't see anybody else how's this person you know so she really like fought for me so yeah yeah that's great so you get cast as you said it was still dark days of panda or you know Not open and clear.

30:51I went from, yeah, being in the house to being on a plane for the first time in a year, wrapped in saran wrap with a school mask.

31:02And we'll just, you know, remind people to set up what you were walking into with the pilot, where at that point, I believe it's the case, right? You would have signed that if the pilot gets picked up, you've signed your life away for a number of years. but there's just in fact it's always even with great material at least as likely that you never do anything again right that's usually the case I knew it was gonna go that's why immediately that's why I ultimately was like let me get my shit together and send in this tape I was I was like if it's not even if I'm not on it this show is gonna go this pilot is so good and clear and hilarious.

31:41I mean, I want to say it would be stupid for them not, and they do do stupid stuff. I'm talking about networks, but I was like, this is a winner. It's going to go. I would love to be a part of it. So I knew it was going to go. And when we did the pilot, I went back to New York. I was like, that was cool. And I went back to New York and then they're like, oh, we got picked up. And I wasn't even surprised. I was like, yeah, let's go. You know? And so season one was 13 episodes. Yep. We'll remind people that at the beginning. Yeah, crush it. But I mean just Ava first of all if people don't know if that or need a reminder or whatever the cameras doing the Mockumentary are there because Ava's invited them into the school.

32:20A lot of people forget that. Yeah, yeah Ava Started out behaving pretty despicably in a number of ways

32:31Janelle James:To my face I Mean, how did she get the job? Can we remind people? blackmail but who was doing who was doing a worse deed to be blackmailed for that's true a little misappropriation of money a few few other you know things but the amazing thing is that despite all the kind of nefarious things that she gets up to almost I think for most people right out of the gate people love this character and I think that not everybody not everybody yeah well Quinta said early on quote it's not easy to play an unlikable character and still win the audience over close quote so what in your experience is the secret to that was it really something that you were maybe able to do because of the background and stand up is there a way to play with the audience or something yes so that goes back to what I said about starting in the Midwest in front of people who are not accustomed to listening to people like me and winning them over you know truly I've done shows to like a full hundred person room of like stone faced people you know and then by the end I get a couple of chuckles and that's a win uh for me or I get no chuckles but on the way out people say you are really funny you know uh that's what like that skill of like being able to eventually get them to full laughter you know and to come back to see me and make myself a name in a small place like that is what lets me do this character that you may initially not like but then now you love me you know so that that's definitely in my wheelhouse that's how I do comedy still now it's uh all uh emotional manipulation that's what comedy is uh and and I love that power and this character loves her power you know of running this school so I I relate to that in in that way yeah and I think you also very clearly have laid out what Ava's function I think the word you may have used is within the show I mean as you've said she's someone for all the other characters to play opposite against right yeah can you explain more what what you mean by that I mean they get to be what is important in the school these hard-working teachers and and uh these people who are like living their lives uh for the school it helps a barb shine more brightly if she's against a foil like Ava.

35:01I'm also there for the comic relief so you don't, you know, crash out when you hear that the kids don't have rugs and books and stuff, you know. It's also, I'm also a representation of the school that I'm in. I always see Ava as someone who also went to a school like that. That's why she's so cool with the kids. She knows exactly what they're going through. She knows exactly what they need. She, she know they need pants. She knows they need, y 'all watch the show, She got pants in her desk. She knows they need lotion. She knows they need food and camaraderie and somebody to talk to like a rope, like an adult that they can talk to maybe because their parents are working or they don't have any a good home life.

35:39Like that's what she represents. And so everybody in the school has their part, which is a what do they say? A village. Yeah, that's what a school is. The village is raising all the children. And she's a part of vital part of it. Yeah. That first season in particular, Ava has a lot of kind of one-liners, which Abbott will remind people is a single-camera show, which means there's no audience reacting live to what you're doing, which is obviously completely different from stand-up. Were you confident performing in that way, or did you kind of know that you were still going to get the laugh when people eventually saw it, or was that jarring?

36:23Well, 10 years of comedy has taught me timing. So I know when a joke is supposed to land, but it was like jarring to do the jokes to like Gregory's eyeballs. You know what I mean? Like it's hard to not be like, eh? Am I right? You know, that kind of, which this show gives you a little of that because you get to look to the camera, you know, like, you know, but you can't do that all the time. So it is like a weird feeling of like, am I crushing it? You know, that's also funny that you bring up that looking to the camera, because you've said not only were you not trying to be an actress, but you were also for at least a chunk of your life.

37:04That would have been like a terrifying idea. Yeah. And now you end up not only acting, but everything you run for comes and catches you is what I've everything you run from comes for you. If it's your destiny or whatever. So this I remember touring with Chris Rock. This is what I always think about when I get a question like touring with Chris Rock seeing that was like very much seeing what showbiz is and what fame is. And one day going midday during the tour to a movie. I forget the movie because I only remember this this part and just watching everyone watch Chris Rock from the time we left his vehicle to walk into the thing.

37:42And even in the movie, watching people watch him while the movie is playing. And I remember thinking that seems horrible. I don't ever want to be famous. And then here I am. You know what I mean? Well, that's exactly the next topic because December 7th, 2021, show debuts on ABC National, one of the four broadcast networks which reach just huge numbers. Immediately a hit, more than 7 million viewers across all platforms in the first month. how soon after that and in what ways did you observe your own life changing now that you were man uh first also want to say not only me saying hey I don't want to be famous my friends will always say you're going to be famous I'll be like shut up like I'm not I'm just gonna make I'm just gonna do this over here at the chuckle hut and be fine but and they were like okay but anyway so here I am and then this starts and I'm immediately faced with my face every time I open the phone uh memes this is like not only fame but fame in the in the era of phones and social media is wild like i really do i'm reading an article about tax returns and it's me and they're like you know people use my face for everything so that's weird that's weird and then um Just being outside and people being like, Ava, and I'm truly took me about two seasons to be like, oh, that's me.

39:15They talking to, you know, because I'm not the character after I leave. That's one multiple things. And but thankfully, I'm on a show with people who've been in the business for a long time. Tyler James Williams, who's been in the business since he was a child, was right away telling me like, hey, your life is going to change. these are some ways you should be behaving and moving and saying things, you know, and I'm like, what? I'm a comedian. I'm from fucking New York. You know, tell me what to do. And he was all right about everything. Yeah, I can't really be outside. I can't. Yeah. And if and when you are, I remember you said this story about, I think it might have been right after the first episode aired, like a lot of people, you like to go to Target.

40:07Not anymore, but yeah. Target was my happy, sad place. That's where I would go when I was sad and buy things I didn't need. And a guy picked me up in Target, literally off my feet to hug me. And that was terrifying. And the weird thing about being on a sitcom and in a comedy is your fans are preaching are approaching you with joy but that's not always cool that's not always cool I'm not always in the mood for it you know and I think that's my right but people who've been in the business longer know how to how to fake it I uh continue on my path of not doing that let's see how it works out for me but yeah it's it's a whole thing you don't you really can't not perform after you leave the set people expect it and they want to tell you about their life and their grandma that's a teacher and I'm not a teacher but you know I'm supposed to listen to it um and I'm and I meet a lot of principals and I'm not a principal nor have I even googled what they do um I am I'm an actor the other thing is even with people who you do know it must in some ways affect who are you talking about?

41:25no I'm not talking about anybody but I mean you've said like and this is true for a lot of people who suddenly become very well known and also well compensated as you deserve to be that also can be a jarring thing yeah this whole thing has been really traumatic for me I think that's where you're leading me to. Yeah, fame is not anything I had considered. Again, I've just always done what I wanted, what is interesting to me, what seems fun. Oh, I can make money doing this. This is cool. You know, that kind of thing. And so I just never even thought about what goes into it and what the consequences of this fame could be, which is having money, maybe being the first person in your family to have this amount of money.

42:14That's that's why it's a thing to navigate through your friends my friends are still poor you know you know a lot of my friends are still that's a conversation to have and and to navigate through um loss of privacy which is big for me people's uh entitlement of me and my body and my time that's that's uh important and for me and the thing i've been uh dealing with isolation look i could go on But other than that, it's great. But other than that. But, yeah, I figured that's why we get paid so much money, so we can move further and further up into the hills so people don't talk to us.

42:53Doesn't that sound fun? And then, by the way, the work continues because after you guys blew up, right? I always get in trouble for my interviews, man. No, no, no. Season one, that's part of what comes with it, but also the fact that people love the show, you're now back, not for 13 episodes, where you can kind of like come into L.A. and go home, but 22 episodes, which I just want to remind people, just as a point of reference, you're nominated this year for an Emmy in a category where every other person in the category is nominated for a season where they had either 10 or 12 episodes. And... He said it.

43:43Yes, that is true.

43:45Janelle James:Broadcast network shows are no joke. No joke. I'm going to be up at 3 o 'clock in the morning right after I leave here because my call time is 4.30. Yeah. I mean, that thing, though, I mean, it's interesting how the viewership of broadcast. Much worse jobs to have, by the way. Don't write me saying I work in a coal mine. I know that. talking about my own experience no no but it is interesting how like when it comes to things like emmys or other awards or whatever often and critics sometimes not you guys are are well reviewed but a lot of network shows like people forget you have to be funny within the confines of standards and practices you can't say everything you want you can't show everything you want exactly so it's a lot hard and i wonder like thank you so much for saying these things that i don't have to say yeah a lot of people don't think about that and a lot of people also don't respect comedy I've dealt with that just from being a stand-up everybody thinks they can do it everybody thinks it's fun you know they're funny because they well sitting around the water cooler and took a told a joke about their lawnmower or whatever and they're like oh I could also do that like it's every and I think that goes with every job I think a big problem with society period is everybody thinks everybody's job is easy you know and so comedy is like uh not well respected on stage and uh and on on film they think it's uh easier to do than to cry and i always say behind jokes is tears right there i could cry right now if i wanted to i'm sad that's why i'm funny yeah you know so i'm not saying drama is easy but it's like comedy is a skill and uh and so it's amazing to be recognized even when i was the the one-liner you know as they would would would call me uh the one line not the one-liner person it's hard to be a one to do one-liners and still stand out and make an impact like that and it's to say it in a way that people remember and they also want to uh repeat it that's a skill that I've acquired over decades of doing comedy so yeah over the four years four seasons of of doing Abbott your character has evolved a lot and And the one-liners is really like largely a thing of the past and we'll get to what it is now.

46:00But that's largely because of the writers room and Quinta. And you've talked about how you, your relationship as someone who has written on shows and written your own comedy as a stand-up, but also wanting to be respectful and trusting of the writers who have obviously gotten you guys this far. but can you talk about how over the course of the four years maybe if you have an idea or a suggestion or something and you've gotten more comfortable sharing that yeah first couple seasons um you know I did get a couple ad-libs into the first season but I only do it when I'm asked because again yeah I do respect the writers I know when I was on writing rooms we did not want the actors giving us their thoughts nobody cares what you think you know so so I respect that but every once in a while our main director Randall Einhorn who is also hilarious will be like we've done it how it is on paper Janelle you got anything because he knows I'm funny and then I'll be like ah let me back my tasty ass up and then it makes it in the show it makes it in the show so that's amazing every once in a while that would happen but now as the show goes on I'm now I'm like I don't think Ava would say that you know can we there was an example I heard about where in season four among other things we're seeing Ava gets to know her father Ava gets to have a bit of a love interest Ava spoiler alert has uh employment termination issues uh one of the things that best day of my life when Ava got fired oh we're gonna call we're gonna come to that but But I do think the thing that, like, with the love interest, I heard there was a story there where you decide Ava would not say something.

47:48Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. So, yeah, that was the season finale. The line is, maybe I'll keep you long term at the end. I'm sure the ladies remember that line. And the line in the – and I keep meaning to read this script remember this when people ask me but the line was more from Ava in a what I thought a pleading tone of like not self-confidence of maybe you want to go out with me long maybe you want to yeah like was that it is that I think so oh okay maybe you want to go out with me long term like does that sound like Ava I don't care how fine this man is you know what I mean like you're not about to be begging you know what i mean and so i saw it and we were shooting on on location in philly we shoot in la but for certain uh scenes and locations we'll fly to philly and because that takes you out of your element i couldn't i just knew i didn't like it but i couldn't think of what an alternative and i know from comedy from the writer's room and just from existence i hate when people say i don't like something and then they have no suggestion it's like who cares then you know so I just kept like muttering about it all day like I hate that line I hate that line and uh we did it we got to the to the scene we did it I was like oh and uh the Randall thank God was our director and I was I just don't like that line I don't think she would say it I don't think that's that's how she would say it and he was like that's a Quinta line Quinta wrote that even though it wasn't her episode she wrote that and usually I'm like okay that's the boss uh that's my tiny boss and so I'll leave it but I was like ah anyway cut that was the last scene of the of the episode they started breaking down they sent the kids away and I was just like I got it and he's like what is it and I was like I think she would say maybe I'll keep you long term that's more you know it's asking but it's like oh I'm letting you choose me you know and maybe I will let you do it you know that that's what she does that power play and he was like I love it everyone come back he reassembled everyone and we re-shot it and I said that and then Matthew who plays O'Shawn ad-libbed back to me maybe I'll keep you long and I just thought that was more I ain't even gotta say you feel me right there right you know more more Ava so yeah I'm more comfortable and then they trust me now too to be like, yeah, what idea do you have?

50:22You know this character. What do you have? And then Quinta liked it too. She didn't murder me. So, yeah. Well, another thing that, you know, you say people sometimes, everybody thinks they can deliver a joke the same way or whatever, and they can't. But another thing is there's the physicality of the character. Quinta is quite short. Facts. You have tried to, you have recognized, I guess, with her, maybe with your costume people, whatever. like it's not fun I'm sure to always be around in high heels but it's comedically very effective I think it's hilarious that Ava is towering over this tiny person and being so mean like just visually it's hilarious to me so anytime which has been very few that Ava wears flats or tennis shoes it's just less it's just less funny to me and I don't feel like her the heels are part of the costume of this character it makes me move differently you see how you know so I can't do that in tennis shoes every season I hurt myself in some way trying to do physical comedy uh season three I hurt my back what was I doing running leaving the school or some shit and uh and then last season I did the intro into a flip so yes I'm gonna tell you guys that was a stunt double But I do the start into the and I had already injured myself standing for hours at the Emmys.

51:47So my ankles were already weak. I had worn like crazy shoes to the Emmys. And so I went to go do that that stumble into the flip that the stunt double would finish. And my ankle touched the ground and I cried. And so I was in flats for like four episodes. So that's a little thing you could go back and watch after that episode, maybe for four episodes. You could see me maybe limping here and there and then also being shorter than I usually am and not as Ava-like. I was bumped. So, yeah, yeah, that is, yeah, that's part of the physicality and the visual comedy that we're doing. All right, so this brings us to what happened a few weeks ago, which is that you received for, again, the fourth season in a row an Emmy nomination for the show.

52:46and each one of them I think was very deserved but I feel like and I've been reading a lot to prep for this and talking a lot of other people in the business and there is a I think a widespread feeling that there's never been a better argument for your uh being recognized than there is for this season it's interesting how the show has kind of deliberately or not like highlighted different actors each season. I think season one, which is the one that Shirley Ralph won her Emmy for, it was largely a Barbara season, right? She got to shine. Season two, Tyler James, probably his season there. On and on we go.

53:30But this one, for all the reasons that I mentioned earlier, the variety of things you get to do, the difference in the type of comedic stuff that you're having to perform. Do you agree? Does this feel like a different kind of season for you? I mean, I feel like if it ain't this year, what y 'all want from me? No, no, no. You see, I say stuff like that as a joke, and then they write it, and then everybody's like, she's so ungrateful. Okay, I was joking, but also not. Again, I think this comes back to people not respecting comedy and thinking it's easy. I think, yes, Barbara year, Tyler year, but I also feel like every year was Ava year.

54:07Like, I was memorable in every season. but this year I got to do different moods and and and I also think she's been doing different moves and moods in every season but this year was more expanding is what it is if you're paying attention she's had her moments in the previous seasons where she's telling Barbara like mind your business so what she got a tattoo you know or you know or uh advising Janine like she's had her moments with the with the children and stuff but this year she really got to expand and I know uh because she told me Quinta was like yeah I didn't know you knew how to act like this and so now I trust you and I'm gonna give you uh more to work with and I loved it including dramatic scenes including dramatic scenes and again I feel like uh behind every comedian is a sad clown so that wasn't a real stretch for me uh to pull from trauma last three uh quick things from me and then we're gonna close with some student questions.

55:03This is an excellent interview. Thanks. Number one, what haven't we learned about Ava that you hope will be explored in the future? Ooh, who did our daddy ran off with? Okay, okay. Keith David, that would be great to have more of Keith David, great actor playing your dad. Where's her mother? What happened with that? The gang of girls is she always going out with? What's their deal? Where does she live? Is it fabulous? Of course it is. So many things. many things but I will say even though I'm saying that and one of the things that makes the show uh excellent and uh steady and stay on its path is that the show is not about Ava and her life and the and the where she lives and O'Shawn and all of that it's about the school like that's really why those things haven't been revealed in such in some big pace it's like the show is really about a low-funded school in Philadelphia the teachers and their plights and the children and all the other things are extra so yeah next question how long would you like the show to go on slash how much longer do you want to be a part of doing a network show now what i just want to before you answer how long will my ankles last right well here was a crazy thing in 2023 a journalist asked you what would happen what would happen if the show went on for years perhaps maybe the staff would change, perhaps Ava would get fired.

56:30That was brought up by a journalist before. And you said, regarding her getting fired, quote, I think that would be better than a redemption arc where she becomes a good person all of a sudden. That's when I quit, close quote.

56:44Janelle James:So with that stated, how much longer do you want this? I could have said that more elegantly. That was early seasons before I had PR training. and uh and uh what i meant was and what they're doing and why this character is good sometimes the cliche is exactly what i said something happens and now she's a totally different now she's barb oh she's about the children and and she's a whole different character ava is opening up parts of herself and revealing parts of herself and softening parts of herself that were always there and she's still the same person like that's how real people are you know nobody does like a 180 you know all of a sudden and and uh that's what I was afraid of like I like this character and I like that she has different layers and I like that she's as fabulous as she says she is that's what her getting fired uh revealed like she is the bad bitch that she been saying like and it also made it uh her decision to stay in this school it showed even more how much she cares about this the the uh school and these kids like you see she had a side hustle on top of side hustle like she has money she came back out of the goodness of her heart but she's still kind of an asshole and i love that i love that so that's what i meant if they just like made her you know some big boring which which totally i was gonna be out i was gonna be out no no totally totally makes sense um did you by the way this is a side to that one not the last but a side question when they told you ava was getting fired in an upcoming episode i was like oh vacation exactly what i said in the show i'm becoming her that's what happens when you play a character for a long time.

58:37Janelle James:Didn't panic a little bit? No. No? Okay, all right. Just like her. I didn't panic. I'm like, again, I have not changed from who I was when I said I started and I was just doing all my jobs and pursuing all my interests, and I am still that same way. I don't hold on to anything too tightly because nothing is forever. I know that just from life. I know that I will always land on my feet, just like Ava, and I knew I was an important part of the show. I was like, I'm interested to see how you would do without me. I will be tuning in is how I took it. But I thank you so much. Thank you so much. And not in a bad way.

59:19And I feel like Quinta can do it. That's how amazing she is. I was like, look, this is your project. Like, if you think this is what would, you know, what it needs or how it's going to go, I'm behind you and I will find something else to do. So. So, okay, so Abbott could go on for as long as, you know, we'll see how long, but. Yeah, as long as she wants it to go on. Yeah, that's what I want for Quinta. But for you, either on the show, I mean, there are people that are wondering, you've written and you've written on other shows. Could you ever write an episode of Abbott? Could you ever direct an episode of Abbott?

59:56Outside of Abbott, are there things with stand-up that you didn't get to do when you were coming up that you want to do now? Now, are there dramatic parts? I mean, I heard that you, this might be a legend.

1:00:06Janelle James:Could be not true. I mean, you've been doing stuff. You agreed to host the Writers Guild Awards. Why? Ooh. Why did I? Was it to get on White Lotus? Yes.

1:00:28Janelle James:Mike White was nominated, I guess. He was going to be there. Didn't happen to y 'all saw that last season. Still time. Still time. Delete that. So, you know, beyond either within World of White Lotus or beyond what's, you know, on your bucket list as the last thing for me. Still White Lotus. I still want to do that. Yeah, yeah. Why not? I want to have my own show. Yeah. I want to have my own show, a scripted show. and that's mostly again making opportunities for myself and also what Quinta has taught me is what kind of environment I like to work in that also keeps me interested so when you have your your own vehicle you can kind of craft who's around you and who you want to work with and I always want to work with my friends and people who want me to succeed that's not every workplace so that excites me I would love to still tour like I said just like Chris Rock going on the world tour doing the big theaters, release more specials, write a book, start a band.

1:01:36And yeah, continue to be fabulous and do whatever I want. That's my goal. Maybe win an Emmy.

1:01:46Janelle James:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe. Maybe. Well, thank you for this part. Thank you so much. Thank you, guys. We have some folks with mics in the audience. We're going to close with some - Do we have time for one student question? So we want to really - Just one. It better be good. Don't ask me if I like tacos or something crazy. Do you like tacos? I do. I do actually. Oh my god. Your name, your year, and your brief question. Okay. All right. hi um my name is remy um i'm a producing i'm a producing major and um my one question for you is how do you navigate a comedic career as a black woman without falling into stereotype and sticking to yourself i know i'm sorry falling into stereotypes hmm that depends on what your idea of what a stereotype is so here's a thing with that I think about that like we all know what the stereotype of black women are which is like I guess a loud funny sassy that's the word we always hear those women exist you know what I mean it's not that that's a bad portrayal of black women is that that's the only portrayal of black women so that's how I feel about that I again pursue projects that I think are worthwhile and that are in my wheelhouse I guess I could do that stereotype that version of black women but I wouldn't be good at it because that's not my that's not my thing you know there are actresses who who can do that I don't think it's bad that that exists those tropes exist I think it's bad when it's the only representation of us and also that those type but black women are historically and frequently the start of culture.

1:03:47So I think it sucks that we have to kind of run from those. My biggest and most cherished fans are those women who come up to me with the baby hairs and the nails and the lashes, and they're like, I see myself in you. You're a hustler. I also grew up poor. I have dreams, and I never thought that I could make it to where you are. Like those are the people that I feel like the women that I feel like I represent. So I don't try to run away from portraying or acknowledging their existence. I love them anyway. So that's one. And then what's the second part of the question? That's it.

1:04:27Janelle James:I think you I think you. Yeah, I did it. Yeah.

1:04:32Okay. So they said it was three questions. Is it because we ran over Tom? I don't know. Was it two other people that were told they could ask questions? Go ahead. I'd rather talk to y 'all than him.

1:04:49And he's amazing. So what does that say? Wow, okay. Hi. Hey. Thank you for being here. I was wondering about the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover and your experience of integrating two different comedy ensembles and if that was difficult based on just stylistically, what that was like. Thank you. You're welcome. No, it wasn't difficult. They wrote their script. Their writers wrote their script, and we had our script. It was weird to see them on our set, not only because they're them, but also their characters don't fit. And I was just like, how that's going to happen? You know what I mean?

1:05:29Like, they just did not. Their energy of their cast, not the actors. The actors are lovely. Their characters on Abbott, which is a sweet show, was just weird. and then to go over to their show, I felt chill. Like over there, we get cursed? That's cool. I've been, you know, I get myself headaches on Abbott trying not to curse. So that was great. And I heard many people say that I came off even more natural than I do on Abbott. But that was cool to be on a show that I've been watching since it started. And I'm glad they stuck around long enough for me to be on it. Yeah, 18 seasons, that's crazy.

1:06:02So, yeah, that was amazing. Danny DeVito, what? Yeah, yeah. Not hard at all. yeah it was an honor yeah who's a wait no who who did they tell no i don't think they oh it was just okay yeah all right

1:06:21hi i'm so honored i was chosen hi i'm amy andergar i'm a film and tv production major and my question is what are some characteristics that you feel like a successful woman like you should have in order to work in the film industry

1:06:42brave truly like this is you have to be so brave you have to be sure of yourself you have to be focused in a way so you don't get waylaid by all the it's so much stuff that can deter you and lead you into another bad or not the place you're trying to go or shiny or you have to really be focused on what you want and also yeah sure of yourself which is hard as a young person I always say I started comedy already as an adult and that was a boon for me I already knew who I was I already knew my boundaries but the faster you can get that together the better it will be for you like really and as a woman like you first that which is hard for us like I'm taking care of myself first and then everything else comes after and then when that happens the when it comes it's so much better you'll just like so many people waste so much time energy and uh life force worrying about other things and other people especially women that's how we're we're brought up to be so take care of yourself first know who you are and focus like and also know that this is a dream job like nothing is owed to you like so many other people want it you have to stay on your path don't worry about what everybody else is doing you stay on your path so that's what i would say yeah janelle has been so thank you so much generous to be here and you're continue to continue to applaud thank you again Janelle James applause applause applause applause applause applause

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