- Hey everyone, you're watching In Studio
and today's guest is Paul W. Downs.
How are you?
- I'm doing great, how are you?
- I'm good, thanks for coming in.
- Happy to be here.
- For those of you who don't know,
it's raining in LA and we're slowly surviving.
- I know, it was really a challenge.
I almost canceled.
- You were on time, you were actually early.
- Wow. - That's good.
Thank you so much.
Please, keep that on record on time slash early.
Now as all good things come to an end,
this is the final season of Broad City.
What are you going to miss most about the show
and what do you think viewers are going to miss?
I guess most of us watching.
- I'll probably miss craft services, like free cheese is
like something I've always, you know, strive for, but--
- You know, actually I hate cheese.
- Do you really?
- I'm like one of the few people who does not like cheese.
- Wow, good for you.
I did Whole30 and I went off dairy
and it was the hardest part.
- I'm doing Siver January, it's not Whole30.
- Are you really?
Okay, cool. That's good.
- Anyways. - Yeah back to the question.
It'll be really sad because we have had such a--
we've been so lucky to make a show with our friends.
- Yeah.
Abbi, Ilana, Lucia, and I especially have
been collaborators and friends for like over a
decade and making this show together has been
such a labor of love and I think people respond because,
in part, we're all actual friends,
so that kind of comes through.
So, that'll be really sad,
but it also feels like the right time, you know.
We've all kind of grown up and
it's about a very specific time in your 20s in New York,
so in a way it feels like a
perfect graduation to the characters.
So, in that way it feels
like we got to do it before we overstayed our welcome.
- And when you know it's the last season,
it's kind of a celebratory season as well.
- Yes, well celebratory and also emo.
It gets really emo, you know.
I always say the last half of the season
they're like tears in a lot of, from
the characters there's a lot of like
saying goodbye and crying, you know.
- Did you cry?
- Everyone did at the last, like the last day
because actually most of the cast is in the last episode,
so the series finale was like a goodbye to everybody.
It was really a goodbye.
It was very surreal, but also--
- It's making me cry.
- Yeah, well thank you.
It would be great if I could make you cry.
- Just ball.
For Trey, what was the inspiration behind that character?
You must know someone like that.
I think all-- - We all do.
I mean Trey's an amalgamation of a lot of people.
I do work with a trainer here who's great and
I did steal a couple phrases from he's
not really like Trey, but--
- Does he Axe head to toe?
- What was that?
- Does he Axe head to toe?
- You know what, he might Axe head to,
no, I don't think Axes head to toe,
but he does do "relax your face, relax your face."
Which is one thing I did once I was Trey.
And actually he told me about Equinox I think
has trainer Olympics, which became the basis of an episode,
so there are certainly things stolen from him slash life,
but Trey is just that like over-enthusiastic,
overeager guy that everybody has seen.
Everybody has taken a class with that person.
- I just want to get in here,
Axe my body from head to toe and then
zen out. - Zen out!
- There's no I in Soulstice.
- But there's-- - Well, yes there is.
- Now a lot of people here in the office wanted
to know if you and Abbi end up together.
Last season--
- Everyone asks this and I don't think I can answer.
I will say this, I will say that to the last moment,
there is a will they, won't they,
till the very last moment of the show,
till the last episode.
And there's some big big risks are taken,
some big swings, but I think I should leave it at that.
- That's a good tease.
- Yeah, right? - Good to know, yeah.
One thing you've been really open
about is kind of bringing your own personal
ideals and beliefs into the work you do.
- Can we not talk about that?
- Can you kind of talk about that?
- No.
- And why is it important for you and why,
should I guess creators make an effort to do this?
- Yeah, I mean I think because a lot of the
stories on Broad City are based in truth,
things that happened to somebody on
the show, we want to also--
- I was just talking someone,
it's like so real and so outlandish at the same time.
It's like that's what it is.
- That's great.
Well, I don't know if you've experienced this,
but like so much stuff that happens,
you're like, I couldn't write this, it's too nuts.
Truth is stranger than fiction,
but almost every episode is based on
some event that happened to one of us.
They get much more absurd, we like blow them out.
They get crazy, but at least some Genesis
of something happened and so, I think
it's hard not to be political or civic in
the characters since all of us that make the show are,
and also it's such a privilege
to have a platform to even just reframe
the way we talk about certain things.
Whether it be, even not overtly political,
but just about the way talk about friendship,
or the way we talk about women, or the way we
talk about people without homes, or whatever.
I think it's just something we're actually really,
and have become more acutely aware of.
We watched season one while we wrote season five,
just to like, well what happened on that show?
Haven't seen the show, don't skip the show.
But we were like, wow even the amount that we have become
aware of certain things and certain even
just language, we wouldn't do what we did
the first season anymore.
Like, Ilana is truly a predator.
Ilana is a me too-er.
She is constant slapping Abbi's butt, you know what I mean?
There were things that we were like, wow,
cool, we have to tone that down.
But also, the context has shifted and
the time has changed and she's grown up.
- In terms of toning things down,
it seems like the show has a lot of freedom.
Has there been a lot of scenes that you have had to cut?
- You know--
- Because of the network or had a storyline
you'd scrap that you wish made it there?
- There are storylines that, full storylines
that have gone, but usually it's for time.
- Okay.
- Most of the stuff that's the most outlandish
or the most insane is
honestly addressed before we shoot.
So, for instance we did that pegging
episode where there's like dildos and like,
so there are so many legal notes are that are like,
there can be no head, no veins, and no--
there's so many prescriptive things,
but they're like as long as it's not
flesh colored, you're good to go.
And they've actually been pretty cool about,
as long as we tell them what we want to do
and work with them, we find a way to make
it work or there's some other time can
helps us get away with certain things.
- That's so great.
What else can you tease about what
to expect on the final season?
- A lot of the people in the world of Broad City,
we always think of it like, you know,
it's almost like this, well, if only,
we're like the Simpsons.
That we have like a huge world of people that have
come and gone and recur and a lot of
those people are coming back, so you see
Amy Sedaris as Pam, you see Janeane Garofalo,
Susie Essman, of course, is back and Bob
Balaban, Alana's parents, so you see a lot of
great returning guest stars and there's
some surprise guest stars, too.
But I think in the past we've had like some
big names do the show and this year it
really is about the people that inhabit
the Broad City world and so it in some ways is like
old school Broad City, classic Broad City,
if you can say that after five seasons.
- Because Alana kind of talked about that too,
like bringing it back to like what
the show was intended to be.
- Yeah, because when we watched season one
to remind ourselves what the show is,
we were like, oh there were some just
fun and games that were just
cookie adventures, we wanted to do some of those
and then there's also the matter of knowing it
was the last season, finding a way to
close the curtain on this chapter of the life
of all these characters and so we were pretty--
it gets emo, you know.
It's great, yeah.
- What else are you working on that you
can kind of talk about and what's next for you?
- Wow what can I talk about?
The list is, it's so short, you know in terms of NDA's.
- That's very true.
- Let's see we Lucia and I are writing a movie right now.
- Okay.
And we are about to go out with a show with
Jen Statsky who's a writer for
Broad City and The Good Place.
- That's awesome, which I haven't watched yet, but I hear--
- Oh, it's so great and in fact Jemma,
who is a trainer at the gym, - Okay.
- she plays Janet on the show and she is
incredibly talented and good and it's so
amazing that the world knows that now
and you know, she's just the best.
But anyway, what was the question,
oh other things we were working.
- Yeah, what are you--
- So Lucia and I, my partner and I have a
production company and we are with
Waldenbooks and Michael Lucas Company
producing The Baby Sitters Club for Netflix.
- Wow, that's--
- Yeah, she's directing the pilot and some
episodes and also they're developing that now.
- Casted yet, or?
- Not yet casted, no.
It's like still pretty early stuff--
- But you know.
- No, I don't.
I think actually they're trying to
discover people who are right for these--
- This is a good job--
- I think so too and it's because it's
something that has existed.
It's like a big franchise that people know.
You you have to be true, I think, to canon
and respect the actual characters,
so they're trying to find the right person.
- Now, in your career now, looking back to
I guess to young Paul W Downs,
- Wow, the 60s.
- Is this, do you like is
are you not happy, not happy, but--
Are you doing what you love?
What would you tell your younger self about--
- Don't worry - what to expect.
- Okay.
- And actually that's the thing I stole from--
- And worry about what?
What did you story--
- Anything and everything.
I mean, Steve Martin, in his book "Born Standing Up,"
he says that he wishes he could tell
his younger self not to worry.
And it's true, it's like things will work out, don't stress.
Now part of the worry and anxiety, I think,
of being someone who you know writes and performs,
especially for comedians, I'm sure it's true for
whether you're just an actor or just
a writer or whatever in any creative space, but comedians
I think you put yourself out there,
a lot of your material is your thoughts and
your voice and it's such a constant hustle
and struggle that I think it's hard not to
feel anxious and think about working all the time.
I wish I chilled a little bit more,
but in a way that also fueled my productivity I think,
so it was also good, but I'd be like,
hey it's going to be really fun.
So, just enjoy it, don't get stressed, enjoy it.
- Yeah, that's great.
We're going to play our staple fishing for
answers game that we play with, well, everyone.
- Okay. Everyone?
- Are you a good fisher?
- No. - Well, let's see.
- Who's been the best at this game?
- Emily Blunt and John Krasinski recently did this.
- Emily Blunt, that's so funny I just
called out as somebody like to work with.
- Oh. - In my last interview.
- They were probably the best two people for this.
- Really?
- Pressure's on. - Pressure is on.
I'm better with a straight man, you know.
I need someone else to, well maybe you can do it.
- Yeah, let's go.
What is your favorite movie theater snack?
- Woo!
That was a good toss. - Thank you.
I think actually is this a word
that people don't, nonpareils.
Do you know what a nonpareil is?
There's like Sno Caps, they're called Sno Caps.
- Oh yeah, Sno Caps. - I like Sno Caps.
I also like Reese's Pieces, yeah.
- That's a good mix.
What's something that they don't serve in movie theaters?
I mean, they serve alcohol now,
but what's something they don't serve that you want?
- Lobster, I would always take lobster.
- That'd be good.
- Wouldn't that be nice?
- Amazing movie theater lobster.
- Yeah, I like some clarified butter with some lobster.
- I was answering these for you.
- Oh, thank you so much.
- Do you want one? You can do one.
- No, I'm good.
- What has been your favorite memory working
with Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson?
I'll give you separate ones.
- Okay.
You guys are friends, so it doesn't have to
be necessary on set or you're like working.
- This one is so, and this one I think
Alana has talked about in interviews before but,
it is so hilarious to both of us now.
I did a show at UCB, a live show,
called The Paul Down Syndrome.
- Yeah.
- And way back in the day, Ilana basically
was like my stage manager and she was
backstage helping me with wigs and doing stuff.
Lucia, who I still work with as well and is my
creative partner, was directing, so she watched,
so she wasn't backstage and there was a bit at
the end of the show where I came out and
I basically said goodnight and then I
turned and I had no back of my clothing
and on my ass it said "The End."
But every show I did so much shit and I got so
sweaty that it would like melt.
- Melt off.
- So Ilana would touch up the words "The End"
on my ass with permanent marker.
- That's so funny. (laughs)
- So that is honestly like--
so we're still like, what?
- Does Broad City end with "The End" on your--
- It doesn't.
Oh man, if only you and the writers were there.
- That's such a good idea.
- And then for Abbi I think,
well our favorite memory that I can tell
because it's just us, just us guys
is we auditioned for our first Harald team
together at UCB, being in it, so that.
We constantly somehow comes up and any
of our friends who were around us were like,
Jesus Christ, stop with this story,
'cause we tell this story all the time.
You got to drink before--
It was just a fun memory.
- How was your time at UCB?
- It was great. - Yeah.
- It was really great.
It was, you know, I think you meet a lot of
emerging comedians that now are working
and it's like such a crazy place to cluster and
meet people and collaborate with people and if we
hadn't done that, I wouldn't know Lucia or have Ilana.
Yeah it was a pretty special and magical experience.
It's so crazy that the original theaters now moved.
It's bizarre, but it's a special time in our life.
- I was thinking thinking about recently
taking improv classes, but I don't know.
- Do it. - I should.
- You absolutely should.
It's such a good thing to have, it's like a skill.
- Do you think I'm funny?
- Absolutely.
But you actually do have to use improv skills doing this.
- Yeah I was thinking about it.
It wasn't for this is, it was more for like, just me.
- Yeah, yeah, okay.
Honestly it's good for you and everybody should do it.
- Makes sense.
- Wow, please be good.
Who should host the Oscars?
Wow, you know what?
I have an answer for this.
- Okay.
- It's so funny because I'm going to try and remember
'cause I had one when it first happened--
Oh, I think Kate McKinnon should do it.
- That'd be so great.
- I don't think she would actually,
but she is so fuckin' funny.
Can I do that? - Yeah.
- You can edit swears.
- Yeah, yeah, keep swearing.
- She's the best.
She's another person that I met at UCB.
- That's awesome. - You know 100 years ago.
But I think she would be an incredible Oscar host.
- Why do you, as a comedian, why do you
think comedians don't want to host?
- I think because there's a lot of pressure
to move the show along and I don't
think it's necessarily the platform for
you to do your material, you know?
It's like a very specific thing and I think depending on
what it is, like Independent Spirit Awards
may be less so or you know, even though--
- That's like one of my favorite shows.
- It's such a fun show, yeah.
But I think for the Oscars it's prestige,
so you know the whole like era.
I don't even know what something.
But guess what? I guess I'll do it.
By the way, I'll host the Oscars any time, so.
- We'll co-host it.
- 2029, baby, here we go.
You co-rote and starred in Rough Night.
Yes, not the question.
How many rough nights have you had in your life?
Wow. I've had a lot.
I had one recently.
Actually, was it was New Year's Eve,
we went out and it was a rough night.
It was great night, but it was like--
- Where were you?
- I was in Costa Rica. - Oh.
- I was in Costa Rica on on New Year's Eve
and we went to this bar and no one was dancing,
so we all were dancing and then band was
so stoked that we danced that they stayed
'til after closing and we stayed and
like sang 4 Non Blondes songs with these Costa Rican
guys that didn't really speak English, you know.
- Rough night.
- It was rough, but amazing.
Roughest nights are the best nights, right?
Oh wow, what went into becoming Zac Efron
for your "Diary of Zac Efron" and who
would you want to make a diary of today?
Wow.
- What went into that?
This is a while ago.
- Yeah, it is a while ago.
You know, I first did an impression
of Zac Efron on Very Mary-Kate.
- Okay.
- Do you remember Very Mary-Kate?
Elaine Carroll's show that was a Collegehumor Original.
- Not that much.
- She played Mary-Kate Olsen and it was
such a funny and incredible show.
- Yeah. - Check it out.
Check it out, everybody.
But I did an impression, I was like,
oh this is really fun, I want to do more of Zac Efron
because that Zac Efron is perfect, so.
It's kind of fun to pay homage,
but also skewer a little bit and
you know, the impression was pretty easy.
It was just like, I crossed my eyes and went awesome, man.
Basically that's it. Awesome, man.
And I had like those swoopy bangs 'cause it was in the time.
Different time.
I would have to gain some muscle note to--
- So who would you want to do a diary of today?
I have to come back to you on that.
- Okay, let me know.
- Yeah, I'd be careful because I have
so many celebrity friends.
It's just too awkward.
Okay, what was your first impression of working
with Rough Night co-star Scarlett Johansson?
Yo-hansson.
My first impression?
- Yeah, so like first time meeting her.
- I've actually always loved her work and
everything from like Lucy to like Ghost Town
and you know I loved her stuff for so long.
In fact I saw Lucy like--
anyway it doesn't matter.
But meeting her in person I was like,
oh she's so chill and cool and smart.
I was like, wow.
I was very impressed by
how much more impressed I was meeting her person.
You know, you meet people in person
often times you're like, okay, you know.
You're like wow you're smaller in person
or you know or you're like don't meet
your idols, but meeting her was great
because she was funny and cool and got
it and she was someone I was like oh I would actually
hang out with this person, or I would want to, so.
- That's great. - Yeah.
- Two more, here we go.
Oh, here it is.
Growing up who is your favorite comedian?
Wow.
Robin Williams was my favorite comedian going up
and Mrs. Doubtfire was my favorite movie growing
up and I watched it many, many, many times.
- And the anniversary of the film actually was recently.
- Oh, was it? I didn't know that.
I think before his passing he was going to do it, do the sequel
I think that was in the works.
I think it's like the perfect screenplay.
You cannot, you can't do it without Robin Williams.
- No. - You know what I mean.
He's so good and liquid funny.
But I also growing up really the obscure
person that I used to watch like Comedy Central
stand-up specials of was Paula Poundstone.
I really like Paula Poundstone.
I was like this woman is hilarious and still is.
- Last one. - Last one, okay.
- Here we go.
- Wow these are supposed to be earnest, right?
I've been answering them honestly.
- No, this has been so great.
- What is your current favorite TV show?
Well I have to say I just finished Succession.
- Oh my god!
- And it's so good.
- That's my favorite show.
- It's so good.
- It's the best.
- It's so good and the last episode was
so incredibly good I was sad.
- Oh, the ending?
- Yeah.
Whoo, the ending is--
- Everyone should watch it.
- It's incredible, yeah.
So I think right now that would be my favorite show.
- Cause it's such a drama, but it's a funny show.
What's his name?
- Oh, it's so funny. Tom?
Wamsgans, he's the funniest thing the ever--
- He's so funny.
- The best character, yeah.
And what else is funny is Broad City which comes back to
Comedy Central Thursday, January 24th.
- 10/9 Central
Hey, Central, it's at 9:00, okay?
Be careful if you live in Central timezone.
- Thank you so much-- - Check it out.
- for coming in
- Thanks for having me.
- Of course.