DISCLAIMER:
The following output was transcribed from our audio recording.
Although the transcription is largely accurate, it may be incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors.
It is posted to aid in understanding the interview but should not be treated as an authoritative record.
Mindy Cohn 00:00
Hey everyone say hi to everybody, Christian and welcome the back them back to Monday. So Hi everybody. Welcome back to Mondays with Mindy. You said that better than I did. Oh my goodness. Anyway, today's episode features a conversation with a Writer Producer that has put her touch on some of my favorite television shows and movies. Not every funny and highly intelligent person can translate these assets into their writing. But Jenny Bix is indeed one of them. Jenny was born and raised in Manhattan. She started her career in advertising before breaking into comedy writing best known for producing and writing for hbos Sex in the City, which won her a much deserved and the multiple Golden Globes and a producer Guild Award. She also executive produced and wrote many entries for ABC and the big c one of my all time favorite shows for Showtime, too. She was also the showrunner and writer of HBS divorce for a season and not to get it twisted Jenni writes for films to her work includes the screenplays for the film's never been kissed Drew Barrymore course what a girl wants the animated Rio to and one of my all time favorite movies of all current, the greatest showmen. She also recently complete Yeah, with Hugh Grant. Yeah, epic. She also recently completed her play bounce it for producer Sally Horchow. She's led a few master classes for comedy writing through the Sundance collab. They love their name, collab Get it? Yeah, and has an overall development deal with Lionsgate? Most recently, she's partnered up with adorable and darling director Paul Feig to co produce and write a new Fox comedy series. This country. It's based on a UK documentary, so that should be getting going. Again, post COVID hopefully, yeah, Jenny. Yeah, Jenny divides her time with her husband, Adam and their ridiculously adorable pups between their homes in Los Angeles and Maine.
Christian Brescia 01:51
Ladies and gentlemen, is our pleasure to welcome to the show the very funny Jenny Vic's.
Mindy Cohn 02:01
We're happy to have you thank you so much for doing this. Um, when Christian and I decided to do this to what's the one thing during COVID I've missed is talking to fellow creatives and just my tribe, you were the one of the first people to pop into my head out there.
Jenny Bicks 02:18
Let's just be honest, because you know, you've been doing this now for a little bit and so that's not not be honest from the start
Mindy Cohn 02:28
And Christian, Let me also say that Jenny has no problem putting me in my place ever. Okay, so no, I like it. Yeah, I thought you're allowed to the way we start. This is Christian. I kind of came up with 20 random questions in my fabulous Johnny Adler secrets jar. And we just I grabbed five and we go from there. Oh, I'm so excited. Ready?
Jenny Bicks 02:48
I'm so ready. Oh, I love.
Mindy Cohn 02:51
Okay, let's just go deep. Fix. When was the last time you cried?
Jenny Bicks 02:55
Oh, uh huh. You know, I've been crying a lot. I'm not gonna lie to you. Well, you know, it's a hard time. Best of times, right. I cried at aid. I cried it a Dodo. rescuing a dog? Yes, ma'am.
Mindy Cohn 03:15
Okay, yeah.
Jenny Bicks 03:17
Like a rescue dog. We all need to get it. Yeah, exactly.
Mindy Cohn 03:20
What is your favorite place in the world? And why?
Jenny Bicks 03:25
Oh, my God, I have a couple. Do. I hope you're gonna have one?
Mindy Cohn 03:30
No, no.
03:31
I'm in one of my most favorite places right now. Which is Maine. I'm in Maine. I would turn my screen around to show everybody but I feel like that would be messy.
Mindy Cohn 03:42
But I am. I would I would be jealous.
03:45
And I don't want to make you jealous. That would be no I love me a little Maine. I love Italy. I wish I were in Italy right now if I wasn't in Maine, I wish I was eating pasta and drinking wine Don't we all yes yeah, there Yeah.
Mindy Cohn 04:03
Now were you asked but i would i would come
Jenny Bicks 04:07
you have been invited in Christian you can come to
Mindy Cohn 04:10
a family there so we'll be set.
Jenny Bicks 04:12
Oh, yeah. Yeah, show Oh, yeah.
Mindy Cohn 04:16
Yeah, I go I go regularly, thankfully.
04:18
Oh, faster. So among your friends, what are you best known for? Oh my god, you might maybe answer this but I think I am known for being a straight shooter. I think I tell it like it is you do like,
Mindy Cohn 04:34
like it is in a very funny and supportive and yeah. bolstered up way. I have your sage advice. Yeah,
04:46
I think I'm even I think I'm even people like that. I you know, I Yeah, yes. And then I'm not you know,
Mindy Cohn 04:52
yeah, but you're never a hilarya
04:54
I mean, you're never like don't think I am I know I attract the hilarya which Good and bad.
05:03
Hiring malaria goes a long way. Yeah, yeah.
Mindy Cohn 05:10
Yeah. Do you have a hidden talent that you'd like to share?
05:18
Or do you want to just keep it private? I, uh, I have one hidden talent. But I don't know if I can do it sitting down because it involves basically, I used to do improv. Yes. And I did it very poorly. I mean, I enjoyed it. But it turns out, I'm not a good actor. So I'm very happy that I found I could do something else. But I was very good at playing a girl who gets upset and runs out of a room. That's my thing. And if you'd like to see me perform that on screen, I am in a little film called never been kissed, which was the
Mindy Cohn 05:53
you actually wrote
05:54
as well. Yes, I did help. Right. And I am in it playing a I am. I run out of a room out of a conference room having been fired. So that's,
Mindy Cohn 06:04
I can do that. I will. I will have to know which one is which one is Yep. And which of the two is the dog? I think it's my little guy. Lucius.
06:15
Usually is one of my two. Okay, I told them mommy had an important podcast to just
Mindy Cohn 06:22
cheer. So he's a little vocal and defiant at the moment.
06:25
A little hilarious. Yeah.
Mindy Cohn 06:28
Candy bits. What scares you?
06:31
Right now? Right? Right. very scared by the person who happens to be in the white house right now? Yes. And I'm scared by here's what I'm scared by. Now, it's not very hilarious, but it's true. I'm scared by all the people that have come out from underneath the rocks, because of the person in the White House who seems to have I think I was naive. I thought that we were a country of like, kind, nice people. And turns out we're a country that was asleep. We're a country with people who were become very selfish and kind of dumb. Like, I think we're kind of like, I think afraid and afraid. And so I'm very scared of that right now. Mm hmm. I'm scared for I have older parents that I'm a little scared for, you know? Yeah, that's my immediate fears. Um, my other fears. People are talking about me and I don't know what they're saying. Um, I I don't love enclosed spaces. So I'm a little claustrophobic.
Mindy Cohn 07:33
I didn't know that.
07:35
A little bit. I used to be worse now. You know? Uh huh.
Mindy Cohn 07:38
Yes, it's fine. The rest of it for you? Because it's so right. Have you met? Have you made a plan? You and Adam to come back to Los Angeles or No.
07:49
in mind? No. Because everything. I don't know what happened. We left California and everything went to hell.
Mindy Cohn 07:56
Yeah, no, we're what's happening. We're not in good shape. At this moment. We're back at Sacred Heart. We're kind of back in March.
08:02
Right now. We're back where we started. Yeah, people wear your masks people everywhere you are even if it's not California, please just put on a mask. Very simple. Yeah. Very simple.
Mindy Cohn 08:13
So are you are you writing every day? should I lie and say I am? No. I think you're always really honest.
08:22
About me. But But yes, but you are one of the most prolific. I'm friends of mine, that you You are very disciplined when you need to be and when I need to be, I would say I am. Did you find like at the beginning of this you had I had really vivid dreams, like I had these crazy dreams that were happening. And I would wake up and be like, what is my mind doing? And so I think a lot of us, our minds are working so hard. working overtime. That's when you actually have to sit down and write you're tired. It's just, it's exhausting. And you have to figure out how to be creative at a time when it feels like the world is on fire. It is really weird. a dumpster fire. So the idea of like throwing a birthday party every day on your computer screen is kind of hard, but I'm I'm trying to work on stuff that makes me happy. And that makes me laugh. Yeah. I think we all need that. So I am not going to be working on
Mindy Cohn 09:19
did did COVID shut down your gig with the news with Paul Feig.
09:26
Yeah, just shut it down. So Paul Feig and I thank you for that little plug Paul Feig direct thing and I created a show called Well, I, I adapted a show called this country, which was a fantastic BBC show, and we did it for Fox and we shot one day of the pilot in North Carolina, and then we shut down that was March 16. We were the last pilot shooting in America. Yeah, and yeah, but it looks like we may be headed back soonish to to finish the pilot. To be awesome,
Mindy Cohn 10:01
that would be awesome.
10:02
Yeah, but we did get shut down. So it was very cool. coitus interruptus
Mindy Cohn 10:07
demo. And unfortunately my situation got scrapped. We were We were into day three of a feature the new Matt Stone, Trey Parker feature. Yeah. dunzo. Just Just that's all. Yeah, they decided we were literally in day three. And I just think insurance wise and production wise, it was easier for them because they had no idea. when where why Who? Right Well,
10:30
oh, crap. I'm sorry. That's not.
Mindy Cohn 10:33
Yeah, happens. I know. But I've not been the only one. There are a couple friends of mine whose projects are just like, Oh, nevermind.
10:42
You're in good company. There's a lot that like, oh, that thing. We talked about knocking? Yeah. Guys, would you guys be going back to North Carolina? Or is there a different? Is there a plan B, our plan A is probably still our plan, which is to go back to North Carolina finish the pilot, the the town that we are shooting in North Carolina still very low numbers, which is great. Um, so knock on? Yeah. And
Mindy Cohn 11:09
you'll make all the production adjustments that are needed at this time? That is correct. But
11:13
it is a winner. Tom, it's very hard to get your head around shooting again and keeping everyone safe. And yeah, and then be funny on top of it. Thank God, I'm not in it. I just have to be behind the camera. But
Mindy Cohn 11:24
no, I actually think like anything once it starts going, I actually think it's going to just take a little time adjustment, and people are going to just jump jump in the deep end. Really, I don't want to be like terminally optimistic, but I am
11:38
loosened one has to be
Mindy Cohn 11:40
so that should be you. Here I am. No, I do. And I and I think a lot of things that are in production now in Australia and Canada may bolster, you know, other places to sort of be like, let's try this.
11:52
I hope so. Because there are a lot of people out of work. And it would be nice to get our industry kind of slowly coming back. You know, anything we can do?
Mindy Cohn 12:01
Yeah. So I'm in doing my research. I did not know you started in advertising before you went into comedy writing.
12:09
I did start in advertising.
Mindy Cohn 12:11
We've never talked about that. I mean, I love that there. You're still a mystery to me.
12:15
I'm still there's still layers, like an onion, like a tiny pearl onion. Just keep peeling the
Mindy Cohn 12:20
little layers. Sadly, yeah. So what I didn't get from research, and I would just like you to just honestly to tap start jumping into the creative process. How did you make the switch? What happened?
12:32
Oh, my god, it was so interesting. And I tell this story a lot. Because I feel like people always think like that the thing you've selected often is the thing you're supposed to do, right? And especially for me, I was one of those people I came out of college, I was like, Oh, I'm getting a job in advertising. That seems creative. But I understood like you can carry a briefcase like it's a job to go to.
Mindy Cohn 12:52
And like it makes your family happy or proud. It made
12:55
my family happy. And I was like I understood. I was like, Okay, you go somewhere and do a job. And I did it for five years. And I worked on some very illustrious products including Excel, Vicks Vapor Rub. Side con, iconic sine x nose spray, um, a lot of Procter and Gamble stuff. I ended my tenure with Maxwell House coffee, which is very exciting. And we are the agency I worked with, which is a very large agency lost a very large client and they said, Listen, we you can stay and work on. There was another account that we all knew was an awful account to work on. And I won't say it. But um, it rhymes with gars. It's a candy brand. Sorry, huh?
Mindy Cohn 13:48
So that's really no longer with us kind of,
13:51
kind of not, but it was run by the family that family and they were not on, apparently easy to work with. Or we could pay you for six months. And you know, you can leave and I was like, You know what, I am going to leave and it was this big moment. You know, when you make those leaps of faith where you say, I know that I want to be writing full time. I and you'd have to know that then. I did. I did know that Okay, okay. I want to try more improv there were all these things I wanted to do. And so I took the money and you know what I did? I went to Italy, I went to Italy girl. And I it was you know what is magical. It's magical. And I went and
Mindy Cohn 14:31
Eat Pray Love moment.
14:34
Pray Love. But you know what, oddly, sadly, you're, you know, no love. Like, there was no love. But there was a lot of waiting and praying that I would get a job writing. When I came back. It didn't happen. So I came back and got a job, working writing radio comedy. So which was this weird little world of mainly DJs and voiceover artists who everyone Do that morning drive radio that used to hear where they do impressions of presidents, or like some I was really good a song parodies. That's a hidden talent of mine. I'm very good at song parody. Right. And I know that I know. So if anyone needs a song parody, I am in your gal. I'm
Mindy Cohn 15:18
making notes.
15:19
Yeah, yeah. So I came, I came back and started doing that, which paid just enough to pay my rent. And then slowly I worked my way to a job and holy wood. But yeah, that was a big change. It was a big moment. You just don't realize where your big moment is, until after it happened.
Mindy Cohn 15:38
In New York City for this period, I
15:40
was in New York. Yeah, I was in New York. And yeah, and I took the big leap, and then didn't look back. And it was, you know, and by the way, advertising super fun industry to be in. It's really changed a lot since I was in it, but really fun. We were we wasn't madmen anymore. So we didn't have three Martini lunches, but it was super fun. And yeah, no, but I'm glad I'm doing what I do. I'm very lucky when I
Mindy Cohn 16:04
bestie. You know, Josh, with the with the farm, Neiman Josh Purcell. His success was in advertising. He had a blast for almost 15 years. He loved
16:14
it. It's great people. It's it is the closest you'll come to being super creative without being in the world where you're sitting by yourself in a room trying to figure out how to be creative. So I think it's a great way to kind of get your feet wet.
Mindy Cohn 16:27
Do you work better? By yourself? Or when you're in a writers room? Generally,
16:32
generally I am ay ay.
16:42
Ay, ay. I like being with people. And that's partly why I'm kind of, you know, what makes me cry little now, too. It's like, it's been a lot. You know, I'm a good, I'm a good little worker bee. And I like, when you're in a writers room, it's like a dysfunctional family. And you get to know each other really well, and inside jokes, and you worry about what you're gonna eat for lunch, and then you fight about what you ordered. And then you ask that you've never invited someone else's food. It's a lot of food in the ration. Maybe that's why I like it. I miss having someone else get me food. Um, but I do I, I really love a writer term. It's a great way to collaborate A great way if you're feeling like you don't, you're, you're stuck, you can turn to somebody else. And that's again,
Mindy Cohn 17:23
it's great. So you're, you're a better writer with people, because I wouldn't necessarily say that because you do some kick ass writing on your own. Well, thank
17:31
you. I do both. But I think it depends on the project, right? I mean, if I there's something that I really know, I've got my hands around, and I know how to do it. I'm great on my own. But when you're doing when you're doing television, you're doing episode after episode, and it's super fast. You need to have a group you can rely on and yeah, that you can bounce things off of. Well, and usually and I would say in the last decade, at least you've been the Helms person of those rooms. And so is that different than just being in the room? Yeah, I would use me by the way, kudos to you for saying Helms person, not like helmsmen
Mindy Cohn 18:12
evolved, just
18:15
highly evolved. Thank
Mindy Cohn 18:16
you. Have you heard me? Have you
18:19
done that thing? How much Neanderthal do you have? I bet you don't have very much Neanderthal now what
Mindy Cohn 18:25
very little it's been bred out right, apparently.
18:27
Right. That's what I'm saying. Yeah.
Mindy Cohn 18:28
Thank you. I appreciate that, though. Yeah. Um, so tell me about being the Helms person in the writers room versus just being in there.
18:37
It's, you know, being a show runner, slash Helms person is, it's not a fun job. Like everyone thinks they want to do that job. And then when you get there, it's a lot of management strategy. It's stressful. And it's a little less fun because you can't, those are my dogs barking now.
Mindy Cohn 18:57
It's okay. Just wanna say, hi. I kind of like that.
19:02
Okay. It may help me. It's on meeting. Okay, good. No,
Mindy Cohn 19:07
it doesn't bother me.
19:08
Here's the thing when you are running the show, you can't make fun of you can't you're not part of the group. You're the mother. Like, how do they learn? To love them all. And you can't, like just relax and start laughing because you're always worried like, Oh, I got five episodes. I gotta turn around. And you guys are all just having fun and why can't I have fun? So it's a it's a tougher job. That way you're no longer considered an equal when it's more fun being in a room when you're just one of the gang versus being the one who has to you know, crack the whip sometimes and be like me and mommy. Yeah. But yes, I try not to be too mean. And I try to be
Mindy Cohn 19:48
more more encompassing of some of your time that you can't just not that grateful in writers room have time cards, but you really don't go home and just
19:57
clock out. Right, exactly. And I think we can No good writers of any level and writers from probably aren't clocking out completely. But you can go home and be like, Oh, thank God I'm not in charge. And then I've been lucky that most of the shows I've been in charge of haven't had huge problems. So it's fun still, but yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot of work. It is definitely
Mindy Cohn 20:16
dealing with studio and production and other people that normally would have to
20:21
tell it. Oh, an actor's I don't know if you know how crazy actors are. We've heard that. Some people say that
Mindy Cohn 20:27
they're cipher merchant. Yeah, whatever.
20:30
You know what? Here's what I say. I don't subscribe to that. Because I also they're crazy writers. Also, they're crazy. executives. Yeah. Yes. Everyone's a little crazy. Yeah, we're all in this because we're just a little crazy.
Mindy Cohn 20:40
Thank goodness, I like that. I like that kind of crazy. It's comfortable to be around for me,
20:46
too, for me, too. Otherwise, why would we do it?
Mindy Cohn 20:48
Yeah. Right. So what is? What is your creative process as you define it? Like? I know, that's a really heady question. But if someone were to say to you, like if you had to do one of your Sundance co labs, I'm sorry, but I just love that they call it that. Labs. And, and, and one of the participants asked you, you know, what's your creative process? What would your answer be? I won't hold you to it.
21:13
Oh, my God, I wish I had one. You know, when I have done the Sundance co labs, Tom Fontana does it as well, oh, wow, he has such an amazing process. And every time I'm there and talking to him, I try to do what he does, which lasts for the exact three days that I'm with him. You know, it wakes up at five in the morning, and just starts writing. And I think that part of the creative process is the act of sitting down, right and just make doing something. For me, sometimes I'll be in that space where I'm doing that a lot. And I'm excited. And I'm going to sit down and write every day. So this is a long way saying I don't really have a process except. And then some sometimes it's about just going for walks and thinking through what's exciting me the one thing I've learned over time is too good. Maybe I've said this to you, but is to go towards the love. And what I mean by that is work with people that want to work with you, but also work on projects that you're excited by not the ones you're supposed to do. And I think over time, I'd say it's hard to say no to things. But sometimes you have to say, you know, as much as I should want to do this, I don't what I really want to do is write this crazy thing. And that will always be a better thing. Better, the writing will be better because you're more known when
Mindy Cohn 22:31
you've done that a couple times. I have done more for your mental health. And I actually think for the betterment of your career. Because I feel like the next thing you do is kind of amazing
22:43
that God bless God bless you. But yeah, I would say my process is is about I don't love things like outlining, you know, there are people who love that version of process and I can't stand that part. It makes me feel like you have this like great little baby, you're starting to like, Okay, I'm gonna go with this analogy. Like you have this little baby and you're trying to like bottle feed it or breastfeed it
Mindy Cohn 23:05
yet. Oh,
23:06
my little baby. And then the outline is like you just put a big blanket on it and hope it doesn't. Like smother it's
23:15
good, dead baby analogy,
Mindy Cohn 23:16
but yeah, thanks for that, then.
23:18
Yeah, so I will avoid doing that for a while because I'd like to just think about where my characters want to go instead of like, where they should go.
Mindy Cohn 23:27
I've also thought me as an actor, because my my creative process really is just to be prepared, whatever that means. And it's different depending on what I'm doing. So it sounds like preparedness.
23:37
Yeah, be prepared but also know that there isn't one way to do this job. You know, and even from from project to project I will operate differently depending on what what the project is. Either. What you do have to do is when the chips are down, you do have to sit down and actually stare at your computer screen and I was reading Did you read this piece in The New York Times last week about a woman I forget the name of the process, but you're supposed to basically set an egg timer for 25 minutes?
Mindy Cohn 24:04
Yeah. Oh, yes. amadora process?
24:06
Yes. The pomodoro Thank you Good. Of course the Italian knows. Because Italian it is a thing. Yeah, I use it is it is a thing and then you get up for five minutes. You're not allowed to write okay. And and I did find myself. I tried that out a little bit. And I was like, This is interesting. I don't love to you have to stop while you're kind of on a roll. But I appreciate that. If you're on a roll, you're going to come back and still know why you're excited about that thing. And I think sometimes that's what it takes us literally making yourself Sit down. Even if you don't want to sit down and just yeah, that's me on the keyboard.
Mindy Cohn 24:43
Genius genius in action. There it is. Wow. Do you ever have you ever subscribed to the famous I forget? Is it Hemingway etc. Is it right? drunk edit sober. Do you ever subscribe to that sort of philosophy sometimes
24:57
I have never heard that theory.
Mindy Cohn 25:02
Right, silver, you have given birth to an idea here.
25:10
For the last four months,
25:13
I have been writing drunk.
25:16
Now it's all
25:20
odd to me. You don't that actually does make a lot of sense is you do have to kind of just go in react fun. Yeah, yeah, freeing yourself up. I, that was something I had to learn because I was kind of editing as I went. And I found that that, that kind of slow, it's a different part of your brain you're using when you edit versus just have fun. And it's funny, because just yesterday, I was talking to a gal who's a high school senior who wanted to know about how to get into writing. And I'm like, first of all, you're like, so far ahead of the game, because you know, like, gosh,
Mindy Cohn 25:49
that she knows. Yeah,
25:51
you know, high school. God, God bless you. But I often I said to her, and I often say to people that I'm gonna maybe bastardize this quote, but it's from Tennessee Williams, which is great plays aren't written, they're rewritten. And what that means is, don't go in thinking that this thing you're you're creating is going to be perfect the first time out, just get something out. And then you can go back in sober, if you will, and make it great. Yeah. And by the way, some great things come from that magic of just being letting yourself be free. I think we don't, I think it's gonna be hard for us all to feel free for a long time.
Mindy Cohn 26:27
I agree. I think that's going to be the hardest bit of this whole thing for all creatives of all kinds is just to really just feel safe and open and let it fly. You know, kind of feeling because we're restricted. We're so
26:39
restricted.
Mindy Cohn 26:40
What are you usually inspired by? And what are you inspired by now?
26:45
Ooh, these are really good questions of Hey, listen,
Mindy Cohn 26:48
I'm a smart cookie check. Oh,
26:51
you're beyond your
Mindy Cohn 26:55
own. Thank you. Yes, publicize?
27:00
I am inspired by a great art. I mean, I'm inspired by other people creating. And I'll find, by the way you talk about process, sometimes what I'll do is I'll pick up a screenplay of a film that I've loved and I'll just start reading it because it will help me to be reminded of what magic can be. So I'm very inspired by other artists, right? And even right now as much as people and and can't create. Um, now I'm inspired by people who are courageous right now. Like, I feel like the least we can do is create art when these people are like these moms in Portland who are standing in front of your gassing agents. Oh,
Mindy Cohn 27:40
absolutely. It's. It's unbelievable. Yeah, truly. Yeah, I find that unbelievable. They What's
27:48
happening? Yeah, if they can, if people ordinary people can go out there and have their lives affected in ways that I can't even imagine, then the least I can do is be courageous in front of my keyboard, like, at least I can try right to. So I'm very inspired by that. And by the hope of it, so I tend to have an optimistic writer, like I like to write now about relationships and community I always have, yeah, but I like to community is really important to me right now. Because we all need it so badly. And some of us aren't realizing that. But so I'm very inspired by that. You know, I think everything I'm writing right now is about community.
Mindy Cohn 28:24
Yeah. Have you have Has something happened during these four months that has changed you in some profound way? Are you you have clocked that like, I think I feel a little different about either a person or relationship a place.
28:39
That's another good. Ah, I have never made so much bread in my life. I can safely say I feel differently about my ability to make bread.
Mindy Cohn 28:53
Yeah, kudos.
28:56
Thank you. I can do nothing else. It's that I realized I own too many possessions. Like, I wonder how many people have gone through their closet and just said, because when it comes to how much you know, how much should we really need? And that consumption and ownership and you haven't been on Sex in the City? I have all of these shoes right?
Mindy Cohn 29:17
Now only imagine.
29:20
And I think like how am I ever gonna wear all these shoes again? I mean, let alone the fact that you know, no one's wearing shoes. And I was thinking the other day I was like, oh god, these people who work in shoe retail like our print Craig, like people who no one's buying shoes. No one's buying a bag. You don't need ours. Are you going with your damn purse to the kitchen? Right. Oh, I have learned that about myself. I've learned that I'm sure I'm not the only one. You learn who matters to you and then who if you haven't spoken to them for a while you're desperate to speak to and who you don't really need to like there's a lot of people in our lives that aren't when the chips are down. You They're not maybe as important as you thought they were. That's been my biggest thing. It's kind of been amazing. Yeah. And I think that's great because it also shows you who isn't, you know, it isn't leveling, right. It just shifts everything. It I really appreciate the dodo dog videos now, I've learned that I we haven't killed each other and that in penises
Mindy Cohn 30:22
process because I don't think there will be COVID babies I will think there will be a plethora of COVID divorces. There are my
30:30
divorce. I know too. Yeah, she was she busy. She's quite busy. So I think that that was gonna happen. People who never spent any time together and suddenly you're locked down. Right? That's a little a little dicey. Yeah.
Mindy Cohn 30:42
Yeah. But you and Adam have Is there a new normal with you guys?
30:46
we you know, we spend a lot of time together anyway. Yeah. Yeah, you're for us to adjust. But definitely, we've found like, some of us have won some of us, us.
31:01
Multiple Personality Disorder. Okay. We have discovered we're both extremely screwed up.
31:09
We have jobs. I'm very, very, very good at loading the dishwasher. And that is my job. And don't, don't about like, don't come in and try to figure out how to do the job properly. I love doing laundry. So let me do the laundry saying Oh, yeah, so we have our jobs. We're okay, if you cross over those jobs. There's no you know, can be a problem. But yeah, we've we've found that you spent a lot of time eating meals with the same person, you know, but I'm very lucky to have some deep meals with I mean, I think it's been awfully hard for my my friends of all ages, who happened to be single or alone right now alone. And that is
Mindy Cohn 31:45
Yeah, not not a good place to be. No, we're not meant to be not meant to spend this much amount of time alone for sure.
31:53
Not at all. Not at all. Yeah, you know, what I loved being in LA was hearing all the birds like when the traffic um and I was like, dude, how many of my neighbors have chickens like suddenly?
32:13
Like, yeah, all about this, but it was very old. But the birds and all the ant like, you know, it's lovely still to see how nature kind of comes back into our world when we let it
32:27
that's been very eye opening for me.
Mindy Cohn 32:29
What are your favorite hobbies? By the way when you're not writing and just being having your life? I know. Obviously tennis Have you been playing tennis?
32:39
playing tennis I enjoy reading. I like to stretch to worry. Oh my gosh, anxiety. I don't know if that falls under the same thing probably does. I'm not productive. incredibly productive gets so much done. Um, I like to worry about other people what I have been playing some planets I have been walking. I've know a lot of walking, which I really enjoy walking the dogs walking myself. What if I have been what else if I've been doing I've been reading I'm trying to read more. Right. But again, it's hard to even concentrate on reading like I'll find myself just right. So we have to learn how to concentrate more because there's great books out there right now and I want to I want to read them all. Yeah.
Mindy Cohn 33:27
I do have to say TCM has become my new best friend. I have been watching a Turner Classic Movies. Let me just say very inspiring. And it's it's been my bench. What have you been
33:36
bingeing on? Oh my god. Okay. What
Mindy Cohn 33:38
do you guys love right now?
33:40
Right now we are finally watching the Americans, which we have not watched. Oh, yes. Yeah. And I will say that was very prescient. Like there's a lot of stuff in there that right now like to think No,
Mindy Cohn 33:52
this was all gonna happen that insane.
33:54
How did we know about all the Russian stuff? And then and unfortunately, it's history
Mindy Cohn 33:57
repeating.
33:59
Yeah. But um, you know, I love that Keri Russell. And she's just, you know, there is I think that's a very good show. We made it all the way through shits Creek, which is terrific, and so enjoyable and exactly what we need right now. Like little like cotton candy of a show. Yes. So and then I watched like these really dark documentaries, which I probably shouldn't write, like, a lot of like, true murder documentaries, which, maybe right now now maybe our life is already I know.
Mindy Cohn 34:29
A little light and fluffy. I find myself sorry to hurt.
34:35
But I do I did love my ships. Great. That was I you know, kudos to all of them. Because that was so brilliant. such a simple thing. Luckily, the characters are so friggin fine. And and you just can tell they're having a great time. And yeah, who doesn't live in that world.
Mindy Cohn 34:53
So I am keeping a little bit of a tangential treaty right now. Just because I just want to talk about A little bit about your trajectory only because the people that I know that have sad been satellites around my life, or I've been a satellite around their life are not as kind as you are, and are not as friendly and lovable and a good friend, when they've reached your level of success. There's something that kind of happens. I don't know what it is, whether it's just people are, you know, at that point, you're being asked favors from everyone or you're being used or whatever, but you have maintained this ability to just have your friends and have a fun life and still be a really serious player.
35:36
Such a lovely thing to hear. But it's true. Mother pay you to say that.
Mindy Cohn 35:41
Not today now. Yeah, she hasn't yet. But no, but it is true. We've actually talked about this privately you and I before where it's just it's it's not only commendable, but it's comes natural to you. You don't have to work hard to be a nice person.
35:55
I you know what, I had really good role models. I mean, it First of all, I don't I'm probably not always a nice person. I try I try to be a try to treat people with kindness I do. But my my mom really taught us well, like there was definitely kind of you did you were you need to be a good person. Right? That's more important in the end. So all credit goes to my parents, not necessarily to me about how you become a better person. But I know not right this second in this time that we're living. But can you do us some time sit back and look at your trajectory and do the little like, jump back kiss myself a little bit? I sometimes I will look back and say, Wow, I mean, you know what, I'm just very thankful right now like what I'm very, I feel very fortunate for a variety of a ton of reasons that don't have to do what what we all do for a living. But yeah, I feel really, really fortunate. And I'm really proud of the work that I've done. I get prouder in weird moments like when, you know, I wrote a little movie called The greatest showmen, which I'm jazz. And I have so many kid fans, like these kids who write these fan letters to me, and it's really I love that these kids are loving this movie, because it's the right message for them, you know, to be yourself and try hard. And don't let anyone tell you you're there's anything wrong with being different, you know, those that find your community, find your find your people, and there they will, you will find them and they will find you. So I think that's the stuff I'm proudest of is writing the stuff that people and you know, look still with Sex in the City, I'll have girls come up to me and say, Oh, my God, that that happened to me. And, you know, when we were writing that we thought we were just a freak. So that was happening too. But you know, everyone's been through different stages in their life. And if I can put stuff out there that makes people feel better. That is actually the thing that makes me really happy. I don't know it feel better, necessarily as applicable. You know, that my favorite thing that you've done so far, because you got another at least 40 or 50. And yeah, just to let you know, I have huge expectations, huge expectations. But the big scene, really, you know, was it's one of my most favorite things you've done. Yeah. I love that. I love that. And that was that was very was so different in every aspect of serious look at that as a case where we had actors who were so great. Yeah, I mean, Laura is a goddess. And she to work with her was a gift. And so yes, if the writing we were doing was was really good, we're really proud. Yeah, but we couldn't have done it if we didn't have you know, john Hickey, and Laura. And, you know, Gabby sit a bay, and we had such such fun. And it's Look, it's a dark topic, but we had a really good time doing it. And yeah, I'm really proud of that, too, because it was about a subject that people didn't necessarily want to talk about.
Mindy Cohn 38:57
It's very dark and hard. And yet there was humor in it. And there was a familiarity to it that people who are either going through it or had a relative going through it, which truly means everybody, unfortunately, yeah, I just anyway. That's
39:12
it always makes me happy when people want you know, people touched by something. Yes. That's the yes if we, as you know, performers or actors or writers or members to touch people to get them something so, yes. Well, I enjoy you. Thank you. The End isn't this is just a good body. It's
Mindy Cohn 39:30
just the beginning for me. I have made her laugh. I have made me laugh and surprise me with some of your answers. I love that about you that you always surprise me. You are so steadfast. And I I adore you and I'm so grateful that we have come into each other's lives and I'm so excited about this conversation getting out there.
39:56
No need to say this. I need to say yeah, goes to your bank. Your bags are on their own trailer. Like those are some like Star worthy bags.
Mindy Cohn 40:07
Okay, so this is one of those things where I was so self conscious of you know that I've been cut many times due to the Big C and I have this Whopper of a scar and you know what? My hairdressers like? Let me just give you bangs, okay, because I just kept telling her like, I mean I I'm almost ready to get that spray can. I'm so subconscious. No one else could see it. But me okay, but things. It's a game changer. That's that's my gift
40:34
to everybody. All the fans will be able to see what I'm seeing right now. But these bangs are so working for you. So
40:43
kudos to banks, especially during a pandemic,
Mindy Cohn 40:46
whatever. Whatever it takes to just put a pep in your step. I'll take it a permeance bangs
40:53
found a little bang in our life. Am I right?
Mindy Cohn 40:57
Listen, I'm ready for a big thing and language. Yes.
41:06
I adore you. I am still have a whole other podcast where we talk about or how we met again.
Mindy Cohn 41:13
Yes, we will. And also how at some point we will work together because it's my dream. Oh, it's gonna it like it's gonna happen. I don't want to be your boss. I don't want to walk in front of you. I want to walk beside you. That we shall. Knowing me I will be two steps behind. Yes. You're fast. You're stuck on a shoelace. That's all. Anyway, Jenny, thank you so much. I'm very excited for your new project and Hurry Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry because we need more from you always.
41:45
Yeah, your Thank you. Thank you all and wear your masks
Mindy Cohn 41:50
and kiss the dogs and add them for me in that order.
41:56
That's usually the order
