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Of course,when seen through Kimmys eyes, Jan the backpack is an adorable puppet.
(Earlier in season four, she also briefly puppeteered the hand of Mr. Jan only has three scenes but she makes a big impression.
You dont get to do that that much in comedy or television, and definitely not puppetry.
But that said, I really didnt think people would feel as strongly about this backpack as they do.
People have been coming out of the woodwork.
You were previously the assistant puppeteer on Mikeys grandmother Pupazza.
And you also played a tiny role as Mr. Frumpuss hand in the season-four premiere.
So I did my voice audition not really knowing.
So youre putting things together.
Oh, its her backpack.
Oh, okay, the backpacks a puppet.
Okay, its aCalvin and Hobbesthing.
At what point did you actually see the puppet?Anney Fresh built the puppet.
She also assistant-puppeteered Jan. She did the straps.
She was there the whole time, and she built it in record time.
Im looking at it and Im thinking,This is essentially puppeteering a giant canned ham.
She had no nose.
One of the reasons why I went toward a more nasal voice is because she didnt have a nose.
You couldnt really do a laid-out, stoned voice for Jan with those giant wide eyes.
It would probably be funny on some level, but it wouldnt seem genuine.
If people just see it as a puppet, they dont care about it.
They have to care about the character.
No one cares about a puppet, but they care about Grover.
They care about Kermit.
So Im glad that others went on the emotional journey of Jan.
Were you channeling Ellie Kemper at all?
Jan is really a reflection of Kimmys childlike enthusiasm.Yes.
I thought a lot about the Kimmy-isms and the influence that Kimmy has on Jan and vice versa.
Its not an imitation of Kimmy, but you might see why theyre pals.
That was the way I looked at it.
Walk me through that almost-murder scene.
Where was it shot?The location was only a few blocks from the studio in Greenpoint.
Im just like, Shes not even wearing a scarf!
Shes gonna catch her death!This is a national treasure!
Shes got layers on underneath the thin coat, but still, Im thinking its not enough!
All those rocks you see along the water, thats what I was on.
At least I could wear a scarf, but I was in a contorted position.
With Annie behind me, I couldnt even see what position she was in.
The television monitors were precariously balanced.
It was so cold I had nose snot dripping on the monitor.
We were not glamorous at all, but people were just great.
You know, like whatever it took to make it happen.
And might I add, the prop department made those rocks in the backpack out of foam.
Those rocks were fake, but they look amazing.
Was the scene emotional to shoot?
Theres only enough room in your head.
But I will say, it couldntnotbe emotional, just via the fact that it was so cold.
I had cold tears running from my eyes.
The snot, the yelling, and the rocks it becomes visceral.
I think it was more visceral than emotional from Jans perspective too, because it was about self-preservation.
Tell the cops Im under the dragon cloud!Exactly, the self-preservation.
Thats what I really love about those lines.
Now that I really think about it, the things that she said she wasnegotiatingwith Kimmy.
I can give you the half a pack of Starburst!
it’s possible for you to put pornography in me!
you could work with me!
Its interesting to think about this after the fact.
If Jan is an extension of Kimmy, then were seeing a part of Kimmy we havent seen before.
Thats a really good point.Jans got those anything-to-survive street smarts.
Maybe its from Kimmy, or maybe its the time that she spent at the club.
It depends on how deep you want to get about whether this backpack existed without Kimmy.
You know, these are things that other actors dont have to think about.
Some people might say, Well, how do you play a backpack?
And Im just like, I dont know, the way you would play a toaster.
Ive played a teapot, Ive played a tumbleweed.
I played a talking jacket onSesame Street, multiple times!
Youve seen that jacket if youve seenElmos World.
I love that jacket character!
Its one of my favorite characters that Ive ever played.
If I thought about it too much Id be in the fetal position, not able to function.
We always play around between takes when we puppeteer, and that really helps solidify the character.
The greatest adventure of a-all!
Yeah were gonna go on an adventure today-ay!
Why is your butt still on the couch Kimmy, lets go!
And there were a couple of lines that got cut.
[gasp] What if we lived on a meatball planet?
Thats a line thats very Kimmy.
You get that sense of, Oh, this is why they get along so well.
