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The response to the2 Dope QueensHBO specials has been remarkable.
Why do you think taking the podcast to the big stage has resonated so deeply with people?
Once its in the public space, its out of my hands.
Thankfully, Jessica and I are experiencing different responses from people.
So far people have been really into the specials and having fun with it.
I dont think a variety comedy show has really been around in this kind of way in a while.
[laughs] I think we wanted to keep the essence of a variety special but make it 2018.
Its a new, fresh approach.
Jon Stewart was your first special guest in the New York episode.
Could you briefly take me through your origin story?
Jon coming back for the first episode was sort of like him unofficially giving us his blessing.
But yeah, Jess and I met that summer of 2014.
We had downtime on set and just started chatting.
Its an interview show, Wyatt Cenac has been on, come on, itll be super fun!
She was like, Okay, cool.
She came over and had a great interview.
We clicked really fast.
After that first podcast recording, Jessica told me her birthday was coming up.
I told Jessica to come host it with me and well go our separate ways after or whatever.
I had been doing standup for six years at that point while also freelance writing.
And somehow it really worked well.
I think we talked about crappy New York apartments that we had and it killed.
We had so much fun, and we both realized that it felt different than other comedy duos.
But even then we werent like, Now were two dope queens!
It was more like, So, do you wanna do this again?
It was a slow and steady gradual thing before we put a ring on each others fingers.
Now its work wives for life!
You and Jessica spend the majority of the runtime ceding the stage to showcase other comics.
Was the goal always to provide a platform for new voices to be heard?
So I had people do 10, 15 minutes.
And its no secret that both the improv and standup worlds are very white and straight male-dominated.
There were so many other places that did that already.
There are just so many phenomenal people that Im obsessed with that deserve a spotlight.
I love doing standup, but I love watching it more.
Its not just the same perspectives were being presented with all the time.
Its much more diverse than what were used to seeing in mainstream spaces.
Thats what Jess and I really tried to do with the HBO specials as well.
Well, I dont know if people are blowing up our phones yet.
[laughs] But when we have the celeb guests on, they just get it.
Also, the surprise element is cool.
They feel like less pressure is on.
They can be themselves more, which has produced really awesome moments.
Just hop on over!
Tig Notaro directed all four episodes of the HBO special.
Can you talk about how she came on board to direct?
Jess and I did Tigs Bentzen Festival before, and Tig was also a guest on the2 Dope Queenspodcast.
We did the Womens March episode.
So Jess and I agreed that it would be cool if a woman directed ours.
And we both wanted Tig from the beginning.
She directed Ellensupcoming Netflix special.
She knows what goes into making a special great not only material wise, but behind the scenes.
We trusted her from the beginning, and Tig really trusted us to do what we do.
She is so funny and charming and sweet and really supportive.
I think she knows how to make anyones vision really shine in the best way possible.
Having her on was a no-brainer.
What can we expect for the2 Dope Queensfinale on Friday?
It was just really cool because the three of us all wanted to do a2 Dope Queensthing together.
It just never worked out with the podcast when were doing the four seasons.
When we hit her up, she was shootingOrange Is the New Black.
So it was really cool to have a black nerd moment with her.
She was super great.
And the standup in the episode is so good.
Its a great way to go out.
Jess and I look really cute in our outfits, just kind ofGame of Thrones-y, Khaleesi-inspired outfits.
Its just a great way to end this first chapter and first batch of episodes.
Its also a really great way to end Black History Month, you guys.
Do you have any side projects that we can be on the lookout for?
The third season of my interview talk show for WNYC Studios calledSooo Many White Guyscomes out February 27th.
We have an amazing lineup of huge names and thinkers and writers and activists.
There will be 15 episodes of that.
Then this summer I have a movie coming out on Netflix calledIbizawith Gillian Jacobs and Vanessa Bayer.
Its a great road trip girl power movie that Im really pumped about.
I am a busy little bee.
But yeah, there are so many things Im working on.
Also, I wanna go to the gym.
Thats my fourth project: Go to the gym.
[laughs]
Photo by Mindy Tucker/HBO.
Erik Abrissis a writer living in Los Angeles.
