Nikki Glaser has been turning heads with her stand-up since her stint on “Last Comic Standing” while she was still in college. Sara Schaefer won two Emmys as Head Blogger for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (we were sad when she left) and is known for her giggle inducing writing, producing, and stand-up. Although equally amazing in their own rights, these comedian extraordinaires are now ready to have a laughter marathon with you on television. They have been wowing the online community with their super popular and all around rad comedic podcast “You Had To Be There” since January of last year. “Nikki & Sara Live” is the brainchild of these two amazing ladies that will air weekly on MTV from the MTV Studios in Times Square. These gals are taking over the old TRL studio but this time there will be much less music and exponentially more laughter. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be amused by two of comedy’s most brilliant gems.
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Photo by Alyia Naumoff/NYT
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Serial Optimist: You’ve both been turning a lot of heads since we last spoke with Sara in 2010. How does it feel to be doing so much with both of your careers?
Sara Schaefer: It’s really great. In early 2011, I was reaching a point in my career that it felt like I was king of going in circles and not able to break through to a higher level. I really was “all in” on this TV show thing. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do if we didn’t get it – and thank god we did. I feel so lucky and I’m just ready to see where this all takes us.
SO: Nikki, to get a little background on you really quickly, we had a couple of questions. We heard that you lied to your KU professors and got out of 4 weeks of classes to be on “Last Comic Standing”. Is that true? What’s that all about?
Nikki Glaser: I got flown to LA for the semi finals of Last Comic Standing 4 during my senior year of college. My teachers were so wowed by the fact that I was going to be going to be on a TV show that they didn’t care that I was having to miss a couple days of class. When I got kicked off the show after being gone only two days, I took advantage of their kindness and decided to lie and say that I had advanced on the show and would need to be gone through the end of the semester (about 3 more weeks). Brendon Walsh, another comic who was on the show with me, came up with the plan after I was lamenting going back to dumb school. It worked. They never knew. And even if they figured it out, I had already graduated by the time the show aired. It was a fail-safe plan. Except for the fact that I am a liar and a cheat.
SO: Being a Midwest girl, I just have to ask you an oddball question, Nikki. As a KU alum, how would you state your case against Mizzou?
Nikki: Well, to be honest, I don’t really care about sports so I have no ill will for Mizzou. But it’s true that everyone who goes there has an STD and has sex with their cousins when their home for the holidays. But that’s just a fact and I don’t hold it against them.
SO: There is a really silly question that has been nagging at us for some time after reading Sara’s bio. Your “Tiny First-Person Bio” boasts that you hate chewing gum. We’re shocked! Why?
Sara: It’s disgusting to me in every way. If a gum wrapper even touches something that I own I have to disinfect the area and/or set fire to it. I have learned to function in a world of gum-chewing madness, but it’s not easy.
Nikki: I know this is Sara’s question but I would like to add how ironic it is that she hates gum because I LOVE IT. I probably chew more gum than anyone you know. It’s a bad habit. I try to curb it around Sara, but it’s not always easy. She is kind to not hate me for it.
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SO: What does a typical “You Had To Be There” show sound like?
Sara: I think what makes our podcast unique is that we have a live audience of friends hanging out while we tape, and sometimes you can hear them laughing and contributing to the conversation. It gives our podcast a fun, light-hearted vibe and we can tell when we’re “bombing,” so to speak.
Nikki: It sounds like two intelligent, funny women talking to another comedian. There is also laughter, beers being opened, impressions of orgasms, and the occasional crying spell.
SO: How did you choose the intro music?
Sara: Dave Hill (of Valley Lodge) is an old friend of mine and I’ve been a fan of him and his band for a long time. We listened to a few of his songs and ultimately decided on “When The Rain Comes.” It’s got a funky beat that I can bug out to.
SO: There are so many really funny episodes. Which episode have you each loved the most and why?
Sara: I really loved our most recent one with Nikki DeLoach. That was really great. I also love Kristen Schaal’s episode, A.D. Miles, Gregory Brothers, and Stuckey & Murray. My favorites are usually ones where everyone is just very in tune with each other, and the vibe in the room is just right.
Nikki: One of my favorites was from an episode we did not too long ago with Joe Derosa because I was able talk through our break up in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to do one-on-one. It made us much better friends. And I learned about myself! Hearing shitty stuff you did in a public forum is really humbling. I came out of that one a better person.
SO: Who initially approached you two about taking “You Had To Be There” to TV? How has that transition been and what can we expect to be different from your podcast and the show?
Sara: We were not approached. We created the show idea ourselves and pitched it to MTV. It is not based on our podcast, it was kind of a separate idea altogether. The show won’t be like our podcast – but our chemistry and sensibility will be the same.
Nikki: Sara did. She sent me a text or email or maybe even called me and said, “We should pitch a late night talk show to MTV”. No one asked us. We did it ourselves! But yes, it was Sara’s initial idea.
SO: Do you think this is turning into a trend with podcast, or something we will see more of going forward The “Comedy Bang! Bang!” show was really solid for IFC, a perfect fit. Was MTV the main channel or demographic you thought fit best for You Had To Be There?
Sara: I think you’re seeing more podcasters getting opportunities because more comedians are doing podcasts. Podcasts are just one part of a comedian’s work, and it can help them flesh out ideas and figure out what that big TV project would look like.
I think MTV is perfect for our show, which by the way is not called “You Had To Be There” – it’s called “The Nikki and Sara Show.” Nikki and I have a young sensibility and we love pop culture. I think the MTV audience is going to like what we’re bringing to the table.
Nikki: I don’t know that it was the best fit, but it sure feels like that now. I can’t wait to put on a show for this demographic. I loved being an 18-24 year old girl and I’m excited to get back in that mindset and cater entertainment for them that is smart, funny, and unlike anything they are watching. And I grew up watching MTV and loving this kind of show so it’s truly a dream to be on the network and getting to make a comedy show about pop culture. Comedy and pop culture are honestly the two things I know the most about, so it’s a perfect fit.
SO: During your podcast (Episode 81), you both squealed over Nikki’s experience on Conan. You two reacted like giggling schoolgirls. Is there anyone else who might have that effect on either of you?
Sara: Justin Timberlake.
Nikki: ZAC EFFING EFRON
SO: You two seem to spend a lot of time together. What makes the two of you such a great team? Any fun quirks you’d like to share about each other?
Sara: I think we work well together because we have a relationship based on honesty and mutual respect. We’ve only known each other for 2 years – and our relationship began on the podcast. We approached each other as professionals first, and became friends second – and I think that created healthy boundaries naturally. Luckily, Nikki turned out to be one of the best friends I’ve ever had. It feels a bit like fate to me.
As far as quirks go, one that I love is Nikki’s obsession with Jennifer Aniston. For instance: she drinks Vitamin Water because Jen’s a spokesperson for it. I find that kind of commitment really adorable. It’s how my mom was about stuff, and I love that about Nikki.
Nikki: We both have weird things we do to self-sooth. Sara sucks her thumb and I watch ASMR videos on YouTube. Just Google it. It will freak you out. It’s really weird.
SO: What is one thing that you each think is underappreciated in the world? Rant about it.
Sara: Pop-Tarts WITHOUT frosting. Growing up, we would toast Pop-Tarts and then smother them with butter. Then suddenly, all the Pop-Tarts had this gross plastic- like layer of frosting on top, blocking those precious holes from receiving the melted butter. Our system was destroyed. As I’ve gone through life, I’ve come to find out that no one else did it our way. It’s insane that so few people understand that Pop- Tarts are meant to be covered in butter, not frosting. Some grocery stores still sell some varieties sans frosting, but it’s rare. If you can find them, TRY IT, and I swear, you’ll never be the same again.
Nikki: Pink’s performance at the 2010 Grammy’s. It’s seriously mind-boggling that people don’t reference it more whenever live performances are discussed. Please watch it. I swear it’s worth it. And wait for the end. It just gets better and better. It’s unbelievable.
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Photo by Tyler Ross
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SO: Nikki currently has 5022+ followers on Instagram (@nikkiglaser), where her brilliantly colored photos and quirky commentary on life are well received. You are both very active on Twitter and in the web world at large. What is the best photo, tweet, or post you’ve both seen recently?
Sara: Anything by John Wyatt Haskell kills me. He does this “stupid funny” thing that is so great.
Nikki: My friend, and comedian, Tommy Johnagin recently had a baby and he took a picture of her, just born, next to a Diet Dr. Pepper, with the caption “These are mine and I love them both.” That stays with me.
SO: We asked Sara back in 2010 what her favorite viral video of that year was so far, to which she had several answers. She claimed a tie between “iICP’s Miracles, Double Rainbow, and Antoine Dodson. Or Iguana farting in the bathtub”. So we ask you both again: What is the best viral video of 2012 so far?
Sara: Like everyone else, I’m a sucker for “Gangnam Style.”
Nikki: I don’t know that I have one! If I think of one I’ll get back to you!
SO: Thanks SO much Nikki and Sara, can’t wait for the show!
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SO Note: Follow Nikki @NikkiGlaser and Sara @saraschaefer1, and if you’re not already subscribed to “You Had To Be There” then do it stat. It will make your life overall better!