INTERVIEW: Celebrate the Groundlings’ 50th with ‘Multiple Talking Women’
Photo: Multiple Talking Women features interviews with actors and comedians, including Wendi McLendon-Covey. Image courtesy of Multiple Talking Women / Provided by Smithhouse with permission.
Multiple Talking Women is better than James Lipton.
That opening line was suggested by Paula Gerkin, producer of the hilarious podcast Multiple Talking Women. Paula, a character portrayed by Lisa Schurga, books the celebrities for the audio sit-down and often joins in on the conversation. To her left (literally and politically) is Lana Brown (Ariane Price), who seems to be in the talking business for the free creams and moisturizers that are given out. To Paula’s right (literally and politically) is Felicity Bramblebush (Lauren Burns), a Republican mother of a dozen children who is trying to be more perfect than perfect.
Paula, Lana and Felicity are laughing it up every week with a new celebrity in their midst. Their guest list has been quite impressive, including everyone from Mayim Bialik to Kristen Wiig to Tom Lenk.
Schurga, Price and Burns were inspired to bring these characters and this podcast to life thanks to their live theater show Happy Hour, which has played the Groundlings in Los Angeles. That’s the connective tissue for these three comedians. They are alumni of this legendary comedy troupe (or currently appearing in the main company), and they are joining in the 2024 festivities to celebrate the Groundlings’ 50-year anniversary. Multiple Talking Women is only one facet of the celebration. There are special shows, live panels and alumni reunions planned all this year. In fact, the comedians of Multiple Talking Women are gearing up for a live taping of their podcast in early April at the comedy venue.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox talked with Schurga, Price and Burns about their new podcast. Actually, this esteemed publication talked with Paula the producer, leftist Lana and rightist Felicity. They answered in character and produced more than a few laughs along the way.
On how Multiple Talking Women started as a podcast …
LANA: “So, the way that the Multiple Talking Women podcast has come to be is that Felicity and I met at an audition for a Simi Valley production of Cats. I was in Simi Valley because I have an open relationship, and two of the guys I’m dating are up there. I saw the ad for the audition. I wanted to get more into being a performer and acting and making it big. Felicity can tell you why she was there. We met. We really hit it off, even though we’re very differently, and the rest is history. And she can get into how our powerhouse producer came into be.”
On Felicity’s need to move to Pasadena …
FELICITY: “I had to relocate to the Pasadena area with my husband and 12 children so my husband can attend a rehab facility. He is addicted to elderly nude people essentially. There’s a special facility just for people who have this special form of addiction. I was a lonely woman, and I traveled up to Simi Valley to audition for a production of Cats, just breaking out of my comfort zone, where I met Lana. Now my children are enrolled in an elementary school. I won’t say the name because then all of our fans will show up probably.”
On how well they performed in Cats …
LANA: “We got these very small parts in Cats. We were the Jellicle Cats, which is basically extras, and we heard that really the big thing right now is podcasts. And we thought, what if we interview people, the kind of people who might have concierge healthcares or the kind of people who get free things, like creams and handbags sent to them. Because, we have a lot to learn from people like this, but we knew nothing about technology. We weren’t very good at organizing things, so we were on the lookout for an organized producer. And that’s where Paula comes in.”
Paula finally gets to talk …
PAULA: “Yeah, am I ever going to get a chance to say anything? … I couldn’t get a word in with you two. … I had a life before you two as well. … I’m not going to bore the readers with a bunch of nonsense. I’ll just say, yeah, I was working as a groundskeeper. Children in general, they’re looking at their devices. They’re looking down. There’s any number of things that can get them. I keep my eyes up, and I’m looking around all the time. And so that’s when I saw [Felicity’s] son just slowly meandering, and I said, if I don’t come in here and grab him, he’s going down. I’m fast. I like to say I’m Tom Cruise fast, and I was a running trainer. … Yeah, she approached me, and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m looking to do something new. I’m always looking to do something new.’ I quit my groundskeeping job that day, and I produced this podcast. I will say I didn’t think I’d be as interested in all the people that we’re interviewing because I think fame is a bunch of baloney, but we’re meeting some interesting people. We’re learning some stuff. We’re all very creamy and moisturized because we’re hearing all about these great creams everyone is using. It’s been pretty good so far.”
On the importance of listening to Multiple Talking Women …
LANA: “I think that our podcast has a way of interviewing people where it’s fun, and you’re going to laugh at stuff. But actually there’s huge very momentous truth bombs dropped, and you could not get better in-depth advice and heartfelt stuff if you were watching that James Lipton guy, The Actor’s Studio. It’s so much better than that.”
PAULA: “That should be the start of your article: Better than James Lipton.”
On what it’s like to work with people who are politically different …
FELICITY: “I also want to shine a light on the fact that we all have very different backgrounds, very difficult ideological beliefs. I am a white conservative Christian woman. I don’t run in these circles, these Hollywood circles — at all. I consider myself perfect. I’m learning how to be a little bit more perfect with every interview because celebrities are perfect people, and that’s what we want everyone to know as well.”
LANA: “They really are. I’m a big old mess. I’m just juicy and flesh, and everything just everywhere, but you know some of the celebrities have really been responding well to it. And I think they like it.
On how Paula books the celebrities for the show …
PAULA: “I have connections to all these people because of all my odd jobs. For example, Jillian Bell, she bought a sweater from me at a farmer’s market. Kristen Wiig, I did her driveway. I gave her a fresh new driveway, and then I also saved her life because I saw her choking. And I gave her the Heimlich. I won’t say I’m setting up these celebrities to ‘owe me one,’ but I am. I make sure they owe me something by the time I’m done working with them.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The podcast Multiple Talking Women, featuring the comedy talents of Lisa Schurga, Ariane Price and Lauren Burns, is available on digital platforms from Stampede Podcast Network. Click here for more information.
