TPS226: An Interview With Allie Pearse (Alex)
Episode Details
Transcript
The gang at The Produce Stand are joined by Allie Pearse, who is a writer on Letterkenny and also plays Alex.
Speaker 0
That fresh produce stand there. That's a beauty. What Speaker 1
do you listen to? Speaker 2
My favorite murder podcast. Taggart and Dorns podcast. The produce stand. Speaker 1
Fucking sexy. Speaker 0
It's Martini Monday, and that means we are once again hanging out of the produce stand. A podcast paying tribute to every and die universe. Now I know what you're thinking. There are many other letter Kenny podcasts out there, but this one is about to complete the full letter Kenny presents lineup. Hi, Malia host and joining me in the room as always is a lovely Tanya. And online, we don't have squirrelly Mad who's, his wife is sickened, so he's attending to her. But we do have the very vain Victor and joining us this week. She's a comedian, a writer and an actor. She appeared on the show's strays, something undone, the new wave of stand up and roast battle Canada. And she's the winner JFK's twenty twenty one stand up and pitch competition. But we know and love her as the other half of the stand up team of Alex and all of on letter. Can he please join me in making some noise for Ally Pierce. Speaker 1
Oh, my gourd. Speaker 0
I regret nothing. Welcome to the protostante Allie. Speaker 1
Thank you so much for having me. Speaker 0
Oh, man. That was a shit show to to start off with, but, we appreciate you joining us today. And, unfortunately, Matt can join us because Jen's a little under the weather and he's taken care of her. So we, we, we hope that she gets better soon. But Ali, welcome to the produce and where are you speaking to us from? Speaker 1
I'm in Toronto. I'm in my my as you guys can see, but the listeners can't see. I'm in very much in my bedroom. Speaker 0
Okay. It looked like you were in a closet for a bit there, but you just I know. Speaker 1
And like I said to you, I I wish I had one, but I don't have one. And that is the the the trade off of living in a place that I love, but that does not have a single closet. It's been a challenge. Wow. Speaker 0
Now Can you be more specific? What part of Toronto or are you like your your partner in crime Olivia? You don't wanna be too specific. Speaker 1
North. No. Stop me. I wanna be stuck. I just wanna dreamed, actually. I'm I'm in the West End area, so I'm at, like, Blore and Dover Court. Speaker 0
Okay. Alright. So not in the yeah. About in the West End there. That's near Matt, actually. Think, but Oh, Billy? Yeah. Well, he's kind of eglinton and, what's out of caledonia? So It's Speaker 2
it's not near. She's in clinics. Like, you know, like, Speaker 0
this is not where he says he is. I don't know. I don't I don't know Toronto. I'm up here in north of New markets. So Yes. Speaker 2
From a from a plane, you're right next to each other. Speaker 0
Exactly. Speaker 1
That's exactly. Speaker 0
Victor talking from the East End over there. Alright. Well, where are you from originally, Ali? Speaker 1
I'm from Montreal. I'm originally from else. That's what I was born and raised, but I've been in Toronto for fifteen, sixteen years, maybe. It's been a Speaker 0
long time. But your formative years were in Montreal. Speaker 1
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's where I grew up. Speaker 0
When, like, when you were growing up in Montreal? Like, what part of Montreal? Speaker 1
I grew up in the suburbs, so I was raised in the machine. But, yeah, kind of West Island area. And that's where, like, I went to school and where my mom is now. So, yeah, that's where I was. Speaker 0
Now when you're going to school in Montreal, what what were your interests and stuff? Speaker 1
Oh gosh. Well, I I, actually was always interested in theater. So in, like, a roundabout way, I've sort of come full circle now that I now that I do stand up, like, it took a long journey to get there. But I was always really interested in theater. I did a lot of theater as a kid. I did theater as a teenager. I actually went to see Jeff, which is like our in between high school and college school. Speaker 0
Like a prep school kind of thing? Speaker 1
Yeah. It's it's like pretend university kind of. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And I studied professional theater, which you guessed it, cannot get your job. So, yeah, I was I was always, like, theater theater theater, and that was part of the reason that I moved to Toronto is I want I wanted to pursue acting. And then I got here and I was like, Oh, I don't actually know if that's the right thing for me. And so then I just completely left the arts world and I started working in, like, I worked in hospitality for years and then I was working in logistics and I kind of like in a weird backwards way started doing up and it was like, oh, I don't think I was meant to be a theater person I was meant to do stand up, but it just took a long time to get there. Speaker 0
So how do you get into stand up in a weird backwards way? Speaker 1
Well, okay. So I like all good villain origin stories. It's a break up situation. So I go through a break up. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna do something crazy, and then I do a second city intro to stand up class. Then I got together with the person that I had the breakup with and then I never do stand up again until we break up for real. And then I'm like, oh yeah. That that interest that I had. I should probably pursue that. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And so it kind of there was probably like a four year gap from the first time I did it to when I actually started doing it. Yeah. Speaker 0
That's a it's quite a gap. Speaker 2
Is that worth four years of great material? Speaker 1
Yeah. Yes. Yes. I was just building my reserves. Speaker 0
We've heard that material. So, Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. You Speaker 0
have. Now, so second city, is that where you met Olivia or Speaker 1
No. So Olivia and I so second city was sort of it's an interesting thing because people often ask you know, how do you get into stand up? And I don't there is absolutely not one way. I think you can come at it from a million different perspectives in ways. But for me personally as someone who's like, I wanna try that, but then probably never would have done it on my own without a class. That was a really valuable experience doing doing second city. And then but like I said, I took a huge pause and then I didn't really start until I did my first real open mic in Toronto. And I don't know, maybe, like, two, three months in. I was in an amateur comedy competition and I saw this, like, alarmingly beautiful, intimidating woman at the show. And I was like, another woman who does comedy. And I wanna be friends with her. And I think I just went up to her and was like, hi. Let's let's connect. And we just we really hit it off. I mean, Yeah. She's, you know, my best friend and my comedy soulmate and soulmate in other ways. So, yeah, I feel very lucky to have I think the stars aligned in us meeting that way. Speaker 0
So it's amazing that there isn't, like, any, like, cattiness and stuff in that kind of circle. Like, there would be in high school or even Yeah. Yeah. You know, in battle jobs. Speaker 1
I would say, like, most comics are suffering from mental illness, so let's not, like, you know, it is it's a bit of a mess and there's for sure, like, weird dynamics within comedy. But Right. Yeah. I feel I feel so lucky to have found a person that I really gravitated towards and who I genuinely love doing everything with. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
So, yeah. I mean, it's a competitive it's a competitive industry for sure. But I think Olivia and I are just so genuinely happy for each other when things happen because we care about each other as friends first. So Well, Speaker 0
we'll we'll hear from Olivia in a second. We'll see if she has the same to say about you. But, first of all, you mentioned your your first, your first open mic. Where where was that? Speaker 1
Oh my god. Okay. It was that. It's actually the same place that I met Olivia. It was it doesn't exist anymore. But it was a place called The Underground Colony Club, and it was so beautiful and magical and crazy and weird. It was in the east end at queen and pretty much Queen and Broadview. Okay. It was in the back of like a weed shop and you would like you're like Oh, there's nothing here. And then you walk down and, like, like, a strange hallway, and you'd emerge into this, like, incredible wild comedy space. And, it was like a huge staple, a very iconic space, but it didn't survive the pandemic. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
Unfortunately, and so a lot of comics are still mourning it. Speaker 0
Right. And so do you do you mind? Speaker 1
Yeah. And there was, four comics and me and the friend that I brought, and it was really awkward and painful. Speaker 0
Right. Wow. Can you remember your first joke? Speaker 1
No. But even if I did, I'm sure I wouldn't wanna tell you. Speaker 0
That's funny. It's funny. I had a coworker working in an office and she one day, it's it's like I I worked with her for years. And then one day she spilled the beans and said, Oh, yeah. I'm I'm I I do stand up. And, does anyone wanna come and see she she had this some there's some kind of competition where she needed to bring people and and and have people vote for her, Victor. This is after you left, but, I I don't remember if you knew her. But anyway, Speaker 2
I did. Shoot she she I think had an accent if I Yes. Speaker 0
Yes. She was, from Venezuela or one one of those South American countries. Speaker 1
Oh, that's great. Speaker 0
Anyway, I said sure because I really wanna be supportive of her, and and I'm in a band. So I always like inviting people from work to but she was like, I I I felt she better be funny because if she isn't, I'm gonna, like, I can't lie. I I'm not good at lying. So after her set, thank god. She was funny. She came up to me. So what'd you think? I'm like, oh, thank god. You were funny because that was Speaker 1
I know. I know. It's like, I think you and first start doing stand up. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
That's when you invite people the most. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And it's when you should be inviting people the least. Speaker 0
Sure. Sure. Did you have Speaker 2
that that's how I felt when Albert invited me to see one of his shows for the first time. I think you've gotta be at least average. Yeah. Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. You get very awkward fast. Speaker 0
What what, like, what was where were you working beef, like, when you were doing stand up? Like, what kind of coworkers were you inviting to your shows? Speaker 1
Oh my gosh. Well, Okay. First, I think when I first started, I was still, like, I was just coming out of this period of my life where I was working in logistics and event planning. Speaker 0
Okay. Speaker 1
And kind of thinking like, oh, that's what my life is gonna be or my career is gonna be. But by the time I started stand up, I had actually quit that job and went back to serving in hospitality because I wanted to, like, free up my days or sorry, I wanted to free up my time a little bit more so that I could focus on stand up. So I'm sure it was like probably when I was a barista, I'm that must have been. So I'm sure I was inviting those people. Right. And they were, I guess, maybe I'll come. Came bolt. Speaker 0
What was can you remember any any of the feedback they they gave you when, when you first came off stage? No. Speaker 1
I don't know. Were Speaker 0
any of them brutally honest with you or or, or were they all like That's Speaker 1
what I also think. When I first started doing stand up, I started dating a comedian immediately. Speaker 0
Okay. Speaker 1
And so pretty soon, it was like, Yeah. It's not cool to, like, in, like, he told me pretty quickly. Like, it's not cool to invite people to shows unless, like, you're good. So I'm sure I don't know how long into things I was inviting others. Speaker 2
So when you when you're starting out, Like, you're probably, you know, you probably not every set is great. And and you probably are hearing it just based on lack of response from the audience. Speaker 3
Mhmm. Speaker 2
Do you get but, then after the show, are you getting feedback from your peers or anybody else, solicited or otherwise? About how you're doing? Speaker 1
Good question. Yeah. I mean, also to be clear, like, even seven years and there's still bad sets all. Like, you're never safe from it. So I think one thing that I did early on was I would record all of my sets, and I would listen to them to hear where things were working and not working. There's nothing that'll, humble you faster than listening to that. And I, I still have all of them if anyone wants to dislike me. I yeah. There is, I would say like earlier on, for sure, comics generally respect this sort of, I guess, unspoken role of not really giving feedback unless somebody asks. Right. Yeah. Unless a person is maybe just doesn't have that filter and then they'll you know, and you can take it or not. Speaker 2
Because Speaker 0
you're all going through the same thing. Right? So Speaker 1
I'm going through the same thing and everybody has bad sets and there's good rooms and bad rooms and You know, it's so it's so circumstantial. Speaker 0
So So coming up through through the Toronto scene, who who did you look up to as a, like, a role model for comedy? Speaker 1
Well, it's interesting because I actually never really cared about stand up until I started doing it. So I wasn't I wasn't like going to shows or or anything like that. But, I mean, there's so many comics now that I would consider more of my colleagues, but when I started I was like afraid to be in a room with them. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And I still feel that reverence for them because I think Canadian comics are so so, so funny and so hardworking. And so it's really interesting where because the industry is a little bit stifled here, you can be like you're like recording for, you know, whatever, like, some huge thing. And then the next day, you're in a basement doing an open mic with Speaker 2
Right. Speaker 1
You know, whatever. Speaker 2
Well, I Speaker 0
feel I feel like comics have the same challenges Canadian musicians do in terms of such a vast country, even if you wanted to throw together a little tour or something, it would be so expensive to tour the country. Oh, yeah. Right? Speaker 1
Really, most comics who are going on tour in Canada aren't making money unless they are at a level where they're selling out much bigger theaters. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
Then, you know, they might but the cost of like because, I mean, you, you know, even traveling within the country is so expensive. Yeah. So yeah. I would say comics who are like going and who've who've booked tours for themselves, which is a really good way to grow as a comedian who are doing like bar shows and small theaters and like black box theaters, they're not they're not making money, but they're doing it for the love of growing and getting them. Speaker 0
Yeah. And growing their audience. Right? Speaker 1
Big time. Yeah. Yeah. And, like, and yeah, exactly, like, and building a fan base other than their, like, immediate surroundings. Speaker 0
So, I mean, it took you to moving to Toronto and then becoming a comic to finally get back into acting by the looks of it. Just looking quickly at your, or IMD IMDB, and it looks like your first acting credit is a short called mayonnaise in twenty twenty two. Would that be the first on you act or no? Speaker 1
No. No. I I will say, a fun fact about me that's not in any way interesting or cool. Is that my name is Ali. Like, my legal name is Alexandra, but I go by Ali. Okay. So I actually have two IMDB pages that I need to urge. Speaker 0
Oh, you threw me off. Speaker 1
It's okay. It's probably for the best. And, yeah, you guessed it. It's been on my to do list for about two years, but because it's not easy. I know. I know. Act illiterate. I haven't been able to. Yeah. So if anyone's listening to this and they can tell me how to merge my IIMD pages, please, damn me. I did when I first moved to Toronto. I actually did a bunch of short films with Ryerson students Speaker 0
Okay. Speaker 1
Or I forgot what the university. Speaker 0
TMU now to Toronto Metro University. Yeah. Speaker 1
Yeah. So I did a bunch of I, like, connect with people who were in their film in the film program. Speaker 0
Mhmm. I was Speaker 1
like, hey, I wanna do this and I did a bunch of shorts. And that was fun. It, like, it actually introduced me to a bunch of people who have since gone on to make a career for themselves in the industry. So that's that's awesome. And I did some acting classes and I was in a Burger King commercial a couple of years ago Speaker 0
Okay. Speaker 1
Where I, as a vegetarian, was eating, it was like one of those, sidewalk testimonials. Like, what do you think of this burger? Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And I'm just eating, like, a bun. But it looks like I'm anyways, this is like Burger King slander, but, I'm eating, like, literally just a bun with mayonnaise. I'm like, oh, it's so good. And I'm like playing myself, but this commercial aired during, like, the Super Bowl or something. Speaker 0
Right. Right. Speaker 1
And so every guy I'd ever hooked up with messaged me being like, wow. I saw you on that Burger King commercial. Looks like things were really looking up. I'm like, I I'm I do stand up. I'm like a real I'm a real artist. I swear. So, yeah, I would would say that came before, yeah, eating mayonnaise came before doing the short film mayonnaise. And then, yeah, and then I I sort yeah. I mean, I have, an an amazing agent who I do audition with and stuff, but For the most part, because my focus is stand up, I haven't really spent a lot of time in the acting world, but, I recently played a very teeny tiny role on this show called something undone Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 1
Which, is a CBC gem show that is amazing. And, and then this, obviously, this incredible thing with Letter Kenny. So Speaker 0
Yeah. What's that show about again? Anyway. Speaker 1
We'll figure it Speaker 0
Oh, we'll figure it. Well, you since you bring it up, let's let's get you to Letter Kenny then. But first, let's hear from your partner in crime Olivia. She had a few things that we we had her on last, Monday. And she had a, and some nice things to say about you. Here we go. Speaker 4
Ali is really good with the decks. Speaker 0
I'm gonna clip that right there. That's gonna be a I'm gonna play that for Ali next week. Speaker 2
Oh, she is. Speaker 0
I'm gonna open the next week's episode with At least really good with the dicks. Love it. Well, now you guys know how I built my, my Speaker 1
material Speaker 0
There you go. Now, of course, she's referring to the mennonites on Letter Kenny and and writing for them. But, I I couldn't I couldn't help but but but clip that one. But here she is really talking about you. Hold on here. Speaker 4
I would write at night and Natalie would write in the morning, so we would always get to, like, log in to the Google Doc to find each other's work, and then we would just be laughing, you know, and then adding jokes and tags to the other person's stuff, which was so exciting being like, oh my god. You just, like, thought it had a punch line, but now you added like a real punch line or a tag or, you know, so, yeah, it was always really, really fun. It was yeah. And again, it's one of those things that just it made me love even more and made us even closer knowing how well we could work together because that can be a scary Speaker 1
thing as, friends and Speaker 4
colleagues comedians, you know what I mean? It's just like, oh, I wanna work with you because I respect you so much. And I think you're so hilarious and fantastic, and I wanna be associated with you and I wanna be close to you. But what if we work together and it makes me hate you? Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 4
And couldn't have been more opposite from that. Speaker 0
So it sounds like she kinda likes working with you too. Speaker 1
Oh my god. Let's I'm I'm going for dinner with her in an hour. That's that's my best day. Alright. Yeah. It's it's it's so hard for me to explain it and it's so hard. I think for people to wrap their heads around it because it's it's like I found this counterpart in the world, you know, and it's it's beyond just like being colleagues who enjoy each other's company. Like, Olivia makes everything better. Like, anytime, you know, when we were at tour and stuff, this this last, last late last year, like, take a benign situation and you put Olivia in it and it's immediately like you're howling with Loster. She's just She's such a bright light and working with her, I mean, to her point, it's like, first of all, we get plucked essentially out of obscurity. To work together. So not only are you being put in, like, what is a Hollywood film situation, you know? Like, these things never happen. You get to do it with your best friend, and then you get to grow and love each other even more. It's like it's such a I'll never get over it. I mean, it's so cool and it's so special. And it's true. Like, I mean, you guys, I think you've seen a couple episodes of the show. So you know, there is like some crazy stuff that we say like Olivia and I pitch stuff that doesn't make it because it's just insane. Speaker 0
Oh, yeah. She opened up your, the Google doc during the episode last week and started reading a few off to us. Speaker 1
Is gonna get us canceled. That's not happening. Speaker 0
That's right. No one no one listens to this podcast, but Hey. Speaker 2
So so so What would a roast battle look like between the two? Oh, really. Speaker 1
Yes. Well, so we've actually this is we've never roasted each other, but it's we've both done roast battle Canada, and we both said that we didn't wanna roast each other because it's like I can't tell if it would be amazing or awful. Speaker 0
Well, you would know you would know the right buttons to push and so would she. Right? Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. And I think the trick what makes a really good roast. And I think people don't really think about this until like myself. I never thought about it until I had to actually do you have to talk about what's right in front of you. Like, you know, there are people that I've roasted on that show who were like, oh, here's this really weird fact about me. And I'm like, but people can't see it. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
So it's very hard to roast something that you can't see or for it because it takes the audience a while to catch up. So it would be hard because I'd basically be like tearing down how my best friend looks. And what am I gonna say? She's a a supermodel. You know? It's It's not much to there's not much to go on. Yeah. Yeah. I don't I don't know how that would shake out. Speaker 0
That would be an epic battle for sure. And, yeah, it would probably be get bloody for for sure. Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ruins the relationship. Speaker 0
Yeah. We don't want that to happen. Because you guys are such a great team. So, I mean, we saw you you remember, we were at your Burlington show at the letter, Kenny, presents. And you're awesome because we gave you guys a TPS t shirts and you came out wearing one. And Speaker 1
haven't. It's great. I love it. It fits awesome. And, no, I was I was very touched by that. So I was happy to support. Speaker 0
We really appreciate that. Now how did you because you said you got plucked from obscurity. I I'm I'm assuming you're talking about, getting chosen to write on Letter Kenny. How did that happen? Like, how did they find you? Speaker 1
That's a an incredible question that I have truly never gotten a straight answer. That's out. I I my understanding is that Jared wanted to write an international women's day episode and wanted to work with comedic female writers. So he, I think, kinda sent his producer on like a bit of a wild goose chase, like, Can you find women who would be aligned with our show? I don't even really know exactly how they came up upon us. But Olivia and I were already kind of a duo in the sense that, you know, we were online together a lot. And produced shows together and stuff. And I did at the time and still do run a sex positive comedy show called slot parade, which is a monthly show where I would have a bunch of pro comics come and and do like dating material and relationship material and whatever. And so I think that I think Jared mentioned to me that that had caught his eye somewhere along the line. And also Olivia is like a brilliant Twitter. If you ever wanna go on a on like a fun journey, go check out her her her. Well, I guess it's not Twitter anymore, but whatever. Speaker 0
Fucking. It's Twitter. Yeah. Speaker 1
You know, her ex or anybody elon and all that. And so I think Jared had, like, then seen all of her tweets and was like, yeah, she's hysterical because she is so funny. And so then I get a DM that, of course, seems like spam. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
Hey. Wanna come right for Letter Kenny. And I'm like, I'm gonna block this person. But he was a producer. It was Kara. Incredible. Yeah. Speaker 0
With your carrier. Yeah. Speaker 1
It was, yeah, who was reaching out. And so then we went through all the agent channels and sorted it, but and that's how we got brought on to the show. Speaker 0
So you already are aware of the show before you were asked. Speaker 1
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Speaker 0
So I couldn't I think Speaker 2
So, Anna, I I before we get stuck in Letter Kenny. I just, like, I don't think we got an origin of how you got into writing. Like, Speaker 0
you know, Speaker 2
we we got we got the comedy. We got the acting, but where did the writing come from? Speaker 1
I that okay. That's also I'm trying to think of like what sequence of events is. I mean, I'd never ridden for television before I started writing for Letter Kenny. So that was my first that was my first writing job. So that's why it's like it's unheard of. This sort of like experience is pretty unheard of. And I had in my, like, earlier years, probably, like, I don't know. I wanna say almost probably a decade ago. I wrote a pilot with a friend, which we shot. And so We shot like a proof of concept and stuff, and I had a development deal at the time. But it's not I I I don't know. I think that was really the first thing that ever happened. Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 1
But then I also wrote a web series pilot that oh, great. I just lost my light, but anyways, no. I'm kidding. You guys okay. That's annoying because Speaker 0
It's an audio only podcast. Listen ears are okay. Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I look like a go But anyways, I wrote something that I pitched to JFL stand up and pitch competition, which is, like a thing that happens every year, Right. And it won something there. And that's how I got my literary agents, and it was how I was able to, like, push my career forward otherwise. But Letter Kenny was my first writing job. Speaker 0
That's cool. And you're renting now for Shoresy as well? Speaker 1
Yes. Yeah. Speaker 2
Very cool. Incredible. Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. So it's been very cool. Speaker 0
Yeah. So, yeah. Well, back to Letter Kenny presents. I mean, we saw the show. It was so much fun, and we all four of you were were amazing and and hilarious and brilliant. And now we have the matching set. Thank you for for coming up. How did how did that come about? Like, so you went from writing, you know, first writing punch up jokes and and writing full scripts or helping with international woman's day. And I, the, what's the episode one of season twelve? Laugh laughter Kenny, I guess. And Yep. Yep. You also wrote snoopers. Is that or co wrote snoopers? Speaker 1
He wrote Oh, god. Now I can't remember. It's such a blur. Yeah. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
But you're like, you're in so many your brain is in so many episodes We did. Oh, god. Now I feel like a Speaker 0
Oh, don't worry. I I could have it on on my notes too, but I course, I don't. Anyway, so you went from that to at what point does, I'm I'm assuming Jared say Hey, we have this idea for a comedy tour. Speaker 1
Well, what's interesting is, you know, this show has comedians kind of built into it already, which is full and very unique about it. So, like, obviously, Mark Forward and Jeff like Henry. And then there's also been other comics who have been on that show. Like Darren Rose is incredible. And he plays the doctor. And so I actually I this is not really the Like, I I I have a feeling that Jared early on had seen how much the audience responded to the live shows and was like, oh, well, we have all these comedians who do this for a living. We could probably put something together and I don't think this is necessarily connected, but the way that Olivia and I even ended up in an episode of the show is that I actually got an audition for Letter Kenny from my acting agent who was like, hey, do you wanna go out for this? And I was like, Yes. Well, it was weird because I had worked on that episode. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
And I never told anything when I just taped for it and sent it in and then that tape made its way to Jared and he was like, what the hell? Like, I didn't know that that you were even an actor. Right. And so then that started the conversation of like, oh, I I see Olivia is also an actor. Like, can we think about maybe writing an episode and having you guys in there. And so I think, I mean, the up like, our Lifter County episode hadn't aired or the live at modine's episode hadn't aired by the time we went on tour the first time but it was kind of like now it's a thing, you know, like, we're going on tour again and we were in the last season. So in that way, basically playing ourselves as you guys So yeah. Speaker 0
Amazing. Was it was the first part of that tour always gonna be kinda like a feeler. And if it worked out, then your guys are gonna do like a longer Yeah. Speaker 1
Yeah. Exactly. So it was basically just a a run to see if there was interest in it, if people would come out, if the shows I mean, Planning a tour is so incredibly paper intensive. Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 1
So I think it's like you don't wanna plan a forty five city tour and then you get to the first show and you're like, we've made a grave mistake. You know? Right. So, yeah, it was it was mostly just a a, like, a run to see if it would. Speaker 0
Yeah. Well, we could have told you guys that it was gonna work because the majority of our listeners are in the US, and they're always like, when are they coming back? When are they doing the tour Speaker 1
again yet? So. Yeah. It's it's so it it just this show is so incredible. I love to see how it brings people together. It's it's really cool. Speaker 0
And speaking of our listeners, they they sent us a bunch of questions when they found out you're gonna come on. So, here's one from our buddy, Jeff from Maine who saw you guys I believe at the did you guys do did it show in in Massachusetts in Boston? Speaker 1
No. We didn't. I think I think they did. Like the the other show. Speaker 0
Oh, okay. I thought he, what what's the closest you got got to Maine then? Because I'm pretty sure he saw the letter Kenny presents Speaker 1
when you look at the old Speaker 0
I I I should really have this here, but, don't worry, anyway, he he saw you, yeah, he saw you whatever show And he said you guys were amazing. And he said, do you have any funny or frightening or touching or interesting things that happened during your, travel during for that show? Speaker 1
Oh my gosh. Speaker 0
Like Olivia said she kept like a road journal. Did you keep a journal at all? Or Speaker 1
Oh, I didn't. I'm trying to think if any oh gosh. I feel bad that I can't think of anything. I'm looking at the dates to try and jog my Speaker 0
Well, basically, you and your bestie were on the road for Speaker 1
Well, yeah. We were having the time of our lives to tell you that. We were absolutely laughing it up. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
I'm just trying to remember, like, what Oh, well, did Mark talk about because you guys had Mark on recently. Speaker 0
Right? Yeah. We had Mark. Speaker 1
Did he talk about the was it Detroit? The Detroit show with the opera guy? No. Oh my god. Okay. What? Okay. Wait. I'm looking at the dates because I'm trying to remember which show it was, but I believe it was Not Boston. I don't know. Maybe it was Detroit or okay. I can't I think it was Detroit, but forgive me if I'm wrong. We Mark is on stage, and now I'm gonna butcher this story, and he's the right person to tell it. But the show's going. We're having a great time. And in the middle of his set, a guy stands up and starts opera singing. And I'm not, like, I'm not exaggerating when I say that. I mean, he is like, whoa. Like he is out of nowhere. And so Mark is just like what and he handles it like a pro and Speaker 0
he Speaker 1
roofs on it and then eventually, like, security comes over and kicks this guy out. Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 1
And then Mark because no one leaves with him. Speaker 0
So Speaker 1
then Mark is like, well, who the hell was sitting with this guy? So he's like, who who was there? And this guy was like, Oh, we're here for my son's birthday, and that's our friend. And Mark was like, what was that about? And the guy's like, I don't know. He just does that sometimes. Like, is that not? Can you imagine being like, yeah, I'm I'm gonna take this guy to a show even though he just does that sometimes. Speaker 0
That that Speaker 1
is top of his lungs, scream singing. It was it was wild, but Mark, you know, is such a pro and is so funny. And turned it around and made it and he he, like, it totally amplified the show. Speaker 0
I'm sure it sent him into a a giggle fit and Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. Speaker 2
And he hasn't admitted to that being a prop to this day? Like a plant. Speaker 1
Yeah. It's like his distant cousin that he hired. And I will say, like, another thing that I found very funny. And I don't wanna shame anyone that came, but we had, like, the Q and A's the the Q and A's before the show, which are so much fun. They really are such a good time. People I think would get there early and have I don't know. Eighteen glasses of wine beforehand. And so then it would be very funny. Like, I'm like, oh, wow. There's, like, the Q and A. You're about to block out. There's still an hour before the show starts and then there's some full show. I'm like, I don't know. I don't know if this Like, I'm glad she's here, but I don't know if she's gonna be here for the whole night. Speaker 0
Yeah. Maybe it was that, heckler in in Burlington that, was was, So annoying. So annoying. Yeah. Speaker 1
It's funny. There was there was quite a quite a few of those that they all become a bit of a blur which is Yeah. Speaker 0
Yeah. And you're right, Mark, is is a pro at handling that. But our buddy trace from Tennessee, he wants to know, you know, what's the best heckle you've ever heard? Not that he's condoning it, but, if, you know, that's that's the best hackle. Speaker 1
Oh my god. Speaker 0
Or if you can't think of one, just talk about hecklers and what's your go to way of handling a heckler? Speaker 1
Well, it's interesting because I think And this is a conversation that I think is happening a lot in stand up right now is that there's this huge There's this massive growth of, stand up comedy online. So, like, a huge responsibility of stand up comedians now is to post content online because follower count is becoming a factor in how they get booked. And, you know, whether we like it or not, that's just the reality of it. But because comics don't wanna burn their material, they don't wanna take jokes that they're gonna do at a show and post it online. And then there's no surprise for you when you get there. They were, I think, a lot of people, and it's great. And it's such a skill post crowd work clips. Mhmm. And crowd work is great, and it's hard, and it's, like, doing good crowd work is, like, such a talent and such a skill. But the problem is that now people have this idea that it's helpful to give. Speaker 0
Yeah. They think a comedy shows a conversation for a dialogue. Speaker 1
I can't tell you how many times, like, was talking to a friend of mine who's like an incredible, comedian, and I won't I won't say his name just because I feel like this story is a little chaotic, but He was on stage and he was getting heckled really badly by this guy. And they almost got into like a physical fight. And after the show, they ran into each other at the bathroom and my friend was like, oh god, am I gonna have to fight him? And then the guy was like, I'm really sorry. Like, I'm trying to be a comedian. I thought I was helping you by giving you something to work So there is like a bit of a misconception that it's Wow. Speaker 0
Olivia had mentioned that last week too, and and it yeah. And and and I'm aware, I mean, guys like Matt Rife or whatever. Like guys who who on TikTok, that's you're right. All they do is post crowd work. And if you don't go to comedy shows, and do you think that's what it is? Yeah. Which sucks because I hate. There's nothing I hate more than a heckler. I mean, we we used to go regularly to comedy shows. And if anyone ever did that. They'd be kicked out, like, almost immediately, but, Speaker 1
It's different when the comedian is, like, engaging with you and asking you, you know, Yeah. It's it's it's fun. It's it's a it's a funny thing. Like, I I can't offhand necessarily think of like a specific example, but I've definitely had, like, times when it it happens and you're like, okay, this is either I can If you go to mean and if you go too hard, you will lose the audience. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
So it's straddling that line of, like, addressing it so that they're not in control, but not giving them so much power that you're now losing the, Speaker 0
you know, the rest of the room. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1
So it's a tricky thing. Speaker 0
Yeah. I don't wanna envy you guys because, I I'd hate that. I'd tell them to fuck off and What Speaker 2
do you mean? That happened to you. I was there. Speaker 0
No. What? And and Well, if you're a musician, heckling is just somebody yelling out free bird. I mean, I can I can handle that? Speaker 2
No. That's what I'm talking about. As a musician, playing in a bar, a girl can just go up on stage and start interfering with your Speaker 0
But that's kinda welcome. I don't mind that. Speaker 1
Oh my god. Speaker 0
I don't mind that. Although, yes, that one there that you were talking about, she was she was really pushy. And after a while, I had to kinda tell her to get the fuck off the stage. But anyway, let's move. This isn't about me. It's about you, Ali. And let's talk about Gordon, in Toronto, he wants to know, how did you find the transition from Letter Kenny writer to Letter Kenny actor? So we talked about, you know, act your love of acting? Speaker 1
Yeah. How was that transition? It was so cool because this, again, like, such a unique experience where it's like, we wrote it. So we knew exactly. Like, there were it's not like we're gonna show up on set that day and be like, I don't know about this line. It's like, if I'm saying that, I only have my the blame. Right. Speaker 0
So it Speaker 1
was it was very cool to be able to make decisions and build that episode. What was unique about that episode is that we were doing something, which I think often doesn't translate well, but that I think did translate really well in this episode, which is stand up on screen. So stand up when it's not like enough special. But anytime you see stand up in, like, a TV show, I think it's very hard to do it well. Yeah. Because it's not real, you know, and what's magical about stand up is the audience. So but because each of, like, everyone who was doing stand up with the exception of Olivia and I they're playing a character doing stand up. So it was cool. It was like it was not a big stretch because we were sort of playing ourselves, but I was really, really nervous when we got there because, you know, it's like Well, first of all, we had never been to set before. So being Right. At modems, like, oh my god. I was starstruck. Speaker 0
I was like Yeah. I'm sure. Yeah. Speaker 1
Yeah. So it was it was really cool. And it is obviously such a different job and such a different role, but it was It was such a it was a really positive experience. And Jacob tierney is such a genius and he's so he's such a good director. He's such a good director. And he just made us feel great and they just, you know, directed us and told us what we needed to do, but really let us play, and it was a lot fun. Speaker 0
Yeah. I find it ironic that out of the regular cast, Kate Travis is is the other, like, regular stand up comic, but hit his his idea of acting as a stand up comic is the hammiest, like, most Speaker 1
I know. It's like so opposite. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because at the great comedian. Speaker 0
With the catchphrase and the, yeah, Speaker 1
it's in the Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 0
So well done. Dennis from the UK. This might be unfair to ask, and and it was unfair to ask Olivia, but we'll see if you have anything. He wants to know what's your favorite letter Kenny line that you wrote or one that you wish you'd written that you didn't write. Can you think of any? Oh my god. Speaker 1
Dying to know what Olivia said. Speaker 0
Well, that's the thing. I don't think she could remember one either. So it's it's fine if you can't, but Speaker 1
You know, it's such a funny thing because we do, like Olivia was saying, our our brains kind of like there are definitely lines that I'm like, that is Olivia or like that was me or whatever. Speaker 0
Right. Speaker 1
But so much of our collaborative work shapes how things get written. So it kinda like passes through both of our filters, but I can't think of anything off the top of my head, which makes I wish I could. I really wish I could. Speaker 0
Our friend Cassie, who's been to a couple of the the the shows. You know Cassie. Alright. I don't Speaker 1
have to see. Yeah. She rocks. Speaker 0
So she said she wanted to thank you for welcoming and, and being kind, when she was in the VIP of, you know, at the Burlington, I believe a London show as well. Speaker 1
Do. Yeah. Speaker 0
The way you said, welcome back meant meant the world to her. So she just wanted to say thank you for that. Speaker 1
Oh my gosh. Yeah. She's so sweet. Speaker 0
She's also So, she wants to know if you have any advice for women wanting to break into comedy, especially stand up, because I think she's got some, designs on maybe trying it out. Speaker 1
Well, I hope she does. And I mean, I think the thing it's so hard to distill it into one thing. I mean, obviously, it's it's like a male dominated space. But like at the end of the day, I think it's like the only thing that matters is is showing up as yourself and just like You're gonna fall on your ass a lot and you're gonna be in a lot of rooms that you don't wanna be in with a lot of people. You don't necessarily wanna be in, but all you have to do is show up and do the work, and that's it. And it's really, like, it it takes a while to find your footing, but I I don't know. Like, I have found the comedy community. I mean, I'm in Toronto, so specifically here. Like, it's a beautiful place to be, honestly. It's there's a lot of good and there's a lot of support, and I think people really show up for each other. So, yeah, I think it can be intimidating as a woman for sure. Like, there is no doubt that on most shows, you will be the only woman on the show. Yeah. Or, you know, if you go to a mic, there's gonna be thirty guys and maybe five women. And it's, like, It's it's it it don't let it deter you. Right. You know? Speaker 0
Could it come could it work to your advantage though if you're a comedy club owner and you see a dozen men and two women is like, I gotta throw a woman on stage. Or do you think that might happen? Speaker 1
Or No. I mean, by sheer numbers that does happen, I will say, and this is something that happens all the time, is that there is I I literally I cannot tell you how many times I've come offstage at a show and Amanda's come up to me and been like, I normally don't find women funny. Speaker 0
Oh, god. Speaker 1
But I thought you were funny. I mean, it happens. Yeah. More like an alarming amount of times. And so I think what that shows me is that when you walk on stage as a woman, there is often a notion Like, you have to do more work in a way Yeah. To win to win people over in a way that it's not to say that, you know, a man walks on stage and then it like easy breezy. Like, I'm certainly not suggesting that. But I think that there is unfortunately just like this old rhetoric that women aren't funny. Yeah. So working against that often when you get on stage. Speaker 0
It's unfortunate. Jay from Edmonton, do you get the same satisfaction writing for TV as you do for your own performances. Speaker 1
Wow. Yeah. That's a really cool question. It's so, so different. And yes, I would say, the same satisfaction, but but in totally different ways. Standup is so cool because you know, I could write something, like, I wrote something today, one this morning when I was writing, and I feel like I cracked a line that I've been trying to figure out, and it's been driving me nuts. And I feel like I cracked it today, but I don't know if it's gonna work until I get on stage. Right? But as soon as I get on stage, I will know if it worked or not. So it's an immediate feedback. It's really cool to like have an idea. It marinates. You kinda, like, sometimes you leave it for a week. Yeah. Or, like, I I even something happened to me recently that I've turned into a joke. The first, like, eight times I told that it bombed, but I was like, I know there's something there. So it's just this, like, this persistence that is like very, very satisfactory. And then when it comes to TV writing, it's so different because you're building a story and it has a beginning a middle and an end. And you don't really know how it's going to be perceived until it's filmed and people are watching it and it's done. Speaker 0
Right. So I Speaker 1
feel it and in a lot of ways, I feel like a joke is never really done. A joke can, like, you can keep working on it forever. But TV, has, like, you you will close the door on an episode, which is cool. Speaker 0
And you relinquish control until you've yeah. Speaker 1
Absolutely. Yeah. Speaker 0
Tobias in Missouri. He wants to know, is there a dream writing project for you? Is there something you wish you could write or work on? Speaker 1
I yeah. I would love to create my own show and I'm slowly working on that. I would love to tell a story that is that is mine, not that I wouldn't collaborate with other people. Speaker 0
Sure. Speaker 1
But you know, I I there's tons of rooms that I wanna be in. There's tons of writers rooms that I wanna be in. There's tons of shows that I think are absolutely incredible and I want to be in them, and I look forward to to working on different things. But for sure, I think there will there is something uniquely satisfying and special and cool about creating something from scratch. Speaker 2
ISO has, a few slots, he's gonna have to fill with this deal he recently made. So just FYI. Speaker 0
Right. Yeah. Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Speaker 0
The universe is about to Alright. Final question from our listener, this one's from Trollinger in the UK. It's a great question. I think I know the answer to this, but, feel free to surprise us. If the bus broke down, on your tour, and you had to drive to the next tour stop. Who would be your co pilot? Olivia. Speaker 2
Of course. Speaker 1
Olivia, but I'm we'll put everyone else in the trunk. Speaker 0
Right. Right. Speaker 1
Still coming. Speaker 0
Well, put, Tanya, did you have any final questions? Speaker 3
This has been so wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Speaker 1
Thank Speaker 3
you. Absolutely pleasure. I wanted to ask what what who's your favorite character to to write for on on, both shows Letter Kenny and and for the Shores Speaker 1
Yeah. I mean, the thing with Letter Kenny, that's fun because Olivia and I write together, any anybody that's a duo is like so fun. Like, Riley and Jonesie are so fun for us because we kinda just like drop into those characters momentarily and then we go back and forth back and forth back and forth. Tag each other up and it's like so teamwork heavy. So I would say that kind of anything that's a duo has been particularly fun for us, but I also love writing stuff for Wayne because Jared is the person who gives us feedback. Right. So sometimes he's like, I I can just tell that he's like, this is funny, but am I willing to say it? You guys, you know what I mean? He's like, you guys are a little bit crazy. Speaker 0
So there's a line. Do you Yeah. Speaker 1
Oh, yeah. There's a line. Speaker 0
Have you found what that line is? Speaker 1
Yeah. He lets us write in private, whatever the hell we want, but he is he is absolutely drawing a line of how far we can go. Speaker 0
And we've interviewed a lot of the cast members on this show. And it seems like a an overwhelming amount of them have their own impersonation of Jared. Do you, by any chance? Have Speaker 1
I'm trying to get on that new metric deal. Don't don't do bad too. Speaker 0
Alright. I won't fair enough. Good point. Victor, Dione, Speaker 2
Yeah. Sure. So we'll do a twist on Tobias's question about your dream writing job. So let's say you've got, three doors in front of you. And they all they will all you they will all pay you the same. They will all give you the same fame you don't have to worry about that stuff. But one is a writing door. Speaker 0
The Speaker 2
other is acting door, and the third is the stand up door. Which door do you walk through? Speaker 1
Oh, that's really tough. I would say like fuck Mary Kill. Can we say that on Yes. Speaker 0
This is a letter to you. Speaker 1
Yeah. I would kill, acting. And then I know I have to walk through a door, but I feel like I'm I feel like I just love stand up so much. Like, I can't imagine never doing it again. It would it would like be I mean, it's such a huge part of my identity. So I think I'm walking through that door. So I think I I think I, am fucking stand up and I'm maybe marrying writing, even though that's not what you asked me, but I'm choosing stand Speaker 2
Well, you know what? You really did find your soulmate because, Olivia, answered this question that was phrased slightly differently in the same way. Speaker 1
So Really? Speaker 0
That's what Speaker 1
I meant for each other. That's my girl. Speaker 0
I would have been a little disappointed if you didn't say stand up because, I I have huge respect. We love, I love stand up. Comedy. So the fact that, you would you'd wanna do that for sure, and you guys are so great at it. I will ask the question that Matt would usually ask at this point, but basically his question, his boiler play play question is, Letter Kenny is you you saw it yourself, you know, on the tour. It's a basically a cult hit. Yeah. Everywhere you go. It's got that following. I mean, if you didn't do anything else, you could dine out on probably, going to cons for, you know, and and signing autographs and taking pictures for for the rest of your life if you wanted to. What what hasn't meant to you personally to be part of this show? Speaker 1
I mean, it is it is such a uniquely Canadian perspective. And it's such a uniquely Canadian show that has transcended so many. Like, it popular in so many places. And to be working on something that has meant a lot to so many people and that, like, It's really hard to describe. It's just like I feel like I'm part of a club that's like just all love and and just joy. You know, there's nothing about Letter Kenny that is like I don't know. It's just it's so warm. And Yeah. I just feel like I I it's I'm I'm constantly thinking about how much it's changed my life. And it really has, like, it has completely changed my life. And I'm getting to do things that I've never imagined, and it's because of this show. So it's it's it it really just like warms my heart to to be involved with it. It means a lot to me. Truly. Speaker 0
Great. I think I think you'll you'll be asked back by by a new metric. For those those new shows. When when do you get on the road for the, the next part of the tour? Speaker 1
February seventh. We are getting on a plane. And then our first show is February eighth. Speaker 0
Wow. So and then you're on the road for how long? Speaker 1
Till April seventeenth. Wow. I know. I know. Which is great. I'm so excited. The only the only and I love my boyfriend, and you can probably hear me right now. But my god, I'm gonna miss my dog. Are you kidding? I wish I could take her. But she gets carsick. Speaker 0
Oh, no. That's amazing. And is there, like, other than the tour, are there any other projects that are coming up for you that we can, you know, to keep an eye on, like, look forward to? Speaker 1
Oh, I am I mean, this is a big this is the this is kind of the big one right now. And beyond that, I mean, I'm I'm writing on things that I can't really talk about Sure. Second, but I'll be happy to share it next time. And, otherwise, I mean, I you know, I run a monthly show in in Toronto, and I'm I'm all over the place. Yeah. So I'm out and about quite a bit. Different shows He wants to come. Yeah. Speaker 0
If you wanna promote anything, let us know and we will amplify to our network. Speaker 1
Thank you. Speaker 0
Happily. And, Just, one last thing. Where's the best place you want people to follow you? Is it, Instagram? Speaker 1
Yeah. Follow me on Instagram. I'm I'm my handle is the same on every platform. So I'm allie, a l l I e, underscore Pierce, p e a r s e. And, I'm I'm also on TikTok, begrudgingly. So you guys can also pull me there. Speaker 0
You have a lot of videos on TikTok if you're on there begrudgingly. Holy. And it's not all crowd work. Speaker 1
No. It is, it is it's work. Speaker 0
Yeah. Speaker 1
It's work. Like that. Yeah. That's crazy. TikTok's crazy. Speaker 0
Well, thank you so much for joining us tonight. You've given us an hour of your time, and we really appreciate it. Say hi to Olivia when you see your tonight. Speaker 1
I will. Thank you for having me. This was so much fun. Speaker 0
I'm gonna play us off here. With, you know what? Since you're from Montreal, we'll play a one of my favorite songs from Letter Kenny from earlier season, and, I think Victor, you like this one too. And that's all we have for this episode. Next Monday will be joined by Ellen Jade, also known as Shanaya on Letter Kenny. If you'd like to support the podcast, please tell a friend also follow us on most social media outlets at Pro to Sam Pod. Thank you for joining us. Now we're gonna go hang out with our new friend Ali. And on behalf of Ali Tania. Matt, if you were here at Victor and myself, thank you for listening, and have a great week. 
