#1092 - Mary Lynn Rajskub

Joe Rogan (0:00)

Anything, anything. Life.

Four, three, two, one. Live, and we're here with the Arnold Schwarzenegger of comedy, Mary Lynn Rajskub. How many people have ever, on one shot, spelled your name right, or pronounced it right?

Mary Lynn Rajskub (0:18)

Never.

Joe Rogan (0:19)

Never, right?

Mary Lynn Rajskub (0:19)

It's kind of exciting now that you mention it, because they're going to introduce me, and it's just, it just gives like an instant obstacle.

Joe Rogan (0:26)

Like when you were coming up as a comic, there had to be a big issue. Like for the MC to bring you up, or the DJ when they bring you up as you were the MC.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (0:36)

The DJ or the MC? I don't know, I never really looked at it that way.

Joe Rogan (0:41)

Well, somebody had to introduce you.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (0:42)

Yeah.

Joe Rogan (0:43)

Right?

Mary Lynn Rajskub (0:44)

Like an opening act. I think I was in such a bubble, I didn't really, and I wasn't on the road hardcore, and I wasn't, I don't know, I wasn't identifying with me as a performer so much.

That means I was doing performance art, and people were laughing, I didn't know why they were laughing.

I moved to LA, and I was like, yeah, let's do shows. Like, I didn't know, I didn't think about it as like, you're introducing me, I'm a performer. I would say only in the past couple years have I done the road proper. But I came in the back alley for everything, for comedy, for acting. Like, if I had come to LA with a stack of headshots, like, hey, I'm ready for acting, it would have never happened. I just came with a group of people like, I want to do some live shows. And like, no business being in LA. No business, just doing weird shows, because that's what I was compelled to do. Like, I could not have done it had I said, all right, you're going to do acting and performing, especially not comedy. Like, I didn't identify with that at all. I had to figure out why people were laughing.

Joe Rogan (1:59)

That's fascinating. So when you first got into show business, what was the goal?

It's a weird word, show business.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (2:07)

Isn't she a special lady? I'm audition ready today, by the way. If you notice, I have a good brow and a good eyeshadow line.

I'm such a woman. I'm really more of a woman now than I've ever been.

Joe Rogan (2:23)

What's that about?

Mary Lynn Rajskub (2:25)

What's that about? Just growing up, letting it go.

Joe Rogan (2:28)

Letting it go.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (2:29)

I look back at my 20s and I'm like, you were a hot bitch. Like, what was wrong with you? But I was so incapable of anything, like so socially. I mean, I still am, but I'm much, much better now.

Joe Rogan (2:43)

Awkward, you're saying?

Mary Lynn Rajskub (2:44)

Yeah, awkward and just, but that's...

Joe Rogan (2:47)

I don't find you awkward.

I think it's odd. Like every time I've talked to you, we've had very fun, comfortable conversations. I never found you to be awkward.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (2:55)

I don't find you to be awkward either.

Joe Rogan (2:57)

Maybe we just don't make each other awkward.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (3:01)

Is that weird? My mind just went to an Instagram app. That was creep-tastic in my own mind.

That one that goes in close and does the little stars.

Joe Rogan (3:11)

We get programmed. Sorry.

But I honestly don't find you to be awkward. Like every time I've ever talked to you, it's been very comfortable, very easy.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (3:21)

I agree. But I would also say that's kind of a recent development that you and I are speaking.

Joe Rogan (3:27)

Well, it's when I started coming back to the comic store.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (3:29)

Yes. Which was what? A couple years ago?

Joe Rogan (3:32)

Yeah, three now. I guess three, something, 14, November of 14, I think it was.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (3:38)

Because we've been in each other's orbit since, you know, since news radio.

Joe Rogan (3:43)

Yeah, but we didn't really get a chance to like hang out or be friends till the store, you know. That's such an interesting little community, right? It's like everybody just kind of like, like, you want to talk about a positive community? Like I was just explaining this to some of the other day. Like when I first started going there in 1994, there was a lot of conflict between comedians. There's like comedians that didn't like comedians. Like, oh, this guy doesn't like this guy and she doesn't like her. And they all fucking duked it out with each other a little bit.