Comedian Paula Poundstone has an uncharacteristically brief role in Pixar’s Inside Out series: Her absent-minded character, who plays “Paula the Forgetter,” the memory wiper in Riley’s mind, has only a few lines.
She has plenty more to say, including her podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone,” a regular appearance as a panelist on National Public Radio’s “Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me!” and a stand-up comedy show where she talks to audiences for two hours like they’re old friends.
Taking a break from working in the garden at his Santa Monica home, Poundstone spoke about Inside Out 2, his connection to the audience, and why he feels so close to his elf pal.
You’ve been pretty busy lately – I saw a video online of you recording a promo video for the Madison show while you were onstage in the middle of another show.
In the old days, I didn’t have to do all my promotion myself. I certainly don’t now, and it’s my least favorite part of my job. But I’ve realized it’s fun to ask the audience if they can help me. I don’t tell a ton of jokes in my promos, but I think just hearing how great the audience is gives people that FOMO.
They’re always so enthusiastic about it. The audience with you loves to represent me. No, not to represent me. But when I say I’m at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina, people go crazy. They’re not going crazy about me, they’re going crazy about the name Charlotte, North Carolina.
Has your audience changed over time?
It’s great. One thing I notice and find interesting is that as I get older, I don’t get older, so I ask the audience who is the youngest. Not that it’s important, but it’s good to have a broader sample. I wish the audience was more racially diverse, but they’re not. At least not everyone is the same age as me.
The audience is huge. I do a two-hour show. I’m the only one on stage. I get letters from local comedians saying, “I’m a local comedian. Can I open for you?” I don’t think I’m a selfish person, but when it comes to my audience, he’s the most selfish comedian I’ve ever talked to. I do a two-hour show. I can’t imagine giving up five minutes to anyone else. I love talking to the audience.
I interviewed you a while ago and you said that you call the stage your “brain space” where you enjoy improvising with the audience.
Absolutely. That hasn’t changed. The old-fashioned way is to ask someone what they do, and when they tell you what they do, you have a conversation that’s unique to that night. I used to remember exactly every conversation I had with every audience member. I still remember one or two. I remember a great conversation I had about 20 years ago in Fort Lee, New Jersey, with someone who worked at Big Lots.
You can see why that burned itself into your brain.
In fact, some I have had to kick out. Once there was a couple that wouldn’t stop kissing. They were right next to me and incredibly distracting. I started calling them “love criminals.” That was 30 years ago.
Do you think your rapport with the audience is down to your personality or the years of doing stand-up comedy?
Probably both. I’m a bit like an elf. I’ll talk to anyone, whether they want to or not. I was on the same flight as Adam Felber on the way to “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.” I went into Dunkin’ Donuts dragging my bags, and it took Adam a lot longer to get something at Dunkin’ Donuts than he thought it would. And it was because I was talking to them.
I said, “You know, I’m like an elf,” and he said, “Oh my goodness, exactly.” I don’t think he thought that was a good thing.
I think podcasting is the perfect medium for you.
It depends on what kind of podcast you’re looking for, but like a comedy podcast, it’s true. It’s a winter wonderland of side stories. That’s the fun part. We pride ourselves on people sharing real information on our podcast, Nobody Listens to Paul Poundstone. We hope people walk away with helpful information they didn’t know before. But getting there is the fun part.
I went to see Inside Out 2 and I remember telling myself I was going to hear your part, but then I forgot. It’s fitting because you’re reprising your role as “Paula the Forgetful.”
It suits me perfectly. The kids were so amused. It was originally called “Forgetful Woman” but they were so kind as to name it after me. But the truth is, I have a terrible short-term memory.
It’s an honor to be in such a great movie, even if just for a few seconds. It’s a really great movie, and it’s interesting that they introduced a character called Anxiety in the second movie. A lot of us suffer from anxiety at this point for a variety of valid reasons, and it was really fun to see that character and laugh at him. It’s fun to have that idea introduced in a way that kids can understand a little bit.
Pixar movies wouldn’t be what they are without the lessons of “Sesame Street,” which did a great job of introducing basic concepts to young children through really funny stuff that adults could enjoy, too.
I kind of think they should make a new Inside Out movie every few years as the characters grow up, like the Up documentaries, but I’m not sure if it would be too dark or bleak.
“If Riley had been a boy instead of a girl, her brain would have stayed in the same place for years and years. I told[Pixar CEO]Pete Docter that we should do a sequel where Riley loses her memory, because that would rely too much on Paula being forgetful.”