Interview with actress Mary Gallagher

Thank you. Thank you. And I'm so excited to introduce you to her in just a moment. Now, some of her credits, she is an actress, as well as a mother and a husband. I mean, a wife. I do have some male tendencies. That's hilarious. And I'm a husband. Right, and I started with she really is a woman, so I'm all over the map here. Some of her credits include How I Met Your Mother, Friends, Grey's Anatomy, The West Wing, Becker, Grace Under Fire, Friends With Better Lives. She's also on this YouTube special. She's on a special show called Scare PewDiePie and a web series called Club 5150. You know who I'm talking about, right? I know you do. Mary Gallagher. How are you? I'm good, Vic. It is so good to have you. Really, it is. It's so good to sit here and have someone talk about you. Like, I'm listening to those. In good things. Yeah. Because it wouldn't just be fun if I said bad things. Well, I mean, I'm listening to what you were saying, and I'm like, who is he talking about? Oh, that's me. That's still you. It's still me. It's all about you. That's what this is about. When do you have an opportunity to just sit and talk about yourself? Not often. Never. Well, in Los Angeles, there are plenty of people who do. That's true. I don't. No, you're more modest. Yeah, on nobody's. Well, look at these credits you have. I mean, they are very impressive. I would say Friends is probably the one that everyone gets really excited about, right? Yeah, I think nothing tops Friends that I've ever done or ever will do, and it was just one episode. But because the show is so well-known, and now there's a whole new generation of people who watch it, it's still such a big deal to have been on Friends. Do you get recognized? You know, I have gotten recognized from some real diehard fans. Tell us the role you played, so those who do know the show might remember you. Sure. I played Tilly, which was Adam Goldberg's girlfriend, and I came in with a fish tank, and I had a scene with Matthew Perry and Adam Goldberg, and then a week later, I went back to my— job waiting tables, and that was it. Where were you waiting tables? I was probably at the time waiting tables in Toluca Lake at a place called The Money Tree, which was a jazz club. Was there a lot of money? Did you make a lot of money at The Money Tree? Didn't make a lot of money. I think I was in the back crying a lot. Oh, that's sad. In the kitchen, yeah. How do you make that transition? You go from working with these A-list stars that, you know, everyone around the world recognizes, and then the next—did you have your own trailer? I had my own dressing room for that. With your name on it. Yes, with my name on it, and I remember that Tom Selleck was on that episode, and he was knocking at my door, hanging out with me every step of the way, because I think Friends was so big at the time that even Tom Selleck possibly felt a little outside being on that show, and he would just always knock on my door. He was like, Mary, get out here. I need some company. Is there any food in my mustache? Exactly, yeah. Yeah, totally. I remember he had two hot dogs in his hands. He was like, come have a hot dog with me, and I was a vegetarian at the time. I'm like, I'm having a hot dog with Tom Selleck. You ate the meat hot dog? I ate the hot dog. That is so disappointing. I know. Really? Yeah. You sell out. I mean, I go in and out of vegetarianism a lot. Clearly, if Tom Selleck's in the room. If it can be that easy to sway me. You're a bad—no offense, but you're a horrible vegetarian. I'm a bad vegetarian, yeah. If it can be that easily swayed. Yeah. Who else would you eat a hot dog with? My husband. I was a vegetarian when I met him, and he said, oh, I'm going to fly you home to New Jersey, and you're going to meet my Italian mom, and she's going to make meatballs, and I was like, oh, I'm a vegetarian. When am I going to turn down my mother-in-law's meatballs when I first meet her? Well, I actually like that you're flexible. You're not militant about it. I am. You are militant. Well, I mean, and you know my— you know how militant my background is. We're going to get to that in a bit. Now, how did you get the job on Friends? I got the job on Friends because I was dog-sitting one of the producers' dog. Okay. I would never sit back to that. Yeah. You were friends with someone on the show. The Friends thing really worked out. I was, except it took me like a good two years to ask him if I could give him my photo, and he was like, oh, you're an actor? I just—okay. I just thought you took really good care of my dog. This is the executive producer? One of the producers. I don't think he was executive. His name is Jeff Astroff. He's an executive producer now on shows. Do you keep in touch with him? I do, yeah. Has he put you on anything else? He has not put me on anything else, but we are friends, and we stay in touch. So when he suggests— When he suggests that you come in for a read, does that mean you have the job right on the spot? Nothing. In fact, it means nothing. All it does is gets your photo to the casting director, and then they call you in, and knowing someone means absolutely nothing. But it did mean something to get you in. It does mean something to get you in. Did you have to audition for a bunch of different parts over a year or so before you got— No, I got that job right— For Friends, I got that job right away. Okay, now, I don't want to be argumentative, but maybe— Maybe knowing him did help you on your very first audition at Friends. You think so? Well, we don't know. I mean, if you sucked, you wouldn't have gotten the job. That's true. I mean— I mean, you know, and we don't know the politics of that, but it could not have hurt. Well, that's a good point, because like Grey's Anatomy, I think I went in nine, ten times on that show before I got a part on that show, you know? Why did it take you two years to ask this guy to look at your picture? I don't like to bug people, you know? I feel like— Have you ever been in that position? No, I haven't. Where you're like, No, I haven't. You've bothered someone? Oh, no. Well, I'm more like you where I'm— you know, I might know someone who has a good job and something that could help me, and I'm a little reluctant. Exactly. I'm always kind of scared to throw it out there, and then I have thrown it out there at times, and I've been like, Oh, I bugged that person. So I'm always very— When do you ask? When do you not? It's a hard— It's hard to tell. It is. Because you also want someone to, you know, who you like as a friend to know you like them because they're a friend, not because of how they can help you. Exactly. So it can be kind of tricky. It really is. What does it— What's the biggest job you've had that— where you get the role and you are jumping up and down screaming and you're calling your parents in Wisconsin? Yeah. Was it the friend's job? No. I would say when I did a pilot with Rob Reiner. That was really exciting. Okay. Rob Reiner is the son of Carl Reiner who was like a legendary older comic and creator of shows like Dick Van Dyke. Rob Reiner, if you didn't know, was in All in the Family. Spinal Tap, right? He was Meathead. Right. All in the Family. He's been in so many things. So many things. Great movie director. Was this a regular, like a recurring role? Yes. This was actually the female lead on the show. And he was my father-in-law and Mercedes Ruhle was my mother-in-law. And then my husband was played by Josh Radner from How I Met Your Mother. So just very exciting all the way around. And there was a pilot shot? Yeah, we shot a pilot for NBC. Did it air? It never did. No. It's like, again, like, you have these really exciting opportunities. And then the next week you're back to whatever it is that you do in between. Back to the money tree. Back to the money tree. Even though it's gone and torn down. It's been shot down. I'm back in the parking lot. It's so insulting that you, like, like for people not making money to be working at a place called the money tree. I mean, it's such a slap in the face. It really is. Like what? $3 in tips? I thought this is the money tree. So did you cry? Like when you didn't get the, like when you found out, were you like, this is going to be my career? Or were you skeptical enough? I don't know if you and I have ever talked about this, but I feel like I deal with rejection pretty well. Like I know a lot of actors who say, oh, I can't take this, the rejection. I kind of feel like bring it on. You know, I actually feel probably more comfortable in the rejection. Right, it's the acceptance. The acceptance scares me. So no, I've never had that problem. I mean, of course there's disappointment when things don't go. But what do they say? One door opens and a window breaks or something. Something like that. Yeah, something's breaking. A door closes and a window opens. Window opens, yeah. So when was that, that pilot? That was a good 10 years ago. Yeah. Great. And you do a lot of hidden camera stuff, right? I do, yeah. Now I'm on a show called Fameless, David Spade's hidden camera show, which you've been on too in the pilot. And you were amazing in that pilot. My daughter and I, when we watched that pilot, we literally rolled our bodies back and forth. Yeah. And I remember my parents on the bed laughing so hard at you. Oh, that's great. At Deputy Backseat Justice. Right, right. Oh my God, you're so good in that. Well, thank you. That's really nice of you to say. Yeah, it was really a lot of fun. I mean, we also did a deal with it with High Mandel. That's right, we did. So that's where I first met you. Yes. So you're from Milwaukee or somewhere in Wisconsin? Yeah, I'm from a Milwaukee suburb. It's kind of considered Waukesha County, actually, which is where the Violent Femmes are from. Do you know the Violent Femmes? I don't. They sound violent. They're like a, you know, hip indie band that's went national and they're from my part of town. Now, for those of you who aren't watching, because we have two versions, we have a video version and then we have an audio version of this show, this episode, I'm going to describe to you Mary. I can't wait. Mary is like the girl next door. She's kind of cute and sweet looking. I imagine, you know, she'd be the kind of girl your mom would, if you're a guy, would want, you know, to marry, you know, you to marry. She's probably a high school cheerleader. No. Sadly, no. But does still have a uniform. Yes. I would be the girl who would practice cheerleading in a uniform at home in my room, but never actually be on the team. She's probably, she looks like, like homecoming queen. Really? Yeah. Wow. I nailed it, right? No, I've never heard that before, but I'll gladly take it. You just have that sweetness. Like all American thing. I do have a sweet thing going on. Except you start talking. I know. Because that accent is incredible. It really is. And it's not a bad thing. It's very, it gives you character. Yeah. Especially if I'm relaxed, it really comes out. This is a far, obviously, you know, distance from kind of rural Wisconsin, right? I mean, was it rural? Suburb. Okay. No, I never even saw a cow. Like a total suburb. Right. I thought you meant a total, you're going to say a total cow. I saw parts. Was this the plan as a kid to come out? To Los Angeles? No. And pursue your acting? I never hardly talked as a child. You said your first word at like 12. Probably. I was very shy. My parents, very strict. And I think it wasn't until I found that, like, I didn't know people could be actors. I found acting in college. And I was like, what do you mean there's an acting class? What does that mean? Say college. College. You didn't say it that way. You said college. College. Yeah. Oh, geez. Oh, criminy. Yeah, that's great. So real. Is that how your parents talk? Um, no, they don't. We do not speak that way. So you said that your parents, you said very militant. I think we use the word militant. In a true sense. Yeah, because they were both in the Marines. Yes, my parents are retired Marines, but they met in the Marine Corps. And, you know, I can make a bed. I was going to say, like, your shoes must have been shining. Oh, my gosh. I get up. People laugh at me. My friends are always laughing at me. I get up at 4 a.m. every day. Seriously? Yeah. And people think it's weird, but you know what? I just have to. I own it now. I get up early. When do you go to bed? I go to bed about 9.30. Sometimes 10 o'clock. Does someone play the bugle? I mean, how far do you take this? In my head. Yes, in my head. But, like, it literally is in every fiber of my being. I can't, I can't, like, I get nervous if people sleep over at our house. I'm like, oh, how, how does this affect me getting up early? Like, are they going to hear me get up? Because I have to get up. I have to. What do you do at 4 in the morning? Everything. So you're a morning person, huh? I'm a total morning person. You have to be. Yeah. I mean, I'm a night guy. I mean, I can't fight it. Even if I went to bed at 2 a.m., I would get up at 4. So what, are your parents, they, growing up, were they, I mean, the stereotype would be, like. Strict. I was scared. Yeah. Are you still scared? Yes. So you can't honestly talk to your dad about things or your mom? No, I can. They have definitely softened up over the years. But, like, there's definitely a, I don't know if it's a fear or if it's just a. Yeah. You know, that you revere your parents or, I don't know what it is, but, like, my parents in my mind are, like, these really big, huge people. But, you know, my mom's, like, 5'7". No, my mom's petite. What goes on in Wisconsin that there's a military base? They were out of the Marine Corps by the time they were in Wisconsin. They met in Honolulu. Like, they always say they fought the Battle of Waikiki. They were sitting on the beach. So they never saw action? No. I mean, they probably saw some action. But, hey. No, so they were not career-wise. They were not career Marines. But you would think, if you were to meet them, that they were in for a very long time. Because they're very proud. Does your dad own a gun? My dad has owned guns. Yeah. Did he ever use them? Like, threaten boyfriends with them? Like, you better take care of my gun. My mom was the one to be scared of with boyfriends. What did she do? I would say it was my mom. She would just, like, my mom would never use the name of the person. So I'd be like, Mom, this is Mike. She'd be like, well, that boy. If that boy comes over here, that boy needs to know that that boy is in our house. Like, she would never actually use his name. So there was just a distancing of, you know. You should have dated someone named Boy. Just to screw with her. Or just say that. We're going to say your name is Boy. Right. Exactly. Yeah. And what would she say? That young man. Don't be so clever. Yeah. So you're a funny woman. Funny person. Did your parents think you were very funny? Or did they think you were a bit of a smart ass? No. Did that get you in trouble? I never liked this around my parents. Like, I think I kept the fact that I was getting into acting for a very long time from them because I was scared of how they would react. And even, like, even today, like that Rob Reiner pilot that I told you about, I played a psychiatrist. And I told my mom, we have a psychiatrist coming on set to teach us how to be a psychiatrist. And her response was, you could get into psychiatry now. You know, like, forget that you are cast as a series regular on a TV show. Right. And I'm an actor playing a cop. She's like, oh, you could get into police work. You know? So whatever part I play, she thinks that's my future career. Right. It's like training. Yeah. It's like training. You never know. Because all this other stuff is just make believe. Right. That's really good. Right. But it's fun. Well, when you weren't friends, were they proud? Did they tell all their friends? They were very proud. Yes. And make a deal out of it? I'm kind of exaggerating a little bit about my parents because they are very proud of me. They just have their moments where they're like, oh, what is this? Like, my dad would go, now, Mary. Explain to me again what you're doing. I said, well, dad, I got to go to this audition to pick up these sides. And he'd go, now, what are slides? I've heard you talk about the slides several times. I'm like, dad, no, it's sides of a script. Like, so there's just a distance that I think they put between me and what I do. Because it's more comfortable for them that way. Do they worry about you? I don't think so. You're married. You have a child. You've got a real nice life. I got it all going on. I got a husband and a kid. And, um, I frankly am, I am, I wonder why they don't come over every day and go, well, you're cool. You know what I mean? Like, I am such a good person. Your parents, you mean? My parents. I'm always waiting. Do they ever come over? They've never been out? Yeah. No, they live in Hollywood. Your parents moved? Yes. They moved from Wisconsin to Hollywood. Because it's so much like Wisconsin. Exactly. It's like being at home. They live here. And I'm always wondering, why aren't they coming over going, you won. You're doing really well. You're doing really good. But they, they're always like, hmm, still acting, huh? Wow. Isn't that interesting? Well, it's kind of, it's, I feel bad a little bit for you. Because that sounds painful. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, because you're, you know, you're very successful. Yeah. And, and all the ways that success, the way I see it, I mean, not just in a career way. Right. But, uh, you know, we were talking about your daughter earlier. Yeah. And, you know, you take a lot of pride in being a mom. I do. And clearly you're doing a great job. Thank you. And, you know, as far as being a wife, I've, you seem. Fantastic there. We didn't get into too much of the specifics. I think so. I think I'm my own very good cheerleader. Mm-hmm. You know, I mean, like I have, yeah, I definitely have experienced pain with that feeling of, I mean, I don't know, do, do all people kind of feel that way about their parents? Or are a lot of parents like, oh, we just support everything you do. I mean, that's the way I am with my kid. But is that a generation thing or is it just. I don't think it's that simple. I think like anything, they're all types of people. Right. And I know my parents are more kind of along the lines of, we love whatever you do. Although if I did a standup set, my dad, he'll tell me if I sent him, you know, the audio, like you swore a lot. You know, I mean, he will be very honest, which is, I am asking. Right. But as far as do I believe, do I know they believe in me? Yes. Right. Now with your parents, what's interesting is they moved close probably because they love you. Yeah. They want to be with you. I think so. I mean, there's a, there are a lot of places to live. Yeah. Now are they in their like seventies or something? Yeah. And to move to Hollywood. I know. I mean, that's, when you say Hollywood, you mean literally Hollywood? In Hollywood. Yeah. They actually manage an apartment building that I used to manage. And my husband actually came up with the idea when we left the building, he said, you know, who would be great to take over this building? Your parents. So they live rent free? Yes. My mom's the manager and that building is run. She doesn't take. Oh my God. It's. Lights out everyone. It's really true. It's 10 o'clock. Lights out. It's really true. And what's so interesting is the building is filled with actors, gay people. They still haven't figured it out. Well, I mean, like they definitely have had a lot happen in their life where they're, I think we're all evolving. Right. And I think that like different things now have happened that affect my parents as people. You know. They moved out here how long ago? 10 years ago. 10 years ago. Okay. Because, you know, quite honestly, hearing that kind of gave me the shivers. Really? In the sense of it's almost too close. Yeah. Like not incestuous, but kind of like boundary list. Like they're taking over your job. I don't know. It feels like too close to home almost, but that's just me. Well, it's not in the sense because my parents are, you know how some parents stay and you're like, oh, I need my parents out of here now. My parents are the opposite. They'll come over for five minutes and then they'll be like, well, we're leaving now, Mary, because we want to give you your space. They're very, um. They're very private and they're very, um. They never want to overstay their welcome. And is this their plan to retire out here then? No, I think they would gladly probably get out of Hollywood at some point. Yeah. I think they're probably looking at other places to retire and, you know, to straighten up and ship up, shape up. Well, like I said, you know, sometimes love is shown just through actions rather than the verbal of. Isn't that so true? You know. And I don't believe that's necessarily generational. I think that's just how people, we are all different. That's so true. And I mean, like I realized with my parents, they're just like, I'm very kind of like this artistic, touchy feely type person. They're just not that way. You know, that's just a different, they, they, I guess, show things in other ways. Well, my dad is like a hardcore business guy and he's very funny. He's very loving. His thing, his life is really around the business world. And my world is more like yours. And I think that's what's so interesting about this podcast is that it's not just about the business world. It's about the business world. It's about the business world. It's about the business world. It's about the business world. Yeah. Getting in touch with, I hate to say feelings, but understanding how my mind works, going to therapy, you know, really, because I, it's not because I choose to, it's because I have to. Right. Like I get, when I deal with being depressed or whatever, I need to find solutions. Me too. You know, so it's not because I just happen to, like some people like to make pottery. It's not like I just like to get into the psychology. It's survival. Yeah. Yeah. And so that's not. That's not been his thing, you know? So, and then I go, I'll do a thing where I'll kind of shame myself. I'll be like, what? Like, that's the end. Wow. Like, that's the right way to be. Like, you know. Right. You should be a business guy, like really in the hardcore world of business. Yes. And, you know, and the fact I'm not, like I'm somehow doing something wrong or deficient. Right. And yet, you know, my strengths are just really strong in other areas. It's so true. Just as strong as my dad's are in the business world. I don't know where that comes from, but it's, I don't want to go there. You know, if I do. I think it's a great journey in life to not only understand what you're all about, but to understand your parents and see that they see things differently and it's not right or wrong. I mean, maybe some, some people, for some people, that's a wrong thing. But for me, I'm just learning that they are just the people that they are. And that's just different from me, but not right or wrong. Well, so there are qualities that like with my father and his work life, he's very disciplined. He's hardworking. Yep. He, you know, these are all attributes that I can take. Yes. And use as a model. Exactly. So, you know, what he does is not really important. It's how he conducts his life. Yeah. And he does it with integrity, love. He's loyal to my mom. Doesn't cheat on her. Right. Doesn't treat her like, you know, he really loves her to death. So regardless of, you know, the specifics, it's, you know, I do take that. It's so true. And I can apply that to my life. It's so true. And we don't. And did you, I don't know about you, but do you rarely think of those things? Because my parents too, they've been married for 56 years. They're, they're, they still work today full time. Yeah. My dad has a business with my, my brother runs it with them. Right. And rarely do I walk around talking about that. Instead, I make jokes about how, oh, they're so militant and, you know, but like I take all that with me. I know I'm a hard working actor because of who they are. And I know, you know, things that I think about in marriage is because of what I've seen. And, and, um, but rarely do I kind of comment on that. It's an unfair, it's really part of probably the unfair, um, one of the unfair parts of being a parent. Yeah. Is that the child, because we're kind of programmed, I think, to see the faults. Yes. To see the bad. Uh, because we were, I don't know why, maybe it's survival. You know, we're looking for the problem to solve. Right. And some of that means overlooking all the good. Right. And plus, don't you think with comedy too, like if you just focus on all this stuff that is so easy for you, that's not very funny. It's not funny. It's not funny. You know, it's the, it's the quirks. Yeah. You know, the thing about the slide versus side. Yeah. Uh, yeah, for, for sure. Right. Yeah. But it's, um, but it's nice we've taken a minute to look at our parents. Yeah. And that way I try to, you know, but it is, you're right. We, it's more for whatever reason, easy to see what did I not get. I know. Versus what are the, what have I got? Yeah. And I've gotten so much. It's so true. And no one can give you everything. Yeah, because both your parents are alive still. Thank God. Yeah. As I said, as of right now. As of right now. I mean, I'm going to call them back since you've asked. But you know, ultimately I think, um, it's my job to make myself happy and to approve of me. That's so true. You know, it doesn't really, at some point, as much as it's nice to have a parent approve. Yeah. Um, if I don't love myself and my choices or feel good about me. Yes. It's irrelevant. It's so true. You know, um, someone, I'm in this, this great acting class for the last couple of years, this class. I just really adore. And about two years ago, someone said to me, and you've probably heard the saying, but I've never heard it or it's never resonated with me, which is someone told me the saying, what others think of me is none of my business. Yeah. And that just hit me in such a way where I was like, really? That's, I can, I can take that on. Like I can accept that. And ever since then, I feel like, um, I have allowed myself to just be. Yeah. And where before really my whole life for several decades was just, oh, what does someone else view this as, or what, what does someone else think of this as opposed to what does Mary think of this? Like even my parents, like what did they think of my acting and this? And it's like, it's just so draining. Right. Where did that come from? Do you think? Um, birth? I don't know. You came right out and said, how was that? Did I come out smoothly or did you struggle too much? Yes. What is the rating on that? What's the, uh, I've got a lot of people that are like, oh, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I've got, I can go back in and do it again. You know, do it many different ways. Would you like me to do with an accent? That's hilarious. That is so funny. That's so true. So, um, yeah, I'm, I'm still processing that saying, but that is just my favorite thing to remind myself, you know? Well, it's a hard one when you are performing because by nature performances have reviews and no one likes what you do. You don't work. Yes, exactly. And I think too. Also, after having a kid, I definitely am curious as to what she thinks of me all the time. You know, so I wonder if that's an exception is that you wonder what your children think of you because I definitely want to be someone that my daughter's proud of. And I'm curious if you can not think about what other people think of you, including your kids and still be present in every way. Right. I think that the answer to me would be, is it right sized? That would be like, you know, if, if I'm, if I'm overly concerned about what anyone thinks of me, if it doesn't seem, if it doesn't feel internally right sized and normal size or what, then, then I think that there's something that I need to look at. Right. So, you know, if, if feels right sized and the amount of you check in on your daughter and see what she's thinking. I like that. But if it feels a little too heavy, then. Yeah. Cause the danger is, I think perhaps you don't want to make your daughter your parent. Ah, so true. You know, and if you look to your child for, you know, if you look to your child for, you know, this feeling of, of, of validation. That's a really good point, Vic. You know, cause they're your kid and they don't need, they don't need that pressure. I know. And it also then, you know, it makes the love that you give less conditional. That's so true. Yeah. Cause a kid's going to want it, you know, it's survival, that love. You're right. So you're not going to the source of, of a real independent person. Right. Exactly. You know, it's a little biased and self-interest there with the child. That's a really good point. You know. Yeah. So, and also it might be modeling something you don't want your child to be doing. Right. Which is if it's not right size. Again, every now and then, how do I look? Did you like the show? You know. Yeah. But if it feels too intense. Right. Too much. Yeah. That's a lot of weight to put on anyone. You catch yourself. Yeah. You know, I don't, I can ask my husband. It's good parenting advice from Vic Cohen. I like it. Well, thanks. Yeah. I mean, and I don't have kids, but I've, you know what I, being a kid and doing a lot of therapy and that kind of thing. Yeah. It's insightful. Yeah. But, you know, it's also insightful of you to notice that you might do that with your daughter. Yeah, exactly. So true. Yeah. I think having, not using a child for what your husband's job is, is important or any for anyone. Right. You know, cause it's your, it would be more your husband perhaps, but even there, it's like, you don't want anyone to be, anyone's approval to be ultimate defining your. Exactly. And putting any. Self-approval. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And making any one person, all these things, it's just, you know, crazy, isn't it? Yes. I think that, you know, we are different people with different people and how great is that, that we can, you know, have these different relationships and not burden any one person with, oh, you know, I need this from you or, you know. Yeah. Well, I mean, there's a natural, like I said, I think there's a natural amount of that that's needed. Right. Of approval. Yeah. But when it's too much. Yeah. Yeah. When it's too much. It's just too much. It's just too much. When it's too much, it's just too much. That's what she'd be saying or something. Right. Now, I was looking at, I am going to brag a little, although it's barely bragging. You did a webisode series or web series. Oh, yeah. 5150. That's not the full title of it. Yeah. It's getting a 51. Club 5150. Yeah. Okay. How did you find Club 5150? How did you get submitted for that? I had worked with Steve Silverman, the creator of it. And maybe 10, 12 years ago, he produced a show in Hollywood called 15 Minutes of Femme. It was a showcase for females. And it was kind of like a competition. And you would do something, you know, with your talent. And he produced that for several years and really went all out on that and really got a lot of acclaim and notice for that showcase. And I had stayed his friend and known him throughout the years. And then he cast me in that show along with Krista Flanagan from Moodle. Mad TV, who's just hilarious. She's also from Mad Men. Mad Men. And her credits also include ER and The Practice. She's even in Curb Your Enthusiasm. I watched the whole series. Now, that sounds like a lot, but you know, it's great, guys, if you want to catch it. You just literally Google the name of the show, Club 5150. And you can watch the whole thing in like an hour. Did you know what a 5150 is before you watched it? I did. Not from my own personal. Okay. I had no idea. A 5150, guys, in LA at least, is the code for bringing someone into the psychiatric ward of a hospital against their own wishes. It gives legal authority. And that is done with, there has to be a psychiatrist, I believe. Yeah. Some kind of medical, you know, evaluation. And literally a cop shows up at the door and takes this person away for 72 hours, is it? I think so. At least in this series it was. Yeah. Now, I loved that series. And I'll tell you why. And I want to tell you guys, too, you know, wherever you're watching, if you are listening, if you have an interest in doing a series, do it. Some of these episodes, the first one, there are four episodes. Most of them were around 15 minutes or so. Online, you can do whatever you want. The first one was full length, I believe, like around what a half hour would be. But it was very smart. There are only about five interiors. Right. So smart. You know, and so the reason that's important is because there's not a lot of money. You don't have to spend a lot on locations. How many days did you shoot that? We probably shot that for about a week. But Steve Silverman is so good at producing his own content. He has a series called Pretty Out, which is really popular. Is it P-R-E-T-T-Y? Yeah. Is that the way it sounds? Yeah. It's about a girl who's in the beauty contest. You know what I mean? It's played by an adult. But she's smart. It's supposed to be like a five-year-old in a beauty contest. That won some awards, didn't it? Yeah. Something he's done, I know. Yeah. One of his series. I mean, he's really known for webisodes. And so every time he does it, they just keep getting, you know, more and more elaborate. And it's funny. He's told me that he'll have like networks calling or people calling him and he thinks, oh, great, I'm going to sell my series. But they're calling to say, how do you do this? Like, can you give us some tips on, you know, producing content? How does he make money, though? Because. The views weren't. The last series where I was looking, the views were not super high yet. Yeah. And. I think that's the battle that he has had is, you know, pulling out a credit card and going, OK, well, I can keep funding these things. You can find clever ways to keep funding them and finding credit. Right. But then what do you do with it when it becomes too much to, you know, you have to make money at some point. There's no advertising. It seemed like he's not doing it on an ad revenue generating site. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like binge watching in its quickest form, right? It's so good. In an hour, you're done. I love that. So there's a line you had in it. Actually, I had it on my cell phone about Ted's penis. Do you remember that line? It's about the size. It was really a funny line. Was it? You have such a great, you know, fun character in that. I mean, the star, the featured character is Krista Flanagan. Yeah. Who is basically going to be taken from her home with a 5150. And you play Nancy. I play her best friend. From elementary school. Yeah. And you were in swing choir together, correct? Yes, exactly. And I'm all dolled up with big hair and cleavage for days. Yeah. And I think it's funny when dirty things come out of my mouth, right? Because you said I look like a girl next door. Yeah, yeah. So I notice I'm often given copy of, you know, is she going to say it? You know? Like, it's kind of funny maybe if I am. And it's hard for me too because I don't, I'm not real comfortable being that. So maybe there's a nervousness too that I'm kind of like. You feel uncomfortable being dirty? Well, I'm probably thinking about my parents, right? I'm probably thinking, wow, what would, you know, that's not how I was raised. Were you not allowed to swear around them? Yeah, I don't think I would swear. I think I have, you know, probably be concerned about. Like, just, I guess being that good girl, right? That's something that I'm constantly battling still is being the good girl, the pleasing person. And freeing myself from that and just being who I am. And what do you mean by the good girl exactly? Well, it's something we talk about in this acting class that I was telling you about. Is that there's like a good girl and a bad girl. Do we all have that? Yes, we all have it. I have a good boy and a bad boy. There's good Vic and bad Vic. And bad boy. And bad boy Vic does not mean you're bad. It just means you don't care about what anyone else is thinking. Is that selfish? Or is it not about selfish? In the best way. Selfish as an artist. Yes. In the best way. Okay. That you're there to. Where do you take classes? This is a guy named Ian Tucker. Aren't you like, don't you know enough already that you still need to take classes? Come on. You know, it's not, right? I'm kidding. I wish. But I know that a lot of people, you know, it's an art, right? You keep learning. It is because, I mean, sometimes as an actor, I think most of the time, you're not getting paid to act. So I think class, if anything, is a way for you to stay working that muscle. Right. And I wouldn't even call it so much a class as it's we're all hanging out and just kind of being in the moment. I want to, I hate this expression, but I'm going to say it. Put a pin in that. Okay. I want to pick up with big bad girl and good girl in a minute. Okay. But I did want to ask you about with friends, how much did you get paid to be on friends? Because. Because I think a lot of people believe you must have made thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. Because you're working at the money tree. Yes. So you go to friends and you've worked the one episode. Right. What was that SAG-AFTRA payment? I think at the time, one episode is like $3,000. Something like that. It's amazing. Does that sound right? Yeah. I mean, that to me, that sounds, yeah. Yeah. Did you still get residuals? Yeah. And then when it first reruns, when you do a TV show and you're there for a week, when it first reruns the first time, you get the same amount again. Okay. So you're always going to get that same amount a second time. Then every time it runs, it slowly gets smaller and smaller and smaller. So you're literally years later getting, you could get checks for like 13 cents. Have you gotten that from friends? Oh yeah. All the time. Yeah. Yeah. The most exciting part of my day is opening the mail. Or saddest. Or saddest. Yeah. But if there's anything you're excited, actors are always excited to get the mail. You call it mailbox money? Yeah. Isn't that what some people call it? Definitely. And do you remember that bar? I don't know if it's still. Residuals? Residuals, right? If you brought in a residual check, you get a free drink. And they were like really low. Really low. I mean, you're not going to bring a big residual check in there. I've literally got checks for 0.00. I don't know why they're sending that. Right. But have you gotten that? Just to rub it in your face. No, I haven't. You're bragging. Stop bragging. They'll show you we did the taxes and they'll take time to send you a check for zero cents. Yeah. Like, isn't this costing money to tell me that you're not giving me any money? Right, right. Well, so, and that's such a brutal part of acting is that for one role, you know, you might have 100 people. Right. And they all look a lot like you. So true. And then you get the role and it only pays $3,000 and then another $3,000 and then it whittles and whittles down. It really does. I think without being on a series, how can you, you know, I mean, like, it seems like the goal is for most people to be on a series, I'm assuming, to have a weekly paycheck, right? I mean, I don't know how these other actors do it who go from just kind of like part to part. Is your husband in the business? My husband is a singer with a big band. He's got like a... Now, are you bragging when you say a big band or it's literally a big band? It's a big band. It'd be funny if you're like a really big band. It's like Coldplay. He's in it. People always wonder, what does that mean, a big band? It's like the 40s, 50s, like Swing? Yeah, American Songbook. What does he play? Frank Sinatra type. He sings. He plays piano, but with the big band, he sings. He puts the band together and he, you know, runs the band. Is he on the road a lot? He is. Right now, he's in Atlantic City. And what's the name of the band? No Vacancy Orchestra. And is that hard on your marriage for him to be on the roads a lot? I think it's probably a good thing for our marriage. You know what I mean? Because you guys hate each other. No, because like you miss the person when they're gone. The absence. The absence makes the heart go flat. I think so. It's scary if it doesn't, right? Yeah, I think so. I mean, definitely, because I think if you have two artists living under the same roof, you're around a lot. And then you're like, oh, you're going out of town? Oh, okay. Yeah. All right. I'll see you in a week. So I think it's a good thing. And you do stand up, I know. You mentioned a little of that earlier. Are you on the road doing that or is that mostly here in town? I went on the road once. I did one gig on the road. You got lost. It was on the way to the improv. It was at a restaurant. I took a left turn on Melrose. I should have turned right. Yeah, I went one time and that was really exciting. And then- Where was that? I have a family. I opened up at Acme in Minneapolis. Oh, okay. Have you ever been there? I have not. Yeah. Cool. Was that because it was near, you were like near Wisconsin or something? Probably. Yeah, I probably knew someone from Milwaukee who moved over to Minneapolis. So tell me now again about the bad girl and good girl. So what you're telling me, and this is something that was discussed in your class, your acting class that you're trying to apply to real life, not just acting. All the time. Yeah. Is that part of you, the Mary that's the good girl you're finding gets in the way of you being authentically who you are. That is, you put it so good, Vic. Thank you. That's it. And it's the bad girl isn't, has nothing to do with anything bad. It's really just being your authentic self. Yes. And not caring about the manipulation of trying to win people over by being nice. It's exhausting just hearing you say it. Right. Because you're, as they say in the, you're enough. Yeah. Just who you are. Yes. And you're probably going to get better results from your audition because people can pick up on manipulation. Yes. And the acting is really supposed to be done on the, in the script. Exactly. And, and, and you're there to entertain. You know what I mean? Like when I first started studying with Ian Tucker and I heard someone say that, you know, he talks about us as entertainers, like that is so far removed from like maybe when you first come out. You know, you come out to LA and you realize, oh, I'm doing acting because it's fun and I'm an entertainer. And somehow along the way you tend to, meaning me, lose that feeling of why you're doing it. That suddenly you're trying to get a job and you're trying to pay your bills and you're trying to impress someone from your past. It's like, oh no, you were doing this originally because it was fun. So what does Ian, your teacher, what does he say as far as how to put that into practice? Well, it's all just about jumping off the cliff. You know, it's literally. It's literally about trusting that you're enough and that you jump and that you're dangerous and you're instinctive and everything that you are comes into play. You don't need to work on anything. Your instincts as a human and how you see the world all come into play. So it's kind of like the anti-acting class. Yes, it is the best. It is my most exciting night out is going to my class. Well, you know, I think that there are two types of great actors. There's one who is great at being just who they are. Okay. And people would say they don't have acting there. Right. But that's not easy. Right. So I consider like an Adam Sandler. I think I'm not saying he's a great actor. I love him. But he's himself. The best. At being, he's great at being him. Is he great at being a lot of other people? He's not that actor. That's Philip Seymour Hoffman. Well, in Spanglish, wasn't he great in Spanglish though? Did you ever see that? Oh my God. Incredible performance. But no, I know what you're saying. Or the other one. Most of the time. He's to me, shades of gray of who he probably is in real life. Yeah. Same with, what's his name? Ben Stiller? Yeah. Yeah. Ben Stiller to me is basically Ben Stiller. Right. He's coming from a place of the Ben that you're. But he's great at doing that. Right. And that's not easy. Right. But then, like I said, the Philip Seymour Hoffman. Daniel Day-Lewis. You know, they're chameleons. Right. Yeah. So, you know, like what, being comfortable with you. Yeah. I think probably applies to you. I think it applies to both types of actors. I think so. I mean, I think you have to start with a base. Right. You have to start first with yourself. Yeah. I mean, maybe someone can just jump into other people. Maybe that's what these chameleon actors do. I know I'm always comfortable playing someone other than myself. I did stand up for a long time in a character that wasn't me. And I had a different name and nobody knew it was me. And I was fearless as that character. Because I felt like I was hiding behind something safe. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And after so many years, I wanted to see if I could drop that and just be Mary. Who's the character? It was a character named Shelby Gratt. And I went on stage. I kind of interrupted shows and kind of took the audience by storm from the audience and got up on stage. And people thought that there was a crazy person in there. I love that kind of humor. And I had an organization called Sisters for Celibacy. And I would talk to the audience about celibacy. And, you know, it was just a lot of puns. Who was that person based on? Probably. Probably my mom. Yeah. Probably, right? Raised Catholic and, yeah. Did you go to Catholic school? No, but I did go to CCD, which was on Monday nights. Is that a Bible study or something? Yeah, that's like a Catholicism class. Oh, that's interesting. And everyone I asked, nobody knows what CCD stands for. No. Even people who have been in CCD. Even priests. Yeah. They have no idea. Jesus himself. Believe me. You know, Jesus in West Hollywood. There's a guy that walks around in a gown. Oh, totally. He looks like Jesus. Yeah, I've seen him. In West Hollywood, yeah. Yeah. So, where do you see yourself, like, as far as the future goes? You know, like, career-wise? Yeah. Well, I really want to be on a show. I really want to be. You are on a show. You're on It's a Fair Question. That's true. You're right. What next? You're right. That's so true. I think I want to do a show about, you know. Like a sitcom? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I told you that I'm working with this writer and just kind of, you know, I'm working with this writer. I'm forming a show about my Marine Corps parents. If people wanted to see your work, where do they go online? My website, marygallagher.tv. And it's M-A-R-Y-G-A-L-L-A-G-H-E-R? You're very good at spelling. Is that correct? That's it. Yeah. Mary Gallagher. And the other thing was that club 5150. Yes, I think that's at club5150.com. Now, you, I know you're from Wisconsin, but prior to your journey out to Los Angeles, you did. You did a stopover in Chicago at Second City. I did. Yeah. And how long were you there? I was there for about three years. And how was that part of your life? I loved it. It was great. I love Second City. And I met, like, do you feel like you knew one person out in LA before you moved out? Not really. No, you didn't have anyone? I met a guy at Second City named Mike Markowitz, who became my best friend. And then he got a job out here writing for TV. And that's when I moved out. I feel like if you know one person in LA. I did know someone, but they, you know, I mean, I have an aunt and uncle I lived with, but not, you know, it was a little different. Okay. Anyway, once I knew one person, I was like, wow, I could actually vision moving out to LA because my friend Mike, who I met from Second City was out here. And did you, so you made it all the way through all the levels? I did. Yeah. Did you have to repeat any? I don't think I repeated any. No. I think I just kept going. And then I. I toured not with Second City, but with another company out of Chicago. And I did that for a while. And then I, you know, it's just so exciting to be there to see like Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. Were these people you were working with on stage? They were all people who were in the main stage shows while I was in the school, you know, so they'd come through our class and sometimes they'd occasionally sub and teach a class. But you didn't know, like they didn't really have the credits they have now. No. They were just guys who were doing their thing. I know. Did you know Steve Carell was that hilarious? When you saw him? Yes. Like this guy's got something? Oh, definitely. What about Tina Fey? Did you see her there? I was in a playwriting competition with Tina Fey. Yeah. Yeah. And did you see the talent? You know, I didn't really know her, but I just, I just thought everyone, I always think everyone doing it is just extremely talented. You know what I mean? Like I. But there are admittedly some who are better. That's true. Than others. But do you feel this way? When I see someone who's doing something that they love and they're not that good at it, that inspires me. You know, like there's, there was always this, a person in my second city class who was so bad and she thought she was so good. Which, yeah. I mean, and I don't know if that's ego or what that is, but the fact that she was just so confident in what she was doing and it was so bad, I was a little jealous of that. You know, that she could just throw it out there and be like, I'm brilliant. Like, oh no, you're not. But you don't care. Was this all the way? At the main stage or on the way? On the way. Because the way it works at Second City, if you don't know, you have to take classes and you have to audition at a certain point, a bunch of points. And if they don't feel you're ready to move on, you've got to repeat the class. So that's what we're talking about. Right, right. Like at the Groundlings too. Yeah. And I took classes at Second City. Did you? For a minute. Did you? Who was your teacher? Do you remember? Yeah, but I'm not. Okay. I'd rather not say. Got it. Yeah. Just because the guy just, I still have a bit of a. Sure. The guy still annoys me. Sure. But I'll tell you. Yeah, I probably had him. But I did a, the thing was, if I don't get moved up, I'm going to move to LA. That was my thing. Oh, wow. It was after like level two. Okay. And I didn't move up and I was gone within a month. Wow. Because I was like, I don't want to invest my whole life here. Yeah. I'd rather come out to LA and invest my career here than in Chicago. Oh, you were smart. There's so much opportunity out here. Yeah. Now you moved out here single, right? I did. Yeah. I just had one friend. I remember that. I remember that you told a story once on set about Steve Martin. I was wondering if you could share that with us. I. He's blushing. Yeah. Yeah. I probably wouldn't share that story. That's not a story for her. Okay. No. But it would be fair to say you knew him when he was single and. I did. You didn't really date him. I had an opportunity to meet him. Okay. We'll leave it at that. Yeah. Well, you'll have to, this will be for her book. It is a fair question. It is a fair question. Do you have any other, any LA dating stories that you could share with us? That. That you would stick out? Hmm. Let's see. LA dating stories. Um. Cause I picture you kind of being a fish out of water. You know, there's a certain, and I don't know if this is true, but an innocence about you that you present. Really? Yeah. Are you as innocent truly as that persona? Oh, God. It's a heated question. Um. Well, I'm sure in some ways I am, but I mean, I definitely have had life experiences that you'd be like, oh, that's, that's not true. That's not innocent at all. Because I think that's where a lot of humor, you know, like the persona of being this kind of uncomfortable with. Yeah. Adult type things. Oh, completely. Works. Completely. You know, you have a certain essence about you that is just, that's funny. Really? I believe so. Totally. Yeah. And it's not, everyone has it. Right. You know, and hopefully they have some kind of funny in their own way, but I think that you're kind of funny. Is that kind of awkward? Definitely. Definitely. Definitely feel awkward. Yeah. But it's funny. Yeah. It's a lot of awkwardness. So is there anything we haven't really covered that you'd like to talk about that, you know, while I have this time together? I like to cartoon. You're a cartoonist? I'm a cartoonist. I'm, you know, I don't, I mean, I cartoon and I've been doing it since I was little and I just started teaching cartooning in my daughter's school and then I got a grant and I started, now I'm doing more cartooning. Is that something in the future you'd like to be doing? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Are you doing more? Probably. Yeah. Now, I do remember now, because you said you brought some books. Yes. Is that the cartooning? Yes. And you did mention you had done a drawing, you had done something of me. I did. I drew a cartoon of you. Okay, cool. Yeah. Can I see what you've done? Well, you said that you wanted me to draw you surfing. I forgot. Yeah. I mean, now are you, yeah, that's true. I did. So I drew. Because I always surf. That's the stereotype. That's the stereotype. But that's more caricature, right? Or is that cartooning? I don't know. I just, I drew. I drew a picture of you surfing. And then I put a mic in your hand. That's good. Because you're an entertainer. That looks good. I wrote you're entertaining the waves. Is there a shark in there? Probably. You're so good. It's under the waves. It's very simple. Let me do that. I'll hold this for the camera. Yeah. That's you surfing. Do I have big teeth like that? You're still holding your podcast. You're just very happy. I am. I'm pretty happy. And you got your hat on. I like that. I see you're making the waves laugh. And let's see. Are your books for sale? Yes. They are for sale. Can I see them? I have two children's books. One is called The Girl You Are. That's There You Are. Right. What does this talk about? Just about different kinds of girls. Is there more than one? Well, probably. Like confident one? Yeah. Like that kind of thing? Oh, definitely. So it's a girl empowerment? Yeah. I would say it's a girl empowerment. I'm going to write The Boy You Are. And then this one is, my friend wrote it, but I did the illustrations. That's about a Martian who turns five. She turns five on Mars. Okay. Where can people, where can all of you? They can find that at my website, myfriendmary.com. Okay. Yeah. Cool. Because I am your friend named Mary. So. It'd be funny if there were one that I'm not your friend. Yes. Don't go there. Not very friendly. Not today. Well, and as far as your standup, you're doing that in LA. So if people want to find you, you post or you talk about them. Yeah. I probably put that on my website when I do that. Okay. Now I really want to meet your militant parents. I know. Right? Yeah. And you know what's so funny is if they were here, you'd be like, oh my gosh, they're just so like, they're so lovely. You know what I mean? Like you wouldn't, you'd be like, what is she talking about with the strict? You know what I mean? Like they're just very personable people, you know? So I think sometimes maybe I've imagined these things from childhood that they were a certain way. Because, you know, now they're older and they're like, oh, Mary, you always make up these stories. No, I didn't. This was the way it was. You were strict. They don't see it that way. I don't think they see it that way. No, I think they think that I probably embellish or something. I mean, come on. Who would do that for comedy? Have you done your standup before? For them? Yeah. Oh, yeah. And it's a lot about them, right? Yeah. It has been a lot about them. Yeah. The best thing someone ever said about comedy writing to me was, use the truth as a springboard, not as an anchor. Use the truth as a springboard, not as an anchor. That's really good. And yeah, on stage. Yeah, because what actually happened is never that funny. Not as funny, but it can be a springboard to the funny. Yeah. Because a lot of newer comics or writers are very married to the truth. Yeah. And they, for some reason, there's this instinct that they must be truthful on stage. But on stage is a place where you don't have to be truthful. The joke or the humor must be truthful. The nugget of what's funny must be truthful, but the specifics aren't as necessary. Right. The problem is when people take that idea, I believe, and they use it on the street. That's called lying. Right. That's not cool. Yeah. But on stage, we have that permission. Yeah. So that's what it sounds like you do with your parents. I like that. They give you a lot of gems. Yeah, exactly. They really do. And it's funny because they love it too. You know what I mean? They'll be like, oh, come on. I don't know where you get this stuff. But they love that I talk about them. Well, we are out of time. Thank you, Vic Cohen. Thanks. Yeah, it was so fun spending time with you. This was awesome. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Oh, for sure. I'm so happy. You made the time. Me too. And thank you guys for making the time. You can subscribe on iTunes. I hope you do. We have some other really fun, great episodes. Other friends of mine. And episode 58, which is amazing. Yes, thank you. Oh, my God. That's such a good episode. Thank you. That's a homeless guy, Keith, that I brought in the studio. And it's pretty interesting. Pretty incredible. Thank you. All right. We'll see you soon. I'm Vic Cohen. And it's a fair question. It's a fair question. It's a fair question. I'm Vic Cohen. And it's a fair question. It's a fair. It's a fair. It's a fair. It's a fair question. I'm Vic Cohen. And it's a fair. It's a fair. It's a fair. It's a fair question.