#296: Jena Friedman - I Can Do Anything

Funny In Failure

Jena Friedman is an Academy Award-nominated writer, comedian, and creator behind critically acclaimed series such as TRUE CRIME STORY: INDEFENSIBLE on AMC+, SOFT FOCUS on Adult Swim, and co-writer of BORAT 2: Subsequent Movie Film, which garnered her an Oscar nomination. Her writing credits include Netflix’s NOBODY WANTS THIS, ABC’s THE CONNERS, and she served as a field producer for THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART and writer for THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN. A contributing writer to THE NEW YORKER, Jena’s bestselling debut book, Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera., was published by Simon & Schuster in 2023. She has appeared on THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, CONAN, THE NIGHTLY SHOW WITH LARRY WILMORE, and in the Sundance hit film PALM SPRINGS.

Her first stand-up special and Edinburgh show, AMERICAN C*NT, was named one of the Top Ten Comedy Specials by Paste Magazine in 2016, and her sold-out follow-up, MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, was critically-acclaimed. Her 2022 show, LADYKILLER, was ranked #2 in Decider’s "Ten Best Stand-Up Specials of 2022."

Her new show MOTHERF*CKER is now out, also performing in Edinburgh so check it out!

We chat about her new comedy shows in Edinburgh, fake copies of her book, not playing the ‘game’, John McAfee, grief, writing for Roseanne*, working on Jon Stewart, life changing moments from Conan, being kicked out of improv, working on Borat 2 plus plenty more!

Check Jena out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenafriedman

Website: http://www.jenafriedman.com/ Tickets including Edinburgh: http://www.jenafriedman.com/tour.html Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Not-Funny/Jena-Friedman/9781982178291?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac1mm--WCiwGjnjAeZhpZalCe-0A66YNFrdA6iA6QSWflvK-r0wpxmyBFqqGw_aem_NEQ4unGsoT17fMPMGVCbDg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenafriedman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JenaFriedman2 John McAfee interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfe4Fjf3sds Substack: https://jenafriedman.substack.com/ -------------------------------------------

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