Nikki Boyer
Appearances
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
. Here's the thing about dying for sex. It's a story about women, about friendship, about finding yourself, and about, you know, orgasms and grief and trying to reclaim your power, one adventure at a time. So it almost feels like the men in this story could be side characters, you know, two-dimensional, like so many female love interests end up being, but they're not.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
How did the two of you, you and Michelle, handle that? It was a dance, right? And turning that into something funny and then sexual and then funny again and then tragic.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I know you mentioned tears, lots of tears. Just so you know, I was probably on the other side of the wall with you crying at different times because it was just such an emotional journey. How challenging was it to take on a project that grappled with a woman who is sort of confronting her own mortality?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
How did you detox? What did you do? Did you just rest?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah. Would you ever do a role like this again?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Your character becomes a big part of Molly's journey of self-discovery. And it's not really this typical romantic love story that we see played over and over again. How do you think that the relationship between your character and Molly challenges conventional ideas about love and intimacy?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Finding peace in the chaos of filming and what the story can teach us about death.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
What do you hope that people take away from watching this series?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Oh my gosh, I love that. I love that through this story about death, it's really teaching you how to live life and things to focus on about life. And that's what I hope people take away from this. I have to tell you, there are so many scenes that you have with Michelle that give me something that maybe I didn't get from... Molly's story, like resolve in certain spots of her life.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And, well, I cry like four times. That's a good one. Mm-hmm.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Like there's a scene where you see her for the first time outside. I haven't seen you in daylight. Right. And then she falls and you call 911. And in the midst of that conversation, she says, I love you to you.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And I was there on set that day. And I just remember sobbing and sobbing. And I couldn't figure out, Rob, why I was so emotional. And I think because she didn't get that moment in her life. I mean, she got a lot of love and a lot of people loved her. But that person that said, like, I'm here. And I love you.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I think that's why I feel oddly connected to you because you helped like a little bit of closure for myself of going, see, like it happened in a weird way.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Oh, Rob, I just want to hug your face off.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I just really appreciate you opening up your heart and cracking into your own grief and cracking into your own humor to bring neighbor guy into everyone's hearts. I think everybody's going to secretly wish they had a neighbor guy.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And masturbates through the wall. But other than that, and leaves trash out.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I mean, listen, you know what? This isn't actually sounding so good. So forget I said that. Oh my gosh, Rob, thank you for your time. And thank you for bringing Molly's story to life. And I can't wait to see you.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Coming up, we get down and real when I talk to Jay Duplass about finding the comedy and being a well-intentioned emotional bulldozer.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
From Wondery, I'm Nikki Boyer, and this is Behind Dying for Sex, a series of interviews with the creators and cast of the new FX show inspired by the podcast I made with my best friend, Molly. This is episode three, Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, the men of Dying for Sex.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
You might know Jay Duplass from his role as Josh Pfefferman on Amazon's Transparent, or from TV shows like Industry, The Chair, and The Mindy Project. He's also written, directed, and produced acclaimed series like HBO's Togetherness and Somebody Somewhere, as well as films like Cyrus, Jeff Who Lives at Home, and the soon-to-be-released film The Baltimoreans.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
On the FX series, Jay plays Steve, Molly's husband. He's a fictional character who's been taking care of Molly so long, he thinks he's the expert on everything. But in real life, Jay's the kind of person who makes you want to hug him before the interview even starts.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I'm actually down in the desert.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I know. I can't believe how busy you are right now. There's a lot going on. Isn't that how it always is though when it rains and pours?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Well, thank you. Thanks for taking time to chat because obviously this is incredibly important to me. And I feel this connection with everyone that was involved, like a deep, deep, spiritual, heartfelt connection. So when I get to see your face, it just makes me happy. So thanks.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
So in this series, Jay, you play Molly's husband, Steve. Let's go back. How did the role come to you in the first place?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I love that. I am curious. I would love to know a little bit about your thoughts about the dynamic between Steve and Molly.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I know that Steve sees himself as a caretaker, but I think he's kind of clueless as to what she actually needs. Like, as an actor, how do you approach a role and not have judgment about the guy and the way he's unfolding as a human?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
This is so interesting. It's what makes Steve's character likable because it's based in love. And I love that you said that, like that's his love language.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And I think you nailed that.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
You brought the humanity that made that real. And I know that linking up with Michelle and like you said earlier, like trying to save her, you tapped into that. What was it really like to work with her?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Shorthand. I was just like...
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Those are the moments where you're like, oh, you see why this relationship worked at one time. Yes.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Can we talk about that scene again? Do you know what that is?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
It's one of my favorite scenes.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
So Molly is going down on you and you start crying.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
But you're crying because you are sad because of her double mastectomy and the scars on her boobs. And you say that it's a lot of trauma. And it's my favorite scene because it's sexual, it's emotional, and it's completely ridiculous. It's so ridiculous.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
But what kind of headspace were you in to pull a scene like that off that you know is funny, but you can't play any of the comedy because it's trauma. It's not comedy, it's trauma.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And I think it's really interesting because there is an intimacy coordinator and your director and your showrunners are working with you. I never worked with an intimacy coordinator. And it really is like a fight choreographer for sex and for intimacy scenes, right?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Oh, well, I just want to dig right in because you and I have spoken before and we've had conversations, but I haven't really gotten to pick your brain about this project. How did this project even come to you?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
One thing that I really, really love about this show, Liz, Kim, writers, actors, everybody involved in this part of it is that the male characters really could have just looked like a bunch of assholes.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And they're not. They're layered.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Which is one of the first things that Steve does.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah, exactly. Oh, my gosh. I have to say, like, the moment that I met you on set, I was... I don't know. There was a familiarity. I was like, oh, he's one of my people. Like, I felt like I knew you for years.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And I'm not going to lie. It just, I mean, it just made me feel really comfortable on set because I was, of course, having my own feelings and thoughts around things.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Right? I felt meeting you and meeting Jenny and connecting with Michelle and having such great relationships on set made me feel so safe and so protected. And honestly, like there was just a deep trust and then meeting you just made it feel even better.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And you being so good at your craft and so good at getting rid of the judgment and still being incredibly funny and likable all while doing things that weren't serving Molly. It was... So beautiful to watch. And I'm just really grateful for that. So thank you.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Okay, and then I get to flip it on you.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Okay. I don't think you were here for this scene. There's this scene.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Right before Molly passes away, she has one last request to have a bath. And I got to be there. Claire, our intimacy coordinator, said, I feel like you should be here for this. And they allowed me to stay, which was so beautiful because I was there when I gave Molly her actual bath.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And that to me was the hardest scene to watch because it felt like they were just taking a sliver out of my life and like putting it out there and it felt so vulnerable and so real. And it was just, that was my favorite. I loved it. I just, oh.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I love you for saying that. What was your favorite scene to shoot looking back?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I can't wait to watch that scene again.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah, that's... Was there a scene that was just really hard to get right? Like where you're like this, like you had to work it or just felt vulnerable, like just hard to get right scene.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Why couldn't you say yes fast enough?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Oh, there's like right now, all of them flashing, flashing, flashing. There is a moment where nurse Amy, who is the hospice nurse, comes in and sits down and has a heart to heart with Molly's mom, Molly and Nikki and explains what is going to happen. and how beautiful a process it is to actually die and how the body knows exactly what to do.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And she describes it with such humor and excitement that it's almost like a coach on the side, like, this is how you die. And the exchange between Nurse Amy and everybody in the room is I feel like that will be one of those changing moments for people. They'll say, oh, this is what we expect, something that people tangibly take away and go, oh... I know more about death and about the process.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And also the gift, if you get to walk somebody home and they get to die in that way, what a beautiful gift that is. So yeah, I can't wait for you to see it.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And I really hope this show does that for people and shows people like we can talk about it. It's the one thing we can all count on is that we're all going to die. And if we're lucky enough, we get to say goodbye. We get to have moments. We get to do it where... We can be thoughtful and graceful about it, which I'm so grateful that Molly got to do that.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
The guys on this show are weird and kind and vulnerable. And I got to talk to two of the incredible actors who made these guys real. First up, Rob Delaney. He plays Neighbor Guy. He's a comedian, actor, and best-selling author known for co-creating and starring in the critically acclaimed British sitcom, Catastrophe. You might also know him from Deadpool versus Wolverine or Bad Monkey.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah. It made me feel more empowered with information. And I realized, I think this is what I realized is, gosh, if we could all have a passing that looks and feels like that, then we should be so lucky. So you may as well have the conversations and prepare for that moment. And also to be honest with you, Jay, when I was asleep next to Molly, I was fast asleep and something flicked my fingers.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
So much so that I thought it was a nurse that was waking me up to tell me something. Yes. And I wake up and no one is there except for Molly's mother asleep and Molly is sedated. And there's, I woke up from something tapping my fingers. Yeah, yeah. And that's when she took her last breath. Like that shows me that there's something else at work here and there's something else.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
So that makes me less afraid of dying.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I cannot tell you how much I've loved this conversation.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Good. I'm so glad. And Molly would have just loved you. So just thanks for being part of this.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
So you get the script and you're reading through it and you see your role is just neighbor guy. Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
All episodes of FX's limited series, Dying for Sex, are now streaming on Hulu. From Wondery, this is a special episode of Dying for Sex, hosted by me, Nikki Boyer. This episode was produced by Rachel Yong. Our senior producer is Laura Donna Palavoda. Senior Managing Producer is Lata Pandya. Managing Producer is Heather Beloga. Sound Design and Mixing by James Morgan.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Music Supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Freeze On Sync. Special thanks to Aaron Hart at Wondery. Dine for Sex Clips, courtesy of FX and Hulu. Executive Producers are Stephanie Jens, Marshall Louis, and Jen Sargent for Wondery.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
When's the last time you played a role that was just neighbor guy or just guy at bar or...
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I think it's worth mentioning that like your character doesn't technically exist in the podcast. I think you're kind of a combo of like six or seven different men that she had things going on with. So you're like the combo platter. You're like the buffet. Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah. So I know that this role really involves a lot of vulnerability and a little bit of nakedness. So how did you feel about that? Like what conversations did you have going into this project knowing that you'd be nudie?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I think it's interesting to call out a little bit of the emotional vulnerability in this show versus, say, the penis naked vulnerability.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Is that as challenging for you? Like those kind of moments?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Or maybe you know him from his online presence where he mixes offbeat, truly hilarious jokes with deep disarming reflections on embracing life through heartbreak and healing. We talked about balancing funny and sad, finding incredible chemistry on set, and the allure of the male form.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Is there a scene that comes up that brings up that feeling of being super challenging?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I mean, that's one of my favorite scenes in the whole series. I felt like I didn't breathe the entire time I was watching it because it was... Yeah. It was so beautiful for me to see. I also... This is based off of a real moment in Molly's life. But basically, it's the scene where Molly is in the hospital. Neighbor guy comes to visit. And then you are there for hours on end.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And you are giving her the gift of... affection and emotional love and sex and an orgasm. It was just so romantic and so vulnerable. It was the most beautiful love scene that I've seen in a while on television. And it took place in the most sterile, unromantic spot in a hospital bed.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Yeah, it felt like there was definitely something spiritual going on on that set.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Tell me the things I don't know. Be the fly on the wall for me because what was it like?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
I mean, the chemistry that you have, just by looking at each other across the elevator, across a bedroom, a hospital bed, wherever you guys are. What goes into that of creating chemistry with essentially someone that was a stranger not too long ago?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Well, and I have to say, yes, I mean, she's just magic. And I have to say, I feel the same way about you. You are the safest, funniest place to land when an actress is doing something like that. How do you do that?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
How do you show up in a way that makes people feel like that?
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
What was so interesting about Neighbor Guy is that a lot happens very quickly. We meet you eating a taco in the elevator, right? Making a disaster. It was so much sour cream. Yeah. Which looked actually delicious. It was. Then you get reprimanded in the hallway for the trash situation. And then you masturbate through the wall together. And then she starts to yell at you and insults you. Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
After that, I chat with actor Jay Duplass. He plays Molly's husband Steve on the show. And from the moment that I met Jay, I just knew. Like I had this feeling. He has this energy. He's like the guy at the party who actually wants to hear about your weird dream. Yeah, that's him. We talked about all of it. Getting super vulnerable on set.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
And then eventually it leads to you telling her that you want her to kick you in the dick. Talk to me about that because I'm so interested in that, the unfolding of that.
Dying For Sex
Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass: The Men of Dying for Sex | 10
Have you ever been kicked in the dick in a movie?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. There's a line that you say where I never, I can't remember the line exactly, but I never thought I could love somebody this much.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
That's the one that sticks with me. Yes.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. Was there a scene where you were very nervous about getting it right?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. That's exactly how I felt in the room when it all happened. And honestly, that was the most scared that I ever was. So even talking about it right now, like makes me like, right. But that, that intubation extubation. So yeah, we were in it together, girl. Cause it was intense. Yeah. What do you hope people walk away with after watching this show?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
That's a good one.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. Later in the episode, I'll talk to Liz Merriweather and Kim Rosenstock, who are the co-creators, writers, and executive producers of the TV series. We'll be talking about friendship and not cutting away when things get uncomfortable.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
It feels like the biggest love letter in the whole world. I'm also very aware that this is her doing, like she is behind a lot of this. And I'm so blown away and grateful that we created this beautiful podcast and that the ripple effect is then that there was interest from other people to continue her story. So like She's been gone now. Gosh, Jenny's been six years that she's been gone.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
And I just feel like she's so alive and around and influencing people and inspiring people in so many different ways. But I have to be really honest with you. And it's something I'm kind of afraid of is that once this gets released into the world, like I'm kind of afraid of like the grief that's going to hit me because I feel like that will be.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I think that's actually really helpful because now there's a little bit of space to go, well, what does our relationship look like now? So I'll keep you posted. I'll text you and let you know. I hope so. Oh my gosh. I'm so grateful for our time together and our friendship. And I feel like you are just such an important part of my life now. So full wingspan. Same. Yeah. And I love you.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I love you too. And thank you. Thank you. Next, I talked to Liz Merriweather and Kim Rosenstock about what happens when you hand two brilliant minds the keys to the creative sandbox.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Elizabeth Merriweather and Kim Rosenstock are the co-creators, writers, and EPs on FX's limited series Dying for Sex. Liz wrote the rom-com No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman. She's also the showrunner and creator behind hit shows including The Dropout for Hulu and the Fox comedy New Girl, which Kim also wrote and produced on.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Kim has written on shows like Glow and Only Murders in the Building, receiving WGA and Emmy Award nominations for her work. They've been friends and collaborators for years. Hi. Hi. It's so good to hear your voice. Oh, that's so nice. Aren't you tired of it? I want to hear your voice forever. I do love you guys. I feel very, you know, I'm very connected to both of you in a very cool way.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
So like we're in it now for life. You're stuck with me. So sorry.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
process and putting it out into the world and um thank you yeah i feel so lucky to be talking to you nikki on a podcast where it all started i know right so what i love is that the two of you have this great history together and i think i learned this along the way You're a lot like me and Molly.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
This is episode two, Jenny Slate and Liz Merriweather and Kim Rosenstock on Throwing Out the Rules.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
You've known each other since your 20s, which is such a prime, interesting age, right, to meet each other. I want to know what it was like for the two of you to work together on what I feel like is a real love story between close friends. Like, how did your friendship influence the way that you told this particular story? That's a great question.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. I love that. How did both of you first come across the podcast? And what was it about the podcast where you were like, oh, this needs to be a TV show?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
You were really one of the last physical meetings in person.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I am curious, how did you two decide what to keep and what to cut? I can't even imagine listening to the podcast and then having to delve into figuring that out.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
So Tickle Fetish is one of the guys that Molly had, like, you know, her little sexual escapades with. And he would just ask her to tickle him until he came. But he wore sweatpants, which, like, also just really stuck with me.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. And he wasn't wearing underwear. Obviously not. So there's a lot going on there.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I love that scene because it showed everything you needed to know about those two characters in that moment. Like, Molly's just staring at Nikki lovingly while she's getting this horrible news. And Nikki's losing her shit because she's mad at the world. And I just... You guys nailed that scene so much. And I just... I want to know, like, the relationship between Molly and Nikki.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
It really is the heart of the show and how weird it is to talk about myself in third person. Oh, it must be so weird.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Was that chemistry read? Like, your moment of, like, that's it, that those are... Yeah, I mean, for me, yeah.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I kind of want to move on to the sex, right? I'm sure this was extremely challenging, trying to approach writing and then moving into filming these intimate scenes and making them feel incredibly authentic without making them like voyeuristic. What were the conversations that you guys had around? How were you being sensitive about that in the writer's room?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Hi. When I see you, like, it's just magic.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Well, let's get into the nudity. I mean, I really want to talk about the male frontal nudity because I feel like we've come to really expect shows to just naturally show female nudity. Like, oh, this is what we do. It's a no brainer. We show the ladies parts. But I think this really took a different approach.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
And I just would love to know what kind of conversations you had about that choice, because I love it.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I'm so happy to be next to you. And I've felt that way since the moment I met you. But there is something funny about me interviewing you about playing me. Yes, of course. I do want to know, because I don't think I ever asked you this before at our lunches and FaceTimes and love fest that we've had. How did you even first hear about this role? And what did you think about it? Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
The scene where he comes to the hospital and they have this like beautiful night together, which. Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
That was pretty magical.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I mean, I might have never viewed, but what is this one stick out like that was wild?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I mean, pretty much everybody who... Everyone in the crew, everyone involved kept coming up and saying how much they loved it and how much they loved Molly. And I just felt... I've never felt love like that on a set before, ever.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Was there a moment on set or a scene where you were like, I feel really proud of that?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I just feel so lucky that you two are you and that we got to work together. I can't even tell you how safe and good I felt. And I don't remember many times in this business feeling that way. Of course, when I was making the podcast.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
You're kidding. Right. Making the podcast, I felt that way. And then continuing and getting the honor of doing a TV show with the two of you. I just knew that I was in such good hands. And I'm just so grateful to you and to the cast and the crew and just everyone giving so much of their heart. But this was led by the two of you.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
So from the bottom of my heart, and I know from the bottom of Molly's, like just thank you. Thank you. Oh, God.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
All episodes of FX's limited series, Dying for Sex, are now streaming on Hulu. From Wondery, this is a special episode of Dying for Sex, hosted by me, Nikki Boyer. This episode was produced by Rachel Yong. Senior producer is Laura Donopalavoda. Managing producer is Heather Beloga. Sound design and mixing by Jay Rothman and Jamie Cooper. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Frees on Sync.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Special thanks to Aaron Hart and Lata Pandya at Wondery. Dying for Sex clips, courtesy of FX and Hulu. Executive producers are Stephanie Jens, Marshall Louis, and Jen Sargent for Wondery. Follow Dying for Sex on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now on Wondery Plus.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Start your free trial of Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Before you go, tell us about yourself at wondery.com slash survey.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
And when it came to me, she said, oh, you'll play yourself. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which was really sweet. But let's be real. I'm not famous enough to play myself on TV, which is kind of funny. But it got me thinking, since I couldn't play myself, what would I want from the person who did?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
So how did this land in your wingspan, I guess?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I know this is going to feel like I'm literally going, yeah, but what about me? But I do want to know, what was it about the character of Nikki that made you want to play it?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
That's one thing that's pretty accurate.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
So let's talk about the moment that we did first meet.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Because it was kind of trippy. Right? I think so. So they said, I'm going to bring you over to Jenny's trailer. They opened the trailer. door and I'm in my actual normal Nicki person attire. Yes. And you are in the Nicki costume. But our shirts were the same. The same. And we were like, what? And we just were smiling and hugging. And I'm like, we have to take a picture of this.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
We're literally wearing the same shirt. Like, how did this happen? And immediately you felt like someone I had known for a very, very long time.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Yeah. Yeah. And then we just sat on the couch and we talked and you were changing clothes and I was looking at the script. It was like we had been girlfriends and we were in our bedroom. Total comfort. I loved it. I'm so glad. And I feel like Molly kind of brought us together in a weird way.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
One day, Molly and I were sitting in our hospital room, eating pudding and talking about the important stuff, you know? Like, hey, if Dying for Sex ever became a TV show, who would play us? And Molly had a lot of opinions about who would play her. She said no pop stars, no rom-com fluff. Like she wanted somebody with depth. Someone who was a force. Someone, well, like Michelle Williams.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Definitely someone honest, someone weird, someone who laughs hard and maybe talks a little too fast when they're nervous. Someone who gets that life is messy and ridiculous and kind of beautiful. And then Jenny Slate walked in and she nailed it without even trying to be me. She was everything I had hoped for and somehow more.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Wow. You know, what's interesting is when you think of people doing standup and you naturally think of standup comedians, you think of someone that's always cracking the jokes and making the joke in the room, but you are just an incredibly present and thoughtful human. I love the humanity that you brought to the role and the humor, but your humor comes from your experience in the moment.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
And that's what I love so much about how you chose to navigate this.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
You may know Jenny and her voice from Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, I Want You Back, Obvious Child, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. She has two hit stand-up specials, Stage Fright and Season Professional, and she's written two books, Little Weirds and Life Form. Literally, what doesn't this woman do?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
I love that you get it on such a deep level. And like that, that really was our love language. What comes to mind when I watched you and Michelle work together was just a feeling of, oh, that's, that feels like me and Molly. Oh, good. Right from the get go. And it felt like there was something kind of magical happening. But I am curious, like, how the hell did you guys do that? Yeah.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
Do you have Harry Potter lightning bolts on your surgical hat? Was there anything that you learned from doing the show, maybe about yourself or maybe looking at something differently that you didn't see before?
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
And I am so completely honored that she played me, because honestly, I kind of want to be her when I grow up. I talked to Jenny about stepping into my shoes and bringing this story to life on FX's Dying for Sex.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
You want to know what one of my favorite scenes is? Yes, I should have asked. You're sitting on the park bench and you stand up and across the street is Molly's first doctor that misdiagnosed her breast cancer. And he comes walking out and you scream, I forgive you. Yeah. I saw the words on the page and I read it and I thought, oh, how beautiful.
Dying For Sex
Jenny Slate, and Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock: On Throwing Out the Rules | 9
But when I saw you perform it, I was so moved by it because your performance was so raw and so real. And it's also something that I never got to do. So in a way, watching you do it in person gave me that a little bit of that experience of being able to do that. So thank you.