Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Listen Again: Julia Gets Wise with Carol Burnett
Wed, 09 Apr 2025
In honor of Carol Burnett’s 92nd birthday later this month, we wanted to re-share the heartwarming conversation she and Julia had back in season one. On the season one finale of Wiser Than Me, Julia sits down in person with 90-year-old groundbreaking actress, comedian, and writer Carol Burnett. Carol tells Julia how she learned to accept rejection, what Lucille Ball taught her about being a boss, and how a spontaneous ride on a beer truck led to her landing a CBS special with her dear friend Julie Andrews. And Carol gives Julia a compliment that makes Julia cry, which leads to a touching conversation between Julia and her mom Judith. Follow Wiser Than Me on Instagram and TikTok @wiserthanme and on Facebook at facebook.com/wiserthanmepodcast. Keep up with Carol @iamcarolburnett on Twitter and @itscarolburnett on Instagram. Find out more about other shows on our network at @lemonadamedia on all social platforms. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. For exclusive discount codes and more information about our sponsors, visit https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapter 1: What is the significance of laughter in our lives?
How much fun is it to laugh? I think laughing is just the greatest little gift from the gods. I don't know if you have this, but I have certain people in my life that I laugh so hard with that I cry. There is nothing better. And, you know, I mean, it's not like you can exactly wake up and say, I'm going to laugh my ass off uncontrollably today. You know, the kind of deep soul rocking laughter.
You can't plan it. It kind of sneaks up on you. And it can be very surprising. Yeah. You know, the laughing at a funeral kind of laughing, you know, you're not allowed to laugh, makes it worse. It's a mysterious and it's a truly wonderful thing. As a performer, there's this weird sense playing a comic scene sometimes. It's like you're several people all at once.
You're deeply into the scene, yes, but you're also in your head sort of controlling the scene and then you're also outside of it watching the scene. And when it's a comedy and it's going really well, at least for me, that deep kind of laughter can just bubble up and God damn it, it is impossible for me to stop it. I'd crack up. I'd lose it.
I mean, if you've ever seen any of those blooper reels that they have online from Veep or Seinfeld, my contribution is ruining scene after scene with hysterical laughter. And I have to say, sometimes it's horrendous because you can see the other actors not believing that I have just ruined another take. You can see them getting a tad irritated with me, which I guess is understandable.
There's one scene, though... on Seinfeld where the great, and I do mean the great, Jerry Stiller, who played George's father, of course, he and I are having a kind of a confrontation, and he says, what the hell does that mean? And the way he said it, I just lost it.
My George isn't clever enough to hatch a scheme like this.
You got that right.
What the hell does that mean?
What the hell?
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Chapter 2: What led to Julia's emotional moment with Carol?
Okay. So this has come up in another interview with Jane Fonda.
Really?
Yes. She said exactly the same thing.
No kidding.
Yes. Can you believe it? It comes with age. It comes with age, and it's such a good answer. Yeah. No. No. There's no I'm sorry after it.
And it's not going to ruin anybody. That's right. It's okay. Right.
Let me ask you this. Is there something you want me to know about aging?
I'm 62. What you don't look at, that's what you should know about aging. Right.
I wasn't fishing for a compliment. I really, really mean that. Is there something you would like me to know as I'm... You know, Jane Fonda... talks about her life in three acts, the first, the second, and the third act, right? She's 85. Yeah. And when she entered her third act, she decided to do a life review and really think about what the intention of her third act would be.
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