New York’s Town Hall venue is providing some alternative programming for Election Night — a revival of a cult streaming series.
Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner
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When “Difficult People” left the air, were there stories you’d hoped to keep telling?
Well, I think that when you have the center of friendship, there are infinite stories, right? I often, probably to a fault, would start with a joke and back into it, because I get very attached to my jokes. But when you have something as as enduring as the love that comes along with a friendship, there’s no limit to what we could have done. And then to comment on the culture as it changed — it was very disappointing not to be on the air when #MeToo hit.
Oh, sure.
And the amount that show business and comedy have changed — the strikes and mergers and COVID and the rest of it — has been really frustrating. I wanted to see Billy and Julie during lockup. I wanted to see how Marilyn handled her Zoom sessions. I have to give credit to this season of “The Comeback,” which was more inspiring to me than almost anything this year: To be able to check in with those characters in this moment — and that [the story] started during the strike — I thought was so genius. That brought me, as the kids say, the feels.
©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
At the start of your script, Billy and Julie are farther from show business success (and each other) than they’ve ever been. They’re singing about how wonderful their lives are, but they feel a kind of obvious terror. What was it like resituating us in their mindset?
I like opening on characters that assure you that they’re happy, and you know they’re lying, because they’re them. When have they ever been happy? It’s not in their vocabulary. That’s also why it’s a musical number — it should feel quintessentially dishonest.
It’s not just that they’re happy complaining, it’s that who they are is who they are when they’re striving. And they’re not really who they are unless they’re together. Stories about romantic love are not hitting me — maybe it’s the age I’m at, but stories about friendships enduring over time are hitting me a lot harder now. People doing things because they love it, not because of monetary success and fame.
It’s interesting that time hasn’t softened these characters at all — and that their friendship is still a sustaining force. You didn’t mess with that here.
Whenever Billy or Julie encounter an admirer, it’s seismic — so few people have heard of them that even a single fan encounter is akin to winning an Oscar. “Difficult People” wasn’t obscure by any means, but coming as early as it did in the streaming revolution, did you feel as if the show were an underdog?
They’re so excited that someone besides each other appreciates them! The idea that there’d be someone else that gets them is exhilarating. I still do feel that nice sense of “You’re buying what I’m selling” whenever people express love toward what I do. I grew up a fan of all things cult. I never watched “Friends.” I was watching “Mr. Show” and “Larry Sanders,” “Strangers With Candy” and “The Kids in the Hall.” It’s nice to have something that’s being seen, but I also appreciate the loyalty of audiences. Because, growing up, that was me.
Kate McKinnon, Andy Cohen, Sandra Bernhard, Nathan Lane, Maury Povich, Lucy Liu, John Turturro
©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection / ©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Barbara Nitke / Seacia Pavao
The show was a magnet for high-profile guest stars — Julianne Moore, Nathan Lane, Ken Burns, among many others— and now the reading will feature Christopher Meloni. How can you tell which celebrities are “Difficult People” types?
By the way, I just saw “The Debut.” Julianne Moore is giving me Valerie Cherish.
I know!
Gabourey Sidibe and Cole Escola
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Speaking of anticipating huge success, “Difficult People” featured Cole Escola, who’s since blown up — winning a Tony for “Oh, Mary!” What was it like to work with them early on?
Do you hope that “Difficult People”’s next act can extend beyond the reading? What’s on your vision board?
I’m very well aware of the current climate of the entertainment business. I’m very well aware that it’s a very different business than it was when we came on the air 10 years ago or so. So I have my expectations, and then I have my hopes and dreams. What I hope is that something wonderful comes out of the night, and that very well could just be — a wonderful night! Seeing what happened to these characters since we left them last, that could just be an incredible experience that we will remember our whole lives.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
