Yesterday I was asked to interview Josh Lieb, an Emmy award winning comedy writer, on behalf of Huffington Post Live.
Here’s the whole interview:
My question comes at about 22 minutes.
The Process
This must be how they do it on every show using the Google Hangout or Skype technology to have the audience ask questions.
We signed in about 20 minutes before the show went live. The other interviewers – Mike McCamon (Chief Community Officer at Water.org) and Eric Navarrette (Writer) – were really nice. They tried to help me as my Google Hangout stopped working…it never did go back to normal. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand Google Hangout… but, for what it’s worth, knowing these guys for a very random 45 minutes, was nice.
Anywho, we sat there on Google Hangout completely silent for nearly 40 minutes waiting for our turn to ask a question. I’ll admit that it did get strange after awhile. Think about it, I was sitting silent on Google Hangout for over 1/2 an hour staring at the faces of two guys I just met. I didn’t know when it would be my turn to ask a question…so I tried to act cool.
Time to Ask a Question
Then they introduced us. I heard “we have some people waiting to ask questions” and then I saw my face pop up on the TV behind Josh Lieb. “Oh crap,” I thought. “That’s my face…act cool.” And then my face just kind of stayed on the screen as if I were staring down at the interview, watching over them – like the Wizard of Oz head. I was the creepy green Wizard of Oz head. Yep.
Me.
Terrifying Wizard of Oz Head. Do you see the resemblance?
They jumped to a video of the Water campaign, and I could breathe again. No longer were they staring at my face. Josh Lieb wrote Water.org’s short campaign video, and Mike McCamon worked on the campaign as well. So Mike was the first one up to chat about the Water campaign.
That’s Mike.
I still wasn’t sure what they were seeing of us in the live show, so I stayed all “Poker Faced.” Here’s an image of what I could see as a member of the Google Hangout. The show would go “blank” when one of us was being featured, so again, I wasn’t sure what they were seeing.
This is what I saw. Note my email with my questions. I didn’t want to rely on my memory. There was also a 5 sec delay between our Hangout interview and the online interview.
Then this happened when I was trying to take a screenshot. I was convinced my whole computer was about to freak out. It did not. But I DID stop taking screenshots.
This is what it looked like if you were watching on your computer.
When it was my time to ask a question, it was one of those “jump right in” moments. Do not hesitate. Just do it.
It was SO STRANGE! I watch most of my TV online, so part of me felt like I was just watching this show, and then suddenly they were talking back to me – telling me to ask a question. Kind of like a little movie I made a few years ago? I said to myself “oh that’s right, I’m a part of this…” and jumped in.
I would totally do it again! I actually “production designed” my Google Hangout screen. I actively put my computer at an angle to add depth, and then moved clutter from behind me so nothing was calling attention from the talent…me. When I logged in, I got a “Oh good background,” from the organizer. I was like, “No big deal.” 🙂
Ran Out of Time
You’ll notice we only asked one question, but we were asked to prepare three. I guess they ran out of time, so that’s a bummer. I really wanted to ask so many more questions about his writing routine and his process – especially how he can write multiple stories at the same time. I’m a part of a writing group, so that really helps me. I wonder about Josh!
The way this town works, though, I’m sure I’ll run into him randomly at an event, and I’ll go for it!
Another screenshot of the interview.
Speaking of a Small World — Name Drop Alert —
Josh Lieb was a Co-Executive Producer of the Daily Show with Rory Albanese. I met Rory at UNC-Chapel Hill when he came to do stand up for the UNC Comedy Festival organized by Lewis Black, a UNC alum. I would hang out with these guys every year. Definitely one of my best memories of UNC!
All the performers one year – do you see Rory Albanese and Lewis Black?
And this is me with Rob Riggle. Just wanted to throw that in there.
I did go one year to see the Daily Show live. I sat in the VIP section and asked Jon Stewart a question. I literally had no idea what I was going to ask him the second I stood up, so I rambled and eventually asked when he would be going to the Comedy Festival. He asked “when are you graduating?” I said “this year.” He said, “well, then I’ll be going next year!” He got a good laugh with that one.
Meh. Oh well. I got to ask Jon Stewart a question! and now Josh Lieb. Cool! The truth is, Josh was probably there when I was there. SMALL WORLD!!!!
THANKS
Thanks to @MarketSleddogg and @1talkingmoose for watching and posting pictures of the interview. You’re the best! I love my North Carolina posse.
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