Opportunity LOL's Spotlight Interview: Comedian and Actress Retta Sirleaf

Retta Sirleaf, better known simply as Retta is a popular comedian and actress. You may have seen her clever observational stand-up live or on television (1 | 2 | 3). Furthermore, if you're a comedy fan it's very likely you know Retta from NBC's Parks and Recreation, playing the role of fan-favorite Donna. Season four of the TV show is currently running and came back from a winter break as of yesterday, January 12th 2012. Retta was extremely generous in answering my questions on topics ranging from stand-up, Parks and Recreation, chemistry with Aziz Ansari, Funny or Die, collecting, and more. Enjoy!

If someone wanted to make a genuine run at comedy for a living, what should they be doing to pay their bills within that world?

Retta: "In this economy? Anything they can get someone to pay them for. This does not exclude phone sex and fetish websites. It's hard out here for a pimp so if you can find a way to get your stage time, hone your act AND pay your bills, GO WITH GOD. If someone offers you the opportunity to earn some cash by squishing birthday cake between your toes, do it. You can try out your newest Santorum bit while you're makin' that cheddar. It's way too hard to try and earn a living with comedy right out of the gate. It's been a long time since I hit the open mic beat but it's just about impossible to pay rent with just your sense of humor. Especially when you're just starting to figure out exactly who you are on stage."

How much stand-up material do you write at present? How much stand-up are you performing?

Retta: "I haven't written a new joke in like 2 years. The last joke I wrote was an Obama joke in 2010. Don't get me wrong it was genius but I go through bouts of writer's block. And by writer's block I mean I just don't feel like writing. I've been writing scripts (with jokes) but not standup. I really need to feel inspired to write standup. I also believe I have adult onset ADD so it's difficult for me to focus on writing when we're shooting during the season. I actually finished writing a new hour of standup about 3 years ago but haven't had the time or motivation to get stage time after shooting all day. I finally made a conscious decision in November to edit/tighten that material so I'm working with my managers to get stage time in order to eventually shoot a special. As of now I'm just doing spots here and there."

Do you have plans to release a comedy album in the future?

Retta: "I've never thought about releasing a comedy album because quite frankly I've never thought anyone would want to buy one. I know it's stinkin' thinkin' but it's true. Maybe one day . . . maybe."

Many people know you from NBC's Parks and Recreation, playing Donna. How did you find yourself in that role?

Retta: "I auditioned to play Donna. There was no dialogue in the pilot for the character so the creators wrote up a scene that might take place in a future episode and I went in and read for it. I honestly don't think I got the part based on my audition but on the fact that I was such a chatty Kathy in the room. I had just gotten a new blingy watch online (at an incredible savings) and Mike Schur noticed it and asked to see it. I proceeded to tell him ALL about this new website called gilt.com and how it offered luxury items at a considerable discount. The watch was my first purchase and it was such an easy, enjoyable transaction and I was soooooo happy with my new wrist candy, blah, blah blah. It was obnoxious but I think he found it endearing (if you're reading this Mike, just go with it--you found my "love for a discount" mania endearing)."

What are the three coolest things to have happened since you joined the cast of Parks and Recreation?

Retta: "1) I was in Entertainment Weekly's best scene stealers of 2011. I read EW like my life depends upon it, always have, and I found out on Twitter from my homie Aisha Tyler that we were in the same issue. She for her new gig on The Talk and me for brangin' it on Parks--which by the way I completely credit Alan M. Yang and the writers because the Pawnee Rangers episode aka the Treat Yo Self episode was so damned funny.

2) I was on Oprah. Well I wasn't on Oprah. Rob Lowe was on Oprah but he showed a clip from a web promo we shot on the set of Parks & Rec so I was on a clip on Oprah. Close enough.

3) The most amazing thing was being nominated for an Emmy getting to go to that shit. There were so many great things about our Emmy nomination.

-The sense of pride we ALL felt (crew, writers, producers, actors) in being nominated for doing work we love. One thing I enjoy about this group of people is our email chains. We tend to clown one another as much as share in lovefests and one of my favorites was the Emmy email chain that started with Amy's "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! We were nominated for an Emmy!" There were probably 30 emails with "Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! We were nominated for an Emmy!" in the subject line.

- A designer offered to make me a dress. The last person to make me a dress was my mother back in 1982 and that's because she refused to spend $50 for an Easter dress when she could just as easily whip something up with one of her old dresses and some "half off" lace. Rani Zakhem made me a strapless sunshine dream that made my tits look like they were being held up by an Olympic weightlifting champion in the clean and jerk stance. I LOVED IT! Natch.

- But the BEST part of the Emmy whirlwind was going to the parties. There were so many parties and as a girl who likes to get her cocktail on, September was a boozy utopia. So many fabulous parties, not enough Spanx! The best party hands down was Jimmy Fallon's--for a couple of reasons. 1) Jimmy is by far one of the nicest, most darling people I've met in this here Hollywood. Actually I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of SNL peeps as a result of this blessed association with Ms. Amy Poehler (Among my favorites are Maya Rudolph, Jorma Taccone, Paula Pell & Will Forte) but that Fallon puts a smile on my face. Nicest guy you'll evuh meet and I have the same love for his producer Mike Shoemaker 2) The music was off the muhthuhfuhkin chain. I have a bad back, a bad ankle and 2 bad knees and I still worked that dance floor like it was a fuckin' job! HAD TO. QuestLove was KILLING IT. 3) I got the chance to grind up on Taye Diggs. I'm sorry let me repeat that: Taye Diggs. That is a beautiful black man. If you had the chance to do it, wouldn't you? Just sayin'. 4) Lonely Island performed on the Emmy broadcast that night. I had just met Jorma because he was directing an episode that week so he came to my table and with him were Michael Bolton & Pee Wee Herman! When someone asks you "Who'd you hang with last night?" when are you ever gonna be able to say Michael Bolton, Pee Wee Herman and Jorma Taccone of "Jizz In My Pants" fame??  It was an epic night."

Your chemistry with Aziz Ansari has led to some of the best moments on the show. How often do you two hang out? Has your stand-up background contributed to this?

Retta: "Well thanks for that compliment. Aziz is a funny dude and after 4 years, it's hard not to have chemistry with him. Our writers know these characters so well at this point that the chemistry starts on the script pages. We've actually only performed standup on the same show once (Tig & Friends at Largo at the Coronet). As for hanging out, Aziz has way too much on his calendar to hang with me. Perhaps if I get a record deal, become a baller and shoot a video featuring Blue Ivy and Jesus himself he might do me a solid by making a cameo appearance. I'm definitely gonna have to step up my hip hop game though."

There has been an lack of stability for Parks and Recreation. Similarly, there is concern about NBC's Community's future. Why aren't people watching the funniest television shows when numbers are so high for reality shows?

Retta: "I don't know. I wish I did. The only thing that I can think of is that I know if I really love a show, I like to be able to savor it so I TiVo it and wait until I can give my undivided attention to it. I like to be able to rewind and go back to parts I found particularly moving/hilarious/poignant and experience them again and again (wow I'm really making myself sound like an obsessive freak here, huh?). Some of my favorite shows I don't even watch during the current season because I can't bear to wait a week in between episodes. I wait for the DVD so that I can watch the entire season in 2 or 3 days. This sort of behavior does not help ratings. Maybe that's what's goin' on? I can't tell you the number of people I've met who are obsessed with Parks and have only seen it on Netflix."

How did you develop your Operatic singing skills?

Retta: "Hahahaha! I had chorus class when I was in middle school and junior high. I was introduced to sacred chorales during this time. I particularly loved Vivaldi. When I went to college I listened to classical on my Walkman while I studied it became my white noise. I don't know that I have operatic skills (I know that I definitely don't breathe properly) I just know that I love to sing it and it makes me feel calm."

Could you talk about the biggest differences between New Jersey vs North Carolina vs California?

Retta: "Jersey's cold and sometimes humid, NC's hot and always humid, Cali's perfect except for the earthquakes and fire season."

As of right now, fans can see you in two Funny or Die videos. How did you get involved in each? What have been your motivations to be in comedy web videos - more recognition, fun, and/or does it pay well?

Retta: "I was asked to do Nurse Jackée and a friend asked me to be in Racism In America: The Color of Love. I don't think I've made any money on any web content, at least not that I can remember. I basically do them to keep busy"

Many of the Opportunity LOL readers are art and toy collectors. Do you collect anything? If so, could we see a shot?

Retta: "I only collect DVDs. I would include a pic but my lazy ass still hasn't taken down my Christmas tree and so I can't get a good shot but I have over a thousand titles which include TV series and box sets."

I'm a huge comedy podcast fan and haven't heard you as a guest on many of them. How soon until we hear you on Comedy Bang! Bang!, Who Charted? WTF with Marc Maron, or The Long Shot Podcast? Do you listen to comedy podcasts?

Retta: "I don't have a lot of time to listen to podcasts. Although I've done some. I was hoping to do Marc Maron's show but I couldn't work out scheduling. Hopefully I'll be able to get on it."

What can the Opportunity LOL readers look forward to from Retta in 2012?

Retta: "As I mentioned, I'm hoping to get working on my new hour. I hope by the end of the summer it will be ready for public consumption. Now that I've put it out there maybe I'll feel pressure to actually do it. Fingers crossed."

The Best Comedy Podcasts	Interview with Writer and Comedian Streeter Seidell	Interview with Kevin "Dot Com" Brown of "30 Rock"	Comedian and Podcast Host Jeff Rubin

©2010-2012 Opportunity LOL
Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: This website may contain views, opinions and statements of various third party individuals and organizations. Opportunity LOL neither endorses nor makes any representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the views, opinions or statements provided by any third party or any user of this website. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, opinion or contents available through the website and to seek appropriate advice of professionals, as appropriate.