Kristen Schaal has much to hide: She's somewhat pathological when it comes to winning things, has a wet T-shirt attired skeleton rattling around in her closet, and has a proclivity for the sexy bits in Harlequin romance novels. But as The Daily Show's Senior Women's Issues Commentator, she was loud and proud in her support of Hillary Clinton for president. Sadly, that didn't work out so well (though the Secretary of State gig is not such a bad consolation prize).
When Schaal's not championing the female cause and fighting sexism on Comedy Central (by stripping down to her superhero-inspired undergarments), she can be seen avidly stalking losabilly band Flight of the Conchords in the HBO Emmy-nominated show which shares their name. Schaal herself is easily cyberstalked, with multiple appearances in DIY comedies, such as Horrible People and Penelope Princess of Pets, posted online.
We caught up with Schaal by phone just as she was about to get hot n' steamy with her boyfriend in a New York diner. More on that later, first a few questions about the new season of Flight of the Conchords, which is almost in the can, and her thoughts on Clinton's new leading role.
Nicole Powers: In Flight of the Concords you play Mel, a besotted fan. Is there any real person or band you feel that way about?
Kristen Schaal: Not really. I've never had any sexual desire towards Tori Amos or anything. I kind of grew up really favoring female musicians. But I did like The Cure. I thought Robert Smith, was pretty hot to trot, but I never made any real effort to get close to him. I usually keep my distance from celebrities and musicians.
NP: You've only got two episodes left to shoot, so you must have a fair idea how your character develops in the new season. I mean she was a fairly harmless stalker in the last season, but is she going to go the way of Mark David Chapman who shot John Lennon, or will her future be more along the lines of Gemma O'Neill, who ended up marrying the subject of her stalking, 80s electro pop star Gary Numan.
KS: Oh, well I would say the latter, most definitely. I don't think Mel is going to go psychotic, but they're still writing the last episode, and I don't know if they're going to involve Mel specifically, so I'm not sure, but she seems more friendly towards them. I mean she's still married. I think Mel lives her fantasies on her chest, and if anyone actually tried to take her up on it I think she might flip out. It might be too much for her, but I feel personally that Mel got close to the guys this season, but I don't think the guys wanted to make love to her.
NP: Gemma has to be a bit of a role model for your Flight of the Concords character. She started out as a fan club member, ended up running the fan club by ousting the previous president, then used her position to befriend Gary's parents, and ended up marrying him.
KS: Oh, wow. I haven't heard of her but I'll do some research. She sounds awesome.
NP: She has a theory that women should just go for their dreams. What do you think about that?
KS: I'd say yes, a hundred percent, definitely.
NP: Even if it involves stalking?
KS: Well the fact that he agreed to marry her, it seems like it must have transformed from stalking to like being pleasantly surprised.
NP: Talking of role models, as The Daily Show's Senior Women's Issues Commentator you were a staunch supporter of Hillary's, what do think of her appointment as Obama's Secretary of State?
KS: I think it's exciting. I mean I wanted him to pick her as VP too so...any way to see her face in the cabinet -- I just want to see her face.
NP: Do you think there's a better role for her than that. I mean she was all over healthcare before it was even an issue for most people. Do you think she'd be better placed doing that?
KS: Healthcare is a really important issue to me. I think she might, but at the same time, she tried as First Lady and it didn't work, so we need someone else who has a different strategy about making it happen. We'll see, but yeah, I think foreign affairs, I think she'll do a good job.
NP: I think that's almost like the bum job -- there's no good outcome for Iraq for instance -- we can't stay, we can't leave. It's kind of the worst job because it's such a quagmire. She can't win.
KS: Yeah, but I feel like right now the entire cabinet is the worst job. I think she can win, I think she can do it. She's very diplomatic. I don't think she's going to get dumped on, but if she does, I think if anyone can take it she can.
NP: On The Daily Show you said you were "emotionally invested" in Hillary's run for the White House. After Hillary failed to get the Democratic nomination were you able to make peace with the situation and throw your weight behind Obama? Or was there a part of you that was really rooting for Palin?
KS: [laughs] Well Sarah Palin made me seriously want Obama even more. I thought Hillary was going to be the best candidate. I thought when I watched her debate Obama she was way more articulate and clear about her plans, and she really made a clear layout of what she was going to do whereas I thought Obama was incredibly vague...Watching his campaign more I thought he developed his ideas and clearer picture of what he was going to do. So he came around in the end, but it was hard for me to see her lose because I thought she was the clear winner. But in hindsight, watching him, especially about things like healthcare, where Hillary was just going to start all over again somehow with universal healthcare, which is what I want, but then, thinking about it, we have so far to go, maybe a more moderate, middle ground, more Obama approach might be better -- for right now.
NP: In a Daily Show skit, you reasoned that it had taken 232 years to get a woman this close, and if Hillary didn't win there wouldn't be another viable female candidate till the year 2300. Do you still feel that way?
KS: Yeah, I do. I really do. I mean that's the funny thing about the fact that McCain did throw Sarah Palin into the race, because, as much as I disagree with her, I was sort of satisfied with the reaction, the excitement that she got. I mean, I wish it was a different woman but the fact that there was a woman that people were excited about made me happy. But at the same time it just seems like [Hillary] had everything in place and I can't think of another woman -- Nancy Pelosi maybe, but I don't think she's going to run. I think it was huge that she got as far as she did. So I think it's going to be 2300 before we see another woman. I hope I'm wrong.
NP: Woman have actually lost ground in many cases as far as pay, power and political representation is concerned.
KS: Oh no! I didn't know that. That's sad. How come?
NP: It's a byproduct of eight years of Christian, right-wing, backward politics. I just wondered if you'd experienced that yourself? You see evidence of it in the media. Obviously, I'm a huge fan of The Daily Show, a huge fan of similar political shows like The Colbert Report and Real Time, but the fact is they have a lot more male panelists, experts and guests on those shows than female.
KS: Well, yes, it's horrendous. My first day Samantha Bee gave me a hug as said, "It feels so good to see another woman." Yeah, it is very male heavy. Yes, it's going to take a lot...I want to say on the bright side we're moving forward, but I don't know, it's hard to really look at the big picture. If you let me ramble, I'll start going into sexism, and that's what I'm trying not to do.
NP: What are your thoughts on Oprah for president. We could have had a black and female president, which would have kept both camps happy. Do you think she should have thrown her hat into the ring?
KS: No. I think Oprah's doing more hard work as Oprah than she could as president. I know my mom listens to her religiously. I'd like to wait for a candidate that actually has the credentials for president, because if Oprah did that you're almost pulling a Sarah Palin in the fact that she's not ready. 'Cause Hillary Clinton was ready -- no one could argue that!
NP: Women are so underrepresented in government. Do you think the presidency should be more like a prom, where you have a king and queen, or a president and presidentress, so that both sexes are represented?
KS: Oh! I like that idea. Yeah, that sounds great. Because you know the First Lady, everyone's really catty about how they're supposed to be in their place and Hillary Clinton got all kinds of flack because she was trying to do things as First Lady. But if that changed -- it'd be so funny to have a king and queen -- I think that'd be great. I think it's a great idea. I endorse that.
NP: You've also done some consulting for the scripts for season eleven of South Park. Does it bug you that the four lead characters, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, are all male?
KS: [laughs] No. Not at all. I think that's a story about four boys who are friends, so, no, that doesn't bother me.
NP: You've also got a film coming up, a vampire movie called Cirque Du Freak.
KS: I have a tiny role. I'm really just a glorified background extra. But I get to wear big teeth and bite into things. I play a freak that has enormous teeth. It's a really hard to wear costume.
NP: But you're not a vampire?
KS: I'm not a vampire, I'm a freak. There are vampires living with the traveling freak show.
NP: I understand in this film the vampires are not evil, they're kind of benevolent creatures that politely suck blood, and heal up the wounds afterwards with their spit, and deliberately don't kill their victims.
KS: The whole plot of the movie is that there's bad vampires that do kill them, and they're called Vampaneze, and there's a war between the good vampires and the bad vampires.
NP: Can you see yourself doing more acting than comedy?
KS: I can, if they'll let me. I really enjoy acting so much. Comedy I love too, and it's easier for me to do. I could put a comedy show on tonight if I want to, but acting's harder to get in the door, but hopefully I'll get to do more. I really like it.
NP: One of the things that gave you a kick start in comedy was that New York magazine dubbed you one of "The Ten Funniest New Yorkers You've Never Heard Of." Who would you say is number eleven?
KS: Probably my comedy partner, Kurt Braunohler, the one that helped my do Hot Tub and Penelope: Princess of Pets.
NP: You do a lot of comedy webisodes together?
KS: Yeah, and we did Edinburgh [Festival] this year and got nominated for a comedy award, and we're going to go back to London and do a run at the Soho Theatre in January.
NP: You've won lots of awards.
KS: I like to win awards, and if I don't win awards then I know I didn't do good. I love awards.
NP: Did you win lots of prizes at school?
KS: I never won any prizes at school until I started doing a thing called Forensics, which is like a speech competition, and I was just really good at it, and then I started winning. Ever since then I got addicted to winning. I hate to admit it, but I'm incredibly competitive, secretly, but no one knows it except for my closest friends. But I'm getting better.
NP: So what else do you compete in? Are you secretly entering competitions on the back of corn flakes packets?
KS: No, but I did do a scratch out today, and I couldn't believe that I didn't win.
NP: What's the most bizarre thing you've ever won?
KS: I think I won a wet T-shirt contest in college, which is pretty bizarre for me to even be competing in.
NP: So how does competing in a wet T-shirt competition sit with your feminist beliefs?
KS: Well, that was before I was a feminist, you see. That was when I was just a regular college kid. It was my college improv troupe, and we were really close. There was eight of us, after we did a run of shows, pouring beer on each other. Oh yay! I'm glad that came up in this interview.
NP: So what was the prize?
KS: I think it was more beer. It was more beer and I got to call it The Kristen Schaal Wet T Shirt Contest, which never happened again, but if it did, then my name was the competition -- a huge, huge legacy.
NP: I love your quote, when you say, "Misogyny is like jazz, women know it when they hear it." But which do you find more annoying? I have to be honest, it's kind of a toss up for me!
KS: I think misogyny is, for me, I don't mind jazz if it's in the background real low. I think reggae's worse than jazz.
NP: But is it worse than misogyny?
KS: No, no. [laughs]
NP: So are you wearing your Wonder Woman outfit under your clothes right now?
KS: Yes. Yes, I am. I don't know when I'm going to need it. Anything can happen.
NP: Do you sleep in it too?
KS: No, that's when I clock out, that's time for me.
NP: So you're not like Hillary, you're not going to be waking up for the 3 a.m. phone calls.
KS: No, and that's why I'll never run for president -- I don't have it in me. She did.
NP: You've also got a collection of short stories coming out on Harper Collins.
KS: Yes, hopefully. It's funny that you mention that, because one of the reasons I'm in the diner is that we're working on it right now. I'm working, with my boyfriend. We're cracking it out right now, as we speak, and boy is it sexy.
NP: What kind of stories?
KS: What they are is they're short stories, but they're also like Harlequin romance novels, and they're funny, so it's like a fusion of the three. I just loved those Harlequin romance novels growing up. Like, I'd always go to the library and take a huge stack and find the sex parts, which was always on pages 60 and 180 for some reason in general -- unless they tried sex for the first time and something goes wrong, and it takes until page 180 to get them back together. But anyway, I love that language, I think it's so silly and funny, so I wanted to use that, but it's sort of like, as we speak actually it's evolving almost into a sex guide book. It's a really helpful piece of literature. I think it's going to save lives.
NP: I have to say those Harlequin romances are a guilty pleasure. I like the way at my local grocery store they're not even in the section with the other books and magazines, 'cause they're not worthy of that, they're in a separate section in the meat department in a revolving carousel.
KS: They put them by the meat -- that's great. My favorite part is how they describe genitalia so creatively. You can't get that anywhere else.
NP: Like his manhood.
KS: And then they'll have her glistening triangle -- that's one I'll never forget.
NP: So have you come up with any special terms of your own?
KS: A macoun apple. We like that.
NP: So what's that referring to?
KS: A female bottom, a good one. A hot female bottom, juicy and firm, and excellent in a salad. We'll see how it goes. It really is evolving from our first idea into more of an experiment, but I get to write it with my boyfriend so it's really fun.
NP: So is it semi-autobiographical then?
KS: [laughs] You know, when we first decided we were going to write this, I was like, "We've got to use pseudonyms, because I don't want anyone to imagine me doing those things," but then we realized there's no way we could sell the book with pseudonyms. So yes, and no.
NP: Writing the book together must be a weird experience. Does it change things when you're together? Are you in the middle of something, then all of a sudden you think, "Hmm? How would I describe this? What words would I use for what his hand's doing right now?"
KS: No. We stay pretty focused in that department, on what's happening in the moment -- luckily. And I think we work well together. We wrote most of The Daily Show pieces together. He's a good one.
NP: So do we get to know the name of your writing and romance novel hero?
KS: Rich Blomquist.
NP: He's the man behind the woman, as opposed to Hillary, who was the woman behind the man.
KS: Absolutely. Actually he kind of shocks me, he seems to be a little more feminist than me. Sometimes I find that in men though, they're a little bit more feminist than most women I know.
NP: I was chatting to my husband this morning; Did you see 24: Redemption at all?
KS: No.
NP: You might like it because there's female president in it.
KS: Oh! Great!
NP: 24 sold us a black president, and, now that we're comfortable with that, they're working on selling us a female president, which is a wonderful thing. But one of the things that offended my husband was the protocol for addressing female presidents; they're referred to as Mr. President. That upset my husband because it's almost like saying a woman isn't really good enough to be a president so we'll pretend she's a man.
KS: Yes. In a sense, that role was meant for a man. That is really stupid. I hate that too. It's dumb.
NP: And that wasn't even something I was aware I should hate until my feminist husband brought it up.
KS: Aren't they great? It's so good when you find one.
NP: Men can be feminists too. The definition of the word is "a supporter of women."
KS: They can, they can, and, like I said, more so than women sometimes.
When Schaal's not championing the female cause and fighting sexism on Comedy Central (by stripping down to her superhero-inspired undergarments), she can be seen avidly stalking losabilly band Flight of the Conchords in the HBO Emmy-nominated show which shares their name. Schaal herself is easily cyberstalked, with multiple appearances in DIY comedies, such as Horrible People and Penelope Princess of Pets, posted online.
We caught up with Schaal by phone just as she was about to get hot n' steamy with her boyfriend in a New York diner. More on that later, first a few questions about the new season of Flight of the Conchords, which is almost in the can, and her thoughts on Clinton's new leading role.
Nicole Powers: In Flight of the Concords you play Mel, a besotted fan. Is there any real person or band you feel that way about?
Kristen Schaal: Not really. I've never had any sexual desire towards Tori Amos or anything. I kind of grew up really favoring female musicians. But I did like The Cure. I thought Robert Smith, was pretty hot to trot, but I never made any real effort to get close to him. I usually keep my distance from celebrities and musicians.
NP: You've only got two episodes left to shoot, so you must have a fair idea how your character develops in the new season. I mean she was a fairly harmless stalker in the last season, but is she going to go the way of Mark David Chapman who shot John Lennon, or will her future be more along the lines of Gemma O'Neill, who ended up marrying the subject of her stalking, 80s electro pop star Gary Numan.
KS: Oh, well I would say the latter, most definitely. I don't think Mel is going to go psychotic, but they're still writing the last episode, and I don't know if they're going to involve Mel specifically, so I'm not sure, but she seems more friendly towards them. I mean she's still married. I think Mel lives her fantasies on her chest, and if anyone actually tried to take her up on it I think she might flip out. It might be too much for her, but I feel personally that Mel got close to the guys this season, but I don't think the guys wanted to make love to her.
NP: Gemma has to be a bit of a role model for your Flight of the Concords character. She started out as a fan club member, ended up running the fan club by ousting the previous president, then used her position to befriend Gary's parents, and ended up marrying him.
KS: Oh, wow. I haven't heard of her but I'll do some research. She sounds awesome.
NP: She has a theory that women should just go for their dreams. What do you think about that?
KS: I'd say yes, a hundred percent, definitely.
NP: Even if it involves stalking?
KS: Well the fact that he agreed to marry her, it seems like it must have transformed from stalking to like being pleasantly surprised.
NP: Talking of role models, as The Daily Show's Senior Women's Issues Commentator you were a staunch supporter of Hillary's, what do think of her appointment as Obama's Secretary of State?
KS: I think it's exciting. I mean I wanted him to pick her as VP too so...any way to see her face in the cabinet -- I just want to see her face.
NP: Do you think there's a better role for her than that. I mean she was all over healthcare before it was even an issue for most people. Do you think she'd be better placed doing that?
KS: Healthcare is a really important issue to me. I think she might, but at the same time, she tried as First Lady and it didn't work, so we need someone else who has a different strategy about making it happen. We'll see, but yeah, I think foreign affairs, I think she'll do a good job.
NP: I think that's almost like the bum job -- there's no good outcome for Iraq for instance -- we can't stay, we can't leave. It's kind of the worst job because it's such a quagmire. She can't win.
KS: Yeah, but I feel like right now the entire cabinet is the worst job. I think she can win, I think she can do it. She's very diplomatic. I don't think she's going to get dumped on, but if she does, I think if anyone can take it she can.
NP: On The Daily Show you said you were "emotionally invested" in Hillary's run for the White House. After Hillary failed to get the Democratic nomination were you able to make peace with the situation and throw your weight behind Obama? Or was there a part of you that was really rooting for Palin?
KS: [laughs] Well Sarah Palin made me seriously want Obama even more. I thought Hillary was going to be the best candidate. I thought when I watched her debate Obama she was way more articulate and clear about her plans, and she really made a clear layout of what she was going to do whereas I thought Obama was incredibly vague...Watching his campaign more I thought he developed his ideas and clearer picture of what he was going to do. So he came around in the end, but it was hard for me to see her lose because I thought she was the clear winner. But in hindsight, watching him, especially about things like healthcare, where Hillary was just going to start all over again somehow with universal healthcare, which is what I want, but then, thinking about it, we have so far to go, maybe a more moderate, middle ground, more Obama approach might be better -- for right now.
NP: In a Daily Show skit, you reasoned that it had taken 232 years to get a woman this close, and if Hillary didn't win there wouldn't be another viable female candidate till the year 2300. Do you still feel that way?
KS: Yeah, I do. I really do. I mean that's the funny thing about the fact that McCain did throw Sarah Palin into the race, because, as much as I disagree with her, I was sort of satisfied with the reaction, the excitement that she got. I mean, I wish it was a different woman but the fact that there was a woman that people were excited about made me happy. But at the same time it just seems like [Hillary] had everything in place and I can't think of another woman -- Nancy Pelosi maybe, but I don't think she's going to run. I think it was huge that she got as far as she did. So I think it's going to be 2300 before we see another woman. I hope I'm wrong.
NP: Woman have actually lost ground in many cases as far as pay, power and political representation is concerned.
KS: Oh no! I didn't know that. That's sad. How come?
NP: It's a byproduct of eight years of Christian, right-wing, backward politics. I just wondered if you'd experienced that yourself? You see evidence of it in the media. Obviously, I'm a huge fan of The Daily Show, a huge fan of similar political shows like The Colbert Report and Real Time, but the fact is they have a lot more male panelists, experts and guests on those shows than female.
KS: Well, yes, it's horrendous. My first day Samantha Bee gave me a hug as said, "It feels so good to see another woman." Yeah, it is very male heavy. Yes, it's going to take a lot...I want to say on the bright side we're moving forward, but I don't know, it's hard to really look at the big picture. If you let me ramble, I'll start going into sexism, and that's what I'm trying not to do.
NP: What are your thoughts on Oprah for president. We could have had a black and female president, which would have kept both camps happy. Do you think she should have thrown her hat into the ring?
KS: No. I think Oprah's doing more hard work as Oprah than she could as president. I know my mom listens to her religiously. I'd like to wait for a candidate that actually has the credentials for president, because if Oprah did that you're almost pulling a Sarah Palin in the fact that she's not ready. 'Cause Hillary Clinton was ready -- no one could argue that!
NP: Women are so underrepresented in government. Do you think the presidency should be more like a prom, where you have a king and queen, or a president and presidentress, so that both sexes are represented?
KS: Oh! I like that idea. Yeah, that sounds great. Because you know the First Lady, everyone's really catty about how they're supposed to be in their place and Hillary Clinton got all kinds of flack because she was trying to do things as First Lady. But if that changed -- it'd be so funny to have a king and queen -- I think that'd be great. I think it's a great idea. I endorse that.
NP: You've also done some consulting for the scripts for season eleven of South Park. Does it bug you that the four lead characters, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, are all male?
KS: [laughs] No. Not at all. I think that's a story about four boys who are friends, so, no, that doesn't bother me.
NP: You've also got a film coming up, a vampire movie called Cirque Du Freak.
KS: I have a tiny role. I'm really just a glorified background extra. But I get to wear big teeth and bite into things. I play a freak that has enormous teeth. It's a really hard to wear costume.
NP: But you're not a vampire?
KS: I'm not a vampire, I'm a freak. There are vampires living with the traveling freak show.
NP: I understand in this film the vampires are not evil, they're kind of benevolent creatures that politely suck blood, and heal up the wounds afterwards with their spit, and deliberately don't kill their victims.
KS: The whole plot of the movie is that there's bad vampires that do kill them, and they're called Vampaneze, and there's a war between the good vampires and the bad vampires.
NP: Can you see yourself doing more acting than comedy?
KS: I can, if they'll let me. I really enjoy acting so much. Comedy I love too, and it's easier for me to do. I could put a comedy show on tonight if I want to, but acting's harder to get in the door, but hopefully I'll get to do more. I really like it.
NP: One of the things that gave you a kick start in comedy was that New York magazine dubbed you one of "The Ten Funniest New Yorkers You've Never Heard Of." Who would you say is number eleven?
KS: Probably my comedy partner, Kurt Braunohler, the one that helped my do Hot Tub and Penelope: Princess of Pets.
NP: You do a lot of comedy webisodes together?
KS: Yeah, and we did Edinburgh [Festival] this year and got nominated for a comedy award, and we're going to go back to London and do a run at the Soho Theatre in January.
NP: You've won lots of awards.
KS: I like to win awards, and if I don't win awards then I know I didn't do good. I love awards.
NP: Did you win lots of prizes at school?
KS: I never won any prizes at school until I started doing a thing called Forensics, which is like a speech competition, and I was just really good at it, and then I started winning. Ever since then I got addicted to winning. I hate to admit it, but I'm incredibly competitive, secretly, but no one knows it except for my closest friends. But I'm getting better.
NP: So what else do you compete in? Are you secretly entering competitions on the back of corn flakes packets?
KS: No, but I did do a scratch out today, and I couldn't believe that I didn't win.
NP: What's the most bizarre thing you've ever won?
KS: I think I won a wet T-shirt contest in college, which is pretty bizarre for me to even be competing in.
NP: So how does competing in a wet T-shirt competition sit with your feminist beliefs?
KS: Well, that was before I was a feminist, you see. That was when I was just a regular college kid. It was my college improv troupe, and we were really close. There was eight of us, after we did a run of shows, pouring beer on each other. Oh yay! I'm glad that came up in this interview.
NP: So what was the prize?
KS: I think it was more beer. It was more beer and I got to call it The Kristen Schaal Wet T Shirt Contest, which never happened again, but if it did, then my name was the competition -- a huge, huge legacy.
NP: I love your quote, when you say, "Misogyny is like jazz, women know it when they hear it." But which do you find more annoying? I have to be honest, it's kind of a toss up for me!
KS: I think misogyny is, for me, I don't mind jazz if it's in the background real low. I think reggae's worse than jazz.
NP: But is it worse than misogyny?
KS: No, no. [laughs]
NP: So are you wearing your Wonder Woman outfit under your clothes right now?
KS: Yes. Yes, I am. I don't know when I'm going to need it. Anything can happen.
NP: Do you sleep in it too?
KS: No, that's when I clock out, that's time for me.
NP: So you're not like Hillary, you're not going to be waking up for the 3 a.m. phone calls.
KS: No, and that's why I'll never run for president -- I don't have it in me. She did.
NP: You've also got a collection of short stories coming out on Harper Collins.
KS: Yes, hopefully. It's funny that you mention that, because one of the reasons I'm in the diner is that we're working on it right now. I'm working, with my boyfriend. We're cracking it out right now, as we speak, and boy is it sexy.
NP: What kind of stories?
KS: What they are is they're short stories, but they're also like Harlequin romance novels, and they're funny, so it's like a fusion of the three. I just loved those Harlequin romance novels growing up. Like, I'd always go to the library and take a huge stack and find the sex parts, which was always on pages 60 and 180 for some reason in general -- unless they tried sex for the first time and something goes wrong, and it takes until page 180 to get them back together. But anyway, I love that language, I think it's so silly and funny, so I wanted to use that, but it's sort of like, as we speak actually it's evolving almost into a sex guide book. It's a really helpful piece of literature. I think it's going to save lives.
NP: I have to say those Harlequin romances are a guilty pleasure. I like the way at my local grocery store they're not even in the section with the other books and magazines, 'cause they're not worthy of that, they're in a separate section in the meat department in a revolving carousel.
KS: They put them by the meat -- that's great. My favorite part is how they describe genitalia so creatively. You can't get that anywhere else.
NP: Like his manhood.
KS: And then they'll have her glistening triangle -- that's one I'll never forget.
NP: So have you come up with any special terms of your own?
KS: A macoun apple. We like that.
NP: So what's that referring to?
KS: A female bottom, a good one. A hot female bottom, juicy and firm, and excellent in a salad. We'll see how it goes. It really is evolving from our first idea into more of an experiment, but I get to write it with my boyfriend so it's really fun.
NP: So is it semi-autobiographical then?
KS: [laughs] You know, when we first decided we were going to write this, I was like, "We've got to use pseudonyms, because I don't want anyone to imagine me doing those things," but then we realized there's no way we could sell the book with pseudonyms. So yes, and no.
NP: Writing the book together must be a weird experience. Does it change things when you're together? Are you in the middle of something, then all of a sudden you think, "Hmm? How would I describe this? What words would I use for what his hand's doing right now?"
KS: No. We stay pretty focused in that department, on what's happening in the moment -- luckily. And I think we work well together. We wrote most of The Daily Show pieces together. He's a good one.
NP: So do we get to know the name of your writing and romance novel hero?
KS: Rich Blomquist.
NP: He's the man behind the woman, as opposed to Hillary, who was the woman behind the man.
KS: Absolutely. Actually he kind of shocks me, he seems to be a little more feminist than me. Sometimes I find that in men though, they're a little bit more feminist than most women I know.
NP: I was chatting to my husband this morning; Did you see 24: Redemption at all?
KS: No.
NP: You might like it because there's female president in it.
KS: Oh! Great!
NP: 24 sold us a black president, and, now that we're comfortable with that, they're working on selling us a female president, which is a wonderful thing. But one of the things that offended my husband was the protocol for addressing female presidents; they're referred to as Mr. President. That upset my husband because it's almost like saying a woman isn't really good enough to be a president so we'll pretend she's a man.
KS: Yes. In a sense, that role was meant for a man. That is really stupid. I hate that too. It's dumb.
NP: And that wasn't even something I was aware I should hate until my feminist husband brought it up.
KS: Aren't they great? It's so good when you find one.
NP: Men can be feminists too. The definition of the word is "a supporter of women."
KS: They can, they can, and, like I said, more so than women sometimes.
VIEW 11 of 11 COMMENTS
"I was a Hillary Supporter " But maybe Barak is the here and now... what a pussy....
She's no Jeanne Garofalo.... She's the shit. Get heavy, go deep and be hot... Get in there... make a point, and I'll support you.
really, once people of both genders stop freaking out about the label and getting down to what feminism is really about (that whole men and women both being human thing), it's pretty easy to get on the feminist train. the bad press made it hard for even me to self-identify as a feminist until probably college, but it's something i really needed to face head on to make it in the world. like, i like kathleen hanna as much as the next girl and all, but i don't bite/hate dudes/want to force everyone to worship a giant plastic ovary.
anyway, kristen rocks and i hope to see a lot more of her. funny women kick ass!