Comic, actress, author, musician, podcaster, and roast grasp mommy Nikki Glaser has had an eventful 12 months. Treasured in comedy for her unfiltered takes on intercourse, relationships and private insecurities, Glaser’s fearlessness has earned her a devoted fan following. However this 12 months has been considerably totally different for a number of roasty causes.
“Winning” Netflix’s dwell “Roast of Tom Brady” catapulted Glaser‘s reputation worldwide as a sharp-tongued killer, opening doors that had been shut tight. On Jan. 5, she will make history as the first woman to host solo at the 82nd Golden Globes, and there is no telling who will find themselves in her comedic crosshairs.
Though she’d seemingly by no means admit it, Nikki is clearly an overachiever. Even her accolades overachieve. Nominations for a Grammy, an Emmy, a Critics Selection Award and a Golden Globe for stand-up comedy on tv for her latest stand-up particular, “Someday You’ll Die,” are proof of that.
Her model of self-deprecation, brutal honesty and sharp wit has elevated her to stardom and altered her life. Glaser spoke to me about her profession and life adjustments in a latest interview performed over Zoom.
This has significantly been your 12 months. It looks like it ramped all the best way up too after “The Roast of Tom Brady.” What a trip for you!
Nikki Glaser: It’s been a 12 months! It was type of tough proper after “The Roast of Tom Brady,” I feel as a result of I felt like out of the blue there have been all these eyes and a spotlight and expectations on me that weren’t there earlier than. Earlier than I felt like an underdog, the place nobody actually observed me. However expectations have been excessive after the roast, and I simply felt like, oh, my God, I’ve all the time obtained to point out up that polished, that excellent, that exact, and I’ve to win all the pieces I do now. It was prefer it become some type of, “you won the roast” factor, and I didn’t even comprehend it was a factor you would win. It simply felt like I obtained lots of consideration for this actually particular factor that I’m good at, when it takes months for me to be good at it. It took a pair months for me to let myself off the hook slightly, however I additionally realized lots from the roast on methods to method these huge occasions. So, in terms of one thing just like the Globes, I now know I can present up, and given the correct quantity of time main as much as it, kill it the best way I did earlier than.
It’s lots, although, and being on on a regular basis turns into slightly exhausting. I had a full-time job earlier than with my podcast, and a particular, after which the roast kicked in and much more issues obtained added. I already had a full plate, and I didn’t understand how a lot fuller it may get. I’m very grateful for it, however it’s slightly bit such as you simply gotta spend the additional cash you’re making on self-care, on IV drips, on a make-up staff so I don’t must do it myself — it simply turns into lots. However I’m so grateful and don’t need it to go away.
Your crushing the roast and its being broadcast dwell to such an enormous viewers have been sure to get you a seat on the well-liked desk. It’s enjoyable to see you get all of this love from longtime and new followers.
Yeah, there was such a pleasant response from my followers who’ve been there all alongside, like, don’t change! It’s type of the best way I felt as a Swifty when she reached this subsequent degree — she’s ours! I’m actually cognizant of that and I do recognize everybody that’s been there from the get-go. I can see via it instantly when folks say “I’ve been a fan forever” however they solely know my roast stuff. It’s an fascinating social experiment to have a fast degree of success in a brief period of time and see who’s good and who isn’t out of the blue.
Ahhh, the trade. Doing a set in a membership is not like internet hosting a legendary awards present. How are you making ready for it?
When it comes to operating the set round city, folks appear fairly enthusiastic about me doing the Globes. I’ve been telling the viewers that is what I’m doing, and I wish to run it by you. I’m bringing my audiences in on the challenge with me. They’re a part of my staff and we’re on this collectively. I’m additionally approaching the Globes the identical manner because the roasts, the place I’m watching all the pieces. I’m consuming and looking for what my opinions are about these folks and these initiatives. I’m actually simply making an attempt to immerse myself in that world. I’m making an attempt to do lots of visualization of what it’s gonna be wish to stroll on the market too. Who am I gonna see? Fascinated with what the tone I wish to hit is and occupied with total targets of the night. My objective is simply to stroll offstage after that monologue and really feel like, OK, the remainder of this present’s a cakewalk. I did the toughest factor, everybody appeared completely satisfied, I didn’t piss anybody off, I didn’t break anybody’s night time, I’m gonna make headlines for the fitting causes of perhaps saying some stunning issues, however not upsetting anybody. You already know, I’m not going to must keep away from anybody on the after-party. Probably the most profitable factor I can do is simply say the issues I wish to say. Converse some reality, probably get some groans, claps, and “Whoa, she went there.” I’m not up there to name anybody out or make some audacious political assertion. I simply wish to have a superb set.
Nikki Glasser in Rancho Mirage.
(Linus Johnson / For The Occasions)
I feel we’re all additionally ready with bated breath to see how onerous you’ll go.
Actors take themselves so significantly, I feel greater than some other career. Everybody simply desires to look so cool in that room, and also you’ve spent hours and hours on the point of look wonderful. So, any type of joke that will take you off that pedestal is a deep risk to you. I additionally suppose it’s a possibility for celebrities to have a second the place they seem human and chuckle at themselves. There are specific folks within the room which are so uptight that I type of wish to win them over first, simply so I can get away with the remainder of the monologue. Particularly in the event that they solely know me from roasts, they actually are gonna be fearful of me. “She’s out for blood!” That’s simply not the best way it’s, although, so I’m gonna must remind them that’s not what I’m right here to do, though it may be what I’m identified to do. Then I’ll go forward and do it, however not in the identical manner as a result of that is clearly not a roast.
I additionally suppose there are alternatives to have enjoyable with a few of these folks and produce them in on the joke — actually, somebody like Martin Quick, Steve Martin or anybody who comes from a comedy background. There are alternatives to have enjoyable with comedians within the viewers, so I’m gonna search these out and actually indulge in these moments. Possibly I’ll even get to have a second with Meryl Streep. How enjoyable for me!
It truly is unimaginable. Have you ever gotten any recommendation in your journey to the Globes?
I’ve. I by no means have an excessive amount of confidence going into one thing the place they may not know who I’m and with some type of fanfare ready for me. The factor I realized from watching previous units is that I have to introduce myself to the group. Irrespective of how a lot within the comedy world I may be identified, they may not be savvy to that. Lots of people don’t know that world, so I’m going to must introduce myself to them after which self-deprecate sufficient to earn the chance to then deprecate them. Tina [Fey] and Amy [Poehler] reached out to me and gave me some actually nice recommendation about belongings you would solely know for those who stood on that stage and stated jokes to that crowd. Their recommendation made me really feel like you would solely get this recommendation from two moms. I’m so glad to have them co-sign on this as a result of it’s a very huge social occasion. The primary of the 12 months. The primary of the award season, and everyone seems to be seeing one another after a protracted Christmas break of getting cosmetic surgery.
You’ve obtained lots of nominations to listing off — Globes, Critics Selection, Emmys. I’m into this Grammy, although. How did you hear about it, and who did you inform first?
I used to be on a airplane, and I obtained a textual content from my publicist. I truthfully didn’t even suppose that this was a chance. I imply, there are some belongings you dream about when turning into a slapstick comedian, and successful a Grammy is just not one in all them. It simply looks like you don’t even know that it’s doable. To me, it was similar to, “Oh, yes! I get to go to the Grammys!” Of all of the awards reveals, it’s the one which I’ve most needed a ticket to as a result of I like watching musical performances. One of the best musicians multi function room performing collectively is one of the best ticket on the town. I simply hope that my nomination can flip right into a ticket! I feel one of many first folks I known as was my vocal instructor as a result of it simply appears so out of this world. We work each week on this factor that I’m not even nominated for, and, in the meantime, there’s a music on the album, however it’s a comedy album that I’m nominated for. I used to be additionally fast to inform my dad, who can also be a musician. All of the musicians in my life, I used to be fast to inform as a result of I simply knew that they understood the magnitude of such an honor.
How did you congratulate your self on this insane honor?
Wouldn’t congratulating myself be a pleasant factor to do? I feel I bathed slightly bit, and I simply stored saying it again and again. I might simply are available in from strolling the canine and inform my boyfriend, “Oh, babe. I forgot to tell you I’m nominated for a Grammy.” I simply stored bringing it up casually like, let’s not put this down. Let’s hold this factor up within the air as a result of it’s so wild, and I’ll in all probability by no means have the ability to say it once more. You by no means know, however, sure, I ought to do one thing good for myself. I simply haven’t had any time.