Ok Nice with Rachel Kaly
NYC comedian and filmmaker Rachel Kaly answers some questions and provides a playlist.
If I was in charge of a writer’s room (hahaha), Rachel Kaly would be one of the first people I’d hire. Their fearless and experimental approach to comedy is unrivaled—they aren’t afraid to stumble into unfamiliar territory just to play around and see what can happen. Watching their body of work can—at times—be like riding an old, uncomfortable, wooden rollercoaster. You don’t know whether or not you’re going to fall off the tracks and it can be incredibly jarring until you’re pulled to safety and, after taking some deep breaths and drinking some water, you look back on your wild ride and smile because you just experienced something so thrilling that all you can do is feel joy. I feel like it’s kind of like that? Kind of like an old wooden rollercoaster? Perhaps?
While Rachel strives in every project they tackle—whether that be hosting SNL or The Ellen Show, to me, where they truly stand out is with their man-on-the-street centered bits. One of my favorite videos in this realm was made, not by Ali G or Nathan Fielder, but by Rachel. It’s a severely under-watched Christmas Special they made in 2021. It may not have garnered a ton of eyes, but hopefully it’ll catch the right ones and we’ll all get to enjoy Rachel’s work on a larger scale. Please watch this.
Some of my favorite Rachel vids include:
A Very Rachel Kaly Christmas Special
comedians in cars geting coffe with alex
I Went To LA To Change My Life.. And Then This Happened
Chase Bank Gay Pride 2021 BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
10 MINUTE STAND UP COMEDY SPECIAL ABOUT DATING
What’s your day-to-day look like?
i have two types of days. one is a day where i work and one is where i don't. if im working, i try to get up around 10 and go to the gym. my new thing is trying to get buff. then i will get coffee of which im a snob because i was a barista for 4 years. i have a few places i rotate to and sometimes my favorite part of the day is figuring out where i will get coffee. after that my day is down hill. i will go to work and then usually i have a show. then from midnight to 3am i am on craigslist, ebay, streeteasy, and the new york times crossword puzzle app. if im not working, i get up at noon and then ride my bike or walk somewhere for 6 hours. i try to either plan to make something or make something every week no matter what. i like to be prolific which means i love to make stuff but sometimes it means it's bad.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
my biggest influence is the tv show "seinfeld" which is the only show i was allowed to watch at my dad's house growing up. i think my chosen family is george costanza. i am short and angry so he is in my DNA. also "da ali g show" changed my life. i watched it for the first time during covid. i will say that i grew up without much media-based culture because my dad is an immigrant and my mom worked 3 jobs, so i guess my biggest influence was probably taking the subway my whole life???? i feel that i saw everyone in the world on the train because my commute to school was an hour one way through a lot of different neighborhoods. once i saw a business guy with a tattoo of a watch. plus a lot of other stuff such as one time anthony weiner before he was disgraced offered me a hotdog on the F train while he was running for mayor.
Favorite thing you own?
my favorite thing that i own is this picture someone in france drew of me meeting timothee chalamet. i am obsessed with timothee chalamet because i want to be him but also i know he needs to be guided and i think only a dyke can do that work...... basically i feel he needs me as much as i need him. but i met him last march and his fans freaked out about it because it was the first time he had been seen in public for months, and all these people made art from the pictures i posted. this person reached out and said "what's your address" and i said "no problem" even though maybe it was stupid to give out my address but i seriously wanted the picture..... it made me realize fame is insane and i do not know how people deal with it.
Favorite piece of art?
my favorite piece of art is this youtube video by a polish youtuber who staged an entire fake episode of ellen. i recommend watching the whole thing but i'll do my best to explain it. he (in real life) wants to get on ellen, so he makes a video where in it he wants to get on ellen and so he makes a video about wanting to get on ellen, which gets him on ellen. it's the most dedicated craftsmanship i've ever seen in a while and i think it made me feel like it's worth it to waste money on making stuff.
Something you’re liking right now?
going to WNBA games at the barclays center. this is the best thing you could do with your time. not a lot of people go which is a travesty but that means you will end up on the jumbotron every quarter. furthermore i think they feel like they have to overcompensate for not being popular, so they have three in house dance teams: the lil' torches (children), the torches (hot adult dancers), and the timeless torches (you must be over 40 to be on this team but i think everyone is 65). it is heaven on earth. the season starts in may and i seriously will be there every home game and i hope to see you there.
Check out Rachel’s playlist for ok nice here.
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