How Aubrey Plaza Landed A Role On "Parks and Recreation" | Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

It's conversations like this that remind you there are tons of talented people out there, but luck and especially timing plays a huge factor for many of the actors who "make it". I think Plaza is a unique comedic presence, and I'm glad the doors opened for her.

[@LowerTheBoom]

The Doors were a 60s rock 'n' roll group from California.

[@chrishei3111]

Getting her chops in NY probably toughened her up so LA seemed like a playground, then she just had the right attitude and a lotta luck

[@chrishei3111]

@@LowerTheBoom And they opened for her???

[@brandonrawlsmusic]

She blew Harvey weinstein freemasons and illuminati

[@johnquick1]

@@LowerTheBoom LMAO !! That was genius. 🤣🤣

[@avihs92]

I’m glad she can finally just have a conversation without having to deflect or be goofy. Seems like she’s more comfortable being herself now which is always a good thing to see.

[@justdoeverything8883]

Yeah! I've never seen her like this, probably how her friends know her. Love it.

[@MrAsmontero]

you missed the rest of the podcast then

[@josephreilly6328]

AND THEN

[@biggenius0891]

Looking at her face it looks early in the morning and she’s probably just tired and not 100% awake yet

[@Zebrowsky79]

i think that was always an act. This is probably who she really is.

[@AndorranStairway]

It's so nice to see Aubrey comfortable and having regular conversations. I've always admired her for how she used awkwardness in a humourous way to combat her anxiety.

[@travisinthetrunk]

She was really good on Off Camera with Sam Jones. The most comfortable I’ve ever seen her.

[@trebm3]

that was an act...

[@eirikwegga]

There's no audience, and she already knows and likes Conan. I think that has something to do with it.

[@corykobe3769]

They dont have "anxiety". They abuse anxiety meds to disassociate.

[@nukeruzzia3832]

i bet wiping her tears away with millions and millions of dollars also helps her combat anxiety

[@OMFGitsLUCAS]

Aubrey needs to play "sona" in the conan movie

[@henfarasubtitrare9764]

Yesss, exactly. As she was pitching April, all i could think about was "That's Sona!!!" 😅😂

[@jimr9499]

Holy wow...you, sir, are a genius. Damn that's so good. Props my friend. Props.

[@OMFGitsLUCAS]

@@jimr9499 cheers 🍻 🤣

[@mrtsbe1]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn you're right!!!!!

[@MeAuntieNora]

Yup. Yup. Perfect.

[@itsmekaustav77]

This is one episode where I'd really appreciate the whole video version. Aubrey and Conan have such incredible chemistry and half the fun goes if it's audio only.

[@theicedragonify]

Forreal I was listening to the pod and it sounded weird without the video

[@Whatever-ew4ti]

Where's the full video episode available on?

[@jimr9499]

@Whatever far as I know it's not. They just upload clips on here sometimes. And sadly that's all we get 😭

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Yeah, this is awesome. Aubrey is so cute.

[@pjnice]

If we ask hard enough, maybe they’ll release it.

[@dynamicgecko1213]

She is naturally funny! Everyone talks about parks & rec but I also loved her performance in Legion. An underrated role in an underrated show.

[@run_sun]

Definitely an underrated show!

[@cole1710]

She was hands down my favorite part of Legion

[@jacobharris954]

@@cole1710 wow two marvel shows

[@danielunderhill6086]

Aubrey is too cool! Gets the break of a lifetime and says “great, I didn’t even want to be on TV”. 😂

[@rustylee1836]

When she (barely extremely briefly) mentioned Upright Citizens Brigade I thought she was gonna say how she ACTUALLY got the audition. Amy Poehler is a core founder of the UCB comedy troupe. Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza were attending her UCB school. So when Aubrey said the meeting came out of nowhere... Well, yeah, Amy told them to call you. I remember at least 3 other UCB people on Parks and Rec, UCB co-founder Matt Besser, as well Nick Kroll and Ian Roberts

[@rustylee1836]

@@roadburdened Barely a factor? She said herself that it was out of nowhere in a field she wasn't pursuing. It wasn't just a factor, Amy and the UCB connection is the ONLY reason she was asked to audition. They literally wouldn't have known she existed.

[@nomurakenta2980]

An actual conversation where it’s not pre rehearsed. That’s why she’s so relaxed in this clip.

[@conandoobrien8605]

Sounds like Craig's TLLS.

[@EikottXD]

@@conandoobrien8605 The GOAT

[@JohnDoe-po3ku]

I think it has to do more with it not being live TV with a Live audience. Aubrey plaza never sounded very rehearsed.

[@remnant24]

Pre rehearsed, eh? As opposed to rehearsed during or rehearsed after?

[@EikottXD]

@@remnant24 got'em

[@margaretpeabody243]

Aubrey brings a nice sharp element to the podcast. Her nonchalant not caring about stuff is refreshing.

[@waynejones5635]

April is one of the funniest characters on TV. She's a little bit evil, but in a fun way, who loves to mess with people for her entertainment. Her behavior was side splittingly funny. Aubrey was the perfect actress to pull it off. How she kept a straight face during interviews is beyond me. They were considering hiring her. She almost told them to "Get lost dude" ... Perfect, your hired!!! 🤣

[@nkyryry]

She has one characteristic that got her those roles…. She’s unforgettable.

[@austins.2495]

Ghey

[@TheAdammantium]

Credit to Aubrey for all her success. But her story is a good indicator that success is sometimes pure luck - and it's refreshing to see her acknowledge that and point out her reluctance to even try to go far.

[@georgewashington9173]

Luck and talent. Is there a word for both?

[@wangray9456]

But she is quite unique though.

[@jme852]

i think it‘a also looks. How you look in Hollywood is the biggest thing. and you can’t change that. If you have a unique interesting attractive look PLUS personality and confidence. You’re in. and if you’re cool. Like if you know why pulp fiction is a good movie and CSI is bubblegum tv.

[@xshadowscreamx]

Right place, right time, right look and personality.

[@chesh05]

You say it's pure luck, but as she stated at the end, she landed three big gigs in one week. That isn't luck. If anything that's proof of talent and skill.

[@misterJOHNx007]

Yes! I was hoping Aubrey would be on the podcast. Loved when she was on the show and this clip does not disappoint. I wish there were full videos of each episode.

[@ichneumon2776]

We need Aubrey and Jeff Goldblum together.

[@Lurklen]

Hahaha, oh my god, I never realized how similar they are. They should play father and daughter or something.

[@monkehp]

The universe would fissure

[@skylarf9021]

That would poke a hole in the 5th demension, rupturing the space-time continuum, causing a black hole to form and swallow our solar system 😳😳😳

[@porgyt7177]

Or how about a buddy cop movie where they are in the TPF (Thought Police Force)... they confront people who are having existential crises and babble for about 10 minutes, therefore causing the culprit to need to take a nap.

[@pedxing]

currently sending bitcoin for tickets to this two-person show that does not exist.

[@SD-wg3xo]

Sona’s not here because two apathetic assistants in one room would just be too much.

[@CharlieBrown20XD6]

They would cancel each other out and create a singularity

[@brandonrawlsmusic]

She blew Harvey weinstein freemasons and illuminati

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

Thats not Sona?

[@charlesbronson2926]

I always felt like she just showed up on set and they rolled with it.

[@MikeB12800]

😂🤣

[@starxhilmie]

Thats how Conan made this podcast you meant Conan isnt?

[@charlesbronson2926]

@@starxhilmie no.

[@slewone4905]

I heard someone else tell how April was created, and Aubrey's version is similar. Basically it was on a whim. basically someone came in said I met this weird chick, I brought her in, you got to meet her, let's give her a job.

[@brandonrawlsmusic]

She blew Harvey weinstein freemasons and illuminati

[@turbo_brian]

Aubrey made the role, the writers got given a gift

[@jeffehren]

I have always had a crush on Aubrey Plaza. She's incredible.

[@Nobodysurvivesevenonebit]

I love conan and Aubrey together.

[@brandonrawlsmusic]

She blew Harvey weinstein freemasons and illuminati

[@kettyspikes]

She passed the vibe check so hard

[@whyilee]

"She's changed so many people's lives." "Not mine."

[@Chloe.zyxwvu]

Listening to this before watching had a completely different vibe. When I heard it, it sounded like Aubrey didn't want to be there, like she was just over interviews. Her tone was so different. Watching her, it does seem as though she left the entertainer side of her and is having a person-to-person conversation. The visual component changes so much. Aubrey, it's been surreal and a delight to see a different side. Conan, love the podcast, and hope we can see you on our screens again.

[@mattyteeth2308]

I love it when tv shows just make the actors look at the camera instead of having canned laughter. amazing for sure.

[@oblobear2093]

This is the most normal aubrey plaza interview. It is so refreshing. It's like she's acting like a normal person.

[@RSMoreno]

She is just being herself. She was playing a character in all the other interviews you’ve seen.

[@tsibtp2968]

@@RSMoreno i think it’s just aging and getting more comfortable, she still sorta acts like her “old self” in new interviews

[@RSMoreno]

@@tsibtp2968 I think you’re right… maybe she is comfortable being herself around Conan because it seems she’s been on his show a lot

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

​@@RSMoreno ​​She's also talked at length in other interviews (BFI, Hot Ones, Off Camera Show, etc.) about how the "talk show" format doesn't really work for her. Apparently talk shows are really planned out, and she gets uncomfortable pretending she's having the artificial conversation naturally for the first time, especially since her background is in improv. She always seems more comfortable when it's a more organic conversation, like this podcast. Her interviews with Conan are the best, though, and she's said he's her favourite host too. I love them together.

[@isocuda]

Aubrey "I wasn't even being weird" Everyone else: "Sure."

[@jlee2528]

Love how much Conan is riffing and doing bits on Aubrey's story and then when she says "you know how weird Greg Daniels is", he just has a short and deadly serious "yes I do."

[@totsbig]

Stumbled on this video. Reminded me of two things: 1. Yeah I like Aubrey Plaza, when and why did I stop watching her content in the first place? and, 2. Conan really brings the best out of her. S-tier host, really top of the line. Nice short clip!

[@osearthesp]

so true !

[@ftswarbill]

*Aubrey is amazing. Every single thing she does is awesome.*

[@thorstenoerts]

I'd religiously watch a weekly show that was just Conan interviewing Aubrey Plaza for 45 mins.

[@elisepentz1063]

Me too

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

I hope one day she decides to grace us with a podcast.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

Aubrey Plaza is like an old time celebrity where you can’t tell if their persona is a bit or not. 🤣

[@Desmondbrown73]

All they are is persona

[@TheKb117]

@@Desmondbrown73 All WE ARE is persona... Life is but a stage... or staged...

[@seewhativescene]

You watch her persona on your TV and your phone ​@@Desmondbrown73

[@whogg0521]

And THIS is why we all love her. Go get it girl!

[@carinagatta]

Love Aubrey! I love that she pitched the actual character….amazing.

[@wasteland6961]

Funny people is an underrated comedy gem that needed to be about 30 minutes shorter than it was. Scott Pilgrim is a love letter to my generation. And parks and rec is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. The late 2000's were a comedy goldmine, and we will never get that back.

[@jissanhuq3792]

Spot on. In a weird way Aubrey Plaza is really the Ramona Flowers

[@jaywinner328]

I don't know if Awkward Aubrey is an act or nerves but I think this is the first interview I see where she doesn't act that way and it's great to see.

[@sooperd00p]

I think it's the studio audience talk show environment that brings that out of her. She's sasid that it's just so forced and weird of a conversation combined with being sort of a press junket for a movie/tv. I don't blame her. As an actor you have to do it but that doesn't make it any less inauthentic of an interaction between two people.

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

​@@sooperd00p Ikr? I'd like to point a dozen bright lights at you while a crowd watches and laughs at your every move and you're expected to shoehorn an advertisement into weirdly pre-planned personal stories, and see how many people manage to *not* be awkward in that situation.

[@3rdeye931]

Aubrey seems like a totally new person. She seems to have more confidence and she speaks faster. I like it.

[@charlesbronson2926]

I love how Conan just riffs with people, even when it might be insulting. If you haven’t heard bill hader’s Conan “impression”, the whole clip is amazing. Conan is more than happy to degrade himself for our amusement, but really I think he gets more fun out of it than we do

[@travisinthetrunk]

The best impression ever.

[@marvin19966]

and he gets A LOT of head

[@inkydrink]

This is honestly the most normal I've ever seen her

[@sphinx12tt]

Her performance in Legion was superb

[@gerryy1]

I don't believe it has taken this long for her to come on the show. This is the episode we've all been waiting for haha

[@MarMaxGaming]

it's amazing how people have to grind and juggle, and also get so lucky to be involved in their big moment.

[@Smashyoursymbols]

Lmao I love Aubrey Plaza

[@PathosConsultingGroup]

wow she’s suuuper different than in her conan interviews from tv

[@oicsaywhat]

She’s awesome! Love her personality and humor

[@novusordoseclorumrexbaptis1943]

Aubrey really genuinely funny love her

[@LM085]

I don’t think a lot of people get Aubrey’s comedy but I really love it - it’s refreshingly funny and unique.

[@nubreed1980]

Team April and Team Coco forever.

[@RyneMurray23]

She seems like such a cool person. I love her haha

[@michealclarke22]

Alison Jone sis so underrated! , those classic comedies all were casting directed by her!

[@mohammedelshaer4923]

Aubrey is so amazing.

[@sorrisoro]

Just finished listening to this episode… god, I love them together!

[@jrecinos97]

She’s gotta one of my favorite ppl in Hollywood

[@tommylakindasorta3068]

Maybe she got lucky, but it's pretty obvious from her interviews that Aubrey Plaza is incredibly bright. She can bat it back and forth all day long with the sharpest person in all of television. Very few people have the quick-wittedness to do that. I think she would have become big eventually no matter what.

[@jissanhuq3792]

She’s incredibly confident and quick witted. Does not shrink in the moment

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

​@@jissanhuq3792 I get the vibe that she's super hard-working and dedicated to her craft too.

[@BeSkeptical851]

I love Aubrey Plaza just because she has the best death stare by any actress I have ever seen.

[@justtwobrotherspokemon]

Aubery is as funny as a stand up comedian. Her timing and delivery I'd spot on. Watch some of her earlier interviews with conan of late night it's comedy gold.

[@MusicLover-my6fo]

The fact that Aubrey Plaza pitched the idea of April Ludgate to the showrunner and then had to audition to literally play herself just makes the subtle comedy of Parks and Recreation all the more hilarious.

[@tximinoman]

"I was just a lucky little waitress from Queens" After the story she just told that sounds like the understatement of the century.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

She actually seems relaxed here.

[@TurisasFTW]

Because there is no audience.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

@@TurisasFTW Fair enough, that checks out.

[@mypal1990]

Aubrey was so chill on the episode. And her deadpan is so funny!

[@Vivaf189]

I want to see the entire podcast in video format

[@Despond]

The way she delivered the: "uhh okay" was hilarious.

[@paulkossak7761]

I've been watching her on talk shows for years and I swear I don't know if any of her stories are true, but I love her.

[@lazyprodigy2774]

Greg is if "never let them know your next move" was a person lmao 🤣

[@peteralmeida8321]

Aubrey Plaza is on my top 3 conan guests.

[@Banankos]

It's almost as unusual seeing and hearing Aubrey Plaza speaking normally rather than as "Aubrey Plaza / April Ludgate" as it was to recently seeing rare footage of Gilbert Gottfried speaking in his normal voice. 😯

[@drawingwithezra4212]

That wasn’t his normal voice?!?!

[@expressarts87]

I gotta audition next time in jean shorts lol 😂

[@selimsevim]

I love how Conan and Aubrey talk. It is always that kind of vibe like Aubrey is Conan's daughter that he left when she was a little girl and they never talked until Aubrey made it and became a movie star. Then, she wants to do these interviews with her dad all the time to show him that she is big deal now. However, she also sometimes becomes that insecure/rebellious/reckless teenage girl who had gone through all the struggles without having a father in the middle of those conversations by trying to hide these conflicts from her father. When she feels this, she fires all the weirdness she has to put her really intelligent, quick-witted comedian father in awkward pauses being speechless as a revenge.

[@ralbarran03]

If i had to pay for a subscription to see all the vid versions of Conan's podcast I'd totally do it

[@dreamrestore213]

I ALMOST screamed like a little girl when I saw her name on the last episode.

[@talkingmeme1101]

Conan: asks a very basic question. Aubrey : explains a possibly most insane story and end it with "I don't know" Conan who's intrigued by the story : goes along with the story. Aubrey and everyone else: pervertttt.... Love this duo.

[@nunontherunnumberone]

"Not mine" is the most relatable line of this interview. ❤

[@nunontherunnumberone]

Oh wait: "I don't even know what I was doing in the meeting"

[@fadedmofo]

Loved this episode, listened to it twice at work.

[@stevenwarner7348]

Aubrey has described her "acting school" experience ~~~ Pranking cops in New York City ~~~. What a hoot. ~~~ the best !

[@loganvorrias5487]

Omgggg Aubrey and Conan together again🥺💓😂

[@im.m2118]

I’m embarrassed to admit this but I SCREAMED at work when i saw that Aubrey did the podcast 😩

[@jimr9499]

Lol you're the second comment I read, and the third person I know of (including myself) who screamed when they read Aubrey's name in the title lol.

[@jimr9499]

So don't be embarrassed! There are more of us out here!

[@grahamstrouse1165]

It’s crazy that she landed three major roles like that in the span of a few weeks!

[@GameTesterBootCamp]

3:40 Ohhhh! If you think about it, Mike was actually testing to see if she would be a good fit for "The Good Place". He would ask actors that question when he would audition them for the show. Very cool.

[@DEADLY6Z]

She is amazing! One of my fav actors.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

She did a great impression of him. 😂😂

[@al3xj]

Conan! So good to see you !

[@MarkRadfordAZ]

"... in the right place at the right time ...in the right...... Jean shorts..." 🤣🤣

[@nonoo]

No makeup at all. Still pretty af. ❤️💯❤️💯

[@Demane69]

Love this format.

[@skyetc4317]

i love watching how intimidated conan seems by how funny aubrey is lol

[@tubiviral9093]

Do they not release the full video of the podcasts?

[@kdiggity1]

Dude, I love Aubrey Plaza. Just 120% awkward and cool.

[@laranpadduman2780]

Loving the no make up look. Aubrey is real! I love her very much!

[@kit2770]

"He was knitting a functional Rubiks Cube." Lol. That would really be something.

[@SARJdk]

Aubreys part in her hair is as magnetic as her personality, keep coming back to it.

[@junglemogley2295]

Brilliant - love her sense of humour..!!

[@zaneberry]

FULL VIDEO EPISODES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE

[@blackgeekfandom]

I went to Google to look up Allison Jones. Legend isn't the word to describe her. I see why Conan joked at a deal with the devil. There is nothing you can say about this woman's career that would do it justice. Her career is beyond GOAT. Just wow.

[@Barl3000]

I love when Aubrey does interviews "out of character", even though her regular interviews are really funny.

[@abrackas1]

In another universe when Aubrey Plaza auditions for the role of “Aubrey” she loses it to someone who plays her better than herself. At first she’s like “What! This is insane! Get out!” But they bring her into one of those one-way mirror interrogation rooms where she observes a performance by this other person that’s so enthralling she weeps in approval. That person? You guessed it… Frank Stallone.

[@austins.2495]

Aubrey reminds me of someone I used to know, who I miss very much.

[@skabcat242]

I always liked how Aubrey can just be herself.

[@JR_722]

Awesome interview.

[@LC-ht7sg]

Charming woman. Great in shows/ movies/talk shows. Her husband is awesome. Talented dude.

[@dreamrestore213]

Too bad Sona wasn't there.... I always wondered what her and Aubrey interacting would be like.

[@WorstUsernamEvr]

Probably like all other Sona interactions - someone says something witty/funny and Sona just replies with a buzz-kill "oh yeah," "uh huh," or any other improv ruining reply. Let's not pretend that she's anything but an assistant who's riding Conan's coattails.

[@_TheDudeAbides_]

Everyone who says she is not herself in other interviews, are you exactly in the same mood all the time, no matter the situation? I know I am not, anyway.

[@brandonday2494]

Yeah it would be pretty bizarre to be the same at all times and in all instances. Pretty bold for someone to decide what Aubrey's "one true self" is to begin with.

[@minister2965]

Also note that Conan and Aubrey are friends irl so they're more casual cause its genuine

[@EmoryStudy]

Give us live action Daria, starring Aubrey

[@radhiadeedou8286]

Isn't it too late for her to play a teenager

[@EmoryStudy]

@@radhiadeedou8286 makeup and fx