Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out 176. Jane Wickline & Liva Pierce: SNL, Dukes, and Working Out Songs
How Comedy Duos Like Dukes Form and Create Together
Jane Wickline and Liva Pierce, known as Dukes, met in a way that felt almost like a date—taking a long bus ride and watching part of the movie The Graduate together. They bonded over their shared love for sketch comedy and quickly started collaborating creatively.
Their process involves constantly pitching ideas and being comfortable rejecting what doesn't work, aiming for fertile, generative ideas that spark further creativity. They also mention the challenge of navigating a crowded comedy scene with short mic slots, which influences joke writing to be tight and punchy.
This episode offers a fascinating look into the dynamics of comedy duos, how collaboration demands honesty and fluidity, and how they strive to create seamless, no-blackout sketch shows. Their story also touches on the emotional rollercoaster of pursuing comedy careers and the ways personal relationships shape their comedy.
Dukes Duo Origin Story
- Jane Wickline and Liva Pierce met on a long bus ride and bonded over watching The Graduate together.
- Their friendship began with shared creative interests, not romance, leading to their comedy duo Dukes.
Arrive Early to Perform
- Arrive early and familiarize yourself with the performance space to manage nerves.
- Jane showed up 40 minutes early to her SNL screen test, which helped her emotionally prepare.