Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Carol Leifer
27 snips
Apr 21, 2025 
Carol Leifer, a talented comedian and writer known for her work on Seinfeld and Hacks, shares her journey from stand-up in the '70s to writing iconic comedy. She reveals how her early inexperience helped her land a job on Seinfeld and shares a hilarious story about opening for Frank Sinatra. The conversation also dives into the art of crafting funny speeches and the evolution of women in stand-up comedy. Plus, humorous tales about her family’s cat offer a lighthearted twist to an engaging dialogue about comedy and creativity.
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Early Stand-Up Beginnings
- Carol Leifer's path to stand-up began with a strong first audition but also immediate reality checks on bombing nights.
- Early success didn't come easily; persistence and learning from bad shows were crucial to her growth.
TV Validates Comedians’ Status
- Getting on television legitimizes comedians in ways live performances alone cannot.
- A TV appearance opens doors and shifts perception to ‘one of them’ within the comedy community.
Inexperience as an Advantage
- Carol's relative lack of sitcom experience was an asset when hired for Seinfeld.
- Inexperience avoided the stereotype of being "poisoned by the system," appealing to Larry and Jerry.