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A Conversation with Mary Gallagher
34 Plays9 days ago
This week, join us for a special episode where we sit down with Mary Gallagher, who played Tilly, Eddie's ex-girlfriend! Mary gives us the inside scoop on what it was like to be cast on Friends, and her experiences on set. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Guest: Mary Gallica
00:00:02
Speaker
Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Purple Door podcast. We are taking a little break from our usual format for something extra special.
00:00:13
Speaker
Today we are sitting down with the incredibly talented Mary Gallica, the actress who played Tilly, Eddie's girlfriend, in the upcoming episode. It's a fun behind-the-scenes chat you will not want to miss, but don't worry, we will be back next week with our regular review and all the usual Purple Door goodness.
00:00:33
Speaker
So for now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy our conversation with Mary Gallagher.
Mary Gallagher's Diverse Acting Career
00:00:45
Speaker
Today we are joined by someone whose face and voice you'll almost certainly recognize, even if you can't quite place it at first. Mary Gallagher is a versatile actress and comedian whose career has spanned sitcoms, drama and even some animation.
00:01:00
Speaker
She's popped up in shows we all know and love, from How I Met Your Mother to Mad About You and even Becca, and then dramatic turns in Grey's Anatomy and The West Wing.
00:01:10
Speaker
And she's even lent her voice to a 108-year-old woman on the cult animated series, Duckman. But perhaps her most memorable TV moment for Friends fans was ah her hilarious appearance as Tilly, Eddie's girlfriend, in one unforgettable episode.
00:01:26
Speaker
Mary has built a career out of stealing scenes with humour, heart, and impeccable timing. And today we get to hear her story in her own words. So Mary, thank you so much for joining us and how are you today?
00:01:40
Speaker
Oh, I'm really good, you guys. I'm thrilled to be here and to make some new friends today with you two. Yes. Look at you go. I love it. I see what you did there. It was so good.
00:01:54
Speaker
It's so good. Had to do it, Deanne. Had to do it. Love it. Well, so who is Mary Gallagher? Tell us a bit about yourself. Yeah, okay. um So i've I've been out in Los Angeles for about 30, 35 years now. I don't know. So I think I'm from LA. At some point, do you realize you're so you're you're there so long that you're like, I think I'm from here now.
00:02:18
Speaker
I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin originally, and I came out to Los Angeles to start acting and improv and stand up and here we are. So yeah, I've been out here for a while, really digging it. I really enjoy Los Angeles and um i raised my daughter here. I have a 19 year old daughter and she's away at college now, which is why I have time to talk to you guys.
00:02:45
Speaker
I love that. I also have a 19 year old daughter, i have two daughters and Wilson has a couple of sons. So we're all in the scene heart right of life. yeah that's right i was hearing about george right yeah i do i have a george who just turned 12 and then i have a fred who is 17 and in his senior year right now so i will breathe i will breathe all take a moment to breathe yep thank you thank you
00:03:17
Speaker
Yeah, I go through a lot of the same things, Mary, because I was born and raised in Scotland, spent half my life there, and now half in the Dallas area, give or take. So when people say, where are you from? I'm never quite sure which one they're asking about.
00:03:31
Speaker
Yeah, you're you're a man of international means, right, Alistair? You're everywhere. This is it. As of last year, I have two passports, which I'm very excited about. It feels very James Bond-esque. Yes, I didn't even know we could have two passports. That's awesome. It's a great, depending that what two, you can. so it's a great thing.
00:03:49
Speaker
Yeah, and depending how you're dealing with the law and this crazy country, it could be good, it could be bad, I'm guessing. No. Exactly. Exactly. That's it. Well, why don't you tell us, just get the ball rolling. We'd love to hear your friend story. You know, how did you come to be the infamous Tilly
Auditioning for Friends: A Serendipitous Opportunity
00:04:08
Speaker
on Friends? Yeah, absolutely. Well, was back in the day when we had pagers. Are you guys, ah you're probably old enough to remember pagers. Oh, yeah.
00:04:15
Speaker
We all have kids. Yeah. So I had my pager and I was at work. I was working as a personal assistant, one of many jobs that I did in Los Angeles when I first moved out here.
00:04:26
Speaker
And um so I'm a dog sitter, I love animals, and I was dog sitting one of the producers of Friends. And I had been dog sitting him and his girlfriend's dog for about a year.
00:04:40
Speaker
And I saw this show blowing up. And finally I got up the courage. I asked him, I said, is there any chance I could give you my headshot and resume to give to the casting, you know, of your show?
00:04:52
Speaker
And he's like, you're an actor. And I'm like, I am, you know, so I gave it to him and he passed it on to the casting director. And I think about four days later, you guys, I got this page.
00:05:04
Speaker
from casting at Warner Brothers. And I remember I had to leave my job and I went to the audition. And after I got the part, I came onto the set, you know, ah f Friends. um The next week I was on set and that producer who I was dog sitting for came up to me and he goes, I have to admit, Mary, I didn't even know if you could act. I just knew you took really good care of my dog.
00:05:31
Speaker
So I was like, it pays to be good to pets, you guys. It pays to be good to pets and people. That sounds like a great life lesson right there. Right? Be a nice person. Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, that's how I got the audition. And um I remember when I walked into Warner Brothers for the audition, I didn't like have representation. I was a rather new you know person in town.
00:05:57
Speaker
And when you sign in for these auditions, you have to write your name and your agent and everyone else at the audition was like CAA, William Morris, UTA Gersh. And I was like, uh, here's my pager. You know, I didn't have representation. So was very kismet that I, you know, things aligned for me to go in there and to audition because that was, I had been on TV before, but that was really my first kind of real,
00:06:28
Speaker
role, you know, as far as like, I think the other one I had was burger customer number one um on on Sister Sister. if you I don't know if you guys remember that. I remember Sister Sister.
00:06:40
Speaker
We've talked about Sister Sister. We have. We have discussed that. Yes. You were burger girl number one? Number one. And not two. Not number two.
00:06:52
Speaker
I'm moving up. Yeah. yeah OK. So, you know, didn't quite have a role with a name. Right. So this actually was a you know, a real role um and little trivia for you guys. I know you'll appreciate this because you know so much about the show.
00:07:06
Speaker
The role that I auditioned for was originally Claudia. Really? Yes. I'm making a note. I know you are. yeah i but You know everything. I'm like, she doesn't know this one.
00:07:25
Speaker
I did not. I've read a couple of friends' books that is not in there. I don't even think you guys, I don't even think the writers would remember that one. I just remember because I got the script in the size and I was like, oh my gosh, I'm auditioning for Claudia. But then by the time I got there, you know, everything's changing. it would it changed. to I love it I wonder why is a great name. Yeah.
00:07:48
Speaker
youma I, man. um maybe some but Maybe somebody in the higher ups was like, I had a girlfriend named Claudia and I didn't like her. We're changing this name.
00:08:00
Speaker
Or maybe they just, you gave like a, or a chilly vibe they changed it for you. That's what I think. I love that you think that.
00:08:11
Speaker
I love that. my other my One of my other favorite shows is Frasier and there's a famous character in Frasier, a famous, she was in a dozen episodes called, she was originally called Laura But then somebody got in touch with the show and basically said that the story is that they were going to sue because it was her same first and last name and they're using it. So from the second episode on it's Lana instead of Laura.
00:08:35
Speaker
They had to go over it. Isn't that Yeah, funny. Oh my gosh. It's so interesting, isn't it? When you find out the history behind all of these things, it's just really something that's kind of fun to latch onto.
00:08:46
Speaker
I think that's, I don't want to speak for Wilson, but think that's one of our favorite things about this podcast is it makes us go a little deeper into each episode. And we love finding out about all these fun backstories.
00:08:58
Speaker
Yeah. when i When I heard you guys in the last episode talk about Chandler's um toothbrush being red, it made me think about, like, i'm a huge Beatles fan and me and my best friend would sit around and we'd be like, okay, 9 Cavendish Avenue, what is the color of the carpeting in the kitchen? You know, all the parties own...
00:09:16
Speaker
And like we were so into because it's so much fun, I think, too, to cultivate that relationship with the other people and having this shared common interest. It really creates like I'm assuming. Well, I'm not assuming. I'll just say it it create it. It creates like a bond and a family, doesn't it? Like a familiar vibe.
00:09:36
Speaker
Yes. Yes. and And it and also kind of opens up. that it's okay to be silly like that and to be into and pulling apart and thinking about and diving deep, you know, like. And thank you for saying that.
00:09:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's really true. Cause I think for a long time, I kind of was embarrassed of my knowledge of trivia ah of the Beatles because I spent most of my childhood studying them.
00:10:03
Speaker
And then when I got into the real world, I was like, oh, I don't really know anything except about, you know, John Lennon's dog. But the thing is, is that that's what kept me safe and and feeling good as a child. So it should not just be swept under the rug. That made me who I am today. Like, I definitely latched on to something where that was a good vibe for me, you know.
00:10:27
Speaker
Yeah, it's, um I was, ah go ahead, Deanne, go ahead. No, no, I was like, I'm sorry, because, yes, yes, I think about, like, sports statistics of, like, the 1990 to 1993 Chicago Cubs.
00:10:43
Speaker
That's a very random and but specific thing, but, like, whenever I was, I was in middle school, like, I knew all these different facts and things like that, and what a weird and random and ah You know, the Beatles is a lot more mainstream, but like I live in Texas. I grew up in Texas. There's no reason.
00:11:02
Speaker
No reason. There's ridiculous things about like. ah Yeah, like Mark Grace, the first spaceman that had this batting average. and Why? I don't know. Well, do you meet people where you have that bond suddenly because they know those statistics too?
00:11:20
Speaker
Yes. So that was one of the things my husband and i bonded over. like The first thing was a band. and And I say obscure. They're not. But Bowling for Soup.
00:11:31
Speaker
They're from Denton. And, you know, they sing like the Phineas and Ferb theme song. Oh, cool. I love that. i was I saw them in concert a few times. And so that was actually the first kind um conversation, like real of any substance that my husband and I had.
00:11:47
Speaker
So then that opened up music. And then it was like, oh, and then Chicago Cubs. Like it the 90, 93, that group, you know, and it was like, yeah, because I watched them in the afternoon because they only played during the day.
00:12:03
Speaker
So after school, if you wanted to watch a baseball game, that's what you watch. Makes perfect sense. Sorry, I just went off. I'm sorry. I love it. I love it. You're talking about the color of the carpet. and It's just so fun.
00:12:20
Speaker
Whenever you find somebody who has those same random things, it creates Yeah, community. Life is tough enough. you know We've all got stress. Why not have something that's fun and safe and warm and comfortable, a show from our, you know that we can just all bond over.
00:12:38
Speaker
Yeah, it's really true, Alistair. And I think it also shows that I can be curious about anything. right So if I ever thought I wasn't learning enough or I didn't have a unique talent, I would remember, oh, wait, I know a lot about the Beatles.
00:12:52
Speaker
That's where I was curious at that age. but I bring that same curiosity now to stand up and to so many things that like it's just an innate ability, right? That when you're in alignment with who you are, you can, I'll say it, do and, you know, anything, right? Because you're like, oh, I'm i'm really feeling this.
00:13:14
Speaker
So really taught me a lot about confidence. So I have to ask you one question because I will forget. There's an an Instagram account that I love called Subway Takes. And I forget the chap's name, but he basically says, what's your take? And he asked somebody. Now it's usually famous people because it's exploded.
00:13:30
Speaker
Like a controversial opinion. And he says, I agree or disagree. And then they try and kind of justify the opinion. just yeah Just yesterday, one guy said it's impossible to have a favorite Beatle.
00:13:43
Speaker
And because they all lean on each other so much. So it's like, if somebody says their favorite Beatle is Ringo Starr, they're not a true fan because Ringo can't be Ringo without John and George. or michael block yeah Exactly. And and um I like the Beatles.
00:13:57
Speaker
I've got a couple of albums. I wouldn't call myself ah like a super fan, but even I've been thinking about that since I heard that. i was like um Because without one part, they're not the Beatles. Yeah, it's so cool.
00:14:09
Speaker
yeah i i'm totally on board with that i really like that actually how about you dianne what do you think i don't know that's that's i love that yeah yeah because if you think about man like a good solid team you you have to have all the parts And you can't have one without the rest for it to really... You guys, gonna cry oh right yeah I'm so You're so awesome. I'm so excited to be having this conversation. My heart's all warm and fuzzy. We're all part of the whole right now. This is it. What a beautiful moment.
00:14:52
Speaker
I love it. Well, speaking of being part of the whole, you went from auditioning to getting the part. You were part of the forensic. How did that feel? What happened? Did you just get a call?
00:15:03
Speaker
ah page? Yeah, you know, it's funny when Leslie lit opened the door to her casting office and she said my name and you know, then you walk down this long hall.
00:15:14
Speaker
I had an immediate good feeling. I had this feeling of just joy and levity. I was like, oh, I wasn't nervous. I wasn't. um I just remember her smile and her welcoming me in and just being very much at ease.
00:15:28
Speaker
So when I went in there and I did the audition, um you know, as actors, sometimes we have the tendency to let something else take over, right? Whether it's like a distraction or we just don't feel like we're always in our body. But I just remember feeling very much in my body. And I was like, yeah, you know that that's it. It felt real to me.
00:15:48
Speaker
And then she said to me, um that was really great, Mary. ah you know, She said something like where she invited me to talk about myself and to say more.
00:16:01
Speaker
And you guys, I had this feeling that I should politely say, you guys later, because I knew at that point I could only lose the part by saying something stupid.
00:16:14
Speaker
And that's just my age at the time. That was because I was new in the business. But I very much was like, you know, oh, yeah, my name is Mary. I like dogs. I got to go.
00:16:27
Speaker
You know, now I'm a little bit more relaxed. I think I would be fine just hanging in the room and conversing with someone. But at the time, you guys, I knew it was time to wrap it up and get the hell out there.
00:16:41
Speaker
How neat. Yeah, it was really neat. Yeah, I knew that I did what I came to do, and that was just a big win for me because, um like I said, all the other people in the room, in the lobby, were from these large agencies.
00:16:55
Speaker
Yeah, that's got to be super intimidating to be starting off in that. and I can't even imagine what that would be like. Yeah, it was. And then after I got the part, a lot of casting in Los Angeles called me into their office, not because they were going to cast me on something, but they were like, they'd call me they'd lock the door and then they go, so what are the friends like?
00:17:22
Speaker
I was like, okay, yeah, we'll get into it. But it's funny. I noticed it was just such a cultural phenomenon that people wanted to talk about what it was like being on the show more so than, you know, hey, we got another project for you, Mary. Yeah. I was going to ask you about that because we all know now it's a cultural phenomenon and it was at the time, but it still had to grow.
00:17:45
Speaker
So I was trying to figure out at what point did it become this blockbuster. And was that when you were on, was it already huge? I was trying to think about that, too, the other day, because I think it was happening around the time I was on, because I remember when I came on set, do you guys remember that the um the cast was getting like death threats? That's terrible to say, but there was a big security problem.
00:18:11
Speaker
And so when I walked on the set, security was so intense. I was like, oh, there's something happening here that's not like the normal soundstage at Warner Brothers.
00:18:22
Speaker
And I made this very... immature mistake. I had a friend, another actor who was on the lot that day. And I was like, hey, I'm over on Friends. You should come by and see me. And he's like, okay, I'll walk over there.
00:18:35
Speaker
So I didn't know that you have to get clearance for things like this. You have to tell people that you're expecting a guest. You can't just invite someone to the friend set. I didn't know that. So my friend goes to the door and like four people are on him going, what do you want? And he's like, Mary Gallagher invited me. And I'm like, oh, don't say that.
00:18:56
Speaker
So anyway, i I learned a lesson that day that, you know, this is very serious business and everything was fine. But someone talked to me and I was like, oh, never, ever did that again. you know, this is like major.
00:19:10
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Were the death threats and this of the the CD or the sad side of it because they were just famous? Or do know what? I don't know. don't know either. Yeah, I wonder. I'm thinking it was just because of the popularity at that point. But you know, what's interesting is I did have a manager and my manager was sitting in the audience for the taping of the show.
00:19:33
Speaker
And after i got out of my Tilly makeup and clothing, I went out to say hello to my manager in the audience. And then I went back to my dressing room.
00:19:45
Speaker
Well, they were like, excuse me, ma'am, can we help you? And I was like, oh yeah, I'm just going to my dressing room. He's like, sure you are. Why don't you go sit back down in the audience? And I was like, no, no, no, I was just on the show. He's like, of course you were. If you could go sit down. So I needed again, someone to come over and go, oh yeah, that's Mary Gallagher. She's, you know, let her come back. But you guys, I think I learned a lot that day.
00:20:12
Speaker
You're a troublemaker is what we're learning. I'm a troublemaker. Don't hire Right. That's phenomenal.
Fast-paced TV Production on Friends
00:20:19
Speaker
and so What's the time frame of this like? Like from the audition to being Tilly and your makeup? Yeah.
00:20:25
Speaker
Is it long time? moves pretty quick. It moves pretty quick. TV moves pretty quick. So I think I got the audition maybe like on a, maybe like on a I don't know, let's just say you get it on a Wednesday and then you have about 24 hours to look at it Thursday you get called in.
00:20:44
Speaker
And then Friday you get a phone call. I'm just making up the days because I don't remember. But within 48 hours you've been booked. And then let's say Monday you show up to set.
00:20:55
Speaker
and you usually are rehearsing for four days on the set. And then on the fifth day, the fourth or fifth day, you film live in front of an audience. So you're there for about a week.
00:21:05
Speaker
And then, you know, I always say then it's a, you know, a swift kick in the pants back to reality because now you're no longer on the front set. And, you know, then I'm back to hustling, dog sitting and personal assistant jobs.
00:21:18
Speaker
But yeah, it's usually a week long that you work and about 48 hours to go through the process of getting booked. That's so, it's just, it's a world I know nothing about. um And Deanne knows it a little more than I do. I make fun of her because she has an IMDB page and she's, yeah, she's fancy. She's kind of fancy. You may not have realized you're in such a steam company here, but you know. I did.
00:21:42
Speaker
i I was in some of the film. I bet your IMDb is probably much hotter than mine these days. I'm going to check it out. Yes, I mean, the college short films that I did for my brother's friend, I'm just saying.
00:21:58
Speaker
was great. know Not everybody can that. Angry Angry mom. Angry mom. Yeah. And not just angry mom, not angry mom number one or two, but just angry.
00:22:11
Speaker
Angry mom. The angry mom, the one that hits them with the purse. and Okay. Good for you. Yeah, right. So talking about um the friends set and everything like that and thinking about how, you know, we like kindness and all of those things.
00:22:31
Speaker
Your time on the set, was there anybody who stood out that was like extremely kind or extremely professional that just kind of stands out in your mind? Yeah, absolutely. So a couple of people actually.
Friendship and Kindness on Set
00:22:44
Speaker
um So Tom Selleck was one of the guest stars, the recurring guest stars during that time. And I remember Tom Selleck knocking on my dressing room door and I'm coming out and he's like, hi, my name is Tom. And I'm like, oh yeah, hi, my name is So the fact that he went out of his way to introduce me, I felt like, wow, here's a man who has been in the industry and has seen the highs and lows of how this works. And he must have known how incredibly nervous I was, how, you know, you're not, people are not hanging out with you. The friends are together and then you're kind of by yourself. So it's a bit
00:23:24
Speaker
ah isolating, a bit intimidating. So he really went out of his way. He was like, Mary, get out here. I need you coming out here. next you know Stand next to me so we can hang out. So we really got to be great friends. That was fantastic. Matthew Perry went out of his way to say hello to me. He said, do you want to go over here and rehearse the scene and work on it? I'm like, i yeah, could I be more excited?
00:23:48
Speaker
So we did did that. um Lisa Kudrow went out of her way to say hello to me. um ah David Schwimmer went out of his way. I think these are all people who, you know, they were guest stars on TV shows. They know what it's like.
00:24:02
Speaker
You know, you're very replaceable. you're You're excited, but you're trying to keep up. So they went out of their way. um And I also remember just like,
00:24:14
Speaker
The people who were on sound and video, they were always helping me when they mic'd me up. The one guy was like, um are you a little nervous? I was like, i am.
00:24:25
Speaker
He goes, yeah, because we can all hear your heartbeat in the sound booth. Wow. So, you know, just look, yeah, just little people. I mean, just little things that were lessening the pressure and guiding me.
00:24:38
Speaker
um I wore Courtney's Courtney Cox's pants on the episode. And I am so much bigger than Courtney Cox, you guys, and the pants wouldn't zip up. So they're like, oh, well, we'll just put this coat over you that will cover up the fact that the pants don't zip. And I'm like, okay.
00:24:58
Speaker
Okay. that's It's good for your ego, isn't it? that's Really good for my ego, right? um so I remember that was fun. um Yeah, and yeah, Matt LeBlanc also made me feel very welcomed. I remember Jennifer Aniston was, you know, just so busy and had so much focus on her her and Courtney in particular, I noticed that they kind of were together a lot, which I thought was really cool. Maybe they were kind of like, you know, like self soothing, you know what I mean? Like, okay, there's a lot of pressure, but we got each other.
00:25:33
Speaker
um So that was really neat. But yeah, I did feel very welcomed. And um I also just was learning so much every moment because it it was a lot. It was a lot, especially for someone like me who had not had who had not been on something to that level.
00:25:50
Speaker
You know, i love it And I'm guessing that this is you've been on a variety of sets. You've got a long career. It's not the case on all sets. Yeah, that's really true.
00:26:02
Speaker
Right. You're right. It's not the case on all sets. um I noticed when I a couple years ago did NCIS. Do you guys ever watch that? That has been on for so long. And I came on, you know, after it had already been on years and years, I was like, wow.
00:26:19
Speaker
This is such a well-oiled machine. Like you show up, you go here, then you go there, then this person does this. Like every moment you completely are covered. There's no guessing with what is happening next. With, for me, Friends, there was a little bit more of me trying to kind of to figure out what where maybe I should go. And, you know, it was a newer show. And plus they were dealing with a whole lot of big things, you know?
00:26:49
Speaker
Right. That's so interesting. It is, isn't it? Yeah. Like that. And I think, I think Deanna and both, we both love the show on a surface level. It's funny. It's, it's a break away from the real world, but it's all this behind the scenes stuff. I think we both find just fascinating.
00:27:05
Speaker
Wilson, I think you've got another question or two. Is that right? Yeah. So you've talked some about how um it it was,
00:27:16
Speaker
kind of your breakout and, you know, the first experience with that. Um, but did, did people recognize you as Tilly ever?
00:27:27
Speaker
So yeah. um A couple of people did back then, right? Because my hair, I have a lot of highlights now. My hair is naturally dark. So I think when I had dark hair, they might have. um Yeah. And then I met someone at a restaurant where they said that they work with someone who did that part. And I was like, what do you mean? They're like, oh, well, I work with another server. And they told me that was them on TV. I'm like, that was me.
00:27:58
Speaker
So I think it's one of those things where they say people lie on their resume, you know, that maybe there were other people saying that they did that part. So I thought that was kind of funny because I think it was, you know, big enough for the sense that you're getting some momentum in your career, but still small enough that nobody nobody knows you know what i mean so it's interesting now there's a little bit more you know intrigue on the show all these years later which is why you guys and i are talking but um yeah so i think at the time um not so much dian not so much no
00:28:37
Speaker
more people think i'm jennifer aniston when i do stand-up comedy or you know they joke they say you look like jennifer aniston i'm like yeah jennifer aniston from wisconsin you know i'm what jennifer aniston would look like if she ate carbs
00:28:57
Speaker
oh my goodness no no okay if you could have played and i'm i'm just i'm We're going to go. If you could have played any character, any character on Friends, a main character or a supporting character, who would you pick and why?
00:29:18
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'm very much like a Monica when she showed up at the boys apartment with her cleaning supplies and she goes, I can't sleep. You guys, that is so me. That is so me. And I think also when she doodles, she does a lady bug with a top hat and they're like, why does it have a top hat? She's like, cause it's fancy.
00:29:37
Speaker
Like that is so me. So yeah, I think I'm a Monica. Yeah. I love that you I mean, i was going to ask you about this. Like, do you as an observer enjoy the show?
00:29:50
Speaker
And I think that's just answered the question. But those nice references. I really do. And I don't know if you guys have experienced this, but once your kids know something right, like I kind of forgot about friends, but then my daughter came out of covid and went to school.
00:30:06
Speaker
And everyone had watched Friends over COVID, right? A lot of younger people got into it. And my daughter came home one day. She goes, Mom, you were on Friends. And I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was. That was such a big deal to her because other kids had known about it.
00:30:24
Speaker
So I was like, wow, when something is cool with young people, right? I'm sure you guys believe it's a little different. Yeah.
00:30:35
Speaker
Wow. That's cool. Yeah, yeah definitely it's definitely seen a resurgence in the you know the streaming age. There's no doubt that I don't know the numbers, but yeah, everyone's watching it again, I feel.
00:30:48
Speaker
Yeah. Well, and there's such universal themes. That are ageless, that that anybody can connect with, you know, whether it's ah the theme of of close friends and working through issues or you know, and romance and all the things. There's just so many universal themes that are timeless.
00:31:10
Speaker
It's really true, isn't it? And I've also been noticing like how good of a physical comedian a lot of them are like, yeah, je Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox doing the eye drops.
00:31:23
Speaker
you guys know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Oh my God, that is brilliant. Being chased around and I'm like, they're really good physical comedians. um Just talking about that, we recorded yeah the episode that you will have listed, maybe listed the the quiz.
00:31:39
Speaker
The episode just before yours is where Jennifer Aniston, obviously, as Rachel drops, I can't remember what kind of muffin, but a muffin into somebody's hood. And then David Schwimmer has to pick it out. and It's apple pie, Al. Oh, sorry. I got that wrong in the quiz.
00:31:55
Speaker
Yeah, you did. And Ross has to basically act like ah i mean an insane person for like 20 seconds. And it's brilliant. It's the physical comedy of it.
00:32:06
Speaker
yeah yeah hu It is. and just And it's so fun to be able to really dive in and appreciate those things that, you know, on a first watch, you may not.
00:32:18
Speaker
Yeah, really true, right? It's really true to see the mastery behind all of this. like Yeah. When I was a kid and I watched TV, like I like didn't know you could be an actor.
00:32:28
Speaker
I don't even know how I don't know what I thought about what I was watching, like how that was made. But it really kind of like opened me up when I got away when I went away to college. And I was like, oh, you can actually study this and you can get into this. I was like, you can acting's a real thing.
00:32:45
Speaker
So what what made you be like, yeah, that's what I want to do. Yeah. Why? So I was brought up, I was pretty shy growing up. My parents are both former Marines and grew up in a rather kind of conservative, you know, household. And I just remember kind of not really knowing how to express myself.
00:33:10
Speaker
So when I went away to college and I found the theater department, I was like, oh, these are my people. Like, this is cool. Everybody's kind of weird. this is awesome.
00:33:23
Speaker
That's so funny. Wow. And so then you like majored in theater or this was just a thing you did?
Early Entertainment Career: Singing Telegrams
00:33:31
Speaker
i did. Well, i um I needed money because I was paying for my college and I needed money. And i was in a program with all these really talented people.
00:33:40
Speaker
And a lot of them were singers. And there was a post that went up on the call board that said a company in town was hiring someone to do singing telegrams. And it was $100 a telegram. This is back in the 80s. This is huge. Wow. Right. And so I told all these I told all these singers, you guys should go apply for that job. None of them did.
00:34:00
Speaker
And I was like, oh, people don't do things. I noticed early on that if you do something, it's a big deal because most people don't take a chance. So I don't even sing you guys.
00:34:11
Speaker
i applied for the job. I got the job. They didn't know that I couldn't sing. And I just thought I need to find another way in. Every time I got a singing telegram, i would be really, really funny.
00:34:24
Speaker
I would like construct a little roast for the person and it would rhyme. And I would have this comedy tribute to them that I would perform and people it killed.
00:34:36
Speaker
They would tip me $100 on top of the other hundred. And I just learned, oh, I just had to find a way to make some money. And I knew that I was funny and I was learning how to become funnier. And when someone takes something away from you, right, the fact that I could not sing on key, I had to make up for that with something else.
00:34:58
Speaker
So I think anytime you're put in a box, it can really help you because you find another way out of it. And I think that's why I became so focused on how can I make people laugh because I need to to pay my bills. Right.
00:35:14
Speaker
You know, and if you're a theater major, you're doing plays all night, you're in school all day, you don't have time for a job down at the commissary. But this was a hundred bucks if I left the house for 30 minutes.
00:35:27
Speaker
Man, that's just yeah amazing. Amazing. And what a good lesson, you know, just try things. I love that. Just trying something, hustling. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. yeah yeah I knew, I knew that I had something. I just didn't know how to foster it. And, you know,
00:35:43
Speaker
And it's funny, here I am all these years later, I just got a gig. I am a standup comic. And you know how roast are so popular, like roasting someone? um i I'm roasting a lawyer um who is leaving the law firm going to be a judge.
00:36:00
Speaker
And you know in a law firm, um there's a lot of things. I'm going to do things very particular to the way that this firm does things, right? This is a law firm, ah a popular law firm.
00:36:11
Speaker
So I'm doing a roast that is um kind. It's clean. It's not going to offend anyone. It's really bringing consciousness to roasting. I'm still they're still going have the best time ever.
00:36:23
Speaker
But it's within the framework of like, hey, you know, this is a law firm. And and so I'm like, I'm still doing what I was doing when I was doing singing telegrams. I'm just doing it at a different, you know, in a different way than maybe what other people have done.
00:36:40
Speaker
That's just so so interesting because it's like you see you see these roasts on television and you know that there's there's got to be more than there appears. But the amount research and what works in this environment and all that kind of stuff.
00:36:54
Speaker
Yeah, know. And but when people walk away and you know when you're kind of like, wow, that was really mean. Like that was really cruel. And I'm just like, that's just not my vibe. I just, it's just not, I never think that's funny, you know? And I know that there's, I know it's a thing and I know a lot of people enjoy it, but I'm like crying on the end inside. of Oh, okay. So now ah we all feel terrible, but it was hilarious.
00:37:19
Speaker
That's, yeah, and people would know that that's not your thing if you tried to do it, I'm sure. That's You're right. So you you filmed the episode, you know, you you didn't, you got recognized a little bit. What kind of happened with your career after that?
00:37:34
Speaker
You know, was there any outstanding moments? i don't know. I'm still waiting, you guys. What's going to happen? Right? Yeah, you know, I'm just so grateful. Like I said, I've been out here for about 30, 35 years now. And um I raised my daughter out here. i have incredible friends. I have a wonderful, fantastic life.
00:37:58
Speaker
I have a great community. um i get to sit here and talk with you guys. You know, just like any business, I'm sure you can relate. There's peaks and valleys, right? It's really just about the um consistency of going day to day and evolving. As you know, the business has changed so much.
00:38:17
Speaker
So many things in the world are changing. So I just kind of show up every day and see, oh, you know, what how might I be of service today in the entertainment industry? I also do a lot of my stand up comedy. I teach comedy.
00:38:31
Speaker
um i also teach kids about how to cartoon. so I'm a cartoonist. I'm a comic, um ah an actor when, you know, when time allows and there's a project.
00:38:42
Speaker
But it's really just about kind of almost reinventing yourself every day, every moment. You know, i I am not doing the type of roles that I once did. i don't even know if those roles still exist, right? It's a different time as far as so many things, right?
00:39:01
Speaker
And, you know, yeah, so my career has really changed, but who knows what it could be tomorrow. I'm still very much in the game in Los Angeles. um I just don't expect anything or wait for any phone call because as soon as you kind of get that mindset,
00:39:18
Speaker
nobody is going to be calling you. So yeah, i just I just kind of keep moving forward. If you guys have any ideas for me, let me know. I heard there's a great student film with an angry mom that if it has a sequel, I want to be considered.
00:39:38
Speaker
but We'll get you guys together. I love it. Yes, there you go. ah Well, i know I've got one last question for you, and then I'll throw it back over to Deanne. But if you're working with these kids or a kid comes up to you, have a 15-year-old in high school, and says, Mary, I want to become an actor.
00:39:54
Speaker
I want to get into this. What's your advice? What what do you say to them?
Acting and Stand-up Comedy as Noble Professions
00:39:58
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, such a good question. You know, I just think it's such a noble profession. I just love all of it.
00:40:04
Speaker
um I have loved the highs and the heartbreaks of being an actor. And um I have really kind of in the last couple of years sunk into, I love that acting and improv and standup can really be a huge tool for personal growth.
00:40:22
Speaker
you know And a lot of times people think, oh, well, you know standup is just for the masters, right? The people who are so good at it. Like if you want a watercolor, you can take a watercolor in class. No one says Monet wouldn't have it.
00:40:36
Speaker
You know, so I feel the same thing with all of these different I'm trying to kind of normalize a little bit more that stand up comedy and improv and all of these things are they're really fun to do.
00:40:48
Speaker
And when people say, oh, you can't teach someone to be funny. Well, a lot of the classes that I've been a part of either coaching or on the other side, they build community. You know, they they build a place where people can try a part of them out.
00:41:03
Speaker
on stage and see how it feels and they might not necessarily be trying to record a netflix special but they're using it to get to know themselves so i'm really into that i'm really into the arts for a greater sense of community and well-being so maybe if i'm going down any specific path these days it's kind of that path um When I do stand-up shows now, I just got back from Wisconsin where I headlined a stand-up show there.
00:41:31
Speaker
But what I did is I came to town and I found three people, actually two people, two people who wanted to try stand-up for the first time. And I coached them for a couple of days and they got up on stage and they did it for the first time.
00:41:45
Speaker
And it was incredible. So you can take like an eight week class or you can work on something for years and years, but you can also just say, I'm going to do this this week and I'm going to, you know, I'm really good at coaching people on a one-on-one basis.
00:42:02
Speaker
I worked with these people two or three times for a half hour each. And they came on stage and did three minutes and the audience was like, oh my gosh, this is incredible. They both got laughs. They both had great sets.
00:42:17
Speaker
And um so I'm really into that. I'm really into like talking about this and seeing it on its feet and seeing how magical it is. I told you just before we started recording, both Woolison and I are in education.
00:42:31
Speaker
And I was like, what transferable skill. Like, imagine you had two teachers, you worked with them, they got on stage. They may never get stage again, but that would impact their classroom teaching forever. Oh my gosh, I'm getting chills right now.
00:42:45
Speaker
Absolutely. Because it's about the bravery and the desire to try something new. Right. right And I think sometimes if you're in Los Angeles for a long time, you may start to get this mindset that I'm not a star. And it's like, screw all that. What about how this is affecting your soul? It's really fun to do this stuff.
00:43:05
Speaker
Right. yeah Yeah. I couldn't agree more. Wilson, I want to throw back over to you before we wrap this up with any other questions you might have. Sorry. I'm just, that's powerful.
00:43:16
Speaker
Like yeah everything that you were just saying. And um I've been listening to this podcast that just started and it's called like try hard. And they take somebody who had like a dream and then they never saw it to fruition.
00:43:32
Speaker
And so they work with them And the girl, the the episode that I listened to, she, like, they worked with her on singing. And then she sang karaoke. Oh, gosh. And it was first time. and And she was, like, she was super nervous about it and everything else. But it was such a good episode. But it falls right in line with everything that you were just saying about, like, it just trying it just for your soul, for yourself, not for...
00:44:04
Speaker
all the other things. But yeah. Oh, I'm going to check that out. That's very Gallagher. You're so cool. You guys, this is so exciting. I'm so glad you reached out to me.
00:44:18
Speaker
and i like is man I'm so thankful. Thankful for Al, like making this connection and making this happen. and wonderful just and man you guys it's been awesome I'm so thankful and Mary if people want to find you like what it you're doing sort of in the present where can people find you online you know if they want to know more about comedy what upcoming projects do you have tell us so we can be like Mary Gallagher I am her number one fan
00:44:49
Speaker
but Oh, thank
Current Work and Online Presence
00:44:50
Speaker
you for asking. Thank you so much. um Well, my website is myfriendmary.com and you can find me there. It's going through a bit of a renovation, but who isn't? um So myfriendmary.com and then I'm pretty active on Instagram, which is myfriendmary.
00:45:06
Speaker
and yeah, I think on most platforms, I'm myfriendmary. You know, sometimes I don't like somebody. I might be your enemy, Mary, but most of the time... Most of the time it's my friend, Mary. um Yeah. And I, ah yeah, so that's a good place to find me. I'm doing more of these programs where I come to town, I perform and I coach people to bring them up on stage. And I'm actually creating a separate tab on my website. It's called Stand Up and Shine. Yeah.
00:45:37
Speaker
So where are you going? So you just come back from Wisconsin doing this. Yeah, well, hopefully I'm coming to Texas soon. I'm just saying Dallas area.
00:45:48
Speaker
The people are here. I love it. Oh my gosh, I love Texas. Yes, absolutely. So I'll let you guys know when I'm coming to your area. And yeah, I'm just starting now to try to take it to other places. And I do it here in Los Angeles.
00:46:04
Speaker
I coach a lot in l L.A. But then over the pandemic, I started to you know coach online and that opened up a whole new world. And so now I'm trying to physically get myself out there. I just did stand up in Dublin, Ireland last year, and that was so incredible.
00:46:21
Speaker
I felt very much like you, Alistair, like I was, you know, a very international for a moment. Yeah. Yeah. yeah So but yeah, so that's a good place to find me.
00:46:35
Speaker
I love it. Well, I cannot thank you. and I mean, this has just been an absolute joy, an absolute pleasure. Wilson, I'll throw it over to you to kind of say goodbye as well. Yes. Thank you.
00:46:47
Speaker
Thank you so much. and Like this has been just soul filling. So we appreciate your time and your communication and just what an absolute joy.
00:46:58
Speaker
And I'm looking forward to to checking out my friend, Mary.com and come on to Texas. Oh my gosh, you guys, thank you so much. I'll see you in Texas and yeah, have a great rest of your week.
00:47:12
Speaker
you A huge thank you once again to Mary Gallacher for joining us today. It was such a treat to get to chat with her. Be sure to check out her Instagram at myfriendmary and visit her website myfriendmary.com to see what she's up to.
00:47:29
Speaker
And don't forget we will be back next Thursday with our regular review diving into the one where Dr. Remore dies. Thanks again for listening to this special episode of the Purple Door podcast and we will see you next week.