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I figured we would start with the safe dick of it all.Yeah, sure.
It certainly was always the plan even before I took the job.
I think they had the first couple episodes written already, then everything sort of happened organically.
But now it seems like its more than a hookup.Who knows!
I mean, with safe dick, you never really know.
Safe dick is a really hard opportunity to pass up, you know?
Oh, believe me, I do.
And I got COVID the first couple weeks, so they shot around me.
Its really fun to try and make him laugh.
So, for example, with Christa Millers character, I personally love rich white ladies.
WatchingThe Real Housewivesand stuff like that makes me laugh and laugh.
And same with Harrison, too.
Theres nothing funnier than annoying someone who is already naturally grumpy.
Then the scenes sort of write themselves.
Theres an unguarded optimism about Gaby that translates into what she wears and how she decorates the office.
They knew that they wanted Gaby to be light.
And Pauls is more, like, mid-century.
A lot of it was just this really beautiful collaboration process between me and the writers.
Were you familiar with it?Im definitely aware of that.
But also they have to give you permission to fly and have depth and to add to your character.
But, yeah, I think thats a really valid and interesting trope.
Part of what made Gaby so fun to watch is also how funny youve made her.
I think about Mariah Carey all the time.
Shes embedded in the pop-culture wheelhouse in my brain.
But that was improvised.
I think the writers wrote, like Mariah Carey hitting the high note good.
And then there was a take where I just did that thing.
Speaking of, the other amazing moment Gaby had this season was her art-show meltdown.
How much fun was that to play?It was really fun.
That episode was directed by Zach Braff.
And I was like, Did you guys write the thumbs in the butt stuff?
And they were like, No, nobody wrote that.
I was like, Oh, shit, did I do that?
Apparently nobody told me to do that.
So I dont know how that happened or when that happened and how that speech got so ignorant.
Heidi Gardner is so good.
Well, I hope we get a second season because I would love to unpack that.
As for Gaby, I want somebody to take care of her.
I want more combos.
Like, I just want to just do more of this because everyones really bringing their A game.
Its really fun for me to play Gaby.
It doesnt get any better than that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
