Interview: Iliza

Following on from a run of sold-out shows earlier this year, US comic Iliza makes her return to the UK for a strictly limited number of shows, including an appearance at Bristol Grammar School’s 1532 Performing Arts Centre on November 11.

Iliza’s fourth Netflix special Elder Millennial is out now. In addition to her stand-up, in 2017 Iliza released her first book Girl Logic: The Genius and the Absurdity, a subversively funny collection of essays and observations on a confident woman’s approach to friendship, singlehood, and relationships. She also recently completed filming the Paramount Pictures movie Instant Family starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne, which is slated for release in February 2019.

“The caustic Texan offers up strong opinions on dating, pop culture and the state of her nation with an unapologetic, come-get-some attitude … terrifyingly honest, quick-fire stories with hilarious pay-offs.” ★★★★ Time Out

Here’s Iliza speaking to Bristol 24/7.

To publicise Elder Millennial you were photographed in classic looks from the late 90s/early 00s, and produced a Spotify playlist featuring all your favorite songs of the era. Apart from it being your own formative years, why do you look back on that time so fondly?
The late 90s/early 2000s were gross. The fashion was horrible, pop music was everywhere and body glitter was normal. It’s not that that time was better than another time, it just happens to have been my adolescence/ young adulthood so I think it’s easy to look back at it as a fun time when the stakes weren’t as high.
But, if I’m being honest, even then I had moments of thinking, “I party every night, my wedges are old and I can’t afford a decent haircut…” But that was quickly followed by, “Who cares, I’m 22, the world is my oyster and I know EVERYTHING!” It seems different from now because, well, phones are attached to our hands, I care about voting now and I love going to bed at 10pm. To quote Blink182, “I guess this is growing up.”

You’re from Texas and now live in Los Angeles… how do the two compare?
I was raised in Texas but have been an adult in LA, so it’s apples and oranges. Both are competitive places, both encourage being tanned with blonde hair but, I guess fewer people open carry here?

Have you toured the UK before? Do you notice any differences in how your comedy goes down here as opposed to back in the US?
I was lucky enough to do a UK/Europe tour in May. I LOVE IT. I love getting to know new fans, new corners of other people’s cultures. I am very aware, when I’m in the UK, of how American my act can be – whether it’s American references or units of measurement.
But part of being a good comic is thinking on your feet, and part of being a successful comic is that people are coming to see me both for and in spite of my American-ness. I think, no matter the country, my fans all seem to be cut from a similar cloth. They are all open-minded, loving and just awesome.

A lot of Canadian comics have settled in the UK, or at least done very well here. Fewer US comics, perhaps. Any thoughts on why?
All three are societies that really value comedy. I bet that, culture-wise, Eastern Canada is closer to British / European society than any part of the US (that’s sort of our thing) so maybe it’s an easier transition – or LA and NY are scary? I have no idea but I’m sure I’ll get an angry DM about it.

You’ve spent a lot of time touring with the United Service Organization. How has that shaped your comedy?
It didn’t shape my comedy as much as my perspective. To see the power that comedy has, to know that with the world I imagined within my jokes I can bring happiness to some soldiers who are stationed in a less-than-ideal situation, away from their creature comforts, is so humbling. They selflessly give up so much for us, I’m actually just so honored that I am able to entertain them.

“Once I’ve gotten you laughing, I want to get you thinking,” you said in one interview last year. What do you want to get us thinking about in this show?
I want you to think about how fun and funny that hour we spent together was and then, in the lobby, I want you to think, “I should buy a t-shirt, because the Fluent in English Tour is a limited edition and I want her to sign it when she comes back through on her next tour.”

Iliza: Fluent in English Nov 11, 1532 Performing Arts Centre, 4.30pm & 8pm (8pm now sold out). For more info, visit www.1532bristol.co.uk/whats-on-and-news/events/iliza-fluent-in-english