Joe Rogan Experience #1694 - Ms. Pat & Jordan E. Cooper

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode extensively details the challenging journey of bringing "The Ms. Pat Show" to television, emphasizing the unique collaboration between comedian Ms. Pat and young co-creator Jordan E. Cooper. The conversation delves into their relentless fight against Hollywood executives to maintain the show's raw authenticity, its groundbreaking multi-cam sitcom format, and Ms. Pat's commitment to portraying real-life, often dark, experiences with humor and vulnerability. They also explore the generational gap in language and social issues, using comedy as a "Trojan horse" for deeper commentary, and Ms. Pat shares hilarious personal anecdotes, from Disney trips to unconventional methods of dealing with writers.

Key Discussion Points

• The Miss Pat Show: From Book to Screen: Jordan E. Cooper, inspired by Ms. Pat's book and stand-up, pitched her story as a multi-cam sitcom with a live audience, desiring an "old school" feel like All in the Family or The Jeffersons. Despite his youth and lack of experience, he and Ms. Pat secretly wrote the pilot in eight days, with Ms. Pat instructing Jordan to remove his name to protect him from executive rejection. Lee Daniels was instrumental in championing the project through various network changes.
• Navigating Hollywood's Restrictions and Executive Pushback: The show faced significant resistance from Fox and Hulu due to its "too real" content and profanity. Executives questioned "ethnic" character names like Janelle and deemed the pilot, which even made a school shooting funny, "not premium content" despite exceptionally high test scores in diverse demographics, including Alpharetta, Georgia. Ms. Pat recounted getting a life coach to temper her direct communication with writers who were accustomed to writing "palatable" content rather than her unfiltered voice.
• Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Healing Through Comedy: Ms. Pat insists on absolute authenticity, with Jordan having chronicled her spontaneous comedic remarks in his phone, many of which made it into the show. She discussed the difficulty of adapting painful personal stories, like an episode about her molestation that was ultimately pulled as she wasn't ready. Conversely, an episode about her baby daddy brought her to tears during filming, a cathartic experience that felt like "winning" against past trauma, with the audience also crying.
• The Debbie Allen Factor and Live Audiences: They battled for a live studio audience, a rarity in modern sitcoms, shooting two shows per day and editing them together for energy. Debbie Allen, initially dismissed by some executives due to her long absence from sitcoms, was personally approached and embraced the project. She provided intense coaching for Ms. Pat's acting, drawing on her vast experience, and Ms. Pat recalls going to Debbie's house for extra, unpaid rehearsals, highlighting Allen's dedication.
• Social Commentary and Generational Gaps: The show uses comedy to address sensitive topics, such as an episode exploring the evolving use of derogatory terms like "bulldagger" through Ms. Pat's conversations with her gay daughter. Another episode tackles gender non-conforming pronouns (which Ms. Pat humorously refers to as "him, them, and there"), reflecting her genuine learning process and the show's intent to spark discussion rather than just laughter.

Notable Moments

• Ms. Pat's Unfiltered Feedback to Writers: Ms. Pat candidly confessed to needing a life coach because her natural inclination to tell writers "that shit ain't funny" was causing issues in the writing room, forcing her to learn corporate-friendly phrases like "can we try a little harder?"
• Internet Content Shock: Ms. Pat recounted her shock when her second-grade granddaughter Googled "Elsa sucking dick" at school, underscoring her view that network TV's language restrictions are futile given the unfiltered nature of the internet, which children easily access.
• The True Cost of a Disney VIP Trip: Ms. Pat humorously described spending $12,000 for a Disney World VIP pass for 18 family members, leading to constant questions from other park-goers like "Are you a reunion?" and her family's greedy desire to re-ride attractions endlessly.

Key Takeaways

This episode reveals that "The Ms. Pat Show" is a testament to unwavering artistic vision, overcoming significant industry obstacles to bring an authentically raw and hilarious voice to television. It highlights how a blend of seasoned comedic talent, fresh writing, and determined creative partnership can challenge conventional Hollywood practices, especially regarding content deemed "too real" or explicit. Listeners gain insight into the profound impact of using comedy as a tool for healing and social commentary, demonstrating that laughter can indeed emerge from the darkest personal experiences and societal topics. The unique journey of this show underscores the ongoing evolution of television and the growing demand for genuine, unfiltered storytelling.