I started listening because one episode featured Rhetta and Aubrey Plaza as guests. I LOVE Parks and Rec, and the idea that maybe the people who played such beloved characters might actually be friends in real life, and might tell hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about one of my favorite shows, was enough to get me to listen. (Side note: This episode fulfilled all of my fan girl dreams. Rhetta and Aubrey Plaza are amazing, they did tell stories about being on Parks and Rec, and Chris Pratt even stopped by the dining room to chime in for a few minutes. SO GOOD!) But what actually stuck out to me over the course of the episode was how unexpectedly knowledgeable and interesting Anna and her co-host Sim were. I listened to another episode, and another, wondering if it was just a fluke, or if they actually had made something worth listening to.
The best part (to me) about the Unqualified podcast is how many beliefs and expectations it smashes. I do not expect famous and successful people to be relatable. I do not expect people roughly my age who have spent so much of their adult lives working in Hollywood to be aware of anyone besides themselves, much less be able to give good advice to callers from all over the country with relationship questions. I do not expect celebrities, whether they be from movies or TV or sports or music or whatever Bravo is supposed to be now, to teach me something about how to live my life. And yet, week after week, that's exactly what happens. From Dax Shepherd (that guy?!) giving truly mature, helpful relationship advice to Arielle Kebbel delivering a timely message about sexual harassment and how we move forward in the wake of everything, to Kelly Clarkson answering "Dealbreakers" and Anna and Regina Hall reliving their on-set jokes from the Scary Movies, Unqualified is almost always a delightful listen. I love the interviews and the stories people are willing to share, I love the questions Anna and Sim come up with, I love the callers and the way different people respond to pleas for help from total strangers. I also love the occasional interruptions from Anna's parents or son, or the fact that sometimes people are sitting in the room watching and listening to the podcast live. (How does one get to do that? Is it strictly for relatives and close friends or will they one day decide to sell tickets?) Unqualified makes me laugh, it makes me think, and it gives a window into how other people are experiencing the world.
So it should be a given that when Anna Faris announced that she was writing "Unqualified: The Book," I was stoked. I already love to read books by celebrities, and this combines the personal memoir aspect that I enjoy with the best parts of the Unqualified podcast. It includes chapters where Anna puts herself in the hotseat, with the help of one of the show's writers, Cassie, to answer Dealbreakers and How Would You Proceed? The book gives background into some of the situations and relationships that Anna has mentioned on the show, as well as further advice for relationships. And, while I was tempted to be skeptical ("She's probably using a ghost writer. How can an actress also write a book?!"), listening to Unqualified has made me more open-minded to the possibility that most well-known performers are not one-trick ponies. Rather, each of us, it turns out, is a whole person, a blend of knowledge and ability and quirky interests that extend beyond what we are best known for.As I read the book, I could hear Anna's voice in my head. It was fun to be able to predict the intended inflection and when she would drop to a lower register and how she would emphasize the profanities liberally sprinkled throughout. Both the podcast and the book are entertaining and explicit, although only once have I been turned off by the frank words. Most of all, I give Anna Faris a tremendous amount of credit for raising the bar in terms of what I expect of my celebrities. It turns out that having diverse interests and experiences is not rare, it is the norm. People are more than the persona they have developed for the world.
I recommend "Unqualified" as a fun read, whether you are familiar with Anna Faris or not. (You won't be able to say that when you've finished it!) And I also think you should listen to her podcast, if you aren't already. Scroll through the many, many episodes and start with one whose guest is a favorite performer of yours. It makes for an enjoyable entrance to the show, and I guarantee you will hear something you didn't already know. If you're like me, you will continue to listen to older episodes and find yourself surprised at how much more people have to offer than just the roles they play on the big screen.
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| Reading and Snuggles |
