Originally published in Spoonfed UK
They may not have become household names in the UK yet, but over in their native Los Angeles, Ronna Glickman and Beverly Ginsburg have become the most popular interfering Jewish mothers on the block. The two colourful characters have been hosting their own live chat show for years at Hollywood’s UCB Theatre, with guests including Matthew Perry, Janeane Garofalo and Russell Brand.
The show developed such a cult following that it was picked up for a pilot by US cable network Showtime last year. When the network made clear it was going to shaft the ladies’ TV special to the graveyard slot, the American comedy circuit went into uproar, with stars such as The Office‘s Rainn Wilson and Juno writer Diablo Cody tweeting to their millions of followers to watch the show despite its late start time. Although Showtime didn’t decide to pick up the pilot, the campaign generated a considerable amount of hype, and their continuing base of celebrity fans have made Ronna and Beverly a force to be reckoned with.
Luckily the talent bookers at the Soho Theatre have their finger right on that pulse, so next week the ladies are hitting London for their first ever live UK shows. We caught up with the delightful old ducks before they prepare to hit Old Blighty.
You’re visiting London to perform at the Soho Theatre this month. Is this the first time you’ve visited London? Is there anything in particular you’re looking forward to seeing in the city?
Beverly: Billy Elliot! I’ve seen the movie and the play in NYC. Can’t wait to see it here where it was born! Oh! And The Eye. I love Ferris wheels. To me, it makes London feel like a big carnival.
Ronna: I love London. I’ve been here more times than I can count. I like to have breakfast at Fortnum & Mason, pop into the V&A, see everything at the National, then fly home.
Can you give us any clues as to who you’ll be interviewing in the shows?
Beverly: The man that wrote The Infidel. I saw it. Hysterical.
Ronna: David Baddiel. Terrific.
Beverly: And the people from “Don’t Wear What You’re Wearing, Wear Something Else”.
Ronna: What Not to Wear.
Beverly: Yah. And some other people.
Ronna: Chris O’Dowd… I could go on and on. It’s a very impressive list. Needless to say, we’re very pleased.
You’ve had a lot of big comedy names appear in your live chat show in the US. Who’s been your favourite so far?
Beverly: Kate Walsh. Hands down. Beautiful skin. I love Private Practice. And Grey’s Anatomy. And Ugly Betty. And Larry David.
Ronna: Speaking of Larry, Jeff Garlin was fabulous and is an old friend. We had Jack Davenport recently. Lovely. Do you know him? I figure you all know each other over here. It’s like a village.
Beverly: Ooh! And The Bear Jew!
Ronna: Eli Roth. Terrific.
Beverly: Yah. Yah.
You’ve also done a TV special of your show. How did that compare to the live version?
Ronna: Nothing compares to doing the show live. Our audience gets the benefit of seeing us in person, and we get the satisfcation of knowing we’ve improved their lives. Done.
Beverly: Our TV special followed us on our book tour. Very good publicity.
Ronna: It was a wonderful experience.
You managed to score Weeds writer Jenji Kohan to work with you on the TV pilot. What was that like?
Ronna: She’s a lovely girl. Smart. Works too hard.
Beverly: What’s Weeds?
You’ve published a self-help book too, I believe. What made you decide you wanted to become authors?
Ronna: Look, if Dr. Phil or Katie Price or whoever can write a book, who can’t? Between us we have five marriages. Who knows more about getting together and coming apart than we do? We have something to say, so we’re saying it. This is a (relatively) free country. No one has to listen to us. If they want to be alone for the rest of their lives, that’s up to them.
Beverly: I wanted to do a cute baby sweatshirt business.
Ronna: Or handbags. But we felt the market was saturated.
Beverly: I love babies.
Ronna: We have been best friends for over 40 years.
Beverly: For 38 years we have been best friends.
Ronna: There were two years…
Beverly: Two years she didn’t talk to me.
Ronna: She wore the same dress as me to my son’s bar mitzvah.
Beverly: Different color.
Ronna: I was wearing lavender, she was wearing lilac. Turns out, purple is purple.
Are there any British comedians you particularly enjoy watching?
Ronna: Jennifer Saunders is fabulous. She’s a real tour de force. I also love Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry…
Beverly: Shirley Valentine.
Ronna: That was a movie.
Beverly: I know, but I can relate.
What do the two of you like to do on your downtime from the show?
Ronna: Take a Xanax and a hot bath. Or swim. I love to swim. I’ve always had a terrific figure at any age.
Beverly: I like to eat something sweet, then go to a department store and try on perfume.
Ronna and Beverly: You’ll Do A Little Better Next Time will be at the Soho Theatre from May 10th-11th.