Samantha Bee is a senior correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. And now, she's out with a new book: I Know I Am, But What Are You? I talked with her in a Q&A.
How did you get your job on The Daily Show?
I auditioned for the show. I wish it were a better story. I was saving orphans from a burning building and Jon Stewart happened to be one of those orphans. There's really no magic to it. I auditioned for the show and they hired me.
Every reporter on The Daily Show has the title of "senior correspondent." What does it take to become a senior correspondent?
You just have to start aging and really stick it out. You have to kill those before you. You have to eliminate those before you. And rise up the ranks.
Is there any higher level than senior correspondent?
Elder correspondent. I'm gunning for that position.
What is a day in your life like?
I'm obviously carried to work on the backs of sweaty interns and polished in various ways once I get to the office and fed rich sweet meats to keep my skin glowing. And also, I live really close to work and I come to work every day like a normal person.
What is something that would surprise people about The Daily Show?
I feel like when I didn't work here, I really did think it was just going to be one big room where everyone was just like tossing tennis balls back and forth and riffing on staff. Do you know what I mean? Like one of those kind of movie ideas of a cosmopolitan workplace, like a fun cool workplace. But, actually people are really kind of focused on their own jobs. Everybody is really focused on their own thing. So, it's a communal place. But, we're all kind of old now. We're all kind of parents. So, it's not very hip.
You're from Canada. What's the difference between Canadian comedy and American comedy?
American comedy is funny. We love Canada. And I certainly know a lot of really funny people in Canada. But, I don't think that Canadians are funnier than Americans at all. I don't know that there's a huge difference. Americans tend to like racially based humor a little more. I would say that's the only difference.
Out of all the comedians out there, who else do you like?
My favorite is Louis C.K. He's amazing. I really, really love him.