On a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Zach Woods, the co-creator and star of the new stop-motion parody show “In the Know on National Public Radio”, made an appearance. The show humorously highlights the Great British Bake Off for its portrayal of “ugly people” on television. Woods discussed various topics on the talk show, including his love for watching boxing and his experience working with Mike Tyson.
Woods revealed an embarrassing airport moment he had with a fan. While trying to take a picture of a lactation station, Woods was caught by a teenage boy and his father, who thought he was being creepy. Woods quickly clarified that the picture was for a show, not for personal reasons. He joked that if he were a milk fetishist, he would hide GoPros in the station. The awkward situation seemed to amuse Woods and the audience.
Moving on, Woods talked about his show “In the Know” and how it came about. He shared that Mike Judge, known for his comedic genius in shows like “Beavis and Butthead”, “King of the Hill”, and “Silicon Valley”, noticed Woods’ talent for asking curious questions and his passion for NPR. They collaborated to create a show that plays on Woods’ persona and pokes fun at the NPR culture.
Regarding the choice of stop-motion animation, Woods expressed his admiration for the art form. He acknowledged that while it can be time-consuming, expensive, and old-fashioned, it allows for a unique level of craftsmanship. Woods discovered that each character in the show is played by about thirty different animators, which adds a personal touch to the characters. He jokingly mentioned that he eventually had to cut their benefits to make the production financially viable.
Woods also spoke about the episode in which Mike Tyson appeared. In the show’s storyline, Woods’ character deals with a diagnosis of passive sperm, which prevents the sperm from penetrating the egg fully. Woods hilariously conversed with Tyson about this situation, including suggestions for taking supplements to improve sperm viscosity. The audience thoroughly enjoyed Woods’ anecdotes about the conversation and the humorous take on the American dream.
Despite being associated with NPR, Woods clarified that the character he portrays is not based solely on Ira Glass. Instead, it is an amalgamation of various NPR personalities, including Malcolm Gladwell, Terry Gross, Ezra Klein, and Michael Barbaro. Woods humorously described them as slightly melted people, sharing a common almond-shaped head and a similar demeanor.
Apart from his show, Woods mentioned that he had the opportunity to direct a Super Bowl commercial for a cosmetics company called ELF. Although he found directing a commercial exciting, he humorously confessed that he had no interest in attending the game itself. Woods would prefer VIP passes to a folk art quilting Expo over the Super Bowl. He concluded by stating his preference for directing, as it allows him to keep his “masculine identity” intact, unlike playing roles that involve castration.
Zach Woods provided a lively and entertaining interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, showcasing his wit and humor. Fans can catch him on “In the Know” streaming now on Peacock.
