During an episode of Conan O’Brien‘s talk show, actor Zach Woods discussed his new series “In The Know” with Mike Judge. The show, which Woods described as funny and well-done, takes place at NPR and features stop-motion puppets. Woods plays the main character, Lauren Caspian, a pompous NPR correspondent who claims to be the third most popular. The interviews on the show are conducted via Zoom, with the guests appearing as themselves.
Woods praised the stop-motion animation used in the series, mentioning that each character is played by 30 different animators along with a voice actor. This collaboration results in a multi-faceted and imaginative process that brings each character to life. Woods also credited his writing partner, Brandon Gardner, as the driving force behind the show.
One interesting aspect of “In The Know” highlighted by Woods is the ongoing competition between his character and a co-worker to be more “woke” and politically correct. This dynamic provides excellent comedic material as the characters constantly try to outdo each other in their virtue signaling.
The show aims to satirize various topics and ideologies, with Woods expressing his belief that there is an excessive focus on personal enhancement rather than actual commitment to action. He mentioned a personal experience involving a neighborhood sign advocating defunding the police while the same house displayed a decal promoting armed security guards from ADT. Woods pointed out the irony and cosmetic nature of some progressive ideologies.
Woods referenced the show “The Curse” starring Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone, as an example of a similar critique of self-righteousness and savior mentality. However, he found “In The Know” to be highly original due to its mixed media format, combining puppets and real-life interviews.
Although the future of “In The Know” beyond its first season is uncertain, Woods expressed excitement and interest in making more episodes if the network allows. The interview concluded with Woods jokingly discussing his writing partner, Gardner, as an amazing force behind the show, comparing him to a powerful motor propelling them forward while he and Mike Judge are like small contributors in comparison.
While discussing unrelated matters, the conversation shifted to a shared admiration for the Cheesecake Factory. Woods mentioned a previous experience where he made a reservation there but had to wait despite it being a supposedly honored arrangement. O’Brien joined in, confessing that his stepbrother used to be a regional manager of the restaurant chain. Humorously, they also speculated about the vastness of the Cheesecake Factory menu, joking about bizarre dishes and the possibility of ordering everything.
Although the original intention was to interview Gardner for the article, he was unfortunately unavailable due to high demand. Overall, the conversation revealed interesting insights into “In The Know” and showcased Woods’ wit and humor. Whether or not the show continues beyond its first season remains to be seen, but for now, fans can enjoy the satirical puppetry and comedic moments offered by the series.
