Welcome to the Deep Dive. We sift through, well,
a whole stack of sources about really successful
artists, and we try to pull out the key story,
the insights, just for you. Today, we're focusing
on someone whose work is kind of defined by this
interesting duality, Jenny Slate. Yeah, it's
a really fascinating way to look at her career,
because when you, you know, lay out all the source
material, you see this person who's just as brilliant
doing intensely personal indie work, the stuff
that gets serious critical acclaim. As she is
voicing characters in these huge mainstream animated
movies, she really thrives in both worlds. And
that's exactly what makes digging into her story
so interesting, I think. Our mission here is
to unpack all this, trace her path right from
her Massachusetts roots. strong academic start,
all the way through the big roles, the awards,
and even some pretty significant ethical choices
she's made in the industry. It's quite a journey.
I mean, from accidentally dropping the F -bomb
live on SNL. Oh, yeah, the infamous moment. To
winning an Annie Award years later for voice
acting. It's quite the arc. That really does
capture it, doesn't it? I mean, just the snapshot.
SNL, even if it was short, made her instantly
known. Then there's Tammy Larson in Bob's Burgers.
Beloved character. Totally. And the film Obvious
Child, which was such a defining moment for her
in live action. And then, of course, Marcel the
Shell with shoes on. Oh, and she didn't just
voice, she co -created it. Right. Complete creative
ownership there. Exactly. She's just this incredibly
unique and multifaceted talent. So let's start
at the beginning, lay that foundation. It seems
rooted in a certain intellectual drive. Born
1982, Milton, Massachusetts, Jewish family. And
the sources really emphasize her academic start.
It wasn't just average. No, not at all. They
make a point of noting she was valedictorian
at Milton Academy, that kind of focus, that discipline.
You can often see how that might translate later
into crafting really complex creative work. It's
a different kind of prep than just jumping into
performing. And she carried that focus to Columbia
University, graduated in 2004, literature major.
But it wasn't all books and essays, right? Columbia
is also where the comedy bug really bit. That's
key. The lit background definitely feels like
it informs her style observant. Sometimes surreal,
very language -focused. But yeah, at Columbia,
she helped start an improv group, Fruit Ponch.
That's where you get a spontaneity, the risk
-taking. And she starred on The Varsity Show,
too, so clearly comfortable on stage early on.
Right. But maybe the most crucial connection
from that time was meeting Gabe Liedman back
in 2000. That partnership really shaped her early
New York career. It became pretty central, didn't
it? They formed the comedy duo Gabe and Jenny.
Yeah, and it sounds like it was this incredibly
Close, fertile, creative relationship. Slade
herself called it a non -sexual romance. That's
a great description. And she compared them to
Elaine Benes and George Costanza. Right. But
with the key difference being we like each other.
Yeah. That tells you a lot, I think. Shared weirdness,
but with actual affection underneath. That's
often where the best comedy comes from. Totally.
It's that perfect mix. And together with Max
Silvestri, they launched the stand -up show Big
Terrific. This wasn't just some small open mic
thing. It became a real fixture in that NYC old
comedy scene. And it got noticed fast. Time Out
New York called it the best new variety show
back in 2008. It was more than just fun. It was
a place where comedians were really developing
their unique voices. Yeah, Big Terrific became
a real destination show. The sources mentioned,
though, that it ended its regular run around
2015. You know how it goes, everyone's schedules
just got too insane with individual success.
A familiar story, kind of the end of that specific
era for them, though they've popped up together
since. Right, that connection remains. But even
while that duo was going strong, she was already
carving out her solo path. Shows her drive, really.
In 2008 -2009, she was doing her one -woman show,
Jenny Slate. dead millionaire at the UCB theater
in New York. And UCB at that time was the place.
Doing a solo show there takes serious creative
muscle. It forces you to really hone your own
voice without that safety net of a partner. Exactly.
So you see this layering literature, improv,
duo work, solo show. She was basically building
this incredible toolkit ready for whatever came
next. And TV was definitely calling. Yeah. That
groundwork, especially the Sonos stuff, really
set the stage for moving into major television.
Even before the big late night break, she was
already getting noticed, just maybe in different
ways. She was definitely visible. She did a lot
of those VH1 talking head shows, you know. Yeah.
Quick. Personality -driven commentary is a different
skill set than scripted stuff. And she was weaving
in actual roles, too. She had that recurring
bit as Jenny the Page on Late Night with Jimmy
Fallon. Right, in Seventh Floor West. They later
promoted her to his assistant in the sketches.
And she was on board to death, too, recurring
role there. So she was building momentum, making
connections. And all that led straight to, well,
the biggest stage in sketch comedy, Saturday
Night Live. She joined the cast in 2009 for season
35. appeared in 22 episodes, and that's when
she became known overnight, though maybe not
quite how anyone planned. Oh, yes, the F -bomb.
It's almost legendary now, isn't it? Her very
first episode, first sketch, accidentally drops
the word live on air, coast to coast. Instant
internet fodder. Yeah. I mean, back then it was
huge news right after the show aired. The sources
do confirm, though, that it was scrubbed from
reruns. Gone. But yeah, what a way to start a
real trial by fire. But despite that initial
kerfuffle, she did create some memorable stuff.
Her best known character from that season was
probably Tina Schnoose. Oh, Tina Tina was great.
That manic energy, selling those completely bizarre
personalized things, doorbells, car horns. Yeah.
It really showcased her specific brand of slightly
off -kilter, high -energy humor. But as we know,
the SNL gig only lasted that one season, and
naturally everyone assumed it was because of
the F -bomb incident. That was the immediate
narrative for sure. But Slade herself, according
to sources, has always maintained that wasn't
the reason. She's consistently said it wasn't
like a punishment, more that she just didn't
click with the show's environment, the structure.
Which suggests maybe it just wasn't the right
fit for her style, creatively speaking. Exactly.
Maybe her character -driven, slightly weirder
stuff wasn't ideal for that super fast -paced
weekly sketch machine. And maybe realizing that
and moving on quickly was actually a good thing.
Because her career right after SNL, it just exploded.
She became this go -to guest star popping up
everywhere on major sitcoms in the early 2010s.
Absolutely ubiquitous. Yeah. And she really cemented
her presence between, say, 2012 and 2015. I think
for a lot of people, the most unforgettable character
from that time has to be Mona Lisa Saperstein
on Parks and Recreation. Oh, money, please. Jean
-Ralphio's twin sister. Just nine episodes, but
every single one was iconic. Pure, chaotic, narcissistic
energy. She made someone potentially just annoying
into someone utterly captivatingly awful and
hilarious. She nailed that. But she also showed
range. Like her role as Sarah Guggenheim on House
of Lies for 11 episodes, it was more dialed back,
showed she could play within a more sort of mature
ensemble comedy. But for sheer versatility in
that period, you've got to look at The Curl Show.
She was in nearly every episode until 2015. She
was fundamental to that show. Probably best known
for Liz B in the publicity sketches. Yes. Those
were just... Brilliant satire. That hyper -specific
take on LAPR types. But she played tons of other
characters, too. It really showed her chops as
a character actress who could just vanish into
a role. And on top of all that, she was also
co -starring in the first season of that FX show,
Married. playing Jess. When she left, another
actor stepped in. It just shows the sheer volume
of work she was doing, constantly in demand after
SNL, proving herself in these really meaty, character
-focused TV roles. Which really leads us into
the next major phase, where she transitions from
being this really reliable, funny player into
something more. Like a unique creative force
in her own right. Exactly. And it happens through
two incredibly important but very different projects
that showcase both her voice and her emotional
depth. It really starts with the completely unexpected
success of Marcel Dechelle with Shoes On. And
the origin of Marcel is so tied to her personal
life then, which I think is part of why it resonated.
That little shell had such a huge impact. She
co -wrote it and voiced it with Dean Fleischerkamp,
who she was married to at the time, back in 2010.
And the first short film just blew up online,
didn't it? People loved the charm, the vulnerability.
It wasn't planned as this big thing. It just
grew. That first short led to sequels in 2011,
2014 and children's books, too. There was just
something about that tiny voice making these
profound little observations. And it's kind of
amazing that this small, vulnerable idea eventually
became this major critical success story for
her. The 2021 feature film adaptation. That was
the culmination. And it kept that intimate feel
of the shorts. And this is where you really see
her taking the reins creatively. She didn't just
voice Marcel. She was a writer and a producer
on the film. It was her baby. Yeah, her vision.
And the industry really recognized that. Winning
the Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting
in 2022, that's huge. For people who don't follow
animation awards closely, the Annies are basically
the Oscars for animation. To win that for an
independent, stop -motion, mockumentary -style
film against, you know, the big Disney -Pixar
- releases. That tells you how special that project
was. It really stir out. It absolutely did. And
you can tell how personally connected she still
is to it. There's that great little anecdote
from just recently, June 2025. Oh, yeah. About
her daughter. Right. She shared that her daughter,
Ida, doesn't really get that Marcel is like a
professional creation. She thinks Marcel is just
a game for her daughter's enjoyment. Not, as
Slate put it, an Oscar -nominated film that I
worked really hard on. Apparently, her daughter
asks her to do the Marcel voice for specific
phrases during playtime. It just brings this
award -winning thing right back down to earth,
doesn't it? Pure mom -daughter connection. Totally.
So while Marcel was building this reputation
for her as a creator, she also landed what became
her defining live -action role in 2014, Obvious
Child. Similar vulnerability, but in a much more
raw human context. Yeah, this was the big one
for her in film. Playing Donna Stern, a stand
-up comic dealing with an unplanned pregnancy
and deciding to have an abortion. That role needed
everything. The sharp humor, the vulnerability,
serious emotional weight. A world away from Mona
Lisa Saperstein. The tonal range is just incredible.
How do you go from that kind of broad comedy
to carrying a film about such a sensitive topic?
But Obvious Child worked precisely because she
brought that authentic, messy, observational
quality to it. And again, she was involved beyond
just acting. She was an executive producer, too.
And the critics absolutely loved it. They recognized
how bravely and honestly and humorously she handled
really tough material. The award she got for
that one role alone. are really impressive. Yeah,
the list is long. Critics' Choice Award for Best
Actress in a Comedy, that's a tough category.
Plus the Virtuosos Award at Santa Barbara, Best
Comedic Actress from the Women Film Critics Circle.
It just proves she could carry a serious indie
film and use her comedy skills in a totally different
way. Right, it showed she could use that specific
personal vulnerability to connect with audiences
on a deeper level. And that success, both with
Marcel and Obvious Child, seemed to really solidify
her place in the voice acting world too. It became
this huge, consistent part of her career. Definitely.
That blend of unique writing sensibility and
a voice you instantly recognize made her a go
-to for animation. Her voice acting portfolio
is massive. You really can't avoid her in modern
animation, and the range is pretty wild. I mean,
think about it. She's Dawn Bellwether, the seemingly
sweet sheep who's secretly the villain in Disney's
Zootopia. That won her a BTVA People's Choice
Voice Acting Award. And she can shift that voice
without losing its core quality. She's Gidget,
that energetic little dog in the Secret Life
of Pets movies. Then she's Harley Quinn in the
Lego Batman movie, Valerie Da Vinci in Despicable
Me 3. These are all huge studio hits. And she
commits to long -term TV voice roles too. Tammy
Larson on Bob's Burgers, she's been doing that
since 2012. Over 50 episodes defining that perfectly
deadpan, kind of rude teenager. That takes real
dedication. Plus Miss Nanny and Muppet Babies
for nearly 70 episodes. And she's a regular as
Judy Tobin on The Great North. Now that enthusiastic,
awkward kid. If you listen to Tammy and then
Judy or Gidget and Marcel, the technical skill
in adapting her voice is really clear. But this
huge voice career also led to a really significant
moment, ethically speaking. Her decision to leave
Big Mouth in 2020. She'd been voicing Missy Foreman
Greenwald since 2017. Right. And what stands
out is that she made the move herself. It wasn't
like she was pushed out by controversy. She got
ahead of it. She put out a very thoughtful statement
on Instagram in June 2020 explaining why she
was stepping down. She talked about how Missy
is a biracial character. And while Slate initially
felt it was OK because Missy's mom is white and
Jewish like her, she came to feel that fundamentally
black characters on an animated show should be
played by black people. And that decision landed
right in the middle. of this broader industry
conversation about representation in animation.
For someone with her profile, balancing studio
films and this popular streaming show, to voluntarily
step away like that, citing authentic representation,
it sent a really strong message. Yeah, it showed
she was willing to prioritize what she felt was
right over a steady, successful gig. It really
speaks to her integrity, I think. Absolutely.
It raises big questions about casting and animation.
Speaking of big projects, we should also touch
on her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once
in 2022. That film was massive. Yeah, she had
a really memorable... supporting part in that
whirlwind of a movie and interestingly that production
also showed some ethical awareness itself her
character was originally named big nose right
but they changed it to Debbie the dog mom for
the digital release and the reason given was
sensitivity around potential negative Jewish
stereotypes associated with the original name
so you have her making this big decision about
big mouth and then this production also making
a conscious adjustment it shows how tuned in
she and her collaborators seem to be to these
issues. Definitely. And of course, Everything
Everywhere was hugely successful. The whole cast
won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding
Performance by a cast. So she's part of this
massive ensemble win, alongside getting recognition
for her own ethical choices elsewhere. So we've
hit acting, voice work, producing, writing for
the screen. But let's talk about her work specifically
as an author. That feels like another distinct
track for her. Yeah, it often seems to feed into
her comedy, but it's its own thing, too. It often
starts collaboratively, like we saw with Gabe
Liedman or Dean Fleischerkamp. In 2016, she wrote
a book called About the House with Her Dad, Ron
Slate. Oh, interesting. Yeah, very personal.
About living in her childhood home in Milton
again. That theme of returning to those specific
New England roots keeps popping up. And then
she moved into essays with Little Weirds in 2019.
That book felt... Very her. Very Jenny Slate.
Totally. It wasn't a straight memoir. More like
these fragmented, surreal thoughts, observations,
struggles about life, relationships. It reads
a lot like her stand -up voice, just on the page.
That mix of vulnerability and quirky imagination.
It got great reviews. And the sources say she
has another book coming out in 2024, Life Form.
So the writing career is definitely ongoing.
And you can really see how that literary side
informs her stand -up specials, too. Like Stage
Right from 2019 and Seasoned Professional. more
recently in 2024. They feel less like just set
up punchline and more like philosophical wanderings,
personal stories. Yeah. Stage fright especially
felt very connected to the themes and little
weirds dealing with anxiety in her personal life
pretty openly. It shows how all these different
parts of her creative output, the writing, the
performing, the personal stuff are all kind of
interwoven. Right. And speaking of personal life,
we should probably touch on the key milestones
there as they often mark these creative shifts.
She was married to Dean Fleischerkamp, her Marcel
collaborator, from 2012 to 2016. Right, during
that initial Marcel boom. After they divorced,
she had that very public relationship with Chris
Evans for a while. Yeah, that definitely put
her in a different kind of spotlight for a bit,
outside the usual comedy, CD, film world. But
her current situation seems much more... grounded
and creatively focused. She got engaged to Ben
Shattuck, who's an art curator and author, in
September 2019. And they had that whole pandemic
wedding saga, right? Like so many couples. Yeah.
The sources mentioned they tried to get married
three times, but COVID kept canceling their plans.
Wow. So eventually they just did it quietly in
their living room on New Year's Eve 2021. Kind
of fitting, maybe. Very intimate, contrasting
with her public persona. And they had their daughter,
Ida Lupine, in late 2020. And they've been living
down in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Right. In Shaddock's
childhood home, apparently. His parents live
nearby. Seems like a deliberate step back into
a quieter, family -focused New England life for
a while. But that's temporary, you said. Yeah.
The plan, according to the sources, is to move
back to Brooklyn Cobble Hill, specifically in
the fall of 2025. So back to the city where her
comedy career really started. It's a nice image,
isn't it? This creative force taking this quiet
interlude, focusing on family and writing, before
deering up to return to the city buzz for whatever
comes next. So if we try to tie all these threads
together, Jenny Slate's career really seems defined
by how she navigates creative tension, right?
She manages to bridge the gap between these incredibly
specific, vulnerable, personal projects. Like
Marcel or Obvious Child. Exactly. And the demands
of huge commercial studio work. She exists successfully
in both spaces. And she does it with real technical
skill and increasingly clear creative control.
So I guess the key takeaway for you listening
is maybe threefold. First, her commitment to
authentic personal writing that shows up everywhere
from books to films. Second, that incredibly
versatile and recognizable voice that makes her
so valuable in animation. And third, maybe most
distinctively, her willingness to put her ethical
beliefs ahead of a major career opportunity.
Yeah. She clearly understands the power of her
voice, both the literal one she uses for characters
and the metaphorical one she uses to speak out.
She helps make these big commercial movies successful.
Zootopia, Secret Life of Pets. Right. But she
also showed real integrity walking away from
Big Mouth because of representation issues. So
we've followed this path. valedictorian, comedian,
SNL, flash in the pan maybe, then obvious child
star, Marcel creator, any award winner. What
does it all tell us about being a creative person
right now? Well, maybe the final thought to leave
you with is this. In a time when a celebrity's
voice can literally be worth millions to huge
companies, what does it mean when an artist like
Slate deliberately chooses not to use that voice
in a certain context? She's shown that real creative
power isn't just about the projects you say yes
to. It's also about the ones you publicly, thoughtfully,
and ethically say no to. That's a different kind
of control. That's a really powerful note to
end on. Thanks for diving deep with us on Jenny
Slate today.