I could tap into pearls so easily. A girl that wanted to be at the mall, wanted to be liked, who was boy crazy like I'm sure that's why she I am Pearl. Hey, everybody, welcome to SpongeBob binge Pants. My name is Hector and my usual co host, the wonderful, the talented, the beautiful Mr Frankie Grande is actually not with us today because he is off filming another show for Nickelodeon. We're keeping it in the Nickelodeon family because joining me as my guest co host today is one of your favorite actors, comedians, voice actors. You know her as the voice of Cora from the Legend of Cora and one of the hosts of the Avatar the Last Airbender podcast Braving the Elements. Janet Varney is joining me today. Doctor. I'm so excited. I was so thrilled to be asked. As you know, you have done some episodes of Braving the Elements, and I call you the perfect or because you are a professor of all the things I love and animation and I can always depend on you to have the same level of enthusiasm and enjoy about these projects that we love talking about So I was so excited. Um, I have to thank Frankie for making this opportunity available to me by doing yet another Nickelodeon show. So you're so right. It's in the family, and I'm thrilled to be here. Well, we are getting to talk to one of the voice actors behind one of the main characters from the SpongeBob universe, Everyone's favorite teenage girl, Pearl, the one and only Lori Allen, the voice of Pearl. Lorie's performance and voice behind this character is one of the many, many reasons that she is so so endearing, just so brilliant. She's so brilliant, She's a hero of mine and what she brings to Pearl. You're so right. I'm sure we'll get into this with Lorie, but I can't imagine anyone else doing it, and you know, as a as an awkward tall girl. Um, Pearl is a big favor of mine on the show. Uh, this is gonna be so much fun, So let's just get into it. Let's go talk to Lori Allen, sponge Are you okay? Don't worry, SpongeBob. You didn't mess everything off. Actually it was pretty funny. When that hot dog landed in Judy's hair. But I am having a good time. You know, we haven't finished our dance yet. You have started acting at such a young age. Did you always know that that's what you were gonna do or did at any point you consider doing something else as a career, profsial I? Unfortunately, I don't think I could do anything else. Not unfortunate. Yeah, my parents are actor voice people. They were both theater majors with radio miners, and so I was just encouraged and uh supported and loved through my artistic sort of experience. And I think if I had ever come home and said, mom, dad, I want to be a lawyer, doctor, they would have been like, what, that's insane. You need juggling tap dancing as a backup. That's so so cool. Were you studying theater and stuff in school? I started off really as a dancer, so but they're like, we put her in front, She's got a lot of sparkle and pizzazz. And I was like, just like Pearl, I studied dance. I studied musical theater and improv. So it just seemed like the natural thing to do with my dad, since he was in advertising. He would put my sister in nine commercials. My first radio commercial was for Archway Cookies with Willard Scott. May he rest in peace. Yeah, so just let me talk about food. And I'm usually okay, it's wild. I mean, as a fan on the outside looking in to what SpongeBob is today and where it started, it's so insane to think about how far that little sponge has come and all of the amazing episodes that you've been in. I would love to know. Do you remember after all these years that initial audition. I knew that this this character was supposed to be huge, right, that she would end up like dumb dumb, dumb dumb at home. That's why they have like drains at home in her house, right with dad living in the anchor there. I think that's what I call it talent, thank you. So I knew she had to sound like kind of a daddy's girl, but I knew she had to be the biggest creature there amongst all the eclectic characters. And I remember thinking, Okay, she is girly and she is like a cheerleader, and I was like, that's me. But she's loud and opinionated, and I was like, that's me. So I was like, Okay, I'm just gonna do me but a little younger. And I was obsessed with going to the mall like Pearl, like I lived at the moment. Mom was like, I couldn't drag you out of the mall. You guys are always at the mall. And then I just knew that she had to have like this big dinner. I have a litment good alto, right, So I knew I had to have this lower voice, and so I just kind of put together this lower voice with like a really girly girl. But I found that I was like, if she's a little spoiled and she's a daddy's girl, that maybe she has like, oh, daddy, you know. And that turned into like daddy you know, And I knew that she had to cry. But I just remember seeing the picture and knowing just how large and girly um and a daddy's girl, because much to people's wondering, they actually love each other terribly. Mr Crabs and Pearl right, so he loves her. So that's what I remember about being kind of a big, loud, feminine, outspoken girl. Long week away from Bikini Bottom is exactly what I need, just me, my darling daughter. Girl, don't forget my new flippers, slippers, daddy, darling, I won't. Oh no, you make it sound so effortless, But we're talking about qualities that somebody might hit that right on the head. They might hit just the girly part right on the head, or they might go for the lower voice but then sort of lose the femininity. So the way you describe it makes it feel like we could all do that. Yet that's not true. You hit it. You really managed to pull these disparate things and squeeze them into one character. And I have to say too, as like I always was the tall girl. I was always like dead center back of a class for school pictures, and so this is that, you know, Pearls absolutely some but yet still kind of girly but also kind of a tomb but like so that is such a great representation for for us tall girls who are like I feel huge, Like I always felt huge, and I remember like, um, they were like your voice is weird, and I was like, ha ha, now I'm like that's funny. Um, but I got cheeted tell him like a dude, and I was like, well, I got putting the tenor sections. So I got to hang out with all the guys and chow choirs. So so there, but to book Family Guy and SpongeBob in the same year, listen, that is a blessing. I mean, like I said, talent, sure, but I'm I was I'm so grateful to be in the right place at the right time. And I guess one of the first renderings, right, Pearl was in the top five and she had like pig tails and they were wearing like all orange stuff, you know. And of Stephen Hillenburg, may he rest in beautiful, glorious piece because he was the most humble, kind person and he was obviously marine biologists and so for him to be, you know, obsessed with watching whales and drawing them and then the evolution of Pearl and all that stuff is just fascinating to me. And he was right when he was like, you know, I think I think this would make a good show, because he was the most right. I mean talking about when you booked the job, you went in to record the first episode, you're working on the first season, Like, what was that like at Nickelodeon. What was it like to to kind of figure out who the Pearl character was, and get to hear her in that first episode Squeaky Boo, what is it, Daddy? It wouldn't be those totally hipnew flippers slippers all my friends are wearing. What it? Everyone wants them? Yeah, it might be when SpongeBob gets those boots, which are so so funny Nickelodeon before everything had SpongeBob on it. It's like, this is You're going to Nickelodeon when everything wasn't SpongeBob. You know, when you just know something is really special and you're like, oh my god. First of all, you're just excited, but to be in the room together. I don't know how many times we've ruined each other's takes by just cracking up. So you know, when something is like just so exciting that you know, as you drive away, you're just like, oh my god, that that was amazing. And I know Pearl wanted the other slippers, um, so you know, and I would call them like my fakes, like she wanted the slippers, not want the boots, And the fact that like I was listening to that and just the just the creativity of the show. I mean, like I can see why people us freaked out when it came on. I feel like we're on our fourth generation, you know, like, Hi, my kids watch you. You know, my parents watch you. Kids are being like like baby girl. So we couldn't be more grateful for that as well. And so there is something that's that's so universal on some level for everyone. That's why it makes it so special. Look at SpongeBob and Patrick, I mean they love each other, and SpongeBob and Pearl love each other. And she's like, you were a great day. You were a great day to the prom. Alright, you Inverna Brantz. I'm gonna teach you how to do the sponge? What did you take your nig? Did you take the yoga? Right up there? Your ground and keep get winning before you know, it's really interesting to go back to Camp Coral, the under years, right because you get to see what they were like before. I remember I was just talking in the booth with like Vincent and and Mark, you know are fabulous executive producers, showrunners, and I remember just being like dad, Dad, and I was like, oh, there's a dad Dad, And I was like, there she is, there's baby Pearl. It's so fun when you'll get a direction like, you know, throws her poop against the wall or whatever. I mean, it's so silly. The minute I realized that she was like that dad dad that, because I always hear from new moms that dad dad is easier to say that mama. So I was like, well, of course she's been a daddy girl, daddy's girl from the beginning. And we also talk about being a single parent. I mean, so there's a lot that the that goes on every one of those characters. It's just captures one element of the human condition. We talked about the empathy and the sort of pathos and the kindness and the warmth that's all there. You can't replace that with anything. It's so so special, and it's also very very smart and very accessible. Here we have this this show that's really bringing in this sun, warm, happy, but that doesn't mean it's not sharp. And I think that's a huge piece is that we saw all of the snarky, and I think there was this idea of like, well, that's smart comedy, and that smart cartoons is snarky, and it's like, no, you can be so sharp, you can have grown up jokes and you can still have something where you want to sit and watch with a younger person. We all know that there are some of those shows where there's like a dinosaur who's nice, but that's kind of it, you know what I mean? And like this is not that, and like the writing is so good. I just so appreciate our writers. And again when I get to meet them, when they come in the booth and their creativity. There's a younger set of minds and they come up with stuff that you couldn't even imagine. And so these characters are just so beautifully creative. Thank you Stephen to be able to sing It's all about you girl. Well the boys saying that, you know, boys who cried that's nice. It's all that's all about girl. Yeah, it's all about me. On my sixteenth birthday, I want new dick and clothes and shiny things. So get it up. Why do I every body in the whole white world, they have to pay attention to me. It's all about me, me to get to But I remember that episode. I remember going with Andy Paley and Tom over to Andy's place and we recorded that and I'm a singer person, so I just but I knew that I had to kind of speak sing that Pearl wouldn't be like, oh, she wouldn't have gone to end the yards, so but I knew that she could sing a little bit and then they so that was really fun. So I just kind of spoke saying, which is when we have some crazy outtakes, girl, I just want to draw a circle around you, saying that you have a thing that you love to do and are great at, which is singing, and that you still have the loyalty to the show and to the universe and to the rules of SpongeBob to wear. Because I'm just speaking for myself. Sometimes those are hard choices where you're like, look, I mean I do like to sing, I can't carry you to and it's like, no, no one's asking for Janet right now. They're asking for Pearl. They're asking for They love Lorie. That's why Lorie is Pearl. But what would Pearl do? And I think that's such a tribute and testament to your commitment to your craft, is saying like, yeah, there's a there's times when I get to be the sensational, beautiful singer, and then there's times when it's time for Pearl. This is Pearl's time to shine right, and that is so humble. That's beautiful. I'm so humbled. But she's very very confident, um and insecure all at the same time. And it's like, aren't we all that way? Yes, Lorie. In terms of the performance of Pearl, I mean, I think it's so relatable and and I feel like we've all been a teenage girl at some point in our lives, that some more than others. We've all lived at them all. But was there any like specific teen related inspiration for you in your life or was there anything that the creatives behind the show, they were like, Okay, for Pearl, we're thinking about this, maybe look at this, watch this, anything like that. No, I could tap into Pearls so easily. A girl that wanted to be at the mall, wanted to be liked, who was boy crazy like I'm sure that's why she. I am Pearl, Like I'm loud and feminine. I want everybody to like me and I want to like everybody else. For Pearl for a minute, to work at Grandma's apron with any white I cannot. I. Oh my gosh, I'm looking for a job. Yeah, I need what as soon as possible. It's a life or that situation. Actually, oh my goodness, are you in dangerous danger of never seeing my friends because I don't have a job. Come with me? And as an animal activist and an amazing human being, a comedy lady, a kind person um who is just her feminine, hilarious body self Like, how great? But yeah, no, I am a tea. I am young at heart, spazy. I lived at the mall as a teenager. My mom to be waiting outside like in the seventies, like she's gonna come out at some point. Here's gonna be a plessy. You've ruined all my birthday parties, but you better not ruin this one. Now, Promise me you won't be cheape. Can we talk about the mother of Pearl. Stephen Hillenburg has famously wanted Pearl's mom to always be kept a secret. Do you ever think about the mystery of Pearl's mom or or or or that side of her character? Again, what a great model, whether it was on purpose or not. Is that he's a single dad. So it's not like it's a mystery to be cool and weird. It's just because they you know, he married someone and she's not there too for whatever reason. So it's kept a secret and not so much to be clever or fun for the audience. But I genuinely I don't think about it. They their love for each other, they have a complicated, beautiful, adorable relationship. It's because there's only one fish in the stage along Dan and asdom as he is. That's it. No, no baby, no more crying. We'll get you a date. I'll take you. I was looking at like my favorite episodes like The Chaperone and a Whale of a Birthday. I'll never forget that as long as I live. And also i'm gal pals Serena Irwin and I forget what we were at the Annie Awards, I think, and we were like, you guys should do an episode where all the girls just get to be together like girl power, girl power, And they did, and I don't expect a writing credit are created by credit, um, but they were able to do that for us girls, and we were so grateful and so happy because we got to go in like a sleepover together and just scare each other and really represent that a lot of females are clearly watching the show. Why didn't you give me? Why did you take me here? Thanks? Gals, you got me, but I knew you were going to bright me are and then mael girl, Pearl, I mean, come on, Jill Tally is so versatile, so is Serena. It's ridiculous and just such a joy and a pleasure and d I can't get enough a d and um when she finally gets a job. I mean, how great is it that Pearl is like, I love this older lady. I love on the bottom floor of the mall that's kind of creepy and stuff. And she plays to be a grandmother and she loves it there until she realizes she does want to be with friends her age. But how great that she relates to an older lady and they become really good friends and almost crush her with the hug Sorry Betty White crusher and a little bit yeah I know, grandma now right beads. Oh, Pearl, I'm so glad you enjoy being a grandma. But your friends make a good point. You're only young once you see you don't want to grow up too fast. Oh you'll miss out on all the fun. Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna try to quiz you, Laura. I'm gonna try. I'm gonna try to do my Clancy Brown. This just got very fun and interesting. Let's hear your Clancy Brown here. Take SpongeBob ah the fry cook. Do you know what that would do to my complexion? People will mistake me for a blank a planetarium. I don't want barnacles, although we did get to make a whole episode about that. I don't want a barnacle breakout and look like a planetarium. Okay. Next one, when SpongeBob goes with Pearl to the school dance in the chaperone, she says, as far as blanks go, that was really fun. Oh, I know she thinks it's gonna be as far as di dastards go. Yes, crushing, crushing it. Okay, I got it. Oh, don't worry, SpongeBob. I knew it would be a total disaster all along, But as far as disasters, that was really fun. Last one, This is from season three. See no one says cool anymore. That's such an old person thing. Now we say blank that nose job is so but coral, Coral. I love that that is lasted for literally decades now. Even if people out of context don't know what it means, they can figure it out like you guys are so carl I'll never forget you aren't so girl. Thank you so much. My final thing I'll say quickly is that you are such an inspiration. And what really stood out for me a moment ago as you were talking about you know, we know the amazing the work that you do for animal rescue and animal rescue awareness, and I just thought, when you were talking about the mystery of Pearl's mom it's sometimes it's like that with um, with animals that we bring into our lives, right, we don't know what their lives were like before, but that's not what matters. What matters is that we're going to love them fiercely. That's what you seemed like to me. You are a person who loves with ferocity. You love fiercely and so much strength in that. And people think that you have to come at something aggressively, and that's what strength is. And you're just such a great example of somebody whose fierceness comes from love and there's nothing stronger than that. And I just think that's so impressive. That's a beautiful way to say that, because I really believe one of the things I like about Pearl too, is I get to bring my vulnerability. You know, she doesn't always have to be that hardcore like she'll break down into tears, Daddy, because you can't have that fierceness without the vulnerability. Animals just teach us unconditional love, and that's what the show teaches us too, is unconditional love. No matter how much they fight or disagree or argue or trigger each other's stuff, they love each other. That is a good spot as any to to let you have the rest of your day. Laurie, this has been a treasure of an interview, getting to getting to talk with you. It really it really has and and Janet for you to be here as well and be able to share your insight and for you guys to connect it at level and this has been awesome. I'm just the luckiest fan in the world. Laurie. Thank you again, so so much for spending some time with us so much. Thank you again, Laurie. Take care, m

I could tap into pearls so easily. A girl that wanted to be at the mall, wanted to be liked, who was boy crazy like I'm sure that's why she I am Pearl. Hey, everybody, welcome to SpongeBob binge Pants. My name is Hector and my usual co host, the wonderful, the talented, the beautiful Mr Frankie Grande is actually not with us today because he is off filming another show for Nickelodeon. We're keeping it in the Nickelodeon family because joining me as my guest co host today is one of your favorite actors, comedians, voice actors. You know her as the voice of Cora from the Legend of Cora and one of the hosts of the Avatar the Last Airbender podcast Braving the Elements. Janet Varney is joining me today. Doctor. I'm so excited. I was so thrilled to be asked. As you know, you have done some episodes of Braving the Elements, and I call you the perfect or because you are a professor of all the things I love and animation and I can always depend on you to have the same level of enthusiasm and enjoy about these projects that we love talking about So I was so excited. Um, I have to thank Frankie for making this opportunity available to me by doing yet another Nickelodeon show. So you're so right. It's in the family, and I'm thrilled to be here. Well, we are getting to talk to one of the voice actors behind one of the main characters from the SpongeBob universe, Everyone's favorite teenage girl, Pearl, the one and only Lori Allen, the voice of Pearl. Lorie's performance and voice behind this character is one of the many, many reasons that she is so so endearing, just so brilliant. She's so brilliant, She's a hero of mine and what she brings to Pearl. You're so right. I'm sure we'll get into this with Lorie, but I can't imagine anyone else doing it, and you know, as a as an awkward tall girl. Um, Pearl is a big favor of mine on the show. Uh, this is gonna be so much fun, So let's just get into it. Let's go talk to Lori Allen, sponge Are you okay? Don't worry, SpongeBob. You didn't mess everything off. Actually it was pretty funny. When that hot dog landed in Judy's hair. But I am having a good time. You know, we haven't finished our dance yet. You have started acting at such a young age. Did you always know that that's what you were gonna do or did at any point you consider doing something else as a career, profsial I? Unfortunately, I don't think I could do anything else. Not unfortunate. Yeah, my parents are actor voice people. They were both theater majors with radio miners, and so I was just encouraged and uh supported and loved through my artistic sort of experience. And I think if I had ever come home and said, mom, dad, I want to be a lawyer, doctor, they would have been like, what, that's insane. You need juggling tap dancing as a backup. That's so so cool. Were you studying theater and stuff in school? I started off really as a dancer, so but they're like, we put her in front, She's got a lot of sparkle and pizzazz. And I was like, just like Pearl, I studied dance. I studied musical theater and improv. So it just seemed like the natural thing to do with my dad, since he was in advertising. He would put my sister in nine commercials. My first radio commercial was for Archway Cookies with Willard Scott. May he rest in peace. Yeah, so just let me talk about food. And I'm usually okay, it's wild. I mean, as a fan on the outside looking in to what SpongeBob is today and where it started, it's so insane to think about how far that little sponge has come and all of the amazing episodes that you've been in. I would love to know. Do you remember after all these years that initial audition. I knew that this this character was supposed to be huge, right, that she would end up like dumb dumb, dumb dumb at home. That's why they have like drains at home in her house, right with dad living in the anchor there. I think that's what I call it talent, thank you. So I knew she had to sound like kind of a daddy's girl, but I knew she had to be the biggest creature there amongst all the eclectic characters. And I remember thinking, Okay, she is girly and she is like a cheerleader, and I was like, that's me. But she's loud and opinionated, and I was like, that's me. So I was like, Okay, I'm just gonna do me but a little younger. And I was obsessed with going to the mall like Pearl, like I lived at the moment. Mom was like, I couldn't drag you out of the mall. You guys are always at the mall. And then I just knew that she had to have like this big dinner. I have a litment good alto, right, So I knew I had to have this lower voice, and so I just kind of put together this lower voice with like a really girly girl. But I found that I was like, if she's a little spoiled and she's a daddy's girl, that maybe she has like, oh, daddy, you know. And that turned into like daddy you know, And I knew that she had to cry. But I just remember seeing the picture and knowing just how large and girly um and a daddy's girl, because much to people's wondering, they actually love each other terribly. Mr Crabs and Pearl right, so he loves her. So that's what I remember about being kind of a big, loud, feminine, outspoken girl. Long week away from Bikini Bottom is exactly what I need, just me, my darling daughter. Girl, don't forget my new flippers, slippers, daddy, darling, I won't. Oh no, you make it sound so effortless, But we're talking about qualities that somebody might hit that right on the head. They might hit just the girly part right on the head, or they might go for the lower voice but then sort of lose the femininity. So the way you describe it makes it feel like we could all do that. Yet that's not true. You hit it. You really managed to pull these disparate things and squeeze them into one character. And I have to say too, as like I always was the tall girl. I was always like dead center back of a class for school pictures, and so this is that, you know, Pearls absolutely some but yet still kind of girly but also kind of a tomb but like so that is such a great representation for for us tall girls who are like I feel huge, Like I always felt huge, and I remember like, um, they were like your voice is weird, and I was like, ha ha, now I'm like that's funny. Um, but I got cheeted tell him like a dude, and I was like, well, I got putting the tenor sections. So I got to hang out with all the guys and chow choirs. So so there, but to book Family Guy and SpongeBob in the same year, listen, that is a blessing. I mean, like I said, talent, sure, but I'm I was I'm so grateful to be in the right place at the right time. And I guess one of the first renderings, right, Pearl was in the top five and she had like pig tails and they were wearing like all orange stuff, you know. And of Stephen Hillenburg, may he rest in beautiful, glorious piece because he was the most humble, kind person and he was obviously marine biologists and so for him to be, you know, obsessed with watching whales and drawing them and then the evolution of Pearl and all that stuff is just fascinating to me. And he was right when he was like, you know, I think I think this would make a good show, because he was the most right. I mean talking about when you booked the job, you went in to record the first episode, you're working on the first season, Like, what was that like at Nickelodeon. What was it like to to kind of figure out who the Pearl character was, and get to hear her in that first episode Squeaky Boo, what is it, Daddy? It wouldn't be those totally hipnew flippers slippers all my friends are wearing. What it? Everyone wants them? Yeah, it might be when SpongeBob gets those boots, which are so so funny Nickelodeon before everything had SpongeBob on it. It's like, this is You're going to Nickelodeon when everything wasn't SpongeBob. You know, when you just know something is really special and you're like, oh my god. First of all, you're just excited, but to be in the room together. I don't know how many times we've ruined each other's takes by just cracking up. So you know, when something is like just so exciting that you know, as you drive away, you're just like, oh my god, that that was amazing. And I know Pearl wanted the other slippers, um, so you know, and I would call them like my fakes, like she wanted the slippers, not want the boots, And the fact that like I was listening to that and just the just the creativity of the show. I mean, like I can see why people us freaked out when it came on. I feel like we're on our fourth generation, you know, like, Hi, my kids watch you. You know, my parents watch you. Kids are being like like baby girl. So we couldn't be more grateful for that as well. And so there is something that's that's so universal on some level for everyone. That's why it makes it so special. Look at SpongeBob and Patrick, I mean they love each other, and SpongeBob and Pearl love each other. And she's like, you were a great day. You were a great day to the prom. Alright, you Inverna Brantz. I'm gonna teach you how to do the sponge? What did you take your nig? Did you take the yoga? Right up there? Your ground and keep get winning before you know, it's really interesting to go back to Camp Coral, the under years, right because you get to see what they were like before. I remember I was just talking in the booth with like Vincent and and Mark, you know are fabulous executive producers, showrunners, and I remember just being like dad, Dad, and I was like, oh, there's a dad Dad, And I was like, there she is, there's baby Pearl. It's so fun when you'll get a direction like, you know, throws her poop against the wall or whatever. I mean, it's so silly. The minute I realized that she was like that dad dad that, because I always hear from new moms that dad dad is easier to say that mama. So I was like, well, of course she's been a daddy girl, daddy's girl from the beginning. And we also talk about being a single parent. I mean, so there's a lot that the that goes on every one of those characters. It's just captures one element of the human condition. We talked about the empathy and the sort of pathos and the kindness and the warmth that's all there. You can't replace that with anything. It's so so special, and it's also very very smart and very accessible. Here we have this this show that's really bringing in this sun, warm, happy, but that doesn't mean it's not sharp. And I think that's a huge piece is that we saw all of the snarky, and I think there was this idea of like, well, that's smart comedy, and that smart cartoons is snarky, and it's like, no, you can be so sharp, you can have grown up jokes and you can still have something where you want to sit and watch with a younger person. We all know that there are some of those shows where there's like a dinosaur who's nice, but that's kind of it, you know what I mean? And like this is not that, and like the writing is so good. I just so appreciate our writers. And again when I get to meet them, when they come in the booth and their creativity. There's a younger set of minds and they come up with stuff that you couldn't even imagine. And so these characters are just so beautifully creative. Thank you Stephen to be able to sing It's all about you girl. Well the boys saying that, you know, boys who cried that's nice. It's all that's all about girl. Yeah, it's all about me. On my sixteenth birthday, I want new dick and clothes and shiny things. So get it up. Why do I every body in the whole white world, they have to pay attention to me. It's all about me, me to get to But I remember that episode. I remember going with Andy Paley and Tom over to Andy's place and we recorded that and I'm a singer person, so I just but I knew that I had to kind of speak sing that Pearl wouldn't be like, oh, she wouldn't have gone to end the yards, so but I knew that she could sing a little bit and then they so that was really fun. So I just kind of spoke saying, which is when we have some crazy outtakes, girl, I just want to draw a circle around you, saying that you have a thing that you love to do and are great at, which is singing, and that you still have the loyalty to the show and to the universe and to the rules of SpongeBob to wear. Because I'm just speaking for myself. Sometimes those are hard choices where you're like, look, I mean I do like to sing, I can't carry you to and it's like, no, no one's asking for Janet right now. They're asking for Pearl. They're asking for They love Lorie. That's why Lorie is Pearl. But what would Pearl do? And I think that's such a tribute and testament to your commitment to your craft, is saying like, yeah, there's a there's times when I get to be the sensational, beautiful singer, and then there's times when it's time for Pearl. This is Pearl's time to shine right, and that is so humble. That's beautiful. I'm so humbled. But she's very very confident, um and insecure all at the same time. And it's like, aren't we all that way? Yes, Lorie. In terms of the performance of Pearl, I mean, I think it's so relatable and and I feel like we've all been a teenage girl at some point in our lives, that some more than others. We've all lived at them all. But was there any like specific teen related inspiration for you in your life or was there anything that the creatives behind the show, they were like, Okay, for Pearl, we're thinking about this, maybe look at this, watch this, anything like that. No, I could tap into Pearls so easily. A girl that wanted to be at the mall, wanted to be liked, who was boy crazy like I'm sure that's why she. I am Pearl, Like I'm loud and feminine. I want everybody to like me and I want to like everybody else. For Pearl for a minute, to work at Grandma's apron with any white I cannot. I. Oh my gosh, I'm looking for a job. Yeah, I need what as soon as possible. It's a life or that situation. Actually, oh my goodness, are you in dangerous danger of never seeing my friends because I don't have a job. Come with me? And as an animal activist and an amazing human being, a comedy lady, a kind person um who is just her feminine, hilarious body self Like, how great? But yeah, no, I am a tea. I am young at heart, spazy. I lived at the mall as a teenager. My mom to be waiting outside like in the seventies, like she's gonna come out at some point. Here's gonna be a plessy. You've ruined all my birthday parties, but you better not ruin this one. Now, Promise me you won't be cheape. Can we talk about the mother of Pearl. Stephen Hillenburg has famously wanted Pearl's mom to always be kept a secret. Do you ever think about the mystery of Pearl's mom or or or or that side of her character? Again, what a great model, whether it was on purpose or not. Is that he's a single dad. So it's not like it's a mystery to be cool and weird. It's just because they you know, he married someone and she's not there too for whatever reason. So it's kept a secret and not so much to be clever or fun for the audience. But I genuinely I don't think about it. They their love for each other, they have a complicated, beautiful, adorable relationship. It's because there's only one fish in the stage along Dan and asdom as he is. That's it. No, no baby, no more crying. We'll get you a date. I'll take you. I was looking at like my favorite episodes like The Chaperone and a Whale of a Birthday. I'll never forget that as long as I live. And also i'm gal pals Serena Irwin and I forget what we were at the Annie Awards, I think, and we were like, you guys should do an episode where all the girls just get to be together like girl power, girl power, And they did, and I don't expect a writing credit are created by credit, um, but they were able to do that for us girls, and we were so grateful and so happy because we got to go in like a sleepover together and just scare each other and really represent that a lot of females are clearly watching the show. Why didn't you give me? Why did you take me here? Thanks? Gals, you got me, but I knew you were going to bright me are and then mael girl, Pearl, I mean, come on, Jill Tally is so versatile, so is Serena. It's ridiculous and just such a joy and a pleasure and d I can't get enough a d and um when she finally gets a job. I mean, how great is it that Pearl is like, I love this older lady. I love on the bottom floor of the mall that's kind of creepy and stuff. And she plays to be a grandmother and she loves it there until she realizes she does want to be with friends her age. But how great that she relates to an older lady and they become really good friends and almost crush her with the hug Sorry Betty White crusher and a little bit yeah I know, grandma now right beads. Oh, Pearl, I'm so glad you enjoy being a grandma. But your friends make a good point. You're only young once you see you don't want to grow up too fast. Oh you'll miss out on all the fun. Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna try to quiz you, Laura. I'm gonna try. I'm gonna try to do my Clancy Brown. This just got very fun and interesting. Let's hear your Clancy Brown here. Take SpongeBob ah the fry cook. Do you know what that would do to my complexion? People will mistake me for a blank a planetarium. I don't want barnacles, although we did get to make a whole episode about that. I don't want a barnacle breakout and look like a planetarium. Okay. Next one, when SpongeBob goes with Pearl to the school dance in the chaperone, she says, as far as blanks go, that was really fun. Oh, I know she thinks it's gonna be as far as di dastards go. Yes, crushing, crushing it. Okay, I got it. Oh, don't worry, SpongeBob. I knew it would be a total disaster all along, But as far as disasters, that was really fun. Last one, This is from season three. See no one says cool anymore. That's such an old person thing. Now we say blank that nose job is so but coral, Coral. I love that that is lasted for literally decades now. Even if people out of context don't know what it means, they can figure it out like you guys are so carl I'll never forget you aren't so girl. Thank you so much. My final thing I'll say quickly is that you are such an inspiration. And what really stood out for me a moment ago as you were talking about you know, we know the amazing the work that you do for animal rescue and animal rescue awareness, and I just thought, when you were talking about the mystery of Pearl's mom it's sometimes it's like that with um, with animals that we bring into our lives, right, we don't know what their lives were like before, but that's not what matters. What matters is that we're going to love them fiercely. That's what you seemed like to me. You are a person who loves with ferocity. You love fiercely and so much strength in that. And people think that you have to come at something aggressively, and that's what strength is. And you're just such a great example of somebody whose fierceness comes from love and there's nothing stronger than that. And I just think that's so impressive. That's a beautiful way to say that, because I really believe one of the things I like about Pearl too, is I get to bring my vulnerability. You know, she doesn't always have to be that hardcore like she'll break down into tears, Daddy, because you can't have that fierceness without the vulnerability. Animals just teach us unconditional love, and that's what the show teaches us too, is unconditional love. No matter how much they fight or disagree or argue or trigger each other's stuff, they love each other. That is a good spot as any to to let you have the rest of your day. Laurie, this has been a treasure of an interview, getting to getting to talk with you. It really it really has and and Janet for you to be here as well and be able to share your insight and for you guys to connect it at level and this has been awesome. I'm just the luckiest fan in the world. Laurie. Thank you again, so so much for spending some time with us so much. Thank you again, Laurie. Take care, m