Meet Reilly Anspaugh and Geoffrey James | Comedians & Hosts of Review Revue

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reilly Anspaugh and Geoffrey James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reilly Anspaugh and Geoffrey James, what is the most important factor behind your success?
REILLY: Never thinking that there’s a “there” to get to. A lot of people think that being “successful” is reaching a certain point: “Once I ‘make it’ then I’ll be done/happy!” I couldn’t disagree more! I love the fact that in my work/art/life, I’ll never be “done” — I’ll always be evolving and learning and growing, and I’ll be able to bring that growth into every area of my life.

GEOFFREY: This is going to sound cheesy as hell, but I think the main reason Review Revue, specifically, has gained traction is Reilly’s and my friendship. What you hear on the show is just how Reilly and I talk to each other when we’re hanging out, and I think that dynamic is often what keeps people listening week-to-week. It’s either that, or my silky, velveteen, smooth-as-butter radio voice. Heck, I’ve even had romantic partners ask me to lull them to sleep by reading the ingredients of their mascara. So, like, I’ll list off a bunch of coal tar dyes, and they’ll sorta tremor in pleasure, etc.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
REILLY: When I was in college (hello, theatre school), some of our professors told us seniors that upon leaving school, we had to “pick one thing and run with it” in the “real world.” Meaning that if we wanted to be anything other than just an actor or just a writer, then we’d be spreading ourselves too thin. I’m…so glad I didn’t take their advice. I love being an actor just as much as I love being a writer, a podcaster, a comedian, a singer, and a cry-baby (that’s not an artistic career, I just cry a lot). In 2017, I took a chance in applying to be one of Headgum’s summer interns, and I’m beyond grateful that they took me on. It kickstarted my journey of expanding who I thought I was and who I thought I could be as an artist. I graduated college that next year and officially started working for HG, writing/filming/acting in sketches with Geoff, as well as pursuing my own acting and writing work outside of the company. Things led to other things, and now I’m still doing all of that, plus co-hosting Review Revue on the Headgum network with Geoff, and Geoff has become my most trusted collaborator. I feel very, very lucky.

I try and bring as much empathy to my work as possible. I think storytelling, in any medium, is the most powerful, incredible empathy teaching tool. Empathy plus engaging storytelling (with some comedy thrown in, which I think a film like Waiting for Guffman does perfectly) is what I want to do forever and ever and ever. One of the main lessons I’ve learned along the way, and something I need to remind myself of every day, is that there’s no “there” to get to. I know I mentioned it in a previous answer, but I feel as though it bears repeating since it’s so important!!! Challenging moments for me have shown up when I’ve felt that I either 1.) “Will never get there/make it/blah blah blah” and/or 2.) Feel like I’ve plateaued — “I…don’t know what else I can write.” Neither of those are true, and neither have ever served me. I’m gonna keep learning, growing, and expanding in my artistry, which is so exciting, because that means I have no clue what I’m gonna make next! All I know is that I’m gonna throw myself and my heart into it as fully as I can. I’m gonna open up your ability to empathize like my life depends on it, dammit. *Slips on a banana peel.*

GEOFF: I’m most proud of being a part of the Headgum family. I grew up watching CollegeHumor videos online and really wanting to create something like those classic Jake and Amir and Hardly Working sketches. After my freshman year of college at USC, I applied to be an intern at Headgum, and by some dumb luck I got the internship and was just sort of never asked to leave. Some 160 Headgum sketches and 130 podcast episodes later, I’m doing exactly what I dreamt of doing when I was in middle school. I’m usually the last person to give myself any sort of credit, but when I really stop to think about the journey so far, I’m pretty proud of and still shocked by the fact that I get to collaborate/joke around with comedians like Jake and Amir and others on the Headgum roster like Jon Gabrus, Lauren Lapkus, Billy Scafuri, etc.

I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, most notably in the past year with doing Review Revue with Reilly, is that the worst someone can say is no. It’s such an obvious lesson, but it really does sink in when you reach out to one of your favorite comedians, completely expecting them to reject or ignore you, and then a week later you’re improvising with them over Zoom. It’s so scary to put yourself out there, but I think we’re often comparing our works-in-progress to finished products. The reality is that our favorite TV shows, movies, podcasts, etc were all shitty at one point, and they only got better because their creators shed their fears and SHOWED it to people who gave them notes, helped them get it made, etc.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
REILLY: WELCOME TO HOLLYWEIRD, BABY! THE CITY WHERE DREAMS COME ALIVE, THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES, AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW IS CONSISTENTLY TWEAKING THEIR PILOT SCRIPTS!

I’m just gonna give you a sweet lil’ list, because it’s *your* vacation, you order it in however way *you* see fit. But? There is a right order. I’m just not gonna tell you what it is.

Griffith Observatory for the sunset views but, most importantly, the planetarium show. Space is SO COOL.

Point Dume in Malibu for a hike (it’s so short it’s just a walk but the views and sea-lion sounds are amazing).

Tacos Tu Madre for grilled chicken bowls.

1642 — the most wonderful, intimate hole-in-the-wall bar with live jazz. They only serve beer and wine and lemme tell ya it’s all GOOD.

Speaking of music, see if Eva B. Ross (a fantastic friend and an even more fantastic musician) is playing anywhere. You’ll be obsessed, but not as obsessed as I am! (She’s been my most listened to artist on Spotify for two years in a row. Brag.)

Grandma’s Thai Kitchen in Van Nuys for Pad See Ew that will change the way you see the world and those around you.

Silverlake Meadow for a sick park hang with pals.

The Getty for art AND views (if you can’t tell, I…love a view. I’m so different like that.)

GEOFF: Taking one from ol’ Anspaugh here and just gonna list my top recs. I love LA, man!

Good Eats: Salazar, Son of a Gun, Koi, L&E Oyster Bar, and the taco stand in the Rite Aid parking lot in Echo Park.

Good Drinks: Block Party, Bar Flores, The Prince, Tilda, The Virgil, and Death & Company.

Good Vibes: Bowling at the Highland Park Bowl, buying unnecessary groceries at the Laurel Canyon Country Store, losing a pinball tournament at Walt’s Bar, walking up and down Park Drive in Echo Park, hosting a sunset picnic at Topanga Beach, trying on prohibitively expensive vintage watches at Wanna Buy a Watch, climbing (and probably injuring yourself) at LA Boulders, and getting a LipiFlow® treatment at the Benjamin Eye Institute!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
REILLY: *tugs collar* Wow, is it hot in here? This is such an honor. Firstly, I’d like to thank the academy—Oh, sorry. Wrong speech. Gimme a sec…Got it. Here we go: My parents and their unending support for their little weirdo child who just wants to do silly voices, make jokes, and tell stories. My therapist, for keeping me grounded as I do all of the aforementioned jokes, voices, and storytelling. My boyfriend, Daniel Rashid, for being the best collaborator, sounding board, and just an incredible artist I get to look up to (and brush my teeth next to) every day. My college thesis professor, Michael Kaye, and my acting teacher, Doug Tompos, for reminding me that creativity is limitless. Nathan Lane, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Michaela Coel, Christopher Guest, John Oliver, and Catherine O’Hara because I’d like to be a mix of all of them one day. Jake Hurwitz, Amir Blumenfeld, and the entire Headgum team, because they hired aforementioned little weirdo child in 2017 and kickstarted the whole shebang. *An orchestra begins to play me off* And Geoff. Not just because he’s going to be reading this and feel left out if I don’t mention him, but because I couldn’t imagine doing this without him—for emotional, friend reasons and also because we…literally couldn’t do our show without each other. *PAs drag me off stage* That just wouldn’t make sense!!!

GEOFF: I’d like to thank Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for being probably the biggest inspiration to me, personally. Dwayne wakes up at 3:30am, so I also set my alarm for around then too. The Rock also acts in big-budget Hollywood movies, which is something I wouldn’t be opposed to. Another thing about The Rock is that one of his best friends is Kevin Hart, which inspired my goal of having famous comedian friends.

I’m certainly not the only person who looks up to The Rock, but that’s what’s so special about Dwayne. He inspires so many people to be the best version of themselves! My only hope is to someday make a FRACTION of the impact Dwayne Johnson has made on the world, or perhaps more specifically, MY world. Shoutout Dwayne!

Website: https://headgum.com/review-revue

Instagram: @reillyanspaugh & @geoffreyjames

Twitter: @reileycoyte & @GeoffBoyardee

Youtube: www.youtube.com/headgum

Image Credits
Headgum, Nick Eagleston, John Michael-Bond