Comedians Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, who are both just as in love with comedy as they are with each other, stopped by BuzzFeed for a quick round of high speed questioning during their national tour. Some of these questions are pretty serious... others are not.
The rules are simple: We ask, you answer. Everyone wins.
How did you get into comedy?
Cameron: I started when I was in college, when I was nineteen years old in my college improv group. I haven't stopped since then.
Rhea: I started taking improv in Chicago and then I went to [Cameron's] open mic.
Cameron: That's true! I was the first person to ever introduce Rhea on stage when she started stand-up. She's a genius, she hates when I say that but she was actually super good right away.
How did you get into each other?
Cameron: Before we were ever dating, Rhea and I used to work together. We used to tour together. I was touring on a national level and needed someone to feature, do twenty minutes before I did an hour. So we were dating other people and just touring as friends and comics. And then we weren't dating other people and I was like, "Hey, she's cute. Let's date."
What is it like to work and travel with your fiancée?
Rhea: She does my makeup and changes my hair.
Cameron: It is awesome. It is the best, but also so stressful. It's the worst. We hate it. We hate each other [laughs]. That's what is so great about it. There is nobody else I'd rather be with at a weird hotel in the middle of a bizarre small town. I think it's very intense to put that much pressure on a relationship. It's a lot of time together.
Who is your celeb crush right now?
Cameron: Jake Arrieta! He plays baseball for the Chicago Cubs, which is where I'm from. I grew up in Chicago and he's pitching, doing such a great job. He's so handsome.
Rhea: My celeb crush is Julianne Moore.
Cameron: That's a good one. She's beautiful. I want to look like her right now.
Rhea: All the time.
As a comedian, in your opinion, is any topic off the table? Is anything fair game?
Cameron: I have a very specific answer to this which is: No, I don't believe any topic is off the table, but I believe you need to have a reason to talk about really taboo topics. So, when things have a lot of emotion or tradition behind them — when you're going to take on a topic that's really huge — you need to have a reason to talk about it. And then you need to prove what you're saying!
I think when comics get into trouble it's when they talk about something that they don't really care about or it's a huge issue and they're just delving into it because they think it's going to be risqué. I also think they get into trouble when what they're saying, they don't actually support. You can't come on stage and introduce a topic just to get a reaction out of people — that's irresponsible.
I think it makes you a better comic. You should be able to take on high-pressure issues, but take them on in a way that helps the world and proves your view point.
Best lesbian movie, in your opinion?
Rhea: My favorite lesbian movie is one that's like a butch buddy movie called By Hook Or By Crook. It's really artsy, but I absolutely love it and I think it's fantastic.
Cameron: Yea, Rhea loves that movie. My favorite lesbian movie is the film Bound. I love that movie — and the sex scenes are choreographed by a woman who really does sleep with women, so it really helps. It looks like how real women have sex, as opposed to — you know the movies where their hands are just up here? What are you doing that seems to be so satisfying?
Cameron: But, I love that movie and its the Wachowski's first movie and it's why they got the funding to make The Matrix. If you haven't seen this movie? Awesome Noir. I love it so much.
Worst lesbian movie?
Cameron: Oh, I feel like I'm not going to answer this. I won't disparage my fellow lesbians.
Rhea: Because everyone is trying. Even the worst lesbian movie is still a lesbian movie in a world where there are not that many lesbian movies.
Cameron: Everyone is trying! Even the worst lesbian movie I have watched on Netflix and paused at the sex scene so later, when I come back to Netflix, I'll already have the sex scene loaded.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What do you do on your day off?
Rhea: I go to the batting cages.
Cameron: Rhea's really into baseball. I go on hikes, we play with our dog. Straight up? We don't take any days off.
Rhea: Two or four days a year?
Cameron: What do we do on our day off? We say, "Ah, I can't believe we have a day off! Do we have to get any work done?"
What are you being for Halloween?
Interview question you are most tired of hearing?
Cameron: "What is it like to be a woman in comedy?" I'm tired of that question because I feel like we could ask, "What is it like to be a woman?" Period. That would answer that question. What is it like to be a woman? We get paid less, our bodies are ridiculed, and we push babies out of them thus continuing the human race.
Cameron: My point is, what is it like to be a woman? It's difficult! But that's why it's awesome because the struggle is real! And then, so gorgeous. So I hate, "What is it like to be a woman in comedy?" Because it's just like: What is it like to be a woman in a house? What is it like to be a woman walking down the street? Terrifying. Exciting. There's a sisterhood. It's powerful. It's beautiful.
What is your fondest childhood memory?
Cameron: The day I was born. I looked out at the world and said, "Get ready for me!"
Rhea: I think mine was going to see the Cleveland Rockers WNBA team play in the playoffs. They're not a team anymore, but my mom and I decided we should go to this. We walked up and got tickets and it's still the most exciting sporting event I've ever seen.
Cameron: The Rockers were really important in my childhood, but I'm talking about Barbie and The Rockers — a band of barbies. Derek was in the band, you look like Derek!
Rhea: That's the whole point.
Cameron: That's the whole point, that you look like Derek? The point of your life?
Favorite comedian? And not each other!
One piece of advice for aspiring comedians?
Cameron: Number one, out of a series of one: It's just about doing work. It feels like there's a magic thing, like you have to wait for these things to happen or get on this open mic list. No — It's time and reps. So you just get on stage as much as you possibly can, as many times as you can per week. Then it's going to take ten years. So, just know that.
Rhea: Fail as many times as you possibly can, so that when you get to a big point or a big show you're not afraid of failing.
Cameron: That's true. You have to fail. Your favorite comics have all failed, they still fail. If you want to have a life-long career and you hope to live a long life, you're going to have to fail a lot in that span.
What is the worst thing a heckler has ever yelled at you?
Cameron: I was in Las Vegas and somebody yelled out, "You're the devil!" But, they yelled it in a very deep voice, like:
Cameron: Which, I think that was the devil. And also, like, in Vegas? Really? They were just saying it because I was onstage talking about marrying a woman. That rarely happens but it's super fun when it does.
Rhea: I think I had someone once say, "We get it, you're gay!" Which is like the silliest thing to heckle.
What is the meaning of life?
Cameron: Monty Python.
Rhea: Is that your answer?
Cameron: I don't know, but I liked it.
Rhea: The meaning of life is to put good energy out into the world. That's the only thing that never goes away. We will have this energy on this Earth forever. So, that's all you've got left when you leave.
Cameron: That is so mind blowing. I think the meaning of life is to move towards improvement — for yourself and for humanity. That means whatever you want it to mean, so just get out there and be better.