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The Comment Section with Drew Afualo

COWORKER FUNNY Ft. Taylor Ortega | Episode 222

20 May 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?

0.031 - 5.056 Taylor Ortega

There's people in my real life who maintain a height that I go, okay.

0

7.179 - 11.303 Drew Afualo

Okay. Sure. If you need it. If you need that inch, go ahead. Whatever.

0

11.423 - 16.589 Taylor Ortega

I used to feel like gaslit by it. And now I just go, whatever. No one can see what I see.

0

16.609 - 45.029 Drew Afualo

I know. When they say, I'm about 6'1", and I can see their scalp. Yes. Sure. It's crazy. Me too, mama. Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of the Comment Section Show starring me, your fave, everybody who knows me, who cares about me. On to the guests. Today we have the iconic, the legendary, the one, the only, Taylor Ortega. Woo!

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45.189 - 46.171 Taylor Ortega

Thank you for having me.

46.192 - 48.096 Drew Afualo

I'm so excited to be here. Welcome to the show.

48.176 - 51.782 Taylor Ortega

I'm so happy to have you. That was a... pro intro.

51.802 - 71.746 Drew Afualo

Oh my gosh, thank you. I get that. I do get that compliment quite a bit from guests. And I'm like, oh my god. It's something to see. Yeah, that's just what happens when I do like pee-pee-poo-poo time in front of this bullshit for 200 plus episodes. You know what's annoying too is sometimes people are like, I hate when Drew repeats herself. I'm like, you try talking for 200 episodes.

71.826 - 89.975 Taylor Ortega

No, we don't have that much to say. Girl, you're going to circle the block. There's only so many experiences you can have. I can only age so fast. I don't have that many. You use them up. You get to an age where you have experiences and you go, fine, I have something to say. And then you use them up in a three-hour span. Yeah, and then you're like, all right.

Chapter 2: How did Taylor Ortega get into show business?

344.18 - 362.34 Drew Afualo

who it was, but they were telling me basically that they realized they mispronounced my last name in conversation with me and I was like, really, when? And they were like, oh, it was like when we were talking about this and I was like, you wanna hear something so funny? I didn't notice you did that because I was waiting for you to stop talking so I could get my joke off.

0

362.32 - 368.29 Drew Afualo

I was trying to get one off and you were taking a little while. So believe it or not, honestly, PEMDAS cancels out. I wasn't listening to you.

0

368.51 - 370.794 Taylor Ortega

I was hooked on when my timing would land.

0

370.814 - 379.789 Drew Afualo

I was workshopping a bit while you were going through that. So it's all right. That's fine. I didn't even notice. That's okay. But so you went from improv to stand up natural pipeline.

0

379.769 - 389.968 Taylor Ortega

No, I kind of went from like, well, yeah, because stand-up, you can get a paycheck. You can, if you really stick with it, get a paycheck. And I said, I'm not interested in a paycheck.

389.988 - 390.429 Drew Afualo

Oh, no, no, no.

390.449 - 413.342 Taylor Ortega

I said, no, hold on. No, I was doing improv, and I actually, it was like, there was a lot more internet, like, it was less individual online. It was a bit more like there were structures in place and like companies putting money into talent and you could go host something and get paid. Like Cosmo would have you come like do a man on the street and they would, it was like Buzzfeed era, you know?

413.622 - 430.843 Taylor Ortega

And so when I first moved to New York, I had like writer friends or people here and there and they'd be like, do you want to come host this thing? And I would do it completely for free at first. Cause I didn't know that you should get paid. And I would like leave my job or go before my job. And I would host these little things. And that's how I sort of got into like being on camera.

431.564 - 448.174 Taylor Ortega

And cause that was just a thing back then. And I would do that on camera. And I met my manager as friends when we were both really young. And she said to me, she was like, you gotta start writing stuff down. And I went, oh, I don't know if I wanna do that. And she's like, you have to start writing stuff down.

Chapter 3: What challenges did Taylor face while pursuing acting?

554.832 - 561.048 Drew Afualo

That kind of humor is my favorite kind as well. But with stand-up, I was like, I just don't want to find out the bad way I suck.

0

561.068 - 568.845 Taylor Ortega

Because, like, I know that. You wouldn't. You'd be amazing at it is the thing. And you would be, like, good in the room with the, like, with. crowd work, you'd be so good with the audience.

0

568.965 - 585.39 Taylor Ortega

And what I think you would like, the sweet spot of stand-up, I think, and maybe stand-ups will disagree with me because I'm not really one, but I think what you would probably like best about it is when you're in the city you live in and you're getting up on shows and you're doing it with other comedians, that's how you're seeing your friends.

0

585.49 - 600.175 Taylor Ortega

You'd be on a show with Caleb, be on a show with these other comedians, and that is so fun. I think where it loses me is like, what would happen with you is obviously your standup would be hilarious. They'd want you to tour. And then suddenly you're like by yourself.

0

600.195 - 608.631 Taylor Ortega

And you're like, maybe you have an opener with you if you're lucky, but like you're traveling alone and you're in a city you've never been to. And it's like really lonely.

608.611 - 620.364 Drew Afualo

And like, you're literally so me. Like that's, I'm not kidding. Like I tried it. I tried it. I tried it. I did say I did open for Caleb and Chris Fleming, which felt fucking rude. I was like, what do you put me before two giants? What the hell?

620.404 - 621.467 Taylor Ortega

No, that's the best.

621.487 - 636.371 Drew Afualo

I was like, well, I thought so. The room was awesome. Even Caleb told me. It was at the Largo. Oh, so good. Caleb asked me, he was like, do you want me to promote it? Like, you're going to be there? And I was like, honestly, no. And the reason why I said no is because I was like, I love and adore my fans. I know they find me funny.

636.952 - 647.947 Drew Afualo

I don't think I'll know if I'm actually funny if it's a room full of my fans. So true. I was like, I want it to be people who either have never heard of me or maybe briefly have heard of me. And I want to know for real if they laugh.

Chapter 4: How does Taylor describe the audition process?

1687.425 - 1708.003 Taylor Ortega

But I don't think the timing is right. Like, I do not think they could cast me in this. And I waited six months and didn't hear, which is exactly what I was expecting. So that was perfect. Yeah. And I guess what happened was they had read a ton of people for it and they were struggling to really cast it how they wanted to or find a fit that felt right.

0

1708.304 - 1731.414 Taylor Ortega

And my manager reached back out and was kind of like, hey, what's the deal? Why haven't you cast this yet? And why not Taylor? And this is so crazy to learn, but they were like, oh, honestly, she was the exact first, the first audition we saw. And sometimes you're just kind of prepared to see a ton of people. So you forget the first person you see. Yes, or even the first five or ten.

0

1732.515 - 1749.938 Taylor Ortega

And then I had talked to a casting director, not who casted Big Mistakes, but who was like, it's so interesting because I'm sending the people in the first group of people who I think are the best fit. And a lot of times they're just like, okay, who's next? Because you're just like, this process is going to be long and we're going to see every girl in this town.

0

1749.958 - 1753.643 Drew Afualo

Yeah, it's like the grass is always greener mentality. And they're like, what if though?

0

1754.304 - 1772.353 Taylor Ortega

I know, I think we're all, and in everything we do, we go, nothing can be easy. Nothing can be easy and simple. No, never. No, we have to torture ourselves and it has to be hard to be good. Yes. And I believe that and I'll keep living my life that way. But yeah, and then I came, so really quick, like I waited six months and then they were like, would you tape again?

1772.373 - 1775.318 Taylor Ortega

And I was like, obviously I'm unemployed. I will tape hours.

1775.298 - 1777.06 Drew Afualo

Yeah, let me check my schedule.

1777.2 - 1801.204 Taylor Ortega

Yeah, for the lead of a show, I'll tape it. Yeah, yeah. And then truly a day after that, I went in and read with Dan. And at that point, you are kind of like, either we have chemistry or we don't. Right. You can't really fake it. And I'm so glad that we did and that we really liked performing together. But also, I think we were improvising. And we had a really sweet energy with each other.

1801.184 - 1808.666 Taylor Ortega

Who knows, but I did leave kind of being like, it does seem like I probably got it, right? Like, I don't know, right? But you're not in the room with anyone else.

Chapter 5: What mindset helps sustain a long career in the entertainment industry?

2454.23 - 2468.083 Drew Afualo

Which I think is, that's why I think you're so incredible too in the way that you've, obviously you're very talented, but I also think it's the way that you've been looking at the industry is like one of the healthiest mindsets I've heard in a while. Oh, thank you.

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2468.103 - 2482.937 Drew Afualo

Which I think it speaks to your ability to not only sustain, but also like perform at the level you have for so long because it's like, it's given you the like breathing room to kind of understand like, I don't need to take this personal, but this is what I really love to do. And one day it will work out.

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2482.917 - 2486.042 Taylor Ortega

And it did. It is not personal.

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2486.262 - 2494.074 Drew Afualo

At the end of the day, it really isn't. And if it was, that's crazy. It is. That's more of a thing on them than it is on you.

0

2494.234 - 2514.502 Taylor Ortega

Even people who are watching you, people are watching you way more often than they're watching people on film and TV, right? And you're giving them so much more content. You're giving them so much more of what you're creating on a way quicker basis. And they're responding to it. it's still not personal because they don't really know you and so it is still performance.

2514.862 - 2522.671 Taylor Ortega

And so someone not liking it, you do kind of just have to take a minute and be like, that's okay. It really is okay. You don't have to like it. I don't like everything I watch.

Chapter 6: How do parasocial relationships affect audience perceptions?

2522.951 - 2541.534 Taylor Ortega

I know people. And then people become like, I'm sure for you more than anyone, they're having a parasocial experience, which is normal and it happens. And you kind of do, I bet, have to be like, oh my God, but wait, but like actually you don't, I do have like all of this life and all of these people who have known me for years and like I, you know, it is not personal.

0

2541.594 - 2546.961 Drew Afualo

It just is not. Yeah, and you need that grounding kind of aspect too to keep reminding yourself how not personal it is.

0

2546.981 - 2552.028 Taylor Ortega

It's so not, and people are so not allowed to like it and they're so allowed to tell you and that's okay.

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2552.048 - 2570.734 Drew Afualo

Yeah, and I've said that too, like as far as like finding me funny, I've like said before, I'm like, I mean, if you don't find my kind of humor that funny, like, that's fine. That's okay. Yeah, like, I don't care. Like, I mean, like, and also, like, I mean, if I were to split hairs, like, and we're asking a council of comedy, why would I ask you? Right, right, right.

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2570.754 - 2582.434 Taylor Ortega

Also, it's, like, historically people agree that you're funny. Yeah, I was going to say, like, I mean, I got a cosign for some pretty funny people. Listen, let's call it what it is. Throughout my life, people have... I've gotten the feedback more often.

2582.454 - 2587.19 Drew Afualo

I know. Like, when men who hate me are like, it's not that I don't like her. I just don't think she's funny. I'm like, well, now you're just lying.

2587.491 - 2587.792 Taylor Ortega

Right.

2587.852 - 2590.782 Drew Afualo

And I was like, yeah, I was like, I mean, like, one of us is funny.

2590.802 - 2592.608 Taylor Ortega

They're like, it's for academic reasons, guys.

Chapter 7: What advice is given for breaking into acting?

2639.351 - 2640.653 Taylor Ortega

It was audition only.

0

2640.693 - 2645.821 Drew Afualo

And also, you can co-sign this, too. Caleb doesn't hang out with non-funny people. No, it's true. He finds them taxing.

0

2646.001 - 2663.08 Taylor Ortega

It's true. It's true. And we're talking even people who are not comedians. Like the biggest characters in Caleb's life. If we were to get real specific, yeah. Yes. There is not a person around Caleb who does not have a POV and a big personality.

0

2663.24 - 2666.484 Drew Afualo

No, dead ass. I was like, he has a very high standard of funny.

0

2666.504 - 2667.685 Taylor Ortega

The boy wants to have a good time.

2667.665 - 2691.664 Taylor Ortega

otherwise he's just dancing for everyone yes everyone needs to be playing a role you know that is also that is the thing about like co-worker funny is okay so like still the funniest person in the whole office like what do you mean if I'm the funniest girl in the office I'm probably the funniest girl the world is my office what do you mean so you're talking about like my skill in the office that I'm funny okay so I'm funny yeah

2692.454 - 2693.175 Drew Afualo

So you agree.

2693.336 - 2694.398 Taylor Ortega

So you agree that I'm funny.

2694.418 - 2694.939 Drew Afualo

I am funny.

Chapter 8: How does the conversation about personal experiences and relationships unfold?

2695.159 - 2699.428 Taylor Ortega

And then you said coworker. What was it? The word after you said it was funny. Okay.

0

2699.608 - 2699.889 Drew Afualo

Sorry.

0

2699.909 - 2723.047 Taylor Ortega

I just was like, I'm not a word person. Sorry. I used to, I had a boyfriend in my like early when I was like 22. Sorry. Oh, derogatory. And I apologize. And for that. And and he would be like, no, it's like you. And he like wasn't funny. And that's OK. There's nothing wrong with not being fun. Listen, God doesn't give with both hands. You don't see me being like upset.

0

2723.067 - 2727.673 Taylor Ortega

I don't would work like I don't like like it's OK to say you don't know how to do something.

0

2727.713 - 2729.416 Drew Afualo

It's OK. It's all right.

2729.456 - 2746.475 Taylor Ortega

It's OK. But he wasn't funny. And he would go. And I hear this like I would hear this so many times like over the years from guys. But they'd be like, you'd be like, no, it's like I'm. He's like, you are funny, but you're like theatrical funny. And I'm more like, he's like, I'm more dry. And I go, and I would never understood me, but it would make me feel bad. Like I was like yucking it up crazy.

2746.795 - 2751.78 Taylor Ortega

And then I go, Oh, like, so people are like laughing, having a good time when I'm being funny. And when you're being funny, they're kind of like, Hmm.

2751.8 - 2755.924 Drew Afualo

And so everyone gets uncomfortable when you talk. And then when I do it, everyone's joyous and having a good time.

2755.944 - 2758.206 Taylor Ortega

Oh, so they're like, ha ha laughing.

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