I first got a glimpse at comedic duo Laura Lane and Angela Spera when I caught their debut collaboration, a sketch comedy called This is Why You're Single a couple years ago at The Pit. Connected through a few mutual friends, I tagged along to check it out -- After all, the show was supposed to be about dating and the outrageous stories that come with it all, so I knew at the very least I'd be able to relate. Well, Laura and Angela's take on single life proved to be both insanely accurate and hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing. Coupled with a brilliant rom-com inspired soundtrack (think "Perfect Day" by Hoku and "Supermodel" from Clueless), This is Why You're Single is extremely entertaining and fun -- "a perfect night out with the girls" pregame show that the two bring back to The Pit every year (thank goodness!). When I found out the two were writing a book inspired by their show I was thrilled and couldn't wait to learn more about these on-the-rise funny babes. Well, time flies and This is Why You're Single, the book, is officially out today! Grab a copy here and get to know all about Laura and Angela's NYC lives in their Cult Chat below>>
WHY NEW YORK CITY?
I grew up in California and first came to New York to compete in Model United Nations during high school. I had one goal for the trip: get on TRL. I worked harder on the posters I was going to hold up outside of the MTV studios than I did preparing for the debate. It was freezing outside and only a few of my classmates agreed to join me. Everyone else thought I was wasting my time, but I didn’t let their doubts stop me! Brian McFayden was the host outside and he picked me for an on-air quiz question. I had no idea what the answer was but there was a huge Britney Spears Pepsi ad behind me in Times Square, so I said Britney Spears. The answer was correct. I got to go up to the studio with my classmates and in an instant I became the coolest person at my high school (for a week). I knew then that New York was a place where dreams became reality -- LAURA
I grew up on Long Island, or as I call it “New York-lite.” I love musicals and I hate driving, so the jump to NYC was the dream from pretty early on -- ANGELA
THE CITY NEVER SLEEPS...WHAT TIME DID YOU GET TO BED LAST NIGHT?
I went to bed around 1am. Last night we recorded an episode of our This Is Why You’re single podcast at my apartment. Then I played ball with my dog -- LAURA
1 am. Wish I could say I was partying, but I was up late working with Laura on TIWYS stuff. Diff kind of party -- ANGELA
PLAY HOST FOR US... WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE US FOR
COFFEE - Argo Tea. I’m a tea drinker and spent a lot of the past year there since it doubled as the writers room for our book. Most of the workers were nice when they had to kick us out for staying after close -- LAURA
Little Zelda’s in Brooklyn (I’m a tea drinker, but they have great both! Also good bagels next door!) -- ANGELA
DINNER - Cantina Royal in Williamsburg. They have a giant chandelier, they encase their electrical wires in glass and light them up so they look like art and their salsas will make your mouth feel like it’s melting off -- LAURA
The happiest I have ever felt IN MY LIFE was eating chicken and waffles at Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn. No, they are not paying me to say that (but they can if they like) -- ANGELA
COCKTAILS - La Esquina has a great jalapeño margarita but I mostly just like that place because I once saw Julia Stiles there and I keep hoping I’ll see her again so we can talk about 10 Things I Hate About You.
The “moontails” at The Strand in Astoria will make you feel great. That’s moonshine. cocktails -- ANGELA
PARTYING - Any party with a cheese spread and a photo booth. If there’s no photo booth, I probably won’t remember the party in a year and if there’s no cheese, I won’t be smiling in the photo -- LAURA
So my idea of the perfect party is doughnuts and a DJ. I get both at Queens Comfort on Sundays. Honestly, having a hangover there is always more fun than anything I did the night before -- ANGELA
WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Oh Land. She’s my insanely talented pop star friend who lives down the street. I have an old school record of hers. It’s baby pink so not only is the album fun to listen to, it’s also really pretty -- LAURA
The Hamilton cast album. Just trust me, it will give you life -- ANGELA
WHAT'S YOUR SIGNATURE LOOK?
If it sparkles, has stripes, faux fur or doesn’t match with anything else I own, I’ll take it! I like to mix high and low fashion, vintage with something from Urban, a local designer with YSL -- LAURA
“You are grandma chic.” - Laura Lane on my style. I really like patterns and mustard yellow and geometrically shaped jewellery and big purses. I’m too embarrassed to tell you where I shop for clothes, so I’ll just plug the really great backpack I have from Everlane! It’s a lifechanger! -- ANGELA
ANY CREATIVES YOU WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH?
Amy Schumer’s not too busy, right? I’ve also been really wanting to record an album of all the songs I’ve written about my dog. Maybe Oh Land will produce it. She’s too busy too? Never mind then -- LAURA
Julie Klausner (I’m sure she’d appreciate being referred to as an artist) -- ANGELA
DREAM DINNER PARTY -- WHICH 7 GUESTS WOULD YOU INVITE?
Hunter Thompson, Jennifer Lawrence, David Carr, Jenny Slate, Steve Martin, Einstein, Stephen Colbert. I think they’d all really get along -- LAURA
David Sedaris, Pee Wee Herman, Elaine Stritch, Chelsea Peretti, Stephen Sondheim, Mel Brooks, Jeff Goldblum. That’s just one drag queen short of the campiest dinner party you’ve ever been to -- ANGELA
FAVORITE SPOT?
I like walking by the water in Williamsburg where you can see the view of New York City. I’ll let my dog of her leash if I’m feeling really rebellious -- LAURA
I honestly really love spending the day in Central Park with my friends. Watch out at night, though - there are raccoons the size of St. Bernards -- ANGELA
NYC FOREVER?
I love everything about New York. Maybe I’d live in the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas if I had to leave. That’s probably the next closest thing, right? Is that still around? -- LAURA
Oh, I’m never leaving. I wasn’t joking about disliking driving. In high school, I almost murdered everyone in my driver’s ed car and justified it by shouting “It’s fine! I’m just going to take the subway the rest of my life, anyway!” I can’t really go back on my word now -- ANGELA
FAVORITE PROJECT SO FAR?
This Is Why You’re Single’s book! I’m really proud of that baby. It’s funny, I can touch it and I like saying to myself “I have a book” over and over and dancing in a circle when I’m having a bad day -- LAURA
I’ve been working on various This Is Why You’re Single projects for two years straight, so I’m biased here. I love doing our sketch show so much. I wish I could tell my younger self that one day I would get to grow up and write stuff that makes people laugh AND wear fake eyelashes -- ANGELA
DO YOU HAVE A MUSE?
My gram's Nana had the most impeccable style and oozed sophistication. The gold dress I wore in our photo shoot was hers. She looked like a movie star and got more gorgeous the older she got -- LAURA
I used to want to get a tattoo of Judy Garland’s face on the night of her famous Carnegie Hall concert on my forearm. Ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t do that (because then I’d have a tattoo of Judy Garland’s face on my forearm) but I love that image because that was Judy’s big, unlikely comeback. People thought she was burned out and she showed up and gave one of the most iconic performances of all time. She had a hot mess of a life but she was a tough broad and I love her -- ANGELA
MOTTO YOU LIVE BY?
“What is the desired effect?” by Hunter Thompson. You can basically apply it to anything in life. And “Chicks before dicks” is also a good one -- LAURA
“Are we going to get food after this?” I’m very snack-motivated -- ANGELA
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AND WHERE CAN WE SEE IT?
You can buy our This Is Why You’re Single book in stores December 8th (today!) and on Amazon.com. We are working on adapting it into a TV series ... and listen to our podcast every Wednesday on iTunes -- LAURA
What Laura said! Our audiobook will also be available on Audible in January -- ANGELA
WOULD YOU RATHER
CINDY CRAWFORD or KATE MOSS
Cindy Crawford seems like she has the whole life thing figured out -- LAURA
Cindy is classic -- ANGELA
MORNING OR NIGHT
Night because it seems to last longer and you can see the moon better. And while we’re on the topic of the moon, why don’t illustrations in childhood books include the moon in the daytime, because it’s still there! I learned way too late in life that the moon doesn’t only appear at night ... what were we talking about again? -- LAURA
Night, but I’m late at all hours -- ANGELA
UPTOWN OR DOWNTOWN
We’re talking songs here, right? In that case I’ll go with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s Downtown over Bruno Mars -- LAURA
Does anyone ever say Uptown? -- ANGELA
WEBSITE: thisiswhyyouresingleshow.com
INSTAGRAM: @youresingleshow
TWITTER: @youresingleshow
WEBSITE: lauralane.com
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TWITTER: lauralane__
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[Photos by Jenna Burke]
