Kari Lizer: Co-Executive Producer of Will & Grace, Author and Amazing Prime Time Woman

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/y9bjek/Kari_Lizer_FINAL9n8hw.mp3

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Fans of Will & Grace and The New Adventures of Old Christine know of the shows’ humor and success, neither of which would have been possible without the work of Kari Lizer. As a producer and writer, Kari’s has and continues to contribute to some of Hollywood’s most famous sitcoms. In today’s episode, we sat down with Kari to discuss her career, having children, and what it’s like to be a midlife woman in the entertainment industry.

Kari’s new book Aren’t You Forgetting Someone: Essays from My Mid-Life Revenge is a collection of essays detailing Kari’s experiences as a midlife woman. She spoke to us about how originally, she thought she was just writing to educate, but after speaking with her peers realized that there was some anger behind her words. She, like many women, was frustrated with how society views midlife women. She spoke to us about balancing not only children and career but also getting thyroid cancer treatments while working on the pilot of a TV show. All of this happened in her thirties, which we all agreed is a time in our lives that goes in a blur. When asked about her time on Will and Grace, Kari had nothing but positive things to say. She raved about the cast and crew, describing how the work environment was always full of laughter and that everyone worked well together. She also spoke of her other sitcom, The New Adventures of Old Christine, which also had a great work environment. Kari also talked to us about her experience working with John Edwards and how a sign from her departed sister is what motivated her to reach out and try to have John on her show. Years after their first meeting, John actually reached out to Kari after the passing of her brother without knowing of his death. When we started to speak about being empty nesters, Kari shared how felt she needed to take time off and relax, a decision she ended up regretting. She hated having nothing to do and feeling restless. Luckily, her new show Call Your Mother got picked up, and since then, she’s been working on the show while in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Kari Lizer:

Kari Lizer is a producer, actress, and author who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry through working on some of Hollywood’s most beloved television productions. As a producer, Kari has worked on numerous shows, some of the most popular being Will and Grace, The New Adventures of Old Christine and a new show called Call Your Mother. However, not only is Kari a well-known actor and producer, but she is also a midlife woman striving to change the narrative on what it means to age as a female. Her recent novel Aren’t You Forgetting Someone: Essays from My Mid-life Revenge is a collection of humorous essays that detail the challenges and triumphs that come with being a midlife woman. Throughout the book, Kari goes into detail about midlife dating, empty nesting, menopausal rage, and so many more aspects of aging that all women in midlife can relate to.

Credits (according to IMDb):

PRODUCER:

Call Your Mother (TV Series) (executive producer) (pre-production)

2018

Crazy Wonderful (TV Movie) (executive producer)

2016

Dream Team (TV Movie) (executive producer)

2012

Lady Friends (TV Movie) (executive producer)

2012

The Unprofessional (TV Short) (executive producer)

2011

Untitled Kari Lizer Project (TV Short) (executive producer)

2006-2010

The New Adventures of Old Christine (TV Series) (executive producer – 88 episodes)

2005

True (TV Movie) (executive producer)

Will & Grace (TV Series) (co-executive producer – 73 episodes, 2001 – 2004) (consulting producer – 22 episodes, 2000 – 2001)

1999

Work with Me (TV Series) (consulting producer – 1 episode)

1998-1999

Maggie Winters (TV Series) (executive producer – 18 episodes)

1997

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (TV Series) (consulting producer – 2 episodes)

ACTRESS:

Picture Paris (Short)

Pretty Cooking School Girl

2001-2004

Will & Grace (TV Series)

Connie

1997

Breast Men (TV Movie)

Female Interviewer

1996

Boston Common (TV Series)

Leslie

1994-1996

Weird Science (TV Series)

Mrs. Carmichael / Mary / Ms. Lizer

1994

Diagnosis Murder (TV Series)

Lena Prosser

1993-1994

Empty Nest (TV Series)

Doris

1993

Dream On (TV Series)

Becka

1993

Murphy Brown (TV Series)

Susan

1992

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures (TV Series)

Jessie Pearl

1992

Double Edge (TV Movie)

Sister Theresa

1991

Baby Talk (TV Series)

1991

Mimi & Me (TV Movie)

1991

Sunday Dinner (TV Series)

Diana

1991

Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series)

Lauren Gail

1990

Booker (TV Series)

Twink Towers

1990

Murder in Paradise (TV Movie)

1989

Quantum Leap (TV Series)

Tess McGill

1988

The Van Dyke Show (TV Series)

Chris Burgess

1986-1988

Matlock (TV Series)

Cassie Phillips / Angel / Margaret Danello

1987

Who’s the Boss? (TV Series)

Christy Bower Everett

1987

Growing Pains (TV Series)

Stewardess

1985

Waiting to Act (Short)

Dorcy’s Date

1985

Gotcha!

Muffy

1983

Private School

Rita

1981

Smokey Bites the Dust

Cindy

WRITER:

Call Your Mother (TV Series) (pre-production)

2016

Dream Team (TV Movie)

Christine. Perfekt war gestern! (TV Series) (book – 4 episodes, 2013) (writer – 1 episode, 2013)

2012

Lady Friends (TV Movie) (creator) / (story)

2012

The Unprofessional (TV Short) (creator)

2011

Untitled Kari Lizer Project (TV Short)

The New Adventures of Old Christine (TV Series) (creator – 75 episodes, 2006 – 2010) (written by – 15 episodes, 2006 – 2010) (created by – 13 episodes, 2006)

2005

True (TV Movie)

Will & Grace (TV Series) (written by – 11 episodes, 2000 – 2004) (story – 2 episodes, 2002)

Maggie Winters (TV Series) (creator – 16 episodes, 1998 – 1999) (written by – 3 episodes, 1998 – 1999)

1997

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (TV Series) (written by – 1 episode)

Boston Common (TV Series) (2 episodes, 1996) (writer – 1 episode, 1997)

Weird Science (TV Series) (writer – 12 episodes, 1994 – 1997) (story – 2 episodes, 1994 – 1996) (teleplay – 2 episodes, 1994 – 1996)

1994

Empty Nest (TV Series) (written by – 1 episode)

1994

Benders