Original subtitles

Oh, hello.

Why do I have so many ideas and you don't? Let me show you something.

This is my inspiration room where all my ideas come from. So, what do you got,

Sal?

How about a show called Inspiration?

That's it?

That's your idea?

You idiot!

Keep typing!

Inspiration, tonight on a very special At Home with Amy Sedarin.

Inspiration, the place where ideas come from. How do we get inspired?

Look around you.

Virtually anything can be inspiration.

Take this fork, for instance.

Okay, well, the fork's not giving me anything, but with a spoon, I would have

had a million ideas.

With a knife, I'd be up all night.

I suppose the bigger question is, why do a show about inspiration?

Recently, the suits from the network and I had a mandatory lunch where they

explained that Adam with Amy Sedaris was in need of ideas that would give the

show a bit of a freshen up, much like a defibrillator paddle freshens up a

flatlining heart.

So I decided to do an episode about the things that inspire me, and maybe

together we'll cook up some great ideas.

To begin, I invited a woman with a real -life inspiring story.

Why don't we turn this way and look at her now?

Peg DePeeves, thank you so much for coming all the way from Swansboro.

Delighted to be here.

Now, you have a fascinating tale to tell.

About six years ago, I was backpacking in South America. Oh, which part?

The whole thing. Oh. From Colombia down to the tip of Argentina.

Oh, that's a long trip.

I had a large backpack.

Did you go alone?

Not initially.

I was traveling with a tour group, but things turned disagreeable on the flight

when they made it clear that my superior expertise on Bolivia was not

appreciated.

Soon after the plane landed, we separated over a difference of opinion

value of a tour guide.

What happened next?

I got lost and was attacked by red fire ants. Oh, my land.

Before the attack had ended, they had consumed 45 % of my skin over 75 % of my

body. Oh, but those horrible ants couldn't take your winning smile.

This is all new.

Oh. I spent months recovering in a hospital in Bogota.

The recovery took longer than expected because my doctors and I were not on the

same page regarding my treatment.

Oh, Michael, if I'm not mistaken, you turned this tragic event into something

positive. I did. Mm -hmm.

Children's books. Okay, wow.

Well, let's take a look.

Alistair Ainsley's Big Adventure.

Would you care to read some of it for us? Why don't I read all of it and then

people won't have to buy it?

Alistair Ainsley was a curious boy.

So curious, he signed up with an adventure club to take a trip to South

On the long plane ride, the other club members were dismissive even though

Alistair had done more research on Bolivia than them and wasn't afraid to

that out.

When Alistair pressed his legitimate case to be named hike leader, the others

pointed and teased. Sit down, Peg. You're making a fool out of yourself.

They said to him.

So he sat for the rest of the plane ride, quiet and alone, but also secure

the knowledge he was right.

That's what being right looks like.

Soon the plane landed and the rest of the group went to seek a tour guide.

But Alistair knew that was a waste of money. He laced up his hiking boots and

struck out on his own.

Moments later, a swarm of fire ants started to eat the skin from his body.

Crunch! Crunch went their mighty mandibles, shredding Alistair to blood

bits. Oh, my goodness.

Now, I understand this is the first in a series?

That's right. After Big Adventure, there's Alistair Ainsley's agonizing

graft. Alistair Ainsley sues a Colombian hospital.

And Alistair represents himself in court after clashing with his lawyer.

Oh, my goodness. Thank you so much, Peg.

I find it so inspiring to learn about the inspiration that inspires people.

Really incredible.

Great job.

Now, did you know your nasal passages are the shortest path to your brain?

You might have thought it was your ear canal, but I timed it, and it's your

nasal canal.

That's why when I want quick inspiration, I take a whiff of Passion

bergamot and eucalyptus. I can feel my creativity starting to percolate. I'm

proud to announce our new show sponsor, Passion Sack.

When you need inspiration, don't stimulate your brain the old -fashioned

Sneak up on your cerebellum through your olfactory senses.

An ancient blend of eastern old world leaves and spices.

That means they're important.

So they don't fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA.

So just sniff and relax.

I'm practically illiterate. But after purchasing a passion sack, I wrote three

personal memoirs. I spend the bulk of the day sitting on the couch playing

games. But after putting a passion sack close to the sofa, I invented a way to

open a bag of chips with one hand.

Due to the clip in my liquor got, I could no longer whistle. It gets the

juices flowing.

Before that, it was smoking grass in the back of Hamley Wagley's till I got

busted. So I put a passion sack on my dash and I keep sparing my jacket. Now I

got all kinds of ideas.

Sure wish I wrote them down.

So unlock your potential today by purchasing a passion sack.

Mmm.

Thank you to the good people at Passion Sack. Whenever I need to get in touch

with my inner self, I do something that is none of your business.

And after that, I call my friend, the artistic director for the Triangle

Playhouse, my personal creative doula, Russell Schnabel. Russell, get out here!

Hi there!

Hello, Amy. Oh, I like your caveman vest. Oh, thank you. So, Russell, you're

going to show my viewers your process for tapping into your inner well.

Yes, but before we do that, I wanted to give you a flyer from my new... woman

show uh it's called glenn gary glenn john glenn and it's an original

of a real estate agency that sells space stations oh that sounds it is It is,

Amy. Can I put you down for two? Maybe one for you. I don't know, one for your

agent. I don't really see any dates on it. Well, that's because there are no

dates, Amy. I'll do the show whenever you're available.

I just need three hours' notice doing a pinch.

Okay, I'll let you know. I'm going to need that back, actually. I don't have

funds to make copies right now. This is the only one we're circulating at this

time. Got it. Okay, so Russell, tell us about your method for finding

inspiration. Well, Amy, finding inspiration is a deeply personal

That's why today we'll be doing it with a partner.

Well, what do we do?

We start by looking into each other's eyes.

Okay. Okay, now this is very important. Once we lock it in, do not look away.

Okay. Under any circumstances. I won't. No matter what happens, okay? Oh. Oh,

no, I'm sorry. I was thinking if I had my watch on. Oh, okay, right there. This

is your watch. Okay.

This is the time. Okay, okay. Now stare deep into my essence.

Okay. Gaze around the nooks and crannies of my soul where my inspiration hides.

Now I want you to coax it out.

Okay. Imagine it's a raccoon hiding under your car, okay? Get it out! Oh,

Get it out from under the car! Okay. Okay, okay, Amy, Amy, do not break our

contact. Okay.

Go deeper.

Go deeper.

And I'm close.

Do you see it? I do.

Stay with me.

Ann, we've gone too deep. Look away. Look away.

Oh, Russell.

What did I... Russell.

Russell. Oh, my God.

Don't touch me, Amy.

Russell. Russell.

Russell Schnabel, everyone.

Coming up next, we'll look back at my own personal story and find out what

inspired me to get into showbiz and how to turn raisins back into grapes.

Oh, hello.

I was just admiring this light bulb.

Did you ever wonder where the light bulb comes from?

I ordered this one from a hardware store.

The pictures on the wall, they came from a frame shop.

And this table, this was here.

See, everything has a fascinating origin story, even me.

Where did I come from? How did I get my start?

Good question, script.

Well, the truth is I wasn't always the triangle region darling of the number

in its time slot homemaking show.

I am where I am today because someone believed in me, tutored me. You know,

every so often it's rare to find that single person who can be your teacher,

your friend, your emergency contact.

He was older and experienced, and he loved me like a daughter and fathered me

like a lover.

Here's our story.

They were the regional triangle's first couple of homemaking.

They brought a saucy stylishness and snappy sex appeal to homemaking shows.

But, like all soufflés that rise too quickly, they tragically collapsed.

This is their story.

Good morning. I'm Jay Pippin Popsil. His name was Jay Pippin Popsil. He was

handsome, athletic, and had a fondness for the domestic arts, but not in a gay

way.

He brought a forceful ruggedness to choreographed homemaking. He made

needlepoint and baking muffins accessible to the weary GIs coming home

war.

Pippin in the Kitchen was the number one male -hosted home and garden program in

the entire coastal plains.

Look at that there.

And if you... Jesus. I'm Jay Pippin, and I love singing about eating and dancing

about cooking.

He had it all, but he wanted something older.

During his salute to Honeycakes, a fresh member of the Pippinettes, his

revolving crew of youthful dancers, caught his eye. He plucked her from the

hive, and soon Miss Honeybee became his queen.

Pippin decided to update Pippin in the Kitchen to share credit with his new

partner and muse.

Someone's in the kitchen with Pippin. Together, they changed the way viewers

watched people who sang about cooking.

A teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of spice.

Fold in the vanilla, add a couple of egg whites.

And danced about baking.

What can you do with a potato?

This starchy tuber chained a toddy spud.

You can mash them, you can fry them, you can hash them or mince pie them.

Julian, boil, bake or stuff.

Gotcha! On camera, their chemistry was undeniable.

Speamy and warm.

I want your muffin.

Your ample sweet cakes are my favorite moist treat.

Yeah!

I want to eat them straight from your pan.

Slather that butter.

My butter! My butter!

All over again, baby!

Slow me down.

with your hot muffins, baby.

Yes.

You can bet I will eat mold at the top.

Tell me what you're gonna say to a lemon poppy.

I'm gonna chop on it for brunch.

What would you do if I offered to you a banana blueberry?

Would you like something as rough as cornbread? Whoa! Yeah!

I'm heading downtown!

I'm holding here apple cinnamon pear.

Gentlemen, my love, baby!

Ooh! They pushed the boundaries by blurring the lines on what was

for a homemaking show with their zesty salute to Strudel.

But behind the scenes, not everything was biscuits and gravy.

And soon, their peaches and cream relationship soured, turning into a room

-temperature egg salad, a toxic stew that boiled over into the gotha pages.

Soon after, a certain someone refused to be in the kitchen with Pippin, and the

show was canceled.

Well, after our relationship fell apart, I was determined to turn in my apron

and leave the business for good.

But thanks to my agent's already dwindling client base, he gave me the

encouragement to persevere and keep making us money. I am proud to introduce

agent, Lenny Cantor.

Lenny!

Hello, everybody.

Oh, please, stop it.

Doesn't she look wonderful?

You look like a teenager wearing an Amy Sedaris skin sack.

Lenny, thank you so much for all the support you've given me over the years.

please. No, I couldn't do an episode of Inspiration without having you here.

Amy, anything for you, and I mean that.

As I told the audience, I just don't know what I would have done without you.

That's right.

Remember? Yeah. You talked about quitting. Mm -hmm. And I told you, you

talented. You are too attractive, you are too narrow in scope, too lacking in

skills to succeed in any business where I couldn't collect a commission.

Okay. Well, Lenny, thank you for being a great friend and a great agent. And you

stood by my side when my partner betrayed me, and I hope that inspires

out there the way it inspires me. So thank you so much.

Now to tell us where she finds inspiration in nature, the lady in the

She's a lady who lives in the woods.

It's been said between every two pine trees is a doorway to more pine trees.

Who said that?

I did, Esther. Were you not listening?

Inspiration. I've gathered random items from nature, and I'll let them lead me

on a road of discovery.

Let's see.

Oh, this barn owl pellet would make a nice brooch. This pine cone could be a

brooch.

Brooch, brooch.

Get in here, Esther. You're missing out.

Why don't you pick something you see that inspires you? It could be anything.

This twig, these grasses, or even the person holding the bowl.

Oh, how about that wooden bowl?

Really? The bowl?

You want to explain that, Esther?

It's smooth, it's not judgmental, and it doesn't brush its teeth with coriander

seeds.

You mean nature's tooth whitener, Esther.

That's too bad.

We're close to some great discovery, but maybe next time.

Well, we had fun.

We'll see you next time at the lodge.

She's a lady who lives in the woods.

Thank you, Ruth and Esther. When we return, that's a vision board.

Ah, excuse me for one moment. May I?

Well, I'm about to go to a commercial.

Please. Amy, this is only going to take a second. Okay. And trust me, this is

huge.

Unbeknownst to Amy, I asked an old friend here. He's a big fan. I hope you

mind. Let me call him out.

Come on out here!

Huh?

Do you remember this guy?

Huh? There they are, folks.

Goodness,

I'm pipping.

I'm telling you, I'm starting to cry. I had a sense it would be a good idea

getting you two kids together again. Isn't this beautiful?

When we return, more shocked reactions and awkward pauses.

The memory!

If you're just joining us, we're making television history.

So, Amy, how long has it been?

Long.

I'm proud of you, lady face.

You really landed on your flat feet.

Well, he said they were flat to get out of the draft.

Well, the point is, I know I made a lot of mistakes.

I know I wasn't the best partner, but I'd like to say something to you now.

come on. You don't have to.

Well, how far would you walk?

For a celery stalk?

Oh, don't do this.

How far would you walk for a celery stalk?

One mile.

How far would you run for a cinnamon bun?

One mile.

How deep would you dive for a potato with chives?

One mile.

I travel too.

To have dinner with you.

And that's what we're gonna do.

It's like you were never gone. Well, I never was, Amy, except for all those

years that I was gone.

The point is, I'm here with you now.

And if you want, I'm never leaving again. Well, you don't have to leave.

just can't stay here.

Well, maybe I'm just a spark that the show needs.

All right, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. Okay, listen, we're going to move

on to my show, and we're about to do a segment called What's in the

Refrigerator. If you want, you can stick around and do that with me.

I'd be honored.

To illustrate our theme on inspiration, I thought it would be fun to do a

segment called What's in My Refrigerator, where I go through the

icebox, and no matter what's inside, I make a delicious meal.

All it takes is a little bit of inspiration.

Now, remember the challenge is to use whatever leftover item you find, be it

a... jar of pickles or that hard -boiled egg left over from Easter and turn them

into something elegant.

Now, remember, I have no idea what's in here, and it wasn't pre -stocked

according to an obscure recipe I had. Are you ready? Ready? I was born

premature. They had to put me on a respirator. I'm going to take that as a

Okay, how about some refrigerator music, Larry?

Okay, let's see what we got here.

Sunchokes. Sunchokes. Black rice.

Black rice. White truffles. White truffles.

Sheepshanks. Sheepshanks. Half cup of saffron. Half cup of saffron.

Feta brine. Feta brine. Sourdine tapenade.

Sourdine tapenade.

And sourdough starter.

Sourdough starter. Wow. What are the chances? We have all the ingredients and

perfect measurements to make Mouton Versailles. Mon favorite.

What do you say?

35 years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would never again make myself

vulnerable to the sort of betrayal that nearly destroyed me. But I'm convinced

that this man has changed, and there's no way this could go wrong. I'm happy to

be working with my partner again.

I can't even remember why we broke up.

Yoo -hoo!

Hot God in heaven, hello.

Oh, yeah, that's what it was.

Chapsy, what are you doing here?

Oh, um, I wanted to return your meat tenderizer.

God, why is there hair and blood on it? No, Ethan.

Oh, what did you make with it? You had a point.

Oh.

Hello, I couldn't wait any longer for this one to introduce itself.

I'll take it upon myself, Jay Pippin. Oh.

Chassie, this is my former partner, Jay Pippin Popsle.

Madam, I would like to say I like the cut of your jib. Keeping in mind I don't

know what jib means, I use it to mean...

Well,

I recently had my jib recut.

I appreciate it.

Let's just say I'm a connoisseur of jibs.

Am I being too obtuse? Once again, I'll remind you, I use jib for ass.

So if you're looking for a mentor who's into heavy jib play... Well, that

depends. Are you into harboring fugitives?

Um, if you two are done, I have a show to do.

Amy, I want to thank you for going against everything your gut and your

were telling you and giving me another chance. You really hung yourself out

there. But I got to see where this thing may lead.

Chassie, I think this is the beginning of a long, beautiful relationship.

Really? I give it a week.

Isn't she amazing?

I'm sorry, kiddo.

I really thought this little idea was going to make me a lot of money.

I mean, you got hurt, too, and that's the worst part of it.

That and the money. I just can't believe I fell for it again. I mean, I don't

know what's wrong with me.

Listen, I'm sorry, everybody. I just don't think I can go on with the show.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute, missy.

I knew a young lady 35 years ago who said the exact same thing.

And her name was you.

And guess what?

That young lady picked herself up.

She dusted herself off. And she made a hit television program.

Because the truth is, Amy, you will always overcome adversity.

Because everything you need is right in here, in this general area.

And nothing, nothing will keep little Amy Sedaris down.

No, thanks, Lenny.

When we return, we'll finish the show.

I want to thank you for joining me today for my show on inspiration.

I thought I'd close with something I call thimble thoughts.

Small nuggets of positive, inspirational... For instance, just

change the past doesn't mean it shouldn't be tried for war crimes.

Or this brain drop.

If at first you don't succeed, take a hint.

I hope these help.

I'll see you next time.

What can you do with a potato?