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Nikki Glaser’s Babysitting Experience with Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann
Nikki Glaser, a well-known comedian and two-time Golden Globe host, has added another unique experience to her resume: babysitter. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, she shared her story of working for Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, the couple behind the 2009 film Funny.
Glaser revealed that she was hired to babysit their daughters, Maude and Iris, during the time when Apatow and Mann were busy working on the film. She mentioned that the hourly rate they offered was significantly higher than what she had previously earned as a babysitter.
“This was 2007, I think it was like $35, $40 an hour,” Glaser said. “It was more than I’d ever been paid to babysit.”
She also described the children as being very sweet and funny, which made the job enjoyable. One of her favorite memories from that time involved a phone call from Adam Sandler, who was a close friend of Apatow. Glaser shared that when Sandler called while the couple was out, she told him she was the babysitter. He asked how her night was going, and that simple interaction left a lasting impression on her.
“It was my first interaction with Adam Sandler, and I have loved him ever since,” Glaser said. “That was the nicest call I’ve ever gotten when I was babysitting.”
From Babysitting to an Audition
During her time babysitting, Glaser also took the opportunity to ask Apatow for an audition in Funny. She recalled that one of the roles, which eventually went to Aubrey Plaza, was for a “struggling 25-year-old comedian in L.A. who loves Wilco.” Glaser noted that this description perfectly matched her own life at the time.
“I thought this would be dumb if I didn’t do it,” she said. “My friend said, ‘You didn’t move to L.A. to be the greatest babysitter,’ so I just said, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’ And he gave me an audition and it was really nice.”
This experience led to a long-term collaboration between Glaser and Apatow. Today, they are working together on a movie based on Glaser’s personal experiences.
The New Movie Project
Glaser shared that the idea for the movie came about while she and Apatow were brainstorming one day. She opened up about her struggles in life, including not having kids, not being married, and her fears about commitment.
“Where I am in my life and not having kids and not having a family and pursuing a career. And not being married and wondering if I should, and I’m scared of commitment and scared of forever,” she explained. “He got something out of me that we thought, ‘Okay, this could be a really fun idea for a movie.’”
Glaser emphasized that the film will be “funny” and that it “can’t not be.” She also mentioned that, like many of Apatow’s films, it will include heart and real emotions, coming from a genuine place.
A Unique Career Path
From her early days as a comedian to her work as a writer and now as a collaborator on a new film, Glaser continues to explore different facets of her career. Her experience as a babysitter for Apatow and Mann not only provided financial benefits but also opened doors to opportunities she might not have otherwise considered.
