Leslie Jones Laughs at Harvey Weinstein and Her Time on SNL

October 30, 2025·1 hr 19 min·7 clips

Leslie Jones admits she would have slept with Harvey Weinstein for a movie role in her twenties.

This episode of Good One features host Jesse David Fox interviewing comedian and former SNL cast member Leslie Jones about her new Peacock stand-up special, "Life Part 2." Jones reflects on her career evolution since leaving Saturday Night Live in 2019 and the creative process behind her comedy. She describes the last five years as an era of freedom to pursue her own projects and define herself beyond her SNL persona. Jones explains that "Life Part 2" represents her current life experiences and perspectives compared to her earlier specials "Problem Child" and "Time Machine." She discusses a specific joke from the new special about Harvey Weinstein, framing it as a reflection on her own past desires for fame. The joke escalates to include other figures like Bill Cosby, with Jones imagining how she might have reacted to their advances in her youth. She credits fellow comedian Whitney Cummings with contributing a punchline for the Cosby portion of the bit. Jones reveals her writing process involves collaborating with her "lion tamer," a writer named Lenny, who helps structure her material. She contrasts her earlier, more aggressive crowd work, like in "Problem Child," with her current approach, noting she now rarely interacts with audiences due to her changed celebrity status. Jones shares a story about a fan who pretended to be offended after a show just to get a photo with her. She recalls memorable moments from SNL's 50th anniversary event, including meeting Meryl Streep and Nathan Lane. One of the most surprising insights is Jones's admission that she felt "petrified" about how the serious topics in her new special would land with audiences. She argues that comedy's job is to provide "laugh therapy" and allow people to find levity in pain, criticizing comics who act more like politicians. Jones describes her physical act-outs, inspired by comedians like John Ritter, as spontaneous expressions that change with each performance. She confirms that cast members during her SNL tenure viewed making her laugh at table reads as a key indicator a sketch would succeed. The conversation has a candid, free-flowing, and conversational tone, blending personal reflection with shop talk about joke construction. This episode would appeal to fans of stand-up comedy, those interested in the behind-the-scenes dynamics of Saturday Night Live, and listeners who enjoy unfiltered conversations about creative risks. It might not suit listeners uncomfortable with explicit language or discussions of sensitive topics framed within comedic contexts.

As heard by us

A candid look at SNL as a joyful grind, not a clean victory lap.

Leslie Jones' visit to Good One reads less like a victory lap than a clear-eyed look at what it took to work inside Saturday Night Live. Jesse David Fox centers her newest Peacock stand-up special, Life Part 2, along with her memories of favorite sketches, while Jones holds onto…

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Why you'd press play

You want Leslie Jones talking about SNL with the good parts, the hard parts, and no polish.

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