How do you go from being a full-time UX designer at Google to having your own comedy special on Netflix?
This is the story of Sarah Cooper(@sarahcpr).
This is the story of Sarah Cooper(@sarahcpr).
Sarah grew up loving performing as a child growing up in Rockville Maryland.
So much so that she originally wanted to study theatre in college.
But when she realized that she couldn't really make money from it, she pursued in degree in Economics and eventually Digital Design.
So much so that she originally wanted to study theatre in college.
But when she realized that she couldn't really make money from it, she pursued in degree in Economics and eventually Digital Design.
She began her career at Yahoo as a designer.
Around age 30 however, she realized that she still missed acting. So she began the process of auditioning. Over and over.
She was mostly unsuccessful. This was when she tried her hand at stand-up comedy.
Around age 30 however, she realized that she still missed acting. So she began the process of auditioning. Over and over.
She was mostly unsuccessful. This was when she tried her hand at stand-up comedy.
With stand-up, she found she could be herself instead of being another character.
She loved this and so she kept at it. However, pursuing a career in stand-up comedy in NYC was expensive. So she took up a day job as a UX designer in Google.
While doing stand up most nights.
She loved this and so she kept at it. However, pursuing a career in stand-up comedy in NYC was expensive. So she took up a day job as a UX designer in Google.
While doing stand up most nights.
In 2014, she combined her corporate life and her love for stand-up comedy to write a book called "100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings."
She then took a leap of faith.
She quit her job at Google to pursue writing and stand-up full time.
She then took a leap of faith.
She quit her job at Google to pursue writing and stand-up full time.
Without a job, Sarah published two more books while doing stand-up.
The books did well but not as well as she wanted.
She had also written a couple of TV pilots and sent them to agents but didn't get any calls back.
Her stand-up career had also hit a plateau.
The books did well but not as well as she wanted.
She had also written a couple of TV pilots and sent them to agents but didn't get any calls back.
Her stand-up career had also hit a plateau.
She was frustrated and in 2019, 5 years after she had quit her job at Google, she thought she might have to give up on her entertainment career.
Then the pandemic happened.
Events were almost canceled overnight. With comedy clubs closed, Sarah was forced to try out something new.
What she did try would change her life forever.
She lip-synced snippets of Trump's 'Pandemic Press Conferences' for Tik-Tok.
Events were almost canceled overnight. With comedy clubs closed, Sarah was forced to try out something new.
What she did try would change her life forever.
She lip-synced snippets of Trump's 'Pandemic Press Conferences' for Tik-Tok.
The video immediately blew up on the platform. So she kept making more.
The Commander-In-Chief's thoughts about hydroxychloroquine, “Obamagate” and the Bible all became fodder for her lip syncs.
But her defining moment was yet to come.
The Commander-In-Chief's thoughts about hydroxychloroquine, “Obamagate” and the Bible all became fodder for her lip syncs.
But her defining moment was yet to come.
In the Spring of 2020, Sarah put out her “How to Medical” video.
It spoofed Trump’s comments about injecting disinfectant as a cure for Covid-19.
This was the video that would bring her national and eventually, international acclaim.
It spoofed Trump’s comments about injecting disinfectant as a cure for Covid-19.
This was the video that would bring her national and eventually, international acclaim.
By mid-2020, "How to Medical" had received over 24 million views across Twitter and TikTok.
Its success quickly gained her spots on almost all major talk shows like Stephen Colbert's, Jimmy Fallon's and Ellen's.
And in August 2020, she even guest-hosted 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'.
Its success quickly gained her spots on almost all major talk shows like Stephen Colbert's, Jimmy Fallon's and Ellen's.
And in August 2020, she even guest-hosted 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'.
Why did the Tik-Tok's see such success?
Sarah thinks it's something about hearing Trump's voice coming stripped of all the things that usually accompany it. No suits or podiums or camera crews or people calling him 'sir'.
"All that was left were his empty words", says Sarah.
Sarah thinks it's something about hearing Trump's voice coming stripped of all the things that usually accompany it. No suits or podiums or camera crews or people calling him 'sir'.
"All that was left were his empty words", says Sarah.
This meteoric rise culminated with the premiere of her Netflix special, "Everything's Fine" on October 27th.
The special produced by Natasha Lyon and Maya Rudolph (two of Sarah's heroes) is a satire that "tackles race, politics and other light topics."
The special produced by Natasha Lyon and Maya Rudolph (two of Sarah's heroes) is a satire that "tackles race, politics and other light topics."
It also features a star-studded lineup with cameos from Helen Mirren, Ben Stiller, Jon Hamm, Jane Lynch, Megan Thee Stallion, Marisa Tomei and Winona Ryder.
Not bad for someone who thought she had no hope in show-biz, a mere 8 months ago.
Not bad for someone who thought she had no hope in show-biz, a mere 8 months ago.
So what does Sarah herself have to say about her success?
She says, "It's been a really interesting process of just trying things and giving up and trying another thing and giving up again and trying another thing and then finally something working..."
She says, "It's been a really interesting process of just trying things and giving up and trying another thing and giving up again and trying another thing and then finally something working..."
"...And now I have so many opportunities that I've been looking for my whole life. You always think that you're too old. And the thing is, you're never too old. If you still have a passion for something, you should still be doing it."
Aye aye, Comedian-in-Chief.
Aye aye, Comedian-in-Chief.
When @sarahcpr RT's you
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