THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about more about being one of the hosts for the newly launched HuffPost Live.
JANET VARNEY:
Yes! Well, the fine folks at The Huffington Post created a streaming live network that airs live from NYC 10am-6pm EST and from LA 6pm-10pm EST. We cover pretty much any subject you can think of– sort of a conversational version of what you might find on the Huffington Post: news, politics, humor, environment, parenting… it’s been extraordinarily exciting to be a part of.
THE STAR SCOOP:
You’re also the host of your own new podcast, the jv club. Can you tell us what the podcast is about and what you hope listeners take away from it?
JANET VARNEY:
Each episode, I hang out with an amazing woman (sometimes more than one) and we chat about a ton of different stuff, including what their adolescences were like. A common thread seems to be that most people had similar experiences… and I think (hope) listeners identify.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Who can we expect on the podcast?
JANET VARNEY:
Twenty-six episodes have already been released, with guests like Christina Hendricks, Connie Chung, Laraine Newman, Gillian Jacobs and more!
THE STAR SCOOP:
As an accomplished host, surely you know it’s not as easy as it looks. What’s the key to being successful as a host?
JANET VARNEY:
Hmmm… I guess my main thing is I try not to over-think it. The second I decide I’m going to be some kind of sexy, smart, well-spoken lady-type, I fail. So I just focus on being myself instead.
THE STAR SCOOP:
You also do voice of the title character on Nickelodeon’s animated show, “The Legend of Korra.” What do you like best about voicing her?
JANET VARNEY:
There isn’t a way to choose. I love everything about the job. I love the character, the show’s creators, the writing, the animation, and the fans. It’s a dream come true.
THE STAR SCOOP:
You appear in a spoof web-series and you’re co-creator and co-producer of Sketchfest: The San Francisco Comedy Festival. Tell us more about your interest in comedy as a genre.
JANET VARNEY:
The festival, which I run with my partners David Owen and Cole Stratton, is just an excuse to be the giant geek I am, celebrating the stuff we love and bringing it to audiences in San Francisco, who are the best audiences in the world, as far as I’m concerned. I love doing comedy. Probably for the reasons most people like comedy… laughing feels good.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Hosting, voice work, acting — it seems you do it all! Do you have any upcoming acting projects we should know about?
JANET VARNEY:
I’m getting ready to shoot a web series with Neil Patrick Harris that I’m writing and producing with Nerdist and the Henson Company. We have an incredibly talented group of writers, puppeteers and musicians working on it and I can’t wait!
THE STAR SCOOP:
What else should we know about you?
JANET VARNEY:
I’m a robot.
