Giggle Goddess: The Ganz Girls

Jackie: I think about the apple cinnamon cupcake from Flore. It gets me every time.

What or whom inspired you to pursue a career in comedy?
Nikki: My mom, an epic hostess, she’s the best story teller at any dinner table. It is amazing what can be accomplished over a dinner table.

Jackie: Not only did I grow up watching “Saturday Night Live,” but I also attended several of their dress rehearsals, and to me, that was the most fun. I was able to see all of the sketches from that week, not just the ones they chose to air, which made me feel like more of a part of that week’s show than anyone watching from their living room. Plus, it’s always interesting to see which ones didn’t work. I seemed to laugh at most, so maybe I didn’t have the best critical eye. Oh, and the Spice Girls were there … kind of awesome.

Jackie GanzIf Chuck Norris were to corner you in an alley and challenge you to a duel, what would be your weapon of choice?
Nikki: A fencing foil. If I am going down I am going to look like a James Bond chick doing it.

Jackie: Cuticle cutter … if comedy doesn’t work out, I can definitely turn to mani-pedis.

What are some challenges you’ve faced since going down the comedy track and what has made those obstacles worth overcoming?
Nikki: Understanding my audience has as short an attention span as the guard dogs in UP, “Squirrel, squirrel, squirrel!” I am a bit of a longwinded woman who likes having the floor, so I am still learning to get to the punch faster and tighten my moments.

Jackie: There are many challenges as an actor … constantly proving yourself, being very diligent, hearing “NO” way more than “yes,” and realizing that you’re never going to get it right, so learn to take chances and sometimes fall flat on your face. That goes with comedy and drama. But when you feel like you nailed that audition, or heard back from one out of the many people you contacted and they actually had something positive to say, or left an improv or acting class with more confidence than when you walked in because you actually tried something that scared you and you grew from it, it’s all worth it. It’s those moments that remind me why I love to perform.

Nikki GanzWhat’s the funniest thing you’ve ever heard/seen?
Nikki: My sister and I were traveling through Europe and after a room inconvenience our hotel in Mykonos offered us a complimentary spa treatment — a series of 5 whirlpools. After traveling non-stop for five weeks we were both on antibiotics, so this sounded like a dream! Off for our pampering, we settled into the first pool and Jackie dunked under the water with the grace of the brochure model but came up screaming. They forgot to mention the high salt content. She tried in each to rinse the salt only to top it with more salt, not to mention the jet intensity made it impossible to stand in place. By the end we were being whipped around the pools, Jackie temporarily blind, laughing uncontrollably and not remotely resembling the serenity of their brochure.

Jackie: My girlfriends and I used to prank call people, but in a very sneaky way. We would call one number late at night and then conference in another call. My friend’s phone was possibly the coolest and had a mute button, so we’d mute ourselves and let the other two people yell at one another for calling each other at 2am. It got pretty aggressive, and the best part was we were dying on the other end and no one could hear us.

Which comedienne, dead or alive, would you love to work with/meet?
Nikki: Tie between Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn, but as delightful as it is, I don’t think First Wives’ Club is sequel material.

Jackie: I’m a huge Kristen Wiig fan. I think she’s a comical genius and would love to collaborate with her on something. Basically, stick me into the cast of Bridesmaids, and I’ll never complain again.

In what ways do you think you’ve improved or evolved since your first comedy venture?
Nikki: I have learned to trust my instincts and love my quirks.

Jackie: Well, if we’re talking performing as a child or in acting school … leaps and bounds. I am a more confident performer and I think that just comes with age and experience. I’ll probably look back in 20 years and laugh at myself for the work I’m doing now. That’s what’s so cool. You’re never done learning and growing.

What long-term/short-term goals do you have for your career?
Nikki: Long Term: Tell stories a lot of people want to listen to. Short term: Just keep telling stories I love.

Jackie: It’s simple and not simple at all: I want to be a working actor and producer, not limited to one medium or genre.

Young Jackie defies both sinking and the sun!Which  character do you most resemble from “The Divas“?
Nikki: I like to think I am my own unique breed of crazy.

Jackie: There’s a little bit of Betty in me (dialed way down); however, I do visit the kittens at the Larchmont Farmer’s Market every Sunday, so I guess I share a touch of Lucille’s kitty craze.

Do you have a specific audience to whom you play/would like to play? Describe that audience, and why/how you’re playing to them.
Nikki: Ultimately, I want to tell relevant stories that make a broad audience feel connected and excited. To me, the best stories ride the lifeline. Sometimes we laugh when we shouldn’t and sometimes we cry when we didn’t expect to cry. I want to play to the audience willing to let go and take that ride.

Jackie: No, not really. I guess each project I work on slightly varies to a more specific audience. If you’ll listen, I’ll play.

Baby Nikki says, “I’m ready for my close-up…”When you’re not writing/performing comedy, you’re:
Nikki: I’m watering my plants, reading Bon Appetit cover to cover the night it arrives, having spontaneous interpretive dance parties in the living room with my sister, and taking long walks on the beach with my best friend because we have a thing for the texture of sand.

Jackie: Working on crossing things off my list (I love a good to-do list), doing some sort of athletic regimen, and killing percentage on my DVR.

What’s the difference between appealing to women and appealing to men?
Nikki: I love comedy from a woman’s perspective, but ultimately I think the best stories are like first dates. If we don’t have any common laughing ground we’re either getting really drunk or the night’s going to be long and awkward.

Jackie: I’m not too sure. I think if you’re confident and have fun, that energy rubs off on people in the most positive way. I also think women and men relate to different things and when you relate to something, you generally find it appealing.

What’s your favorite comedy movie or T.V. show of all time?
Nikki: “Murder She Wrote.” “O shit, comedy.” First Wives’ Club. Shit, I said that already, though really worth repeating. Hmmm, let’s go with the true classic, Father of the Bride Part 2 … and Diane Keaton wins this round of the questionnaire. P.S. Comediva, “of all time” is a daunting question.

Jackie: I think I have to go with “Friends” on this one. I still watch reruns all the time and they never get old.

The title of your autobiography?
Nikki: Crosswords and Colored Pencils: A Retrospective

Jackie: On Your Left (A term used in cycling when you’re passing someone … Oh, and I’m also a lefty.)