Rosebud Baker Wrote Her Netflix Special For Her Former Self

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When Rosebud Baker discovered she was pregnant in early 2023, she faced the task of determining how best to tackle her standup comedy routine while touring across the country. She’s no stranger to incorporating personal aspects into her act – from candidly discussing her marital life onstage to openly addressing the passing of her sister at a young age – but after two previous miscarriages, she grappled with whether or not to share her pregnancy journey.

Baker candidly admits she wasn’t very hopeful about her chances. She never held a belief that discussing it might bring misfortune, but instead was concerned with what she would say if things turned sour after talking about them.

The comedian and writer for Saturday Night Live, who was also expecting a child, accumulated an hour’s worth of comedy material detailing her pregnancy journey. She recorded this content and following the birth of her daughter Minnow, penned another hour of stand-up that expands upon and reflects on her pre-birth musings. This fresh material, collectively known as The Mother Lode, is now streaming on Netflix – a special blend of footage from both performances, capturing the comedian at almost nine months pregnant and nearly one year postpartum.

She held back on sharing her original content and humor, allowing her to discuss the current experience instead of her earlier expectations. She explains that this performance serves as a resource she wishes she had while struggling with the decision to have children. Essentially, she created it for her past self.

Below, Baker opens up to The Hollywood Reporter about refining ‘The Mother Lode’, navigating fertility’s gender dynamics, and his experience at the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live.

In the special, you talked about your past miscarriages, but it seems like you’ve used humor to address this sensitive subject even before your successful pregnancy. Could you share how you typically approach dealing with painful experiences through your comedy?

During the same week of my miscarriage, I made light-hearted comments and performed them on stage. However, I soon recognized that I hadn’t fully processed the experience yet to continue telling those jokes. It shifted from being thrilling to needing some personal time before I could revisit the subject again. Therefore, while I might be able to craft a joke about something tragic immediately, until I’ve truly dealt with it, it isn’t enjoyable. The audience needs to feel secure laughing at such subjects, and if I don’t genuinely feel comfortable doing so, they won’t either.

What led you to the idea of intercutting various takes from your taping sessions focusing on your pregnant and postpartum experiences? For comedians, it’s common to combine the finest moments from multiple performances. However, unlike The Mother Lode, it’s evident when different takes are being used in our show.

Initially, when I embarked on my tour while pregnant, I felt compelled to record an hour’s worth of footage as I anticipated having little time post-delivery. However, I realized that wasn’t a strong enough reason to release the tape. Then, during a conversation with my comedian friend Ryan Hamilton, he advised me to save it and revisit it after the baby. Consequently, I filmed an entirely new special with fresh material, and instructed my editor Kelly Lyon to select the best bits from both performances, prioritizing humor above all else. Thus, the final product turned out to be a fusion of the two specials.

What’s it like for you to watch yourself perform versus observing the SNL cast performing your material?”

This version maintains the original meaning while using simpler and more conversational language.

I derive the same satisfaction from it. Winning is something I truly cherish, and that includes making people laugh, whether I’m the one delivering the humor or not. It’s amusing to note that when I first started as a standup comedian, I didn’t think I wanted to write material for others to perform. However, now I find it incredibly rewarding. Additionally, what I appreciate about SNL is that it’s a joint victory, so you may not always receive credit for your specific line or joke – but when it fails, it’s a shared defeat.

What was it like going back to work as a standup after having the baby?

The initial return to the stage was an exhilarating experience – it felt as if I’d traveled to outer space and then returned to tell everyone about it. People would respond with “Ah, we’ve seen pictures of space,” but I’d reply, “But these are my pictures of space! They belong to me!” It left me feeling detached from the world, especially the comedy world. I had to find my bearings again.

In your comedy special, you’ve included a few jokes about men seeming useless during IVF procedures. I wonder if the men who have watched it, whether they be your partner or others, find themselves laughing along with the humor. Are they able to grasp the absurdity of the gender disparities in such experiences?

Well, you could say my brief response is that it doesn’t matter much to me (laughs). However, if men find it amusing, I must admit that makes me pleased because I strive for comedy to bring people together. That’s my goal. To clarify, when I was creating this, I had women in mind as I wrote from my own perspective. But I have to confess, I’m a bit taken aback by the number of men who have enjoyed the special. I won’t complain about it; I’ll take the success!

I found your humor regarding the high cost of IVF particularly amusing, not just because I’m already aware of its expense, but more so because I was wondering if a Saturday Night Live writer might lack health insurance coverage to cover such treatments.

I am insured through the Writer’s Guild, not NBC, which is why things are as they are. The thought of dealing with women’s health issues infuriates me, it feels like I’m visiting a vet more than a doctor. They seem to make guesses rather than proper diagnoses, and our pain is often disregarded. It’s astonishing that only now we’re seeing progress in providing pain relief for IUD insertion; I nearly fainted after getting mine installed.

Which part of the SNL50 experience is going to stick with you the most?

I happened to have a week off during our 50th anniversary special, as it was being written by senior writers and alumni. This gave me the chance to relax and enjoy the show and party, which was delightful. It also served as a reminder of how extraordinary this place is to work for, a fact that can sometimes get lost in the daily grind. After all, our heroes are always watching us from the walls, but it’s not always immediately apparent. Attending that particular event really drove home the realization of just how fortunate I am to be part of comedy history.

Have you thought about your daughter one day watching your special?

I penned this piece with the expectation that someday she’d be old enough to grasp its depth, a risk I am willing to take. Of all people, her thoughts on it mean the most to me. Although the special is filled with humor, there’s a deep emotional thread running through it. I hope when she watches it, she recognizes herself as the joyful conclusion of the story. She was my inspiration for creating it. She served as my muse.

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2025-02-26 03:25