#AllCoopedUp with John Hamburg, Writer, Director + Producer
John Hamburg is a screenwriter, film director and producer, known for his work on Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Meet the Fockers, Along Came Polly, and most notably, I Love You, Man. John and I met a million years ago when I was working at Propaganda Films as a development executive, and he had just finished his first short film, Safe Men. Back in those days, my time was spent hunting for the next great project and the creative talent to bring it to life. In that first meeting, it was obvious that John was the real deal! Over the years, our paths have continued to cross. We were neighbors on Waverly Place in NYC, and now we live a block from each other in LA. Bumping into him (and his lovely family) brightens my day. -Jenna
What’s your profession, and what does your day-to-day work experience look like now?
I’m a writer/director/producer. Right now, I’m spending most of my work-time writing a couple of different projects—a TV show for Amazon that I'm writing with my good pal Ian Helfer, and a movie script for Netflix. I divide my time between working on my own, working over the phone with Ian, and working remotely with Lauren who runs my production company. It’s definitely way more challenging to maintain a regular work schedule than in pre-quarantine times… but I feel insanely fortunate that I can do the writing and producing part of my job from home.
Are there objects or spaces in your house that you are newly appreciating? Or are there objects and spaces you have come to loathe?
I have become rather obsessed with my Dyson v11 cordless vacuum. That thing is a miracle of design and functionality, and I love it in a way I love few things—aside from my family and close friends. Not too much loathing going on. We moved into our house in Windsor Square a year and a half ago, and I’m extremely grateful to be here — both in this home and in this amazing neighborhood.
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
This is exciting. Comedy directors rarely get asked about our wardrobe! My uniform tends to be: black Buck Mason jeans and a James Perse t-shirt (I wish I had a skin-care regiment, so I could share that as well).
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”? How do you make it happen?
I’m quarantining with my wife, Christina, and our 8-year-old daughter, Stella, who is an absolute delight for us to be around roughly 94% of the time. For the most part, we are all getting along, but of course we all feel the need to “get away” from each other from time to time! My “get away” time generally involves exercise, but I’ve also enjoyed a few car trips to run errands. That solo time, when I’m listening to music or talking with my family back East while cruising the somewhat ominously traffic-free streets of L.A., has taken on an entirely different feeling during this quarantine.
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
I purchased an OXO metal spatula on Amazon to help me perfect my technique for the “smash burgers” I’ve been cooking on Friday nights. Before that, it was Swiffer wet-wipes, and yeah, it’s fair to say I’m obsessed with those. No regrets.
Tell us the best shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now.
Christina and I showed Stella the Christopher Guest mockumentaries: Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. Watching our kid laugh at those brilliant movies has been a highlight of this quarantine. Christina and I watched Unorthodox on Netflix which I really enjoyed, and we also started watching Making The Cut with Stella, who is into fashion design. The Daily is essential podcast listening, even though a couple of their more troubling Corona-related episodes had me in full-on panic attack mode.
I recently finished reading Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow, which is incredibly compelling and infuriating, and I also read The Dawn Patrol by the great crime novelist Don Winslow. Stella and I just finished reading our good pal and neighbor Tom Lennon’s totally hilarious, middle-reader book, Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
As mentioned, Friday night is smash burger night—I make these homemade Shake-Shack style cheeseburgers—while Stella hangs out with me and watches burger videos on YouTube. Christina is obsessed with that Ryan Heffington dance class on Instagram Live which I noticed another interviewee recommended (Stella and I join in at times, though I normally stand down during his patented “Booty Shakes”). Christina also has our entire family on an elaborate immunity program, including Chinese herbs designed by this amazing acupuncturist, Emma Destrubé.
What is your favorite quarantine snack? What restaurants are you ordering takeout from?
My favorite quarantine snack is a toss-up between Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers with cashew cheese made by this small company called Blode Kuh that sells at the Hollywood Farmers Market (and is also available online), or a rice cracker with almond butter and a sprinkle of Maldon salt. Your readers should definitely take a moment to mock my eating habits, then go on the Blode Kuh website and order some of their delicious cashew cheese and yogurt.
We’ve only ordered takeout a couple of times, and both were winners. First was Kismet Rotisserie—great chicken and roast potatoes. On the first night of Passover, we ordered pastrami sandwiches and potato latkes from Langer's which did not disappoint.
Our best food deliveries, however, came out of a sad situation. My 89 year old father passed away in New York City about four weeks ago (from long-term health struggles, not Covid-related) and our close friends (and amazing home chefs) Matt Manfredi and Karyn Kusama each dropped off delicious and comforting meals for us to eat in the wake of that loss. It meant so much to feel connected to our friends in that way, especially when I was unable to travel back to New York to be with my family because of the quarantine.
What is the one item you’re glad you stocked up on? What do you wish you’d stocked up on?
I’m very glad we stocked up on Oat Milk, Clorox wipes and jarred anchovies. I think we could always use more Hu dark chocolate bars—those things are delicious and they go fast in our household.
What is your creative outlet and how are you making space for it?
I’m really fortunate that my job is my creative outlet. I just aim to carve out time each day to tune out the outside world and engage with the stories I’m working on.
Describe your biggest quarantine indulgence.
The aforementioned dark chocolate bars. And vodka martinis. But if I’m being honest, the martinis were in active rotation even before the quarantine.
If you have kids, how are you maintaining some kind of schedule for them?
With spring break over and remote school back in session, Stella’s got a pretty full schedule. She has Zooms, work to do on her own, reading time, virtual playdates, then we take an end-of day neighborhood walk/bike ride to allow her time to move her body and emotionally recover from how bad a math teacher I am.
What are you doing for exercise?
I have a Peloton bike, which is definitely saving my sanity. I like to imagine that I have personal relationships with the instructors—I know that’s weird, but we’re living in unique and isolated times, so please don’t judge.
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this?
Compared to so many others during this pandemic, our challenges are really minor. The biggest one has been time management. Which sounds crazy given that we barely leave the house, but it’s true. I recently read an interview with the talented writer/actor Issa Rae where she mentioned that she gets up at 4am to start working, and Christina and I are wondering, Maybe we need to set the alarm for 4am. Issa seems to get a lot of shit done, so perhaps she’s onto something?
When this is over I cannot wait to ___________.
Hug my family back East and all of our friends (or elbow-bump them — really whatever Dr. Fauci tells me I’m allowed to do). And take Stella to Chevalier’s Bookstore on Larchmont, which is essentially our home away from home. We all miss it like crazy.
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