Rachel Pegram is an LA based comedian, writer, and actor. Most recently she was a writer for Peacock’s Killing it. Prior to that she was a writer on Netflix’s Blockbuster, Harley Quinn for HBO Max, NBC’s Connecting and NBC’s Kenan. She also recently shot the TBS pilot Space from Nick Stoller, opposite Jake Lacy. Previously, she was a writer and performer for the National Lampoon Radio Hour. Additional onscreen credits include the Adam Sandler Netflix movie The Week Of and Don't Think Twice opposite Mike Birbiglia. On TV, she has been on The Other Two, The Chris Gethard Show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Late Show, Comedy Central’s Alternatino, Love Life starring Anna Kendrick, and the Apple+ children’s show Helpsters. In 2018 she was chosen by Comedy Central as an "Up Next Variety” comedian and performed at Clusterfest in San Francisco and in 2019 she was selected to participate in the New Face Characters showcase at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

GET TICKETS TO “SKIN CONTACT” AT BAR COVELL HERE

Hosted by Rachel Every Wednesday Night

What made you want to start hosting a live comedy show with other stand-ups?

It popped into my head one day that I wanted to host a weekly show and eventually I hunkered down and got it done. I wanted to establish myself more fully in the LA comedy scene as well. I also wanted to have a hang show, like a show where after people aren't rushing to leave, but you're chatting and having a drink. I like a comedy show that's fun and packed with good folks, but also is its own little community.

If you could speak to a new comic or writer who is just starting out, what would you tell them? Looking with hindsight on the career you've had so far, what have you learned about success, balance, people, and work?

I would tell them that everything about this career path is really super easy and if it feels hard or sad or disheartening or sort of soul crushing at all that's weird and unique to you and you should quit!

Success is crazy cause it's a forever moving target of dissatisfaction. Not to be sad about it! Chasing success that at one point looked like getting on an improv house team that now looks like being a showrunner is so hard to be completely satisfied by. I think you move forward and continue because it's in your heart, not because of a forever evolving goal. A little dinner or something with one of my friends that lasts a little too long? Oh you're slowly drinking and savoring every moment? Now that's the stuff that motivates me honey! And if it's so bad kill me dead ok?!

Aside from Skin Contact at Bar Covell in LA (performing weekly), what are you working on next? Do you have anything in development we can watch out for?

Yes! I am recording an album on 2/22 at Covell at 7pm & 9pm. And then a little further out from that I'm putting up my solo show again at UCB on March 14th. So a few things folks can check out if they want!

What is something, creatively, that you haven't yet had a chance to explore that you would really love to try?

Nothing comes to mind, but Angel Yau used to do this bit where she would eat a whole lobster onstage in one sitting and it was incredibly funny and insane. I don't think a bit like that is something I would ever come up with but I love that kind of stuff so much.

Are there any upcoming shows, events or performances that you're really looking forward to seeing? Anything your friends or peers are doing, that you recommend we check out?

Anna Seregina's solo show is magnificent. Whenever she does it again I would go! Also anything Nori Reed, Jessy Morner Ritt, Rob Haze, or Hayden Johnson are doing should be highly sought after frankly.