Tig Notaro and Jason Ritter Open Up On The Next Episode of Sundance Channel's 'The Mortified Sessions'

via press release

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MEDIA ALERT 

COMEDIAN TIG NOTARO AND "PARENTHOOD" ACTOR JASON RITTER OPEN UP ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS 

AIRING MONDAY, OCTOBER 29^th AT 10 PM ET/PT ON SUNDANCE CHANNEL

 "I was a rambunctious kid…If I grew up with a different family I probably would have been medicated." – Jason Ritter 

On the upcoming episode of SUNDANCE CHANNEL's hit series THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS (airing Monday, October 29^th at 10 PM et/pt), talented comedian Tig Notaro (who became an instant legend to many fellow comedians this past summer as she revealed her cancer diagnosis onstage during a set) and actor Jason Ritter [Parenthood] sit down with host David Nadelberg to share some of their most treasured childhood artifacts and offer insight into the key life-changing moments that have made them who they are today.  Born out of host David Nadelberg's headline-making storytelling project and book series "Mortified," the acclaimed half-hour series dives into the celebrity's memory and often their deepest emotions in a way that is both cathartic and completely relatable.

In her interview Tig discusses her free-spirited mother, who she at times felt she had to raise, and her stepfather who provided a needed structure.  Notaro later opens up about her past year, which has included the diagnosis of breast cancer, which she revealed to the public on-stage at her comedy show; and the impact of the tragic death of her mother.  Referencing the days and weeks that followed the recent and saddening news of her mother's death, Tig reveals: I don't cry very easily, but for three weeks I was only crying.  I went through everything she owned, and she kept everything I ever touched, and I had no idea. 

Ritter joins in the second half of the episode and discusses growing up in a home of actor parents (the late John Ritter and Nancy Morgan), and struggling to find his own identity in his teenage years.

SOUND BITES:

TIG NOTARO

On her career-defining decision to reveal her cancer diagnosis to her audience in  during a set:
Before I went to the show I was thinking, how am I going to get into all of this horrendous material – so I thought what if I just went out and was like, hello I have cancer…so that's what I did.  When I was on stage, I remember thinking – I think something cool is happening.  And the audience was with me, they were laughing, they were crying.  I did this show – went to sleep – wake up the next day and I turn on my phone and had ten million [messages].  Rolling Stone wants to talk to you, these book deals are coming in … I was like, 'what in the hell happened while I was sleeping?'  ….  I think it was that I just diagnosed with cancer and I walked on stage and was very real and raw about [stuff].  It was very cathartic.

On her relationship with her mother and stepfather:
My mother was a very free spirited person, what people would consider the 'cool mom'.  …  She always told me, if anybody had a problem with me, to tell them to go to hell. 

It was hard as a kid, because there was some structure that I needed, so there was some tension between us.  … She'd need to come home and act like a mother, stop painting things and standing on furniture.  She would tell me that I raised her half the time.

I had a stepfather, and he definitely provided structure. … He was hardcore, he would bring in a bag [into my bedroom] and anything that was out of place he's throw in the bag.  And I'd have to buy my toys back.  He was like a drill sergeant, with zero emotion.

About her mother's unexpected death: 
I don't cry very easily, but for three weeks I was only crying.  I went through everything she owned, and she kept everything I ever touched, and I had no idea. 

On the life-changing moment that followed her mother's death:
My stepfather had told me in the past, and even in recent years, that my career was a waste of time and a waste my intelligence – and I should have been a doctor or attorney … He said, 'I am sorry that I ever said those things to you, I was wrong – I think that you're doing exactly what you should be doing.'  I couldn't believe what I was hearing, this is somebody that is a robot – and he was sobbing and I was sobbing.  And I was just thinking, my mother would have killed to have heard this.

JASON RITTER:
Jason on being an energetic kid, growing up with actor parents John Ritter and Nancy Morgan:
I was a rambunctious kid, I guess, I was probably annoying to some of my teachers.  If I grew up with a different family … I probably would have been medicated.

On later becoming apathetic in his teenage years:
It just seemed like if you cared about something you weren't cool.  It was the 90s. 

I got so bored with being apathetic, I found this loophole where I could use my energy and not have to squelch everything down if I went the 'I'm the crazy guy' route.  I would dance like a psycho; I was also going through a whole thing of trying to figure out who I was.

Jason on having a teenage identity crisis, and struggling to find his own path:
I remember of having a little realization and almost an identity crisis – I all of a sudden realized that I would laugh like whichever friend I was with at the time. It really freaked me out. I felt I kept on disappearing in whatever person I was with, instead of trying to figure out who I am by myself.

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