Meet Liz, a new transfer student from Syracuse and comedienne extraordinaire!
Name: Liz Hynes
Major: Film, Television, and Theater
Dorm: Ryan
Favorite part of Notre Dame so far? Definitely how friendly everyone is. I didn’t have this sort of welcoming environment at Syracuse, and I’ve never been on a campus where anyone is down to talk or even smile at you. That’s a refreshing change.
I know you’ve been involved in stand-up comedy since you’ve arrived. What has that been like? It’s been great. From the first meeting it was just me and five guys who had done it before, and they were super supportive.
I was in the first show as well, which I thought was not a possibility. And I had a great time too. It was never something I was interested in, but then I thought, “If I want to go into comedy, I should explore all sides of comedy.”
Are you in any other clubs? Yes! I’m in NDTV which is great because it has way more comedic opportunities than I expected, and anything involved with TV is where I want to go and what I want to do. I didn’t sign up for too many other things.
…I think I signed up for the creative writing club, but I don’t know if I’ll go. Don’t tell them that. (Writer’s note: Sorry, Liz!)
Career Goal: Writing for TV- ideally sitcoms- and that’s what it’s been for a while, tunnel vision. I have really nice parents. They’re paying for school so I can learn how to be funny.
What TV shows inspire you? I mean, Arrested Development is the best thing that’s ever been on television, so that’s one. But that is so intricate I don’t know if I could ever do that. I really love 30 Rock, it’s a little more accesible. So is Parks & Rec. There are a lot of great sources of inspiration.
Tina Fey or Amy Poehler? You can’t make me do that! That’s so hard… Oh wow, okay. I plead the fifth. They’re like my two fake moms– I could never pick one.
It’s like when parents say “Don’t make me choose between my kids,” but I could pick between my own kids. I can’t pick between Amy and Tina.
Favorite TV show? I’ve talked about all my favorite comedies, but my favorite drama is Game of Thrones. Partially because it’s just incredible and partially because of how it came about. It was just two guys that were so obsessed with the books that they went to George R.R. Martin and were like “You have to let us make this into a TV show,” which is pretty much what everyone wants to do with their favorite books.
Do you have any hidden talents? I can play the piano! I played for twelve years. Three years ago I was still good- now I’m probably rusty. But I can do that. I also have double jointed pinkies.
What is one thing you wish would disappear? Oh wow, I hate so many things. I want to say things like poverty, racism… I guess I’ll be selfish for a second: I hate tags on clothing, I hate wires, and… I had a really bad sunburn recently. I hate sunburn. I feel like we should be immune to it by now.
Favorite quote? “When you really want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it” by Paulo Coehlo. It’s the quote that got me through getting rejected from Notre Dame the first time around and also just really great life advice. If you really want something and are working as hard as you can for it, it’s going to happen. Just maybe not in the way you’d expect.
Thanks for sharing, Liz!
XO, HCND
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Images provided by interviewee.