Crafting a Bullshit Hotline

ProducerPhotographer
Written By Katie Orchard

Ahead of the premiere of Peacock’s Poker Face, fans were invited to meet Natasha Lyonne’s character Charlie Cale over the phone. Cale, a human lie detector with a knack for calling bullshit, would be waiting for their call through the Poker Face Bullshit Hotline. This interactive experience was designed to engage fans with the show’s unique charm and humor before its debut, capturing Charlie’s wit and no-nonsense attitude—and I got to write it!

Working as a writer and producer through STN Digital has led me to so many incredible projects but this has got to be my favorite. I had the exciting challenge of creating an interactive hotline to promote the series. The experience was so much fun from start to finish, especially because it allowed me to lean into the dry, witty humor that defines both Natasha Lyonne and her character, Charlie Cale. From crafting the hotline script—later brought to life by Lyonne herself—to producing a hilariously absurd infomercial to drive awareness, this project was a dream.

The hotline wasn’t your standard promotional gimmick. It was designed to immerse fans in the Poker Face universe while giving them a chance to explore the kind of mundane, everyday nonsense that Charlie might call “bullshit” on. Writing the script meant finding a delicate balance between show Easter eggs and relatable absurdities. I wanted the experience to be intuitive and engaging, allowing fans to dive into options and navigate at their leisure without the hassle of calling back. It had to feel full and rewarding, whether you were uncovering insider nods to the show or just laughing at the silliness of it all.

The texting feature added another layer of complexity. Unlike the hotline’s menu-based navigation, texting opened the door for users to type anything they wanted. This meant crafting an enormous web of potential responses to keep the experience seamless and entertaining. My goal was to anticipate even the most random derailments, redirecting users back into Charlie’s world with a sharp, on-brand response every time.

Some unforgettable highlights? For one, Poker Face creator Rian Johnson (yes, the mastermind behind Knives Out and Star Wars: The Last Jedi) personally reviewed and approved my script. Hearing Natasha Lyonne’s distinctive voice deliver my lines was another surreal moment—talk about mind-blowing. And when outlets like SYFY, Mashable, and Collider organically wrote about the hotline, calling my writing “funny,” *chefs kiss*.

After we completed work on the hotline, I wrote and produced a faux infomercial promoting the hotline, which aired on Peacock TV and was shared across social media. Nothing beats creating something so delightfully ridiculous, complete with over-the-top graphics and campy delivery.

With billboards and subway ads lighting up LA and NYC, the Poker Face Bullshit Hotline became a central piece of a larger 360 campaign. The project was a labor of love that gave me the chance to flex my creative comedy muscles and deliver something fans could truly enjoy. And honestly? Reading someone—a total stranger—thought you were funny? That’s a real win.

Katie Orchard
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